연세대학교 · Medicine
김혜영 교수의 연구실은 장기 기능 유지와 면역 조절을 위한 영양소의 생리적 기능과 질병 예방 기전을 중심으로 연구를 진행하고 있습니다. 특히 글루타민, 아스타잔틴, 루테인, 비타민 D, 셀레늄 등의 영양소가 산화 스트레스, 만성 염증, 면역 기능 저하와 관련된 질환에서 어떻게 세포 보호 기전을 발휘하는지 기초 및 임상적 관점에서 탐구하고 있습니다. 또한, 중증 질환 환자에서의 영양보충제가 치료 결과에 미치는 영향을 분석함으로써, 영양요법이 질병 관리에 어떻게 활용될 수 있는지의 실용적 응용도 함께 고려하고 있습니다.
표시된 성과는 수집된 데이터 기준으로 산출되며, 일부 차이가 있을 수 있습니다.
Glutamine, the most abundant free amino acid in the human body, is a major substrate utilized by intestinal cells. The roles of glutamine in intestinal physiology and management of multiple intestinal diseases have been reported. In gut physiology, glutamine promotes enterocyte proliferation, regulates tight junction proteins, suppresses pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, and protects cells against apoptosis and cellular stresses during normal and pathologic conditions. As glutamine stores are
Oxidative stress is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of various human diseases as well as to the aging process. Mitochondria, as the center of cellular metabolism and major regulators of redox balance, play a critical role in disease development and progression. Mitochondrial dysfunction involving structural and metabolic impairment is prominent in oxidative stress-related diseases. Increased oxidative stress can damage mitochondria, and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction generates exce
Low levels of micronutrients have been associated with adverse clinical outcomes during viral infections. Therefore, to maximize the nutritional defense against infections, a daily allowance of vitamins and trace elements for malnourished patients at risk of or diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be beneficial. Recent studies on COVID-19 patients have shown that vitamin D and selenium deficiencies are evident in patients with acute respiratory tract infections. Vitamin D impro
Lutein is a xanthophyll carotenoid obtained from various foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables and egg yolk. Lutein has antioxidant activity and scavenges reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen and lipid peroxy radicals. Oxidative stress activates inflammatory mediators, leading to the development of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Thus, recent basic and clinical studies have investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of lutein based on its antioxidant activity and modulation o
Dietary supplementation with nutrients enhancing immune function is beneficial in patients with surgical and critical illness. Malnutrition and immune dysfunction are common features in hospitalized patients. Specific nutrients with immunological and pharmacological effects, when consumed in amounts above the daily requirement, are referred to as immune-enhancing nutrients or immunonutrients. Supplementation of immunonutrients is important especially for patients with immunodeficiency, virus or
Cerulein pancreatitis is similar to human edematous pancreatitis, manifesting with dysregulation of digestive enzyme production and cytoplasmic vacuolization, the death of acinar cells, edema formation, and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the pancreas. Reactive oxygen species are involved in nuclear factor-kappaB activation, cytokine expression, apoptosis and pathogenesis of pancreatitis. There is recent evidence that cerulein activates NADPH oxidase, which is a major source of reactive
Generation of excess quantities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by mitochondrial dysfunction facilitates rapid growth of pancreatic cancer cells. Elevated ROS levels in cancer cells cause an anti-apoptotic effect by activating survival signaling pathways, such as NF-κB and its target gene expression. Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes and a potent antioxidant, displays a protective effect against pancreatic cancer. The present study was designed to determine if lycopene induces apo
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Brain amyloid-β deposition is a crucial feature of AD, causing neuronal cell death by inducing oxidative damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate NF-κB, which induces expression of Nucling. Nucling is a pro-apoptotic factor recruiting the apoptosome complex. Lycopene is an antioxidant protecting from oxidative stress-induced cell damage. We investigated whether lycopene inhibits amyloid-β-stimulated apoptosis through reducing R
We studied the actions of saponin (ginsenosides) from Panax ginseng on free radical-induced pulmonary endothelial injury which is manifest as reversal of the normal vasodilator response to acetylcholine in perfused, vasoconstricted lungs. 50 or 200 micrograms/ml ginsenosides prevented this injury response and also reduced the pulmonary edema which follows free radical injury but did not alter the normal ACh-induced vasodilation in intact lungs. In control perfused lungs preconstricted with U4661
<i>Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)</i> infection leads to gastric inflammation, peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. <i>H. pylori</i> activates NADPH oxidase and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce NF-κB activation and IL-8 expression in gastric epithelial cells. Dysfunctional mitochondria trigger inflammatory cytokine production. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-γ (PPAR-γ) regulate inflammatory response. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells again