• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.331-341
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• 2021

Liver cancer is a common tumor and currently the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Liver cancer is highly related to inflammation as more than 90% of liver cancer arises in the context of hepatic inflammation, such as hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. Despite significant improvements in the therapeutic modalities for liver cancer, patient prognosis is not satisfactory due to the limited efficacy of current drug therapies in anti-metastatic activity. Therefore, developing new effective anti-cancer agents with anti-metastatic activity is important for the treatment of liver cancer. In this study, SP-8356, a verbenone derivative with anti-inflammatory activity, was investigated for its effect on the growth and migration of liver cancer cells. Our findings demonstrated that SP-8356 inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and suppressing the mobility and invasion ability of liver cancer cells. Functional studies revealed that SP-8356 inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways, which are related to cell proliferation and metastasis, resulting in the downregulation of metastasis-related genes. Moreover, using an orthotopic liver cancer model, tumor growth was significantly decreased following treatment with SP-8356. Thus, this study suggests that SP-8356 may be a potential agent for the treatment of liver cancer with multimodal regulation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.420-428
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside F2 (GF2), a minor component of Panax ginseng, has been reported to possess a wide variety of pharmacological activities. However, its effects on glucose metabolism have not yet been reported. Here, we investigated the underlying signaling pathways involved in its effects on hepatic glucose. Methods: HepG2 cells were used to establish insulin-resistant (IR) model and treated with GF2. Cell viability and glucose uptake-related genes were also examined by real-time PCR and immunoblots. Results: Cell viability assays showed that GF2 up to 50 μM did not affect normal and IR-HepG2 cell viability. GF2 reduced oxidative stress by inhibiting phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling components such as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38 MAPK, and reducing the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, GF2 activated PI3K/AKT signaling, upregulated the levels of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2) and GLUT-4 in IR-HepG2 cells, and promoted glucose absorption. At the same time, GF2 reduced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase expression as well as inhibiting gluconeogenesis. Conclusion: Overall, GF2 improved glucose metabolism disorders by reducing cellular oxidative stress in IR-HepG2 cells via MAPK signaling, participating in the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway, promoting glycogen synthesis, and inhibiting gluconeogenesis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권11호
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• pp.1693-1699
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• 2023

Objective: Cows that are nursing get around 80% of their glucose from liver gluconeogenesis. Propionate, a significant precursor of liver gluconeogenesis, can regulate the key genes involved in hepatic gluconeogenesis expression, but its precise effects on the activity of enzymes have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of propionate on the activity, gene expression, and protein abundance of the key enzymes involved in the gluconeogenesis of dairy cow hepatocytes. Methods: The hepatocytes were cultured and treated with various concentrations of sodium propionate (0, 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00 mM) for 12 h. Glucose content in the culture media was determined by an enzymatic coloring method. The activities of gluconeogenesis related enzymes were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits, and the levels of gene expression and protein abundance of the enzymes were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Results: Propionate supplementation considerably increased the amount of glucose in the culture medium compared to the control (p<0.05); while there was no discernible difference among the various treatment concentrations (p>0.05). The activities of cytoplasmic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK1), mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK2), pyruvate carboxylase (PC), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) were increased with the addition of 2.50 and 3.75 mM propionate; the gene expressions and protein abundances of PEPCK1, PEPCK2, PC, and G6PC were increased by 3.75 mM propionate addition. Conclusion: Propionate encouraged glucose synthesis in bovine hepatocytes, and 3.75 mM propionate directly increased the activities, gene expressions and protein abundances of PC, PEPCK1, PEPCK2, and G6PC in bovine hepatocytes, providing a theoretical basis of propionate-regulating gluconeogenesis in bovine hepatocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.247-265
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• 2008

