• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.390-400
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• 2021

Background: We recently showed that gintonin, an active ginseng ingredient, exhibits antibrain neurodegenerative disease effects including multiple target mechanisms such as antioxidative stress and antiinflammation via the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a spinal disease characterized by neurodegenerative changes in motor neurons with subsequent skeletal muscle paralysis and death. However, pathophysiological mechanisms of ALS are still elusive, and therapeutic drugs have not yet been developed. We investigate the putative alleviating effects of gintonin in ALS. Methods: The G93A-SOD1 transgenic mouse ALS model was used. Gintonin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) administration started from week seven. We performed histological analyses, immunoblot assays, and behavioral tests. Results: Gintonin extended mouse survival and relieved motor dysfunctions. Histological analyses of spinal cords revealed that gintonin increased the survival of motor neurons, expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factors, choline acetyltransferase, NeuN, and Nissl bodies compared with the vehicle control. Gintonin attenuated elevated spinal NAD(P) quinone oxidoreductase 1 expression and decreased oxidative stress-related ferritin, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1-immunoreactive microglia, S100β-immunoreactive astrocyte, and Olig2-immunoreactive oligodendrocytes compared with the control vehicle. Interestingly, we found that the spinal LPA1 receptor level was decreased, whereas gintonin treatment restored decreased LPA1 receptor expression levels in the G93A-SOD1 transgenic mouse, thereby attenuating neurological symptoms and histological deficits. Conclusion: Gintonin-mediated symptomatic improvements of ALS might be associated with the attenuations of neuronal loss and oxidative stress via the spinal LPA1 receptor regulations. The present results suggest that the spinal LPA1 receptor is engaged in ALS, and gintonin may be useful for relieving ALS symptoms.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.401-407
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• 2021

Background: Gintonin is an exogenous ginseng-derived G-protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. LPA induces in vitro morphological changes and migration through neuronal LPA1 receptor. Recently, we reported that systemic administration of gintonin increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability via the paracellular pathway and its binding to brain neurons. However, little is known about the influences of gintonin on in vivo neuron morphology and migration in the brain. Materials and methods: We examined the effects of gintonin on in vitro migration and morphology using primary hippocampal neural precursor cells (hNPC) and in vivo effects of gintonin on adult brain neurons using real time microscopic analysis and immunohistochemical analysis to observe the morphological and locational changes induced by gintonin treatment. Results: We found that treating hNPCs with gintonin induced morphological changes with a cell rounding following cell aggregation and return to individual neurons with time relapses. However, the in vitro effects of gintonin on hNPCs were blocked by the LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425, and Rho kinase inhibitor, Y27632. We also examined the in vivo effects of gintonin on the morphological changes and migration of neurons in adult mouse brains using anti-NeuN and -neurofilament H antibodies. We found that acute intravenous administration of gintonin induced morphological and migrational changes in brain neurons. Gintonin induced some migrations of neurons with shortened neurofilament H in the cortex. The in vivo effects of gintonin were also blocked by Ki16425. Conclusion: The present report raises the possibility that gintonin could enter the brain and exert its influences on the migration and morphology of adult mouse brain neurons and possibly explains the therapeutic effects of neurological diseases behind the gintonin administration.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제64권1호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2021

