• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.525-530
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• 2015

Ceramide is the most abundant lipid in the epidermis and plays a critical role in maintaining epidermal barrier function. Overall ceramide content in keratinocyte increases in parallel with differentiation, which is initiated by supplementation of calcium and/or vitamin C. However, the role of metabolic enzymes responsible for ceramide generation in response to vitamin C is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether vitamin C alters epidermal ceramide content by regulating the expression and/or activity of its metabolic enzymes. When human keratinocytes were grown in 1.2 mM calcium with vitamin C ($50{\mu}g/ml$) for 11 days, bulk ceramide content significantly increased in conjunction with terminal differentiation of keratinocytes as compared to vehicle controls (1.2 mM calcium alone). Synthesis of the ceramide fractions was enhanced by increased de novo ceramide synthesis pathway via serine palmitoyltransferase and ceramide synthase activations. Moreover, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) hydrolysis pathway by action of S1P phosphatase was also stimulated by vitamin C supplementation, contributing, in part, to enhanced ceramide production. However, activity of sphingomyelinase, a hydrolase enzyme that converts sphingomyelin to ceramide, remained unaltered. Taken together, we demonstrate that vitamin C stimulates ceramide production in keratinocytes by modulating ceramide metabolicrelated enzymes, and as a result, could improve overall epidermal barrier function.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2011

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), the most widely utilized industrial plastizer and a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, can act on peroxisome proliferators-activated nuclear hormone receptor family (PPAR) isoforms. To understand the contribution of sphingolipid metabolism to DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity, effect of DEHP exposure on activities of sphingolipid metabolic enzymes in rat liver was investigated. DEHP (250, 500 or 750 mg/kg) was administered to the rats through oral gavage daily for 28 days. The activities of acidic and alkaline ceramidases were slightly increased in 250 mg/kg DEHP-administered rat livers and significantly elevated in 500 mg/kg DEHP-administered ones, although the level of 750 mg/kg DEHP-administered ones was not increased. Neutral ceramidase, acidic and neutral sphingomyelinases, sphingomyeline synthase and ceramide syhthase were not changed at all by DEHP exposure. Therefore, acidic and alkaline ceramidases might play important roles in DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.137-142
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• 2008

Ceramide has emerged as a novel second messenger for intracellular signalling. It is produced from sphingomyelin and is involved in the control of cell differntiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. $C_2$-ceramide, short chain ceramide, plays a role in mediating contraction of cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. We examined the effect of synthesized ceramide analogues on the $C_2$-ceramide and ACh-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells isolated with collagenase. CY3523, CY3525, or CY3723 inhibited $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction, in a time dependent manne. Each analogue also inhibited the contraction in concentration dependent manners. CY 3523, CY 3525, and CY 3723 had no effect to the contraction induced by PMA. The inhibition with CY3523, CY3525 and CY3723 on the $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction was recovered by PMA. These analogues decreased the density of MAPK bands (p44/42 or p38) in the western blot. These results suggest that ceramide analogues can inhibit $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction via PKC and MAPK dependent pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.20-45
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• 2002

In this study, we demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo formation of carcinogen-lipid adduct and its correlation with DNA or protein adducts. The lipids from serum or hepatocyte membranes of Spragu-Dawley rats. human serum, and standard major lipids were in vitro reacted with benzo[a]pyrene(BP) and BP metabolites. 7,8-Dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]-pyrene(BPDE-I), an ultimate carcinogenic form of BP, was covalently bound to triglyceride(TG). BPDE-I-TG adducts isolated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) were further detected by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). TGs, including triolein, tripalmitin and tristearin, showed positive reactions with BPDE-I. However, cholesterol, phospholipids(Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidyl-inositol and sphingomyelin) and nonesterified fatty acids(palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and stearic acid) did not react with BPDE-I. In addition, other BP metabolites (BP-phenols and -diols) did not react with TG, which TG appeared to be the most reactive lipid yet studied with respect to its ability to form an adduct with BPDE-I. There was a clear-cut dose-respect to its ability to form an adduct with BPDE-I-lipid adduct in vitro between TG and [1,3-3H]BPDE-I. In an animal study, BPDE-I-TG was also formed in the serum of rats orally treated with BP(25 mg/rat). Also, obvious correlations between [3H]BP related-biomolecule adducts (DNA, protein) or lipid damage and the BPDE-I-TG adduct were obtained in various tissues of mice i.p. treated with [3H]BP. These data suggest that TG can form an adduct with BPDE-I, as do other macromolecules (DNA, RNA, and protein). Therefore, a carcinogen-lipid adduct would be a useful biomarker for chemical carcinogenesis research and cancer risk assessment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.443-448
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• 1996

