• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.376-395
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• 1996

The neuropeptide substance P(SP) has been recognized to modulate immune systems, with close proximity between peptidergic sensory nerve endings and immune cells. These include the macrophage and neutrophil activation, IL-2 production in T cell, augmentation of Ig synthesis, mast cell degranulation, $PGE_2$ and collagenase secretion in synoviocytes. In this study I examined SP-induced various biological activities such as antimicrobial action, cytokine production, and mast cell degranulation in the presence or absence of other inflammatory cell activators. Antimicrobial studies showed that undifferentiated HL-60 cells were not affected by SP. However, SP significantly enhanced antimicrobial action of TPA-treated or dbcAMP-treated HL-60 cells which had been differentiated into PMN or macrophage/monocyte. I could not find synergistic relationship between SP and LPS in parallel experiments of the above. SP did not induce IL-l production from murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 whether costimulated with LPS or not. Mast cell degranulation was occured only when stimulated with high dose ($10^{-5}M$) of SP and the degree of this activation was slightly reduced by simultaneous application of $MIP-1{\alpha}$. In addition, CGRP which is known to be a common coexisting neuropeptide with SP within specific fibers did not augment the function of SP on mast cell degranulation. These results suggest that immunoregulatory activities of SP could be mediated through direct upregulation of various functions of immune cells and also upregulation of responsiveness of immune cells to other immune activators.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to find out whether acupuncture at various acupoints shows any effects on appetite by regulating neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus through the expression of NPY and LR in the PVN via immunohistochemistry. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight groups of five mice each. The rats in the acupuncture groups were treated with acupuncture at respective acupoints, twice per a day for 3 days. The animals were sacrificed 72 h after commencement of the experiment, the brains being dissected into serial coronal sections. Expressions of neuropeptide Y and leptin receptor in the hypothalamus were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results : NPY expression in the PVN was enhanced and LR expression in the PVN was decreased by food deprivation. NPY immunoreactivity in the PVN of the food-derived rats was decreased by acupuncture at the auricular acupoint, Zusanli-acupoint, a and non-acupoint. However, acupuncture at the auricular acupoint showed most potent suppressing effect on NPY expression in the PVN of food-deprived rats. LR expression in the PVN decreased following food deprivation, and auricular acupuncture increased LR expression in the PVN of food-deprived rats. In normal conditions (fed state), LR expression in the PVN was not changed by acupuncture treatment at several sites. Conclusions : From this study, we have shown that acupuncture at the auricular acupoint exerts the most potent appetite suppressing effect on the food restriction state.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 2015

The central nervous system (CNS) controls food intake and energy expenditure via tight coordinations between multiple neuronal populations. Specifically, two distinct neuronal populations exist in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus (ARH): the anorexigenic (appetite-suppressing) pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons and the orexigenic (appetite-increasing) neuropeptide Y (NPY)/agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons. The coordinated regulation of neuronal circuit involving these neurons is essential in properly maintaining energy balance, and any disturbance therein may result in hyperphagia/obesity or hypophagia/starvation. Thus, adequate knowledge of the POMC and NPY/AgRP neuron physiology is mandatory to understand the pathophysiology of obesity and related metabolic diseases. This review will discuss the history and recent updates on the POMC and NPY/AgRP neuronal circuits, as well as the general anorexigenic and orexigenic circuits in the CNS. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(4): 229-233]

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Development of various antidepressants such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant has led to a tremendous progression of pharmaceutical treatment for depression, but still there are some limitations of current antidepressants, such as treatment-resistant depression and delayed onset of antidepressants. The pathogenesis of depression is unclear because depression is a heterogeneous disease state, and the mechanisms of antidepressants remain uncertain as well. Nevertheless, in an attempt to develop novel antidepressants, some trials have been conducted based on the potential biological mechanism discovered in the numerous research results. This review will provide information about the potential novel antidepressants and the current states of clinical studies using them. In particular, some potential novel antidepressants anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidants, anticholinergics, modulators of Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis, glutamate, and opioid systems, as well as some neuropeptides such as susbstance P, neuropeptide Y, and galanin will be discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.479-485
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• 2001

The existence of opioid receptors in mammalian cerebellum except human, has not been clearly understood. In the present study, we found that NPY was inducible by morphine in the mouse cerebellar granular and Purkinje cell layers. We performed in situ RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry to characterize the NPY expression. The increase of NPY gene expression by morphine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) was inhibited by pretreatment with not only naloxone (100 mg/kg, i.p.) but also a noncompetitive NMDA antagonist, MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.). The competitive NMDA antagonist, AP-5 (0.9 mg/kg, i.p.) slightly attenuated the increased NPY expression by morphine. Also, the finding similar to morphine was shown by NMDA (70 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment. Our results indicate that NPY was inducible by morphine and this might reflect activation of NMDA receptors in granule cells that relay mossy fiber inputs to Purkinje cells via parallel fibers.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 2007

