• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.282-287
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• 2014

We show that silymarin, a polyphenolic flavonoid isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), inhibits cytokine mixture (CM: TNF-${\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) in the pancreatic beta cell line MIN6N8a. Immunostaining and Western blot analysis showed that silymarin inhibits iNOS gene expression. RT-PCR showed that silymarin inhibits iNOS gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. We also showed that silymarin inhibits extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation. A MEK1 inhibitor abrogated CM-induced nitrite production, similar to silymarin. Treatment of MIN6N8a cells with silymarin also inhibited CM-stimulated activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, which is important for iNOS transcription. Collectively, we demonstrate that silymarin inhibits NO production in pancreatic beta cells, and silymarin may represent a useful anti-diabetic agent.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2006

Pinus densiflora belongs to the Pinaceae family which has been widely used for health promoting purposes as folk medicine or as a food. Various curative effects of different parts of the pine have been reported including as a remedy for carcinoma. We examined the effects of pine needle water extracts (PNE) on macrophage function using peritoneal macrophage, pre-osteoclast bone macrophage (Raw 264.7 cell) and brain macrophage (C6 microglia). When peritoneal macrophages were treated with various concentrations of PNE ($1{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$) for 24 hours, phagocytic activity was significantly increased, whereas it had no effect on tumoricidal activity and NO production. However, the treatment of Raw 264.7 with PNE resulted in the enhancement of NO production at high concentration ($100{\mu}g/mL$). Furthermore, the treatment of C6 with PNE increased the production of NO in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas PNE suppressed NO production in $LPS/IFN-{\gamma}-stimulated$ microglia. These results suggest that PNE has differential immunomodulatory effects on macrophages.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.416-419
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• 2011

Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is a widely used chemical model for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is thought that imbalances in the T helper (Th) cell subsets contribute to IBD. Recent studies suggest that the acute DSS-colitis model is polarized toward a Th1/Th17 profile based on RT-PCR analysis of colonic tissues. In the current study we determined whether colonic Th cells from DSS-colitis mice were skewed toward the Th17 profile. Mice were treated with 5% DSS for 7 days and colonic T cells isolated and examined for production of IFN-${\gamma}$ (Th1 cell), IL-4 (Th2 cell) and IL-17 (Th17 cell) by intracellular flow cytometry. We found that the percentage of colonic Th17 cells were similar to non-treated controls but the percentage of Th1 cells were elevated in DSS-colitis mice. These results suggest that in the acute DSS-colitis model the colonic Th cells exhibit a Th1 profile and not a Th17 profile.

• 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 the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1133-1138
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• 2000

본 실험에서는 동양에서 예로부터 민간요법이나 한방에서 주로 많이 쓰여지고 있는 8가지 종류의 한약재에 대해서 면역억제제로써 사용 가능성을 실험하였다. 그 결과, 당귀, 산사, 어성초, 오가피, 황기의 추출물은 동종항원에 반응하는 순수분리 T 세포의 증식을 농도 의존적으로 억제 시켰다. 또한 이들 T 세포의증식에 있어써 필수적인 IL-2를 포함한 cytokine 즉, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-${\gamma}$ 의 생산량은 대조군에 비해 실험군에서 유의한 차이가 없었고 특히 T 세포 증식에 필수적인 IL-2의 생산량의 변화가 거의 없었다. 이는 한약재에 의한 T 세포증식에 필수적인 IL-2의 생산량을 억제하기 때문에 일어나는 결과가 아님을 알 수 있었다. 그리고 T 세포의 살세포작용 억제를 직접적으로 측정하기 위하여 세포내 LDH의 양을 조사한 결과 모든 대조군에서 50%이상의 살세포작용 억제가 일어났고, 그 중 특히 오가피와 황기에서는 100% 살세포작용 억제가 일어났다. 따라서 본 실험에서 사용되 당귀, 산사, 어성초, 오가피, 황기 등의 5가기 약재가 부작용 없는 면역억제로써 사용 가능성이 높은 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.509-516
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• 2017

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts (PFS) is a plant of the labiatae family. The purpose of this work was to assess the preventive effects of PFS ethanolic extracts (PFSEs) on cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage. Cytokines, which are released by the infiltration of inflammatory cells around the pancreatic islets, are involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The combination of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-1), interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accumulation of intracellular ROS led to ${\beta}$-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. PFSEs possess antioxidant activity and thus lead to downregulation of ROS generation. Cytokines decrease cell viability, stimulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and induce the production of nitric oxide (NO). PFSEs prevented cytokine-induced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation with PFSE resulted in significant reduction in cytokine-induced NO production that correlated with reduced levels of the iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Furthermore, PFSE significantly decreased the activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) by inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation in RINm5F cells. In summary, our results suggest that the protective effects of PFSE might serve to counteract cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell destruction. Findings indicate that consumption of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. sprouts alleviates hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell damage and thus has beneficial anti-diabetic effects.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.5-13
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• 2015

