• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2005

The major garlic component, Allicin [diallylthiosulfinate, or (R, S)-diallyldissulfid-S-oxide] is known for its medicinal effects, such as antihypertensive activity, microbicidal activity, and antitumor activity. Allicin and diallyldisulfide, which is a converted form of allicin, inhibited the cholesterol level in hepatocytes, in vivo and in vitro. The metabolism of allicin reportedly occurs in the microsomes of hepatocytes, predominantly with the contribution of cytochrome P-450. However, little is known about how allicin affects the genes involved in the activity of hepatocytes in vivo. In the present study, we used the short-term intravenous injection of allicin to examine the in vivo genetic profile of hepatocytes. Allicin up-regulate ten genes in the hepatocytes. For example, the interferon regulator 1 (IRF-I), the wingless-related MMTV (mouse mammary tumor virus) integration site 4 (wnt-4), and the fatty acid binding protein 1. However, allicin down-regulated three genes: namely, glutathione S-transferase mu6, a-2-HS glycoprotein, and the corticosteroid binding globulin of hepatocytes. The up-regulated wnt-4, IRF-1, and mannose binding lectin genes can enhance the growth factors, cytokines, transcription activators and repressors that are involved in the immune defense mechanism. These primary data, which were generated with the aid of the Atlas Plastic Mouse 5 K Microarray, help to explain the mechanism which enables allicin to act as a therapeutic agent, to enhance immunity, and to prevent cancer. The data suggest that these benefits of allicin are partly caused by the up-regulated or down-regulated gene profiles of hepatocytes. To evaluate the genetic profile in more detail, we need to use a more extensive mouse genome array.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2002

We investigated the morphological changes and TUNEL reaction of apoptotic cells in the liver of D-galactosamine (20 mg/mouse) and lipopolysaccharide (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse)-treated 30 mice (BALB/c), and in additioa also of apoptotic cells in kidney and spleen. The livers and other some organs of mice at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hrs after treatment were collected and were fixed with 10% neutral formalin and paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or terminal deoxynucleotidly transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. Morphological changes in apoptotic hepatocytes were chondensation of nuclei and density of cytoplasms, then the margination and pyknosis of chromatin, the formation of half-moon- or horse-shoe- or ship-like shapes of condensed chromatin mass, lastly formation of apoptotic bodies, disappearance of nuclear envelopes, decrease of stainability, then lysis and disappearance of apoptotic bodies. TUNEL positive reactions of hepatocytes were appeared first moderate in uncondensed hepatocytes, severe in condensed hepatocytes, moderate in chromatin-marginated hepatocytes. These reactions also were appeared moderate in hepatocytes with half-moon- or horse-shoe- or ship-like pyknotic chromatin mass or apoptotic bodies, and mild or negative in hepatocytes with lysed apoptotic bodies or with disappeared nuclear envelopes. Consequently these results suggested that TUNEL positive reactions of hepatocytes appeared at more early stages than appearance of chromatin condensation and disappeared at more early stage than disappearance of histological findings of apoptosis. We also confirmed that the differentiation of apoptotic cells from normal healthy cells of Kupffer cells and vascular endothelial cells in liver, reticular cells and lymphocytes in spleen and epithelial cells of tubules and ducts in kidney was impossible in H-E preparations but was possible in TUNEL preparations.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.427-434
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• 2011

