• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.131-144
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Although the cause of neuronal death of Parkinson's disease remains unclear, increasing evidence points to the role of inflammatory processes. And the hallmark of brain inflammation is the activation of microglia. This study was performed to prove the effect of acupuncture on inhibiting microglial activation. Methods : The rat models which were injected with 6-hydroxydopamine were treated with acupuncture once a day on LR3 (太衝) and GB34 (陽陵泉). To prove the effect of inhibiting microglial activation, we examined the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunopositive neurons and CD11b immunohistochemistry in the substantia nigra. Results : There were 18% (third day), 32% (seventh day) loss of TH-positive cell bodies in the control group and 23% (third day), 26% (seventh day) in the acupuncture group, whereas 3% (third day), 10% (seventh day) in vehicle group. The difference of optical density in substantia nigra was evaluated by subtracting log inverse gray value of contralateral side from that of ipsilateral side. With regards to the result of CD11b immunohistochemistry, acupuncture group showed significantly inhibited microglial activation compared with control group (p<0.01) on the seventh day. Conclusions : Acupuncture showed the effect of inhibition of microglial activation in seventh day. However, the effect of protection of TH positive cell bodies was not shown. So we need longer investigation of the effect of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제27권6호
• /
• pp.530-539
• /
• 2019

Brain aging is an inevitable process characterized by structural and functional changes and is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Most brain aging studies are focused on neurons and less on astrocytes which are the most abundant cells in the brain known to be in charge of various functions including the maintenance of brain physical formation, ion homeostasis, and secretion of various extracellular matrix proteins. Altered mitochondrial dynamics, defective mitophagy or mitochondrial damages are causative factors of mitochondrial dysfunction, which is linked to age-related disorders. Etoposide is an anti-cancer reagent which can induce DNA stress and cellular senescence of cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated whether etoposide induces senescence and functional alterations in cultured rat astrocytes. Senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) activity was used as a cellular senescence marker. The results indicated that etoposide-treated astrocytes showed cellular senescence phenotypes including increased SA-${\beta}$-gal-positive cells number, increased nuclear size and increased senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) such as IL-6. We also observed a decreased expression of cell cycle markers, including PhosphoHistone H3/Histone H3 and CDK2, and dysregulation of cellular functions based on wound-healing, neuronal protection, and phagocytosis assays. Finally, mitochondrial dysfunction was noted through the determination of mitochondrial membrane potential using tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) and the measurement of mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR). These data suggest that etoposide can induce cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes which may have implications in brain aging and neurodegenerative conditions.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.381-391
• /
• 1998

천축황(天竺黃)은 한의학에서 청풍열(淸風熱)과 치담(治痰)하는 효능으로 중풍과 불어증(不語症)을 치료하는데 널리 사용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 천축황(天竺黃)이 실험적인 치매(Alzheimer Disease; AD)를 유발시키는 물질로 알려진 $amyloid-{\beta}\;(A{\beta}\;peptide)$를 흰쥐의 신경세포의 일종인 astrocyte에 처리하여 그 세포독성과 보호효과 및 세포막 지질의 과산화에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다. 천축황(天竺黃)은 $A{\beta}$에 의한 신경세포에 대한 손상을 억제하여 세포증식을 촉진하여 예방 및 보호효과를 나타내었다. 또한, 세포막 지질의 과산화의 지표인 malondialdehyde (MDA)생성이 $A{\beta}$처리로 크게 증가하였으나 세포막 파괴에 의한 뇌세포 파괴의 전형적인 현상이 천축황(天竺黃)의 전(前)처리와 후(後)처리로 크게 감소되었다. 그리고, 이러한 결과들은 천축황(天竺黃)이 신경세포의 하나인 astrocyte에 대한 보호효과와 세포막지질의 과산화 저해 및 $A{\beta}$처리와 같은 치매유발 독성에 대한 적응능력 향상을 통한 뇌신경의 보호효과를 주는 것으로 노인성 치매 등 임상적 응용에 그 효과가 기대된다.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제28권3호통권71호
• /
• pp.216-231
• /
• 2007

