• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.191-198
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• 2018

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Neuroinflammation plays critical role in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the effect of three licorice varieties, Glycyrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and Shinwongam (SW) on a mouse model of inflammation-induced memory and cognitive deficit. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and orally administrated G. uralensis, G. glabra, and SW extract (150 mg/kg/day). SW, a new species of licorice in Korea, was combined with G. uralensis and G. glabra. Behavioral tests, including the T-maze, novel object recognition and Morris water maze, were carried out to assess learning and memory. In addition, the expressions of inflammation-related proteins in brain tissue were measured by western blotting. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in spatial and objective recognition memory in LPS-induced cognitive impairment group, as measured by the T-maze and novel object recognition test; however, the administration of licorice ameliorated these deficits. In addition, licorice-treated groups exhibited improved learning and memory ability in the Morris water maze. Furthermore, LPS-injected mice had up-regulated pro-inflammatory proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-6, via activation of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF{\kappa}B$) pathways in the brain. However, these were attenuated by following administration of the three licorice varieties. Interestingly, the SW-administered group showed greater inhibition of iNOS and TLR4 when compared with the other licorice varieties. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of LPS-induced cognitively impaired mice that were administered licorice, with the greatest effect following SW treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The three licorice varieties ameliorated the inflammation-induced cognitive dysfunction by down-regulating inflammatory proteins and up-regulating BDNF. These results suggest that licorice, in particular SW, could be potential therapeutic agents against cognitive impairment.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

Objectives We evaluated the improving effects of Taeksa-tang (TST) using 3T3-L1 cells and C57BL/6 mice were fed on a high-fat diet. Methods The anti-radical activities of TST were studied using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). The content of total polyphenol was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, whereas aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used for the content of total flavonoid. Moreover, the factors related to lipid profile and the protein expressions such as 𝛽-oxidation and anti-oxidant enzyme were analyzed using serum and western blotting of 3T3-L1 cells. Additionally, we examined lipolysis through glycerol appearance in mouse adipose tissue. Results TST treatment showed strong free radical scavenging activities with half maximal inhibitory concentration and the presence of a amount of total polyphenol and total flavonoid. TST treatment significantly increased factors related to 𝛽-oxidation such as carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 and uncoupling protein 2 via the phosphorlyation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Moreover, the protein expressions of anti-oxidant enzyme and lipolysis were significantly elevated by TST administration. In addition, TST supplementation lowered serum malondialdehyde, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels compared with the control group. Taken together, these data suggest that TST treatment regulated lipid parameters via the increase of 𝛽-oxidation by LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway. Conclusions TST may have a potential remedy in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Therefore, this study may provide the scientific basis for TST use.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.1210-1223
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• 2018

Background/Aims: The co-occurrence of obesity aggravates asthma symptoms. Diet-induced obesity increases helper T cell (TH) 17 cell differentiation in adipose tissue and the spleen. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pravastatin can potentially be used to treat asthma in obese patients by inhibiting interleukin 17 (IL-17) expression. This study investigated the combined effects of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 antibody treatment on allergic inflammation in a mouse model of obesity-related asthma. Methods: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity was induced in C57BL/6 mice with or without ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Mice were administered the anti-IL-17 antibody, pravastatin, or both, and pathophysiological and immunological responses were analyzed. Results: HFD exacerbated allergic airway inflammation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of HFD-OVA mice as compared to OVA mice. Blockading of the IL-17 in the HFD-OVA mice decreased airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation compared to the HFD-OVA mice. Moreover, the administration of the anti-IL-17 antibody decreased the leptin/adiponectin ratio in the HFD-OVA but not the OVA mice. Co-administration of pravastatin and anti-IL-17 inhibited airway inflammation and AHR, decreased goblet cell numbers, and increased adipokine levels in obese asthmatic mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that the IL-17-leptin/adiponectin axis plays a key role in airway inflammation in obesity-related asthma. Our findings suggest a potential new treatment for IL-17 as a target that may benefit obesity-related asthma patients who respond poorly to typical asthma medications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.405-418
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• 2022

