• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.536-542
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• 2022

Background: In aged skin, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induces degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to visible aging signs. Collagens in the ECM are cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Syringaresinol (SYR), isolated from Panax ginseng berry, has various physiological activities, including anti-inflammatory action. However, the anti-aging effects of SYR via antioxidant and autophagy regulation have not been elucidated. Methods: The preventive effect of SYR on skin aging was investigated in human HaCaT keratinocytes in the presence of H₂O₂, and the keratinocyte cells were treated with SYR (0-200 ㎍/mL). mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2 and -9 were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Radical scavenging activity was researched by 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. LC3B level was assessed by Western blotting and confocal microscopy. Results: SYR significantly reduced gene expression and protein levels of MMP-9 and -2 in both H₂O₂-treated and untreated HaCaT cells. SYR did not show cytotoxicity to HaCaT cells. SYR exhibited DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities with an EC₅₀ value of 10.77 and 10.35 ㎍/mL, respectively. SYR elevated total levels of endogenous and exogenous LC3B in H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, counteracted the inhibitory effect of SYR on MMP-2 expression. Conclusion: SYR showed antioxidant activity and up-regulated autophagy activity in H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells, lowering the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 associated with skin aging. Our results suggest that SYR has potential value as a cosmetic additive for prevention of skin aging.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.269-280
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, it was investigated the effects of solid-phase fermentation extraction with Phellinus linteus of discarded Schisandra chinensis extract (PS) and its action mechanism on dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in mice. Methods : In mice, muscle atrophy model was induced by dexamethasone (5 mg/kg, I.p) once daily for 2 weeks and with PS extract administration (100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) as treatment groups. The changes in body weights, grip strength, Treadmill test, muscle weights, and the expression of atrophy-related genes were measured in muscle atrophy mice. The histological changes of gastrocnemius tissues were also observed by H&E staining with measurement of myofiber size. Results : The administration of PS extract increased significantly body weights, grip strength, treadmill test and muscle weights in muscle atrophy mice. PS extract administration increased significantly the area of myofibers and inhibited structural damages of muscle and increased significantly the expression of myogenin and decreased significantly the expression of MuRF1, Atrogin1 and phosphorylation of AMPK and PGC1α in muscle tissues of muscle atrophy mice. Conclusions : These results indicate that PS extract has a improvement effects on muscle atrophy with stimulation of myogenic differentiation and inhibition of mRNA degradation that could be related with the activation of AMPK and PGC1α signaling pathways in muscle. This suggests that PS extract can apply to treat muscle atrophy in clinics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.1527-1536
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• 2022

Escherichia coli can use allantoin as its sole nitrogen source under anaerobic conditions. The ureidoglycolate produced by double release of ammonia from allantoin can flow into either the glyoxylate shunt or further catabolic transcarbamoylation. Although the former pathway is well studied, the genes of the latter (catabolic) pathway are not known. In the catabolic pathway, ureidoglycolate is finally converted to carbamoyl phosphate (CP) and oxamate, and then CP is dephosphorylated to carbamate by a catabolic carbamate kinase (CK), whereby ATP is formed. We identified the ybcF gene in a gene cluster containing fdrA-ylbE-ylbF-ybcF that is located downstream of the allDCE-operon. Reverse transcription PCR of total mRNA confirmed that the genes fdrA, ylbE, ylbF, and ybcF are co-transcribed. Deletion of ybcF caused only a slight increase in metabolic flow into the glyoxylate pathway, probably because CP was used to de novo synthesize pyrimidine and arginine. The activity of the catabolic CK was analyzed using purified YbcF protein. The V_max is 1.82 U/mg YbcF for CP and 1.94 U/mg YbcF for ADP, and the K_M value is 0.47 mM for CP and 0.43 mM for ADP. With these results, it was experimentally revealed that the ybcF gene of E. coli encodes catabolic CK, which completes anaerobic allantoin degradation through substrate-level phosphorylation. Therefore, we suggest renaming the ybcF gene as allK.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.83-94
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• 2010

Chinese fir (Latin name: Cunninghaimia lanceolata) is one of the major commercial coniferous trees. Most of Chinese fir forests are managed in successive rotation sites, which lead productivity to decline. Autotoxicity is the important reason for soil degradation of Chinese fir plantation, especially, phenolic acids are considered as the major allelopathic toxins which induce autotoxicity in Chinese fir rotation stands. We performed here proteomic approach to investigate the response of proteins in Chinese fir leaves to salicylic acid. The tube plantlets of Chinese fir clone were treated with 120 mg/L salicylic acid for 1, 3 and 5th day. 2-DE, coupled with MALDI-TOF-TOF/MS, was used to separate and identify the responsive proteins. We found 12, 7, and 12 candidate protein spots that were up- or down-regulated by at least 2.5 fold after 1, 3, and 5th day of the stress, respectively. Of these protein spots, 16 spots were identified successfully. According to the putative physiological functions, these proteins were categorized into five classes (1) the proteins involved in protein stability and folding, including 26S proteome, Grp78, Hsp70, Hsp90 and PPIase; (2) the protein involved in photosynthesis and respiration, including OEC 33 kDa subunit, GAPDH; (3) the protein related to cell endurance to acid, F-ATPase; (4) the protein related to cytoskeleton, tubulin; (5) the protein related to protein translation: prolyl-tRNA synthetase. These results give new insights into autotoxic substance stress response in Chinese fir leaves and provide preliminary footprints for further studies on the molecular signal mechanisms induced by the stress.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.20-32
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• 2022

