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Bocheva G, Bakalov D, Iliev P, Tafradjiiska-Hadjiolova R. The Vital Role of Melatonin and Its Metabolites in the Neuroprotection and Retardation of Brain Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5122. [PMID: 38791160 PMCID: PMC11121732 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
While primarily produced in the pineal gland, melatonin's influence goes beyond its well-known role in regulating sleep, nighttime metabolism, and circadian rhythms, in the field of chronobiology. A plethora of new data demonstrates melatonin to be a very powerful molecule, being a potent ROS/RNS scavenger with anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and oncostatic properties. Melatonin and its metabolites exert multiple beneficial effects in cutaneous and systemic aging. This review is focused on the neuroprotective role of melatonin during aging. Melatonin has an anti-aging capacity, retarding the rate of healthy brain aging and the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, etc. Melatonin, as well as its metabolites, N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK), can reduce oxidative brain damage by shielding mitochondria from dysfunction during the aging process. Melatonin could also be implicated in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, by modifying their characteristic low-grade neuroinflammation. It can either prevent the initiation of inflammatory responses or attenuate the ongoing inflammation. Drawing on the current knowledge, this review discusses the potential benefits of melatonin supplementation in preventing and managing cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgeta Bocheva
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical University of Sofia, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Dimitar Bakalov
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Sofia, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Petar Iliev
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Sofia, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Saha P, Ajgaonkar S, Maniar D, Sahare S, Mehta D, Nair S. Current insights into transcriptional role(s) for the nutraceutical Withania somnifera in inflammation and aging. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1370951. [PMID: 38765810 PMCID: PMC11099240 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1370951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The health-beneficial effects of nutraceuticals in various diseases have received enhanced attention in recent years. Aging is a continuous process wherein physiological activity of an individual declines over time and is characterized by various indefinite hallmarks which contribute toward aging-related comorbidities in an individual which include many neurodegenerative diseases, cardiac problems, diabetes, bone-degeneration, and cancer. Cellular senescence is a homeostatic biological process that has an important function in driving aging. Currently, a growing body of evidence substantiates the connection between epigenetic modifications and the aging process, along with aging-related diseases. These modifications are now being recognized as promising targets for emerging therapeutic interventions. Considering that almost all the biological processes are modulated by RNAs, numerous RNA-binding proteins have been found to be linked to aging and age-related complexities. Currently, studies have shed light on the ability of the nutraceutical Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to influence RNA expression, stability, and processing, offering insights into its mechanisms of action. By targeting RNA-related pathways, Withania somnifera may exhibit promising effects in ameliorating age-associated molecular changes, which include modifications in gene expression and signaling networks. This review summarizes the potential role of Withania somnifera as a nutraceutical in modulating RNA-level changes associated with aging, encompassing both in vitro and in vivo studies. Taken together, the putative role(s) of Withania in modulation of key RNAs will provide insights into understanding the aging process and facilitate the development of various preventive and therapeutic strategies employing nutraceuticals for healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praful Saha
- PhytoVeda Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
- Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
| | - Saiprasad Ajgaonkar
- PhytoVeda Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
- Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
| | - Dishant Maniar
- PhytoVeda Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
- Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
| | - Simran Sahare
- PhytoVeda Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
- Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
| | - Dilip Mehta
- PhytoVeda Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
- Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
| | - Sujit Nair
- PhytoVeda Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
- Viridis Biopharma Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India
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Adamiak K, Gaida VA, Schäfer J, Bosse L, Diemer C, Reiter RJ, Slominski AT, Steinbrink K, Sionkowska A, Kleszczyński K. Melatonin/Sericin Wound Healing Patches: Implications for Melanoma Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4858. [PMID: 38732075 PMCID: PMC11084828 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Melatonin and sericin exhibit antioxidant properties and may be useful in topical wound healing patches by maintaining redox balance, cell integrity, and regulating the inflammatory response. In human skin, melatonin suppresses damage caused by ultraviolet radiation (UVR) which involves numerous mechanisms associated with reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) generation and enhancing apoptosis. Sericin is a protein mainly composed of glycine, serine, aspartic acid, and threonine amino acids removed from the silkworm cocoon (particularly Bombyx mori and other species). It is of interest because of its biodegradability, anti-oxidative, and anti-bacterial properties. Sericin inhibits tyrosinase activity and promotes cell proliferation that can be supportive and useful in melanoma treatment. In recent years, wound healing patches containing sericin and melatonin individually have attracted significant attention by the scientific community. In this review, we summarize the state of innovation of such patches during 2021-2023. To date, melatonin/sericin-polymer patches for application in post-operational wound healing treatment has been only sparingly investigated and it is an imperative to consider these materials as a promising approach targeting for skin tissue engineering or regenerative dermatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Adamiak
- Department of Biomaterials and Cosmetic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarin 7, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; (K.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Vivian A. Gaida
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149 Münster, Germany; (V.A.G.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (C.D.); (K.S.)
| | - Jasmin Schäfer
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149 Münster, Germany; (V.A.G.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (C.D.); (K.S.)
| | - Lina Bosse
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149 Münster, Germany; (V.A.G.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (C.D.); (K.S.)
| | - Clara Diemer
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149 Münster, Germany; (V.A.G.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (C.D.); (K.S.)
