• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.868-873
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• 2003

Ginsenosides, major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, that exhibit various pharmacological and physiological actions are transformed into compound K (CK) or M4 by intestinal microorganisms. CK is a metabolite derived from protopanaxadiol (PD) ginsenosides, whereas M4 is a metabolite derived from protopanaxatriol (PT) ginsenosides. Recent reports shows that ginsenosides might playa role as pro-drugs for these metabolites. In present study, we investigated the effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is one of major binding proteins on various neurotransmitters, hormones, and other pharmacological agents, on ginsenoside $Rg_{2-}$, CK-, or M4-induced regulation of $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In the absence of BSA, treatment of ACh elicited inward peak current ($I_{Ach}$) in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor. Co-treatment of ginsenoside $Rg_2$, CK, or M4 with ACh inhibited IAch in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor with reversible and dose-dependent manner. In the presence of 1% BSA, treatment of ACh still elicited $I_{Ach}$ in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor and co-treatment of ginsenoside $Rg_2$ or M4 but not CK with ACh inhibited $I_{Ach}$ in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor with reversible and dose-dependent manner. These results show that BSA interferes the action of CK rather than M4 on the inhibitory effect of $I_{Ach}$ in oocytes expressing $\alpha3\beta4$ nicotinic ACh receptor and further suggest that BSA exhibits a differential interaction on ginsenoside metabolites.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.167-182
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• 2002

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on chronic pains and factors that affected EA effects. The responses of wide dynamic range (WDR) cells to electrical stimulation of $A{\delta}$ & C afferent fibers were used as an index of pain in rats with chronic pains induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant or peripheral nerve injury. In rats with chronic pains, low (2Hz) and high (100Hz) frequency EA stimulation applied to zusanli caused the inhibition of WDR cell responses in about 60% of rats and the inhibitory actions were dependent on the stimulus strength. EA stimulation also induced an excitation of WDR cell responses in 23.9% of rats and no effect in 15.8% of rats. However, it seemed that in normal rats compared to the rat with chronic pains, the incidence of which EA stimulation caused the excitation or no effect was high. Reversible spinalization almost completely blocked EA-induced inhibitory or excitatory effects. EA stimulation more frequently induced the excitation of WDR cell responses in lightly anesthetized (0.6%) rats and the enhanced responses of WDR cells were inhibited by EA stimulation in the rat anesthetized with 1.5% enflurane. These experimental findings suggest that in rats with chronic pain, EA stimulation inhibited WDR cell responses to slow $A{\delta}$ and C fiber stimulation and EA-induced inhibitory action was under the control of descending inhibitory system and degree of anesthesia.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.177-181
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• 2005

Effects of common electrophoretic reagents, reducing agents ($\beta$-mercaptoethanol [BME] and DTT), denaturants (SDS and urea), and non-ionic detergent (Triton X-100), on the activity and stability of bovine plasmin (b-pln) and human plasmin (h-pln) were compared. In the presence of 0.1% SDS (w/v), all reagents completely inhibited two plns, whereas SDS (1%) and urea (1 M) denatured plns recovered their activities after removal of SDS by treatment of 2.5% Triton X-100 (v/v). However, reducing agents (0.1 M of BME and DTT) treated plns did not restore their activities. Based on a fibrin zymogram gel, five (from b-pln) and four (from h-pln) active fragments were resolved. Two plns exhibited unusual stability in concentrated SDS and Triton X-100 (final 10%) and urea (final 6 M) solutions. Two bands, heavy chain-2 (HC-2) and cleaved heavy chain-2 (CHC-2), of b-pln were completely inhibited in 0.5% SDS or 3 M urea, whereas no significant difference was found in h-pln. Interestingly, 50 kDa (cleaved heavy chain-1, CHC-1) of b-pln and two fragments, 26 kDa (light chain, LC) and 29 kDa (microplasmin, MP), of h-pln were increased by SDS in a concentration dependent manner. We also found that the inhibition of SDS against both plns was reversible.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.187-199
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• 1999