The effects of Taheebo on the diabetic-piegnant rats and their fetus was investigated. It has been reported that diabetic condition of the pregnant rats can affect the process of liver formation and damage the respiratory function in the fetus. Therefore we investigated the effects of Taheebo on the prevention of liver damage and respiratory failure in the fetus and those results were compared with that of dexamethasone (DXM). In pregnant rats, streptozotocin(STZ, 45 mg/kg, 0.01 M citrate buffer) was injected into the pregnant rats on the third day of pregnancy. Methanol extracts of Taheebo(500 mg/kg p.o.) was administered once daily during pregnancy. DXM (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g i.p.) was injected into the pregnant rats in 16th and 18th days of pregnancy. Body weights were measured and fetal number and abortion rate in pregnancy rats were determined. Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in amniotic fluid and malondialdehyde, glycogen, triglyceride, protein and cholesterol levels in the liver homogenate were determined. Also blood glucose level was analyzed. Body weights of maternal rats were increased in the all groups except the DXM group. Fetal number of the Taheebo treated group was similar to the control group, and a significant increase in the body weights of fetus was observed in the STZ treated group and the Taheebo treated group compared with the control group. Blood glucose of fetus produced hypoglycemia in the control group and hyperglycemia in the diabetic-pregnant rats. The protein and cholesterol levels in fetus liver were significantly increased in the DXM treated group compared with the control group. Triglyceride content was significantly increased in all groups compared with the control group. Liver malondialdehyde level of fetus in the STZ treated group was similar to the control group. Glycogen level was significantly increased in the all groups compared with the control group. Methanol extract of Taheebo showed hypoglycemic effect on the pregnant rats. However, we could not observe any hypoglycemic effect on the fetus. There's no difference between the control and Taheebo treated group in terms of the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, protein and glycogen in the fetus liver. Further study to identify the effect of Taheebo on the fetus is under investigation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.192-198
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• 2004

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is believed to be one of viral proteins that are capable of preventing virus-infected cell death upon various stimuli. But, the effect of the HCV core protein on apoptosis that is induced by various stimuli is contradictory. We examined the possibility that the HCV core protein affects the ceramide-induced cell death in cells expressing the HCV core protein through the sphingomyelin pathway. Cell death that is induced by $C^2$-ceramide and bacterial sphingomyelinase was analyzed in 293 cells that constitutively expressed the HCV core protein and compared with 293 cells that were stably transfected only with the expression vector. The HCV core protein inhibited the cell death that was induced by these reagents. The protective effects of the HCV core protein on ceramide-induced cell death were reflected by the reduced expression of $p21^{WAF1/Cip1/Sid1}$ and the sustained expression of the Bcl-2 protein in the HCV core-expressing cells with respect to the vector-transfected cells. These results suggest that the HCV core protein in 293 cells plays a role in the modulation of the apoptotic response that is induced by ceramide. Also, the ability of the HCV core protein to suppress apoptosis might have important implications in understanding the pathogenesis of the HCV infection.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.726-734
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• 1989

To analyze the components of dense coat fractions associated with fat globule membrane, The membrane was treated with various concentrations of Triton X-100, a non-ionic detergent, and the composition of lipids associated to the detergent insoluble material was analyzed. The amount of protein, phospholipid, cholesterol and ganglioside in milk fat globule membrane was reduced consistently with increasing concentrations of Triton X-100. Butyrophilin (band 12), xanthine oxidase (band 3) and band 16 as constituents of insoluble coat materials was revealed after electrophorisis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol and sphingomyelin were identified as the major phospholipids of the coat materials without selective concentration relative to the original membranes. Percentages of total phospholipid were not changed by any of the treatments. Fatty acids of total lipid were myristate, palmitate, stearate (major saturated acids), oleate and linoleate (major unsaturated acids). Cholesterol contents on a protein basis were slightly reduced with increasing concentrations of Triton X-100. Cholesterol adhered to protein more tightly than other constituents The contents of gangliosides was proportionally refuted with increasing concentration of Triton X-100.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.140-150
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• 2022

