• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1207-1214
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• 2017

Schisandrae Fructus (SF), the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of chronic diseases. SF extracts have been recently reported to attenuate the inflammatory responses in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells in in vitro and monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced cartilage degradation in in vivo osteoarthritis (OA) models. However, their protective and therapeutic potentials against OA in primary culture chondrocytes and animal models remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of SF on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), biomarkers for diagnosis of OA, on interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes and MIA-induced osteoarthritis in a rat model. Our data indicated that SF treatment significantly reduced the mRNA expression and enzyme activity of MMP-1, -3 and -13 in $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes. The chondro-protective effects of SF were then analyzed in a rat OA model using a single intra-articular injection of MIA in the right knee joint. According to our results, the elevated levels of MMP-1 and -3 were markedly ameliorated by SF administration. Collectively, these findings indicate that SF could be a candidate for the treatment of OA.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.992-999
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Bambusae Caulis in liquamen (BCL) on blood circulation in animal models. Previous studies on BCL have shown effects on thrombolytic activity and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. In the mouse model, the triglyceride content were 301.5 mg/dL in the high fat diet+BCL II 0.01% group, 289.2 mg/dL in the high fat diet+BCL II 0.05% group, which was significantly lower than the high fat diet group. The total cholesterol content was 311.9 mg/dL in high fat diet+BCL II 0.01% and 293.7 mg/dL in high fat diet+BCL II 0.01% 0.05%, respectively, which was significantly lower than the high fat diet group. The HDL-cholesterol level was 206.0 mg/dL for the high fat diet, 196.6 mg/dL for the high fat diet+BCL II, and 189.2 mg/dL for the high fat diet+BCL II. There was no significant difference between the 0.01% and 0.05% groups. The high-fat diet+0.05% group was significantly improved in the blood flow compare to the high fat diet and the high fat diet+0.01% group. Platelet aggregation inhibition ability was inhibited in the high fat diet+0.01% and 0.05% groups compared to the high fat diet group.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2006

It is known that maternal diabetes induces a premature delivery and a congenital malformation. Although it was suggested that hyperglycemia is a main cause, little has been known. The effects of subtotal pancreactomized animal as a diabetic model on the embryo and the offspring were investigated. 1) Although survival rate of offsprings from the 90% pancreactomized female was lower than that of control, body weight of the survived offsprings was similar to that of control until 6 weeks after birth. When the liver was investigated, abnormal tissue was observed in both female and male offsprings from the pancreactomized mother. The level of major urinary protein(MUP) that is synthesized in the liver and secrets into urine was decreased in both female and male, supporting the liver abnormality. 2) In the pancreactomized female, size of the Langhan's island was increased and the liver also was observed abnormal. However, blood glucose level of the pancreactomized mother was not different from that of control. The low body weight and survival rate of offsprings from the $inhibin-{\alpha}$ overexpressed mice was very similar to those of the offsprings from diabetic mother. Thus when the mother itself was investigated after DNA injection, blood glucose level in the $inhibin-{\alpha}$ overexpressed mice was not different from that of control although size of the Langhan's island was decreased. Taken together, subtotal pancreactomy affected the offspring and embryo and influenced deeply the mother itself. However glucose level of the mother was not changed during investigation. It suggested that the relationship between the diabetic mother and embryo through offspring is very complex.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.747-753
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• 2019

Cognitive decline is characterized by reduced long-/short-term memory and attention span, and increased depression and anxiety. Such decline is associated with various degenerative brain disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The increases in elderly populations suffering from cognitive decline create social problems and impose economic burdens, and also pose safety threats; all of these problems have been extensively researched over the past several decades. Possible causes of cognitive decline include metabolic and hormone imbalance, infection, medication abuse, and neuronal changes associated with aging. However, no treatment for cognitive decline is available. In neurodegenerative diseases, changes in the gut microbiota and gut metabolites can alter molecular expression and neurobehavioral symptoms. Changes in the gut microbiota affect memory loss in AD via the downregulation of NMDA receptor expression and increased glutamate levels. Furthermore, the use of probiotics resulted in neurological improvement in an AD model. PD and gut microbiota dysbiosis are linked directly. This interrelationship affected the development of constipation, a secondary symptom in PD. In a PD model, the administration of probiotics prevented neuron death by increasing butyrate levels. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been identified in AD and PD. Increased BBB permeability is also associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, which led to the destruction of microtubules via systemic inflammation. Notably, metabolites of the gut microbiota may trigger either the development or attenuation of neurodegenerative disease. Here, we discuss the correlation between cognitive decline and the gut microbiota.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2021

