• 생물정신의학
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.169-175
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• 2011

Stress, a risk factor of major depression induces cytokine mediated inflammation and decreased neurogenesis. In patients with major depression, significant increases of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been consistently reported. The pro-inflammatory cytokines can stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to release glucocorticoids. In the brain, microglia and play a role of immune activation in response to stress. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine play a role in restricting neurogenesis in the brain. Although neurogenesis may not be essential for the development of depression, it may be required for clinically effective antidepressant treatment. Hence, stimulation of neurogenesis is regarded as a promising strategy for new antidepressant targets. This review introduces changes in neurotransmitter, cytokine and neurogenesis in major depression and explores the possible relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurogenesis related to stress in major depression.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 학술발표회
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• pp.32-32
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• 2003

In the neuron, SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) assembly plays a central role in driving membrane fusion, a required process for neurotransmitter release. In the cytoplasm, vesicular SNARE VAMP2 (vesicle-associated membrane protein 2) engages with two plasma membrane SNAREs syntaxin 1A and SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa) to form the core complex that bridges two membranes. While various factors regulate SNARE assembly, the membrane also plays the regulatory role by trapping VAMP2 in the membrane. The fluorescence and EPR analyses revealed that the insertion of seven C-terminal core-forming residues into the membrane controls complex formation of the entire core region, even though preceding 54 core-forming residues are fully exposed and freely moving. When two interfacial Trp residues in this region were replaced with hydrophilic serine residues, the mutation supported rapid complex formation.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.315-322
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• 2018

The high mortality rates associated with acute kidney injury are mainly due to extra-renal complications that occur following distant-organ involvement. Damage to these organs, which is commonly referred to as multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, has more severe and persistent effects. The brain and its sub-structures, such as the hippocampus, are vulnerable organs that can be adversely affected. Acute kidney injury may be associated with numerous brain and hippocampal complications, as it may alter the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Although the pathogenesis of acute uremic encephalopathy is poorly understood, some of the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to hippocampal involvement include the release of multiple inflammatory mediators that coincide with hippocampus inflammation and cytotoxicity, neurotransmitter derangement, transcriptional dysregulation, and changes in the expression of apoptotic genes. Impairment of brain function, especially of a structure that has vital activity in learning and memory and is very sensitive to renal ischemic injury, can ultimately lead to cognitive and functional complications in patients with acute kidney injury. The objective of this review was to assess these complications in the brain following acute kidney injury, with a focus on the hippocampus as a critical region for learning and memory.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.149-156
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• 2021

The well-known second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) regulates the morphology and physiology of neurons and thus higher cognitive brain functions. The discovery of exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap GTPases has shed light on protein kinase A (PKA)-independent functions of cAMP signaling in neural tissues. Studies of cAMP-Epac-mediated signaling in neurons under normal and disease conditions also revealed its diverse contributions to neurodevelopment, synaptic remodeling, and neurotransmitter release, as well as learning, memory, and emotion. In this mini-review, the various roles of Epac isoforms, including Epac1 and Epac2, highly expressed in neural tissues are summarized, and controversies or issues are highlighted that need to be resolved to uncover the critical functions of Epac in neural tissues and the potential for a new therapeutic target of mental disorders.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.100030.1-100030.14
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• 2024

Both brown and white adipose tissues (BAT/WAT) are innervated by the peripheral nervous system, including efferent sympathetic nerves that communicate from the brain/central nervous system out to the tissue, and afferent sensory nerves that communicate from the tissue back to the brain and locally release neuropeptides to the tissue upon stimulation. This bidirectional neural communication is important for energy balance and metabolic control, as well as maintaining adipose tissue health through processes like browning (development of metabolically healthy brown adipocytes in WAT), thermogenesis, lipolysis, and adipogenesis. Decades of sensory nerve denervation studies have demonstrated the particular importance of adipose sensory nerves for brown adipose tissue and WAT functions, but far less is known about the tissue's sensory innervation compared to the better-studied sympathetic nerves and their neurotransmitter norepinephrine. In this review, we cover what is known and not yet known about sensory nerve activities in adipose, focusing on their effector neuropeptide actions in the tissue.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.756-763
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• 2002

We have previously demonstrated that repeated injections of nicotine produced an increase in locomotor activity, dopamine(DA), release and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens, one of the major projection areas of the central DA system. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. And many studies have shown that Coptidis Rhizoma has a suppressive effect on the central nervous system (CNS) and can affect the neurotransmitter systems in the CNS. In order to investigate whether acupuncture and Coptidis Rhizoma have an influence on nicotine-induced reinforcing and behavioral effects, we examined the effect of zusanli(ST36) and Coptidis Rhizoma on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity, and zusanli(ST36) on c-Fos expression as an important maker of postsynaptic neuronal activity in nucleus accumbens. Male SD rats received Coptidis Rhizoma (100mg/kg, p.o.) 30 min before injections of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) for 7 days. Rats were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity. Pretreatment with acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity. These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release. Our results suggest that acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.161-170
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• 2004