만성 알코올 섭취는 산화적 스트레스 및 치매와 같은 신경퇴행성질환을 발병시킨다. 본 연구는 홍화씨 추출물의 in vitro 항산화 활성과 ethanol로 손상을 유도한 신경교세포에서의 보호 효과를 확인하기 위해 수행되었다. 홍화씨 추출물은 50, 100, 250, 500 ㎍/mL의 농도에서 농도 의존적으로 in vitro에서 1,1-diphenyl-2-prcrylhydrazy (DPPH), hydroxyl radical (·OH), superoxide radical 및 nitric oxide radical 소거능이 증가하였다. 특히 DPPH 및 ·OH radical 소거능 측정 결과, 각각 500 ㎍/mL, 100 ㎍/mL의 농도에서 80% 이상의 radical 소거능을 나타내었다. 홍화씨 추출물의 신경교세포 보호 효과를 확인하기 위해, C6 신경교세포에 500 mM ethanol을 처리하여 산화적 손상을 유도하였다. Ethanol을 처리한 C6 신경교세포는 세포 생존율의 감소 및 reactive oxygen species (ROS) 생성량이 증가하여 세포 손상을 나타내었다. 반면 홍화씨 추출물을 처리하였을 때 세포 생존율 증가 및 ROS 생성 억제를 통해 ethanol로 유도된 신경교세포 손상에 대한 보호 효과를 나타내었다. 본 연구를 통해, 홍화씨는 알코올로 유도된 신경교세포의 산화적 스트레스에 대한 보호 효과가 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권7호
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• pp.550-566
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• 2022

뇌졸중은 세계적으로 사망과 장기간인 신체적, 인지적 장애의 주요 원인들 중 하나이며, 매년 약 1,500만명의 사람들에게 영향을 미친다. 뇌졸중의 병태 생리학적 과정은 다수의 사건들이 관여하는 복잡한 과정으로, 그 중 혈액-뇌 장벽(blood-brain barrier: BBB)의 붕괴는 허혈성 뇌손상의 진행에 크게 기여하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 BBB 붕괴는 뇌졸중의 특징으로 인식되므로 허혈성 뇌졸중에서 BBB 기능 장애를 보호할 수 있는 새로운 치료 전략을 개발하는 것이 뇌졸중 치료에 매우 중요하다. 전통한약은 천연물로 구성되어 있으며, 이는 뇌졸중 치료약 개발을 위한 유망한 원천이 될 수 있다. 실제로 여러 연구에서 뇌졸중에 대한 한의학의 효능이 밝혀져 허혈성 뇌졸중에 대한 한의학적 치료 가치가 부각되고 있다. 본 리뷰에서는 허혈성 뇌졸중으로 인한 BBB 붕괴에 대한 전통적인 한의학의 처방, 탕약, 약재 및 활성 성분의 개선효과에 관한 현재 정보와 기본 메커니즘을 요약 정리하였다. 이러한 연구가 한의학의 신경보호 효과에 대한 추가 조사를 촉진하고 뇌졸중 환자에 대한 한방유래의 임상시험 시행을 활성화하는데 도움이 되기를 기대한다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권6호
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• pp.790-800
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• 2022