Simotang oral liquid (SMT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) consisting of four natural plants and is used to alleviate gastrointestinal side effects after chemotherapy and functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the mechanism by which SMT helps cure these gastrointestinal diseases is still unknown. Here, we discovered that SMT could alleviate gastrointestinal side effects after chemotherapy by altering gut microbiota. C57BL/6J mice were treated with cisplatin (DDP) and SMT, and biological samples were collected. Pathological changes in the small intestine were observed, and the intestinal injury score was assessed. The expression levels of the inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6 and the adhesive factors Occludin and ZO-1 in mouse blood or small intestine tissue were also detected. Moreover, the gut microbiota was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. SMT was found to effectively reduce gastrointestinal mucositis after DDP injection, which lowered inflammation and tightened the intestinal epithelial cells. Gut microbiota analysis showed that the abundance of the anti-inflammatory microbiota was downregulated and that the inflammatory microbiota was upregulated in DDP-treated mice. SMT upregulated anti-inflammatory and anticancer microbiota abundance, while the inflammatory microbiota was downregulated. An antibiotic cocktail (ABX) was also used to delete mice gut microbiota to test the importance of gut microbiota, and we found that SMT could not alleviate gastrointestinal mucositis after DDP injection, showing that gut microbiota might be an important mediator of SMT treatment. Our study provides evidence that SMT might moderate gastrointestinal mucositis after chemotherapy by altering gut microbiota.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Objectives : Although the anti-obesity effect of Schizandrae Fructus water extract has been demonstrated, its underlying mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of Schizandrae Fructus water extract through the p-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), sirtuin1 (Sirt1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling in 60% high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model. Methods : Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups. The Normal group was fed a normal diet and the obese groups were fed 60% HFD. Except for the Control group, the GG group was supplemented with 0.5% Garcinia gummigutta and the SCW group was supplemented with 0.5% Schizandrae Fructus water extract. After 6 weeks, obesity-related biomarkers in serum were measured and the expressions of protein for lipid-related factors in liver tissue were analyzed by western blot. Results : Treatment with SCW significantly down-regulated body weight compared to the Control group. SCW down-regulated levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum and significantly increased p-AMPK, Sirt1, and PGC-1α in liver tissue. In addition, the expressions of fatty acid oxidation-related proteins such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT-1A), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) were significantly up-regulated. However, fatty acid synthesis-related proteins including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), phospho-Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (p-ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were significantly down-regulated. Conclusions : Taken together, SCW treatment showed anti-obesity effect by regulating both fatty acid oxidation-related and fatty acid synthesis-related proteins through AMPK/Sirt1/PGC-1α signaling in 60% HFD-induced obese mice.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권12호
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• pp.1036-1045
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• 2023

골격근량과 근력의 점진적인 감소를 특징으로 하는 근감소증은 고령화 인구에서 중요한 문제이다. 본 연구는 콩잎 추출물(Soybean Leaf extracts, SL)의 덱사메타손으로 유도된 근위축에 대한 치료적 가능성을 세포 및 동물 모델에서 조사하였다. 세포 실험 결과, SL은 C2C12 근섬유의 형태, 밀도 및 크기가 보존되어 통계적으로 유의미한 수준으로 덱사메타손에 의해 유발된 근위축을 완화하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, SL 처리는 주요 근육 위축 조절 인자인 muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1)과 muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx)의 발현을 mRNA 및 단백질 수준 모두에서 유의하게 하향 조절하였다. 마우스 모델에서 SL 투여는 특히 덱사메타손으로 인한 체중 감소와 근육 소모를 상쇄하여 비복근과 전경골근의 근육량을 보존하는 것으로 나타났다. 기능적으로도 SL을 투여한 마우스는 악력과 트레드밀 지구력이 향상되어 근육 성능이 개선되었다. 또한 SL은 골격근에서 근위축 관련 단백질인 MAFbx의 발현을 억제하여 덱사메타손 유도 근위축에 대한 보호 역할을 보여주었다. 이러한 연구 결과를 종합해 볼 때 SL은 근감소증과 같은 근육 소모 질환을 개선할 수 있는 유망한 천연 치료제가 될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.51-57
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• 2006

목적: 마우스 대퇴부에 심은 종양에 43 도의 열을 가한 뒤 수지상 세포를 종양내에 주입하여 국소 및 원격 항종양 효과를 관찰하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 마우스 우측 대퇴부에 MCA-102 fibrosarcoma를 피하로 주입하여 종양을 만들었고, 7일째는 반대편 대퇴부에도 주입하여 종양을 만들었다. 종양 세포를 접종한 지 7 일째 약 6 mm 가 된 종양에 43도의 열을 30 분간 가하고 골수 유래 미성숙 동종 수지상 세포를 종양내에 직접 주입하고, 이를 1 주 간격으로 2회 더 시행했다. $3{\sim}4$일 간격으로 양측 대퇴부의 종양의 크기를 측정하여 국소 및 원격 항종양 효과를 평가하였다. 또한 종양 특이적 면역 반응을 평가하기 위해 마우스의 비장 세포를 분리하여 cytotoxicity를 측정하였다. 결과 : 온열치료는 apoptosis를 유도하고 heat shock protein 발현을 증가시켰고, 6시간 경에 최고치를 보였다. 치료한 국소 종양에 있어서 온열 요법 단독만으로 종양의 성장을 억제했지만, 온열 요법 후 수지상세포를 주입했을 때는 그 성장 억제 효과는 온열요법 단독의 효과보다 높게 나왔다. (p<0.05). 한편 치료하지 않은 원 격종양에 있어서도 온열 요법 단독으로 원격 종앙의 성장 억제 효과를 보였으며 온열 요법 후 수지상 세포 를 주입했을 때도 원격 종양의 성장 억제 효과가 온열 요법 단독보다 높았으나, 그 억제 정도가 온열 요법 단독과 비교하여 통계적인 차이는 없었다 (p>0.05). Cytotoxicity 검사에서 온열요법과 수지상 세포 복합 치료 군에서 가장 높은 세포살해능을 보였고 (p<0.05), 이러한 면역 반응은 종양 특이적이었다. 결론 : 온열요법으로 apoptosis 와 heat shock protein 을 유도하고 종양내에 동종의 미성숙 수지상 세포를 주입하여 국소 및 원격 종양에 높은 항종양 효과를 유도할 수 있었다. 이러한 새로운 치료법은 암 치료에 응용 될 수 있을 것이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제65권3호
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• pp.177-182
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• 2008

연구배경: Isoniazid (INH, H)는 4제 표준 항결핵치료의 근간이 되는 중요한 약제이지만 INH를 제외하여도 치료효과에 차이가 없다는 일부 보고들이 있다. 본 연구는 초기 결핵 생쥐 모델을 이용하여 항결핵 표준병합치료에서 INH의 유용성을 평가하였다. 방 법: 140마리의 C57BL/6 생쥐를 Glas-Col 장비를 이용하여 약 100개의 H37Rv가 호흡기로 감염되도록 하였다. 감염 4주 후부터 다양한 약제의 조합으로 4~8주간 치료를 시행한 후 감염 후 28주까지 주기적으로 각각 4마리에서 폐와 비장을 적출하여 결핵균 수를 측정하였다. 1군은 약물치료를 시행하지 않은 대조군이었으며, 2군은 INH, rifampicin (RMP, R), ethambutol (EMB, E), pyrazinamide (PZA, Z)로 4주 치료하였고(4HREZ), 3군은 1HREZ/3REZ, 4군은 4REZ, 5군은 4HREZ/4HRE, 6군은 1HREZ/3REZ/4RE, 7군은 4REZ/4RE이었다. 결 과: 4주 치료한 군(2~4군)은 치료종료 시점에 폐에서 균이 배양되지 않았으나 치료 종료 12주, 20주 시점에서 다시 균이 검출되었다. 8주 치료한 군(5~7군)은 모두 치료시작 1주까지는 균수가 증가하였다가 2주 후부터 감소하여 치료시작 4주 시점에는 모두 균이 배양되지 않았다. 이후 8주간의 치료를 종료하고 종료 후 16주간 경과 관찰할 때까지(감염 후 28주) 모두에서 균이 배양되지 않았다. 비장에서는 감염 4주 후부터 균이 배양되었다. INH를 전혀 사용하지 않은 7군에서는 치료시작 4주 시점부터 균이 배양되지 않고 이후 감염 28주 시점까지 지속적으로 균이 배양되지 않았다. 반면에 INH를 지속적으로 사용하거나 일시적으로 사용한 5, 6군에서는 치료시작 4주 이후시점에도 간헐적으로 균이 배양되었다. 결 론: 초기 결핵 생쥐 모델에서 INH의 제외는 표준요법의 치료효과에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 향후 만성 결핵생쥐 모델을 이용한 추후 연구가 필요하다.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.247-256
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• 2017

