• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.313-319
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• 2008

Scutellaria barbata was examined to evaluate its modulatory effects on the functional activation of macrophages under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. To do this, hot water extract (Sb-HWE) was prepared from Scutellaria barbata and several inflammatory parameters such as nitric oxide (NO) production, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination and intracellular signaling pathway were selected to be tested. Sb-HWE strongly blocked NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, it did not suppress inducible NO synthase (iNOS). In agreement, Sb-HWE did not diminish inflammatory signaling composed of NF-${\kappa}B$ and its upstream activation signaling enzymes such as Akt and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Sb-HWE protected RAW264.7 cells from LPS-induced cytotoxicity up to 80% at 400\;{\mu}g/ml$. Furthermore, this extract blocked phagocytic uptake of FITC-dextran, while sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced ROS generation in RAW264.7 cells was not decreased. Therefore, our data suggest that Sb-HWE may have differential immunoregulatory function depending on macrophage-mediated immune responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2016

Cryptotanshinone (CPT) is a natural compound isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. In the present study, the regulatory effect and potential mechanisms of CPT on tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) induced lectin-like receptor for oxidized low density lipoprotein (LOX-1) were investigated. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on LOX-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels was determined by Real-time PCR and Western blotting respectively. The formation of intracellular ROS was determined with fluorescence probe $CM-DCFH_2-DA$. The endothelial ox-LDL uptake was evaluated with DiI-ox-LDL. The effect of CPT on LOX-1 expression was also evaluated with SD rats. $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced LOX-1 expression in a dose- and time- dependent manner in endothelial cells. $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced ROS formation, phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and ERK, and LOX-1 expression, which were suppressed by rotenone, DPI, NAC, and CPT. $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor BAY11-7082 and ERK inhibitor PD98059 inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ LOX-1 expression. CPT and NAC suppressed $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ LOX-1 expression and phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 and ERK in rat aorta. These data suggested that $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced LOX-1 expression via ROS activated $NF-{\kappa}B/ERK$ pathway, which could be inhibited by CPT. This study provides new insights for the anti-atherosclerotic effect of CPT.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.127-131
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• 2014

While searching for lactic acid bacteria that can restore aging-impaired immune responses, we isolated the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/NF-${\kappa}B$-activating strain Lactobacillus plantarum HY7712 from kimchi and investigated its immunomodulating effect in whole-body ${\gamma}$-irradiated mice. Exposure to HY7712 strongly activated NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling in RAW264.7 cells, but inhibited lipopolysaccharide-stimulated NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Moreover, HY7712 protected against the downregulation of interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ and upregulation of interleukin (IL)-13 caused by ${\gamma}$-irradiation in mice. In mice, ${\gamma}$-irradiation impaired NK-cell activity against YAC-1 tumor cells, but following HY7712 exposure, the activity of NK cells was restored to 91.5% of the level measured in control mice (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that HY7712 activates the TLR2/NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway and protects against the impairment of NK-cell activity caused by ${\gamma}$-irradiation or aging.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 2021

Barringtonia augusta Kurz is a species of the genus Barringtonia. Although several studies have analyzed the biological activity of B. racemosa Roxb and B. acutangula, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of B. augusta extract (BKE) remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of BKE using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and RAW 264.7. BKE suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase expression without affecting RAW 264.7 cell viability. Additionally, BKE showed 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging capacities and inhibited LPS-induced reactive oxygen species production in RAW 264.7 cells. BKE also suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of IκB kinase and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and p65 translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that BKE is a possible novel material that exerts beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2024

Blueberry (BB), fruit of Vacciniumi, has been hailed as an antioxidant superfood. BB is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, phenolic acids and known to have a variety of pharmacological actions. The purpose of this work is to clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanism of BB in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophage. We explored the effects of BB on the production of inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophage. Moreover, to investigate the molecular mechanisms by BB, we evaluated whether BB modulate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF)-kB pathway and caspase- 1 activation. The findings of this work demonstrated that BB alleviated the LPS-enhanced inflammatory cytokines and PGE₂, as well as COX-2 levels. Additionally, we demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of BB occurs due to the attenuation of IκB-α degradation, NF-kB translocation and caspase-1 activation. Conclusively, these findings provide evidence that BB may be useful agents in the treatment of inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.345-352
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• 2017

Since previous studies have reported that hydroquinone (HQ) exerted immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activity, various HQ derivatives have been synthesized and their biological activities investigated. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory activity of JS-III-49, a novel HQ derivative, in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses. JS-III-49 suppressed the production of the inflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and down-regulated the mRNA expression of the inflammatory enzymes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as well as the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-$1{\beta}$ without cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. JS-III-49 inhibited nuclear translocation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcription factors p65 and p50 by directly targeting Akt, an upstream kinase of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway, in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. However, JS-III-49 did not directly inhibit the kinase activities of Src and Syk, which are upstream kinases of Akt, in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, JS-III-49 suppressed the nuclear translocation of c-Fos, one of the components of AP-1, by specifically targeting p38, an upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the AP-1 pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that JS-III-49 plays an anti-inflammatory role in LPS-stimulated macrophages by targeting Akt and p38 in the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 pathways, respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2017

