It is well known that oxidative stress is highly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), and biliverdin reductase A (BLVRA) is known to have antioxidant properties against oxidative stress. In this study, we developed a novel N-acetylgalactosamine kinase (GK2) protein transduction domain (PTD) derived from adenosine A2A and fused with BLVRA to determine whether the GK2-BLVRA fusion protein could protect dopaminergic neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y) from oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo using a PD animal model. GK2-BLVRA was transduced into various cells, including SH-SY5Y cells, without cytotoxic effects, and this fusion protein protected SH-SY5Y cells and reduced reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage after 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP + ) exposure. GK2-BLVRA suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and modulated apoptosis-related protein (Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved Caspase-3 and -9) expression levels. In the PD animal model, GK2-BLVRA transduced into the substantia nigra crossed the blood-brain barrier and markedly reduced dopaminergic neuronal cell death in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced animals. These results indicate that our novel PTD GK-2 is useful for the transduction of protein, and GK2-BLVRA exhibits a beneficial effect against dopaminergic neuronal cell death in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that BLVRA can be used as a therapeutic agent for PD.
Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Haeganjeon on a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model and to determine the Haegan-jeon signaling pathway.Methods: Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Normal group (Nor), TAA-induced liver fibrosis group (Con), TAA-induced liver fibrosis group administered 50 mg/kg silymarin (S50), TAA-induced liver fibrosis group administered 200 mg/kg Haegan-jeon (H200). The liver fibrosis mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection with TAA three times a week for 8 weeks. During the 8 weeks, mice were orally administered silymarin and Haegan-jeon every day. At the end of the study, serum was collected to measure the levels of AST, ALT, ammonia, and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Liver tissue was harvested and analyzed by western blotting and Masson's trichrome staining.Results: Administration of Haegan-jeon suppressed the increase in serum levels of AST, ALT, ammonia, and MPO due to TAA-induced liver fibrosis. Compared to the Con group, the H200 group showed increases in antioxidant-related factors (Nrf2, HO-1, catalase, and GPx-1/2) and decreases in inflammatory-related factors (NF-κB p65, p-IκB-α, Cox-2, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in western blots. The H200 treatment inhibited the expression of α-SMA and Collagen I.Conclusions: Haegan-jeon showed a hepatoprotective effect induced by activation of antioxidant-related factors, such as Nrf2, and it regulated the inflammation response by suppression of NF-κB.
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