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Long School of Medicine, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
| | - Andrzej T. Slominski
- Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kerstin Steinbrink
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149 Münster, Germany; (V.A.G.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (C.D.); (K.S.)
| | - Alina Sionkowska
- Department of Biomaterials and Cosmetic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarin 7, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; (K.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Konrad Kleszczyński
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149 Münster, Germany; (V.A.G.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (C.D.); (K.S.)
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González JT, Thrush K, Meer M, Levine ME, Higgins-Chen AT. Age-Invariant Genes: Multi-Tissue Identification and Characterization of Murine Reference Genes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.09.588721. [PMID: 38645168 PMCID: PMC11030416 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.588721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Studies of the aging transcriptome focus on genes that change with age. But what can we learn from age-invariant genes-those that remain unchanged throughout the aging process? These genes also have a practical application: they serve as reference genes (often called housekeeping genes) in expression studies. Reference genes have mostly been identified and validated in young organisms, and no systematic investigation has been done across the lifespan. Here, we build upon a common pipeline for identifying reference genes in RNA-seq datasets to identify age-invariant genes across seventeen C57BL/6 mouse tissues (brain, lung, bone marrow, muscle, white blood cells, heart, small intestine, kidney, liver, pancreas, skin, brown, gonadal, marrow, and subcutaneous adipose tissue) spanning 1 to 21+ months of age. We identify 9 pan-tissue age-invariant genes and many tissue-specific age-invariant genes. These genes are stable across the lifespan and are validated in independent bulk RNA-seq datasets and RT-qPCR. We find age-invariant genes have shorter transcripts on average and are enriched for CpG islands. Interestingly, pathway enrichment analysis for age-invariant genes identifies an overrepresentation of molecular functions associated with some, but not all, hallmarks of aging. Thus, though hallmarks of aging typically involve changes in cell maintenance mechanisms, select genes associated with these hallmarks resist fluctuations in expression with age. Finally, our analysis concludes no classical reference gene is appropriate for aging studies in all tissues. Instead, we provide tissue-specific and pan-tissue genes for assays utilizing reference gene normalization (i.e., RT-qPCR) that can be applied to animals across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T. González
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kyra Thrush
- Altos Labs, San Diego Institute of Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Margarita Meer
- Altos Labs, San Diego Institute of Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Morgan E. Levine
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego Institute of Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Albert T. Higgins-Chen
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, USA
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Salminen A. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) impairs circadian regulation: impact on the aging process. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101928. [PMID: 37031728 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Circadian clocks control the internal sleep-wake rhythmicity of 24hours which is synchronized by the solar cycle. Circadian regulation of metabolism evolved about 2.5 billion years ago, i.e., the rhythmicity has been conserved from cyanobacteria and Archaea through to mammals although the mechanisms utilized have developed with evolution. While the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is an evolutionarily conserved defence mechanism against environmental threats, it has gained many novel functions during evolution, such as the regulation of cell cycle, proteostasis, and many immune functions. There is robust evidence that AhR signaling impairs circadian rhythmicity, e.g., by interacting with the core BMAL1/CLOCK complex and disturbing the epigenetic regulation of clock genes. The maintenance of circadian rhythms is impaired with aging, disturbing metabolism and many important functions in aged organisms. Interestingly, it is known that AhR signaling promotes an age-related tissue degeneration, e.g., it is able to inhibit autophagy, enhance cellular senescence, and disrupt extracellular matrix. These alterations are rather similar to those induced by a long-term impairment of circadian rhythms. However, it is not known whether AhR signaling enhances the aging process by impairing circadian homeostasis. I will examine the experimental evidence indicating that AhR signaling is able to promote the age-related degeneration via a disruption of circadian rhythmicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
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Shilovsky GA, Ashapkin VV. Transcription Factor Nrf2 and Mitochondria - Friends or Foes in the Regulation of Aging Rate. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:1477-1486. [PMID: 36717441 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922120057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
At the first sight, the transcription factor Nrf2 as a master regulator of cellular antioxidant systems, and mitochondria as the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), should play the opposite roles in determining the pace of aging. However, since the causes of aging cannot be confined to the oxidative stress, the role of Nrf2 role cannot be limited to the regulation of antioxidant systems, and moreover, the role of mitochondria is not confined to the ROS production. In this review, we discussed only one aspect of this problem, namely, the molecular mechanisms of interaction between Nrf2 and mitochondria that influence the rate of aging and the lifespan. Experimental data accumulated so far show that the Nrf2 activity positively affects both the mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial quality control. Nrf2 influences the mitochondrial function through various mechanisms, e.g., regulation of nuclear genome-encoded mitochondrial proteins and changes in the balance of ROS or other metabolites that affect the functioning of mitochondria. In turn, multiple regulatory proteins functionally associated with the mitochondria affect the Nrf2 activity and even form mutual regulatory