• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.7-21
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• 2014

Objectives : To observe the regenerative effects of indirect moxibustion, a traditional Korean medical treatment on skeletal muscles using mouse model of skeletal muscle adiposity. Methods : Twenty seven ICR male mice were randomly assigned into Intact control(n=3), glycerol treatment together without moxibustion(n=12), and glycerol treatment together with moxibustion (n=12) groups. Mice of glycerol treatment groups were injected with 50 ${\mu}l$ DW(distilled water) containing 50 % of glycerol into the two tibialis anterior. After injection, moxibustion was applied at 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) acupoints three times per each session, every days for twelve days(total 12 treatments). Phospho-Erk1/2, Myostatin protein levels were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluo-rescence staining techniques for tissues of the tibialis anterior muscle. Smad, phospho-Smad were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Results : 1. Histological analysis of sections from injected TA muscles showed that glycerol induced rapidly muscle necrosis, with a maximum at day 3. 6 days and 9 days after injection, muscle was regenerating. 2. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Erk1/2 protein signals in glycerol treatment with moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment without moxibustion group. 3. According to western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, myostatin protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 4. According to immunofluorescence staining, Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. 5. According to immunofluorescence staining, phospho-Smad protein signals in glycerol treatment without moxibustion group were stronger compared to Intact and glycerol treatment with moxibustion group. Conclusions : These results confirm that indirect moxibustion of 'Shenshu'($BL_{23}$) and 'Zusanli'($ST_{36}$) influences muscle regeneration in mouse models of skeletal muscle adiposity. Further discussion, and the establishment of moxibustion mechanism will prompt clinical application of moxibustion.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.395-401
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• 2010

본 연구는 상아모세포의 분화, 상아질의 형성, 치근 형성에 중요한 역할을 하는 NFI-C가 치아에 미치는 영향과 NFI-C 결손 생쥐에서 NFI-C와 TGF-${\beta}$의 신호전달물질인 Smad4의 발현양상을 알아보았다. 이를 위해 NFI-C 결손 생쥐치아를 광학 현미경과 면역조직적 화학방법을 사용하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. NFI-C 결손생쥐는 전치부의 경우 법랑질이 있는 치관 부위는 상아질이 정상적으로 형성되었지만 법랑질이 없는 설면 부위는 개방되어 있었고 뼈모양 상아질이 관찰되었다. 2. NFI-C 결손생쥐는 구치부의 경우 법랑질이 있는 치관 부위는 상아질이 정상적으로 형성되었지만 법랑질이 없는 치근부위의 치근은 짧아졌고 상아모세포의 수가 줄었으며 약간의 뼈모양 상아질이 관찰되었다. 이는 NFI-C결손이 상아모세포 분화에 영향을 끼쳐 비정상적인 치근을 만드는 것을 보여준다. 3. NFI-C 결손생쥐의 Smad4 발현은 정상 생쥐에 비해서 핵에 더 많은 발현을 보였다. 이는 Smad4가 NFI-C와 TGF-${\beta}$의 신호전달물질로서 그 사이에서 균형을 맞추면서 상아모세포 분화에 영향을 미친다는 것을 보여준다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권11호
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• pp.595-596
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• 2015

Skeletal muscle exhibits a loss of muscle mass and function with age. Decreased regenerative potential of muscle stem/progenitor cells is a major underlying cause of sarcopenia. We analyzed microRNAs (miRNA) that are differentially expressed in young and old myoblasts, to identify novel intrinsic factors that play a degenerative role in aged skeletal muscle. miR-431, one of decreasing miRNAs in old myoblasts, improved the myogenic differentiation when overexpressed in old myoblast, but suppressed their myogenic capability in knockdowned young myoblasts. We found that miR-431 directly binds to 3` untranslated regions (UTR) of Smad4 mRNA, and decreases its expression. Given that SMAD4 is one of the downstream effectors of TGF-β, a well-known degenerative signaling pathway in myogenesis, the decreased miR-431 in old myoblast causes SMAD4 elevation, thus resulting in defective myogenesis. Exogenous expression of miR-431 greatly improved the muscle regeneration in the cardiotoxin-injured hindlimb muscle of old mice by reducing SMAD4 levels. Since the miR-431 seed sequence is conserved in human SMAD4 3'UTR, miR-431 regulates the myogenic capacity of human skeletal myoblasts in the same manner. Our results suggest that age-associated miR-431 is required for the maintenance of the myogenic capability in myoblasts, thus underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target to slow down muscle aging.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.76-83
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is an important disease featured as intense inflammation, protease imbalance, and air flow limitation and mainly induced by cigarette smoke (CS). In present study, we explored the effects of $Pycnogenol^{(R)}$ (PYC, pine bark extract) on pulmonary fibrosis caused by CS+lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Mice were treated with LPS intranasally on day 12 and 26, followed by CS exposure for 1 h/day (8 cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks. One hour before CS exposure, 10 and 20 mg/kg of PYC were administered by oral gavage for 4 weeks. PYC effectively reduced the number of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory mediators caused by CS+LPS exposure in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PYC inhibited the collagen deposition on lung tissue caused by CS+LPS exposure, as evidenced by Masson's trichrome stain. Furthermore, transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) expression and Smad family member 2/3 (Smad 2/3) phosphorylation were effectively suppressed by PYC treatment. PYC markedly reduced the collagen deposition caused by CS+LPS exposure, which was closely involved in $TGF-{\beta}1$/Smad 2/3 signaling, which is associated with pulmonary fibrotic change. These findings suggest that treatment with PYC could be a therapeutic strategy for controlling COPD progression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.519-530
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• 2022

