• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.461-469
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBSECTIVE: Airway inflammation by eosinophils, neutrophils and alveolar macrophages is a characteristic feature of asthma that leads to pathological subepithelial thickening and remodeling. Our previous study showed that oxidative stress in airways resulted in eosinophilia and epithelial apoptosis. The current study investigated whether glutathione-containing dry yeast extract (dry-YE) ameliorated eosinophilia, goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus overproduction. MATERIALS/METHOD: This study employed $2{\mu}g$/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or 20 ng/mL eotaxin-1-exposed human bronchial epithelial cells and ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged mice. Dry-YE employed in this study contained a significant amount of glutathione (140 mg in 100 g dry yeast). RESULTS: Human bronchial epithelial cell eotaxin-1 and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) were markedly induced by the endotoxin LPS, which was dose-dependently attenuated by nontoxic dry-YE at 10-50 ${\mu}g$/mL. Moreover, dry-YE inhibited the MUC5AC induction enhanced by eotaxin-1, indicating that eotaxin-1-mediated eosinophilia may prompt the MUC5AC induction. Oral supplementation with 10-100 mg/kg dry-YE inhibited inflammatory cell accumulation in airway subepithelial regions with a reduction of lung tissue level of intracellular adhesion molecule-1. In addition, ${\geq}50$ mg/kg dry-YE diminished the lung tissue levels of eotaxin-1, eosinophil major basic protein and MUC5AC in OVA-exposed mice. Alcian blue/periodic acid schiff staining revealed that the dry-YE supplementation inhibited goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus overproduction in the trachea and bronchiolar airways of OVA-challenged mice. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress may be involved in the induction of eotaxin-1 and MUC5AC by endotoxin episode and OVA challenge. Dry-YE effectively ameliorated oxidative stress-responsive epithelial eosinophilia and mucus-secreting goblet cell hyperplasia in cellular and murine models of asthma.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2016

Objectives In this study, the effects of Ja-eum-gang-hwa-tang (JGT) on the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances of rats and ATP- or PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells were investigated. Materials and Methods Hypersecretion of airway mucus was produced by exposure of $SO_2$ to rats for 3 weeks. The effect of orally-administered JGT for 2 weeks on increased epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats was assessed by using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with Hematoxylin-eosin and PAS-alcian blue. Possible cytotoxicity of JGT was assessed by investigating the potential damage on kidneys and liver functions by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN concentration of rats and the body weight gain during experiment. Also, the effect of JGT on ATP- or PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of JGT and treated with ATP ($200{\mu}M$) or PMA ($10ng/ml$) or EGF ($25ng/ml$) or TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.2 nM) for 24 hrs to assess the effect of JGT both on ATP- or PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and on gene expression by the same inducers using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results (1) JGT decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of trachea of rats. (2) JGT did not show any renal and hepatic toxicities, and did not affect body weights either. (3) JGT significantly inhibited ATP-, PMA-, EGF-, and TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin productions from NCI-H292 cells. (4) JGT inhibited EGF-, and PMA-induced expression levels of MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells. However, ATP- and TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC gene expression levels were not affected in NCI-H292 cells. Conclusions The result from the present study suggests that JGT might control the production and gene expression of airway mucin observed in various respiratory diseases which accompanied by mucus hypersecretion. Also, JGT did not show liver toxicity or impact on kidney functions. The effect of JGT should be further studied by using animal experimental models which can show proper pathophysiology of airway diseases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2006

High-density micromass culture was needed to take three dimensions culture with ASCs(adipose derived stromal cells) and chondrogenesis. However, the synthetic polymer has hydrophobic character and low affinity to cells and other biomolecules. Therefore, the surface modification without changes of physical and chemical properties is necessary for more suitable condition to cells and biomolecules. This study was performed to investigate the effect of surface modification of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) scaffold by plasma treatment (P(+)) on the adhesion, proliferation and chondrogenesis of ASCs, and not plasma treatment (P(-)). ASCs were isolated from human subcutaneous adipose tissue obtained by lipectomy and liposuction. At 1 hour 30 minutes and 3days after cell seeding onto the P(-) group and the P(+) group, total DNA amount of attached and proliferated ASCs markedly increased in the P(+) group (p < 0.05). The changes of the actin under confocal microscope were done for evaluation of cellular affinity, at 1 hour 30 minutes, the shape of the cells was spherical form in all group. At 3rd day, the shape of the cells was fiber network form and finely arranged in P(+) group rather than in P(-) group. RT-PCR analysis of cartilage-specific type II collagen and link protein were expressed in 1, 2 weeks of induction. Amount of Glycoaminoglycan (GAG) markedly increased in P(+) group(p < 0.05). In a week, extracellular matrix was not observed in the Alcian blue and Safranin O staining. However in 2 weeks, it was observed that sulfated proteoglycan increased in P(+) group rather than in P(-) group. In conclusion, we recognized that plasma treatment of PLGA scaffold could increase the hydrophilic property of cells, and provide suitable environment for high-density micromass culture to chondrogenesis

