• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.403-410
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• 2009

This study investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on memory ability, cell proliferation, BDNF, and TrkB in the hippocampus and forebrain cholinergic cells in adolescent rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) were randomly assigned to the following two groups: the sedentary group (n=10) and the exercise group (n=10). Rats in the exercise group were forced to run on a treadmill for 30 min, five times per week for 4 weeks. The latency of the step-through avoidance task was used in order to evaluate memory ability. Hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) expression were assessed by Western blotting. Hippocampal cell proliferation and forebrain cholinergic cells were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The present study showed that treadmill running during the adolescent period significantly improved memory capability, increased hippocampal cell proliferation, up-regulated hippocampal BDNF and TrkB expression, and enhanced the number of forebrain cholinergic cells. These results suggest that regular exercise during the adolescent period may enhance memory function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2016

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), at appropriate concentrations, mediate various normal cellular functions, including defense against pathogens, signal transduction, cellular growth, and gene expression. A recent study demonstrated that ROS and ROS-generating NADPH oxidase (Nox) are important in self-renewal and neuronal differentiation of subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem cells in adult mouse brains. In this study, we found that endogenous ROS were detected in SVZ neural stem cells cultured from postnatal mouse brains. Nox4 was predominantly expressed in cultured cells, while the levels of the Nox1 and Nox2 transcripts were very low. In addition, the Nox4 gene was highly upregulated (by up to 10-fold) during neuronal differentiation. Immunocytochemical analysis detected the Nox4 protein mainly in neurons positive for the neuronal specific tubulin Tuj1. After differentiation, endogenous ROS were detected exclusively in neuron-like cells with processes. In addition, perturbation of the cellular redox state with N-acetyl cysteine, a ROS scavenger, during neuronal differentiation greatly inhibited neurogenesis. Lastly, knockdown of Nox4 using short hairpin RNA decreased neurogenesis. These findings suggest that Nox4 may be a major ROS-generating enzyme in postnatal SVZ neural stem cells, and Nox4-mediated ROS generation may be important in their neuronal differentiation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.26-32
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• 2002

목적 : 본 연구에서는 알코올 독성에 대하여 흰쥐의 치상회에서 새로운 신경세포의 생성 및 nitric oxide synthase (NOS) 발현에 인삼이 미치는 영향을 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) 면역 조직 화학법 및 nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) 조직화학법을 통해서 관찰하고자 한다. 방법 : 실험동물을 정상군, 인삼처치군, 알코올처치군 및 알코올-인삼 처치군으로 분류하여 각각의 실험군에 3일간 BrdU (50mg/kg)를 복강주사하였다. 인삼처치군은 30mg/kg 용량의 인삼 전탕액을 중완혈에 약침주사하였고, 알코올 처치군은 2 g/kg 용량의 알코올을 투여하였으며. 알코올-인삼 처치군은 2 g/kg 용량의 알코올 및 30mg/kg 용량의 인삼 전탕액을 투여한 후 각각의 BrdU 양성 세포수와 NADPH-d 양성세포수를 관찰하였다. 결과 : 알코올 투여군은 BrdU 양성세포 및 NADPH-d 양성세포 발현이 감소하였으나, 인삼 및 알코올 인삼처치군에서는 알코올 투여군에 비해서 모두 증가하였다. 결론 : 인삼은 알코올에 의해서 유발된 새로운 신경세포 생성의 감소에 대하여 보호효과가 있으며, 알코올에 의해서 부가적으로 영향 받는 산화질소는 세포생성 조절에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 사려된다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2003

목적 : 오가피 약침이 알코올에 의해서 중독된 Sprague-Dawley(S-D)계 흰쥐의 해마 치상회에서 새로운 신경세포 생성 및 NOS발현에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 방법 : S-D계 흰쥐에 알코올을(2g/kg) 3일간 연속으로 투여한후, 5일간 인체의 중완혈에 상응하는 부위에 오가피 약침(30mg/kg) 치료를 시행하였다. 치료효과를 관찰하기 위해서 BrdU-면역조직화학 염색법 및 NADPH-d-조직화학염색법을 이용하였다. 결과 : 알코올 처치군에서는 BrdU-양성세포수 및 NADPH-양성세포수가 모두 정상군에 비해서 감소한 반면에 알코올 처치후 오가피 약침으로 치료한 군에서는 BrdU-양성세포수 및 NADPH-양성세포수 모두 알코올 처치군에 비해서 증가하였다. 결론 : 오가피 약침치료가 알코올에 의해서 중독된 S-D계 흰쥐 해마 치상회에서 새로운 신경세포의 생성을 증가시키는 것을 확인하였으며, 그 기전으로 산화질소가 관여할 것으로 사려된다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1397-1405
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• 2018

Mitochondria have multiple functions in cells: providing chemical energy, storing cellular $Ca^{2+}$, generating reactive oxygen species, and regulating apoptosis. Through these functions, mitochondria are also involved in the maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation of stem/progenitor cells. In the brain, the subventricular zone (SVZ) is one of the neurogenic regions that contains neural stem cells (NSCs) throughout a lifetime. However, reports on the role of mitochondria in SVZ NSCs are scarce. Here, we show that rotenone, a complex I inhibitor of mitochondria, inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of SVZ NSCs in different ways. In proliferating NSCs, rotenone decreases mitosis as measured through phosphorylated histone H3 detection; moreover, apoptosis is not induced by rotenone at 50 nM. In differentiating NSCs, rotenone blocks neurogenesis and oligodendrogenesis while glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes are not affected. Interestingly, in this study there were more cells in the differentiating NSCs treated with rotenone for 4-6 days than in the vehicle control group which was a different effect from the reduced number of cells in the proliferating NSCs. We examined both apoptosis and mitosis and found that rotenone decreased apoptosis as detected by staining cleaved caspase-3 but did not affect mitosis. Our results suggest that functional mitochondria are necessary in both the proliferation and differentiation of SVZ NSCs. Furthermore, mitochondria might be involved in the mitosis and apoptosis that occur during those processes.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.209-221
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• 2008

