• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 2018

Background: Recent studies show that mitophagy, the autophagy-dependent turnover of mitochondria, mediates pulmonary epithelial cell death in response to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure and contributes to the development of emphysema in vivo during chronic cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we investigated the role of mitophagy in the regulation of CSE-exposed lung bronchial epithelial cell (Beas-2B) death. We also investigated the role of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, roflumilast, in CSE-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death. Results: Our results demonstrated that CSE induces mitophagy in Beas-2B cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and increased the expression levels of the mitophagy regulator protein, PTEN-induced putative kinase-1 (PINK1), and the mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-1-like protein (DRP1). CSE-induced epithelial cell death was significantly increased in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE but was decreased by small interfering RNA-dependent knockdown of DRP1. Treatment with roflumilast in Beas-2B cells inhibited CSE-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy by inhibiting the expression of phospho-DRP1 and -PINK1. Roflumilast protected against cell death and increased cell viability, as determined by the lactate dehydrogenase release test and the MTT assay, respectively, in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE. Conclusion: These findings suggest that roflumilast plays a protective role in CS-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.5 s.85
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• pp.706-713
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• 2007

Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI(SB) is used in oriental medicine for the treatment of incipient strokes. Although it has been reported that SB is neuroprotective in a hypoxia model, its mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of SB on the modulation of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), which has important biological roles in regulating mitochondrial heme protein turnover and in protecting against conditions such as hypoxia, neurodegenerative diseases, or sepsis. Rat cerebrocortical day In vitro(DIV)12 cells were grown in neurobasal medium. On DIV12 cells were treated with SB($20{\mu}g/ml$) and given a hypoxic shock ($2%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;3\;hr$) on DIV14. In situ hybridization results revealed that SB upregulated HO-1 mRNA in neuronal dendrites in both normoxia and hypoxia(38.5% and 59.2%, respectively). At the protein level, SB upregulated HO-1 in the neuronal soma in both normoxia and hypoxia(22.4% and 15.7%, respectively). Interestingly, most significant increase was associated with astrocytes, which increased HO-1 protein by 77.5% compared to SB-untreated culture. These results indicate that SB upregulates both neuronal and glial HO-1 expression, which contributes to the neuroprotection efficacy in hypoxia).

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.217-221
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• 2002

Age-related osteopenia and osteoporosis are common in postmenopausal women due to decrease in bone mass and ovarian function. A therapy for osteoporosis would depend on only drugs to inhibit bone loss, hormonal replacement therapy, exercise and dietary supplementation and it is very hard to fad an ideal therapy for osteoporosis as yet. Chlorella which is rich in minerals such as calcium magnesium fatty acids, vitamins and sterol, could be applicable for prevention and co-treatment of osteoporosis, but it has yet to be studied. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the effect of dietary chlorella on bone mineral density (BMD) and nutritional improvement. BMD was measured in the femural neck and lumber spine portion. Nutritional and bone turnover markers from blood samples were assessed serum lkaline phosphatase, hemoglobin, number of erythrocytes and total protein. Studies for the femur neck measurement showed that normal BMD increased 2.1% for the group fed chlorella supplemented diet for four month and increased 6.6% fur group treated for one year when compared to the control group, and for the lumber spine measurements the few month group showed an increase of 9.1% over the control group, the one year group showed an increase of 64.2% over the control group. Hemoglobin content, number of erythrocytes and total protein showed similar increased patterns with BMD measurement, meanwhile, serum alkaline phosphatase increased 3% for the four month group and decrease 16% for the one year group compare to the control group. In conclusion, the postmenopausal women fed chlorella supplemented diet results in an increase in BMD. This is a marked increment in lumber spine, enhancement of nutritional state and stable bone turnover. This data showed a positive relationship between BMD and nutritional change with chlorella treatment, and suggested that chlorella dietary may lead to improving and preventing rapid loss of BMD in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.387-397
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine if heat shock proteins are involved in autophagy in skeletal muscle. We used the autophagy flux strategy, which is an LC3 II/p62 turnover assay conducted with and without an autophagy inhibitor, to determine whether 17-DMAG (an Hsp90 inhibitor/Hsp72 activator) stimulates autophagy in skeletal muscle. We treated C2C12 cells with 17-DMAG (500 nM) for 24 hr with and without the autophagy inhibitor (Bafilomycin A1, 200 ng/ml), and we injected C57BL/6 mice i.p. with 17-DMAG (10 mg/kg) daily for 7 days with and without colchicine as an autophagy inhibitor (0.4 mg/kg/day, administered on the last 2 days). C2C12 myotubes and tibialis anterior muscles were harvested for analysis of mTOR-dependent autophagy signaling pathway proteins and autophagic marker proteins (p62 and LC3 II) by Western blot analysis. The blots showed that 17-DMAG upregulated hsp72 and decreased Akt protein levels and S6 phosphorylation in C2C12 cells. However, an in vitro autophagic flux assay demonstrated that 17-DMAG did not increase LC3 II and p62 protein concentrations to a greater extent than Bafilomycin A1 treatment alone. Similarly, 17-DMAG increased Hsp72 protein levels and decreased the expression of Akt and the phosphorylation of S6 in mouse skeletal muscle. However, unlike the response seen in C2C12 myotubes, the p62 protein levels were significantly decreased in 17-DMAG-treated mouse skeletal muscle (~50%; p<0.05). The LC3 II protein levels in 17-DMAG-treated mice were increased ~2-fold more when degradation was inhibited by colchicine (p<0.01). This suggests that 17-DMAG stimulates basal autophagy in skeletal muscle but is not found in C2C12 myotubes.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.232-237
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• 2005

