• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2009

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in host defense by sensing invading microbial pathogens. The stimulation of TLRs by microbial components triggers the activation of the myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-$\beta$ (TRIF)-dependent downstream signaling pathways. TLR/MyD88 signaling pathway induces the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, and IL-$1{\beta}$. On the other hand, TLR/TRIF signaling pathway induces the delayed-activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and the expression of type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN-inducible genes. The divalent heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is clearly toxic to most mammalian organ systems, especially the immune system. Yet, the underlying toxic mechanism(s) remain unclear. Cd inhibits the MyD88-dependent pathway by ceasing the activity of inhibitor-${\kappa}B$ kinase. However, it is not known whether Cd inhibits the TRIF-dependent pathway. Presently, Cd inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF3 activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid. Cd inhibited LPS-induced IRF3 phosphorylation and IFN-inducible genes such as interferon inducible protein-10 and regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). These results suggest that Cd can modulate TRIF-dependent signaling pathways of TLRs.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.332-336
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• 2008

Ginger is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine. Both ginger and its extracts have been used to treat many chronic inflammatory conditions via the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation, which results in the suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. However, the mechanisms as to how ginger extracts mediate their health effects are largely unknown. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) trigger anti-microbial innate immune responses, recognizing conserved microbial structural molecules that are known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. The activation of NF- ${\kappa}B$ leads to the induction of inflammatory gene products, including cytokines and COX-2. This study reports the biochemical evidence that 6-shogaol, an active compound in ginger, inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and COX-2 expression induced by TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 agonists. Furthermore, 6-shogaol inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by the following downstream signaling components of the TLRs: MyD88, $IKK{\beta}$, and p65. These results imply that ginger can modulate immune responses that could potentially modify the risk of many chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.77-89
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of CJ(Cuscuta japonica Chois) on osteoclast differentiation and gene expression. Methods : The osteoclastogenesis and gene expression were determined in RANKL(receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand)－stimulated RAW 264.7. The results were summarized as followes. Results : CJ decreased the number of TRAP positive cell in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. CJ decreased the expression of RANK(receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B), $TNF{\alpha}$, and IL-6 in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. CJ decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. CJ decreased the expression of Cathepsin K in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. Conclusions : It is concluded that CJ might decrease the bone resorption resulted from decrease of osteoclast differentiation and it's related gene expression.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.424-427
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• 2011

The nucleotide-oligomerization domain (NOD) proteins are members of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family, which are intracellular and cytoplasmic receptors. We analyzed the role of NODs for cytokine production by macrophages infected with intracellular pathogen M. leprae, the causative agent of leprosy. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ was inhibited in the presence of cytochalasin D, an agent blocking phagocytosis, suggesting that intracellular signaling was, partially, required for macrophage activation to M. leprae infection. Next, we investigated the role of NOD1 and NOD2 proteins on NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and cytokine expression. Treatment with M. leprae significantly increased NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in NOD1- and NOD2-transfected cells. Interestingly, their activation and expression were inhibited by cytochalasin D, suggesting that stimulation of NOD proteins may be associated with the enhancement of cytokine production in host to M. leprae.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1994

Cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) has been frequently accepted as an intracellular messenger for receptor-mediated action of opioids. In this experiment, it was designed to determine the interaction of dopaminergic and opioidergic system in the mouse striatum in normal and chronic haloperidol treated groups. Haloperidol 750ug/kg I.P. for 10 days was performed for dopamine denervation. The morphine, DAGO, DPDPE, and U5O,488H inhibited the increase of haloperidol-induced cyclic AMP content in chronic haloperidol treated mouse striatum. The inhibition of DAGO and DPDPE showed significant increase compared to normal mouse striatum. Naloxone showed antagonistic effect on the morphine and U5O,488H in chronic haloperidol treated group, and showed antagonistic effect on morphine, DAGO, DPDPE, and U5O, 488H in normal mouse striatum. These findings support that there is a functional interrelationship of dopaminergic and opioidergic pathway in the striatum. This result provides an evidence that following destruction of striatal dopaminergic neuron, there are some changes of cAMP content on the ${\mu},\;{\gamma},\;and\;{\kappa}$ opioid receptor, but the ${\kappa}$ opioid receptor still has its function.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 2009