Psoriasis is a chronic intractable skin disease caused by various inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, CXCL8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, as well as IL-17A secreted from Th17 cells and is characterized by hyperkeratosis and chronic inflammation of the epidermis. Brazilin, an active ingredient of Caesalpinia sappan L., is known to exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and function in skin barrier improvement. In particular, it was shown as a potential material for treating psoriasis in a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated HaCaT keratinocyte model. However, the direct regulation of the C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 20, a psoriasis-inducing factor, by brazilin has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the suppression of CCL20 and the regulatory mechanism by brazilin using a psoriasis-like model. First, brazilin downregulated CCL20 and CXCL8 in IL-17A-stimulated HaCaT cells in a concentration-dependent manner by inhibiting signal transducer and transcription (STAT)3 phosphorylation. In addition, brazilin significantly inhibited the expression of psoriasis-related genes CXCL8, CCL20, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in TNF-α/IL-17A/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. Moreover, brazilin also had a positive effect on improving the skin barrier in TNF-α/IL-17A/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. The above results indicated that brazilin ultimately downregulated CCL20 expression by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation, and also suppressed the expression of psoriasis-induced cytokines. If the efficacy of brazilin in improving psoriasis is verified through animal models and clinical trials in the future, it may represent a potentially therapeutic substance for psoriasis patients.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.1-22
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• 2022

The modification effects of street trees on outdoor thermal comfort in summertime according to tree planting types and road direction were analyzed using a computer simulation program, ENVI-met. With trees, the air temperature and wind speed decreased, and the relative humidity increased. In the case of mean radiant temperature (T_mrt) and human thermal sensation, physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and universal thermal climate index (UTCI), there was a decrease during the daytime. The greatest change among the meteorological factors by trees happened in Tmrt, and PET and UTCI showed similar patterns with T_mrt·The most effective tree planting type on thermal comfort modification was low tree height, wide tree crown, high leaf area index, and narrow planting interval (LWDN). T_mrt, PET and UTCI showed a large difference depending on shadow patterns of buildings and trees according to solar altitude and azimuth angles, and building locations. When the building shade areas increased, the thermal modification effect by trees decreased. In particular, results on the east and west sidewalks showed a large deviation over time. When applying the LWDN, the northwest, west and southwest sidewalks showed a significant reduction of 8.6-12.3℃ PET and 4.2-4.5℃ UTCI at 10:00, and the northeast, east and southeast sidewalks showed 8.1-11.8℃ PET and 4.4-5.0℃ UTCI at 16:00. On the other hand, when the least effective type (high tree height, narrow tree crown, low leaf area index, and wide planting interval) was applied, the maximum reduction was up to 1.8℃ PET and 0.9℃ UTCI on the eastern sidewalks, and up to 3.0℃ PET and 0.9℃ UTCI on the western ones. In addition, the difference in modification effects on T_mrt, PET and UTCI between the tree planting types was not significant when the tree effects were reduced by the effects of buildings. These results can be used as basic data to make the most appropriate street tree planting model for thermal comfort improvement in urban areas in summer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.476-484
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• 2024

Although two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell culture models are still widely used as the optimal models for anticancer activity research, three-dimensional (3D) multicellular tumor spheroid (3D MTS) models that can better approximate the tumor environment can offer an alternative to bridge the gap between in vitro and animal model studies. Isoalantolactone is among the sesquiterpene lactones found in medicinal plants, including the roots of Elecampane (Inula helenium L.), and is known to have various pharmacological activities, including anticancer activity. In this study, we investigated whether the anticancer activity of isoalantolactone observed in 2D models could be reproduced in a 3D MTS model derived from human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Hep3B cells. According to our results, isoalantolactone inhibited the formation of MTSs in a manner dependent on the treatment concentration, which was accompanied by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In particular, as isoalantolactone treatment and the culture time increased, the area of proliferating cells was replaced by cells in which apoptosis was induced. Additionally, in MTSs, isoalantolactone increased the expression of death-receptor-related proteins and the activity of caspase-3, and it decreased the expression of the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio and total poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, when the production of ROS was artificially blocked, all these changes caused by isoalantolactone were attenuated and the cell survival rate of MTS cells was restored. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the induction of apoptosis in Hep3B cell-derived MTSs by isoalantolactone is achieved through the activation of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways and is ROS-dependent.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.227-243
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• 2023