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2004

Mast cells (MCs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. However, the role of MC in the development of liver fibrosis has not been fully elucidated. Stem cell factor (SCF) is known to recruit MCs to the liver following injury as it induces mast cell proliferation, survival and differentiation from resident tissue precursors. This study examines the interaction between activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and MCs in rat fibrotic liver, and SCF production by HSCs during culture in vitro. Rats were studied 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after bile duct ligation (BDL). Fibrogenesis was assessed by a measurement of collagen stained with sirius red F3B. Activated HSCs and MCs were identified by ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}-SMA$) immunohistochemical and alcian blue staining and measured by a computerized image analysis system. SCF production was determined in rat HSC cultures using Western blotting. Mild fibrotic changes were noted in BDL rat livers as early as 4 days after induction of cholestasis. Significant expansion and organization of fibrous tissue has occurred in day 14 BDL rats which progressed to bridging fibrosis by day 21. In BDL rats, both a large number of activated HSCs and MCs were detected in portal tracts and fibrous septa. Both area of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were significantly higher in all BDL group compared with Shams. In BDL rats, both areas of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were no significant difference between day 4 and 7 and were significantly higher in day 14. However, the areas of activated HSCs infiltration were significantly lesser in day 21 and the densities of MCs were significantly higher in day 21 compared with day14 BDL. In BDL rats, both areas of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were highly correlated with areas of fibrosis. Western blotting showed that SCF protein was consistently produced in activated HSCs by culture on plastic and freshly isolated HSCs expressed relatively little 30kD SCF compared to late primary culture activated HSCs (day 14) and passaged HSCs. These results suggest that HSCs activated in vitro produce SCF, and may play an important role in recruiting mast cells to the liver during injury and fibrosis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2011

Loperamide-induced constipation reduced gastric emptying, small-intestinal and colonic motility, and these effects were prevented by Actindia chinensis(Gold Kiwi Fruit, GKF). In this study, the effects of Actindia chinensis on constipated male Sprague-Dawley rats induced by loperamide(2 mg/kg, s.c.,5 days) were investigated. Rats were randomly assigned to the normal control rats(regular diet), constipated rats(regular diet plus loperamide), constipated rats treated with 2.5% GKF(regular diet supplemented with 2.5% GKF plus loperamide), constipated rats treated with 5% GKF (regular diet supplemented with 5% GKF plus loperamide). There was less fecal excretion and lower fecal water content in loperamide-treated rats than in control rats. Oral administration of GKF blocked the decrease of fecal excretion and fecal water content in the loperamide-treated rats. Mucus production of crypt cell and mucus contents at fecal and mucosa surface were reduced by loperamide-treated rat. But colonic crypt cell contained increased mucin in the GKF treated group and mucus layer stained with alcian blue was significantly thicker in GKF treated rats compared with in loperamide-treated rats. In isolated rat ileum, loperamide produced inhibition of ileal motility. Pretreatment with methanolic extracts of GKF in isolated rat ileum prevented inhibition by loperamide. These findings indicated that the GKF was effective for alleviation of inhibition of colonic peristalsis by loperamide and that GKF might be of value in the prevention of constipation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.449-456
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• 2014

