• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2016

Objectives: The all anti-obesity drugs currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration work by reducing energy intake. In fact, no approved drug targets energy expenditure. In Korean medicine, it is known to Qi or Yang invigorating therapy could increase energy metabolism. Aconitum carmichaeli Debx (ACD) is a Yang invigorating herb, often used for treat obesity in Korean medicine. In the present study, the authors investigated the regulatory effects of ACD in energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Methods: The water extract of ACD (0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml) were treated in differentiated C2C12 cells. The protein or mRNA levels of target genes were analyzed and mitochondrial mass were investigated. Results: ACD activated the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha ($PGC-1{\alpha}$), nuclear respiratory factor 1 and TFAM and increased mitochondrial mass. ACD also increased adenosin monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Conclusions: This study suggests that ACD has the potential to increase energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis by activating AMPK and $PGC1{\alpha}$.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.249-256
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• 2009

The estrogen receptor-related receptors (ERRs) are a group of nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors. ERRs and estrogen receptors (ERs) have overlapping affinities for coactivators and DNA binding sites, but differ markedly in ligand binding and activation. The three mammalian ERR genes have been implicated in diverse physiological processes ranging from placental development to maintenance of bone density, whereas the molecular diversity, function, and regulation of ERRs in non-mammalian species are not well understood. In the present study, to investigate the involvement of ERR in transcription and embryogenesis in marine invertebrates, a cDNA encoding ERR (SnERR) was cloned from the gonad in Strongylocentrotus nudus, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amino acid sequence of SnERR showed high homology with that of S. purpuratus (91%). A phylogenetic tree clearly showed that SnERR is a member of the ERR family and clustered in echinodermata group as supported by a high bootstrap value. We examined gene expression of SnERR during embryonic development of S. nudus using real-time PCR. During the embryonic development, the mRNA of ERR was significantly high levels in early development stages (4~64 cell) and larval stages. The SnERR slightly activated transcription through the classical estrogen response elements (EREs) in the presence of genistein. In addition, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $\gamma$ coactivator (PGC)-$1\alpha$ knwon as a coactivator of ERR enhanced the snERR-mediated transactivation, suggesting that the PGC-$1\alpha$ is a coactivator of SnERR.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation with Opuntia humifusa on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta (PPAR-${\delta}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-${\gamma}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) in the skeletal muscle of rats fed a high-fat diet. Sixteen Sprague-Dawley male rats at 6 weeks of age were randomly divided into 2 groups: a control diet group (CG, n=8) and an experimental diet group (EG, n=8). The rats were fed a high-fat diet (CG) or a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% O. humifusa (EG) for 8 weeks. The results showed that the abdominal fat pad and epididymal fat pad weights were significantly lower in the EG than in the CG (p<0.01). In the blood, serum glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in the EG group were lower than in the CG (p<0.01). The expression of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ protein in the skeletal muscle of the EG was increased compared with that of the CG (p<0.05). These results indicate that 8 weeks of O. humifusa supplementation lowers serum glucose and triglyceride levels and suppresses weight gain by reducing fat weight through an increase in the expression of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ in the muscle tissue of rats.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.900-907
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the body fat-lowering effect of garlic powder in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ coactivator-$1{\alpha}$(PGC-$1{\alpha}$)-luciferase transgenic mice (TG). In this study, we generated transgenic mice with a PGC-$1{\alpha}$ promoter (-970/+412 bp) containing luciferase as a reporter gene. Mice were fed a 45% high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently, mice were maintained on either a high-fat control diet (CON), or high-fat diets supplemented with 2% (GP2) or 5% (GP5) garlic powder for an additional 8 weeks. Dietary garlic powder reduced the body weight in the GP2 and GP5 groups, compared to the CON group. Furthermore, garlic supplementation significantly decreased the plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and leptin in the GP5 group, compared to the CON group. Specifically, luciferase activity in liver, white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue (BAT) was increased by garlic supplementation in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the body fat-lowering effect of garlic powder might be related to PGC-$1{\alpha}$ by the increase in luciferase activity in liver, WAT, and BAT. Furthermore, transgenic mice might be useful for evaluating the body fat-lowering effect of various health functional foods.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.280-285
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• 2014

Cancer cells undergo uncontrolled proliferation, and aberrant mitochondrial alterations. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a mitochondrial heat shock protein. TRAP1 mRNA is highly expressed in some cancer cell lines and tumor tissues. However, the effects of its overexpression on mitochondria are unclear. In this study, we assessed mitochondrial changes accompanying TRAP1 overexpression, in a mouse cell line, NIH/3T3. We found that overexpression of TRAP1 leads to a series of mitochondrial aberrations, including increase in basal ROS levels, and decrease in mitochondrial biogenesis, together with a decrease in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-$1{\alpha}$ (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) mRNA levels. We also observed increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, and enhanced proliferation of TRAP1 overexpressing cells. This study suggests that overexpression of TRAP1 might be a critical link between mitochondrial disturbances and carcinogenesis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2016

Sirt1 is the most prominent and extensively studied member of sirtuins, the family of mammalian class III histone deacetylases heavily implicated in health span and longevity. Although primarily a nuclear protein, Sirt1's deacetylation of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Gamma Coactivator-$1{\alpha}$ (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) has been extensively implicated in metabolic control and mitochondrial biogenesis, which was proposed to partially underlie Sirt1's role in caloric restriction and impacts on longevity. The notion of Sirt1's regulation of PGC-$1{\alpha}$ activity and its role in mitochondrial biogenesis has, however, been controversial. Interestingly, Sirt1 also appears to be important for the turnover of defective mitochondria by mitophagy. I discuss here evidences for Sirt1's regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover, in relation to PGC-$1{\alpha}$ deacetylation and various aspects of cellular physiology and disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.857-863
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• 2018

