• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.675-687
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• 2023

Accumulation of pathogenic amyloid-β disrupts the tight junction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), one of its senescence-like structural alterations. In the clearance of amyloid-β, the autophagy-lysosome pathway plays the crucial role. In this context, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibits the process of autophagy and lysosomal degradation, acting as a potential therapeutic target for age-associated disorders. However, efficacy of targeting mTOR to treat age-related macular degeneration remains largely elusive. Here, we validated the therapeutic efficacy of the mTOR inhibitors, Torin and PP242, in clearing amyloid-β by inducing the autophagy-lysosome pathway in a mouse model with pathogenic amyloid-β with tight junction disruption of RPE, which is evident in dry age-related macular degeneration. High concentration of amyloid-β oligomers induced autophagy-lysosome pathway impairment accompanied by the accumulation of p62 and decreased lysosomal activity in RPE cells. However, Torin and PP242 treatment restored the lysosomal activity via activation of LAMP2 and facilitated the clearance of amyloid-β in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, clearance of amyloid-β by Torin and PP242 ameliorated the tight junction disruption of RPE in vivo. Overall, our findings suggest mTOR inhibition as a new therapeutic strategy for the restoration of tight junctions in age-related macular degeneration.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.901-913
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• 1989

This study was investigated under the postulation that activation of intracellular calcium- calmodulin complex during ischemia-reperfusion leads to myocardial injury. The protective effects of calcium channel blocker, diltiazem and calmodulin inhibitors, trifluoperazine, flunarizine and calmidazolium from ischemic injury in rat hearts were observed by using Langendorff apparatus when the antagonists were infused for 3 min in the beginning of ischemia. Thereby, an increase in resting tension developed during 30-min ischemia was analyzed with regard to [1] the degree of cardiac functional recovery following 60-min reperfusion, [2] changes in biochemical variables evoked during 30-min ischemia. The results obtained were as follows: l. In the ischemic group, the resting tension was increased by 4.1*0.2 g at 30-min ischemia. However, the increase in resting tension was markedly reduced not only by pretreatment with diltiazem [3.3 p M] but also with calmodulin inhibitors, trifluoperazine [3.3 p M], flunarizine [0.5 p M] and calmidazolium [0.5 p M], respectively. 2. Recovery of myocardial contractility, +dF /dt and coronary flow were much reduced when evoked by reperfusion in the ischemic group. These variables were significantly improved either by pretreatment with diltiazem or with calmodulin inhibitors. 3. The resting tension increment evoked during ischemia was significantly inversely correlated with the degree of cardiac function recovered during reperfusion. 4. Following 30-min ischemia, the production of malondialdehyde and release of lysosomal enzyme were much increased in association with a decrease in creatine kinase activity. 5. The increases in malondialdehyde production and release of free lysosomal enzyme were suppressed by pretreatment with calmodulin inhibitors as well as diltiazem. Likewise, the decrease of creatine kinase activities was prevented by these calcium antagonists. With these results, it is indicated that a increase in resting tension observed during ischemia has an inverse relationship to the cardiac function recovered following reperfusion, and further, the later may be significantly dependent on the degree of biochemical alterations occurred during ischemia such as decrease in creatine kinase activity, increased production of malondialdehyde and increased release of free lysosomal enzyme. Thus it is concluded that calmodulin plays a pivotal role in the process of ischemic injury.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2023

Endothelial cells (EC) are the anatomical boundaries between the intravascular and extravascular space. Damage to ECs is catastrophic and induces endothelial cell dysfunction. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves dysregulation in the signaling pathways, membrane lipids ratio disturbance, cell-cell adhesion disturbance, unfolded protein response, lysosomal and mitochondrial stress, autophagy dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Autophagy is a lysosomal-dependent turnover of intracellular components. Autophagy was recognized early in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction. Autophagy is a remarkable patho (physiological) process in the cell homeostasis regulation including EC. Regulation of autophagy rate is disease-dependent and impaired with aging. Up-regulation of autophagy induces endothelial cell regeneration/differentiation and improves the function of impaired ones. The paper scrutinizes the molecular mechanisms and triggers of EC dysregulation and current perspectives for future therapeutic strategies by autophagy targeting.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.611-614
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• 1998

Protein kinase CKII (CKII) is a protein Ser/Thr kinase that is ubiquitously distributed in eukaryotic cells. Although it has been suggested that CKII plays an critical role in cell growth and proliferation, its functional significance and regulation in the cells remain poorly understood. To investigate the exact biological function of CKII, we have identified proteins that interact with the subunits of CKII using the twohybrid system. In this report, we have identified cathepsin L, a lysosomal protease, as a cellular protein capable of interacting with the ${\beta}$ subunit of CKII. Cathepsin L does not interact with the ${\alpha}$ subunit of CKII, supporting the idea that the ${\beta}$ subunit can mediate the interaction of CKII with target proteins. We have found that cathepsin L has several putative CKII phosphorylation sites including Thr-84, Ser-160, Ser-270, Thr-288, and Ser-301. These data suggest that CKII is a possible protein kinase for cathepsin L phosphorylation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.629-633
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• 1998

