• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.65-75
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• 2022

Hypothalamus is a brain region that controls food intake and energy expenditure while sensing signals that convey information about energy status. Within the hypothalamus, molecularly and functionally distinct neurons work in concert under physiological conditions. However, under pathological conditions such as in diet-induced obesity (DIO) model, these neurons show dysfunctional firing patterns and distorted regulation by neurotransmitters and neurohormones. Concurrently, resident glial cells including astrocytes dramatically transform into reactive states. In particular, it has been reported that reactive astrogliosis is observed in the hypothalamus, along with various neuroinflammatory signals. However, how the reactive astrocytes control and modulate DIO by influencing neighboring neurons is not well understood. Recently, new lines of evidence have emerged indicating that these reactive astrocytes directly contribute to the pathology of obesity by synthesizing and tonically releasing the major inhibitory transmitter GABA. The released GABA strongly inhibits the neighboring neurons that control energy expenditure. These surprising findings shed light on the interplay between reactive astrocytes and neighboring neurons in the hypothalamus. This review summarizes recent discoveries related to the functions of hypothalamic reactive astrocytes in obesity and raises new potential therapeutic targets against obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.285-296
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• 1997

Injury to brain transforms resting astrocytes to their reactive form, the hallmark of which is an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the major intermediate filament protein of their cell type. The overall glial response after brain injury is referred to as reactive gliosis. Glial-neuronal interaction is important for neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth and axonal guidance during ontogenic development. Although much attention has been given to glial regulation of neuronal development and regeneration, evidences also suggest a neuronal influence on glial cell differentiation, maturation and function. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of glial-hippocampal neuronal co-culture on GFAP expression in the co-cultured astrocytes. The following antibodies were used for double immunostaining chemistry; mouse monoclonal antibodies for confirm neuronal cells, rabbit anti GFAP antibodies for confirm astrocytes. Primary cultured astrocytes showed the typical flat polygonal morphology in culture and expressed strong GFAP and vimentin. Co-cultured hippocampal neurons on astrocytes had phase bright cell body and well branched neurites. About half of co-cultured astrocytes expressed negative or weak GFAP and vimentin. After 2 hour glutamate (0.5 mM) exposure of glial-neuronal co-culture, neuronal cells lost their neurites and most of astrocytes expressed strong CFAE and vimentin. In Western blot analysis, total GFAP and vimentin contents in co-cultured astrocytes were lower than those of primary cultured astrocytes. After glutamate exposure of glial-neuronal co-culture, GFAP and vimentin contents in astrocytes were increased to the level of primary cultured astrocytes. These results suggest that neuronal cell decrease GFAP expression in co-cultured astrocytes and hippocampal neuronal-glial co-culture can be used as a reactive gliosis model in vitro for studying GFAP expression of astrocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.182-193
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• 1998

Background: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), identified as a survival factor for developing peripheral neurons is upregulated by reactive astrocytes in the traumatized tissue and in areas of terminal degeneration after a brain lesion. But in the spinal cord, CNTF is expressed in the non-astrocytic phenotypic, maybe oligodendrocytes. The present study was undertaken to determine the upregulation of CNTF expression in reactive astrocytes following spinal cord lesion in the rat. Methods: Unilateral incision of the dorsal funiculus at the thoracic level was performed and rats were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 postlesion. Western blot analysis, immunocytochemical analysis and double immunofluorescence for CNTF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were performed after spinal cord lesion. Results: A major band with 24 kDa and additional band of higher molecular weight form were detectable, and the intensity of the 24 kDa immunoreactive band increased up to 14 days postlesion and decreased toward laminectomized control values. CNTF immunoreactivity was markedly upregulated in the injured dorsal funiculus and adjacent gray matter. The time course of CNTF expression is coincident with the appearance of reactive astrocytes in the injured spinal cord. Moreover, double immunofluorescence for CNTF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) revealed that CNTF immunoreactivity was in GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes. Conclusions: These results show that CNTF upregulation occurred in reactive astrocytes following spinal cord lesion, and suggest a role for CNTF in the regulation of astrocytic responses after spinal cord injury.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2000