Mitochondria diseases have been reported to involve structural and functional defects of complex I-V. Especially, many of these diseases are known to be related to dysfunction of mitochondrial proton-translocating NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). The dysfunction of mitochondria complex I is associated with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Mammalian mitochondrial proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is largest and consists of at least 46 different subunits. In contrast, the NDI1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single subunit rotenone-insensitive NADH-quinone oxidoreductase that is located on the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae NDI1 gene using a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector (rAAV-NDI1) was successfully expressed in AML12 mouse liver hepatocytes and the NDI1-transduced cells were able to grow in media containing rotenone. In contrast, control cells that did not receive the NDI1 gene failed to survive. The expressed Ndi1 enzyme was recognized to be localized in mitochondria by confocal immunofluorescence microscopic analyses and immunoblotting. Using digitonin-permeabilized cells, it was shown that the NADH oxidase activity of the NDI1-transduced cells was not affected by rotenone which is inhibitor of complex I, but was inhibited by antimycin A. Furthermore, these results indicate that Ndi1 can be functionally expressed in the AML12 mouse liver hepatocytes. It is conceivable that the NDI1 gene is powerful tool for gene therapy of mitochondrial diseases caused by complex I deficiency. In the future, we will attempt to functionally express the NDI1 gene in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cell.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2019

Curcumin, an active ingredient of Curcuma longa L., can reduce the concentration of low-density lipoproteins in plasma, in different ways. We had first reported that curcumin exhibits hypocholesterolemic properties by improving the apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA editing in primary rat hepatocytes. However, the role of curcumin in the regulation of apoB mRNA editing is not clear. Thus, we investigated the effect of curcumin on the expression of multiple editing components of apoB mRNA cytidine deamination to uridine (C-to-U) editosome. Our results demonstrated that treatment with $50{\mu}M$ curcumin markedly increased the amount of edited apoB mRNA in primary mouse hepatocytes from 5.13%-8.05% to 27.63%-35.61%, and significantly elevated the levels of the core components apoB editing catalytic polypeptide-1 (APOBEC-1), apobec-1 complementation factor (ACF), and RNA-binding-motif-protein-47 (RBM47), as well as suppressed the level of the inhibitory component glycine-arginine-tyrosine-rich RNA binding protein. Moreover, the increased apoB RNA editing by $50{\mu}M$ curcumin was significantly reduced by siRNA-mediated APOBEC-1, ACF, and RBM47 knockdown. These findings suggest that curcumin modulates apoB mRNA editing by coordinating the multiple editing components of the edito-some in primary hepatocytes. Our data provided evidence for curcumin to be used therapeutically to prevent atherosclerosis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 1993

Previous results from several laboratories have demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) depressed cytochrome P-450 (P-450)-dependent drug metabolism in vivo. However, there is some debate whether the action of TNFalpha is mediated by its direct effects on hepatocytes, or is indirectly mediated through the release of other mediators like IL-1 from macrophages. In the present studies, we investigated the effects of TNFalpha on P-450-dependent drug metabolizing enzyme as measured by 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2010

The molecule possessing ankyrin-repeats induced by lipopolysaccharide (MAIL) protein is a novel member of the $Ikappa{\beta}$ family. In the present study, we examined the effect of norepinephrine (NE) on MAIL mRNA expression in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells. MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells was not directly influenced by NE. However, MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes was significantly induced by incubation with a culture medium of non-parenchymal liver cells, treated with NE. Pretreatment with an interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist significantly attenuated the stimulatory effect of the medium. Moreover, exogenous $IL-1{\beta}$ induced MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes, while IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ did not. The concentration of $IL-1{\beta}$ in the medium of non-parenchymal liver cells was significantly increased after NE-treatment. These results suggest that NE can induce MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes through $IL-1{\beta}$, released from non-parenchymal liver cells.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.239-255
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• 1991

Several types of IFNs were tested for their ability to suppress TCDD-inducible P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase (MFO) system in mouse primary hepatocytes. Mouse IFN-gamma (IFN-G) markedly suppressed EROD activity when added at the same time as TCDD (10 nM). The antagonism of EROD activity by IFN-G exhibited both a dose-(10-100 U/ml) and time-depedence. In contrast, mouse IFN-A/B was only moderately suppressive and only at high concentrations (500 U/ml). Rat IFN-G was even more selective than mouse, wherase human IFN-G had no activity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 1983