Lactoferrin is a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding glycoproteins. It is originally found in milk. In addition to its antibacterial and antiviral activities, lactoferrin has many other biological functions include anti-inflammatory properties, antitumor, cell growth-promoting activity as well as antioxidant effect In the present study, we report the production of recombinant bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe in the Rhodococcus erythropolis (R erythropolis) using pTip vector. The expression level was investigated in various range of temperature, and we could successfully expressed the bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe in R erythropolis at low temperature. The recombinant proteins were purified by Nickel-Nitrolotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA). The purified proteins were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, which indicating that the recombinant proteins have a molecular weight of 80kDa and 43kDa for bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.552-560
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• 2023

Background: Ginseng Radix (Panax ginseng Meyer, Araliaceae) has been used medicinally to treat the brain and nervous system problems worldwide. Recent studies have revealed physiological effects that could potentially benefit cognitive performance or mood. The present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of Korean red ginseng water extract (KGE) and its active component in an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)-induced animal model and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The antidepressant potential of the UCMS model was evaluated using the sucrose preference test and open field tests. The behavioral findings were further corroborated by the assessment of neurotransmitters and their metabolites from the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats. Three doses of KGE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were orally administered during the experiment. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the antidepressant-like action of KGE was examined by measuring the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/CREB, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) proteins in the prefrontal cortex of UCMS-exposed rats. Results: KGE treatment normalized UCMS-induced depression-related behaviors. Neurotransmitter studies conducted after completing behavioral experiments demonstrated that KGE caused a reduction in the ratio of serotonin and dopamine, indicating a decrease in serotonin and dopamine turnover. Moreover, the expression of BDNF, Nrf2, Keap1 and AKT were markedly increased by KGE in the prefrontal cortex of depressed rats. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that KGE and its constituents exert antidepressant effects that mediate the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems and expression of BDNF protein in an animal model.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.492-496
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• 1999