In addition to selecting proteins for degradation by the 26S proteasome, ubiqitination appears to serve other regulatory functions, including for endosomal/lysosomal targeting, protein translocation, and enzyme modification. Currently, little is known how multiubiquitin chains are recognized by these cellular mechanisms. Within the 26S proteasome, one subunit (Mcb1/S5a) has been identified that has affinity for multiubiquitin chains and may function as a ubiquitin receptor. We recently found that a non-proteasomal protein p62 also preferentially binds multiubiquitin chains and forms a novel cytoplasmic structure "sequestosome" which serves as a storage place for ubiquitinated proteins. In the present manuscript, the role and regulation of p62 in relation to the sequestosomal function will be reviewed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.14-30
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate whether the effects of extract from Saengkankunbi-tang and its composition that Artimisiae capillaris Herba, Crataegi Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, Hoelen and Raphani Semen could protect HepG2 cells from palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity through lysosomal and mitochondrial pathways in an in vitro model. Methods : To examine the effects of the extracts from Saengkankunbi-tang and its composition that Artimisiae capillaris Herba, Crataegi Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, Hoelen and Raphani Semen on palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity in HepG2 cells, we measured the contents of cell viability, cytotoxicity. Then to investigate the effects of the extract from Saengkankunbi-tang, Artimisiae capillaris Herba and Raphani Semen, we measured that triglyceride, reactive oxygen species, ATP levels, glutathione levels, cytochrome c and cathepsin B. Results : The extracts from Saengkankunbi-tang and its composition had a cell-protective function. The extracts from Saengkankunbi-tang, Artimisiae capillaris Herba and Raphani Semen controlled triglyceride over-accumulation in cells and reduced overproduction of reactive oxygen species. The extracts from Saengkankunbi-tang and Raphani Semen increased ATP and glutathione levels which had been decreased by lipotoxicity. The extracts from Saengkankunbi-tang, Artimisiae capillaris Herba and Raphani Semen reduced leakage of cytochrome c and the extracts from Saengkankunbi-tang and Raphani Semen reduced leakage of cathepsin B in lipotoxicity. Conclusions : These results show that the extracts from Saengkankunbi-tang and its composition that Artimisiae capillaris Herba and Raphani Semen have cell protective effects on palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity through lysosomal and mitochondrial pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2008

Ultastructural studies of oocyte degeneration and follicle cells in female Spisula sachalinensis are described for clams collected from Jumunjin, Gangwondo, Korea. The follicle cells playan integral role in vitellogenesis and oocyte degeneration by assimilating products originating from the degenerated oocytes (thus allowed the transfer of yolk precursors needed for vitellogenesis). The functions of the follicle cells include phagocytosis and intracellular digestion of products originating from oocyte degeneration. During the period of oocyte degeneration, follicle cells of this species probably have lysosomal systems for the breakdown and reabsorption of various phagosomes(phagolysosomes) in the cytoplasm for nutrient storage; this process has been observed in other bivalves.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

Autophagy is an evolutionally conserved cytoplasmic degradation system in which varieties of materials are sequestered by a double membrane structure, autophagosome, and delivered to the lysosomes for the degradation. Due to the wide varieties of targets, autophagic activity is essential for cellular homeostasis. Recent genetic evidence indicates that autophagy has a crucial role in the regulation of animal lifespan. Basal level of autophagic activity is elevated in many longevity paradigms and the activity is required for lifespan extension. In most cases, genes involved in autophagy and lysosomal function are induced by several transcription factors including HLH-30/TFEB, PHA-4/FOXA and MML-1/Mondo in long-lived animals. Pharmacological treatments have been shown to extend lifespan through activation of autophagy, indicating autophagy could be a potential and promising target to modulate animal lifespan. Here we summarize recent progress regarding the role of autophagy in lifespan regulation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2014

Gaucher disease is a multisystemic disorder arising from a deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase, which leads to accumulation of glycosylceraide and other glycolipids in the regiculoendothelial system. The characteristics of Gaucher disease are anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and skeletal disease. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been proven to prevent progressive manifestations of Gaucher disease and effective in improving anemia, thrombocytopenia, bone markers and biomarkers. However, some patient needs still remain unmet because of the inaccessibility of certain sites including brain, bone and various organs. ERT could not Improve the irreversible lesion such as liver fibrosis, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and necrosis or infarction of bone and other organs. Adult patients with Gaucher disease should be screened for longterm complication such as bone disease, pulmonary hypertension, gallstone, and cancer, especially in patients with splenectomy. Parkinsonism and polyneuropathy was also reported among patients with type 1 Gaucher disease, but ERT does not improve neurological function. We need to review the benefits and unmet needs of ERT in Gaucher disease.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.533-539
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• 2019

Recent evidence from genetics, animal model systems and biochemical studies suggests that defects in membrane trafficking play an important part in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) constitute the most frequent genetic cause of both familial and sporadic PD, and LRRK2 has been suggested as a druggable target for PD. Although the precise physiological function of LRRK2 remains largely unknown, mounting evidence suggests that LRRK2 controls membrane trafficking by interacting with key regulators of the endosomal-lysosomal pathway and synaptic recycling. In this review, we discuss the genetic, biochemical and functional links between LRRK2 and membrane trafficking. Understanding the mechanism by which LRRK2 influences such processes may contribute to the development of disease-modifying therapies for PD.