• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.231-240
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• 2001

Purpose: Normal aging results in detectable changes in the brain structure and function. We evaluated the changes of regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the normal aging process with FDG PET. Materials and Methods: Brain PET images were obtained in 44 healthy volunteers (age range 20-69 'y'; M:F = 29:15) who had no history of neuropsychiatric disorders. On 6 representative transaxial images, ROIs were drawn in the cortical and subcortical areas. Regional FDG uptake was normalized using whole brain uptake to adjust for the injection dose and correct for nonspecific declines of glucose metabolism affecting all brain areas equally. Results: In the prefrontal, temporoparietal and primary sensorimotor cortex, the normalized FDG uptake (NFU) reached a peak in subjects in their 30s. The NFU in the prefrontal and primary sensorimotor cortex declined with age after 30s at a rate of 3.15%/decade and 1.93%/decade, respectively. However, the NFU in the temporoparietal cortex did not change significantly with age after 30s. The anterior (prefrontal) posterior (temporoparietal) gradient peaked in subjects in their 30s and declined with age thereafter at a rate of 2.35%/decade. The NFU in the caudate nucleus was decreased with age after 20s at a rate of 2.39%/decade. On the primary visual cortex, putamen, and thalamus, the NFU values did not change significantly throughout the ages covered. These patterns were not significantly different between right and left cerebral hemispheres. Of interest was that the NFU in the left cerebellar cortex was increased with age after 20s at a rate of 2.86%/decade. Conclusion: These data demonstrate regional variation of the age-related changes in the cerebral glucose metabolism, with the most prominent age-related decline of metabolism in the prefrontal cortex. The increase in the cerebellar metabolism with age might reflect a process of neuronal plasticity associated with aging.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권8호
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• pp.424-432
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• 2014

The defining feature of Parkinson's disease is a progressive and selective demise of dopaminergic neurons. A recent report on Parkinson's disease animal model demonstrates that poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) dependent cell death, also named parthanatos, is accountable for selective dopaminergic neuronal loss. Parthanatos is a programmed necrotic cell death, characterized by PARP1 activation, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) nuclear translocation, and large scale DNA fragmentation. Besides cell death regulation via interaction with AIF, PAR molecule mediates diverse cellular processes including genomic stability, cell division, transcription, epigenetic regulation, and stress granule formation. In this review, we will discuss the roles of PARP1 activation and PAR molecules in the pathological processes of Parkinson's disease. Potential interaction between PAR molecule and Parkinson's disease protein interactome are briefly introduced. Finally, we suggest promising points of therapeutic intervention in the pathological PAR signaling cascade to halt progression in Parkinson's disease.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.74-86
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• 2005

Background: There are increasing neuro-degenerative disorders with aging. Paeoniae Radix(PR) possesses various pharmacological effects such as sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and neuro-protective actions. Also antiaging and anti-cancer effects of PR were reported. Our purpose was to investigate whether PR is useful on the treatment of Parkinson's disease, one of the neuro-degenerative disorders. Objective: We investigated whether Paeonia Radix possesses a protective effect against 1-methyl-4 phenylpyridine(MPP+)-induced cytotoxicity in neuronal cells. Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay, flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), and Western blotting were performed on SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells. Results: Cells treated with MPP+ exhibited several apoptotic features, while cells pre-treated with Paeonia Radix prior to MPP+ exposure showed s decrease in the occurrence of apoptotic features. Conclusions: These results suggest that Paeonia Radix may exert a protective effect against MPP+-induced apoptosis in SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권
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• pp.71-77
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• 2001

The brain of the aged dog possesses senile plaques and amyloid angiopathy, which characterize Alzheimer's disease brains. We have defined the dementia condition of aged dogs and examined which mechanism(s) is responsible for the condition. A series of studies revealed that the dementia condition in aged dogs is significantly related to the number of apoptotic brain cells including both neurons and glial cells, but not to the number of senile plaques. On the other hand, 5-azacytidine (5AzC) is a cytidine analogue, and is thought to induce kinds of cell differentiation possibly through hypomethylation of genomic DNA. We have revealed neuronal apoptosis induced in 5AzC-treated fetal mice and PC12 cells. The ribosomal protein L4 (rpL4) gene is expressed prior to the apoptosis in the PC12 cell system. Therefore, the involvement of the rpL4 gene expression in age-related brain cell apoptosis in dogs may contribute to the investigation of Alzheimer's dementia.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권9호
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• pp.613-620
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• 2017

