• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2015

According to the expansion of lifespan, neuronal disorder based on inflammation has been social problem. Therefore, we isolated shikonin from Lithospermum erythrorhizon and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of shikonin in lipopolysaccharide (LSP)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Shikonin dose-dependently inhibits the expression of the proinflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and tumor necrosis factor-${\kappa}B$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) as well as their main regulatory genes and products such as inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and TNF-${\alpha}$ in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Additionally, shikonin suppressed the LPS-induced DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) to regulate the key regulatory genes of the proinflammatory mediators, such as iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-${\alpha}$, accompanied with downregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The results indicate that shikonin may downregulate the expression of proinflammatory genes involved in the synthesis of NO, $PGE_2$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in LPS-treated BV2 microglial cells by suppressing ROS and NF-${\kappa}B$. Taken together, our results revealed that shikonin exerts downregulation of proinflammatory mediators by interference the ROS and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-45
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• 2004

Objectives : The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of Injinchunggan-tang on $TNF-{\alpha}$ signal transmission system. Materials and Methods : We analyzed the following with quantitative RT-PCR method; the effect of Injinchunggan-tang on secretion of $TNF-\alpha$ mRNA/protein and stability, the effect on gene revelation that consists of signal transmission system (TRAIL, NIK, A20, TRADD, RAIDD, RIP TNFR-I, TNFR-II, TRAF1, TRAF2, FADD), the one on activation of p38, Erk1/2 MAPK and the rate of nuclear $NF-{\kappa}B/cytosolic\;NF-{\kappa}B$ in HepG2 cell. We also analyzed the inhibitory effect of Injinchunggan-tang on the apoptosis of HepG2 cell that $TNF-{\alpha}$ induces and the $NF-{\kappa}B$ restraint effected by transfection of $I{\kappa}B{\Delta}N$ through tryphan blue exclusion assay. Results : Injinchunggan-tang prohibits revelation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA in HepG2 cell and the creation of protein. However, it has no effect on the stability of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA. While it did not have any effect on the generation of TRAIL, NIK, A20, TRADD, RAIDD and RIP genes, Injinchunggan-tang reduces the revelation of TNFR-I, TNFR-II, TRAF1, TRAF2 and FADD genes. It has been confirmed that Injinchunggan-tang restraints the revelation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA that is promoted by ethanol, acetaldehyde, lipopolysaccharide, in proportion to the treatment density and time. It activated $NF-{\kappa}B$ of HepG2 cell and promoted activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ that is occurred by $TNF-{\alpha}$. It has been observed that the restraint effect against the $TNF-{\alpha}$ inducing apoptosis is lost when it is intercepted the function of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in HepG2 cell. Conclusion: It has been confirmed that Injinchunggan-tang has restraining effect against the revelation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and mRNA that is constituent element of TNF-a signal transmission system. It also has been revealed that it restraints the activation of p38, Erk1/2 by $TNF-{\alpha}$. Through this prohibiting effect, it is inferred that it restraints signal transmission among various cells that are related to inflammation reaction. Meanwhile, Injinchunggan-tang protects liver cell from apoptosis that is caused by $TNF-{\alpha}$, by maintaining the activating function for $NF-{\kappa}B$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2009

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection causes fulminant hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of HDV pathogenesis, we examined the effects of HDV viral proteins, the small hepatitis delta antigen (SHDAg) and the large hepatitis delta antigen (LHDAg), on $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. In this study, we demonstrated that $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional activation was increased by LHDAg but not by SHDAg in both HEK293 and Huh7 cells. Furthermore, LHDAg promoted TRAF2-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. Using coimmunoprecipitation assays, we demonstrated that both SHDAg and LHDAg interacted with TRAF2 protein. We showed that isoprenylation of LHDAg was not required for the increase of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity. We further showed that only LHDAg but not SHDAg increased the $TNF-{\alpha}-mediated$ nuclear translocation of p65. This was accomplished by activation of $I{\kappa}B_{\alpha}$ degradation by LHDAg. Finally, we demonstrated that LHDAg augmented the COX-2 expression level in Huh7 cells. These data suggest that LHDAg modulates $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway and may contribute to HDV pathogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2012

