Skeletal muscle is an organ that regulates biological metabolic energy. Its dysfunction causes decline of body functions and disability, thus deteriorating the overall quality of life. Various materials are being developed with an anti-sarcolytic effect. However, anti-sarcolytic effect of Sinomenium acutum rhizomes extract (SAE) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate anti-muscle atrophy effects of SAE and its alkaloids, including sinomenine (SIN), magnoflorine (MF), acutumine (ACU), and N-ferultyramine (NFT) isolated from SAE, on dexamethasone (Dex)-induced myotubules. C2C12 myogenic cells differentiated for 6 days were treated with 1 mM Dex for 24 hours. Induction of muscular atrophy was confirmed by a decrease in myogenin expression. We found that Dex increased expression levels of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and MAFbx/atrogin-1. However, mRNA and protein levels of these muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases were significantly reduced by cotreatment with SIN, MF, and NFT in myotubes. Glucose uptake reduced by Dex in myotubules were also restored by SIN, MF, and NFT treatments. These results suggest that SIN, MF, and NFT can reduce muscle wasting and enhance glucose uptake in Dex-treated myotubes, highlighting their potential as therapeutic agents to prevent muscle atrophy.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of enzymatically modified stevia (EMS) on C2C12 cell-based model of dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy to provide baseline data for utilizing EMS in functional health products. C2C12 cells with DEX-induced muscle atrophy were treated with EMS (10, 50, and 100 μg/mL) for 24 h. C2C12 cells were treated with EMS and DEX to test their effects on cell viability and myotube formation (myotube diameter and fusion index), and analyze the expression of muscle strengthening or degrading protein markers. Schisandra chinensis Extract, a common functional ingredient, was used as a positive control. EMS did not show any cytotoxic effect at all treatment concentrations. Moreover, it exerted protective effects on C2C12 cell-based model of DEX-induced muscle atrophy at all concentrations. In addition, the positive effect of EMS on myotube formation was confirmed based on the measurement and comparison of the fusion index and myotube diameter when compared with myotubes treated with DEX alone. EMS treatment reduced the expression of muscle cell degradation-related proteins Fbx32 and MuRF1, and increased the expression of muscle strengthening and synthesis related proteins SIRT1 and p- Akt/Akt. Thus, EMS is a potential ingredient for developing functional health foods and should be further evaluated in preclinical models.

This study investigated changes of milk production in dairy cows intramuscularly injected with drugs containing dexamethasone (DXM). Three types of dexamethasone formulations (Bueunde® (DXM 0.5 mg/mL), Dexason INJ.® (DXM 1 mg/mL) and Dexolone-20 inj.® (DXM 1 mg/mL)) were intramuscularly injected into sixteen healthy dairy cows each. Bueunde® was intramuscularly injected into 8 dairy cows with 5 mg (BED-1) and 10 mg (BED-2) of DXM once a day for 3 consecutive days, respectively. Dexason INJ.® was intramuscularly administered once into dairy cows with 20 mg (DXS-1, n=8) and 40 mg (DXS-2, n=8) of DXM, respectively. Dexolone-20 inj.® was intramuscularly injected once into dairy cows with 20 mg (DXS-1, n=8) and 40 mg (DXS-2, n=8) of DXM, respectively. Milk production (MP) of BED-1 and BED-2 significantly decreased during the drug administration and up to 48-hour post-drug treatment. Compared with the MP before drug administration, the MP of DXS-1 and DXL-1 was meaningfully decreased by 36 and 24-hour post-drug administration, respectively, and that in both DXS-2 and DXL-2 significantly decreased until 48-hour post-drug treatment. In conclusion, it was confirmed that the MP temporarily decreased by 48 hours after administration of DXM to dairy cows.

본 연구는 우유 중에서 덱사메타손을 효과적으로 정량 분석하기 위한 LC-MS/MS법을 확립하고 이를 검증하기 위해 수행되었다. 확립된 LC-MS/MS에 대해 특이성, 검출 한계, 정량한계, 정확도 및 정밀도에 대한 검증을 통하여 유효성을 확인하였다. 표준용액을 이용하여 검량성을 작성한 결과, r2 > 0.999 이상의 직선성을 확인하였고, 덱사 메타손에 대한 검출한계와 정량한계는 각각 0.15와 0.5 ng/ mL이었다. 또한, 회수율은 98.9-109.6%로 나타났으며, 상대표준편차는 1.7-4.4%로 나타나 정확성이 우수하였으며, 이는 식품의약품안전처의 잔류동물용의약품 분석법에서 제시한 기준에 모두 적합한 수준이었다. 따라서 본 연구를 통해 개발된 LC-MS/MS법은 향후 우유 중 덱사메타손을 분석하는데 효과적으로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

