• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.113-124
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• 2002

Objects: This research was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Bupleuri Radix against ischemic damage using PC12 cells and global ischemia in gerbils, Methods: To observe the protective effect of Bupleuri Radixon ischemic damage, viability and changes in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and production of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed after treating PC12 cells with Bupleuri Radix during ischemic damage. Gerbils were divided into three groups: a normal group, a 5-minute two-vessel occlusion (2VO) group and a Bupleun Radix administered group after 2VO. The CCAs were occluded by microclip for 5 minutes, Bupleuri Radix was administered orally for 7 days after 2VO. Histological analysis was performed on the 7th day. For histological analysis, the brain tissue was stained with 1 % of cresyl violet solution. Results: 1. Bupleuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the CA1 area of the gerbil's hippocampus 7 days after 5-minute occlusion. 2. In the hypoxia/reperfusion model using PC12 cells, the Bupleuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the dose of 0.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml,2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml{\;}and{\;} 20{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$. 3. Bupleuri Radix increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase. 4. The increased activity of superoxidedismutase (SOD) by ischemic damage might have been induced as an act of self-protection. This study suggests that Bupleuri Radix has some neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia in vivo with a widely used experimental model of cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Bupleuri Radix also has protective effect on a hypoxia/reperfusion cell culture model using PC12 cells. Conclusions: Bupleuri Radix has protective effect against ischemic brain damage during the early stages of ischemia.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.92-99
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• 2016

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the representative neurodegenerative movement disorders with the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is widely used as an experimental model system to mimic PD and has been reported to cause neuronal cell death via oxidative and/or nitrosative stress. Therefore, daily intake of dietary or medicinal plants which fortifies cellular antioxidant capacity can exert neuroprotective effects in PD. In the present study, we have investigated the protective effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) against 6-OHDA-induced nitrosative death in C6 glioma cells. Treatment of C6 cells with 6-OHDA decreased cell viability and increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, production of nitric oxide as well as peroxynitrite, and formation of nitrotyrosine. 6-OHDA led to apoptotic cell death as determined by decreased Bcl-2/Bax, phosphorylation of JNK, activation of caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP. Conversely, pretreatment of C6 cells with KRG attenuated 6-ODHA-induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and nitrosative damages. To further elucidate the molecular mechanism of KRG protection against 6-OHDA-induced nitrosative cell death, we have focused on the cellular self-defense molecules against exogenous noxious stimuli. KRG treatment up-regulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a key antioxidant enzyme essential for cellular defense against oxidative and/or nitrosative stress via activation of Nrf2. Taken together, these findings suggest KRG may have preventive and/or therapeutic potentials for the management of PD.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.131-144
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• 2007

Objectives : Although the cause of neuronal death of Parkinson's disease remains unclear, increasing evidence points to the role of inflammatory processes. And the hallmark of brain inflammation is the activation of microglia. This study was performed to prove the effect of acupuncture on inhibiting microglial activation. Methods : The rat models which were injected with 6-hydroxydopamine were treated with acupuncture once a day on LR3 (太衝) and GB34 (陽陵泉). To prove the effect of inhibiting microglial activation, we examined the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunopositive neurons and CD11b immunohistochemistry in the substantia nigra. Results : There were 18% (third day), 32% (seventh day) loss of TH-positive cell bodies in the control group and 23% (third day), 26% (seventh day) in the acupuncture group, whereas 3% (third day), 10% (seventh day) in vehicle group. The difference of optical density in substantia nigra was evaluated by subtracting log inverse gray value of contralateral side from that of ipsilateral side. With regards to the result of CD11b immunohistochemistry, acupuncture group showed significantly inhibited microglial activation compared with control group (p<0.01) on the seventh day. Conclusions : Acupuncture showed the effect of inhibition of microglial activation in seventh day. However, the effect of protection of TH positive cell bodies was not shown. So we need longer investigation of the effect of acupuncture on Parkinson's disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.301-309
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• 2018

Statins mediate vascular protection and reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Recent work indicates that statins have anticonvulsive effects in the brain; however, little is known about the precise mechanism for its protective effect in kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures. Here, we investigated the protective effects of atorvastatin pretreatment on KA-induced neuroinflammation and hippocampal cell death. Mice were treated via intragastric administration of atorvastatin for 7 days, injected with KA, and then sacrificed after 24 h. We observed that atorvastatin pretreatment reduced KA-induced seizure activity, hippocampal cell death, and neuroinflammation. Atorvastatin pretreatment also inhibited KA-induced lipocalin-2 expression in the hippocampus and attenuated KA-induced hippocampal cyclooxygenase-2 expression and glial activation. Moreover, AKT phosphorylation in KA-treated hippocampus was inhibited by atorvastatin pretreatment. These findings suggest that atorvastatin pretreatment may protect hippocampal neurons during seizures by controlling lipocalin-2-associated neuroinflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2019

Brain aging is an inevitable process characterized by structural and functional changes and is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Most brain aging studies are focused on neurons and less on astrocytes which are the most abundant cells in the brain known to be in charge of various functions including the maintenance of brain physical formation, ion homeostasis, and secretion of various extracellular matrix proteins. Altered mitochondrial dynamics, defective mitophagy or mitochondrial damages are causative factors of mitochondrial dysfunction, which is linked to age-related disorders. Etoposide is an anti-cancer reagent which can induce DNA stress and cellular senescence of cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated whether etoposide induces senescence and functional alterations in cultured rat astrocytes. Senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) activity was used as a cellular senescence marker. The results indicated that etoposide-treated astrocytes showed cellular senescence phenotypes including increased SA-${\beta}$-gal-positive cells number, increased nuclear size and increased senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) such as IL-6. We also observed a decreased expression of cell cycle markers, including PhosphoHistone H3/Histone H3 and CDK2, and dysregulation of cellular functions based on wound-healing, neuronal protection, and phagocytosis assays. Finally, mitochondrial dysfunction was noted through the determination of mitochondrial membrane potential using tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) and the measurement of mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR). These data suggest that etoposide can induce cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes which may have implications in brain aging and neurodegenerative conditions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.458-463
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• 2021