[ $1-{\beta}-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine$ ](ara-C), which is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog is cytotonic to mammalian cells in culture and is active in vitro and in vivo against a variety of DNA viruses. The precise mechanism of action of ara-C has not been determined, although ara-C is thought to act as an antimetabolite, interfering with the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA). Cytosine arabinoside originally seemed to act principally by inhibiting the conversion of cytidine to deoxytidine, thus inhibiting DNA synthesis. But recent data suggest that effects upon DNA polymerase and effects via incorporation into DNA and RNA may well be of equal importance. The author have demonstrated the effect of cytosine arabinoside on the hepatocytes of albino mice treated with ara-C, observing changes in the cytoplasmic organelles of the hepatocytes. A total of 120 healthy male albino mice were divided into the control and ara-C treated groups. The animals of the ara-C group were given 10mg. per kg of body weight of mouse ara-C in physiological saline solution and the animals of control group were given physiological saline solution, intraperitoneally. After an administration of ara-C or physiological saline solution, the animal were killed at. interval of 6, 12, and 24 hours. The specimens, which were obtained from the left anterier lobe of the liver, were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and observed with JEM 100B electron microscope. The results were obtained as follow: A pronounced dilatation, sacculation and fragmentation of the cisterane of rough endoplasmic reticulum with dissociation of membrane bound-ribosomes, disaggregation of free ribosomes in the cytoplasm, proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum associated with depletion of glycogen paracles, atrophies of Golgi complex, production of numerous lipid droplets, and formation of antophagic vacuoles, multivesicular bodies and residual bodies are recognized in the hepatocytes of ara-C treated mice. Consequently it is suggested that cytosine arabinoside would induce a changes of the cytoplasmic organelles of the hepatocytes in albino mice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.639-645
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• 2018

Liver transplantation is recommended for patients with liver failure, but liver donors are limited. This necessitates the development of artificial livers, and hepatocytes are necessary to develop such artificial livers. Although induced hepatocyte-like cells are used in artificial livers, the characteristics of mouse induced hepatocyte-like cells (miHeps) reprogrammed with embryonic fibroblasts have not yet been clarified. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanisms underlying the survival, function, and death of miHeps. miHeps showed decreased cell viability, increased cytotoxicity, decreased hepatic function, and albumin and urea secretion at passage 14. Addition of necrostatin-1 (NEC-1) to miHeps inhibited necrosome formation and reactive oxygen species generation and increased cell survival. However, NEC-1 did not affect the hepatic function of miHeps. These results provide a basis for development of artificial livers using hepatocytes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2000

The ethanol extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS), the Korean Lacquer tree, was subsequentely isolated and fractioned into two portions using distilled water (SED) and 99% ethanol (SEE) as elution buffers through silica gel column (4x28 em, 22 $\AA$. 28~200 mesh). To know the antioxidative effect of the RVS extracts, primary hepatocytes were exposed to hydroxyl radical generated by 20 mU/$m\ell$ glucose oxidase with SED or SEE for 4 hr. The addition of 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ SED in culture medium showed good protection from glucose oxidase (GO)-mediated cytotoxicity of hepatocytes, showing approximately equivalent to control. When the hepatocytes were incubated with 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ SED or SEE only for 4 hr. the activities of cell-associated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were elevated up to 1.22 fold and 1.4 fold, respectively, compared to control. Further increase, 1.88fold in SOD activity or 1.64fold in catalase activity, was also observed when the hepatocytes were incubated with 100 units/$m\ell$ of commercial SOD or catalase for 4 hr. Moreover. the glucose oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity in cultured hepatocytes was generally reduced upon addition of lysate obtained from SED or SEE-stimulated hepatocytes in a dose-dependent manner. From these results, we suggest that, in cultured hepatocytes, RVS ethanol extract can efficiently reduce cytotoxicity induced by glucose oxidase and may increase the activity of cell-associated SOD and/or catalase, thereby preventing and/or scavenging superoxides and hydroxyl radicals in this experiment.