• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.494-499
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• 2022

PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates several substrates and exerts neuroprotective effects against stress-induced apoptotic cell death. Mutations in PINK1 have been linked to autosomal recessive forms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mitophagy is a type of autophagy that selectively promotes mitochondrial turnover and prevents the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria to maintain cellular homeostasis. Toll-interacting protein (Tollip) was initially identified as a negative regulator of IL-1β receptor signaling, suppressing inflammatory TLR signaling cascades. Recently, Tollip has been reported to play a role in autophagy and is implicated in neurodegeneration. In this study, we determined whether Tollip was functionally linked to PINK1-mediated mitophagy. Our results demonstrated that Tollip promoted the mitochondrial processing of PINK1 and altered the localization of PINK1, predominantly to the cytosol. This action was attributed to increased binding of PINK1 to mitochondrial processing peptidase β (MPPβ) and the subsequent increase in MPPβ-mediated mitochondrial PINK1 cleavage. Furthermore, Tollip suppressed mitophagy following carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings suggest that Tollip inhibits mitophagy via the PINK1/parkin pathway upon mitochondrial damage, leading to the blockade of PINK1-mediated neuroprotection.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1374-1381
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• 2004

The water extract of Dohongsamul-tang(DHSMT)has been traditionally used for treatment of ischemic heart in oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of DHSMT rescues cells from these damages. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of DHSMT on zinc-mediated cytotoxicity in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. This study demonstrates that treatment of H9c2 cells with zinc caused a decrease in cell viability in a dose dependent manner and a chromatin condensation. Zinc induced the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, zinc induced the decrease of Bcl-2, as well as increase of Bak expression and mitochondrial dysfunction. Zinc-induced H9c2 cell death was remarkably prevented by the pretreatment of DHSMT with consistent suppression of the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), mitochondrial dysfunction and the expression of Bak and Bcl-2. Taken together, the results suggest that zinc induced severe cell death in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells via intracellular GSH(reduced glutathione) depletion and the protective effects of DHSMT against oxidative injuries may be achieved through modulation of mitochondrial dysfunction and scavenging of ROS(reactive oxygen species).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2010

Mitochondria have long been recognized as ATP engines for the cell and recently as a dynamic and mobile organelles that control cell death and life. This exquisite organelle is the site of reactive oxygen species production and is highly vulnerable to exogenous stresses, resulting in catastrophic damage to the cell. Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to a wide range of age-associated degenerative diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of mitochondria-dependent pathogenesis may provide important strategies to treat these diseases. Indeed, mitochondria are emerging therapeutic targets for the mitochondria-related diseases. In this paper, we review the recent concepts of mitochondrial biology and how mitochondria are involved in age-associated degenerative diseases. Furthermore, we summarize the therapeutics which target to improve mitochondrial functions.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2022

Mitophagy, the selective degradation of damaged or surplus mitochondria using core autophagy machinery, plays an essential role in maintaining cellular mitochondrial function. Impaired mitophagy is closely linked to various human diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and kidney disease. Defective mitophagy induces the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and thereby results in a decline in cellular survival and tissue function. Accordingly, enhancement of mitophagy has been proposed as a novel strategy for the treatment of human diseases closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Recent studies showing that the stimulation of mitophagy has a therapeutic effect on several disease models highlight the possibility of disease treatment using mitophagy. The development of mitophagy inducers with toxicity and the identification of molecular mechanisms will enable the clinical application of mitophagy-based treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2015

Flavonoids show diverse bioactivities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral. Quercetin is one of the flavonoids present in a wide range of plants, especially onions and consumed all over the world. Recently, it is known that quercetin induces mitochondrial biogenesis in vivo and in vitro. However, detail mechanism of these actions remains unknown. We investigated quercetin's effects on mitochondrial biogenesis in HepG2 cells, and determined the mechanisms involved. We found that quercetin treatment induced the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis activators, $PGC-1{\alpha}$, NRF-1, TFAM, and mitochondrial proteins, cytochorome c and complex IV (COXIV). Moreover, amount of mitochondrial DNA was also increased by quercetin. Quercetin has been known to induce heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in several types of cells. Here, we found quercetin induces HO-1, and inhibition of HO-1 or CO, which is product of HO-1, decreased quercetin-induced mitochondrial biogenesis such as induction of $PGC-1{\alpha}$, NRF-1, TFAM, cytochorome c, COXIV, and mitochondrial DNA. These findings imply that quercetin can increase mitochondrial biogenesis via HO-1/CO system. High glucose results in dysfunction of mitochondria biogenesis. In the present study, 25 mM glucose decreased mitochondrial biogenesis and this damage was restored by quercetin. Conversely, inhibition of HO-1 or CO inhibited quercetin-induced mitochondrial biogenesis rescue. These results suggest that quercetin enhances mitochondrial biogenesis via HO-1/CO system and hence, can rescue mitochondria from damage by high glucose.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.46-52
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• 2022

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are very rare and genetically transmitted diseases and have man y different symptoms related with multisystemic involvement. More rarely, endocrinopathies can be an early and first symptom of IEM, but presents with signs of later complications in adolescent or adulthood. The mechanisms of endocrine dysfunction in IEM are poorly understood. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is common in hemochromatosis, adrenoleukodystrophy, galactosemia, and glycogen storage disease. Many girls with classic galactosemia are at high risk for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), despite an early diagnosis and good control. Mitochondrial diseases are multisystem disorders and are characterized by hypo- and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, thyroid dysfunction and insulin dysregulation. Glycogen storage disorders (GSDs), especially type Ia, Ib, III, V are assocciated with frequent hypoglycemic events. IEM is a growing field and is not yet well recognized despite its consequences for growth, bone metabolism and fertility. For this reason, clinicians should be aware of these diagnoses and potential endocrine dysfunction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.409-417
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• 2022

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, and accumulating evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with progressive deterioration in PD patients. Previous studies have shown that sinapic acid has a neuroprotective effect, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. The neuroprotective effect of sinapic acid was assayed in a PD mouse model generated by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) as well as in SH-SY5Y cells. Target protein expression was detected by western blotting. Sinapic acid treatment attenuated the behavioral defects and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the PD models. Sinapic acid also improved mitochondrial function in the PD models. MPTP treatment increased the abundance of mitochondrial fission proteins such as dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and phospho-Drp1 Ser616. In addition, MPTP decreased the expression of the REV-ERB α protein. These changes were attenuated by sinapic acid treatment. We used the pharmacological REV-ERB α inhibitor SR8278 to confirmation of protective effect of sinapic acid. Treatment of SR8278 with sinapic acid reversed the protein expression of phospho-Drp1 Ser616 and REV-ERB α on MPTP-treated mice. Our findings demonstrated that sinapic acid protects against MPTP-induced PD and these effects might be related to the inhibiting abnormal mitochondrial fission through REV-ERB α.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 2017

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is closely linked with endothelial dysfunction. However, the effect of $PKC{\beta}II$ on endothelial dysfunction has not been characterized in cultured endothelial cells. Here, using adenoviral $PKC{\beta}II$ gene transfer and pharmacological inhibitors, the role of $PKC{\beta}II$ on endothelial dysfucntion was investigated in cultured endothelial cells. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), p66shc phosphorylation, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and monocyte adhesion, which were inhibited by $PKC{\beta}i$ (10 nM), a selective inhibitor of $PKC{\beta}II$. PMA increased the phosphorylation of CREB and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), which were also inhibited by $PKC{\beta}i$. Gene silencing of CREB inhibited PMA-induced MnSOD expression, suggesting that CREB plays a key role in MnSOD expression. Gene silencing of $PKC{\beta}II$ inhibited PMA-induced mitochondrial ROS, MnSOD, and ICAM-1 expression. In contrast, overexpression of $PKC{\beta}II$ using adenoviral $PKC{\beta}II$ increased mitochondrial ROS, MnSOD, ICAM-1, and p66shc phosphorylation in cultured endothelial cells. Finally, $PKC{\beta}II$-induced ICAM-1 expression was inhibited by Mito-TEMPO, a mitochondrial ROS scavenger, suggesting the involvement of mitochondrial ROS in PKC-induced vascular inflammation. Taken together, the results suggest that $PKC{\beta}II$ plays an important role in PMA-induced endothelial dysfunction, and that the inhibition of $PKC{\beta}II$-dependent p66shc signaling acts as a therapeutic target for vascular inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.764-770
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• 2013

Stevia rebaudiana is a traditional herb used as a sweetener in Brazil and Paraguay as well as Korea and China. This study investigated the efficacy of Stevia rebaudiana methanol extract (SRE) to protect cells against the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in hepatocyte. To determine the effects of SRE on oxidative stress, we used the human derived hepatocyte cell line, HepG2 cell. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron in HepG2 cells synergistically amplified cytotoxicity, as indicated by the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial permeability transition by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and immunoblot analysis. Treatment with SRE protected hepatocytes from AA+iron-induced cellular toxicity, as shown by alterations in the protein levels related with cell viability such as procaspase-3. SRE also prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA+iron, and showed anti-oxidant effects as inhibition of $H_2O_2$ production and GSH depletion. Moreover, we measured the effects of SRE on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator in determining cell survival or death. Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC), a direct downstream target of AMPK. SRE increased phosphorylation of ACC, and prevented the inhibition of ACC phosphorylation by AA+iron. These results indicated that SRE has the ability to protect cells against AA+iron-induced $H_2O_2$ production and mitochondrial impairment, which may be mediated with AMPK-ACC pathway.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.427-434
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• 2011

Mitochondria diseases have been reported to involve structural and functional defects of complex I-V. Especially, many of these diseases are known to be related to dysfunction of mitochondrial proton-translocating NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). The dysfunction of mitochondria complex I is associated with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Mammalian mitochondrial proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is largest and consists of at least 46 different subunits. In contrast, the NDI1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single subunit rotenone-insensitive NADH-quinone oxidoreductase that is located on the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae NDI1 gene using a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector (rAAV-NDI1) was successfully expressed in AML12 mouse liver hepatocytes and the NDI1-transduced cells were able to grow in media containing rotenone. In contrast, control cells that did not receive the NDI1 gene failed to survive. The expressed Ndi1 enzyme was recognized to be localized in mitochondria by confocal immunofluorescence microscopic analyses and immunoblotting. Using digitonin-permeabilized cells, it was shown that the NADH oxidase activity of the NDI1-transduced cells was not affected by rotenone which is inhibitor of complex I, but was inhibited by antimycin A. Furthermore, these results indicate that Ndi1 can be functionally expressed in the AML12 mouse liver hepatocytes. It is conceivable that the NDI1 gene is powerful tool for gene therapy of mitochondrial diseases caused by complex I deficiency. In the future, we will attempt to functionally express the NDI1 gene in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cell.