The Asiatic pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a pest that attacks rice stems. In this study, we estimated the annual generation of insect in several regions of the Republic of Korea. Adult trapping using a sex pheromone trap detected the occurrence of S. inferens adults in the three northernmost areas around 38° latitude and showed that the insect inhabits all of Korea. In most areas investigated, the seasons of the adult generations estimated using the single-sine degree-day model did not deviate from the corresponding observed seasons of adult occurrence. We estimated that the overwintering larvae hypothetically-estimated using the model could be originated from the last generation of adults. When larvae collected in paddy fields during the autumn season in a few middle and southern areas were reared at 25℃, ca. 70% of pupae did not show additional larval molting before their pupation. All larvae collected in early March in a southern area (Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do) pupated without additional larval molting when reared at 25℃. Based on these results, we presumed that S. inferens could overwinter as mainly the last instar larval stage in the area. Taken together, we conclude that S. inferens primarily has two generations per year in areas around 38° latitude, and three generations in the areas between 35.3° and 37.3° latitude. In addition, approximately 35% of insects captured by the sex pheromone trap were species other than S. inferens, as determined by analyzing the nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene. These species were not morphologically misidentified as S. inferens.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.53-64
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• 2010

Glutamate receptors may play a critical role in the refinement of developing synapses. The lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO)-medial nucleus of trapezoid body (MNTB) synaptic transmission in the mammalian auditory brain stem mediate many excitatory transmitters such as glutamate, which is a useful model to study excitatory synaptic development. Hearing deficits are often accompanied by changes in the synaptic organization such as excitatory or inhibitory circuits as well as anatomical changes. Owing to this, circling mouse whose cochlea degenerates spontaneously after birth, is an excellent animal model to study deafness pathophysiology. However, little is known about the development regulation of the subunits composing these receptors in circling mouse. Thus, we used immunohistochemical method to compare the N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA receptor) NR1, NR2A, NR2B distribution in the LSO which project glutamergic excitatory input into the auditory brainstem, in circling mouse of postnatal (p) 7 and 16, which have spontaneous mutation in the inner ear, with wild-type mouse. The relative NMDAR1 immunoreactive density of the LSO in circling mouse p7 was $128.67\pm8.87$ in wild-type, $111.06\pm8.04$ in heterozygote, and $108.09\pm5.94$ in homozygote. The density of p16 circling mouse was $43.83\pm10.49$ in wild-type, $40\pm13.88$ in heterozygote, and $55.96\pm17.35$ in homozygote. The relative NMDAR2A immunoreactive density of LSO in circling mouse p7 was $97.97\pm9.71$ in wild-type, $102.87\pm9.30$ in heterozygote, and $106.85\pm5.79$ in homozygote. The density of LSO in p16 circling was $47.4\pm20.6$ in wild-type, $43.9\pm17.5$ in heterozygote, and $49.2\pm20.1$ in homozygote. The relative NMDAR2B immunoreactive density of LSO in circling mouse p7 was $109.04\pm6.77$ in wild-type, $106.43\pm10.24$ in heterozygote, and $105.98\pm4.10$ in homozygote. the density of LSO in p16 circling mouse was $101.47\pm11.5$ in wild-type, $91.47\pm14.81$ in heterozygote, and $93.93\pm15.71$ in homozygote. These results reveal alteration of NMDAR immunoreactivity in LSO of p7 and p16 circling mouse. The results of the present study are likely to be relevant to understand the central change underlying human hereditary deafness.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.243-246
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• 2012

The study was aimed at the development of the simple linear regression model to estimate the fruit yield of sweet pepper and to support decision-making management for growing sweet pepper crop in Korea. For quantitative analysis of relationship between environmental data and periodical yield of sweet pepper the data obtained from the commercial Venlo-type glasshouse for 2 years. Obtained periodical yield data of five different cultivars and radiation data were accumulated and fitted by linear regression. A significant linear relationship was found between radiation integral and fruit yield, whereas the production per unit of radiation was different between cultivars. The slope of linear regression could indicate as light use efficiency for fruit production ($LUE_F$, $g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$). $LUE_F$ of 'Ferrari' was $5.85g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$, 'Fiesta' 5.32 for first year and $4.75g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ and for second year, 'President' was $4.66g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$, 'Cupra' was $3.86g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$, and 'Boogie' was $6.48g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$. The amount of light requirement for the unit gram of fruit was between $25.88J{\cdot}g^{-1}$, for 'Cupra' and $15.42J{\cdot}g^{-1}$ for 'Boogie'. Although we found the linear relationship between radiation and fruit yield, $LUE_F$ was varied between cultivars and as well as year. The linear relationship could describe the fruit yield as function of radiation, but it needed more variable to generalization of the production, such as cultivar specifications, temperature, and number of fruits set per plant or unit of ground.