Objectives: The deaths of Korean victims exposed to the disinfectant CMIT/MIT have remained unresolved. This is mainly due to a lack of concordance between the few available toxicity tests and the abundant epidemiological data, making it difficult to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate any potential associations between CMIT/MIT exposure and death. Methods: Groups of experimental and control C57BL/6 mice were instilled (in the trachea) with chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) using a visual instillobot. CMIT/MIT was instilled over a period of three days and eight weeks, respectively, to achieve acute and chronic exposures. A threshold dose-response model was applied for estimating the threshold level as one line of evidence for a causal association between CMIT/MIT and death. Results: An acute exposure of 1.2 mg ai/kg/day of CMIT/MIT was estimated to reflect the threshold for death. The dose-response curve with this threshold showed a very steep slope and a narrow range of CMIT/MIT exposures. The narrow range of CMIT/MIT exposures, in particular, indicated an evident boundary between survival and death, thus implicating a strong causal association. A similar threshold dose-response relationship observed following acute exposure was also seen following chronic exposure to CMIT/MIT. Airborne disinfectant exposure was visible as minimal or mild lung damage with no fibrosis, as shown by histopathological tests. However, many observations are considered to be functional respiratory tract or lung failure due to death, as observed in necropsies of the mice that died due to CMIT/MIT exposures. Conclusions: There are two strong lines of evidence for a causal association between death and CMIT/MIT exposure: 1) The threshold dose-response curve, with a very steep slope and a narrow range of CMIT/MIT exposures showing a visible boundary between survival and death; and 2) many cases of functional respiratory or lung failure.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.32-43
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• 2009

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is known to cause severe hepatotoxicity mainly through the depletion of glutathione. In this study, we compared the cytotoxic effects of APAP on both a normal murine hepatic cell line, BNL CL.2, and its SV40-transformed cell line, BNL SV A.8. Gene expression profiles for APAP-treated cells were also obtained using microarray and analyzed to identify differences in genes or profiles that may explain the differences of susceptibility to APAP in these cell lines. These two cell lines exhibited different susceptibilities to APAP (0-$5,000{\mu}M$); BNL SV A.8 cells were more susceptible to APAP treatment compared to BNL CL.2 cells. A dose of $625{\mu}M$ APAP, which produced significant differences in cytotoxicity in these cell lines, was tested. Microarray analysis was performed to identify significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) irrespective of APAP treatment. Genes up-regulated in BNL SV A.8 cells were associated with immune response, defense response, and apoptosis, while down-regulated genes were associated with catalytic activity, cell adhesion and the cytochrome P450 family. Consistent with the cytotoxicity data, no significant DEGs were found in BNL CL.2 cells after treatment with $625{\mu}M$ APAP, while cell cycle arrest and apoptosis-related genes were up-regulated in BNL SV A.8 cells. Based on the significant fold-changes in their expression, a genes were selected and their expressions were confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR; there was a high correlation between them. These results suggest that gene expression profiles may provide a useful method for evaluating drug sensitivity of cell lines and eliciting the underlying molecular mechanism. We further compared the genes identified from our current in vitro studies to the genes previously identified in our lab as regulated by APAP in both C57BL/6 and ICR mice in vivo. We found that a few genes are regulated in a similar pattern both in vivo and in vitro. These genes might be useful to develop as in vitro biomarkers for predicting in vivo hepatotoxicity. Based on our results, we suggest that gene expression profiles may provide useful information for elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of drug susceptibility and for evaluating drug sensitivity in vitro for extrapolation to in vivo.