목 적: 사람의 제대유래 줄기세포 (HUC)와 양막유래 줄기세포 (HAM)를 간유사세포로 분화 시키고자 하였다. 연구방법: 산모의 동의아래 만삭 정상 산모로부터 양막 및 제대를 얻고 줄기세포를 분리, 배양하였다. 분리된 세포의 줄기세포로서의 특성을 규명하기 위하여 RT-PCR, 세포면역화학 분석 그리고 중배엽성세포로의 분화능 실험을 하였다. 또한 이들 줄기세포를 분화 배양액에서 간유사세포로 분화 유도 후, 간세포 특이 유전자 발현, 알부민 ELISA, 알부민에 대한 면역블로팅 및 세포면역화학염색 그리고 PAS 염색을 시행하였다. 결 과: 사람의 양막 및 제대로부터 세포를 분리하여 줄기세포로서의 특성을 조사하고, 이들 세포의 지방세포, 연골세포, 골아세포로의 분화능력을 확인하였다. 동일한 분화 배양액에서 HUC과 HAM을 간유사세포로 분화시킨 결과 HUC이 모든 조건에서 HAM보다 알부민과 요소를 더 많이 합성 분비하였다. 간유사세포로의 분화능력이 더 좋은 것으로 나타난 HUC을 가지고 최적의 분화를 유도한 결과 $1.2{\pm}0.8\;{\mu}g/mL$의 알부민을 합성 분비하였고, $8.9{\pm}1.2\;mg/dL$의 요소를 합성 분비하였다. 결 론: HUC과 HAM 모두 알부민을 분비하는 간유사세포로 분화할 수 있었으며, HUC이 더 잘 유도되는 것으로 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과로써 HUC과 HAM을 간질환 환자의 간세포 이식 치료에 필요한 세포치료제로써 이용할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.47-54
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• 2016

Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10)은 자연계에 널리 분포하는 화합물로 세포호흡과 항산화제로서 그 기능이 잘 알려졌지만, 최근 유전자들의 발현 조절자로서의 가능성도 제시되었다. 따라서 본 연구는 산란계에서 CoQ10의 첨가 급이가 콜레스테롤과 지방산 대사관련 유전자들의 발현에 미치는 영향을 관찰하고자 실시하였다. Lohmann Brown(40주령) 36수를 CoQ10의 첨가원에 따라 대조군(CON, basal diet(BD)), CoQ10 건조분말 급여군(T1, BD+CoQ10 100 mg/kg 사료) 및 CoQ10 건조분말 유화처리군(T2, BD+micellar of CoQ10 100 mg/kg 사료) 등 모두 3처리구로 설정하여 5주간 사양시험을 실시하였다. 시험 종료 후 각 개체의 간으로부터 total RNA를 추출하고, real-time PCR을 이용하여 유전자들의 발현을 분석하였다. 콜레스테롤 합성 과정에서 주요 조절 효소인 HMGCoA reductase(HMGCR)의 유전자 발현은 대조구에 비하여 CoQ10 분말첨가인 T1과 유화처리된 T2 처리구에서 모두 약 50%씩 억제되었다(p<0.05). 내생 콜레스테롤의 합성을 촉진시키는 전사인자인 SREBP2 mRNA 발현 또한 대조구와 비교해서 T1과 T2에서 각각 30%와 40% 감소하였다(p<0.05). CoQ10의 첨가 급이는 대조구에 비하여 liver X receptor(LXR) 유전자가 약 30~35% 그 발현이 억제되었으며, sterol regulatory element-binding proteins(SREBPs)1 또한 T2에서 약 40% 유전자 발현이 감소하였다(P<0.05). 전사인자인 $PPAR{\gamma}$와 XBP1은 CoQ10에 의하여 약 15~40% 수준으로 효과적으로 억제됨을 확인하였다(p<0.05). 세포 내부로의 에너지 공급원인 포도당의 흡수를 담당하는 GLUT2는 약 35~60% 그리고 GLUT8은 약 25~30%의 유전자발현 각각 감소함을 보였다(p<0.05). CoQ10의 섭취는 중성지방 합성을 위한 지방합성효소(FASN)의 유전자 발현을 분말처리군에서 약 30%, 유화처리군에서 약 65% 억제됨을 확인하였다(P<0.05). 본 연구결과는 CoQ10 첨가급여가 콜레스테롤 및 지방대사 관련 유전자 발현에 영향을 미치며, 세포내 콜레스테롤과 지방의 생성도 억제할 수 있음을 보여주었다.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.161-171
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• 2019

본 연구는 한국 재래닭에서 Zn 보충제 급여가 체내 항산화 지표 및 아연운반체 발현에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 기초사료(100 ppm, 대조군)에 산화아연(ZnO) 또는 Zn-methionine(ZnM)을 각각 50 ppm을 첨가하여 모두 3개군으로 설정하여 4주간 사양시험을 실시하였다. 혈중 total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen과 같은 질소화합물은 처리군들 간 차이가 없었으나, uric acid는 ZnM군에서 ZnO군보다 유의하게(P<0.05) 증가되었다. 혈액의 총 항산화능과 지질과산화도에서는 아연의 급여원에 따른 차이는 없었다. 소장에서 항산화 효소 활성도 및 지질과산화도를 조사한 결과, superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPX) 및 지질과산화도는 아연의 보충급여 및 급여원에 따른 차이는 없었으나, glutathione S-transferase (GST) 활성도는 ZnM군에서 대조군에 비해 현저히(P<0.05) 증가되었다. 간 조직에서 SOD와 GPX 활성도 및 지질과산화도는 처리군간 비슷한 수준을 보였으나, GST는 ZnM군에서 대조군에 비해 현저히(P<0.05) 증가하였다. 소장 흡수세포에서 아연 운반단백질 ZnT-1(8.62배 P=0.09) 및 ZnT-5(7.3배, P=0.06) mRNA 발현은 ZnM군에서 증가되는 경향은 보였으나, 통계적 차이는 인정되지 않았다. 간에서 아연운반체 mRNA 발현은 아연급여에 따른 통계적 차이는 없었으나, ZnM군에서 대조군에 비해 MT mRNA 발현이 4.12배 증가되는 경향(P=0.10)을 보였다. 이상의 결과로 보아 기초사료에 Zn-methionine 보충급여(50 ppm)는 재래닭의 소장 및 간 조직에서 GST 활성도를 유의하게 증가시키고, 소장에서 아연운반체 mRNA 발현을 증가시키는 경향을 보여 유기태 아연급여는 체내 산화적 스트레스 방어 긍정적인 영향을 미칠 수 있는 것으로 생각된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.686-695
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary choline supplementation on hepatic lipid metabolism and gene expression in finishing pigs with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Methods: Using a $2{\times}2$ factorial design, eight normal birth weight (NBW) and eight IUGR weaned pigs were fed either a basal diet (NBW pigs fed a basal diet, NC; IUGR pigs fed a basal diet, IC) or a diet supplemented with two times more choline than the basal diet (NBW pigs fed a high-choline diet, NH; IUGR pigs fed a high-choline diet, IH) until 200 d of age. Results: The results showed that the IUGR pigs had reduced body weight compared with the NBW pigs (p<0.05 from birth to d 120; p = 0.07 from d 120 to 200). Increased (p<0.05) free fatty acid (FFA) and triglyceride levels were observed in the IUGR pigs compared with the NBW pigs. Choline supplementation decreased (p<0.05) the levels of FFAs and triglycerides in the serum of the pigs. The activities of malate dehydrogenase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were both increased (p<0.05) in the livers of the IUGR pigs. Choline supplementation decreased (p<0.05) malate dehydrogenase activity in the liver of the pigs. Gene expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) was higher (p<0.05) in the IC group than in the other groups, and choline supplementation decreased (p<0.05) FAS and acetyl-CoA carboxylase ${\alpha}$ expression in the livers of the IUGR pigs. The expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A) was lower (p<0.05) in the IC group than in the other groups, and choline supplementation increased (p<0.05) the expression of CPT1A in the liver of the IUGR pigs and decreased (p<0.01) the expression of hormone-sensitive lipase in both types of pigs. The gene expression of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) was higher (p<0.05) in the IC group than in the other groups, and choline supplementation significantly reduced (p<0.05) PEMT expression in the liver of the IUGR pigs. Conclusion: In conclusion, the lipid metabolism was abnormal in IUGR pigs, but the IUGR pigs consuming twice the normal level of choline had improved circulating lipid parameters, which could be related to the decreased activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-generating enzymes or the altered expressions of lipid metabolism-related genes.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.207-221
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• 2018