Objectives : Chengsimyeunja-eum and Sunghyangjungi-san are prescriptions used for cerebral infarction clinically; it is known that these formulas reduce ischemic damage. According to previous research data, controlling certain types of glucose is considered to decrease the risk of cerebral infarction. Based on this fact, we investigated the effects of Chengsimyeunja-eum and Sunghyangjungi-san extracts on reperfusion following ischemic damage to diabetic rats, the change of c-FOS and Bax positive neurons in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex and protein through immunohistochemical methods, changes of serum glucose level, serum triglyceride level, and hepatic glucokinase activity. Methods : We induced ischemic damaged in diabetic rats, and the rats were administered Chengsimyeunja-eum and Sunghyangjungi-san extracts. Results : Chengsimyeunja-eum demonstrated significant decrease of c-Fos positive neurons in both hippocampus and cerebral cortex as well as a significant decrease of Bax positive neurons in hippocampus after ischemic damage on diabetic rats and decrease of serum glucose level after ischemic damage on diabetic rats. Sunghyangjungi-san demonstrated significant decreases of c-Fos and Bax positive neurons in both hippocampus and cerebral cortex after ischemic damage on diabetic rats. Conclusions : Chengsimyeunja-eum, effect on glucose level control, has a remarkable effect of protection of neurons not effective on glucose level. Sunghyangjungi-san showed neuroprotective effect through preventing neuronal cell death.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제20권3호
• /
• pp.279-286
• /
• 2016

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), derived from honeybee hives, is a bioactive compound with strong antioxidant activity. This study was designed to test the neuroprotective effect of CAPE in 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP)-induced striatal neurotoxicity, a chemical model of Huntington's disease (HD). Initially, to test CAPE's antioxidant activity, a 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) antioxidant assay was employed, and CAPE showed a strong direct radical-scavenging effect. In addition, CAPE provided protection from 3NP-induced neuronal cell death in cultured striatal neurons. Based on these observations, the in vivo therapeutic potential of CAPE in 3NP-induced HD was tested. For this purpose, male C57BL/6 mice were repeatedly given 3NP to induce HD-like pathogenesis, and 30 mg/kg of CAPE or vehicle (5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 95% peanut oil) was administered daily. CAPE did not cause changes in body weight, but it reduced mortality by 29%. In addition, compared to the vehicle-treated group, robustly reduced striatal damage was observed in the CAPE-treated animals, and the 3NP-induced behavioral deficits on the rotarod test were significantly rescued after the CAPE treatment. Furthermore, immunohistochemical data showed that immunoreactivity to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and CD45, markers for astrocyte and microglia activation, respectively, were strikingly reduced. Combined, these data unequivocally indicate that CAPE has a strong antioxidant effect and can be used as a potential therapeutic agent against HD.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.101-105
• /
• 2005

[ ${\beta}ig-h3$ ] is a secretory protein that is induced by $TGF-{\beta}$ and implicated in various disease conditions including fibrosis. We have previously reported that ${\beta}ig-h3$ expression is implicated in astrocyte response to brain injury. In this study, we further investigated potential roles of ${\beta}ig-h3$ protein in the injured central nervous system (CNS). We specifically assessed whether the treatment of microglial cells with ${\beta}ig-h3$ can regulate microglial activity. Microglial cells are the prime effector cells in CNS immune and inflammatory responses. When activated, they produce a number of inflammatory mediators, which can promote neuronal injury. We prepared conditioned medium from the stable CHO cell line transfected with human ${\beta}ig-h3$ cDNA. We then examined the effects of the conditioned medium on the LPS- or $IFN-{\gamma}-mediated$ induction of proinflammatory molecules in microglial cells. Preincubation with the conditioned medium significantly attenuated LPS-mediated upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression in BV2 murine microglial cells. It also reduced $IFN-{\gamma}-mediated$ upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and COX-2 mRNA expression but not iNOS mRNA expression. Assays of nitric oxide release correlated with the mRNA data, which showed selective inhibition of LPS-mediated nitric oxide production. Although the regulatory mechanisms need to be further investigated, these results suggest that astrocyte-derived ${\beta}ig-h3$ may contribute to protection of the CNS from immune-mediated damage via controlling microglial inflammatory responses.

• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.481-487
• /
• 2010

본 연구에서는 열대과일 리치의 부산물인 과피를 기능성 식품 산업 소재로써의 활용가능성을 알아보기 위해 영양화학성분 분석, 항산화 및 신경세포 보호효과에 대해서 조사하였다. 리치 과피의 일반성분은 수분 0.11%, 조단백질 13.97%, 조지방 0.04%, 조회분 0.33% 및 가용성 무질소물 85.52%이었다. 주요 무기성분으로는 K 989.35 mg/100 g, Ca 399.81 mg/100 g 및 P 264.65 mg/100 g이었으며, 용매별 리치 과피의 총 페놀 함량을 측정한 결과는 열수 추출물 8.02 mg/g, 50% 메탄올 추출물 12.28 mg/g,으로 각각 나타났다. 주요 아미노산으로는 proline이 672.59 mg/100 g으로 가장 높은 함량을 차지하였다. 주요 지방산으로는 palmitic acid(42.86%), stearic acid(14.88%)이었으며, 리치 과피의 DPPH와 ABTS radical 소거활성을 측정한 결과 열수 추출물에 비해 50% 메탄올 추출물의 소거활성이 상대적으로 높게 나타났다. 특히 열수와 50% 메탄올 추출물의 최대 처리농도 5 mg/mL에서 DPPH와 ABTS radical 소거활성은 각각 17.68, 37.35%와 39.79, 50.33%로 나타났다. FRAP assay을 이용한 항산화 활성은 농도의존적인 경향을 보였으며, 열수 추출물에 비하여 50% 메탄올 추출물이 상대적으로 우수하였다. MTT, LDH assay를 통한 신경세포 보호효과를 측정한 결과 MTT 실험에서는 리치 과피 추출물의 모든 농도에서 positive control로서의 vitamin C와 유사한 세포 생존율을 나타냈고, LDH 실험에서는 추출물에 의한 농도 의존적 효소 방출량 감소가 관찰되었고, 특히 최대 $500\;{\mu}g/mL$ 농도에서는 50% 메탄올 추출물이 열수추출물 보다 약 1.7배 가량의 방출량 저해 효과가 나타났다. 본 연구결과를 종합해 볼 때, 우수한 영양 구성 성분과 physiological phenolics를 함유한 리치 과피 추출물은 항산화 및 산화적 스트레스로부터 신경세포 보호효과를 나타내면서 퇴행성 신경질환 등을 예방할 수 있는 기능성 산업소재로서의 가치가 높다고 판단된다.

• 한국식품과학회지
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.350-355
• /
• 2013

본 연구에서는 효모를 이용하여 제조한 미나리 천연 식초 및 원료로 사용된 미나리 발효액의 유리당, 유기산, 아미노산 함량을 측정하였으며, 미나리 식초의 뇌 기능 개선 관련 기능성을 확인하기 위하여 C6 흰쥐 신경아교세포를 이용하여 산화적 손상에 대한 보호 효과를 검토하였다. 미나리 식초는 약 5%의 초산을 함유하였으며 glucose는 검출되지 않아 초산발효가 잘 이루어진 것을 알 수 있다. 또한 유리 아미노산의 함량은 높지 않았으나 그 중 aspartic acid, arginine 그리고 valine이 주요 유리 아미노산으로 나타났으며, 발효액에서는 aspartic acid, alanine, GABA의 순으로 나타났다. 총 아미노산은 식초에서는 glutamic acid와 glutamine의 함량이 가장 높았으며, 발효액의 경우 aspartic acid와 asparagine이 주요 총 아미노산으로 나타났다. 미나리 식초의 효능을 평가하기 위하여 식초를 동결 건조하여 분말화한 식초의 산화적 손상에 대한 뇌 신경세포 보호 효과를 측정한 결과, 발효액과 식초 모두 C6 세포에 대한 독성은 없었으며 t-BHP 및 $H_2O_2$에 의한 세포 생존율 저하를 유의적으로 억제하는 효과를 확인하였다.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 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.