As the immune reactions in human white blood cells of certain substances from insects to defend it when invaded by immune blood cells is increased. We experiment with changes in the total number of blood cells through the blood cells which increases and decreases, as well as to observe whether the immune response through any route is to evaluate what happens. Hemocyte population was analyzed in the last instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua. Granulocyte and plasmatocyte were predominant (>75%) types of hemocytes, whereas spherulocyte, prohemocyte, and oenocytoid hemocytes were observed in small densities (5~10%). Total hemocyte counts (THCs) were varied among different ages (day1-day5) of the last instar, in which day 3 larvae (L5D3) had the maximal density. Upon bacterial challenge to L5D3 larvae, THC was further enhanced within 2 h and then decreased to background level. This rapid THC increase in response to bacterial challenge was inhibited by injection with dexamethasone (1 ㎍ per larva). However, the addition of arachidonic acid reversed the inhibitory activity of dexamethasone and allowed the larvae to increase THC. This THC increase was mediated by cyclooxygenase products, but not by lipoxygenase products.

동충하초로 불리우는 곤충병원진균(Paecilomycesjaponicus)이 의약적으로 상품화되어 사용되고 있으며,누에(Bombyxmori)가 이 진균의 최적 기주로 선발되어 자실테 생산에 이용되고 있다. 현재 이 균주의 처리는 갓 탈피한 누에 5령 유충에 접종하고 고온(30\"C),다습(약 90%상대 습도)및 24시간 절식 조건에서 스트레스에 의한 면역 저하를 유도하여 균주 접종율을 높히는 방식을 취하고 있다. 본 연구는 면역반응 중개에 중요한 eicosanoid반응을 억제시키는 dexamethas-one(DEX)을 이용하여 물리적 스트레스 환경의 조성 없이도 누에에 면역 저하를 유도시키려는 목적으로 수행되었다. 누에 령 유충에 주입된 DEX(1007g)는 병원진균의 혈구치사 능력을 뚜렷 이 증가시켰다. 또 DEX(1007g)는 작은혹형성이나 피막형성에서 나타나는 혈구응집 반응이나, phenoloxidase활성으로 측정된 누에의 세포성 면역 반응을 뚜렷이 저하시켰다 효과적 병원진균 의 충체 처리를 위해 곤충체의 부착 능력을 제고시켜 접종율을 높히는 것으로 본 연구에서 판명된 Triton-X(0.05%)를 모든 충체 처리 용액에 이용되었다. DEX(100)단독처리가 기존의 물리 적 스트레스 환경 처리를 통한 방법과 유사한 수준으로 병원진균의 접종율을 나타냈다. 본 연구는 DEX가 동충하초 접종율을 제고시킬 수 있음을 시사했고, 누에는 이러한 진균 병원체에 대해 서 eicosanoid를 이용하여 세포성 면역을 발현하는 것으로 제시하고 있다.고 있다.

스테로이드 호르몬인 glucocorticoid (GC)는 glucocorticoid receptor (GR)와 결합하여 염증 유전자 의 발현을 억제함으로써 강력한 항염 효과를 준다. 따라서 GR을 활성화하는 GC 제제들이 개발되어 피부염의 치료제로 사용되어 왔다. 그러나 이러한 GC 제제들은 피부 장벽 기능 저하, 진피층 두께 감소 등의 부작용을 유발하여 피부를 손상시키고 피부 노화를 유발한다. 특히 GC 성분은 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1)에 의해 활성화되어 GR의 활성을 높이는 것으로 보고되어 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 스테로이드 제제인 dexamethasone에 의해 증가된 11β-HSD1의 발현을 효과적으로 억제할 수 있는 천연 소재를 발굴하고자 하여, 초두구 추출물에서 유래한 alpinetin에서 유의한 효과가 있음을 확인하였 다. Alpinetin은 진피 섬유아세포에서 dexamethasone에 의해 발현이 증가한 11β-HSD1를 억제함과 동시에 GR의 활성 및 cortisol의 생성을 감소시켰다. 또한 사람 섬유아세포 및 3D skin model을 이용한 평가에서, alpinetin은 dexamethasone에 의한 콜라겐 감소와 진피층 두께 감소를 효과적으로 회복시켰다. 따라서, 본 연구 결과로부터 alpinetin은 11β-HSD1의 발현 증가에 의한 피부 스트레스 및 피부 노화를 효과적으로 예방 할 수 있을 것으로 사료되었다.