• Animal cells and systems
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common condition that primarily affects women. Here, we investigate the effects of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in a rodent model of SUI. Female Sprague-Dawley rats at 7 weeks of age were randomly divided into three groups (n=8 per group): sham-operation, SUI-induction by transabdominal urethrolysis, and SUI-induction followed by transplantation of human ADSCs into the urethra. The abdominal leak point pressure at 8 weeks after the operation was markedly decreased by transabdominal urethrolysis, confirming successful induction of SUI. Interestingly, transplantation of human ADSCs into the urethra significantly blunted the decrease of abdominal leak point pressure in SUI-induced rats. Accordingly, we observed expression of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin in a significant proportion of transplanted ADSCs, indicating differentiation of ADSCs into smooth muscle cells in the urethra. Moreover, the SUI-induced elevations of c-Fos immunoreactivities in the pontine micturition center (PMC) and in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) were clearly suppressed by transplantation of human ADSCs. These results imply that human ADSCs can be an effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the symptoms of SUI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.311-316
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• 2003

Endothelins secreted from keratinocytes are intrinsic mitogens and melanogens of human melanocytes in UVB-induced hyperpigmentation. To elucidate the cellular mechanism of antimelanogenic activity of bamboo extract, the effects of three ingredients of bamboo extract on endothelin 1 (ET-1)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization were investigated in cultured human melanocytes. ET-1 receptors in human melanocytes were characterized by using specific antagonist, and ET-1 was found to increase intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) by activating ET-B receptor. SM709 (1,2-O-diferulyl-glycerol), an ingredient of bamboo extract, inhibited ET-1-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, although another ingredients SM707 and SM708 had no effect on ET-1-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in human melanocytes. SM709 ($100{\mu}M$), however, did not affect $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase induced by thapsigargin and caffeine, suggesting that SM709 has no effect on the $Ca^{2+}$ store in melanocytes. Furthermore, SM709 did not affect $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase induced by LPA or ATP, known as G protein-mediated PLC activators like ET-1. Taken together, it is suggested that SM709 antagonizes ET-1-induced transmembrane signaling through ET-B receptor, which maybe a possible underlying mechanism of antimelanogenic activity of bamboo extract in human melanocytes.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 1994

To investigate the significant indicators Improving the undisturbed memory in animal behavior, we employed several behavioral methods (learning, relearning in radial maze, and active avoidance) with ginseng components. Results showed that the repeated intranasal administration of $Rb_1$ and total saponins from Korean red ginseng induced direct effects on the brain mechanisms in rats, and improved the spatial memory during the learning, relearning and retention in the 12-arm radial maze test. The intranasal treatment of the total saponins also effectively improved the disturbed memory (amnesia) by pentylentetrazole, and simultaneously protected the brain by decreasing the severity of motor epileptic seizures. The intraperitonial administration of polysaccharide fraction of Korean red ginseng could improve avoidance behavior (amount of the total ecapes) in the active-avoidance test. In addition, local changes of the temperature and resistance of skin observed after Rb, administration were suggested to reflect some action of sympathetic nerve Key words Memory, intranasal administration, pentylenetetrazole, Korea red ginseng.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.40.1-40.1
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• 2004

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1617-1621
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptotic effect and its mechanism on Radix Paeoniae Alba Extract(RPAE) in DU145 human prostate cancer cell line. RPAE induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in DU145 cells as confirmed by both discontinuous DNA fragmentation using Hoechst33342 staining and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) cleavage, which are apoptotic signs. To clarify the mechanisms on RPAE-induced apoptosis, we examined the p50(NF-κB subunit), IκBα, PTEN and Par-4 protein expression using Western blotting. Treatment with RPAE resulted in the decrease of p50 expression by IκBα increase, which resulted in Par-4 increase and bcl-2 decrease in DU145 cells. These results suggest that apoptosis of DU145 cells by RPAE involved decreases of NF-κB activation and bcl-2 expression, increase of Par-4 protein expression.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.44-45
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• 2006

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2011

Skin is a physical barrier against diverse injury and damages. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes detrimental skin injuries such as inflammation and cell death. The value of natural pigments could be applied to many usages including cosmetics. This study was conducted to examine the protective effect of natural pigments extracted from mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, pehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice against UV-induced cell death in HaCaT cells, human keratinocyte cell lines. In the present study, the exposure of 50 mJ/$cm^2$ UV-B for 24 hr induced cell death in HaCaT cells, which was prevented by the pretreatment of extracts of mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, rehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice. In addition, the exposure of 50 mJ/$cm^2$ UV-B for 24 hr also increased lipid peroxide (LPO) formation, compared to control in HaCaT cells, which was prevented by the pretreatment of extracts of mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, rehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice. In conclusion, the extracts of mulberry, balsam pear, purple-colored sweet potato, rehmannia root, gardenia fruit, and black rice prevented the UV-B-induced cell apoptosis via the inhibition of oxidative stress in HaCaT cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.299-307
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• 2017

Mitophagy is a process of selective removal of damaged or unnecessary mitochondria using autophagic machinery. Mitophagy plays an essential role in maintaining mitochondrial quality control and homeostasis. Mitochondrial dysfunctions and defective mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and metabolic diseases indicate a close link between human disease and mitophagy. Furthermore, recent studies showing the involvement of mitophagy in differentiation and development, suggest that mitophagy may play a more active role in controlling cellular functions. A better understanding of mitophagy will provide insights about human disease and offer novel chance for treatment. This review mainly focuses on the recent implications for mitophagy in human diseases and normal physiology.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2011

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) evoke pacemaker activities in many tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between interstitial cell and pacemaker activity in the human ureter through the recording of spontaneous contractions. Spontaneous contractions of eight circular and longitudinal smooth muscle strips of the human ureter to acetylcholine (ACh) and/or norepinephrine (NE) were observed. Human ureteral strips were divided into proximal and distal groups, and each group was subdivided into circular and longitudinal groups. The proximal group showed spontaneous activities of 3~4 times within 5 minutes in the longitudinal group. ACh ($10^{-4}\;M$) augmented the frequency of the spontaneous contractions. The cumulative application of NE also augmented the frequency in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of NE application were inhibited by concomitant application of $10^{-5}\;M$ glibenclamide. Receptor tyrosine kinase (c-kit) staining revealed abundant ICCs only in proximal tissues. Therefore, spontaneous contractions of the human ureter might be modulated by ICC in the proximal region, and the actions might be related with the activation of cholinergic and/or adrenergic system mediated by a glibenclamide-sensitive pathway.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Neuromedin B (NMB) acts as a growth factor or a morphogen and plays a role in cancer progression. Indeed, the NMB receptor (NMB-R) is overexpressed in different types of tumors. In our current study, we investigated the involvement of NMB-R in the proliferation of oral cancer cells. Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and human oral cancer cells, SCC-25 cells were found to be NMB-R-positive. The NMB-R antagonist PD168368 inhibited the proliferation of SCC-25 cells and reduced their colony formation capacity. We also found that PD168368 induced the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of SCC-25 cells in a dose-/time-dependent manner. Overall, this antitumor activity of PD168368 in human oral cancer cells suggests that NMB-R is a potential target for the future prevention and treatment of human cancers.