• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.583-590
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• 2021

Background: Gintonin, isolated from ginseng, acts as a ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand and elicits the [Ca²⁺]_i transient through six LPA receptor subtypes (LPARSs). However, the long-term effects of gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) on the gene expression of six LPARSs remain unknown. We examined changes in the gene expression of six LPA receptors in the mouse whole brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, small intestine, colon, and testis after long-term oral GEF administration. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups: control vehicle and GEF (100 mg/kg, p.o.). After 21-day saline or GEF treatment, total RNA was extracted from nine mouse organs. Quantitative-real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot were performed to quantify changes in the gene and protein expression of the six LPARSs, respectively. Results: qRT-PCR analysis before GEF treatment revealed that the LPA6 RS was predominant in all organs except the small intestine. The LPA2 RS was most abundant in the small intestine. Long-term GEF administration differentially regulated the six LPARSs. Upon GEF treatment, the LPA6 RS significantly increased in the liver, small intestine, colon, and testis but decreased in the whole brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Western blot analysis of the LPA6 RS confirmed the differential effects of GEF on LPA6 receptor protein levels in the whole brain, liver, small intestine, and testis. Conclusion: The LPA6 receptor was predominantly expressed in all nine organs examined; long-term oral GEF administration differentially regulated LPA3, LPA4, and LPA6 receptors in the whole brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, small intestine, and testis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2006

Objectives : Coptidis Rhizoma has been known traditional medicine with antimicrobial activities. We investigated inhibitory effects of Coptidis Rhizoma extract on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nitric oxide production from mouse macrophages. Methods : After Coptidis Rhizoma extract was pretreated in BV2, mouse brain macrophages and RAW264.7 mouse macrophages, cells were activated with LPS. To investigate cytotoxicity Coptidis Rhizoma extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The production of nitric oxide(NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) was determined in each culture supernatant and mRNA by Griess reaction and RT-PCR. The production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ from cells was measured by ELISA. Results : Coptidis Rhizoma extract significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production in BV2 and RAW264.7 cells. Coptidis Rhizoma extract also greatly suppressed mRNA expression of iNOS in BV2 and RAW264.7 cells activated by LPS. Conclusion : These data suggests that Coptidis Rhizoma extract may have an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of NO production.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.229-234
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• 2006

We have generated transgenic mice that expressed mouse extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) in their skin. In particular, the expression plasmid DNA containing human keratin K14 promoter was used to direct the keratinocyte-specific transcription of the transgene. To compare intron-dependent and intron-independent gene expression, we constructed two vectors. The vector B, which contains the rabbit -globin intron 2, was not effective for mouse EC-SOD overexpression. The EC-SOD transcript was detected in the skin, as determined by Northern blot analysis. Furthermore, EC-SOD protein was detected in the skin tissue, as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. To evaluate the expression levels of EC-SOD in various tissues, we purified EC-SOD from the skin, lungs, brain, kidneys, livers, and spleen of transgenic mice and measured its activities. EC-SOD activities in the transgenic mice skin were approximately 7 fold higher than in wild-type mice. These results suggest that the mouse overexpressing vector not only induces keratinocyte-specific expression of EC-SOD, but also expresses successfully functional EC-SOD. Thus, these transgenic mice appeared to be useful for the expression of the EC-SOD gene and subsequent analysis of various skin changes, such as erythema, inflamation, photoaging, and skin tumors.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2003

For many animals the centrosome consists of a pair of centrioles and surrounding pericentriolar materials (PCMs). PCMs have been known to play roles during cell division. It is known that centrioles are necessary to assemble centrosomal components. However, many types of oocytes undergo meiosis without centrioles. It is known that in nonmurine mammalian species, the sperm introduces an intact proximal centriole unlike sea urchin where two centrioles are introduced. In case of mouse sperm, the presence of centrosome is not clear In this study, a monoclonal antibody was developed to investigate centrosome during mouse germ cell and early embryo development. Results of immunostaining and Western blotting in CHO cells suggest that the monoclonal antibody recognizes a nuclear and centrosomal protein, thus called NCP. The NCP monoclonal antibody was used to screen a cDNA expression library prepared from 12.5 mouse brain to isolate NCP gene. Nucleotide size of NCP gene obtained from immunoscreening was about 5.5kb. It is determined that the NCP may be closely related with pericentriolar material -1 gene (Pcm-1) from the result of sequencing analysis. The molecular weight, 66kDa, calculated by known DNA sequence in database is consistent with that of detected from Western blotting using CHO cell lysates. Therefore, it is assumed that NCP may be alternative splicing form of Pcm-1 of which molecular weight is 228kDa. In mouse oocytes, NCP was distributed in nucleus as in CHO cells. It was shown that the NCP was localized around neck region, probably the centrosome in mouse neck region. Interestingly, dramatic change in distribution of NCP was also shown in male germ cell development. Finally, we observed the cellular distribution of NCP during early embryo development. NCP was detected in nucleus as well as centrosome foci. It is suggested that the centrioles reassembly we occurring in blastocysts and then affects the distribution of NCP.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.197-205
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• 2006

Objectives: Anti-oxidants are known to prevent neuronal diseases with pathological and physiological changes such as the brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of Korean ginseng on the oxidative stress induced pathologic changes, and develop new animal model for the brain atrophy. Korean ginseng has anti-oxidant, anti-aging, and protective effects on the brain ischemia. Methods : The intracerebroventricular (ICV) hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) injection into mice was conducted to generate oxidative stress. Results : The ICV $H_2O_2$ (1 M, $5\;{\mu}l$ injection did not induce either convulsion or death in the acute phase. At the end of second week, cognitive impairment and pathologic change of the brain were observed. The massive brain atrophy was found in the $H_2O_2-injected$ mice, especially in the hippocampus and thalamus. Treatment with Korean ginseng showed a protective effect against the brain atrophy. The $H_2O_2$ injected mice revealed cognitive impairment in the passive avoidance test, and Korean ginseng alleviated cognitive impairment. Conclusion : The results indicate that Korean ginseng has a protective effect on the oxidative stress-induced neuronal damages.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.337-341
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• 2013

