본 연구에서는 가물치(Channa argus) 추출물의 신경세포 분화와 산화 스트레스에서의 효능을 분석하기 위하여 녹차와 효소를 이용한 다양한 추출 방법(상온 추출물, RE; 녹차 상온 추출물, GRE; 효소 상온 추출물, ERE; 녹차 효소 상온 추출물, GERE)을 사용하여 제조 된 추출물의 아미노산 조성과 항산화 활성을 비교 분석하였고, 신경성장인자 (NGF) 유도 신경세포 분화 및 과산화수소 처리에 의해 유도된 PC12 세포 독성에 대한 보호효과를 규명하고자 하였다. 총 아미노산 함량은 RE 및 GRE보다 효소 추출물인 ERE 및 GERE에서 훨씬 더 높았다. 효소 가수 분해물 (ERE 및 GERE)에서 ABTS 라디칼 소거 활성은 RE 및 GRE보다 높았다. 또한, RE와 ERE는 PC12 세포에서 neuronal growth factor (NGF) 매개 신경 돌기 성장뿐만 아 니라 growth associated protein (GAP)-43 및 synapsin-1의 발현을 현저하게 향상 시켰다. 과산화수소(H2O2)에 의해 손 상된 PC12 세포에 4가지 유형의 Channa argus 추출물을 첨가한 후 PC12 세포의 생존율을 측정하였다. PC12 세포 의 생존율은 RE, GRE, GERE에서 각각 77.5±1.9%, 84.0±0.8%, 81.1±0.9%이였다. 이러한 세포 생존율은 H2O2 만을 처리 한 음성 대조군(70.0±2.0%)에 비해 더 높았다. H2O2 처리에 의해 유도 된 세포 독성도 RE, GRE 및 GERE 처리에 대한 반응으로 상당히 완화되었다. 종합하면, Channa argus 추출물은 산화 스트레스와 신경 손상을 감소시키는 기능성 물질로 유용하다는 것을 시사하며, 향후 이들 소재를 활용한 다양한 기능성 제품의 개발이 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

Alcoholic steatosis is a fundamental metabolic disorder and may precede the onset of more severe forms of alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we isolated enzymatichydrolysate from Semisulcospira libertine by alcalase hydrolysis and investigated the protective effect of Semisulcospira libertine hydrolysate on liver injury induced by alcohol in the mouse model of chronic and binge ethanol feeding (NIAAA). In an in vitro study, the hydrolysate protects HepG2 cells from ethanol toxicity. Liver damage was assessed by histopathological examination, as well as by quantitating activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). After the administration of S. libertina hydrolysate, fat accumulation and infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver tissues were significantly decreased in the NIAAA mouse model. The elevated levels of serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities, along with the lipid contents of a damaged liver, were recovered in experimental mice administrated with S. libertina hydrolysate, suggesting its role in blood enzyme activation and lipid content restoration within damaged liver tissues. Moreover, treatment with S. libertine hydrolysate reduced the expression rate of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, which accelerate inflammation and induces tissue damage. All data showed that S. libertine hydrolysate has a preventive role against alcohol-induced liver damages by improving the activities of blood enzymes and modulating the expression of inflammation factor, suggesting S. libertine hydrolysate could be a commercially potential material for the restoration of hepatotoxicity.

Although Semisulcospira libertina is generally regarded as a supplement for the alleviation of alcohol hangover, little is known about its effects on cell metabolism. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the constituents of the extracts prepared using different extraction methods and to compare their biochemical properties. The amino acid contents were found to be much higher in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates than hot water extracts from S. libertina. DPPH radical scavenging activities in acidic and enzymatic hydrolysates were higher than those of hot water extracts. Three types of S. libertina hydrolysate was added to HepG2 cells damaged by acetaminophen (AAP), after which the survival rate of HepG2 cell were measured. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the culture media were evaluated. The survival rates of HepG2 cells were 77.0±4.3% and 81.5±1.3% at 3 h and 5h enzymatic hydrolysates, respectively. These cell survival rates were higher compared to those of the negative control group (67.8±4.3%) treated only with acetaminophen. Cellular toxicities induced by treatment with AAP were also significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of S. libertina. In addition, the activities of 2 key enzymes that metabolize ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, were upregulated by 4.7- and 2.7-fold respectively in response to treatment with a 3 h enzymatic hydrolysate of S. libertina. Taken together, these results provide biochemical evidence of the method by which S. libertina exerts its biological functions, including the alleviation of alcohol hangover and the protection of liver cells against toxic insults.

Transforming growth factor (TGF) family is well known to induce the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). However, the precise signal transduction pathways and underlying factors are not well known. Thus the present study aims to evaluate the possible role of C2 domain in the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. To this end, 145 C2 domains in the adenovirus were individually transfected to hMSC, and morphological changes were examined. Among 145 C2 domains, C2 domain of protein kinase C eta (PKCη) was selected as a possible chondrogenic differentiation factor for hMSC. To confirm this possibility, we treated TGFβ3, a well known chondrogenic differentiation factor of hMSC, and examined the increased-expression of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), collagen type II (COL II) as well as PKCη using PT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. To further evaluation of C2 domain of PKCη, we examined morphological changes, expressions of GAG and COL II after transfection of PKCη -C2 domain in hMSC. Overexpression of PKCη-C2 domain induced morphological change and increased GAG and COL II expressions. The present results demonstrate that PKCη involves in the TGF-β3-induced chondrogenic differentiation of hMSC, and C2 domain of PKCη has important role in this process.