Objectives: Kyungok-go (KOG) is a traditional multi-herbal medicine commonly used for enforcing weakened immunity for long time. Recently, there are several reports that KOG has anti-inflammatory and immuno-stimulatory activities in many experimental models. However, the protective effects of KOG on neuronal inflammation are still undiscovered. Thus, we investigated the neuro-protective activity of KOG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse microglia cells. To find out KOG's anti-neuroinflammatory effects on microglial cells, we examined the production of nitrite using griess assay, and mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α using real time RT-PCR. In addition, to examine the regulating mechanisms of KOG, we investigated the protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and Iκ-Bα by western blot. KOG inhibited the elevation of nitrite, iNOS and COX-2 on LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Also, KOG significantly inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Moreover, KOG inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), P38 and degradation of Iκ-Bα but not the activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. These results showed KOG has the anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition on nitrite, iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α via the deactivation of JNK, p38 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Thereby, KOG could offer the new and promising treatment for neurodegenerative disease related to neuroinflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.407-416
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• 2023

The regeneration of myocardium following acute circulatory events remains a challenge, despite numerous efforts. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) present a promising cell therapy option, but their differentiation into cardiomyocytes is a time-consuming process. Although it has been demonstrated that PSME4 degrades acetyl-YAP1, the role of PSME4 in the cardiac commitment of MSCs has not been fully elucidated. Here we reported the novel role of PSME4 in MSCs cardiac commitment. It was found that overnight treatment with apicidin in primary-cultured mouse MSCs led to rapid cardiac commitment, while MSCs from PSME4 knock-out mice did not undergo this process. Cardiac commitment was also observed using lentivirus-mediated PSME4 knockdown in immortalized human MSCs. Immunofluorescence and Western blot experiments revealed that YAP1 persisted in the nucleus of PSME4 knockdown cells even after apicidin treatment. To investigate the importance of YAP1 removal, MSCs were treated with shYAP1 and apicidin simultaneously. This combined treatment resulted in rapid YAP1 elimination and accelerated cardiac commitment. However, overexpression of acetylation-resistant YAP1 in apicidin-treated MSCs impeded cardiac commitment. In addition to apicidin, the universal effect of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition on cardiac commitment was confirmed using tubastatin A and HDAC6 siRNA. Collectively, this study demonstrates that PSME4 is crucial for promoting the cardiac commitment of MSCs. HDAC inhibition acetylates YAP1 and facilitates its translocation to the nucleus, where it is removed by PSME4, promoting cardiac commitment. The failure of YAP1 to translocate or be eliminated from the nucleus results in the MSCs' inability to undergo cardiac commitment.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.132-145
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• 2024

Sarcopenia, the age-related muscle atrophy, is a serious concern as it is associated with frailty, reduced physical functions, and increased mortality risk. Protein supplementation is essential for preserving muscle mass, and horse meat can be an excellent source of proteins. Since sarcopenia occurs under conditions of oxidative stress, this study aimed to investigate the potential anti-muscle atrophy effect of horse meat hydrolysate using C2C12 cells. A horse meat hydrolysate less than 3 kDa (A4<3kDa) significantly increased the viability of C2C12 myoblasts against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity. Exposure of C2C12 myoblasts to lipopolysaccharide led to an elevation of cellular reactive oxygen species levels and mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6, and these effects were attenuated by A4<3kDa treatment. Additionally, A4<3kDa activated protein synthesis-related proteins through the protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway, while decreasing the expression of activity and degradation-related proteins, such as Forkhead box O3, muscle RING finger protein-1, and Atrogin-1 in dexamethasone-treated C2C12 myotubes. Therefore, the natural material A4<3kDa has the potential of protecting against muscle atrophy, while further in vivo study is needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.644-653
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• 2024

Considering the emergence of various infectious diseases, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), people's attention has shifted towards immune health. Consequently, immune-enhancing functional foods have been increasingly consumed. Hence, developing new immune-enhancing functional food products is needed. Pinus densiflora pollen can be collected from the male red pine tree, which is commonly found in Korea. P. densiflora pollen extract (PDE), obtained by water extraction, contained polyphenols (216.29 ± 0.22 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (35.14 ± 0.04 mg CE/100 g). PDE significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) but, did not exhibit cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells. Western blot results indicated that PDE induced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. PDE also significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of cytokines and the phosphorylation of IKKα/β and p65, as well as the activation and degradation of IκBα. Additionally, western blot analysis of cytosolic and nuclear fractions and immunofluorescence assay confirmed that the translocation of p65 to the nucleus after PDE treatment. These results confirmed that PDE increases the production of cytokines, NO, and ROS by activating NF-κB. Therefore, PDE is a promising nutraceutical candidate for immune-enhancing functional foods.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.304-312
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• 2024