Objectives : The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of water extracts of Sasangja-tang(SSJ) and Gami-sasangja-tang(GSJ) were investigated. The effects of SSJ and GSJ were compared. Methods : We performed cell viability assay in HaCaT cells and RAW 264.7 cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. We measured chemokines(regulated on activation normal T-cell expression and secreted ; RANTES/CCL5, interferon-inducible protein; IP-10/CXCL10, macrophage-derived chemokine; MDC/CCL22) in HaCat cells, also we measured cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$; TNF-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6; IL-6) and nitric oxide(NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and NO assay. Western blot assay was used to evaluate the expression for inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in RAW 264.7 cells. Results : SSJ and GSJ did not affect the cell viability at the concentrations treated ($0-800{\mu}g/ml$). As a result of SSJ and GSJ treatment in HaCat cells stimulated by TNF-${\alpha}$(10 ng/ml) and interferon(IFN)-${\gamma}$(10 ng/ml), the production of RANTES and IP-10 was inhibited significantly. However there was no significant difference in the secretion of MDC. And in RAW 264. 7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS, $1{\mu}g/ml$), SSJ and GSJ treatment significantly inhibited the secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 and the production of NO. The expression of iNOS was also decresed by SSJ and GSJ treatment in RAW 264. 7 cells. Compared with SSJ, GSJ was superior to SSJ in inhibition of RANTES, IP-10, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and NO production at the concentration of $200{\mu}g/ml$. Conclusion : Both SSJ and GSJ have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. And GSJ has better effects than SSJ.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.159-170
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• 2020

Purpose: Immunization with Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein 60 (PgHSP60) may have an immunoregulatory effect on atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether nasal immunization with a PgHSP60 peptide could reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Methods: Seven-week-old male ApoE KO mice were assigned to receive a normal diet, a Western diet, a Western diet and challenge with PgHSP60-derived peptide 14 (Pep14) or peptide 19 (Pep19), or a Western diet and immunization with Pep14 or Pep19 before challenge with Pep14 or Pep19. Results: Atherosclerotic plaques were significantly smaller in mice that received a Western diet with Pep14 nasal immunization than in mice that received a Western diet and no Pep14 immunization with or without Pep14 challenge. An immunoblot profile failed to detect serum reactivity to Pep14 in any of the study groups. Stimulation by either Pep14 or Pep19 strongly promoted the induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺ forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)⁺ human regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. However, the expression of mouse splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs was lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the Pep14-challenged or Pep19-immunized mice. Levels of serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor beta were higher and levels of interleukin (IL) 10 were lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the other groups. Induction of CD25^- IL-17⁺ T helper 17 (Th17) cells was attenuated in the Pep14-immunized mice. Conclusions: Nasal immunization with Pep14 may be a mechanism for attenuating atherogenesis by promoting the secretion of IFN-γ and/or suppressing Th17-mediated immunity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2011

Many immune down-regulatory molecules have been isolated from parasites, including cystatin (cystain protease inhibitor). In a previous study, we isolated and characterized Type I cystatin (CsStefin-1) of the liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis. To investigate whether the CsStefin-1 might be a new host immune modulator, we induced intestinal inflammation in mice by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and treated them with recombinant CsStefin-1 (rCsStefin-1). The disease activity index (DAI) increased in DSS only-treated mice. In contrast, the DAI value was significantly reduced in rCsStefin-1-treated mice than DSS only-treated mice. In addition, the colon length of DSS only-treated mice was shorter than that of rCsStefin-1 treated mice. The secretion levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were significantly increased by DSS treatment, but the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ in MLNs was significantly decreased by rCsStefin-1 treatment. IL-10 production in both spleen and MLNs was significantly increased, and IL-$10^+F4/80^+$ macrophage cells were significantly increased in the spleen and MLNs of rCsStefin-1 treated mice after DSS treatment. In conclusion, rCsStefin-1 could reduce the intestinal inflammation occurring after DSS treatment, these effects might be related with recruitment of IL-10 secreting macrophages.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.96-106
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Gleditsiae Fructus 70% EtOH extract (JS_E) on anti-inflammatory action in HaCaT cells (A spontaneously immortalized human keratinocyte cell line) and inhibiting triglyceride genesis in SEB-1 cells (Immortalized human sebocyte). Methods The anti-inflammatory effect of JS_E was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) which measured levels of IP-10, RANTES and MDC in HaCaT cells. Also the effect on secretion of sebum of JS_E was analyzed by TG-S kit which measured the quantity of triglyceride in SEB-1 cells. Results JS_E inhibited IP-10, RANTES and MDC expression in a dose dependent manner. IP-10 expression was inhibited significantly in comparison to TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ recombination (TI) control group at concentration of JS_E $200{\mu}g/ml$ and RANTES and MDC expressions were inhibited significantly at concentration of JS_E 100, $200{\mu}g/ml$. JS_E also inhibited triglyceride secretion of SEB-1 cells significantly in comparison to the control group in a dose dependent manner. Conclusions This study shows that JS_E has the effects of anti-inflammatory action and inhibiting sebum secretion. According to these results, JS_E can be used for treating skin diseases such as acne and dermatitis caused by inflammation and excessive secretion of sebum by controlling the activity of the HaCaT and SEB-1 cells.