• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.735-739
• /
• 2002

Large quantities of porcine hepatocyte aggregates with various degrees of aggregation (DA) could be obtained by controlling the suspension periods (0,9,24, and 48 h), and by entrapping the hepatocyte aggregates in model materials of encapsulation such as Ca-alginate and type-I collagen gels. The effects of DA on liver-specific functions of hepatocytes were evaluated in order to obtain optimum DA for the cell source of bioartificial liver (BAL) systems. Irregular rugged aggregates (size $75 \pm 28$ $\mu\textrm{m}$) farmed by 24 h of suspension culturing showed peak viability and hepatic functions such as ammonia removal and albumin secretion in the two types of entrapment systems, thus offering themselves as a stable cell source of a BAL system for hepatic functions and scale-up.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.580-592
• /
• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to further investigate the potential health beneficial effects of long-term seaweed supplementation on lipid metabolism and hepatic functions in DIO mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Four brown seaweeds (Undaria pinnatifida [UP], Laminaria japonica [LJ], Sargassum fulvellum [SF], or Hizikia fusiforme [HF]) were added to a high fat diet (HFD) at a 5% ratio and supplemented to C57BL/6N mice for 16 weeks. Triglycerides (TGs) and total cholesterol (TC) in the liver, feces, and plasma were measured. Fecal bile acid (BA) levels in feces were monitored. Hepatic insulin signaling- and lipogenesis-related proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly reduced in the LJ, SF, and HF groups compared to the HFD group by the end of 16-week feeding period. Plasma TG levels and hepatic lipid accumulation were significantly reduced in all 4 seaweed supplemented groups, whereas plasma TC levels were only suppressed in the UP and HF groups compared to the HFD group. Fecal BA levels were significantly elevated by UP, LJ, and SF supplementation compared to HFD feeding only. Lastly, regarding hepatic insulin signaling-related proteins, phosphorylation of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase was significantly up-regulated by all 4 types of seaweed, whereas phosphorylation of protein kinase B was up-regulated only in the SF and HF groups. Lipogenesis-related proteins in the liver were effectively down-regulated by HF supplementation in DIO mice. CONCLUSIONS: Brown seaweed consumption showed hypotriglyceridemic effects in the prolonged DIO mouse model. Specifically, combinatory regulation of BA excretion and lipogenesis-related proteins in the liver by seaweed supplementation contributed to the reduction of plasma and hepatic TG levels, which inhibited hyperglycemia in DIO mice. Thus, the discrepant and species-specific functions of brown seaweeds provide novel insights for the selection of future targets for therapeutic agents.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.305-306
• /
• 2003

To treat fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) patients, various extracorporeal bioartificial liver (BAL) systems have been developed. Several requirements should be met for the development of BAL systems: hepatocytes should be cultured in a sufficiently high density; their metabolic functions should be of a sufficiently high level and duration; and the BAL systems module should permit scaling-up and aseptic handling. Several investigators have found that freshly isolated primary hepatocytes can be cultured into three dimensional, tightly packed, freely suspended, multicellular aggregates, or spheroids. These specialized cell structures exhibited enhanced liver specific functions and a prolonged differentiated state compared to cells maintained in a monolayer culture. Cells in spheroids appear to mimic the morphology and ultrastructure of the in vivo liver lobule. The ability of hepatocytes to organize into three-dimensional structures was hypothesized to contribute to their enhanced liver-specific activities. In this study, the ammonia removal rate and urea secretion rate of pig hepatocytes spheroids encapsulated in Ca-alginate bead were determined. A packed-bed bioreactor with encapsulated pig hepatocytes was devised as BAL support system. The efficacy of the system was evaluated in vitro.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 2008

We have fabricated polystyrene (PS) nanofibrous scaffold for hepatocyte culture by electrospinning method and subsequently coated with specific ligand of Poly[N-p-vinylbenzyl-O-$\beta$-D-galactopyranocyl-($1{\rightarrow}4$)-D-gluconamide](PVLA) to enhance hepatocytes attachment. Rat hepatocytes behavior on the PVLA-coated and non-coated PS nanofibrous matrices have been investigated. Electrospun PS nanofiber structures revealed randomly aligned fibers with average diameter of 500 nm. It is observed that PS nanofibrous matrix could incorporate many cells into the interior of the matrix probably due to the suitable pore size. Cell viabilities cultured on PVLA-coated PS nanofibrous mats were maintained for 3 weeks, while it was decreased rapidly on PVLA-coated PS dishes. High hepatic functions especially for albumin secretion and ammonia removal were maintained at least for 2 weeks on nanofibrous mats but rapidly decreased on flat PS dishes. These results indicate that nanofibrous structure enabled 3-D culture with high level of cell-cell contact results in providing cell-cell communications and subsequent long-term maintenance of specific cell functions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.147-147
• /
• 2002