Bone remodeling is characterized by the continuing processes of osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Bone metabolism is tightly regulated at the local level by networks of hormones, cytokines, and other factors. In pathological conditions of bone remodeling, including osteoporosis and periodontal diseases, inflammatory cytokines and local mediators are responsible for enhancement of osteoclast resorption and inhibition of repair at the sites of bone resorption. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a pleiotropic hormone with actions on the differentiation, growth, and functional activities of normal and malignant cells from numerous tissues. TNF-${\alpha}$ has been proposed as a local mediator of the control of bone turnover in situations of chronic inflammation, and it has been assumed that the local source of TNF-${\alpha}$ is the monocyte in the adjacent bone marrow or the local circulation. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a potent inducer of bone resorption. TNF-${\alpha}$ is known to induce the activation of apoptotic signaling pathway, which leads to the apoptosis of bone cells. We demonstrated that treatment of murine osteoblastic MC3T3E1 cells with TNF-${\alpha}$ decreases proliferation as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in a dose depenent manner. In addition, TNF-${\alpha}$ increases osteoclast-like cell formation in $1{\alpha}$, 25(OH)2D3 or PGE2-treated bone marrow cell culture. When cells were cultured in TNF-${\alpha}$ free ${\alpha}$-MEM, this inhibitory effect of ALP activity was reversible up to 10 ng/ml TNF-${\alpha}$, in contrast, at the 20 ng/ml TNF-${\alpha}$, irreversible. In this concentration, TNF-${\alpha}$ may induce apoptosis in MC3T3E1 cells. In this study, TNF-${\alpha}$ induces apoptosis resulting in chromosomal DNA fragmentation, preceded by JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 activation. Our present results show that JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 are activated by TNF-${\alpha}$, suggesting that the JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 participate in the bone resorption, associated with apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2005

To prove the buffering contribution of mitochondria to the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) via background nonselective cation channel (background NSCC), we examined whether inhibition of mitochondria by protonophore carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) affects endothelial $Ca^{2+}$ entry and $Ca^{2+}$ buffering in freshly isolated rabbit aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). The ratio of fluorescence by fura-2 AM ($R_{340/380}$) was measured in RAECs. Biological state was checked by application of acetylcholine (ACh) and ACh ($10{\mu}M$) increased $R_{340/380}$ by $1.1{\pm}0.15$ ($mean{\pm}S.E.$, n=6). When the external $Na^+$ was totally replaced by $NMDG^+$, $R_{340/380}$ was increased by $1.19{\pm}0.17$ in a reversible manner (n=27). $NMDG^+$-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase was followed by oscillatory decay after $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ reached the peak level. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by $NMDG^+$ was completely suppressed by replacement with $Cs^+$. When $1{\mu}M$ CCCP was applied to bath solution, the ratio of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was increased by $0.4{\pm}0.06$ (n=31). When $1{\mu}M$ CCCP was used for pretreatment before application of $NMDG^+$, oscillatory decay of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ by $NMDG^+$ was significantly inhibited compared to the control (p＜0.05). In addition, $NMDG^+-induced$ increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was highly enhanced by pretreatment with $2{\mu}M$ CCCP by $320{\pm}93.7$%, compared to the control ($mean{\pm}S.E.$, n=12). From these results, it is concluded that mitochondria might have buffering contribution to the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase through regulation of the background NSCC in RAECs.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 1999

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 metabolizes aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide (8,9-epoxidation) and aflatoxin Q1 (AFQ1; 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation) simultaneously. We investigated whether each metabolite was formed via its own binding site of CAP3A4 active site. Kinetics of the formation of the two metabolites were sigmoidal and consistent with the kinetics of substrate activation. The HIll model predicted that two substrate binding wites are involved in the oxidationof AFB1 by CYP3A4. Dehydronifedipine, a metabolite of nifedipine generated by CYP3A4, inhibited the formation of AFQ1 without any inhibition in the formation of AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxidation. Dehydronifedipine was found to act as a reversible competitive inhibitor against 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation of AFB1. Vmax and S0.5 of the 8,9-epoxidation were not changed in the presence of 0, 50, or 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ dehydronifedipine. S0.5 of 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation was increased from 58$\pm$4 $\mu\textrm{M}$ to 111$\pm$8 $\mu\textrm{M}$ in the presence of 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ nifedipine whereas Vmax was not changed. These results suggest that there exist two independent binding sites in the active site of CAP3A4 . One binding site is responsible for AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxidation and the other is involved in 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation of AFB1. Dehydronifedipine might selectively bind to the site which is responsible for the formation of AFQ1 in the active site of CYP3A4.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.559-563
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• 2009

