• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.345-355
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• 2014

Mitigating secondary delayed neuronal injury has been a therapeutic strategy for minimizing neurological symptoms after several types of brain injury. Interestingly, secondary neuronal loss appeared to be closely related to functional loss and/or death of astrocytes. In the brain damage induced by agonists of two glutamate receptors, N-ethyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and kainic acid (KA), NMDA induced neuronal death within 3 h, but did not increase further thereafter. However, in the KA-injected brain, neuronal death was not obviously detectable even at injection sites at 3 h, but extensively increased to encompass the entire hemisphere at 7 days. Brain inflammation, a possible cause of secondary neuronal damage, showed little differences between the two models. Importantly, however, astrocyte behavior was completely different. In the NMDA-injected cortex, the loss of glial fibrillary acidic protein-expressing ($GFAP^+$) astrocytes was confined to the injection site until 7 days after the injection, and astrocytes around the damage sites showed extensive gliosis and appeared to isolate the damage sites. In contrast, in the KA-injected brain, $GFAP^+$ astrocytes, like neurons, slowly, but progressively, disappeared across the entire hemisphere. Other markers of astrocytes, including $S100{\beta}$, glutamate transporter EAAT2, the potassium channel Kir4.1 and glutamine synthase, showed patterns similar to that of GFAP in both NMDA- and KA-injected cortexes. More importantly, astrocyte disappearance and/or functional loss preceded neuronal death in the KA-injected brain. Taken together, these results suggest that loss of astrocyte support to neurons may be a critical cause of delayed neuronal death in the injured brain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.483-491
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• 2019

Cordycepin exerts neuroprotective effects against excitotoxic neuronal death. However, its direct electrophysiological evidence in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying the protective effect of cordycepin against the excitotoxic neuronal insult in AD using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. ${\beta}$-Amyloid ($A{\beta}$) and ibotenic acid (IBO)-induced injury model in cultured hippocampal neurons was used for the purpose. The results revealed that cordycepin significantly delayed $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization. It increased the onset time/latency, extended the duration, and reduced the slope in both slow and rapid depolarization. Additionally, cordycepin reversed the neuronal hyperactivity in $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced evoked action potential (AP) firing, including increase in repetitive firing frequency, shortening of evoked AP latency, decrease in the amplitude of fast afterhyperpolarization, and increase in membrane depolarization. Further, the suppressive effect of cordycepin against $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excessive neuronal membrane depolarization and neuronal hyperactivity was blocked by DPCPX (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, an adenosine $A_1$ receptor-specific blocker). Collectively, these results revealed the suppressive effect of cordycepin against the $A{\beta}$ + IBO-induced excitotoxic neuronal insult by attenuating excessive neuronal activity and membrane depolarization, and the mechanism through the activation of $A_1R$ is strongly recommended, thus highlighting the therapeutic potential of cordycepin in AD.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.73-76
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• 2006

신정전구세포를 이용한 퇴행성 뇌질환의 세포치료나 유전자치료에서 효율적인 유전자 전달을 목적으로 개량된 아데노바이러스 벡터의 실용 가능성을 쥐의 해마에서 유래된 신정전구세포를 이용하여 조사하였다. 외피단백질을 조작한 개략 아데노바이러스벡터는 분화전과 후의 신정전구세포로 1세대 아데노바이러스 벡터에 비해 6배 정도 유전자를 효율적으로 전달하였다. 또한 바이러스의 감염은 신정전구세포가 신경세포나 신정 아교세포로 분화하는데 영향을 미치는 않았다. 따라서 신정전구세포를 이용한 신정질환의 세포치료나 유전자 치료에서 개량된 아데노바이러스로 유전자를 전달하면 치료의 효율성을 향상시킬 수 있을 것이다.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.85-92
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• 2006

Objectives : To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of added Bo-Yang-Hwan-Oh-Tang (BHT), we investigated the neuronal death protection effects to oxidative damages in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. Methods : To study the cytotoxic effects of BHT on SH-SY5Y cells, the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To investigate the neuronal death protection of BHT, SH-SY5Y cells were induced oxidative damages by $H_2O_2$ and then assayed the cell viability and DNA fragmentation. We also investigated DPPH free radical scavenging effect of BHT by tube test. Results : In MTT assay, $1000{\mu}g/ml$ of BHT was not showed the cytotoxic effect on SH-SY5Y cells. BHT protected SHSY5Y cells from $H_2O_2-induced $ neuronal cell death in a dose-dependent manner. BHT also protected SH-SY5Y cells from $H_2O_2-induced$ DNA fragmentation. BHT effectively scavenged DPPH free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These data suggest that BHT may have strong antioxidant effects through the free radical scavenging and neuroprotective effects in human neuronal cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.285-291
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• 1997

It is becoming increasingly evident that significant changes in gene expression occur during the course of neuronal differentiation. Thus, it should be possible to gain information about the biochemical events by identifying differentially expressed genes in neuronal differentiation The PC12 cell line is a useful model system to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying neuronal differentiation and has been used extensively for the study of the molecular events that underlie the biological actions of nerve growth factor (NGF). In this study, we report an application of the recently described mRNA differential display method to analyze differential gene expression during neuronal differentiation. Using this technique, we have identified several cDNA tags expressed differentially during neuronal differentiation. Interestingly, one of these clones was cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX I) gene. The differential expression of COX I gene was confirmed by Northern blot analysis as well as RT-PCR. Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA of PC12 cells revealed that COX I is a single gene. Induction of the oxidative enzyme might reflect the energy requirement in neuronal differentiation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.24-31
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• 2010

Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an abundant free amino acid present in brain cells and exerts many important biological functions such as anti-convulsant, modulation of neuronal excitability, regulation of learning and memory, anti-aggressiveness and anti-alcoholic effects. In the present study, we investigated to explore whether taurine has any protective actions against oxidative stress-induced damages in neuronal cells. ERK I/II regulates signaling pathways involved in nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and plays a role in the regulation of cell growth, and apoptosis. We have found that taurine significantly inhibited AMPA induced cortical depolarization in the Grease Gap assays using rat cortical slices. Taurine also inhibited AMPA-induced neuronal cell damage in MTT assays in the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. When the neuronal cells were treated with $H_2O_2$, levels of NO were increased; however, taurine pretreatment decreased the NO production induced by $H_2O_2$ to approximately normal levels. Interestingly, taurine treatment stimulated ERK I/II activity in the presence of AMPA or $H_2O_2$, suggesting the potential role of ERK I/II in the neuroprotection of taurine. Taken together, taurine has significant neuroprotective actions against AMPA or $H_2O_2$ induced damages in neuronal cells, possibly via activation of ERK I/II.

• 약학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.185-191
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• 2002

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves neuronal degeneration with impaired cholinergic transmission, particularly in areas of the brain associated with learning and memory. Several cholinesterase inhibitors are widely prescribed to ameliorate the cognitive deficits in AD patients. In an attempt to examine if tacrine and donepezil, two well-known cholinesterase inhibitors, exhibit additional pharmacological actions in primary cultured rat cortical cells, we investigated the effects on neuronal injuries induced by glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), $\beta$-amyloid fragment ( $A_{{beta}25-35)}$), and various oxidative insults. Both tacrine and donepezil did not significantly inhibit the excitotoxic neuronal damage induced by glutamate. However, tacrine inhibited the toxicity induced by NMDA in a concentration-dependent fashion. In addition, tacrine significantly inhibited the $A_{{beta}25-35)}$-induced neuronal injury at the concentration of 50 $\mu$M. In contrast, donepezil did not reduce the NMDA- nor $A_{{beta}25-35)}$-induced neuronal injury. Tacrine and donepezil had no effects on oxidative neuronal injuries in cultures nor on lipid peroxidation in vitro. These results suggest that, in addition to its anticholinesterase activity, the neuroprotective effects by tacrine against the NMDA- and $A_{{beta}25-35)$-induced toxicity may be beneficial for the treatment of AD. In contrast, the potent and selective inhibition of central acetylcholinesterase appears to be the major action mechanism of donepezil.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2006

One of the various signaling agents in the animal cells is the simple ion called calcium, $Ca^{2+}$.$Ca^{2+}$ controls almost everything that animals do, including fertilization, secretion, metabolism, muscle contractions, heartbeat, learning, memory stores, and more. To do all of this, $Ca^{2+}$ acts as an intracellular messenger, relaying information within cells to regulate their activity. In contrast, the maintenance of intracellular high $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations caused by various excitatory agents or toxins can lead to the disintegration of cells (necrosis) through the activity of $Ca^{2+}$-sensitive protein-digesting enzymes. High concentrations of calcium have also been implicated in the more orderly programs of cell death known as apoptosis. Because this simple ion, acts as an agent for cell birth, life and death, to coordinate all of these functions, $Ca^{2+}$ signalings should be regulated precisely and tightly. Recent reports have shown that ginsenosides regulate directly and indirectly intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level with differential manners between neuronal and non-neuronal cells. This brief review will attempt to survey how ginsenosides differentially regulate intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling mediated by various ion channels and receptor activations in neuronal and non-neuronal cells.

• 전기의세계
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.97-101
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• 1975

The electrical neuronal model described in this paper simulates the most important functional properties of nerve cells. An model circuit incorporating many of the digital and analog properties of neurons is described. Having such properties as variable threshold level, action potential, summation, all-or-none output, absolute and relative refract oriness, and ingibition, it exhibits a considerable amount of functional equivalence to biological structures. This electrical neuronal model has utility not only for studying single unit properties but also for investigating group interactions. Such studies may be relevent to elucidation of neuronal network behavior.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권12호
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• pp.1355-1359
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• 2016

인간 중간엽 줄기세포(hMSCs)는 신경세포(neuron-like cells)를 포함한 다양한 세포로 분화할 수 있는 능력을 지닌 성체 줄기세포(adult stem cells)이다. 본 연구에서는 인간의 골수유래-중간엽 줄기세포(bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells; hBM-MSCs)를 이용한 신경분화에서 신경세포 표지자(neuronal marker)인 NF-M, Tuj-1 뿐만 아니라 성상세포 표지자(glial marker)인 GFAP의 발현 역시 의미 있게 증가함을 real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemical staining법을 통하여 관찰하였다. 이를 개선하기 위하여, 신경분화에 중요한 신호전달자(signal intermediator)인 PDE4를 억제한 후 신경분화를 유도하였다. PDE4 억제자인 rolipram 혹은 resveratrol를 각각 처리하여 신경분화한 줄기세포(Roli- or RSV-dMSCs)에서 NF-M, Tuj-1의 발현이 증가하였고 반면, GFAP의 발현은 감소함을 real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemical staining법을 통하여 관찰하였다. 본 연구를 통하여, PDE4를 조절하며 줄기세포의 신경분화를 개선할 수 있음을 보였다.