• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 1997

We collected airborne complex mixtures in a industrial area of Yeochun, and examined whether these complex mixtures could affect gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in a cultured WBF-344 rat liver epithelial cells (LEC). Since the reduction of GJIC plays an important role in chemical carcinogenesis, measurement of changes of GJIC is a meaningful method to screen carcinogenicity of these mixtures. High and low volume samples were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and tested. Blank filter extractions were also examined for exclud-ing possible toxicity of filter itself, and TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) and DMSO were used as positive and negative control, respectively. When the cells were exposed to samples at concentration below that required to maintain rather than 85% cell viability based on the result of neutral red uptake assay, maximal inhibition of GJIC was observed at 1hr after treatment with both high and low volume samples by scrape-loading dye transfer assay. In fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay, recovery rates via gap junctions were 33%/min in high volume sample and 62%/min in low volume sample. In together, airborne samples collected in Yeochun inhibited GJIC in a cultured WBF-344 rat LEC. These results suggest airborne samples tested in this experiment may attribute to cause a certain type and degree of cancers in in vivo when exposured for some periods.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.853-863
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• 2005

Object : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba(ACH) on cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Methods : Hepatic Stellate Cells were obtained from a 350gm Sprague-Dawley rat by tissue perfusion system, and the cells for the study were selected after 3 passages of culture on non-coated plastic culture dishes which enable the cells to activate, thus producing collagens in the cell media. Cells were treated with various concentrations of Artemisia Capillaris Herba(ACH) extract powder for 24 or 48 hours. After the treatment, Soluble collagen, procollagen levels and the mRNA of the procollagen type I C were measured by using assay kit and RT-PCR method. Results : Procollagen production by the hepatic stellate cells decreased after the treatment in a time-dependent dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression decreased consistently with the volume of the secreted procollagen which indicates the herb hat inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating one of the fibrosis associated genes in transcription. Conclusion : These results suggest that ACH is beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for the patients with chronic hepatitis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.468-473
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• 1999

Nuclear Factor 1 (NF1) proteins are a family of transcriptional factors consisting of four different types: NF1-A, -B, -C, and -X. Some NF1 transcription factors contain a heptasequence motif, SPTSPSY, which is found as a repeat sequence in the carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. A similar heptasequence, SPTSPTY, is contained in rat liver NF1-A at a position between residues 469 and 475. In order to investigate the roles of the individual amino acids of the heptasequence of rat liver NF1-A in transcriptional activation, we systematically substituted single and multiple amino acid residues with alanine residue(s) and evaluated the transcriptional activities of the mutated NF1-A. Substitution of a single amino acid reduced transcriptional activity by 10 to 30%, except for the proline residue at position 473, whose substitution with alanine did not affect transcriptional activity. However, changes of all four serine and threonine residues to alanine or of the tyrosine residue along with the serine residue at position 469 to alanine reduced the activity to almost background levels. Our results indicate that multiple serine and threonine residues, rather than a single residue, may be involved in the modulation of the transcriptional activities of the factor. Involvement of the tyrosine residue is also implicated.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.405-410
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• 2004

The effect of treatment with Citrus junos fractions (citron 3W, citron 3H, citron 4W and citron 4H) upon rat hepatocytes exposed to alcohol was investigated. We compared the serum biochemistry of rats administered both alcohol and Citrus junos fractions to control rats treated with alcohol alone. The effects of Alanine amino transferase (ALT) were significantly lower in the citron 3H extract group compared with the negative control group (p<0.05) and other experimental groups were not significantly low but a little low compared to negative control group. The levels of triglyceride (TG) were significantly low in all experimental groups compared with negative control group. Especially triglyceride level of citron 3H was lowest near to normal control group. The concentration of total cholesterol was significantly high in negative groups compared with normal control group but in all experimental groups, the concentration of total cholesterol was similar to that of negative control group. Total cholesterol of the citron 4W group was somewhat low compared with negative control group. In contrast, activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were significantly higher in all experimental groups compared with the negative control (p<0.05) group. These data suggest that Citrus junos fractions may represents an excellent candidate for protection of rat hepatocytes from alcohol-mediated damage.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.519-523
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• 2004

This study sought to investigate the ameliorating effects of a Korean medicinal herb (KMH) complex on the impacts of alcohol consumption in rat hepatocytes and in reducing the total cholesterol levels and the total lipid levels in the serum. We compared the body weight gain and ratio of the liver, the kidney to body weight, and also the serum biochemistry of the rats administered with both the alcohol and the KMH complex to the control rats treated with alcohol alone. The clinically important enzyme markers (Aspartate Aminotransferase, AST, and Alanine Aminotransferase, ALT) of rats, administered with both the alcohol and the KMH complex treatments, were compared with those in the control group. The treatment regimen (KMH complex) significantly reduced the serum AST and ALT levels, indicating the hepato-protective effects of the KMH complex. Furthermore, total cholesterol and total lipid levels were significantly reduced. These results indicate that the KMH complex may positively mediate the effects of alcohol on hepatocytes and the general liver functions.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin A on the membrane property and ultrastructure in ethanol-administered rat livers. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing of 130 ~150g were fed with experimental diets for 7 weeks. The diets contained different types of vitamin A which were $\beta$-carotene, retinyl acetate and retinoic acid. After feeding theexperimental diets for 7 weeks, a dose of 3.0g ethanol (30%, W/V)/kg B.W was injected to rats intraperitoneally. Control rats received 0.9% saline containing isocaloric sucrose instead of ethanol. Plasma membrane fluidity of liver decreased in rats fed with vitamin a -Deficient diet with ethanol as compared to that of control rats. Fluidity change of liver plasma membrane that ethanol had induced was influenced by dietary supplementation of vitamin A, but not influenced by the type of supplemented vitamin. A . The ultrastructural changed of hepatic mitrochondria were observed in some rats such as vitamin A-deficient rats with ethanol. Inadequate consumptionof vitamin A contributed to ultrastructural changes such as swelled mitochondria occurred by ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Although accurate mechanism involved in the plasma membrane-stabilizing effect of vitamin A is still unclear, dietary supplementation of vitamin A such as retinyl acetate is neede to modulate this change. The direct involvement of membrane property on the cell damage caused by ethanol treatment remains to be established.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 2006