This work aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effects of ethyl acetate fraction from Cnidium officinale Makino with a cellular system of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cells. Some key pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators including NO, iNOS, $PGE_2$, COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$ p50 and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 were studied by sandwich ELISA and western blot analysis. Ethyl acetate fraction could significantly inhibit the production of NO, $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-stimulated cell than that of single LPS-stimulated. And ethyl acetate fraction suppresses the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p50 and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65. All the results showed that ethyl acetate fraction had a good anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 and THP-1 cells. Taken together, the anti-inflammatory actions of ethyl acetate fraction from Cnidium officinale Makino might be due to the down-regulation of NO, $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, iNOS and COX-2 via the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1683-1688
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• 2008

Lactobacillus casei 3260 (L. casei 3260) was evaluated in relation to the inflammatory response mediated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in Raw264.7 macrophage cells. The treatment of Raw264.7 cells with L. casei 3260 significantly inhibited the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and prostaglandins $E_{2}\;(PGE_{2})$, followed by suppression of COX-2. To clarify the molecular mechanism, the inhibitory effect of L. casei 3260 on the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway was examined based on the luciferase reporter activity. Although the treatment of Raw264.7 cells with L. casei 3260 did not affect the transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, it did inhibit NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, as determined by the cytosolic p65 release and degradation of I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Therefore, these findings suggest that the suppression of COX-2 through inhibiting the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by LPS may be associated with the antiinflammatory effects of L. casei 3260 on Raw264.7 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.5
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• pp.515-521
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• 1997

Endothelial cells play a central role in the inflammatory processes, and activation of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-_{\kappa}B$) is a key component in that inflammatory processes. Previously, we reported that tumor necrosis factor alpha($TNF{\alpha}$) had protective effect of cell death induced by serum deprivation and this protection was related to $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a member of the molecules which transcription is regulated mainly by $NF-_{\kappa}B$. And the role of nitric oxide (NO) generated by iNOS on cell viability is still controversial. To elucidate the mechanism of $TNF{\alpha}$ and $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation on cell death protection, we investigate the effect of NO on the cell death induced by serum- deprivation in bovine cerebral endothelial cells in this study. Addition of $TNF{\alpha}$, which are inducer of iNOS, prevented serum-deprivation induced cell death. Increased expression of iNOS was confirmed indirectly by nitrite measurement. When selective iNOS inhibitors were treated, the protective effect of $TNF{\alpha}$ on cell death was partially blocked, suggesting that iNOS expression was involved in controlling cell death. Exogenously added NO substrate (L-arginine) and NO donors (sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine) also inhibited the cell death induced by serum deprivation. These results suggest that NO has protective effect on bovine cerebral endothelial cell death induced by serum-deprivation and that iNOS is one of the possible target molecules by which $NF-_{\kappa}B$ exerts its cytoprotective effect.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2010

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammation. It has been reported that berberine inhibits experimental colitis through inhibition of IL-8, and that inhibitory effect of berberine on inflammatory cytokine expression is mediated through peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-$\gamma$. In this study, we examined the effects and action mechanism of berberine on the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$-induced monocyte adhesion to HT29 human colonic epithelial cells, which is commonly used as an in vitro model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Berberine significantly inhibited the TNF-$\alpha$-induced monocyte adhesion to HT29, which is similar to the effect of PDTC, a nuclear factor (NF)-$\kappa$B inhibitor. However, ciglitazone and GW, the ligands of PPAR-$\gamma$, did not suppress the TNF-$\alpha$-induced monocyte adhesion to HT29 cells. In addition, TNF-$\alpha$-induced chemokine expression and NF-$\kappa$B transcriptional activity were significantly inhibited by berberine in a concentration-dependent manner. The results suggest that inhibitory effect of berberine on colitis is mediated through suppression of NF-$\kappa$B and NF-$\kappa$B-dependent chemokine expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1377-1384
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• 2011