Astrocytes generate free radicals including nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen intermediates(ROI) which in turn play roles in the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases and sclerotic changes of the brain. This study was designed to evaluate the mechanism that free radicals contribute to the cytotoxicty of rat neonatal primary astrocytes. Treatment with NO donors alone including soldium nitroprusside(SNP), S-nitrosoglucathinoe (GSNO), and S-nitroso-n-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) showed a little effect on the death of rat neonatal primary astrocytes, whereas SNP markedly induced the death of RAW 264.7 cells. ROI inculding H2O2 and O2 donor also slightly induced the death of rat primary astrocytes. However, 3-morpholinosydnonimine(SIN-1), a donor of peroxynitrite (ONOO), which is a reactive compound of NO with superoxide, significantly decreased the viability of rat primary astrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Cells were retarded in outgrowth of viability of cellular processes with cell shrinkage and detachment from culture dishes. Hoechst staining demonstrated that SIN-1-induced cell death might be due to an apoptosis which was characterized by nuclear condensation and fragmentation. SIN-1-induced apoptosis was prevented by the pretreatment with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in rat primary astorocytes. Furthermore, prevention of the generation of reduced glutathione (GSH) by DL-buthionine-[S, R]-sulfoximine (BSO) aggravated the cytotoxic effects of SNP, benzene triol, and SIN-1 in rat primary astrocytes. Taken together, it is suggested that peroxynitrite may be a major effector of apoptosis and cellular antioxidant system is important for cell survival in rat prima교 astrocytes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Objectives: Cerebral ischemia results from a variety of causes that cerebral blood flow is reduced due to a transient or permanent occlusion of cerebral arteries. Reactive astrocytes and microglial activation plays an important role in the neuronal cell death during ischemic insult. Acupunctural treatment is effective for symptom improvement in cerebrovascular accident, including cerebral ischemia. Methods: In the present study, the effects of acupuncture at the ST40 acupoint on short-term memory and apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient global cerebral ischemia were investigated using gerbils. Transient global ischemia was induced by occlusion of both common carotid arteries with aneurysm clips for 5 min. Acupuncture stimulation was conducted once daily for 7 consecutive days, starting one day after surgery. Results: In the present results, ischemia induction deteriorated short term memory, increased apoptosis, and induced reactive astrocyte and microglial activation. Acupuncture at ST40 acupoint ameliorated ischemia-induced short-term memory impairment by suppressing apoptosis in the hippocampus through down-regulation of reactive astrocytes and microglial activation. Conclusion: The present study suggests that acupuncture at the ST40 acupoint can be used for treatment of patients with cerebral stroke.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 2012

Thyroid hormones are important for the development of the brain including the cerebellum. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treadmill exercise on the survival of Purkinje neurons and the activation of astrocytes in the cerebellar vermis of hypothyroidism-induced rat pups. On the day of perinatal 14, pregnant rats were divided into two groups (n = 5 in each group): the pregnant control group and the pregnantmethimazole (MMI)-treated group. For the induction of hypothyroidism in the rat pups, MMI was added to the drinking water (0.02% wt/vol), from the day of perinatal 14 to postnatal 49. After delivery, male rat pups born from the pregnant control group were assigned to the control group. Male rat pups born from the MMI-treated group were divided into the hypothyroidism-induction group, the hypothyroidism-induction with treadmill exercise group, and the hypothyroidism-induction with thyroxine (T4) treatment group (n = 10 in each group). The rat pups in the exercise group were forced to run on a treadmill for 30 min once a day for 4 weeks, starting on postnatal day 22. In the hypothyroidism-induced rat pups, motor coordination was reduced and Purkinje cell death and reactive astrocytes in the cerebellar vermis were increased. Treadmill exercise enhanced motor coordination, increased the survival of Purkinje neurons, down-regulated reactive astrocytes, and enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) expressions in the hypothyroidism-induced rat pups. These results suggest that treadmill exercise has beneficial effects in terms of protecting against thyroid dysfunction by increasing T3 and T4 and the related protein, BDNF, as well as TrkB, inhibition on astrocyte activation and the reduction of Purkinje cell loss regarding the cerebellum in hypothyroidism rat pups.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.157-171
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• 2001