Recent research indicates that lactate promotes the switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to a synthetic phenotype, which has been implicated in various vascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of lactate on the VSMC phenotype switch and the underlying mechanism. The CCK-8 method was used to assess cell viability. The microRNAs and mRNAs levels were evaluated using quantitative PCR. Targets of microRNA were predicted using online tools and confirmed using a luciferase reporter assay. We found that lactate promoted the switch of VSMCs to a synthetic phenotype, as evidenced by an increase in VSMC proliferation, mitochondrial activity, migration, and synthesis but a decrease in VSMC apoptosis. Lactate inhibited miR-23b expression in VSMCs, and miR-23b inhibited VSMC's switch to the synthetic phenotype. Lactate modulated the VSMC phenotype through downregulation of miR-23b expression, suggesting that overexpression of miR-23b using a miR-23b mimic attenuated the effects of lactate on VSMC phenotype modulation. Moreover, we discovered that SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3) was the target of miR-23b in regulating VSMC phenotype. Further findings suggested that lactate promotes VSMC switch to synthetic phenotype by targeting SMAD3 and downregulating miR-23b. These findings suggest that correcting the dysregulation of miR-23b/SMAD3 or lactate metabolism is a potential treatment for vascular diseases.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.461-466
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• 2008

Transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ ($TGF-{\beta}$)에 의해 유도되는 세포사멸 과정은 정상 조직에서 손상 받은 조직이나 비정상 적인 조직을 제거하는데 중요한 역할을 담당한다. Gadd45b는 p38 kinase를 활성화시킴으로 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의해 유도되는 세포사멸 과정을 매개한다고 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의해 세포사멸이 일어나는 EpH4 세포에서 Gadd45b 유전자의 발현이 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의해 촉진됨을 보여주었다. 어떠한 기작으로 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의해 Gadd45b 유전자의 발현이 촉진되는지 알아보기 위해 Gadd45g 유전자의 5'-flanking region을 cloning하였으며, EpH4 세포에서 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의해 그 promoter activity가 증가함을 확인하였다. 여러 가지 deletion mutants를 제조하여 promoter activity를 조사한 결과 전사 개시점으로부터 220 bp upstream 부위 에 promoter activity에 필수적인 sequence가 존재함을 확인하였다. 또한 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의한 Gadd45b 유전자의 promoter activity에 Smad2, Smad3, 그리고 Smad4가 중요한 기능을 담당함도 확인하였다. 마지막으로 ras 유전자가 도입되어 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의한 세포사멸이 억제되어있는 EpRas 세포에서 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의한 Gadd45b 유전자의 발현을 확인한 결과 EpRas 세포에서 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의한 Gadd45b 유전자의 발현이 억제됨을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 Gadd45b 유전자가 EpH4 세포에서 $TGF-{\beta}$에 의한 세포사멸을 유도하는데 중요한 기능을 담당할 가능성이 높음을 의미하는 것이다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.245-253
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• 2024