The most common form of senile dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid ${\beta}-peptide$ ($A{\beta}$) plaques and the intracellular formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the cerebral cortex. Tau abnormalities are commonly observed in many neurodegenerative diseases including AD, Parkinson's disease, and Pick's disease. Interestingly, tau-mediated formation of NFTs in AD brains shows better correlation with cognitive impairment than $A{\beta}$ plaque accumulation; pathological tau alone is sufficient to elicit frontotemporal dementia, but it does not cause AD. A growing amount of evidence suggests that soluble $A{\beta}$ oligomers in concert with hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) serve as the major pathogenic drivers of neurodegeneration in AD. Increased $A{\beta}$ oligomers trigger neuronal dysfunction and network alternations in learning and memory circuitry prior to clinical onset of AD, leading to cognitive decline. Furthermore, accumulated damage to mitochondria in the course of aging, which is the best-known nongenetic risk factor for AD, may collaborate with soluble $A{\beta}$ and pTau to induce synapse loss and cognitive impairment in AD. In this review, I summarize and discuss the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular biology of AD and also the mechanisms that underlie $A{\beta}-mediated$ neurodegeneration.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2006년도 Spring Conference
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• pp.123-135
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the aging population and is clinically characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive abilities. Pathologically, it is defined by the appearance of senile plaques - extracellular insoluble, congophilic protein aggregates composed of amyloid $\beta$ (A$\beta$) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) - inyracellular lesions consisting of paired helical filaments from hyperphosphorylated cytoskeletal tau protein as described by Alois Alzheimer a century ago. These hallmarks still serve as the major criteria for a definite diagnosis of the disease. Consequently, one of the key strategy for drug development in this disease area focuses on reducing the concentration of cerebral A$\beta$ plaque by using substances that inhibit A$\beta$ fibril formation. We focused on developing inhibitors by synthesizing several kinds of aromatic molecules. The synthetic compounds were initially screened to evaluate the effective compound by tioflavin T fluorescence assay. The selected effective compounds were tested cytotoxicity and protective effect from A$\beta$-induced neuronal toxicity by cell based MTT assay with HT22 hippocampal neurons. The BBB permeability on effectors was also tested in in vitro co-culture model(HUVEC/C6 cell line). The behavior test wea carried out in mutant APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. And inhibition of A$\beta$ fibril formation by the effective compound was monitored with transmitted electron microscopic images.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권12호
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• pp.1295-1309
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• 2005

Nowadays, the nutritional deficits are rarely seen in Korea. However, an increased availability of the highly palatable energy dense, nutrient-poor foods increases the risks of obesity and deficits of vitamins and minerals in the general population. Also, optimum intake of vitamins and minerals, which varies with age and genetic back ground, might not suffice the poor, young, obese, and elderly people. Young girls and individuals participating in weight reductions and aesthetic components are prone to micronutrient deficiencies because they restrict food intake and specific micronutrient rich foods. An inadequate intake of vitamins or minerals is associated with reduced physical performance and exercise capacity, increased obesity, decreased cognitive function, increased DNA damages such as single- and double-stranded breaks or oxidative DNA lesions, and accelerated aging process and increased neuronal damages with mitochondrial oxidative decay. Most of these deleterious effects of the deficit could be prevented by a one tablet of multivitamins with a good balanced diet. High dose B vitamins are frequently administered to overcome the metabolic inadequacy to the people with the less functional enzymes with increased Km values for their coenzymes due to the single gene mutation or due to the single nucleotide polymorphisms. And some certain antioxidant vitamins are also used in large quantities to overcome the oxidative stress and to repair the damages. In this review, new nutritional concepts of some vitamins and minerals, which are widely used and useful for the children, will be discussed.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.161-168
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• 2002