Astrocytes are glial cells that play a major role in the inflammation observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Upon stimulation from various agents, these cells adopt a reactive phenotype, a morphological hallmark in AD pathology, during which they themselves may produce still more inflammatory cytokines. Substance P (SP) can stimulate secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-\;{\alpha}$ $(TNF-\;{\alpha})$ from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here I report that Sunghyangjungkisan- ga- pogokyoung(Sgp) can modulate cytokines secretion from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Sgp $(10\;to\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and SP. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. Treatment of Sgp $(10\;to\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$ to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion significantly. The secretion of $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ by LPS and SP in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. Neurodegenerative processes in AD are thought to be driven in part by the deposition of ${\beta}\;-amyloid\;(A\;{\beta})$, a 39- to 43-amino acid peptide product resulting from an alternative cleavage of amyloid precursor protein. Sgp $(10\;to\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with $A-{\beta}-$and IL-1. These results suggest that Sgp may inhibit $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that Sgp has an antiinflammatory activity in AD brain

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2011

Ginseng, a traditional medicine in Asian countries, is known to prevent various neuropathologic diseases such as Alzheimer's. Ginseng total saponins (GTS) in particular are one of the most effective ginseng extract compounds for neuroprotection. However, their protective effects on astrocytes are rarely reported. In pathological circumstances, astroglial activation plays a pivotal role in neuroinflammation. Subsequently, neuroinflammation induced by activated astrocytes causes brain damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine the suppressive effects of GTS on astroglial activation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat primary astrocytes. Astrocytes treated for 24 h with LPS demonstrated suppressed glialfibrillary acidic protein expression in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of GTS. GTS reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-1${\beta}$ and inhibited the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated astrocytes. Furthermore, GTS suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species production. These modulations due to GTS may indicate neuroprotective antiinfl ammatory properties which may in turn be related to improvements in neurological performance.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.497-502
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• 2014

In the present study, we found that the natural compound arctigenin inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in rat primary astrocytes. Since hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a critical role as an antioxidant defense factor in the brain, we examined the effect of arctigenin on HO-1 expression in rat primary astrocytes. We found that arctigenin increased HO-1 mRNA and protein levels. Arctigenin also increases the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of Nrf2/c-Jun to the antioxidant response element (ARE) on HO-1 promoter. In addition, arctigenin increased ARE-mediated transcriptional activities in rat primary astrocytes. Further mechanistic studies revealed that arctigenin increased the phosphorylation of AKT, a downstream substrate of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Treatment of cells with a PI3K-specific inhibitor, LY294002, suppressed the HO-1 expression, Nrf2 DNA binding and ARE-mediated transcriptional activities in arctigenin-treated astrocyte cells. The results collectively suggest that PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is at least partly involved in HO-1 expression by arctigenin via modulation of Nrf2/ARE axis in rat primary astrocytes.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2001

Substance P can stimulate secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-\;{\alpha}\;(TNF-\;{\alpha}\;)$ from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here I report that Chilbogeum can modulate cytokines secretion from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Chilbogeum $(10\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and Substance P. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. Treatment of Chilbogeum $(10,\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and Substance P decreased IL-1 secretion significantly. The secretion of $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ by LPS and Substance P in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. Upon stimulation from various agents, these cells adopt a reactive phenotype, a morphological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, during which they themselves may produce still more inflammatory cytokines. Chilbogeum $(10,\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by CCF-STTG1 astrocytoma cells stimulated with $A\;{\beta}$ and IL-1. These results suggest that Chilbogeum may inhibit $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that Chilbogeum has an antiinflammatory activity in AD brain.