Anxiety disorder is likely caused by an interaction of multiple loci in brain, rather than a single locus. Hyperactive neurotransmitter circuits between the cortex, thalamus, amygdala, and hypothalamus are responsible for production of anxiety symptoms. Familial studies performed on anxiety disorder suggested that anxiety disorder should be caused by genetic etiology. Numerous linkage and association studies showed different genetic loci of anxiety disorder. Candidate genes have been focused on important neurotransmitters, neuropeptide, or genes affecting neuronal growth, development, protection or apoptosis. Anxiety disorder has various symptoms and comorbid diseases in family or proband. Therefore, further studies focused on symptomatic dimension of anxiety disorder or responses to drugs are required.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.299-304
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• 2002

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expressing neurons are distributed widely throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. Due to its distribution and pharmacological studies, CGRP has been implicated to be involved in anxiety, fear and depression. In this study, ${\alpha}CGRP-knockout$ mice were used to assess the consequences of removing this neuropeptide to the mice behaviors. ${\alpha}CGRP-knockout$ mice performed equally as well as wild type mice in the light-dark transition test and in the elevated plus maze test of anxiety. ${\alpha}CGRP-null$ mice behaved similarly as wild-type mice in the Porsolt swim test of depression. They also exhibited normal learning and memory in the fear conditioning tasks. It is concluded that ${\alpha}CGRP$ is not essential for mice to be able to perform these tests, despite the presence of ${\alpha}CGRP$ in the relevant regions of the brain.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.186-188
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• 1996

곤충애 있어서 호르몬의 작용기작과 그 이용에 관하여 요야하면 다음과 같다. 곤충호르몬에는중추신경계의 신경분비세포에서 합성, 분비되는 peptide의 neuropeptide hormone (PTTH, bombyxin, diapause hormone등)이 있고, 상피계의 내분비선에서 합성, 분비되는 sesquiterpene의 유약호르몬 ( juvenile hormone)과 steroid의 탈피호르몬 (ecdysone)이 있다. 곤충호르몬은 특정한 표족세포에 있는 수용체와 높은 특이성과 높은 친화성을 가지고 결합해서 세포의 작용을 조절한다. 일반적으로 peptide hormone은 표적세포의의 세포막을 통과할 수 없으므로 표적세포의 막표면에 있는 수용체와 결합하는 것에 의해 세포내 대사제를 활성화시킴으로서 peptide hormone의 특이적인 발현이되는 것으로 알려지고 있다. 한편, ecdysone과 같은 steriod hormone이나 juvenlie hormone은 표적세포의 세포막을 용이하게 통과할수 있으므로 세포내의 세포막을 용이하게 통과할 수 있으므로 세포내로 들어가 수용체와 결합해서 hormone-receptor comlpex는 핵내로 들어가 DNA의 특이적인 영역에 결합하므로서 이들 호르몬 특이적인 기능이 발현되는 것으로 알려져 있다. Ecodysone의 활성이 있는 ecdysteroid가 여러 식물에서 발견되고 있어, 금후 양잠의 상족에 이용이 기대되고 있다. 또한, 향유약호르몬(AJH) 활성물지인 imidazole계 화합물은 양잠에 있어서 세섬도고치 생산에 그 이용이 기대되고 있다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.743-748
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• 2013

The temperature dependence of the partition coefficients of a neuropeptide, substance P (SP), in isotropic acidic bicelles was investigated by using a pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance diffusion technique. The addition of negatively charged dimyristoylphosphatidylserine to the neutral bicelle changed the SP partitioning a little, which implies that the hydrophobic interaction between the hydrophobic residues of SP and the acyl chains of lipid molecules is the major interaction while the electrostatic interaction is minor in SP binding in a lipid membrane. From the temperature dependence of the partition coefficients, thermodynamic functions were calculated. The partitioning of SP into the acidic bicelles is enthalpy-driven, as it is for small unilamellar vesicles and dodecylphosphocholine micelles, while peptide partitioning into a large unilamellar vesicle is entropy-driven. This may mean that the size of lipid membranes is a more important factor for peptide binding than the surface curvature and surface charge density.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2012

The release of hormones and the metabolism of human body are controlled by the circadian rhythm related to sleep-wake cycle. Growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, glucose, and insulin-secretion rates fluctuate according to the sleep-wake cycle. In addition, sleep is related to the appetite regulation and carbohydrate and other energy metabolism. Hypocretin (orexin), an excitatory neuropeptide, regulates waking and diet intake, and the poor sleep increases diet intake. The short sleep duration increases one's body mass index and impairs the function of the endocrine and metabolism, causing increases in the risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes. The poor sleep quality and sleep disorders have similar impact on the metabolic function. In short, the sleep loss and the poor quality of sleep have a detrimental effect on the endocrine and energy metabolism. The improvement of sleep quality by the future research and appropriate clinical treatment would contribute to the decrease of the metabolic diseases such as diabetes.