Luteolin 5-O-glucoside is the major flavonoid from Korean thistle, Cirsium maackii. We previously reported the anti-inflammatory activities of luteolin 5-O-glucoside in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In this study, we determined the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of luteolin 5-O-glucoside through the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in vitro and in vivo. Results revealed that luteolin 5-O-glucoside dose-dependently inhibited NO production and expression of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Luteolin 5-O-glucoside also significantly inhibited the translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, the activation of MAPKs, and ROS generation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, protein expressions of Nrf-2 and HO-1 were also upregulated by luteolin 5-O-glucoside treatment. Moreover, luteolin 5-O-glucoside inhibited ${\lambda}-carrageenan-induced$ mouse paw edema by 65.34% and 48.31% at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively. These findings indicate potential anti-inflammatory effect of luteolin 5-O-glucoside particularly by downregulating $NF-{\kappa}B$ and upregulating HO-1/Nrf-2 pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 9 transduce a cellular signal through the MyD88-dependent pathway and induce the production of inflammatory mediators against microbial nucleotide components. The repeated stimulation of TLR4 leads to endotoxin tolerance, but the molecular mechanisms of tolerance induced through the costimulation of individual TLR has not yet been established, although endosomal TLRs share signaling pathways with TLR4. In the present study, mouse macrophages were simultaneously stimulated with the TLR7 agonist, gardiquimod (GDQ), and the TLR9 agonist, CpG ODN 1826, to examine the mechanism and effector functions of macrophage tolerance. Compared with individual stimulation, the costimulation of both TLRs reduced the secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 through the delayed activation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway; notably, IL-10 remained unchanged in costimulated macrophages. This tolerance reflected the early induction of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1), according to the detection of elevated TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion and restored NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling in response to the siRNA-mediated abrogation of SOCS-1 signaling. In addition, the restimulation of each TLRs using the same ligand significantly reduced the expression of both TLRs in endosomes. These findings revealed that the costimulation of TLR7 and TLR9 induced macrophage tolerance via SOCS-1, and the restimulation of each receptor or both TLR7 and TLR9 downregulated TLR expression through a negative feedback mechanisms that protects the host from excessive inflammatory responses. Moreover, the insufficient and impaired immune response in chronic viral infection might also reflect the repeated and simultaneous stimulation of those endosomal TLRs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Trichomonas vaginalis commonly causes vaginitis and perhaps cervicitis in women and urethritis in men and women. Macrophages are important immune cells in response to T. vaginalis infection. In this study, we investigated whether human macrophages could be involved in inflammation induced by T. vaginalis. Human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDM) were co-cultured with T. vaginalis. Live, opsonized-live trichomonads, and T. vaginalis Iysates increased proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 by HMDM. The involvement of nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway in cytokine production induced by T. vaginalis was confirmed by phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65 NF-${\kappa}B$. In addition, stimulation with live T. vaginalis induced marked augmentation of nitric oxide (NO) production and expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) levels in HMDM. However, trichomonad-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in macrophages were significantly inhibited by inhibition of iNOS levels with L-NMMA (NO synthase inhibitor). Moreover, pretreatment with NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitors (PDTC or Bay11-7082) caused human macrophages to produce less TNF-${\alpha}$. These results suggest that T. vaginalis stimulates human macrophages to produce proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$, and NO. In particular, we showed that T. vaginalis induced TNF-${\alpha}$ production in macrophages through NO-dependent activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, which might be closely involved in inflammation caused by T. vaginalis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.782-788
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• 2013

Chrysanthemum zawadskii Herbich var. latilobum Kitamura (Compositae), colloquially known "Gujulcho" in Korea, has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including cough, common cold, bladder-related disorders, gastroenteric disorders, hypertension, and inflammatory diseases, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) However, the effect of Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum on breast cancer invasion is unknown. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum extract (CZE) on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and cell invasion, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in MCF-7 cells. CZE were not cytotoxic up to 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ concentration in the MCF-7 cell line. CZE decreased MMP-9 expression. TPA substantially increased NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity. Pre-treatment with CZE inhibited TPA-stimulated NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity and NF-${\kappa}B$ related protein expression. To identify invasion ability of MCF-7 cells decreased by CZE, we used martrigel invasion assay. As a result, it is significantly decreased cell invasion. These results indicate that CZE-mediated inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion involves the suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in MCF-7 cells. Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum may have potential value in restricting breast cancer metastasis.