We have investigated the biochemical properties of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA polymerase without the UL42 protein (Pol), purified from insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus containing the UL30 gene. BSA and DTT have inhibitory effects on dAMP incorporation. Pol showed a greater turnover rate of steady-state single nucleotide incorporation at 12 mM $MgCl_2$ than at 2 mM $MgCl_2$. However, it showed a greater processivity of DNA synthesis at lower $MgCl_2$ concentration (1 mM, 2 mM) than at a higher $MgCl_2$ concentration (12.5 mM). These results are consistent with a slow DNA dissociation at lower $MgCl_2$ concentrations. Pol does not incorporate a correct nucleotide into the primer with an incorrect nucleotide at the end; instead, it preferentially excises the incorrect nucleotide at the 3' end of the primer. Pol has DNA polymerase activity at pHs 6.5 and 7.5 but little at pHs 5.5, 8.5, and 9.5. It has exonuclease activity at pHs 6.5, 7.5, and 8.5 but little at pHs 4.5, 5.5, and 9.5. The finding that Pol has exonuclease activity but not DNA polymerase at pH 8.5 suggests that DNA binds to Pol, but deoxynucleotide binding or incorporation does not occur at pH 8.5.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.716-728
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• 1998

To investigate the effect of dietary Ca levels on metabolic changes of Ca and skeleton in postmenopausal women, 10-month-old ovariectomized female rats were compared with 2 month old rats. The rats were fed either 0.2% or 1.2% Ca diets for 16 weeks. Food intake and weight gain as higher in rats fed high Ca diets and in ovariectomized rats. Apparent Ca absorption as higher, and Ca balance was lower in the low Ca groups. Vertebrae density was higher in old rats or those fed a high Ca diets. The old rats and ovariectomized rats showed decreased bone formation, increased bone resorption and kidney function deterioration resulting in increased urinary Ca excretion. Contradictory to the above observation, old rats and ovariectomized rats still showed higher bone mass and bone ash content. Therefore aging was not fully onging in 10-month-old rats. Bone weights, mineral contents, and mineral/wt ratio were lower in ovariectomized rats. Dietary Ca level did not affect urinary Ca excretion, urinary protein excretion, GFR, serum alkaline phosphatase, or urinary hydroxyporline excretion. This means that dietary Ca level did not influence kidney function or bone turnover. However Ca content and the ash content of femur, 4th vertebra, and scapula were increased in high Ca groups. Therefore, it is considered that decreased bone formation and accelerated bone resorption may account for the increased osteoporotic risk in women in menopause after middle age. However, Ca metabolism can be improved and bone components can be maintained if Ca is supplemented.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2011

Osteocalcin (OC), a marker of bone turnover, displays patterns in relation to physiological and genetic factors. Here, we present an association study in a population of Chinese Holstein cattle (n = 24) with OC serum concentration as a phenotypic trait. We hypothesised that OC status is associated with phylogeny, vitamin D serum level and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was used as an unlinked marker to examine phylogeny and linkage to measured phenotypic traits of vitamin D and OC status. Following an association study with OC serum variability as the trait, genotyping of SNPs (n = 27) in OC-related genes was performed. Candidate SNPs were chosen in genes with an emphasis on the vitamin D and vitamin K pathways. Multivariant factor analysis revealed a correlation between vitamin D serum concentration and a SNP in the gene GC (rs43338565), which encodes a vitamin D-binding protein, as well as between a SNP in NFATc1 (rs42038422) and OC concentration. However, univariate analysis revealed that population structure, vitamin D serum levels and SNPs were not significant determinants of OC status in the studied group.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2011

A peroxidase (PD-cP; 0.47 mg/100 g leaves) was purified from autumn leaves of Phytolacca dioica L. and characterized. PD-cP was obtained by acid precipitation followed by gel-filtration and cation exchange chromatography. Amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of PD-cP up to residue 15 were similar to that of Spinacia oleracea (N-terminal pairwise comparison showing four amino acid differences). PD-cP showed a molecular mass of approx. 36 kDa by SDS-PAGE, pH and temperature optima at 3.0 and $50.0^{\circ}C$, respectively and seasonal variation. The Michaelis-Menten constant ($K_M$) for $H_2O_2$ was 5.27 mM, and the velocity maximum ($V_{max}$) $1.31\;nmol\;min^{-1}$, while the enzyme turnover was $0.148\;s^{-1}$. Finally, the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ enhanced the PD-cP activity, with $Mg^{2+}$ 1.4-fold more effective than $Ca^{2+}$.