분자영상은 살아있는 개체의 몸 속에서 일어나는 생물학적 반응이나 특정한 표적분자를 비관혈적이며 반복적으로 영상화하는 기술이다. 이를 위해서는 두 가지 기본 요소가 요구되는 바 하나는 관심 생물현상에 의해 농도나 분광특성이 변하는 분자영상용 추적자이며 다른 하나는 이런 추적자를 모니터링하는 장비이다. 분자 핵의학 영상기술은 이제 신경과학분야에서도 활발히 적용되고 있으며 신경관련 기초연구나 뇌질환 관련 신약개발에 이미 중요한 역할을 하고 있다. 최근에는 살아있는 개체에서 약제 투여가 뇌에 미치는 약물학적, 생리적 영향을 조사하는 데에도 이용되고 있다. 다가오는 미래에는 각종 뇌질환에서 특이적 표적을 공략하는 새로운 분자치료가 개발되어 뇌질환 치료에 혁명적인 변화를 가져올 것으로 예상되고 있다. 그 예로, 파킨슨씨 병과 같은 퇴행성 신경질환에 줄기세포를 이용한 자가수선, 신경보호, 약물분비 치료, 성장인자와의 병행치료 등이 개발되고, 유전자 치료도 이용될 것으로 보인다. 신경 분자 핵의학 영상은 이와 같은 새로운 뇌질환 치료기술의 개발에 있어서 뇌 안에서 일어나는 분자수준의 변화를 실시간으로 모니터링함으로써 관련연구에 크게 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.79-83
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• 2008

본 연구에서는 신경독소일 뿐만 아니라 흥분성 신경전달물질로 잘 알려져 있는 glutamate 세포독성이 산화적 손상과 관련하고 있고, 여기에 방어효과를 보이는 제비꽃 추출물에 관하여 연구하였다. MTT reduction assay를 통하여 glutamate의 세포독성을 확인하였고 ascorbic acid와 같은 대표적인 항산화제를 처리한 후 광학 현미경을 이용한 형태학적 변화를 관찰하였다. N18-RE-105 세포주에 최종 농도 20mM의 glutamate를 처리 하면 40.8% 의 생존율을 보이는데 반하여 ascorbic acid 500 ${\mu}M$ 최종농도로 처리하였을 때 85.3%의 세포 생존율을 확인할 수 있었다. 그리고 신경세포 보호효과를 가지는 제비꽃을 methanol, ethanol, acetone 추출한 뒤 MTT reduction assay를 이용하여 활성을 확인하였으며 그 중 acetone 추출물을 최종농도 50, 100 ${\mu}g/ml$를 처리 시 76.8%, 79.4%로 가장 높은 세포 생존율을 확인할 수 있었다. 이 결과는 N18-RE-105 세포주의 형태학적 변화와 LDH release assey에서도 일치하는 결과를 확인하였다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

PTPRT/RPTPρ is the most recently isolated member of the type IIB receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase family and its expression is restricted to the nervous system. PTPRT plays a critical role in regulation of synaptic formation and neuronal development. When PTPRT was overexpressed in hippocampal neurons, synaptic formation and dendritic arborization were induced. On the other hand, knockdown of PTPRT decreased neuronal transmission and attenuated neuronal development. PTPRT strengthened neuronal synapses by forming homophilic trans dimers with each other and heterophilic cis complexes with neuronal adhesion molecules. Fyn tyrosine kinase regulated PTPRT activity through phosphorylation of tyrosine 912 within the membrane-proximal catalytic domain of PTPRT. Phosphorylation induced homophilic cis dimerization of PTPRT and resulted in the inhibition of phosphatase activity. BCR-Rac1 GAP and Syntaxin-binding protein were found as new endogenous substrates of PTPRT in rat brain. PTPRT induced polymerization of actin cytoskeleton that determined the morphologies of dendrites and spines by inhibiting BCR-Rac1 GAP activity. Additionally, PTPRT appeared to regulate neurotransmitter release through reinforcement of interactions between Syntaxin-binding protein and Syntaxin, a SNARE protein. In conclusion, PTPRT regulates synaptic function and neuronal development through interactions with neuronal adhesion molecules and the dephosphorylation of synaptic molecules. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(5): 249-255]

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.199-204
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• 2007

HCN (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated) channels, whose gene family consists of four subunits (HCN1-4), mediate depolarizing cation currents and contribute to controlling neuronal excitability. In the present study, immunohistochemical and electrophysiological approaches were used to elucidate the role of HCN channels in the cerebellum. Immunohistochemical labeling for HCN1 and HCN2 channels revealed localized expression of both channels at pinceau, the specialized structure of presynaptic axon terminals of basket cells. To determine the functional role of the presynaptic HCN channels, spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were recorded from Purkinje cells, the main synaptic targets of basket cells in the cerebellum. While activation of HCN channels by 8-bromo-cAMP increased amplitude of spontaneous IPSCs, blockade of the activated HCN channels by subsequent ZD7288 application reduced the amplitude of spontaneous IPSCs to the level far below the control. Our results imply that modulation of HCN1 and HCN2 channels in presynaptic terminals of basket cells regulates neurotransmitter release, thereby controlling the excitability of Purkinje cells.