• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.442-452
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the anti-lipogenic effect and the mechanism of Jungmanbunso-hwan extract (JMBSH) on a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells.Methods: The JMBSH was prepared, andHepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of JMBSH in order to perform an MTT assay. The HepG2 cells were cultivated in palmitate-containing media with or without extract of JMBSH. The intracellular lipid content in the HepG2 cells was examined. The effects of JMBSH on sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in HepG2 cells were measured.Results: JMBSH did not reduce HepG2 cell viability under 1,000 μg/mL. JMBSH considerably decreased intracellular lipid accumulation caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells. JMBSH repressed expression of SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes (ACC, FAS, and SCD-1). JMBSH also activated AMPK, which plays animportant role in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.Conclusions: This study suggested that JMBSH relieves hepatic steatosis by repressing SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes. The anti-lipogenic effect of JMBSH may also be related to the activation of AMPK. Therefore, JMBSH could potentially be applied to NAFLD treatment after further clinical studies.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2008

Our previous work confirmed that Sph2/LA1029 was a sphigomyelinase-like hemolyisn of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai. Characteristics of both hemolytic and cytotoxic activities of Sph2 were reported in this paper. Sph2 was a heat-labile neutral hemolysin and had similar hemolytic behavior as the typical sphingomyelinase C of Staphylococcus aureus upon sheep erythrocytes. The cytotoxic activity of Sph2 was shown in mammalian cells such as BALB/C mouse lymphocytes and macrophages, as well as human L-02 liver cells. Transmission electron microscopic observation showed that the Sph2 treated BALB/C mouse lymphocytes were swollen and ruptured with membrane breakage. They also demonstrated condensed chromatin as a high-density area. Cytoskeleton changes were observed via fluorescence confocal microscope in Sph2 treated BALB/C mouse lymphocytes and macrophages, where both cytokine IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were induced. In addition, typical apoptotic morphological features were observed in Sph2 treated L-02 cells via transmission electron microscope and the percentage of apoptotic cells did increase after the Sph2 treatment detected by flow cytometry. Therefore, Sph2 was likely an apoptosis-inducing factor of human L-02 liver cells.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.171-179
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• 2004

Cytochrome P4503A4(CYP3A4) is the most abundnat CYPs in human liver, comparising approximately 30% of the total liver CYPs contents ans is involbed in the metabolism of more than 60% of currently used therapeutic drugs. The expression of CYP3A4 is induced by a variety of structurally unrelated xonobiotics including the antibiotic rifampicin and endogenous hormones, and might be mediated through steroid and xenobiotic receptor(SXR) system. The molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of CYP3A4 gene expression hae not been understood. In order to gain the insight of the molecular mechanism of CYP3A4 gene expression, study has been undertaken to investigate if the histone deacelylation is involved in the regulation of CYP3A4 gene expression by proximal promoter or not. Also SXR was investigated to see if they were involved in the regulation of CYP3A4 proximal promoter activity. HepG2 or Hena-I cells were transfected with a plasmid containing~1kb of the CYP3A4 proximal promoter region (-863 to +64bp) cloned in front of a reporter gene, luciferase, in the presence or absence of SXR or hER. Transfected cells were treated with CYP3A4 inducers such as rifampicin, PCN and RU 486, or with estradiol, in order to exmine to regulation of CYP3A4 gene expression in the presence or absence of trichostatin A (TSA). In HepG2 cells, CYP3A4 inducers and estradiol increased significantly the luciferase activity by CYP3A4 proximal promoter, only when TSA was co-treated after SXR cotransfection. In the case of Hepa-I cells CYP3A4 inducers and estradiol incressed modestly the luciferase activity when TSA was co-treated, but this increment was not enhanced by SXR cotransfection in contrast to HepG2 cells. Taken together, these results indicated that the inhibition of histone deacetylation was required to SXR-mediated increase in CYP3A4 proximal promoter region when rifampicin, or PCN was treated. Futher a trans-activation by SXR may demand other species-specific transcription factors.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 2004