목적 : 구절초는 국화과에 속하는 다년생 초본으로 가을에 줄기와 잎을 가을에 채취한 것을 한약재로 사용하여 대한, 월경불순 등 각종 여성질환과 함께 위냉증, 소화불량, 감고, 폐렴, 기관지염, 배뇨장애 및 신경퇴행성 질환에 활용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 LPS로 염증유도된 대식세 포주를 활용하여 구절초의 항염증효능을 확인하고자 하였다. 방법 : 구절초 추출물의 항염증효과를 관찰하기 위하여 RAW264.7 대식세포주에서 MTT cytotoxic assay, iNOS 및 COX-2 발현, NO와 PGE2 생성 및 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 활성실험을 수행하였다. 결과 : 세포독성실험을 통하여 구절초 추출물의 안전성이 확인되었으며 LPS로 염증유도된 RAW264.7 대식세포주에서 증가된 iNOS의 발현이 감소되었음을 확인하였다. 또한 NO 및 PGE2의 생성을 억제하였다. 이러한 결과는 구절초가 염증매개물질의 생성을 억제하는 효과가 있음을 확인할 수 있었으며, $NF-{\kappa}B$ 활성도를 감소시킴을 관찰하였다. 결론 : 이러한 결과는 구절초가 $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway를 조절해 줌으로써 항염증효과를 나타내는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.45-57
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• 1999

Melanocytes, derived from neural crest, make melanin and protect skin from the hazardous ultraviolet light. Melanocytes with dendritic process has similar morphology with neurogenic cells and share growth factor receptors such as neurotrophin receptors. Melanogenesis can be regulated by ultraviolet light and inflammation of the skin. In addition, several factors such as hormone, cytokines, arachidonic acid can affect the proliferation and melanogenesis of melanocytes. For melanogenesis, melanocytes need expression of various genes including tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2. In addition, melanin need to be transferred from melanocytes to surrounding keratinocytes. The biology of melanocytes is complex and mechanism of melanocytes proliferation and melanogenesis is still under the investigation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2004

Glial cells such as astrocytes and microglial cells are the main source of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide(NO) in the central nervous system, which exert neuroimmune and inflammatory functions and other various neurobiologic effects. Though Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been known to strengthen the body's defence mechanisms and also to maintain the homeostasis in the central nervous system, the effects of Panax ginseng on the production of immune and inflammatory mediators have not been studied well in the brain. Therefore, this study was designed to study the effects of ginseng saponins on the production of proinflammatory cytokines and NO in the primary cultures of mixed glial cells. White ginseng saponin, 200-500 $\mu$g/ml, showed significant cytotoxicity after 72 hrs and increased TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$\beta$, and NO production. Lower doses of 50-100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml showed little cytotoxicity until 72 hrs and also increased the production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, and NO. Triple immune staining showed that white ginseng saponin, 200$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for 72 ks, induced stellation of astrocytes and iNOS expression exclusively in microglial cells. Taken together, the white ginseng saponin increased the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$, and induced iNOS expression and NO production in mixed glial cell cultures, which may be ascribed to the enhancement of central immune responses and the regulation of inflammatory reactions by Panax ginseng.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Purpose: Neuroinflammation is mediated by activation of microglia implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of neuroinflammation may be an effective solution to treat these brain disorders. Petalonia binghamiae is known as a traditional food, based on multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidant and anti-obesity. In present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Petalonia binghamiae was investigated in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was examined using Griess reagent. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was detected by Western blot analysis. Activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) signaling was examined by nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$. Results: Extract of Petalonia binghamiae significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO production and iNOS/COX-2 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with Petalonia binghamiae suppressed LPS-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$. Co-treatment with Petalonia binghamiae and pyrrolidine duthiocarbamate (PDTC), an $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, reduced LPS-stimulated NO release compared to that in PB-treated or PDTC-treated cells. Conclusion: The present results indicate that extract of Petalonia binghamiae exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling. These findings suggest that Petalonia binghamiae might have therapeutic potential in relation to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2021

Chronic alcohol is responsible for oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity and protective effects of seed of Carthamus tinctorius L. on ethanol-induced C6 glial cells. Antioxidant effect of seed of C. tinctorius L. was measured by scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-prcrylhydrazy (DPPH), hydroxyl radical (·OH), superoxide radical, and nitric oxide. The seed of C. tinctorius L. extract showed significant radical scavenging activities in a concentration-dependent manner. In particular, it revealed strong DPPH and ·OH scavenging activity, displaying more than 80% at 500 and 100 ㎍/mL, respectively. Treatment of 500 mM ethanol to C6 glial cell led to decline of cell viability and elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, seed of C. tinctorius L.-treated groups significantly increased cell viability and decreased ROS levels, compared to ethanol-induced control group. These results suggest that seed of C. tinctorius L. would have protective effect against neuronal oxidative stress induced by alcohol.