Astaxanthin (ATX) is a red-orange carotenoid pigment that occurs naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects of ATX on the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-${\kappa}B$) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, we tested the superoxide radical scavenging activity of ATX by scavenging assay. iNOS and NF-${\kappa}B$ expressions were determined by immunoblot analysis. Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) were assayed by ELISA. NO production was monitored by measuring the amount of nitrite. ROS was examined by using the 2', 7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) method. At a concentration of 100 ${\mu}M$, ATX inhibited the expression level of LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$, as well as the production of LPS-induced NO and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$), by suppressing iNOS expression. In particular, the maximal inhibition rate of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production by ATX (100 ${\mu}M$) was 65.2----- and 21.2-----, respectively. In addition, ATX inhibited the LPS-induced transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, and this was associated with suppressing the translocations of NF-${\kappa}B$ from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, at various concentrations (25-100 ${\mu}M$), ATX inhibited the intracellular level of ROS. At a concentration of 5 mg/ml, the superoxide radical scavenging activity of ATX was 1.33 times higher than ${\alpha}$-tocopherol of the same concentration. These results showed that ATX inhibited the expression of iNOS and the production of NO and proinflammatory cytokines resulting from ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in macrophages. Furthermore, ATX was found to be more effective in superoxide radical scavenging activities compared to ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. These findings are expected to strengthen the position of ATX as anti-inflammatory medicine and antioxidant.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2011

ZAS3 is a large zinc finger transcription repressor that binds the ${\kappa}B$-motif via two signature domains of ZASN and ZASC. A loss-of-function study showed that lack of ZAS3 protein induced accelerated cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Conversely, gain-of-function studies showed that ZAS3 repressed $NF{\kappa}B$-activated transcription by competing with $NF{\kappa}B$ for the ${\kappa}B$-motif. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that ZAS3 promotes apoptosis by interrupting anti-apoptotic activity of $NF{\kappa}B$. Here, we present evidence that upon $TNF{\alpha}$ stimulation, ZAS3 inhibits $NF{\kappa}B$-mediated cell survival and promotes caspase-mediated apoptosis. The inhibitory effect of ZAS3 on $NF{\kappa}B$ activity is mediated by neither direct association with $NF{\kappa}B$ nor disrupting nuclear localization of $NF{\kappa}B$. Instead, ZAS3 repressed the expression of two key anti-apoptotic genes of $NF{\kappa}B$, TRAF1 and TRAF2, thereby sensitizing cells to $TNF{\alpha}$-induced cell death. Taken together, our data suggest that ZAS3 is a tumor suppressor gene and therefore serves as a novel therapeutic target for developing anti-cancer drugs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.92-103
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• 2009

Objectives : The present study was examined to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the Humulus japonicus MeOH extracts (HJE) in vivo. Methods : The effects of HJE on anti-inflammation were measured by production of NO, iNOS (inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase), COX-2, I$\kappa$B$\alpha$ (Inhibitor kappa B alpha), NF$\kappa$B (Nuclear Factor kappa B), TNF-$\alpha$ (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) and IL-1$\beta$ (Interleukin-1$\beta$), IL-6 in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. Results : 1. All concentrations of HJE(0.03 and 0.10 mg/ml) had no significant cytotoxicity in Raw 264.7 cell during the entire experimental period. 2. The level of NO and iNOS in culture medium was dramatically increased by LPS application. However, these increases were dose-dependently(0.03 and 0.10 mg/ml) attenuated by treatment with HJE. 3. HJE extract reduced PGE2 levels in a dose-dependent manner as a consequence of inhibition of COX-2 protein expression in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. 4. 0.10 mg/ml HJE significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of I$\kappa$B$\alpha$ indicating the suppression of NF-$\kappa$B pathway in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. 5. 0.10 mg/ml HJE significantly inhibited the production of TNF-$\alpha$ in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. 6. All concentrations of HJE significantly inhibited the production of IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. Conclusions : These results provide evidences that therapeutic effect of HJE on heat syndrome, especially due to the acute inflammation, are partly due to the reduction of some of inflammatory factors by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 through the suppression of p-I$\kappa$B$\alpha$. Moreover, it suggests that the mechanism of action of HJE comes from the suppression of inflammatory mediators, such as NO, PGE$_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines.