• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.77-80
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• 2007

As neurofilament proteins are major cytoskeletal components of neuron, abnormality of neurofilament is proposed in brain with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Since oxidative stress might play a critical role in altering normal brain proteins, we investigated the oxidative modification of neurofilament-L (NF-L) induced by the reaction of cytochrome c with H2O2. When NF-L was incubated with cytochrome c and H2O2, the protein aggregation was increased in cytochrome c and H2O2 concentrationsdependent manner. Radical scavengers, azide, formate and N-acetyl cysteine, prevented the aggregation of NFL induced by the cytochrome c/H2O2 system. The formations of carbonyl group and dityrosine were obtained in cytochrome c/H2O2-mediated NF-L aggregates. Iron specific chelator, desferoxamine, prevented the cytochrome c/H2O2 system-mediated NF-L aggregation. These results suggest that the cytochrome c/H2O2 system may be related to abnormal aggregation of NF-L which may be involved in the pathogenesis of PD and related disorders.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.1732-1736
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• 2008

The endogenous dipeptides, carnosine and related compounds, are the naturally occurring dipeptides with multiple neuroprotective properties. We have examined the protective effects of carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine on the aggregation of neurofilament-L (NF-L) induced by neurotoxin, acrolein. When NF-L was incubated with acrolein in the presence of carnosine, homocarnosine or anserine, protein aggregation was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. These compounds inhibited the formation of protein carbonyl compounds and dityrosine in acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregates. The aggregates of NF-L displayed thioflavin T reactivity, reminiscent of amyloid. This thioflavin T reactivity was inhibited by carnosine and related compounds. This effect was associated with decreased formation of oxidatively modified proteins. Our results suggested that carnosine and related compounds might have protective effects to brain proteins under pathophysiological conditions leading to degenerative damage such as neurodegenerative disorders.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.125-129
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• 2007

Neurofilament-L (NF-L) is a major element of the neuronal cytoskeleton and is essential for neuronal survival. Moreover, abnormalities in NF-L result in neurodegenerative disorders. Carnosine and the related endogeneous histidine dipeptides prevent protein modifications such as oxidation and glycation. In the present study, we investigated whether histidine dipeptides, carnosine, homocarnosine, or anserine protect NF-L against oxidative modification during reaction between cytochrome c and $H_2O_2$. Carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine all prevented cytochrome c/$H_2O_2$-mediated NF-L aggregation. In addition, these compounds also effectively inhibited the formation of dityrosine, and this inhibition was found to be associated with the reduced formations of oxidatively modified proteins. Our results suggest that carnosine and histidine dipeptides have antioxidant effects on brain proteins under pathophysiological conditions leading to degenerative damage, such as, those caused by neurodegenerative disorders.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.114-119
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• 2012

Salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) is a compound derived from dopamine metabolism and is capable of causing dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Oxidative modification of neurofilament proteins has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, oxidative modification of neurofilament-L (NF-L) by salsolinol and the inhibitory effects of histidyl dipeptides on NF-L modification were investigated. When NF-L was incubated with 0.5 mM salsolinol, the aggregation of protein was increased in a time-dependent manner. We also found that the generation of hydroxyl radicals (${\bullet}OH$) was linear with respect to the concentrations of salsolinol as a function of incubation time. NF-L exposure to salsolinol produced losses of glutamate, lysine and proline residues. These results suggest that the aggregation of NF-L by salsolinol may be due to oxidative damage resulting from free radicals. Carnosine, histidyl dipeptide, is involved in many cellular defense processes, including free radical detoxification. Carnosine, and anserine were shown to significantly prevent salsolinol-mediated NF-L aggregation. Both compounds also inhibited the generation of ${\bullet}OH$ induced by salsolinol. The results indicated that carnosine and related compounds may prevent salsolinol-mediated NF-L modification via free radical scavenging.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.600-606
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• 2005

신경미세섬유(neurofilament, NF) 단백질은 신경세포의 주된 중간세사로서, NF-L (61 kDa), NF-M (90 kDa) 및 NF-H (115 kDa) 단백질의 공동중합체로 구성된다. 신경세사섬유는 신경세포의 성장, 구성, 형태 및 가소성에 중요한 역할을 하지만 발생학적 표현에 대하여는 아직 잘 알려지지 않았다. 본 연구에서는 NF-M에 특이한 항체를 제조하여 배양한 대뇌신경세포에서 NF-M의 표현을 조사하였다. 배양 12 및 24시간 세포에서 NF-M은 축삭과 그 성장추 그리고 축삭에 가까운 세포체에 강하게 표현하였다. 배양 4 및 14일 신경세포를 NF-M과 PSD95 항체로 이중염색한 결과 NF-M은 축삭과 가지돌기에 공히 강하게 표현되었으며, PSD95와 같이 위치할 경우에는 점박이로 나타났다. .면역염색에서도 NF-M이 PSD 분획에서 검출되었는데, 따라서 이 점박이는 가지돌기가시임을 시사한다. 본 연구의 결과는 NF-M이 신경세포의 초기 형태발달과정에서 축삭으로 강하게 몰려가며, 성숙한 신경세포에서는 가지돌기 및 가지돌기가시에도 위치하여 특정기능을 수행함을 시사한다.

• 대한치매학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.59-70
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been considered as a biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We measured plasma NfL levels in older adults with cognitive complaints and evaluated their clinical usefulness in AD. Methods: Plasma levels of NfL, measured by using the single molecule array method, were acquired in a total of 113 subjects consisting of subjective cognitive decline (SCD; n=14), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=37), or dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT; n=62). Plasma NfL level was compared among three groups, and its association with cognitive and functional status was also analyzed. Results: After adjusting for age, plasma NfL level was higher in subjects with DAT (65.98±84.96 pg/mL), compared to in subjects with SCD (16.90±2.54 pg/mL) or MCI (25.53±10.42 pg/mL, p=0.004). NfL levels were correlated with scores of the mini-mental state examination (r=-0.242, p=0.021), clinical dementia rating (CDR) (r=0.291, p=0.005), or CDR-sum of boxes (r=0.276, p=0.008). Just for participants who performed amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), the levels were different between subjects with PET (-) (n=17, 25.95±13.25 pg/mL) and PET (+) (n=16, 63.65±81.90 pg/mL, p=0.010). Additionally, plasma NfL levels were different between vascular dementia and vascular MCI, and between Parkinson's disease- dementia and no dementia. Conclusions: This pilot study shows that in subjects with DAT, plasma NfL levels increase. Plasma NfL level correlated with cognitive and functional status. Further longitudinal studies may help to apply the plasma NfL levels to AD, as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and predicting progression.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.55-63
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• 2005

쥐의 뇌로부터 미세혈관에서 분리하고 배양한 내피세포의 특성을 현미경관찰, 면역염색과 전기저항을 측정해 관찰하였다. 미세혈관 내피세포는 배양 후 $5{\sim}6$일 경에 단층을 형성하였으며 특징적으로 소용돌이치는 모양을 나타냈다. 내피세포 단층의 전기저항은 배양 후 5일 경까지 따라 증가하였고 이후로는 감소하였다. 면역형광염색에서 anti-GFAP, anti-GalC, anti-neurofilament 160/200 kD antibody에 대한 면역반응을 거의 찾아볼 수 없었어 별아교세포, 희소돌기아교세포 및 신경세포에 의한 우려할 만한 오염은 배제할 수 있었다. vWF 항원에 대한 면역반응은 내피세포의 세포질에 Weibel-Palade 과립이 전반적으로 퍼져 있었다. 치밀이음부를 구성하는 occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2에 대한 면역반응은 내피세포의 접촉부위에서 매우 특징적으로 나타나고 있었다. 요약하면 쥐의 뇌 미세혈관 내피세포를 분리, 배양하여 형태학적, 조직면역 화학적 방법과 전기저항을 측정하여 내피세포의 특성을 확인하였다. 이 생체외 혈액뇌장벽 모델은 앞으로 진행될 액뇌장벽의 특징을 규명하고자 하는 시험관내 실험에 유용하게 이용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.384-404
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• 2013

Objectives : Effects of Bogijetong-tang (BJT) on peripheral nerve regeneration have been reported in a previous study on BJT but additional study on a damaged peripheral neuropathy where its damage level is physically and chemically more severe was needed. Plus, this study was conducted because there haven't been any studies for BJT on central nerve regeneration. Methods : In order to check the effect on central nerve regeneration, the study on cerebellum cells was started and the sciatic nerve was used to observe the effects on a peripheral nerve which was severely damaged both physically and chemically. Nerve recovery effects were observed by analyzing target proteins such as phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ${\beta}1$ integrin, neurofilament 200, growth-associated protein-43, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, phospho-vimentin, phospho-Smad, and caspase 3. Results : The significant changes of target protein in cerebellum neurons have been observed. The changes of index protein on the axon regeneration and the nerve recovery in the sciatic nerve have been observed and the effects on cell protection were observed, as well. Conclusions : This study confirmed that BJT made a significant influence on nerve protection and recovery of a damaged peripheral neuropathy and it also made a possibility of its regeneration in a damaged central nerve injury.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.438-452
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Brain senescence causes cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. It has also been demonstrated that curcumin (Cur) and hesperetin (Hes), both antioxidant polyphenolic compounds, mediate anti-aging and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether Cur, Hes, and/or their combination exert anti-aging effects in D-galactose (Dg)-induced aged neuronal cells and rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells differentiated in response to retinoic acid were treated with Cur (1 μM), Hes (1 μM), or a combination of both, followed by 300 mM Dg. Neuronal loss was subsequently evaluated by measuring average neurite length and analyzing expression of β-tubulin III, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and neurofilament heavy polypeptide. Cellular senescence and related proteins, p16 and p21, were also investigated, including their regulation of antioxidant enzymes. In vivo, brain aging was induced by injecting 250 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) Dg. The effects of supplementing this model with 50 mg/kg b.w. Cur, 50 mg/kg b.w. Hes, or a combination of both for 3 months were subsequently evaluated. Brain aging was examined with a step-through passive avoidance test and apoptosis markers were analyzed in brain cortex tissues. RESULTS: Cur, Hes, and their combination improved neuron length and cellular senescence by decreasing the number of β-gal stained cells, down-regulated expression of p16 and p21, and up-regulated expression of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, and catalase. Administration of Cur, Hes, or their combination also tended to ameliorate cognitive impairment and suppress apoptosis in the cerebral cortex by down-regulating Bax and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase expression and increasing Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Cur and Hes appear to attenuate Dg-induced brain aging via regulation of antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis. These results suggest that Cur and Hes may mediate neuroprotective effects in the aging process, and further study of these antioxidant polyphenolic compounds is warranted.