Objective : After spinal cord injury (SCI), functional and structural reorganization occurs at multiple levels of brain including motor cortex. However, the underlying mechanism still remains unclear. The current study was performed to investigate the alterations in the expression of the main regulators of neuronal development, survival and death, in the brain following thoracic contusive SCI in a mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old female imprinting control region mice (n=60; 30-35 g) were used in this study. We analyzed the expression levels of regulators such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 in the brain following thoracic contusive SCI. Results : The expression of BDNF levels were elevated significantly compared with control group at 2 weeks after injury (p<0.05). The expression of NGF levels were elevated at 2, 4 weeks compared with control group, but these difference were not significant (p>0.05). The GDNF levels were elevated at 2 week compared with control group, but these differences were not significant (p>0.05). The difference of HDAC1 levels were not significant at 2, 4 and 8 weeks compared with control group (p>0.05). Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the upregulation of BDNF may play on important role in brain reorganization after SCI.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2021

Radiopharmaceuticals are important for tumor diagnosis and therapy. To deliver a radiotracer at the desired target excluding non-targeted tissues is difficult The development of a targeted tracer that has a good clearance profile while maintaining high biostability and biocompatibility is key to optimizing its biodistribution and transport across biological barriers. Improving the hydrophilicity of radiotracers by PEGylation can reduce serum binding, allowing the tracer to circulate without retention and reducing its affinity for non-targeted tissues. In this study, we synthesized a new benzamido tracer (SnBz-PEG₃₆) with the introduction of a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol unit (PEG₃₆, ~2,100 Da). The tumor targeting efficiency and biodistribution of [¹³¹I]-Bz-PEG₃₆ or radiotracer-loaded liposomes were evaluated after their administration to normal mice or mouse tumor models including CT26 (xenograft) and 4T1 (xenograft and orthotopic). Most of the radiotracer was cleared out rapidly (1-24 h post-administration) through the kidney and there was little tumor uptake.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 1997

Two kinds of cDNA encoding mouse $Gal{\beta}$1,3(4)GlcNAc ${\alpha}$2,3-sialyltransferase (mST3Gal III) and $Gal{\beta}$1,4(3)GlcNAc ${\alpha}$2,3-sialyltransferase (mST3Gal IV) were isolated from mouse brain cDNA library by means of a PCR-based approach. The cDNA sequences included an open reading frame coding for proteins of 374 and 333 amino acids, respectively, and the primary structure of these enzymes suggested a putative domain structure consisting of four regions, like that in other glycosyltransferases. The deduced amino acid sequences of mST3GaI III and IV showed a 98% and 89% identity with rat ST3GaI III and human ST3Gal IV, respectively. Northern analysis indicated that the expression of mST3Gal III mRNA was abundant in heart, liver and adult brain, while that of mST3GaI IV mRNA was detected in all tissues tested except for testis, but the level was the highest in liver. Soluble forms of mST3GaI III and IV transiently expressed in COS cells exhibited enzyme activity toward acceptor substrates containing the terminal either $Gal{\beta}$1,3GlcNAc or $Gal{\beta}$1,4GlcNAc sequences. The substrate preferences of both enzymes were stronger for tetrasaccharides than for disaccharides.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2016

Ampicillin, a ${\beta}$-lactam antibiotic, dose-dependently protects neurons against ischemic brain injury. The present study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of ampicillin in a mouse model of transient global forebrain ischemia. Male C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 40 min. Before transient forebrain ischemia, ampicillin (200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) or penicillin G (6,000 U/kg or 20,000 U/kg, i.p.) was administered daily for 5 days. The pretreatment with ampicillin but not with penicillin G significantly attenuated neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 subfield. Mechanistically, the increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) following forebrain ischemia was also attenuated by ampicillin treatment. In addition, the ampicillin treatment reversed increased immunoreactivities to glial fibrillary acidic protein and isolectin B4, markers of astrocytes and microglia, respectively. Furthermore, the ampicillin treatment significantly increased the level of glutamate transporter-1, and dihydrokainic acid (DHK, 10 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1), reversed the neuroprotective effect of ampicillin. Taken together, these data indicate that ampicillin provides neuroprotection against ischemia-reperfusion brain injury, possibly through inducing the GLT-1 protein and inhibiting the activity of MMP in the mouse hippocampus.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.791-805
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of DFPR on differentiation of mouse calvarial cell in vitro, to examine the possibility for periodontal regeneration. $10{\mu}g/ml$ of DFPR was used as experimental concentration. osteogenic medium only was assigned as control, Experimental 1 was supplemented with 10nM dexamethasone, Experimental 2 with $10{\mu}g/ml$ DFPR and Experimental 3 with l0nM dexamethasone + $10{\mu}g/ml$ DFPR. cellular activity was evaluated by MTT method at 8, 12, 16 days, expression of mRNA of ALP, osteopontin, osteocalcin, collagen type-l was detected by RT-PCR method at 4, 8, 12, 16 days of culture. extent of mineralization was observed by Von Kossa staining at 16 day of culture. The results are as follows 1)Any acceleration of differentiation was not observed at expression of differentiation marker, 2) Decrease in expression of extracelluar matrix and in bone nodule formation was observed The results suggested that DFPR have negative effect on the rate of differentiation on rat calvarial cell, decrease extracelluar matrix formation ,decrease bone nodule formation. Ongoing studies are necessary in order to determine effect of DFPR on periodontal regeneration.