This experimental study was carried out to investigate on the safety of Nog-yong aqua-acupuncture solution in primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes. Primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes has been considered as a ideal model for toxicological studies because cultured hepatocytes maintained many liver-specific functions. In this research, we investigated the effects of Nog-yong aqua-aqupunture(1-10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) on cytotoxicites in primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes using LDH release assays. Hepatic glutathione level. glutathione-S-transferase activity, and albumin synthesis were not affected by treatment with Nog-yong aqua-aqupuntur alone. Nog-yong aqua-aqupuncoure solution(0.5-$10{\mu}\textrm{g}$/ml) on cytotoxicites in primary culture of adult rat hepatocytes using LDH release not significantly affected normal functional charaterists.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.130-134
• /
• 2007

Haptoglobin (Hp) is a glycoprotein that is produced by hepatic cells and secreted into the circulation. While studying the physiologic functions of Hp, we found that Hp synthesized in THP-1 monocytic cells was largely retained within cells, although Hp is considered a secretory protein. To investigate the molecular mechanism on Hp secretion in THP-1 cells, in the present study, we examined the effect of protein kinase C (PKC) on Hp secretion. When several inhibitors of PKC isoforms were tested, only Rottlerin, a specific inhibitor of PKC-$\delta$, completely blocked Hp secretion from cells to culture medium. To confirm the role of PKC-$\delta$ in Hp secretion, Hp-overexpressing COS7 cells were transiently transfected with a wild-type or a dominantnegative mutant of the PKC-$\delta$ gene. Mutant PKC-$\delta$ significantly inhibited Hp secretion, whereas the wild-type gene slightly increased Hp secretion. These results demonstrate that the PKC-$\delta$ signal is involved in Hp secretion.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 2017

Irisin is a novel hormone like polypeptide that is cleaved and secreted by an unknown protease from fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), a membrane-spanning protein and which is highly expressed in skeletal muscle, heart, adipose tissue, and liver. Since its discovery in 2012, it has been the subject of many researches due to its potent physiological role. It is believed that understanding irisin's function may be the key to comprehend many diseases and their development. Irisin is a myokine that leads to increased energy expenditure by stimulating the 'browning' of white adipose tissue. In the first description of this hormone, increased levels of circulating irisin, which is cleaved from its precursor fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5, were associated with improved glucose homeostasis by reducing insulin resistance. Irisin is a powerful messenger, sending the signal to determine the function of specific cells, like skeletal muscle, liver, pancreas, heart, fat and the brain. The action of irisin on different targeted tissues or organs in human being has revealed its physiological functions for promoting health or executing the regulation of variety of metabolic diseases. Numerous studies focus on the association of irisin with metabolic diseases which has gained great interest as a potential new target to combat type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. Irisin is found to improve insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes by increasing sensitization of the insulin receptor in skeletal muscle and heart by improving hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism, promoting pancreatic ${\beta}$ cell functions, and transforming white adipose tissue to brown adipose tissue. This review is a thoughtful attempt to summarize the current knowledge of irisin and its effective role in mediating metabolic dysfunctions in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.46 no.9
• /
• pp.527-534
• /
• 2023

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is the main cause of organ dysfunction and failure after liver surgeries including organ transplantation. The mechanism of liver IRI is complex and numerous signals are involved but cellular metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, and inflammation are considered the major contributors to liver IRI. In addition, the activation of inflammatory signals exacerbates liver IRI by recruiting macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, and activating NK cells, NKT cells, and cytotoxic T cells. Technological advances enable us to understand the role of specific immune cells during liver IRI. Accordingly, therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat liver IRI have been proposed but no definitive and effective therapies exist yet. This review summarizes the current update on the immune cell functions and discusses therapeutic potentials in liver IRI. A better understanding of this complex and highly dynamic process may allow for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches and optimize patient outcomes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.710-718
• /
• 2021

Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PD-MSCs) are promising candidates for cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine. The migration and homing potential of PD-MSCs to injured sites is a critical property of MSC engraftment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been shown to regulate the critical functions of MSCs, such as proliferation, survival, and migration. The objective of the present study was to identify the miRNA and target genes involved in PD-MSCs homing in a bile duct ligation (BDL) rat model. We selected candidate miRNAs targeting genes for PD-MSCs homing based on microarray analysis. PD-MSC engraftment in BDL-injured rat liver was identified by immunofluorescence assay and human-specific Alu gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) one week after transplantation. Compared with migrated naïve PD-MSCs under hypoxic and normoxic conditions (Hyp/Nor), the transplanted group with PD-MSCs (Tx) showed distinct differences in miRNA expressions in BDL-injured rat liver. We also validated the miRNAs and their target genes for PD-MSCs homing. The expressions of integrin α4 (ITGA4) and integrin α5 (ITGA5) target genes for miR-199a-5p and miR-148a-3p were significantly upregulated in the Tx group (p<0.05). In addition, integrin β1 (ITGB1) and integrin β8 (ITGB8) were upregulated by suppressing miR-183-5p and miR-145-5p, respectively. These results demonstrated that PD-MSCs regulate miRNA expression related to the integrin family for their homing effects on the BDL-injured rat liver. The findings further suggest that miRNA-mediated regulation of the integrin family contributes to the therapeutic efficacy of PD-MSCs in the rat hepatic fibrosis model by BDL.