The use of synovial fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SFMSCs) obtained from patients with degenerative arthropathy may serve as an alternative therapeutic strategy in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). For treatment of OA and RA patients, autologous transplantation of differentiated MSCs has several beneficial effects for cartilage regeneration including immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we induced chondrogenic differentiation of SFMSCs by inhibiting protein kinase A (PKA) with a small molecule and microRNA (miRNA). Chondrogenic differentiation was confirmed by PCR and immunocytochemistry using probes specific for aggrecan, the major cartilaginous proteoglycan gene. Absorbance of alcian blue stain to detect chondrogenic differentiation was increased in H-89 and/or miRNA-23b-transfected cells. Furthermore, expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2 was decreased in treated1 cells. Therefore, differentiation of SFMSCs into chondrocytes through inhibition of PKA signaling may be a therapeutic option for OA or RA patients.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.117-137
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• 2007

Objectives : In the present study, the author intended to investigate Gagam-jeonggitang(GJT), Gami-hwajeongjeon(GHJ) and Gami-tonggyutang(GTT) significantly affect in vivo and in vitro mucin secretion from airway epithelial cells. Methods : In vivo experiment, the author induced hypersecretion of airway mucin, hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells and the increase in intraepithelial mucosubstances by exposing rats to SO2 during 3 weeks. Effects of orally-administered GJT, GHJ and GTT during 1 week on in vivo mucin secretion and hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells were assesed using ELISA and staining goblet cells with alcian blue. For in vitro experiment, confluent HTSE cells were metabolically radiolabeled with 3H-glucosamine for 24 hrs and chased for 30 min in the presence of each agent to assess the effects of each agent on 3H-mucin secretion. Possible cytotoxicities of each agent were assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase release. Also, the effects of each agent on contractility of isolated tracheal smooth muscle and effects of each agent on MUC5AC gene expression in cultured HTSE cells were investigated. Results : GJT, GHJ and GTI inhibited hypersecretion of in vivo mucin: GJT and GHJ inhibited the increase of number of goblet cells. However, GTT did not affect the increase of number of goblet cells; GJT and GTT significantly increased mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells, without significant cytotoxicity. GHJ increased mucin secretion and showed mild cytotoxicity at the highest concentration: GJT, GHJ and GTT chiefly affected the 'mucin' secretion; GJT, GHJ and GTT did not affect Ach-induced contraction of isolated tracheal smooth muscle; GTT did not significantly affect the expression levels of MUC5AC gene. However, GJT significantly. inhibit the expression levels of MUC5AC gene and GHJ significantly increased the expression levels of MUC5AC gene. These results suggest that GJT, GHJ and GTI can increase mucin secretion during short-term treatment(in vitro), whereas it can inihibit hypersecretion of mucin during long-term treatment(in vivo) and GJT and GHJ can not only affect the secretion of mucin but also affect the expression of mucin gene. Conclusions : The author suggests that the effects GJT, GHJ and GTT with their components should be further investigated and it is valuable to find, from oriental medical prescriptions, novel agents which might regulate hypersecretion of mucin from airway epithelial cells.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.56-71
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• 2014

Objectives In this study, the author tried to investigate whether piryongbang-gamgil-tang (PGGT) significantly affect in vitro airway mucin secretion, PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production / gene expression from human airway epithelial cells and increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances and hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells of rats. Materials and Methods For in vitro experiment, confluent RTSE cells were chased for 30 min in the presence of PGGT to assess the effect of PGGT on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, effect of PGGT on PMA- or EGFor TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of PGGT and treated with PMA (10 ng/ml) or EGF (25 ng/ml) or TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.2 nM) for 24 hrs, to assess both effect of PGGT on PMA- or EGF- or TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin production by ELISA and gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For in vivo experiment, the author induced hypersecretion of airway mucus and goblet cell hyperplasia by exposure of rats to $SO_2$ during 3 weeks. Effect of orally-administered PGGT during 2 weeks on increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats and hyperplasia of goblet cells were assesed by using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with alcian blue. Possible cytotoxicities of PGGT in vitro were assessed by examining LDH release from RTSE cells and the rate of survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells. In vivo liver and kidney toxicities of PGGT were evaluated by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN/creatinine concentrations of rats after administering PGGT orally. Results (1) PGGT did not affect in vitro mucin secretion from cultured RTSE cells. (2) PGGT significantly inhibited PMA-, EGF-, and TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MUC5AC mucin productions and the expression levels of MUC5AC mRNA from NCI-H292 cells. (3) PGGT decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances and showed the tendency of expectorating airway mucus already produced. (4) PGGT increased LDH release from RTSE cells. However, PGGT did not show in vivo liver and kidney toxicities and cytotoxicity to NCI-H292 cells. Conclusion The result from this study suggests that PGGT can regulate the production and gene expression of airway mucin observed in diverse respiratory diseases accompanied by mucus hypersecretion and do not show in vivo toxicity to liver and kidney functions after oral administration. Effect of PGGT with their components should be further studied using animal experimental models that reflect the diverse pathophysiology of respiratory diseases through future investigations.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