Objective : EID3 (EP300-interacting inhibitor of differentiation) was identified as a novel member of EID family and plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer development. However, its role in glioma remained elusive. In current study, we identified EID3 as a novel oncogenic molecule in human glioma and is critical for glioma cell survival, proliferation and invasion. Methods : A total of five patients with glioma were recruited in present study and fresh glioma samples were removed from patients. Four weeks old male non-obese diabetic severe combined immune deficiency (NOD/SCID) mice were used as transplant recipient models. The subcutaneous tumor size was calculated and recorded every week with vernier caliper. EID3 and AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1) expression levels were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays. Colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays were performed for cell viability assessment. Trypan blue staining approach was applied for cell death assessment. Cell Apoptosis DNA ELISA Detection Kit was used for apoptosis assessment. Results : EID3 was preferentially expressed in glioma tissues/cells, while undetectable in astrocytes, neuronal cells, or normal brain tissues. EID3 knocking down significantly hindered glioma cell proliferation and invasion, as well as induced reduction of cell viability, apoptosis and cell death. EID3 knocking down also greatly inhibited tumor growth in SCID mice. Knocking down of AMPKα1 could effectively rescue glioma cells from apoptosis and cell death caused by EID3 absence, indicating that AMPKα1 acted as a key downstream regulator of EID3 and mediated suppression effects caused by EID3 knocking down inhibition. These findings were confirmed in glioma cells generated patient-derived xenograft models. AMPKα1 protein levels were affected by MG132 treatment in glioma, which suggested EID3 might down regulate AMPKα1 through protein degradation. Conclusion : Collectively, our study demonstrated that EID3 promoted glioma cell proliferation and survival by inhibiting AMPKα1 expression. Targeting EID3 might represent a promising strategy for treating glioma.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Objectives : Atractylodis rhizoma Alba has been traditionally used as a medicinal resource that is used for enhancing Qi (氣) in traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan. This study investigated the protective effects of Atractylodis rhizoma Alba extract (ARE) against trimethyltin (TMT), a neurotoxin that causes selective hippocampal injury, using both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods : We investigated the effects of ARE on TMT- (5mM) induced cytotoxicity in primary cultures of mouse hippocampal cells (7 days in vitro ) and on hippocampal injury in C57BL/6 mice injected with TMT (2.6 mg/kg). Results : We observed that ARE treatment (0 - 50 ㎍/mL) significantly reduced TMT-induced cytotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons in a dose-dependent manner, based on results of lactate dehydrogenase and 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Additionally, this study showed that orally administered ARE (5 mg/kg; between -6 and 0 days before TMT injection) significantly attenuated seizures in adult mice. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of allograft inflammatory factor-1 (Iba-1)- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)- positive cells showed significantly reduced levels of Iba-1- and GFAP-positive cell bodies in the dentate gyrus of mice treated with ARE prior to TMT injection. These findings indicate the significant protective effects of ARE against the TMT-induced massive activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus. Conclusions : We conclude that ARE minimizes the detrimental effects of TMT-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity, both in vitro and in vivo . Our findings may serve as useful guidelines to support ARE administration as a promising pharmacotherapeutic approach to hippocampal degeneration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권9호
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• pp.1154-1167
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the anti-amnesic effect of Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) bark extract (KRPBE) against amyloid beta_1-42 (Aβ_1-42)-induced neurotoxicity. We found that treatment with KRPBE improved the behavioral function in Aβ-induced mice, and also boosted the antioxidant system in mice by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and reducing glutathione (GSH) levels. In addition, KRPBE improved the cholinergic system by suppressing reduced acetylcholine (ACh) content while also activating acetylcholinesterase (AChE), regulating the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), and synaptophysin. KRPBE also showed an ameliorating effect on cerebral mitochondrial deficit by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP levels. Moreover, KRPBE modulated the expression levels of neurotoxicity indicators Aβ and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, p-IκB-α, and IL-1β. Furthermore, we found that KRPBE improved the expression levels of neuronal apoptosis-related markers BAX and BCl-2 and increased the expression levels of BDNF and p-CREB. Therefore, this study suggests that KRPBE treatment has an anti-amnestic effect by modulating cholinergic system dysfunction and neuroinflammation in Aβ_1-42-induced cognitive impairment in mice.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권10호
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• pp.771-777
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• 2022