가금류 우모는 환경오염 물질이자 병원성 세균의 저장소로 간주되는 축산폐기물이다. 따라서 우모 폐기물을 관리하기 위한 지속 가능하고, 환경친화적인 방법을 개발하는 것은 매우 중요하다. 본 연구는 폐기된 닭의 우모로부터 분리된 Y10 균주를 동정하고, 특성화하기 위하여 수행되었다. Y10 균주는 표현형 및 16S rRNA 유전자 분석을 통해 Bacillus amyloliquefaciens에 속하는 것으로 확인되었다. B. amyloliquefaciens Y10은 곰팡이 세포성분을 분해하는 효소(cellulase, lipase, protease and pectinase), siderophore, 암모니아 및 IAA 생성과 같은 식물 성장 촉진 활성을 나타내었다. 나아가 Y10 균주는 일부 식물병원성 곰팡이의 균사체 생육을 억제할 수 있었다. 기본배지에 탄소원으로 sucrose 0.1%, 질소원으로 casein 0.05%를 첨가한 후, 배지의 pH를 10으로 조정하여 35℃에서 배양했을 때, 실험균주에 의한 우모 분해율은 기본배지 대비 약 2배 증가되었으며, 배양 4일에 우모는 완전히 분해되었다. 또한 실험균주는 개선된 조건에서 오리 우모, 양모, 사람의 손발톱과 같은 다양한 케라틴 기질을 분해할 수 있었다. Y3 균주를 이용하여 조제된 우모 분해산물은 DPPH 라디칼 소거능(EC₅₀ = 0.38 mg/ml)과 SOD 유사활성(EC₅₀ = 183.7 mg/ml)과 같은 항산화능이 있음을 확인하였다. 이 결과는 실험균주는 케라틴 폐기물의 미생물학적 처리뿐만 아니라 농축산 산업에 적용할 수 있는 생물 비료, 생물 농약 및 사료첨가제 개발의 잠재적인 후보가 될 수 있을 시사한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.332-342
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• 2000

연구배경 : 염증매개 사이토카인은 염증성 폐질환의 중요한 매개물질이다. 폐 상피세포는 염증세포에서 분비되는 사이토카인에 의해 interleukin, chemokines, colony stimulating factors와 growth factor등을 생산 및 분비함으로써 국소 염증 부위에서의 사이토카인 network에 중요한 역할을 한다. 따라서 폐 상피세포에서 염증매개 사이토카인의 발현 기전에 대한 이해는 염증성 폐질환의 기전규명과 이에 기초한 새로운 치료법의 개발에 생각된다. 대부분의 사이토카인은 NF-${\kappa}B$전사인자에 의해 발현되는데 폐 상피세포에서 염증매개 사이토키인의 발현과 NF-${\kappa}B/I{\kappa}B$ 경로와의 관련성에 관한 연구는 부족한 실정이다. 방법 : BEAS-2B, A549, NCI-H157, NCI-H719 세포에서 IL-1$\beta$와 TNF-$\alpha$ 자극에 의한 IL-8과 TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA의 발현 양상을 평가하였고 이들의 발현과 관찰하였고 NF-${\kappa}B/I{\kappa}B$ 경로와의 관련성을 평가하기 위하여 IL-l$\beta$와 TNF-$\alpha$ 자극에 의한 NF-${\kappa}B$의 활성화 및 $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$와 $I{\kappa}B{\beta}$의 분해 양상을 관찰하였다. 폐 상피세포의 종류에 따른 NF-${\kappa}B/I{\kappa}B$ 경로 조절의 기전을 규명하고자 IL-1$\beta$와 TNF-$\alpha$ 자극에 의한 $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$의 인산화와 기저상태에서 IKK$\alpha$의 발현을 평가하였다. 결과 : BEAS-2B, A549, NCI-H157 세포에서는 IL-1$\beta$와 TNF-$\alpha$ 자극으로 $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$와 $I{\kappa}B{\beta}$가 분해되었고 NF-${\kappa}B$의 활성화가 관찰되었으며 IL-8과 TNF-$\alpha$mRNA의 발현이 유도되었다. NCI-H719 세포에서는 IL-1$\beta$와 TNF-$\alpha$ 자극으로 $I{\kappa}B$ 분해에 의한 NF-${\kappa}B$의 활성화 및 염증매개 사이토카인의 발현이 관찰되지 않았다. BEAS-2B, A549, NCI-H157 세포에서는 IL-1$\beta$와 TNF-$\alpha$ 자극으로 ${\kappa}B$의 인산화가 관찰되었지만 NCI-H719 세포에서는 관찰되지 않았다. 기저상태의 IKK$\alpha$ 발현은 세포간에 차이가 관찰되지 않았다. 결론 : 폐 상피세포에서 NF-${\kappa}B/I{\kappa}B$ 경로는 염증매개 사이토카인 발현에 매우 중요한 역할을 하고, 일부 세포에서는 NF-${\kappa}B/I{\kappa}B$ 경로 조절의 차이를 보이는데 이는 IKK보다 상위 단계의 세포내 신호전달체계의 이상에 기인한 것으로 생각된다.