• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.188-197
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• 2010

Background: Lichen-derived glucans have been known to stimulate the functions of immune cells. However, immunostimulatory activity of glucan obtained from edible lichen, Umbilicaria esculenta, has not been reported. Thus we evaluated the phenotype and functional maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) following treatment of extracted glucan (PUE). Methods: The phenotypic and functional maturation of PUE-treated DCs was assessed by flow cytometric analysis and cytokine production, respectively. PUE-treated DCs was also used for mixed leukocyte reaction to evaluate T cell-priming capacity. Finally we detected the activation of MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ by immunoblot. Results: Phenotypic maturation of DCs was shown by the elevated expressions of CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC class I/II molecules. Functional activation of DCs was proved by increased cytokine production of IL-12, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\alpha}/{\beta}$, decreased endocytosis, and enhanced proliferation of allogenic T cells. Polymyxin B, specific inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), did not affect PUE activity, which suggested that PUE was free of LPS contamination. As a mechanism of action, PUE increased phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPKs, and enhanced nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p50/p65 in DCs. Conclusion: These results indicate that PUE induced DC maturation via MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathways.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

The Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway regulates diverse developmental processes and adult tissue homeostasis. Inappropriate regulation of this pathway has been associated with human diseases, such as cancers, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Using a cell-based chemical screening with natural compounds, we discovered silybin, a plant flavonoid isolated from the Silybum marianum, which activated the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway in a synergy with Wnt3a-conditioned medium (Wnt3a-CM). In the presence of Wnt3a-CM, silybin up-regulated ${\beta}$-catenin response transcription (CRT) in HEK293-FL reporter cells and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through stabilization of intracellular ${\beta}$-catenin protein. Silybin and Wnt3a-CM synergistically reduced expression of important adipocyte marker genes including peroxisome-proliferator-activated $receptor{\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CAATT enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ (C/$EBP{\alpha}$) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, accompanied by the activation of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings indicate that silybin is a small-molecule synergist of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway and can be used as a controllable reagent for investigating biological processes that involve the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1516-1524
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• 2018

Objective: Defensins are a large family of antimicrobial peptides and components of the innate immune system that invoke an immediate immune response against harmful pathogens. Defensins are classified into alpha-, beta-, and theta-defensins. Avian species only possess beta-defensins (AvBDs), and approximately 14 AvBDs (AvBD1-AvBD14) have been identified in chickens to date. Although substantial information is available on the conservation and phylogenetics, limited information is available on the expression and regulation of AvBD8 in chicken immune tissues and cells. Methods: We examined AvBD8 protein expression in immune tissues of White Leghorn chickens (WL) by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In addition, we examined AvBD8 expression in chicken T-, B-, macrophage-, and fibroblast-cell lines and its regulation in these cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment by immunocytochemistry and RT-qPCR. Results: Our results showed that chicken AvBD8 protein was strongly expressed in the WL intestine and in macrophages. AvBD8 gene expression was highly upregulated in macrophages treated with different LPS concentrations compared with that in T- and B-cell lines in a time-independent manner. Moreover, chicken AvBD8 strongly interacted with other AvBDs and with other antimicrobial peptides as determined by bioinformatics. Conclusion: Our study provides the expression and regulation of chicken AvBD8 protein in immune tissues and cells, which play crucial role in the innate immunity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.729-741
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• 1997

Background : We have recently reported that airway epithelial cells can produce RANTES and IL-8 in response to the stimulation of tubercle bacilli suggesting a certain role of airway epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The pathogenesis of tuberculosis is determined by several factors including phagocytosis, immunological response of host, and virulence of tubercle bacilli. Interestingly, there have been reports suggesting that difference in immunological response of host according to the virulence of tubercle bacilli may be related with the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. We, therefore, studied the expressions and productions of RANTES and IL-8 in airway epithelial cells in response to tubercle bacilli(H37Rv, virulent strain and H37Ra, avirulent strain), in order to elucidate the possible pathophysiology of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods : Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from normal volunteers. Peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) were stimulated with LPS($10{\mu}g/ml$), H37Rv, or H37Ra($5{\times}10^5$ bacilli/well) along with normal control for 24 hours. A549 cells were stimulated with supernatants of cultured PBM for 24 hours. ELISA kit was used for the measurement of $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ production in supernatants of cultured PBM and for the measurement of RANTES and IL-8 in supernatants of cultured A549 cells. Northern blot analysis was used for the measurement of RANTES and IL-8 mRNA expression in cultured A549 cells. Results : $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ productions were increased in cultured PBM stimulated with LPS or tubercle bacilli(H37Rv or H37Ra) compared with the control. There was, however, no difference in $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ production between cultured PBM stimulated with H37Rv and H37Ra. RANTES and IL-8 expressions and productions were also increased in cultured A549 cells stimulated with LPS or tubercle bacilli compared with the control. RANTES and IL-8 mRNA expressions were significantly increased in cultured A549 cells stimulated with H37Ra-conditioned media(CM) compared with A549 cells stimulated with H37Rv-CM (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in RANTES and IL-8 productions between A549 cells stimulated with H37Rv-CM and H37Ra-CM. Conclusion : Airway epithelial cells can produce the potent chemokines such as RANTES and IL-8, in response to the stimulation of tubercle bacilli. These results suggest that airway epithelial cells may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the role of airway epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis according to the virulence of tubercle bacilli was not clear in this study.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2014

Objectives This study was to investigate the antioxidative capacity, antiobesity effect and anti-diabetes effects of Mori Fructus and dried Mori Fructus in Raw 264.7 cells and 3T3-L1 cells. Methods 3 different types of Mori Fructus extracts (water 100%, ethanol 30%, ethanol 100%) were used in this study. And 3 different types of dried Mori Fructus extracts (water 100%, ethanol 30%, ethanol 100%) were used in this study. Total polyphenol compund, total favonoid compound, DPPH radical scavenging, ROS activity, NO, cell proliferation were measured in the experiment. Expressions of adipogenic transcription factors including $C/EBP-{\alpha}$, $C/EBP-{\beta}$, $PPAR-{\alpha}$, $PPAR-{\gamma}$, $AMPK-{\alpha}$ were analyzed by Real time PCR. Results Mori Fructus extracts measurements are higher than dried Mori Fructus extracts measurements at Total flavonoid compound and total flavonoid compound. Mori Fructus extracts measurements are lower than dried Mori Fructus extracts measurements at DPPH radical scavenging, ROS activity, NO. In RT-PCR analysis, there is a tendency that dried Mori Fructus extracts inhibit the expression of $C/EBP-{\alpha}$, $C/EBP-{\beta}$ genes. In RT-PCR analysis, there is a tendency that dried Mori Fructus extracts promote the expression of $PPAR-{\alpha}$, $PPAR-{\gamma}$, $AMPK-{\alpha}$ genes. Conclusions Mori Fructus is effective on inhibiting the oxidation and dried Mori Fructus is effective on inhibiting the obesity and diabetes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.103-115
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• 2008

Hemodynamic shear stress, the dragging force generated by blood flow, is known as an anti-atherogenic factor. We tested whether lysyl-tRNA synthetase (KRS) will be utilized as an agent controlling shear-sensing systems. KRS was previously known to be secreted as a pro-inflammatory agent. Here we found that KRS inhibited various shear-stimulated signaling pathways. We further found that KRS binds to detergent-resistant membrane (DRM), indicating that KRS binding molecules exist in DRM, specialized regions of the plasma membrane. DRM plays important roles in a variety of cellular processes and consists of gangliosides, signaling molecules and cytoskeletons. We then determined that KRS was colocalized with integrins ${\alpha}4$, ${\alpha}5$ and $av{\beta}3$. In addition, KRS was shown to be associated with sialic acid, existing at the end of gangliosides. Interestingly, the adherent effect of KRS was inhibited by pretreatment with sialic acid. Moreover, treatment of endothelial cells with neuraminidase appeared to inhibit both the KRS adhesion to endothelial cells and shear-stimulated signaling. In conclusion, KRS is likely to be utilized as a vascular regulator.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.36-53
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• 2005

Purpose : The Purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of Haingkyunghonghwatang (HKHHT) on anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : As for the parameters of inflammation, levels of several inflammatory cytokines and chemical mediators were determined in mouse lung fibroblast cells(mLFC) and RAW264.7 cells. Also, changes in pathological features by drug treatment were investigated in the in vivo edema-induced rats by carrageenin/arachidonic acid or in the colitis-induced mice by DSS treatment. Results : The cytotoxicity of HKHHT on mLFC and RAW264.7 cells wasn't observed at 100, 50, 10, and $1{\mu}g/ml$ of The treatments. $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and NOS-II mRNA expression of RAW264.7 cells was inhibited by The treatments in a dose-dependent manner. HKHHT treatment of RAW264.7cells(HtRc) inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$ and COX-2 mRNA expression. HtRc significantly inhibited IL-6 and NO production. HtRc inhibited ROS production. HKHHT inhibited rat's paw edema induced by carrageenin or arachidonate treatment in all concentrations examined. The body weight and colon length of colitis-induced mice were recovered to a normal level by DSS treatment. Clinical disease levels were significantly improved compared to the control animals. HKHHT treatment of colitis-induced mice(HtCm) significantly increased hematological values such as WBC and RBC counts, Hgb and HCT levels, but decreased PLT values. HtCm decreased IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production significantly HtCm significantly increased CD3+(T) cell counts. In contrast, HKHHT treatment decreased CD19+ B cell counts and CD3+/CD69+ significantly, and also decreased B/T ratio (%) though not significant. Conclusion : These results indicated that HKHHT could be used for treating diverse female diseases caused by the inflammation.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.472-482
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• 1994

