• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.217-225
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• 1994

With the purpose of improving the therapeutic index of $[^3H]$ acyclovir (ACV) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection, asialofetuin (AF) which after selective interaction with Ashwell's receptor specifically enters into hepatocytes, was chosen as a carrier system for hepatic targeting. This drug was first converted to its monophosphate (ACVMP), which was subsequently activated by water soluble carbodiimide to conjugate with ${\varepsilon}-NH_2$ groups of Iysine residues of AF. The molar ratio of ACVMP to AF in the conjugate was 3.9. In rats, elimination of ACVMP-AF conjugate after i.v. injection showed two phase elimination kinetics. Initial apparent elimination rate constant in rats was $0.191\;min^{-1}$ which was greater than that of ACV. The elimination rate constant from terminal phase was $0.021\;min^{-1}$. Area under the total radioactivities versus time curve was found to be several times larger in liver than in other organs (spleen, intestine, lung and kidney) after i.v. administration of the conjugate labelled in the drug moiety. The above results suggested that ACVMP-AF conjugate was rapidly taken up by hepatocytes and could be a useful hepatic targeting system.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1997

For the purpose of improving the chemotherapeutic index of acyclovir(ACV), it was conjugated with asialofetuin(AF), which has been reported to enter into hepatocytes. When $[H^3]$ acyclovir in itself or its conjugate were administered to rats, the latter was taken up more selectively by the liver than any other tissues. The stability of ACVMP-AF conjugate in phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) and rat liver homogenate showed a pseudo-first order profile. ACVMP-AF, however, was relatively stable in pH7.4 phosphate buffer and rat plasma. The conjugate was added to the isolated rat hepatocyte and cellular uptake was monitored by scintillation counting for up to 6 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. Hepatocytes incubated with the conjugate exhibited radioactivities significantly enhanced over control levels dose-dependently, i.e., a 3-40 fold increase in radioactivities was observed over controls at the conjugate concentrations of $0.1-10\;{\mu}g/ml$. The AUQ in the liver, kidney, spleen, intestine and lung was higher in treatment with ACVMP-AF than that in treatment with ACV. In treatment with ACVMP-AF, the weighted-average overall drug targeting efficiency(Te) for the liver was higher than in treatment with ACV(57.00 vs 13.31 %), and the weighted-average tissue exposure(Re) was 5.03 for the liver. These results indicated that ACVMP-AF conjugate was rapidly taken up by hepatocytes and could be an efficient and selective hepatic targeting system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a highly malignant disease and the third leading cause of all cancer mortalities worldwide, often responses poorly to current treatments and results in dismal outcomes due to frequent chemoresistance and tumor relapse. The heterogeneity of HCC is an important attribute of the disease. It is the outcome of many factors, including the cross-talk between tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment and the acquisition and accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in tumor cells. In addition, there is accumulating evidence in recent years to show that the malignancy of HCC can be attributed partly to the presence of cancer stem cell (CSC). CSCs are capable to self-renew, differentiate and initiate tumor formation. The regulation of the stem cell-like properties by several important signaling pathways have been found to endow the tumor cells with an increased level of tumorigenicity, chemoresistance, and metastatic ability. In this review, we will discuss the recent findings on hepatic CSCs, with special emphasis on their putative origins, relationship with hepatitis viruses, regulatory signaling networks, tumor microenvironment, and how these factors control the stemness of hepatic CSCs. We will also discuss some novel therapeutic strategies targeted at hepatic CSCs for combating HCC and perspectives of future investigation.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.82-82
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• 2002

The Wnt signaling pathway plays pivotal roles in embryonic development and oncogenesis through various signaling molecules inculding Frizzled receptor, recently characterized LRP5/6 and Dickkopf protein. Although Wnt signaling has been characterized in both developmental and oncogenic processes, little is known about its function in the normal adult. The ability of LRP5 to bind apolipoprotein E(apoE) and the abundant expression of LRP5 transcripts in hepatocytes, raise the possibility that LRP5 plays a role in the hepatic clearance of ApoE-containing chylomicron remonants, a major plasma lipoprotein carrying diet-derived cholesterol. (omitted)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.735-742
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• 2013

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) that bind to complementary nucleic acid sequences with extraordinarily high affinity and sequence specificity can be used as antisense oligonucleotides against microRNAs, namely antagomir PNAs. However, methods for efficient cellular delivery must be developed for effective use of PNAs as therapeutic agents. Here, we demonstrate that antagomir PNAs can be delivered to hepatic cells by complementary DNA oligonucleotide and cationic liposomes containing galactosylated ceramide and a novel cationic lipid, DMKE (O,O'-dimyristyl-N-lysyl glutamate), through glycoprotein-mediated endocytosis. An antagomir PNA was designed to target miR-122, which is required for translation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome in hepatocytes, and was hybridized to a DNA oligonucleotide for complexation with cationic liposome. The PNA-DNA hybrid molecules were efficiently internalized into hepatic cells by complexing with the galactosylated cationic liposome in vitro. Galactosylation of liposome significantly enhanced both lipoplex cell binding and PNA delivery to the hepatic cells. After 4-h incubation with galactosylated lipoplexes, PNAs were efficiently delivered into hepatic cells and HCV genome translation was suppressed more than 70% through sequestration of miR-122 in cytoplasm. PNAs were readily released from the PNA-DNA hybrid in the low pH environment of the endosome. The present study indicates that transfection of PNA-DNA hybrid molecules using galactosylated cationic liposomes can be used as an efficient non-viral carrier for antagomir PNAs targeted to hepatocytes.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1097-1119
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• 2018