Objectives : Present study investigated hepatoprotective effect of Haegan-jeon extract (HE) and tried to elucidate molecular mechanism involved. According to molecular mechanism, present study optimized herbal composition of HE (op-HE) and compared in vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of op-HE to HE. Methods : For in vitro experiments, HepG2 cells were exposed to arachidonic acid (AA, $10{\mu}M$) and iron ($5{\mu}M$) for inducing oxidative stress. Cell viability, GSH contents, $H_2O_2$ production, mitochondrial membrane potential, immunoblot and reporter gene assay were performed to investigate cytoprotective effects and responsible molecular mechanisms. For in vivo experiments, hepatoprotective effect of HE and op-HE were assessed on $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury mice model. Results : HE pretreatment prevented AA+iron-mediated hepatocytes apoptosis. In addition, AA+iron-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, $H_2O_2$ production, glutathione depletion were reduced by HE pretreatment. In addition, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) phosphorylation, antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven reporter gene activity, and antioxidant genes expression were increased by HE. Based on reporter gene and MTT assays, we found that op-HE consisting three medicinal herbs also significantly increased transactivation of Nrf2 and reduced the AA+iron-mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover, in $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury mice model, HE-op had an ability to ameliorate $CCl_4-mediated$ increases in serum alanine transferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity, hepatic degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and collagen deposition. Hepatoprotective effects of op-HE were comparable to those of HE. Conclusions : Present study suggests that op-HE as well as HE exhibit hepatoprotective effect against oxidative stress-mediated liver injury via Nrf2 activation.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.26-32
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• 2013

본 연구는 마우스에 고지방식이로 비만을 유도하면서 핑거루트 추출물(BPE)의 비만 억제 효과를 평가하는 것이었다. C57BL/6J 마우스를 두개의 실험군으로 나누어 8주 동안 각각 고지방식이와 고지방식이에 0.5%의 BPE를 보충한 식이를 급여하였다. BPE는 식이섭취량에는 영향을 주지 않으면서도 고지방식이군과 비교하여 유의적으로 체중증가를 줄이고, 내장지방의 축적을 억제하였다. 또한 BPE를 급여한 군은 고지방식이군과 비교하여 혈중 지질, 간지질의 축적, 혈중 렙틴 농도를 감소시켰다. RT-PCR 분석 결과, 부고환지방내에서의 $C/EBP{\alpha}$와 $PPAR{\gamma}2$의 발현수준이 고지방식이 대비 각각 1.30배와 1.16배 증가하였다. 결론적으로 BPE는 고지방식이로 유도된 비만 마우스 모델에서 내장지방의 축적을 감소시키고, 이상지질혈증 개선을 통해 항비만 효과를 나타내는 것으로 판단된다.

• Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research
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• 제95권6호
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• pp.303-311
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• 2018

Purpose: OncoHepa test is a multigene expression profile test developed for assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis. Multiplication of ${\alpha}$-FP, des-${\gamma}$-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) and tumor volume (TV) gives the ${\alpha}$-FP-DCP-volume (ADV) score, which is also developed for assessment of HCC prognosis. Methods: The predictive powers of OncoHepa test and ADV score were validated in 35 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection for naïve solitary HCCs ${\leq}5cm$. Results: Median tumor diameter was 3.0 cm. Tumor recurrence and patient survival rates were 28.6% and 100% at 1 year, 48.6% and 82.9% at 3 years, and 54.3% and 71.4% at 5 years, respectively. The site of first tumor recurrence was the remnant liver in 18, lung in 1, and the peritoneum in 1. All patients with HCC recurrence received locoregional treatment. OncoHepa test showed marginal prognostic significance for tumor recurrence and patient survival. ADV score at 4log also showed marginal prognostic difference with respect to tumor recurrence and patient survival. Combination of these 2 tests resulted in greater prognostic significance for both tumor recurrence (P = 0.046) and patient survival (P = 0.048). Conclusion: Both OncoHepa test and ADV score have considerably strong prognostic power, thus individual and combined findings of OncoHepa test and ADV score will be helpful to guide postresection surveillance in patients with solitary HCCs ${\leq}5cm$.