Cytokines expressed specifically in leukocytes subsets and in activated cells, which are involved in chemotaxis and activation of leukocytes, are recently defined as chemokines. Macrophage inflammatory $protein-1{\alpha}(MIP-1{\alpha})$ and $MIP-1{\beta}$ are members of C-C chemokine subfamily which produces wide immunomodulatory, proinflammatory, and hematopoietic modulatory actions. We have studied their gene expression by using Northern blot analysis in various blood cells such as cytolytic T lymphocyte(CTL), helper T lymphocyte(HTL), macrophage, and B lymphocyte. Resting CTL line CTLL-R8 expressed $MIP-1{\alpha}$ mRNA which was downregulated by ConA stimulation. Both of resting and ConA stimulated HTL line Hut78 and Jurkat did not express $MIP-1{\alpha}$ mRNA. There was detectable $MIP-1{\alpha}$ transcript in HTL hybridoma 2B4.11 which was a little upstimulated by ConA stimulation. B cell line 230, and macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and WR19M.1 showed distinct $MIP-1{\alpha}$ message which were induced after LPS stimulation. Expression pattern of $MIP-1{\beta}$ in all cell lines or cell were almost identical to that of $MIP-1{\alpha}$. Also strategies employed to identify and characterize the biological functions was preceded by receptor cloning to trace the shorcut to the final goal of cytokine research. For the cloning of $MIP-1{\alpha}$ receptor(R), we used synthetic oligonucleotides of transmembrane(T) conserved sequences of already cloned human(h) IL-8-R, and performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) amplification using murine(m) macrophage cell line mRNA. Among 5RT-PCR products, we isolated a homologous cDNA with hIL-8-R which were shown to be putative mIL-8-R cDNA.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 2017

Objective : According to recent studies, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma has anti-inflammatory activities of DW extract, but it hasn't not yet conducted to evaluate inflammatory factors about 80% ethanol extract. Therefore, The aim of this study is to investigate the various effects of individual or combined 80% ethanol extract of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma on cell viability and various anti-inflammatory factors. Methods : Anemarrhenae Rhizoma extract was prepared with 80% ethanol. MTT assay, ELISA, and Luminex were performed in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cell line to measure cytotoxicity, Nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$), Leukotriene B4 ($LTB_4$), and cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$), respectively. Results : At concentration of $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ Anemarrhenae Rhizoma extract, cytotoxicity was observed in RAW 264.7 cells. However, at concentration less than $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, cytotoxicity was not observed in RAW 264.7 cells. All concentration of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma extract showed no difference of NO, and $IL-1{\beta}$level in RAW 264.7 cells compared with control group. In contrast, at concentration of $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ Anemarrhenae Rhizoma extract significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of COX-2, PGE2, and $LTB_4$ level in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, the production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells was significantly decreased at concentration of all or 10, and $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively. Conclusion : These findings demonstrate that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma has inhibitory effect on inflammatory mediators in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells showing possible developed as a raw material for new therapeutics to ease the symptoms related with inflammatory.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.27-31
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• 2007

This study relates to low and medium molecular weight isoflavone-${\beta}$-D-glucan produced by submerged liquid culture of Agaricus blazei, a method of producing the isoflavone-B-D-glucan using autolysis enzyme of Agaricus blazei mycelia, and use of the isoflavone-B-D-glucan for anti-cancer and immunoenhancing effect. In acordance with one aspect of the present study, it deals with a method of producing isoflavone-${\beta}$-D-glucan, which comprises the followings; 1) culturing and separating mushroom mycelia, 2) producing low-medium molecular weight isoflavone-${\beta}$-D-glucan from high molecular weight one. The cytotoxicity on human cnacer cell line (Caco-2, MCF-7), the expression of Cyclin D, Bcl-2, Bax protein, p21 protein, p53 protein in MCF-7 cells assessed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, and other immuno related factors such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-1B activities were examined. Structural identification of isoflavone-${\beta}$-D-glucan which showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell and immunoenhancing effects was carried by separation with DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, TLC, HPLC, IR, NMR. Clinical test for the cancer patients (n=119) for 6 month was carried out, and immunoenhancing factors (NK. cell number, ratio of T4/T8) were checked. We concluded the identified isoflavone-${\beta}$-D-glucan has immuno enhancing effects and could be useful for cancer chemoprevention.