Hepatic microcirculatory failure is a major component of reperfusion injury in the liver. Recent data provided some evidence that endothelium-derived vasoconstrictors and vasodilators may be functionally important to the control of the total hepatic blood flow under these conditions of circulatory failure. Since Kupffer cells provide signals that regulate the hepatic response in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), the aim of this study was to investigate the role of Kupffer cells in the I/R-induced imbalance of vasoregulatory gene expression. Rats were subjected to 60 min hepatic ischemia, followed by 5 h of reperfusion. The Kupffer cells were inactivated by gadolinium chloride ($GdCl_3$, 7.5 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) 1 day prior to ischemia. Liver samples were obtained 5 hrs after reperfusion for RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA for genes of interest: endothelin-1 (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A and ET_B$, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). ET-1 mRNA expression was increased by I/R. mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptors showed no change, whereas $ET_B$ receptor transcripts increased in the I/R group. The increases in ET-1 and $ET_B$ mRNA were not prevented by the $GdCI_3$ pretreatment. The mRNA levels for iNOS and eNOS significantly increased within the I/R group with no significant difference between the I/R group and the $GdCl_3$-treated I/R group. HO-1 mRNA expression significantly increased in the I/R group and this increase was attenuated by $GdCI_3$. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that an imbalance in hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression occurs during I/R. Our findings suggest that the activation of Kupffer cells is not required for I/R-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.59-67
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• 2023

Purpose : Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is recognized as an important cellular response in metastatic proceduresand characterized by loss of cellular polarity as well as gain of mesenchymal features, which enables migration and invasion. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary carcinomas in the liver and exhibits a poor prognosis due to frequent extrahepatic metastasis. Taraxacum officinale has been used for a long time in oriental medicine because of its various pharmacological activitiessuch as anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticarcinogenic activities. In this study, the anti-metastatic activity of T. officinale water extract (TOWE) and ethanol extract (TOEE) was investigated through the regulation of EMT in the Huh7 cells. Methods : The effects of TOWE and TOEE on migratory and invasive activities were investigated by wound healing and in vitro invasion assays. Western blot analysis was also applied to analyze protein expression levels associated with EMT and their upstream transcription factors in Huh7 cells. Results : TOWE and TOEE treatment potently inhibited migration and invasion of Huh7 cells compared to the untreated group. Both extracts treatment inhibited protein expression levels of N-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and vimentin while E-cadherin was significantly accelerated. In addition, the activated status of transcription factors, Snail, nuclear factor (NF)-κ B, and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB)1 was also inhibited with statistical significance. In comparison to both extracts, TOEE more potently attenuated migration, invasion, and EMT markers as well as their transcription factors in Huh7 cells than TOWE, which means that TOEE might possess more functional phytochemicals than TOWE. Conclusion : Consequently, TOWE and TOEEattenuated metastatic activity of hepatocellular carcinoma through the regulation of EMT markers and their transcription factors in Huh7 cells, which means that T. officinale might be a promising strategy for a chemopreventive agent against HCC metastasis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.187-199
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• 2007

Objectives : The present study purposed to compare the antioxidant effect, anti inflammatory effect and cancer cell multiplication inhibition effect of Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui aqueous extract according to extraction temperature. Methods : We medicated animal models, which had experimental oxidation, with Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and $50^{\circ}C$ low temperature leachate, and performed hematological analysis and blood chemical analysis with measuring SOD, GSH, catalase, NO and MDA content in the liver. In addition, we made comparative observation of anti inflammatory effect and anti-cancer effect. Results : Compared to the control group, both the group medicated with Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and with $50^{\circ}C$ low-temperature leachate were found to decrease the number of thrombocytes in blood plasma and NO content while to increase SOD activity and catalase activity significantly. Both groups also showed anti-inflammatory effect against THP-1 cells and a multiplication inhibition effect against liver cancer cells and stomach cancer cells significantly. Conclusions : Both Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui total extract and Fructificatio Inonoti Obliqui $50^{\circ}C$ low-temperature leachate have significant antioxidant effect, anti inflammatory effect and anti cancer effect.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 1997

We collected airborne complex mixtures in a industrial area of Yeochun, and examined whether these complex mixtures could affect gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in a cultured WBF-344 rat liver epithelial cells (LEC). Since the reduction of GJIC plays an important role in chemical carcinogenesis, measurement of changes of GJIC is a meaningful method to screen carcinogenicity of these mixtures. High and low volume samples were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and tested. Blank filter extractions were also examined for exclud-ing possible toxicity of filter itself, and TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) and DMSO were used as positive and negative control, respectively. When the cells were exposed to samples at concentration below that required to maintain rather than 85% cell viability based on the result of neutral red uptake assay, maximal inhibition of GJIC was observed at 1hr after treatment with both high and low volume samples by scrape-loading dye transfer assay. In fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay, recovery rates via gap junctions were 33%/min in high volume sample and 62%/min in low volume sample. In together, airborne samples collected in Yeochun inhibited GJIC in a cultured WBF-344 rat LEC. These results suggest airborne samples tested in this experiment may attribute to cause a certain type and degree of cancers in in vivo when exposured for some periods.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.59-70
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• 2004

Objectives : Previous studies showed that treatment with Chungganhaeju-tang prevents hepatic inflammation and apoptosis in alcoholic liver disease. The purpose of our study is to determine if any relations exsists between the transcription factor $NF{\kappa}B$, an orchestrating expression of a large number of genes and inhibitory effects of Chungganhaeju-tang on ethanol induced apoptosis. Materials and Methods : To assess the role of $NF{\kappa}B$, we blocked NFkB activation by delivering to the kupffer cells $I{\kappa}B{\Delta}N$, a dominant negative $NF{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, and investigated if Chungganhaeju-tang still prevented apoptosis. Results : When $NF{\kappa}B$ activation was blocked, there was no inhibitory effect of Chungganhaeju-tang on ethanol induced apoptosis of kupffer cells. Conclusion : This result suggests that Chungganhaeju-tang protects the liver from ethanol induced apoptosis by activating the $NF{\kappa}B$ that plays a key role in porotecting mechanism and reducing inflammatory cytokine gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.2 s.149
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• pp.176-180
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• 2007

Five liglans, sauchinone (1), di-0-methyltetrahydrofuriguaiacin B (2), manassantin A (3), manassantin B (4) and saucerneol B (5), have been isolated from the MeOH extract of Saururus chinesis roots. The evaluation for protective effect of compounds 1-5 against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells was conducted. Compounds 1,2, and 5 showed significant protective effects with the EC$_{50}$ values of74.2${\pm}$0.9, 111.3${\pm}$0.8,64.3${\pm}$0.8 ${\mu}$M, respectively. Silybin, one of the well-known hepatoprotective agents, used as a positive control, and also showed protective effect with an EC$_{50}$ value of 86.2${\pm}$0.5 ${\mu}$M.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.554-559
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• 2012

Oligosaccharide modification by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V (GnT-V), a glycosyltransferase encoded by the Mgat5 gene that catalyzes the formation of ${\beta}1$,6GlcNAc (N-acetylglucosamine) branches on N-glycans, is thought to be associated with cancer growth and metastasis. Overexpression of GnT-V in cancer cells enhances the signaling of growth factors such as epidermal growth factor by increasing galectin-3 binding to polylactosamine structures on receptor N-glycans. In contrast, GnT-V deficient mice are born healthy and lack ${\beta}1$,6GlcNAc branches on N-glycans, but develop immunological disorders due to T-cell dysfunction at 12-20 months of age. We have developed Mgat5 transgenic (Tg) mice (GnT-V Tg mice) using a ${\beta}$-actin promoter and found characteristic phenotypes in skin, liver, and T cells in the mice. Although the GnT-V Tg mice do not develop spontaneous cancers in any organs, there are differences in the response to external stimuli between wild-type and GnT-V Tg mice. These changes are similar to those seen in cancer progression but are unexpected in some aspects. In this review, we summarize what is known about GnT-V functions in skin and liver cells as a means to understand the physiological roles of GnT-V in mice.