Toll-like receptors(TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors(PRRs) that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns(PAMPs) and regulate the activation of innate immunity. All TLR signaling pathways culminate in the activation of NF-${\kappa}$B, leading to the induction of inflammatory gene products such as COX-2. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) has been used for centuries as an herbal medicine. Isoliquiritigenin(ILG), a simple chalcone-type flavonoid, is an active component present in licorice and has been used to treat many chronic diseases. However, the mechanism as to how ILG mediates health effects is still largely unknown. In the present report, we present biochemical evidence that ILG inhibits the NF-${\kappa}$B activation induced by TLR agonists and the overexpression of downstream signaling components of TLRs, MyD88, IKK${\beta}$, and p65. ILG also inhibits TLR agonists-induced COX-2 expression. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory effects of ILG are caused by modulation of the immune responses regulated by TLR signaling pathways.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2001.10b
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• pp.128-129
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• 2001

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2014

Purpose: Peri-implantitis and periodontitis are inflammatory and infectious diseases of implant and tooth-supporting tissues. Recently, the role of gene polymorphisms of immune response components in the relevant pathogenesis has been investigated. The present study was the first to evaluate the relationship between two known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-${\beta}$ (RANK) gene (rs3018362 and rs35211496) in chronic periodontitis and peri-implantitis patients in an Iranian population. Methods: Eighty-one periodontally healthy patients, 38 patients with peri-implantitis, and 74 patients with chronic periodontitis were enrolled in this study. DNA was extracted from blood arm vein samples by using Miller's salting out technique according to the manufacturer's instructions given in the extraction kit. The concentration of DNA samples was measured using a spectrophotometer. The genetic polymorphisms of the RANK gene were evaluated using a competitive allele specific polymerase chain reaction (KBioscience allele specific PCR) technique. Differences in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles in the diseased and healthy groups were analyzed using chi-squared statistical tests (P<0.05). Results: Analysis of rs35211496 revealed statistically significant differences in the expression of the TT, TC, and CC genotypes among the three groups (P=0.00). No statistically significant difference was detected in this respect between the control group and the chronic periodontitis group. The expression of the GG, GA, and AA genotypes and allele frequencies (rs3018362) showed no statistically significant difference among the three groups (P=0.21). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the CC genotype of the rs35211496 RANK gene polymorphism was significantly associated with peri-implantitis and may be considered a genetic determinant for peri-implantitis, but this needs to be confirmed by further studies in other populations.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.307-320
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• 2014

Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is an environmental and slow-growing atypical mycobacterium. Emerging evidence suggests that M. scrofulaceum infection is associated with cervical lymphadenitis in children and pulmonary or systemic infections in immunocompromised adults. However, the nature of host innate immune responses to M. scrofulaceum remains unclear. In this study, we examined the innate immune responses in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) infected with different M. scrofulaceum strains including ATCC type strains and two clinically isolated strains (rough and smooth types). All three strains resulted in the production of proinflammatory cytokines in BMDMs mediated through toll-like receptor-2 and the adaptor MyD88. Activation of MAPKs (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and nuclear receptor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ together with intracellular reactive oxygen species generation were required for the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in BMDMs. In addition, the rough morphotypes of M. scrofulaceum clinical strains induced higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines, MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, and ROS production than other strains. When mice were infected with different M. scrofulaceum strains, those infected with the rough strain showed the greatest hepatosplenomegaly, granulomatous lesions, and immune cell infiltration in the lungs. Notably, the bacterial load was higher in mice infected with rough colonies than in mice infected with ATCC or smooth strains. Collectively, these data indicate that rough M. scrofulaceum induces higher inflammatory responses and virulence than ATCC or smooth strains.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2021

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common cause of radicular pain, but the mechanism is not clear. In this study, we investigated the engagement of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in radicular pain and its possible mechanisms. Methods: An LDH model was induced by autologous nucleus pulposus (NP) implantation, which was obtained from coccygeal vertebra, then relocated in the lumbar 4/5 spinal nerve roots of rats. Mechanical and thermal pain behaviors were assessed by using von Frey filaments and hotplate test respectively. The protein level of TLR4 and phosphorylated-p65 (p-p65) was evaluated by western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Spinal microglia activation was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining of specific relevant markers. The expression of proand anti-inflammatory cytokines in the spinal dorsal horn was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Spinal expression of TLR4 and p-NF-κB (p-p65) was significantly increased after NP implantation, lasting up to 14 days. TLR4 was mainly expressed in spinal microglia, but not astrocytes or neurons. TLR4 antagonist TAK242 decreased spinal expression of p-p65. TAK242 or NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidinedithiocarbamic acid alleviated mechanical and thermal pain behaviors, inhibited spinal microglia activation, moderated spinal inflammatory response manifested by decreasing interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α expression and increasing IL-10 expression in the spinal dorsal horn. Conclusions: The study revealed that TLR4/NF-κB pathway participated in radicular pain by encouraging spinal microglia activation and inflammatory response.