This study examined whether the supplementation of Salicornia herbacea L. (SH), a member of the Chenopodiaceae subfamily, affects tissue specific triglyceride (TG) accumulation and the peroxisome proliferator-activated $receptor-{\gamma}$ $coactivator-1{\alpha}$ ($PGC-1{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated $receptor-{\gamma}$ ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) protein expressions of skeletal muscle in rats with a high-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups: control normal diet group (CD), high-fat diet group (HD), and 5.0% SH supplemented high-fat diet group (SD). The weights of fat tissue of the SD group were reduced by approximately 25%(p<0.01), while the skeletal muscle weight of the SD group increased approximately 5% compared to those in the HD group (p<0.01). The serum and hepatic TG of the SD group decreased approximately 20% compared to those of the HD group (p<0.05). In the protein expression levels in the skeletal muscle, the $PGC-1{\alpha}$ and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expressions of the SD group were 1.5-folds higher than those of the HD group (p<0.01). From these results, SH supplementation contributes to the improvement of the serum and hepatic TG concentrations, and the $PGC-1{\alpha}$ and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ protein expression levels in the skeletal muscle of fed a high-fat diet. Thus, SH supplementation was effective in reducing fat mass and increasing muscle mass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1256-1264
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• 2016

Adrenergic, alpha-1B-, receptor (ADRA1B) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, coactivator 1 beta (PPARGC1B) genes are involved in regulation of hen ovarian development. In this study, these two genes were investigated as possible molecular markers associated with hen-housed egg production, egg weight (EW) and body weight in Chinese Dagu hens. Samples were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique, followed by sequencing analysis. Two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified within the candidate genes. Among them, an A/G transition at base position 1915 in exon 2 of ADRA1B gene and a T/C mutation at base position 6146 in the 3'- untranslated region (UTR) of PPARGC1B gene were found to be polymorphic and named SNP A1915G and T6146C, respectively. The SNP A1915G (ADRA1B) leads to a non-synonymous substitution (aspartic acid 489-to-glycine). The 360 birds from the Dagu population were divided into genotypes AA and AG, allele A was found to be present at a higher frequency. Furthermore, the AG genotype correlated with significantly higher hen-housed egg production (HHEP) at 30, 43, 57, and 66 wks of age and with a higher EW at 30 and 43 wks (p<0.05). For the SNP T6146C (PPARGC1B), the hens were typed into TT and TC genotypes, with the T allele shown to be dominant. The TC genotype was also markedly correlated with higher HHEP at 57 and 66 wks of age and EW at 30 and 43 wks (p<0.05). Moreover, four haplotypes were reconstructed based on these two SNPs, with the AGTC haplotype found to be associated with the highest HHEP at 30 to 66 wks of age and with higher EW at 30 and 43 wks (p<0.05). Collectively, the two SNPs identified in this study might be used as potential genetic molecular markers favorable in the improvement of egg productivity in chicken breeding.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2013

Betaine supplementation has been shown to alleviate altered glucose and lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet or a high-sucrose diet. We investigated the beneficial effects of betaine in diabetic db/db mice. Alleviation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress was also examined in the livers and brains of db/db mice fed a betaine-supplemented diet. Male C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were fed with or without 1% betaine for 5 wk (referred to as the db/db-betaine group and the db/db group, respectively). Lean non-diabetic db/+ mice were used as the control group. Betaine supplementation significantly alleviated hyperinsulinemia in db/db mice. Betaine reduced hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha, a major transcription factor involved in gluconeogenesis. Lower serum triglyceride concentrations were also observed in the db/db-betaine group compared to the db/db group. Betaine supplementation induced hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a mRNA levels, and reduced acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity. Mice fed a betaine-supplemented diet had increased total glutathione concentrations and catalase activity, and reduced lipid peroxidation levels in the liver. Furthermore, betaine also reduced ER stress in liver and brain. c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity and tau hyperphosphorylation levels were lower in db/db mice fed a betaine-supplemented diet, compared to db/db mice. Our findings suggest that betaine improves hyperlipidemia and tau hyperphosphorylation in db/db mice with insulin resistance by alleviating ER and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to observe the anti-diabetic effect and underlying mechanisms of Galgunhwanggumhwangryun-tang (GHH; Gegen-Qinlian-decoction) in the C2C12 myotubes. Methods: GHH (1.0 mg/ml) or metformin (0.75 mM) or insulin (100 nM) were treated in C2C12 myotubes after 4 days differentiation. The glucose uptake was assessed by 2-[N-(7-160 nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake by C2C12 cells. The expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylation AMPK (pAMPK) were measured by western blot. We also evaluated gene expression of glucose transporter type 4 (Slc2a4, formerly known as GLUT4), glucokinase (Gk), carnitine palmitoyltransferase IA (Cpt1a), nuclear respiratory factors 1 (Nrf1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (Ppargc1a) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: GHH promoted glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. The expression of AMPK protein, which plays an essential role in glucose metabolism, was increased by treatment with GHH. GHH treatment tended to increase gene expression of Slc2a4, Gk, and Nrf1 but was not statistically significant. However, GHH significantly improved Tfam and Ppargc1a gene expression in C2C12 myotubes. Conclusions: In summary, GHH treatment promoted glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. We suggest that these effects are associated with increased gene expression involved in mitochondrial biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, such as Tfam and Ppargc1a, and increased expression of AMPK protein.