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is a key intermediate in several central metabolic pathways of all organisms. Aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase are involved in the production or elimination of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate during glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, and are differentially expressed under various physiological conditions, including cancer, hypoxia, and apoptosis. In this study, we examine the effects of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate on cell survival and apoptosis. Overexpression of aldolase protected cells against apoptosis, and addition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to cells delayed apoptosis. Additionally, delayed apoptotic phenomena were observed when glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate was added to a cell-free system, in which artificial apoptotic process was induced by adding dATP and cytochrome c. Surprisingly, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate directly suppressed caspase-3 activity in a reversible noncompetitive mode, preventing caspase-dependent proteolysis. Based on these results, we suggest that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, a key molecule in several central metabolic pathways, functions as a molecule switch between cell survival and apoptosis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2018

Objectives : Alcoholic fatty liver is an early and reversible consequence of excessive alcohol consumption. The initial hepatocyte cell death stimulates subsequent inflammatory responses, leading to further liver injury and fibrosis. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Injinsaryung-san extract on the alcoholic fatty liver by chronic EtOH administration. Method : Male Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. All animals were randomly divided into Normal group, treated with saline (n=10); EtOH group, treated with ethanol (n=10); EtOH+IS group, treated with ethanol+Injinsaryung-san extract (n=10). For oral administration of ethanol in Control and Sample group, the ethanol was dissolved in distilled water in concentrations of 25%(v/v). Throughout the experiment of 8 week, the rats were allowed free access to water and standard chow. Sample group were administrated by Injinsaryung-san extract daily for 8 weeks. Results : The levels of hepatic marker such as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were altered. Histopathological changes were reduced and the expression of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) was markedly attenuated by Injinsaryung-san extract. Conclusion : These data suggest that Injinsaryung-san extract could be effective in protecting the liver from alcoholic fatty liver. The hepatoprotective mechanisms of Injinsaryung-san may be related to attenuation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ protein, as well as to the inhibition of inflammatory response in the liver. Therefore, Injinsaryung-san can be a candidate to protect against alcoholic fatty liver.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.7-14
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• 2017

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of aqueous extract from roots of Siberian ginseng on mTORC1 pathway. Methods: mTORC1 activity was measured by the phosphorylation status of p70 S6 kinase (S6K) in HeLa cells as well as the brain, liver and muscle tissues in diabetic db/db mice. Autophagy induction after the treatment of Siberian ginseng extract was evaluated by monitoring the conversion of cytoplasmic LC3I into lipidated LC3II in cultured human HeLa GFP-LC3 cells. Cell cycle analysis was performed in HeLa cells treated with Siberian ginseng using flow cytometry. Results: Among >2,800 plant products used for oriental medicine, Siberian ginseng was found to inhibit mTORC1 to phosphorylate S6 kinsase (S6K) in HeLa cells as well as the brain, liver and muscle tissues in diabetic db/db mice. Siberian ginseng-mediated mTORC1 activity was reversible unlike the prolonged suppression of mTORC1 by rapamycin when HeLa cells were grown in fresh media after the removal of the inhibitors. Siberian ginseng extract at concentrations to inhibit mTORC1 was not overly cytotoxic in cultured HeLa cells whereas rapamycin was obviously cytotoxic. The conversion of cytoplasmic LCI into lipidated LCII was increased by fivefold in HeLa GFP-LC3 cells treated with Siberian ginseng extract. Progression of cell cycle was attenuated at G2/M phase by the treatment of Siberian ginseng extract. Conclusions: These results suggest that the aqueous extract of Siberian ginseng possibly plays a good therapeutic role in various diseases involving mTORC1 signaling.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.457-465
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• 2015

The 15-kDa selenoprotein (Sep15) is a selenoprotein residing in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and implicated in quality control of protein folding. Herein, we established an inducible RNAi cell line that targets Sep15 mRNA in Chang liver cells. RNAi-induced Sep15 deficiency led to inhibition of cell proliferation, whereas cell growth was resumed after removal of the knockdown inducer. Sep15-deficient cells were arrested at the G1 phase by upregulating p21 and p27, and these cells were also characterized by ER stress. In addition, Sep15 deficiency led to the relocation of focal adhesions to the periphery of the cell basement and to the decrease of the migratory and invasive ability. All these changes were reversible depending on Sep15 status. Rescuing the knockdown state by expressing a silent mutant Sep15 mRNA that is resistant to siRNA also reversed the phenotypic changes. Our results suggest that SEP15 plays important roles in the regulation of the G1 phase during the cell cycle as well as in cell motility in Chang liver cells, and that this selenoprotein offers a novel functional link between the cell cycle and cell motility.