Although elevated serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is without any doubts accepted as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the role of elevated triglycerides (TGs)-rich lipoproteins as an independent risk factor has until recently been quite controversial. Recent data strongly suggest that elevated TG-rich lipoproteins are an independent risk factor for CVD and that therapeutic targeting of them could possibly provide further benefit in reducing CVD morbidity, events and mortality, apart from LDL-C lowering. Today elevated TGs are treated with lifestyle interventions, and with fibrates which could be combined with omega-3 fatty acids. There are also some new drugs. Volanesorsen, is an antisense oligonucleotid that inhibits the production of the Apo C-III which is crucial in regulating TGs metabolism because it inhibits lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase activity but also hepatic uptake of TGs-rich particles. Evinacumab is a monoclonal antibody against angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) and it seems that it can substantially lower elevated TGs levels because ANGPTL3 also regulates TGs metabolism. Pemafibrate is a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator which also decreases TGs, and improves other lipid parameters. It seems that it also has some other possible antiatherogenic effects. Alipogene tiparvovec is a nonreplicating adeno-associated viral vector that delivers copies of the LPL gene to muscle tissue which accelerates the clearance of TG-rich lipoproteins thus decreasing extremely high TGs levels. Pradigastat is a novel diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 inhibitor which substantially reduces extremely high TGs levels and appears to be promising in treatment of the rare familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.320-327
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• 2020

In current study, we aimed to investigate whether the gentiopicroside (GPS) derived from Gentiana manshurica Kitagawa could block the progression of alcoholic hepatic steatosis to fibrosis induced by chronic ethanol intake. C57BL/6 mice were fed an ethanol-containing Lieber-DeCarli diet for 4 weeks. LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells were treated with GPS 1 h prior to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) stimulation, and murine hepatocyte AML12 cells were pretreated by GPS 1 h prior to ethanol treatment. GPS inhibited the expression of type I collagen (collagen I), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and tissue inhibitor of metal protease 1 in ethanol-fed mouse livers with mild fibrosis. In addition, the imbalanced lipid metabolism induced by chronic ethanol-feeding was ameliorated by GPS pretreatment, characterized by the modulation of lipid accumulation. Consistently, GPS inhibited the expression of collagen I and α-SMA in LX-2 cells stimulated by TGF-β. Inhibition of lipid synthesis and promotion of oxidation by GPS were also confirmed in ethanol-treated AML12 cells. GPS could prevent hepatic steatosis advancing to the inception of a mild fibrosis caused by chronic alcohol exposure, suggesting GPS might be a promising therapy for targeting the early stage of alcoholic liver disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.64-71
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was done to look into whether Nrf2 take some role in the anti-lipogenic effect of kaurenoic acid in a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cellular model. Materials and Methods: We measured the effect of kaurenoic acid on intracellular steatosis and Nrf2 activation. Next, the effect of kaurenoic acid on SREBP-1c and some lipogenic genes in palmitate treated HepG2 cells with or without Nrf2 silencing. Results: The increased SREBP-1c expression was significantly decreased by concomitant kaurenoic acid treatment in non-targeting negative control siRNA transfected HepG2 cells. However, kaurenoic acid did not significantly inhibited increased SREBP-1c level in Nrf2 specific siRNA transfected HepG2 cells Conclusions: Kaurenoic acid has a potential to activate Nrf2, which may suppress SREBP-1c mediated intracellular steatosis in HepG2 cells.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.346-355
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• 2020

Purpose: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) has a key role in hepatic fibrogenesis by virtue of its effect on the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Although many studies have shown that PPAR-γ agonists inhibit liver fibrosis, the mechanism remains largely unclear, especially regarding the cross-talk between PPAR-γ and other potent fibrogenic factors. Methods: This experimental study involved 25 male Wistar rats. Twenty rats were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce liver fibrosis, further divided into an untreated group (BDL; n=10) and a group treated with the PPAR-γ agonist thiazolidinedione (TZD), at 14 days post-operation (BDL+TZD; n=10). The remaining 5 rats had a sham operation (sham; n=5). The effect of PPAR-γ agonist on liver fibrosis was evaluated by histopathology, protein immunohistochemistry, and mRNA expression quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Histology and immunostaining showed markedly reduced collagen deposition, bile duct proliferation, and HSCs in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p<0.001). Similarly, significantly lower mRNA expression of collagen α-1(I), matrix metalloproteinase-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B chain, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were evident in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p=0.0002, p<0.035, p<0.0001, and p=0.0123 respectively). Moreover, expression of the transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) was also downregulated in the BDL+TZD group (p=0.0087). Conclusion: The PPAR-γ agonist inhibits HSC activation in vivo and attenuates liver fibrosis through several fibrogenic pathways. Potent fibrogenic factors such as PDGF, CTGF, and TGF-β1 were downregulated by the PPAR-γ agonist. Targeting PPAR-γ activity may be a potential strategy to control liver fibrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2015

Chronic inflammation has been proposed as one of the main molecular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases. Although evidence in humans is limited, short-term calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in aged experimental animals. We reported on the long-term treatment of daumone, a synthetic pheromone secreted by Caenorhabditis elegans in an energy deficient environment, extends the life-span and attenuates liver injury in aged mice. The present study examined whether late onset short-term treatment of daumone exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the livers of aged mice. Daumone was administered orally at doses of 2 or 20 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks to 24-month-old male C57BL/6J mice. Increased liver macrophage infiltration and gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines in aged mice were significantly attenuated by daumone treatment, suggesting that short-term oral administration of daumone may have hepatoprotective effects. Daumone also dose-dependently suppressed tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$ )-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. The present data demonstrated that short-term treatment of daumone has anti-inflammatory effects in aged mouse livers possibly through suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling and suggest that daumone may become a lead compound targeting aging and age-associated diseases.