Cytokines activate inflammatory signals and are major mediators in progressive β-cell damage, which leads to type 1 diabetes mellitus. We recently showed that the cell-permeable Tat-CIAPIN1 fusion protein inhibits neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress. However, how the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein affects cytokine-induced β-cell damage has not been investigated yet. Thus, we assessed whether the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein can protect RINm5F β-cells against cytokine-induced cytotoxicity. In cytokine-exposed RINm5F β-cells, the transduced Tat-CIAPIN1 protein elevated cell survivals and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA fragmentation levels. The Tat-CIAPIN1 protein reduced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation levels and elevated Bcl-2 protein, whereas Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 proteins were decreased by this fusion protein. Thus, the protection of RINm5F β-cells by the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein against cytokine-induced cytotoxicity can suggest that the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein might be used as a therapeutic inhibitor against RINm5F β-cell damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.376-386
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• 2022

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of depression by modulating synaptic structural remodeling and functional transmission. Previously, we have demonstrated that the ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) presents a novel antidepressant-like effect via BDNF-TrkB signaling in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-exposed mice. However, the underlying mechanism through which Rb1 counteracts stress-induced aberrant hippocampal synaptic plasticity via BDNF-TrkB signaling remains elusive. Methods: We focused on hippocampal microRNAs (miRNAs) that could directly bind to BDNF and are regulated by Rb1 to explore the possible synaptic plasticity-dependent mechanism of Rb1, which affords protection against CUMS-induced depression-like effects. Results: Herein, we observed that brain-specific miRNA-134 (miR-134) could directly bind to BDNF 30 UTR and was markedly downregulated by Rb1 in the hippocampus of CUMS-exposed mice. Furthermore, the hippocampus-targeted miR-134 overexpression substantially blocked the antidepressant-like effects of Rb1 during behavioral tests, attenuating the effects on neuronal nuclei-immunoreactive neurons, the density of dendritic spines, synaptic ultrastructure, long-term potentiation, and expression of synapse-associated proteins and BDNF-TrkB signaling proteins in the hippocampus of CUMS-exposed mice. Conclusion: These data provide strong evidence that Rb1 rescued CUMS-induced depression-like effects by modulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity via the miR-134-mediated BDNF signaling pathway.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.145-178
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• 2020

This paper examines discussions surrounding cognitive liberty, neuro-privacy, and mental integrity from the perspective of Neuro-rights. The right to control one's neurological data entails self-determination of collection and usage of one's data, and the right to object to any way such data may be employed to negatively impact oneself. As innovations in neurotechnologies bear benefits and downsides, a novel concept of the neuro-rights has been suggested to protect individual liberty and rights. In Oct. 2020, the Chilean Senate presented the 'Proyecto de ley sobre neuroderechos' to promote the recognition and protection of neuro-rights. This new bill defines all data obtained from the brain as neuronal data and outlaws the commerce of this data. Neurotechnology, especially when paired with big data and artificial intelligence, has the potential to turn one's neurological state into data. The possibility of inferring one's intent, preferences, personality, memory, emotions, and so on, poses harm to individual liberty and rights. However, the collection and use of neural data may outpace legislative innovation in the near future. Legal protection of neural data and the rights of its subject must be established in a comprehensive way, to adapt to the evolving data economy and technical environment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.481-487
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• 2010

The nutritional components, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of water and a 50% methanol extract from litchi fruit pericarp were investigated. The most abundant mineral, amino acid, and fatty acid were K, proline, and palmitic acid, respectively. In addition, the total water phenolics and 50% methanol extracts were 8.02 and 12.28 mg/g, respectively. The DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power of the water and 50% methanol extracts showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity. In a cell viability assay using MTT, almost all extracts showed a protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity, and lactate dehydrogenase leakage was also inhibited by the pericarp extracts. In particular, the 50% methanol extract showed a higher cell membrane protective effect than the water extract at the highest concentration. Consequently, these data suggest that litchi fruit pericarp can be utilized as an effective and safe functional food substances for natural antioxidants and may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.796-804
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• 2011

Microglia are central nervous system (CNS)-resident professional macrophages that function as the principal immune cells responding to pathological stimulations in the CNS. Activation of microglia, induced by various pathogens, protects neurons and maintains homeostasis in the CNS, but severe activation causes inflammatory responses secreting various neurotoxic molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Allium fistulosum, a member of the onion family, is mainly cultivated for consumption, as well as medicinal use in Oriental medicine. It has been reported that A. fistulosum has various biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-fungus and anti-cholesterol synthesis, however there has been no research about the anti-inflammatory effects of A. fistulosum extracts. In this study, it was undertaken to explore the functions of A. fistulosum as a suppressor of neuronal inflammation by using BV2 microglia cells. As a result, it was found that four kinds of extracts of A. fistulosum effectively reduced the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at both mRNA and protein levels, and also attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the mRNA level in BV2 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the extracts of A. fistulosum attenuated the release of NO markedly, as well as resulting in slight decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production, the effects of which were most significant when treated with ethyl alcohol extract from the whole A. fistulosum. In conclusion, the data indicated that the anti-inflammatory actions of A. fistulosum against BV2 microglia cells is through the down-regulation of iNOS, COX2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, and these effects are expected to help in the protection of nerve tissues by suppressions of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.