본 연구는 초석잠 뿌리 분획물의 항산화 및 항염증 효과를 규명하고 transforming growth factor (TGF) β 자극에 의한 smad 신호전달에 미치는 효과에 대해 연구하였다. 초석잠 뿌리 분획물들 중 n-BuOH 분획물이 16.67 mg/g 으로 가장 높은 플라보노이드 함량을 나타내었으며, 다음으로 n-Hexane, water 및 85% aq. MeOH 분획물 순이었다. 초석잠 뿌리의 지방산 조성은 n-6 지방산(54.27%) > n-3 지방산(21.18%) > 포화지방산(19.70%) > n-9 지방산(3.60%) 순으로 나타났으며, 지방산들 중 n-6계 지방산인 linoleic acid (18:2n-6)가 54.27%로 나타내었고 n-3계 지방산인 linolenic acid (18:3n-3)는 20.82%의 함량을 나타내었다. DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼 소거능을 확인한 결과, 초석잠 뿌리 분획물들 중 n-BuOH 분획물은 0.5 mg/mL 의 농도에서 각각 85.4% 및 90.2%로 라디칼 소거능을 나타내었다. 85% aq. MeOH 분획물은 0.5 mg/mL 의 농도에서 각각 58.7% 및 90.8%로 DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼 소거능을 보였다. 항염증 효능 중 NO 생성 저해 효과는 모든 분획물들이 0.5, 1 및 2 mg/mL의 농도에서 control 과 유의적 차이를 보이면서 NO 생성을 저해하였다(p<0.05). TGFβ signaling의 smad3 의 인산화 발현량을 확인한 결과 85% aq. MeOH 및 water 분획물들을 처리한 군에서 control과 비교했을 때 각각 88% 및 77% 수준으로 smad3의 인산화가 저해되는 것을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과들로부터 플라보노이드 함량이 높은 n-BuOH 분획물의 항산화 활성이 높았고 항염증 및 TGFβ signaling의 smad3 의 인산화 저해 활성은 85% aq. MeOH 및 water 분획물들에서 높은 활성이 나타났다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.304-310
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• 2012

The present study showed that Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-${\beta}_1$) can induce apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells. This apoptosis was also observed with phosphorylation of Smad2/3 within 0.5-2 h. Afterwards the signal transferred into the nucleus. Moreover, intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration was significantly elevated as well as Caspase-3 activated and DNA lysised, thereby inducing the programmed cell death. This signaling pathway of TGF-${\beta}_1$ was blocked by SB-431542 ($10^{-2}{\mu}M$) via inhibiting ALK-5 kinase activity, which thus reversed the anti-proliferation and apoptosis effect of TGF-${\beta}_1$ in mammary epithelial cells. These results indicated that TGF-${\beta}_1$ induced apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells through the ALK-5-Smad2/3 pathway, which plays an important role in inhibiting survival of mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ also played a critical role in TGF-${\beta}_1$-induced cell apoptosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.270-274
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• 2014

Lymphatic vessels are essential to regulate interstitial fluid homeostasis and diverse immune responses. A number of crucial factors, such as VEGFC, SOX18, PROX1, FOX2C, and GJC2, have been implicated in differentiation and/or maintenance of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). In humans, dysregulation of these genes is known to cause lymphedema, a debilitating condition which adversely impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. However, there are no currently available pharmacological treatments for lymphedema, necessitating identification of additional factors modulating lymphatic development and function which can be targeted for therapy. In this report, we investigate the function of genes associated with Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling in lymphatic development using zebrafish embryos. The knock-down of BMP type II receptors, Bmpr2a and Bmpr2b, and type I receptors, Alk3 and Alk3b, as well as SMAD5, an essential cellular mediator of BMP signaling, led to distinct lymphatic defects in developing zebrafish. Therefore, it appears that each constituent of the BMP signaling pathway may have a unique function during lymphatic development. Taken together, our data demonstrate that BMP signaling is essential for normal lymphatic vessel development in zebrafish.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.93-106
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study is to characterize the effect of Chungganhaeju-tang on $TGF-{\beta}l$-induced hepatic fibrosis. Materials and Methods : mRNA and protein expression levels of $TGF-{\beta}l$ in Chungganhaeju-tang treated HepG2 cells were compared to untreated cells using quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA assay, respectively. mRNA expression levels of the $TGF-{\beta}l$ signaling pathway genes $(T{\beta}R-I,\;T{\beta}R-II,\;Smad2,\;Smad3,\;Smad4,\;and\;PAI-1)$ and fibrosis-associated genes (CTGF, fibronectin, and collagen type $l{\alpha}$) were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. The effect of Chungganhaeju-tang on cell proliferation of T3891 human fibroblast was evaluated using $[^3H]Thymidine$ Incorporation Assay. Results : Inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}l$ mRNA expression and protein production was observed with treatment of Chungganhaeju-tang and seen to be dose and time dependent. Whereas $TGF-{\beta}l$-mediated induction of PAI-1 was suppressed with treatment of Chungganhaeju-tang, expression of the $TGF-{\beta}l$ signaling pathway genes such as $T{\beta}R-I$, $T{\beta}R-II$, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 was not affected. With treatment of Chungganhaeju-tang, inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}l$-induced cell proliferation of T3891 human fibroblast was observed, as well as abrogation of $TGF-{\beta}l$-mediated transcriptional up-regulation of CTGF, fibronectin, and collagen type $I{\alpha}$. Conclusion : This study strongly suggests that the liver cirrhosis-suppressive activity of Chungganhaeju-tang may be derived at least in part from its inhibitory effect on $TGF-{\beta}l$ functions, such as blockade of $TGF-{\beta}l$ stimulation of fibroblast cell proliferation and fibrosis-related gene expression as well as expression of $TGF-{\beta}l$ itself.