Objective : Samulatang (herbal description) is much used for women's disease in Korean Traditional Medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate reproductive toxic effect by Samultang in pregnant rats and fetuses, and ascertain a dose-response relationship Method : Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with the Samultang at single, double and quadruple dose for 20 days, orally. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at 20th day of gestation, and observed internal and reproductive organs. Live fetuses of gestation were randomly selected and fixed in 95% ethanol. Fetuses were stained with alcian blue and alizarin red S. We observe maternal body weight,, index associated pregnancy, and skeletal malformations in fetus Result : Maternal body weight of Samultang treated group has increased, side effect was not found in maternal body compared to that of control group. There were no significant difference in internal and reproductive organs. Double concentration administered group had lowest value in number of implantation, live fetuses, implantation rate and delivery rate, Also double concentration administered group showed higher early and late resorption rate than the other group. But, these are not significant. In the sex ratio, number of females, bigger than number of males in all Samultang administered groups. The fetuses of dams treated with Samultang didn't showed external and skeletal malformation. Vertebral and sternal variations were observed in single, double and quadruple concentration administered group but, compared to the control, those variations were insignificant. There were no significant changes in number of ribs, cervical, thoracic, lumber, sacral and caudal vertebrae Conclusion : Samultang is not expected to affect on pregnant rats and fetus about maternal body weight and number of live fetuses. There were no significant changes in organ weight, reproductive organs. Although skeletal variations were showed in vertebrae and sternum, treated groups were shown insignificant changes in skeletal variation

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.33-55
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• 2007

Objectives In the present study, the author intended to investigate whether bojung-ikgitang-gamibang(BJGB) and seonbang-paedoktang(SBPT) significantly affect in vivo and in vitro mucin secretion from airway epithelial cells. Methods In vivo experiment, mice's mucin which is on a hypersecretion of airway mucin, mice's tracheal goblet cells in hyperplasia and mice's intraepithelial mucosubstances were exposed with SO2for3weeks. Effects of orally-administered BJGB and SBPT during 1 week on vivo mucin secretion and hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells were assessed by using both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and staining goblet cells with alcian blue. In vitro experiment, confluent hamster tracheal surface epithelial(HTSE) cells were metabolically radiolabeled with 3H-glucosamine for 24hrs and chased for 30 min in the presence of each agent to figure out the effectiveness of 3H-mucin secretion. Total elution profiles of control spent media and treatment sample through Sepharose CL-4B column were analyzed. The effects of each agent on contractility of isolated tracheal smooth muscle and effects of each agent on MUC5AC gene expression in cultured HTSE cells were investigated. Also, possible cytotoxicities of each agent were assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release. Additionally, effects of BJGB and SBPT on both MUC5AC gene expression in cultured HTSE cells and TNF- or EGF-induced MUC5AC gene expression in human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Results (1) BJGB and SBPT inhibited hypersecretion of in vivo mucin. SBPT also inhibited the increase the number of goblet cells. However, BJGB did not affect the increase of number of goblet cells; (2) BJGB significantly increased mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells, without significant cytotoxicity, and chiefly affected the 'mucin' secretion; (3) SBPT did not affect mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells without significant cytotoxicity, and also did not affect the secretion of the other releseable glycoproteins; (4) BJGB and SBPT did not affect Ach-induced contraction of isolated tracheal smooth muscle; (5) SBPT significantly inhibit the expression levels of MUC5AC gene and BJGB significantly increased the expression levels of MUC5AC gene in both HTSE cells and NCI-H292 cells. Conclusions BJGB and SBPT can not only affect the secretion of mucin but also affect the expression of mucin gene. The author suggests that the effects BJGB and SBPT with their components should be further investigated and it is highly desirable to find from oriental medical prescriptions, novel agents which might regulate hypersecretion of mucin from airway epithelial cells.