We investigated liver protection effect of the Hovenia dulcis Thunb extraction which has treated with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$, 1.0 ML/kg) in SD male rat (20 weeks). We observed the amount of leukocyte, erythrocyte, hemoblobin and hematocrit are increased and the number of plaque is decreased for treatment of $CCl_4$, However, after treatment of Hovenia dulcis Thunb extraction (15 mL/kg), we have same result that of control group which has treated with $CCl_4$ The blood biological data showed that the value of AST (Aspartate aminotransferase), ALT(Alanine aminotransferase) and LDH (Lactate dehydronase) are increased significantly for the negative control group compared to that of control group. For experimental group, respectively, In addition, it was confirmed that the recovery effect of a mysterious death of an interstitial cell of the experimental group is to be compared to that of the negative control group for a sample of pathological tissue.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.415-424
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of Angelica Gigantis Radix on cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells(HSC-T6) were treated with various concentrations of Angelica Gigantis Radix extract for both 24 and 48 hours. The extraction was done either with distilled water or 80% EtOH. After the treatment, cell viability, cell proliferation, procollagen production and the mRNA expression of the ASMA, TIMP1, TIMP2, procollagen Type 1a2, and Cytokine IL-6 production were measured by using MTT assay, BrdU assay, RT-PCR, procollagen Type I C-peptide EIA and IL-6 ELISA assay. Results : The cell viability treated with water extraction was significantly increased, but there were no significant changes treated with 80% EtOH extraction. The cell proliferation treated with water extraction decreased only in the 24 hours group, while there were significant decreases either in the 24 and 48 hours groups treated with 80% EtOH extraction. The mRNA expressions of the ASMA, TIMP2 and procollagen 1a2 decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the 48 hours group. Procollagen production decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in both the 24 and 48 hours groups. Cytokine IL-6 production increased in a concentration-dependent manner in both the 24 and 48 hours groups. Conclusion : These results suggest that Angelica Gigantis Radix is beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.268-273
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• 2001

This study was performed to investigate the effects of HBM(Healthy Body Maker) on the weight loss and serum cholesterol level of rats. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200$\pm$5g were grouped into 2. Rats were raised for 6 weeks with diet containing 0% and 5% of HBM. 1. There were no clinical signs for all the experimental period(6 weeks) in 0% and 5% groups. 2. At 3 and 6 weeks. body weight of 5% HBM group was significantly lower than that of control group. respectively(p<0.05, p<0.01). 3. At 4 weeks. the level of MCHC of 5% HBM group was significantly higher than that of control group(p<0.01) And at 6 weeks the level of RBC and Hct of 5% HBM group were significantly higher than those of control group(p<0.05) 4. At 6 weeks. the level of serum cholesterol of 5% HBM group was significantly lower than that of control group. 5. Absolute liver weight of 5% HBM group was significantly lower than that of control group(p<0.05). 6. Minor subaceous sickness of liver cell in the control group appeared but no symptom of liver cell in 5% HBM group. It is concluded that HBM was a safe and effective diet food which aided in inducing weight loss in rat without any observed harmful clinical side effects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.97-97
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• 1997

It was reported that ATP depletion occurs and accelerates cell damage during ischemia and reperfusion. To determine the mechanism of cell damage, the change of energy metabolism in liver was studied during ischemia/reperfusion. The groups were divided into four categories : sham-operated group, ischemia/reperfusion group, and two types of ATP-MgCl$_2$ treatment groups(one was treated during ischemia and the another during reperfusion). Rats were administered intravenously saline or ATP-MgCl$_2$. Rats were anesthetized and blood vessels in the left and median lobes of the liver were occluded. After 60min of ischemia, the clamp at those vessels were removed. After ischemia, one and five hours after reflow, energy metabolites(ATP, ADP, AMP, inosine, adenosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine) in liver were measured with HPLC. To observe mitochondrial function, aterial keton body ratio in blood and mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase activity in liver were measured. And lipid peroxidation was measured to evalutate the involvement of free radicals. In this study, ATP and ADP were catabolized to their metabolites(AMP, inosine, adenosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine) during ischemia and they resynthesized ATP and ADP during reperfusion. But total purine base were not restored to level of normal rat. The main source of resynthesizing ATP and ADP was AMP. In both ATP-MgCl$_2$ treated groups, mitochondrial function was protected and lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced. Our findings suggest that ischemia/reperfusion impairs hepatic energy metabolism.