• BMB Reports
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.111-112
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• 2019

Although many studies have reported that the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents one of the major pathological changes in aging, the mechanism underlying this process remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we described that acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) derived from endothelial cells plays a critical role in BBB disruption in aging. ASM levels were elevated in the brain endothelium and plasma of aged humans and mice, resulting in BBB leakage through an increase in caveolae-mediated transcytosis. Moreover, ASM caused damage to the caveolae-cytoskeleton via protein phosphatase 1-mediated ezrin/radixin/moesin dephosphorylation in primary mouse brain endothelial cells. Mice overexpressing brain endothelial cell-specific ASM exhibited acceleration of BBB impairment and neuronal dysfunction. However, genetic inhibition and endothelial specific knock-down of ASM in mice improved BBB disruption and neurocognitive impairment during aging. Results of this study revealed a novel role of ASM in the regulation of BBB integrity and neuronal function in aging, thus highlighting the potential of ASM as a new therapeutic target for anti-aging.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.169-180
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aimed at evaluation of the effects of Rhodiola rosea on brain edema and expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) related to blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Methods : Brain edema following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was induced by the stereotaxic intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase type VII in rats (Sprague-Dawley). Then ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea was treated once a day for 3 days. Brain edema % and water contents, and BBB leakage were examined. Immunohistochemistry was processed for MMP-9, MMP-12, and iNOS expressions in the brain sections and each immuno-labeled cells were analyzed with image analysis software. Results : 1. Ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea reduced brain edema following ICH in rats significantly. 2. Ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea reduced excessive brain tissue water contents following ICH in rats significantly. 3. Ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea reduced BBB leakage in the cerebral cortex following ICH in rats. 4. Ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea reduced cellular edema of neurons in peri-hematoma and the cerebral cortex following ICH in rats significantly. 5. Ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea reduced MMP-9 positive cells in the cerebral cortex following ICH in rats significantly. 6. Ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea reduced MMP-12 positive vessels in the cerebral cortex following ICH in rats significantly. 7. Ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea reduced iNOS positive cells in the cerebral cortex and external capsule following ICH in rats significantly. Conclusions : These results suggest that Rhodiola rosea reveals protective effect against brain edema and cytotoxic edema of neurons by means of down-regulation of MMPs and iNOS expressions, and inhibition of BBB leakage.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.19-26
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (SMR) water extract against the cerebral hemorrhage and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment in the intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Method : ICH was induced by the stereotaxic intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase type IV in Sprague-Dawley rats. SMR was orally given three times every 20 hours during 3 days after the ICH induction. Hematoma volume, water content of brain tissue and volume of evans blue leakage were examined. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive neutrophils and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) were observed with immunofluorescence labeling and confocal microscope. Results : SMR significantly reduced the hematoma volume of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR significantly reduced the water content of brain tissue of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR reduced the percentage of the evans blue leakage around the hematoma on the caudate putamen compared to the ICH group, especially on the cerebral cortex. SMR significantly reduced the volume of the evans blue leakage level in the peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR significantly reduced MPO positive neutrophils in the peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. SMR reduced the TNF-${\alpha}$ expression in peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. TNF-${\alpha}$ immuno-labeled cells were coincided with MPO immuno-labeled neutrophils in peri-hematoma regions of the ICH-induced rat brain. Conclusion : These results suggest that SMR plays a protective role against the blood-brain barrier impairment in the ICH through suppression of inflammation in the rat brain tissues.

• BMB Reports
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2010

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Although the causative factors of PD remain elusive, many studies on PD animal models or humans suggest that glial activation along with neuroinflammatory processes contribute to the initiation or progression of PD. Additionally, several groups have proposed that dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) combined with infiltration of peripheral immune cells play important roles in the degeneration of DA neurons. However, these neuroinflammatory events have only been investigated separately, and the issue of whether these phenomena are neuroprotective or neurotoxic remains controversial. We here review the current knowledge regarding the functions of these neuroinflammatory processes in the brain. Finally, we describe therapeutic strategies for the regulation of neuroinflammation with the goal of improving the symptoms of PD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.203-209
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of study was to evaluate the feasibility of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images of the rat obtained using a 1.5T MR machine in several blood-brain barrier (BBB) experiments. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. MR images were obtained using a clinical 1.5T MR machine. A microcatheter was introduced via the femoral artery to the carotid artery. Normal saline (group 1, n = 4), clotted autologous blood (group 2, n = 4), triolein emulsion (group 3, n = 4), and oleic acid emulsion (group 4, n = 4) were infused into the carotid artery through a microcatheter. Conventional and diffusion-weighted images, the apparent coefficient map, perfusion-weighted images, and contrast-enhanced MR images were obtained. Brain tissue was obtained and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed in group 2. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran images and endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) studies were performed in group 4. Results : The MR images in group 1 were of good quality. The MR images in group 2 revealed typical findings of acute cerebral infarction. Perfusion defects were noted on the perfusion-weighted images. The MR images in group 3 showed vasogenic edema and contrast enhancement, representing vascular damage. The rats in group 4 had vasogenic edema on the MR images and leakage of dextran on the FITC-labeled dextran image, representing increased vascular permeability. The immune reaction was decreased on the EBA study. Conclusion : Clinical 1.5T MR images using a rat depicted many informative results in the present study. These results can be used in further researches of the BBB using combined clinical MR machines and immunohistochemical examinations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.433-441
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• 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ginsenoside-Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-KRGE) is known to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects on neurological disorders. However, effects of Rg3-KRGE in EAE remain unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated whether Rg3-KRGE may improve the symptoms and pathological features of myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG)_35-55 peptide - induced chronic EAE mice through improving the integrity of the BBB. Results: Rg3-KRGE decreased EAE score and spinal demyelination. Rg3-KRGE inhibited Evan's blue dye leakage in spinal cord, suppressed increases of adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, extracellular matrix proteins fibronection, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, and prevented decreases of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-3, and claudin-5 in spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE repressed increases of proinflammatory transcripts cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but enhanced expression levels of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase-1 and IL-10 in the spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE inhibited the expression of oxidative stress markers (MitoSOX and 4-hydroxynonenal), the enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOX4, and NADPH activity in the spinal cord of chronic EAE mice. Furthermore, apocynin, a NOX inhibitor, mimicked beneficial effects of Rg3-KRGE in chronic EAE mice. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Rg3-KRGE might alleviate behavioral symptoms and pathological features of MS by improving BBB integrity through modulation of NOX2/4 expression.