파킨슨병에서의 도파민 신경세포의 사멸 원인은 다양하며 별개의 유전적 요소와 환경적 요소들이 관여한다. 드물게 발생하는 유전성 파킨슨병에서 parkin의 돌연변이와 기능 상실은 주로 소포체 스트레스를 통해 중뇌 흑질의 도파민 신경세포를 특이적으로 손상시킨다. 상대적으로 일반적인 특발성 파킨슨병에서는 살충제 노출이 역학적으로 중요하다. 그러나 환경독성물질에의 노출과 유전성 파킨슨병의 연관성에 대해서는 잘 알려진 바가 없다. 본 연구에서는 잘 확립된 중뇌 유래의 도파민 신경세포주인 N27-A를 사용하여 특발성 파킨슨병과 유전성 파킨슨병 사이의 공통된 발병 기작의 증거를 확인하였다. 특발성 파킨슨병을 유발하는 유기염소계 살충제인 디엘드린은 BiP/Grp78, 헴산화효소-1과 같은 소포체 스트레스 반응 표지자를 발현 유도하였고, 특히 parkin 단백질의 발현을 증가시켰다. 디엘드린이 N27-A 세포를 사멸시키는 과정에서 소포체 스트레스 특이적 세포사를 매개하는 Caspase-12의 활성화가 유의미하게 증가하였다. 흥미롭게도 디엘드린에 의한 N27-A 세포의 사멸이 소포체 단백질인 parkin과 Bcl-2의 과발현시 유의미하게 억제되었다. 본 연구 결과, 소포체 스트레스의 누적이 특발성, 유전성 파킨슨병의 공통의 발병 기작일 가능성이 있으며, 몇 가지 소포체 관련 단백질들이 디엘드린에 의한 도파민 신경세포 손상으로부터 보호 효과를 가지는 것으로 보인다.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of extract of Thuja orientalis leaves (TOFE) against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity by inhibition of inflammation in in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods : We evaluated the effect of TOFE against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$) toxicity using nitric oxide (NO) assay, inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 western blot, tyrosine hydroxylase and microglia activation immunohistochemistry (IHC) in BV2 cell, primary rat mesencephalic neurons, or C57BL/6 mice. We also evaluated the effect of TOFE in mice PD model induced by MPTP. C57BL/6 mice were treated with TOFE 50 mg/kg for 5 days and were injected intraperitoneally with four administrations of MPTP on the last day. We conducted behavioral tests and IHC analysis to see how TOFE affect MPTP-induced neuronal loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum (ST) of mice. To assess the anti-inflammation effects, we carried out glial fibrillary acidic protein and macrophage-1 antigen integrin alpha M in IHC in SNpc and ST of mice. Results : In an in vitro system, TOFE decreasesd NO generations in BV2 cells. TOFE protected dopaminergic cells against LPS or $MPP^+$-induced toxicity in primary mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. In vivo system, TOFE at 50 mg/kg treated group showed improved motor deteriorations than the MPTP only treated group and TOFE significantly protected striatal dopaminergic damage from MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Moreover, TOFE inhibited activation of astrocyte and microglia in SNpc and ST of the mice. Conclusions : We concluded that TOFE showed anti-parkinsonian effect by protection of dopaminergic neurons against MPTP toxicity through anti-inflammatory actions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권5호
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• pp.665-679
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• 2022

Objective : Patients with mild ischemic stroke experience various sequela and residual symptoms, such as anxious behavior and deficits in movement. Few approaches have been proved to be effective and safe therapeutic approaches for patients with mild ischemic stroke by acute stroke. Sildenafil (SIL), a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i), is a known remedy for neurodegenerative disorders and vascular dementia through its angiogenesis and neurogenesis effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of PDE5i in the emotional and behavioral abnormalities in rats with mild ischemic stroke. Methods : We divided the rats into four groups as follows (n=20, respectively) : group 1, naïve; group 2, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo30); group 3, MCAo30+SIL-pre; and group 4, MCAo30+SIL-post. In the case of drug administration groups, single dose of PDE5i (sildenafil citrate, 20 mg/kg) was given at 30-minute before and after reperfusion of MCAo in rats. After surgery, we investigated and confirmed the therapeutic effect of sildenafil on histology, immunofluorescence, behavioral assays and neural oscillations. Results : Sildenafil alleviated a neuronal loss and reduced the infarction volume. And results of behavior task and immunofluorescence shown possibility that anti-inflammation process and improve motor deficits sildenafil treatment after mild ischemic stroke. Furthermore, sildenafil treatment attenuated the alteration of theta-frequency rhythm in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, a known neural oscillatory marker for anxiety disorder in rodents, induced by mild ischemic stroke. Conclusion : PDE5i as effective therapeutic agents for anxiety and movement disorders and provide robust preclinical evidence to support the development and use of PDE5i for the treatment of mild ischemic stroke residual disorders.