A method of ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) was established for characterization of the lipid profile of Skipjack tuna. Over 300 lipid molecular species were identified through cross-acquisition in both positive and negative ion mode. Phospholipids (PLs) were dominant in Skipjack tuna. Lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) were the main lipid molecular species in PLs, accounting for 89.24% of the total PLs. The ratio of sphingolipids (SLs) and glycerolipids (GLs) were considerable, accounting for 12.30% and 13.60% of the total lipids respectively. Ceramide (Cer) was the main lipid molecular species of SLs, accounting for 64.96% of total SLs, followed by sphingomyelin (SM), accounting for 25.45% of total SLs. Ether diglycerides (ether DG) were the main lipid molecular species of GLs (97.83%). The main fatty acids (FAs) are unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in Skipjack tuna. Besides, a new FAs class branched fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFA) was detected, together with the FA. The active lipids identified in this study can be used to evaluate the nutritional value of Skipjack tuna.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.771-786
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• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the contents of fat-soluble nutrients (tocopherols, retinol, carotenoids, fatty acids, and cholesterol) and phospholipids (PLs) in seven types (imported SPA, SPS, SFS, and SSI; and domestic MLM, MPM, and NIX) of commercial infant formulas (IFs). The contents of tocopherol and retinol activity equivalent (RAE) in the seven IFs were 1.42 - 3.86 mg α-TE·100 kcal^-1 and 64.90 - 144.95 ㎍ RAE·100 kcal^-1, respectively. The imported IFs contained high contents of lutein + zeaxanthin (29.68 - 32.49 ㎍·100 g^-1) and lycopene (71.80 - 93.28 ㎍·100 g^-1), while the domestic IFs did not contain lycopene. The contents of linoleic acid (C18:2) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3) in the seven IFs were also within the recommended ranges (C18:2, 300 - 1,400 mg·100 kcal^-1 and C18:3, over 50 mg·100 kcal^-1) of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The ratio of arachidonic acid (ARA, C20:4)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) was 2.42 - 2.74 in the imported IFs and 0.96 - 1.08 in the domestic IFs. However, the DHA content of the domestic IFs (0.37 - 0.65 g·100 g^-1 fat%) was much higher than that of the imported IFs (0.16 - 0.18%). Total PL contents were 108.02 - 135.93 mg·100 kcal^-1 for the domestic IFs and 6.05 - 66.70 mg·100 kcal^-1 for the imported IFs. The main PLs of the domestic IFs were phosphatidyl choline (48.5 - 71.1% of total PLs), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (12.8 - 23.1%), phosphatidyl serine (7.0 - 11.6%), and sphingomyelin (4.3 - 21.5%).

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.28.1-28.20
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• 2023

Lipid accumulation in macrophages is a prominent phenomenon observed in atherosclerosis. Previously, intimal foamy macrophages (FM) showed decreased inflammatory gene expression compared to intimal non-foamy macrophages (NFM). Since reprogramming of lipid metabolism in macrophages affects immunological functions, lipid profiling of intimal macrophages appears to be important for understanding the phenotypic changes of macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions. While lipidomic analysis has been performed in atherosclerotic aortic tissues and cultured macrophages, direct lipid profiling has not been performed in primary aortic macrophages from atherosclerotic aortas. We utilized nanoflow ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to provide comprehensive lipid profiles of intimal non-foamy and foamy macrophages and adventitial macrophages from Ldlr^-/- mouse aortas. We also analyzed the gene expression of each macrophage type related to lipid metabolism. FM showed increased levels of fatty acids, cholesterol esters, phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and sphingomyelin. However, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid, and ceramide levels were decreased in FM compared to those in NFM. Interestingly, FM showed decreased triacylglycerol (TG) levels. Expressions of lipolysis-related genes including Pnpla2 and Lpl were markedly increased but expressions of Lpin2 and Dgat1 related to TG synthesis were decreased in FM. Analysis of transcriptome and lipidome data revealed differences in the regulation of each lipid metabolic pathway in aortic macrophages. These comprehensive lipidomic data could clarify the phenotypes of macrophages in the atherosclerotic aorta.