loops with Nrf2. We believe that these loops enable the fine-tuning of the cellular redox balance and, possibly, of the cellular metabolism as a whole. It has been commonly accepted for a long time that all mitochondrial regulatory signals are mediated by the nuclear genome-encoded proteins, whereas the mitochondrial genome encodes only a few respiratory chain proteins and two ribosomal RNAs. Relatively recently, mtDNA-encoded signal peptides have been discovered. In this review, we discuss the data on their interactions with the nuclear regulatory systems, first of all, Nrf2, and their possible involvement in the regulation of the aging rate. The interactions between regulatory cascades that link the programs ensuring the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and cellular responses to the oxidative stress are a significant part of both aging and anti-aging programs. Therefore, understanding these interactions will be of great help in searching for the molecular targets to counteract aging-associated diseases and aging itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Shilovsky
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia. .,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia.,Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 127051, Russia
| | - Vasily V Ashapkin
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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Metzner K, Darawsha O, Wang M, Gaur N, Cheng Y, Rödiger A, Frahm C, Witte OW, Perocchi F, Axer H, Grosskreutz J, Brill MS. Age-dependent increase of cytoskeletal components in sensory axons in human skin. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:965382. [PMID: 36393849 PMCID: PMC9664158 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.965382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is a complex process characterized by several molecular and cellular imbalances. The composition and stability of the neuronal cytoskeleton is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis, especially in long neurites. Using human skin biopsies containing sensory axons from a cohort of healthy individuals, we investigate alterations in cytoskeletal content and sensory axon caliber during aging via quantitative immunostainings. Cytoskeletal components show an increase with aging in both sexes, while elevation in axon diameter is only evident in males. Transcriptomic data from aging males illustrate various patterns in gene expression during aging. Together, the data suggest gender-specific changes during aging in peripheral sensory axons, possibly influencing cytoskeletal functionality and axonal caliber. These changes may cumulatively increase susceptibility of aged individuals to neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Metzner
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany,Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Omar Darawsha
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mengzhe Wang
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nayana Gaur
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany,Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Yiming Cheng
- Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC), Helmholtz Center Munich, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Christiane Frahm
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Otto W. Witte
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Fabiana Perocchi
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany,Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC), Helmholtz Center Munich, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Munich, Germany,Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Hubertus Axer
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology of the University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,PMI Cluster, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Monika S. Brill
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany,Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany,*Correspondence: Monika S. Brill,
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Noh SG, Jung HJ, Kim S, Arulkumar R, Kim DH, Park D, Chung HY. Regulation of Circadian Genes Nr1d1 and Nr1d2 in Sex-Different Manners during Liver Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710032. [PMID: 36077427 PMCID: PMC9456386 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Circadian rhythm is associated with the aging process and sex differences; however, how age and sex can change circadian regulation systems remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate age- and sex-related changes in gene expression and identify sex-specific target molecules that can regulate aging. Methods: Rat livers were categorized into four groups, namely, young male, old male, young female, and old female, and the expression of several genes involved in the regulation of the circadian rhythm was confirmed by in silico and in vitro studies. Results: Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses showed that the expression of genes related to circadian rhythms changed more in males than in females during liver aging. In addition, differentially expressed gene analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction/western blotting analysis revealed that Nr1d1 and Nr1d2 expression was upregulated in males during liver aging. Furthermore, the expression of other circadian genes, such as Arntl, Clock, Cry1/2, Per1/2, and Rora/c, decreased in males during liver aging; however, these genes showed various gene expression patterns in females during liver aging. Conclusions: Age-related elevation of Nr1d1/2 downregulates the expression of other circadian genes in males, but not females, during liver aging. Consequently, age-related upregulation of Nr1d1/2 may play a more crucial role in the change in circadian rhythms in males than in females during liver aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Gyun Noh
- Interdisciplinary Research Program of Bioinformatics and Longevity Science, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Hee Jin Jung
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Seungwoo Kim
- Interdisciplinary Research Program of Bioinformatics and Longevity Science, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Radha Arulkumar
- Interdisciplinary Research Program of Bioinformatics and Longevity Science, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Dae Hyun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Daeui Park
- Department of Predictive Toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Korea
| | - Hae Young Chung
- Interdisciplinary Research Program of Bioinformatics and Longevity Science, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, 2, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-51-510-2814
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