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (Huang-lian-jie-du-tang, HRHDT, 黃連解毒湯) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is formulated with Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, Scutellariae Radix and Gardeniae Fructus. HRHDT is cold (寒) and bitter (苦) in nature and has general properties of clearing heat and detoxifying (淸熱解毒), strengthening the stomach and settling the liver (健胃平肝), and reducing inflammation, fever and swelling. This formula can prevent and treat artherosclerosis, hyperplasia of the endothelium, cerebral fluid circulation, cerebral vascular deterioration through aging, impairment of neurotransmitters, or disruption of the functioning of the cerebral cortex following infection or trauma. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the neuroprotective effect of HRHDT on global ischemia induced by 4-vessel occlusion in Wistar rats. Methods: HRHDT extract was lyophilized after extraction with 85% methanol and 100% water. Rats were induced to 10 minutes of forebrain ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) and reperfused again. HRHDT was administered with a dose of 100 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg of 85% methanol extracts and 100 mg/kg of 100% water extracts, respectively, at 0 min and 90 min after 4-VO. Rats were killed at 7 days after ischemia and the number of CA1 pyramidal neurons was counted in hippocampal sections stained with cresyl violet. Results: Body temperature of animals showed no significant difference between saline-treated groups and HRHDT extracts-treated groups until 5 hours of reperfusion. This result indicated that neuroprotective effects of HRHDT extracts were not due to hypothermic effects. The administration of HRHDT showed a significant neuroprotective effect on hippocampal CA1 neurons at 7 days after ischemia compared to the saline-treated group (P<0.001). HRHDT methanol extracts of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and HRHDT water extracts of 100 mg/kg showed 88.5%, 98.3% and 95.1 % neuroprotection, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that administration of HRHDT is highly effective in reducing neuronal damage in response to transient global cerebral ischemia. HRHDT may involve many mechanisms that might account for its high degree of efficacy. A number of factors including free radicals, glutamate, calcium overload, NO, and various cytokines have been proposed to have an important role in causing neuronal death after short periods of global ischemia. Further studies are needed to know the neuroprotective mechanisms of HRHDT.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.179-194
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• 1995

This study aimed to determine whether exposure to stress during developmental period causes permanent behavioral and/or neurochemical alterations. Alterations of behavior were studied in young and aged rats which have been exposed to uncontrollable and unpredictable electric shocks on postnatal day(PND) 14 or PND 14 and 21. The concentrations of monoaminergic neurotransmitters were also measured to determine whether the behavioral alterations were accompanied by neurochemical changes. The results obtained are as follows: 1) The rate of increase in body weight was reduced at one day after exposure to the 1st series of shocks on PND14. However, these findings could not be observed after exposure to the 2nd series of shocks on PND 21. 2) Explorative activity decreased at one day after exposure to the 1st series of shocks on PND14. However this findings could not be observed after exposure to the 2nd series of shocks on PND 21. 3) At 100 days of age, there were little changes in the spontaneous locomotor activities measured for consecutive 23 hrs. However, there was positive correlation between the shock number showing the 1st helplessness during receiving the 1st series of shocks and the night time ambulatory activity of females, and was negative correlation between the shock number showing the 1st helplessness during receiving the 1st or 2nd series of shocks on PND 14 or 21 and the night time ambulatory activity of females. 4) At $360{\sim}390$ days of age, night time ambulatory activity decreased in female rats which have been exposed to shocks on PND 14 and 21, but not in males. 5) In the aged female rats, the concentrations of 5-HT, dopamine and their metabolites were not different among groups. However, the ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT increased in the frontal cortices of rats exposed to shocks on PND 14 and 21. These results demonstrate that the early experience of serious stress results in persistent alterations of behavior accompanying altered neurochemistry, and aging may unmask a subtle neuronal deficit causes by the early experience of serious stress.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.730-735
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• 2023

지난 10년 동안 인공지능의 도움으로 노화를 정량화하기 위한 수많은 연구가 수행되었다. DNA 메틸화 데이터를 사용하여 다양한 모델이 개발되었으며 흔히 후성유전학적 시계라고 불린다. 후성유전학적 나이 가속화는 일반적으로 질병 상태와도 주로 연관이 있어 보인다. 조현병은 가속 노화 가설과 관련있는 정신질병으로 심각한 정신적, 신체적 스트레스를 동반한다. 다른 심리 질환과 비교했을 때 이 질병은 젊은 사람들에서 높은 사망률과 질병률을 유발한다. 과거 연구에서는 이 질병이 가속 노화 가설과 연관있다고 알려져 있었다. 이번 연구에서는 조현병 환자의 후성유전학적 나이 가속도 변화를 통해 질병에 대한 후성유전학적 통찰을 얻고자 하였다. 후성유전학적 나이 가속화를 측정하기 위해 두 가지 다른 DNA 메틸화 시계 모델을 사용했으며 이는 범조직 모델인 Horvath clock과 Epi clock을 사용하였다. 우리는 Horvath clock과 Epi clock이 모두 호환되는 450k 어레이 데이터를 사용하였다. 그 결과, Epi clock을 사용했을 때 환자샘플에서 후성유전학적 나이 가속화가 더 느리다는 것을 발견했다. Epi clock이 질병으로 인한 DNA 메틸화 변화를 잘 감지해낼 수 있음을 알아내었다. 또한 Epi clock에서 대조군과 환자군에서 차등적으로 메틸화된 CpG 부위를 분석하고 경로 농축 분석을 수행한 결과, 대부분의 CpG가 신경 세포 과정에 관여한다는 사실을 발견했다.