• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2006

Background: Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known as a cytokine central to the hematopoiesis of blood cells and to modulate their cellular functions. Besides granulocytes and their precursors, monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells are direct target cells of G-CSF action. G-CSF influences immune cells in an anti inflammatory way. Methods: To evaluate whether G-CSF has a potential for preventing or ameliorating diseases characterized by mucosal inflammation, we used a mouse model with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory colitis. To the mice model G-CSF was administrated daily by intraperitoneal injection. Macroscopic evaluation and immunohistochemical analysis of colonic tissues were performed. Results: Re combinant human G-CSF significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expression in THP-1 cells. As for in vivo relevance, G-CSF dramatically reduced the weight loss of mice, colonic damage, and mucosal ulceration that characterize TNBS colitis. Moreover, G-CSF suppressed the expression of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in TNBS colitis. Conclusion: Current results demonstrate that G-CSF may be an effective agent for the treatment of diseases characterized by mucosal inflammation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.91-101
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• 2008

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Ampelopsis Radix methanol(AR-M) extract on allergic inflammation in activated human mast cells and its potential therapeutic or toxic effects. Methods: Ampelopsis Radix(AR) was extracted with 80% methanol. HMC-1 cells, a human mast cell line, were treated with different concentrations of AR-M extract, and then stimulated with PMA plus A23187. The cell toxicity of AR-M extract was determined by MTT assay. The concentrations of $PGE_2$ and cytokines were measured by ELISA. The gene expression of COX-2 and its protein levels were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. The phosphorylation of ERK MAPK and the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation were determined by Western blot. Results: AR-M extract was significantly inhibited the production of PGE2 and inflammatory cytokines(TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8) in PMA/A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells. AR-M extract also attenuated the mRNA expression of COX-2 and its protein induction. Furthermore, AR-M extract attenuated PMA/A23187-induced phophorylation of ERK1/2 MAPK and the NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 subunit translocation into nuclear of HMC-1 cells. AR-M extract significantly decreased PMN A23187-induced release of histamine in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: These results indicate that Ampelopsis Radix shows the property of anti-allergic inflammation In vitro through suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators released from mast cells, suggesting have a potential for the treatment of allergic diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.55-68
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• 2020

Objectives : We observed the possibilities that blue honeysuckle has favorable analgesic or refinement effects on the Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in rats. Methods : Estradiol benzoate and oxytocin were used to induce the PD rat model. And Blue honeysuckle concentration lyophilized powders (BH) 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of Lonicerae Flos aqueous extract lyophilized powders (LF) were orally administered, once a day for 10 days at 30 min after each estradiol benzoate treatment. Then the changes on the body weights and gains during experimental periods, abdominal writhing response for analgesic activities, uterine weights, uterus lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense system - glutathione contents, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, NF-κB and COX-2 mRNA expressions were monitored with uterus histopathology including immunohistochemistry for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).. Results : Inflammatory and oxidative stress mediated PD signs were favorably and dose-dependently inhibited by 10 days continuous oral administration of three different dosages of BH - 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg as comparable to those of indomethacin(IND) 5 mg/kg treated rats in BH 500 mg/kg administered PD rats, and similar to those of LF 500 mg/kg in BH 125 mg/kg, at least in a condition of the present PD rat model. Conclusions : The results suggest that BH has favorable analgesic and refinement activities on the estradiol benzoate and oxytocin treatment-induced PD signs through anti-inflammatory and antioxidative potentials.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2006

G. japonicum is a perennial hem and the flowering plant has been used as a diuretic and an astringent in Japan and China. However, little information is available about the anti-inflammatory action of G. japonicum. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the antiinflammatory action of fractions from G. japonicum methanol extract. Inhibition of NO production was observed when cells were cotreated with fractions of G. japonicum and lipopolysaccharide. We observed that ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum inhibited NO production by LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells, and that the suppression induced by ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum was associated with antioxidant activity and direct NO clearance. In addition, only ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum inhibited stimulated $PGE_2,\;TNF-\alpha,\;IL-1\beta$ production, whereas water and methyl chloride fractions showed no such effects. The ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum methanol extract showed a remarkable scavenging activity on the 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl radical. Based on the results, ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum may be useful source as natural antioxidants and antiinflammation. Therefore, the results obtained from this study provide an alternative protective mechanism of ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum and provide information on the potential use of ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum in chemoprevention or pathogenic conditions related to overproduction of NO and $PGE_2$. However, the mechanism of the inflammatory effect must be evaluated through various parameters for induction of NO production.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2007

Although retinoic acid has been known as either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory molecule, depending on the cell type, its exact role in mature human neutrophils has not been fully explored. In this study, we investigate the effects of retinoic acid on neutrophil apoptosis and the associated mechanism and found that 9-cis retinoic acid (9CRA) significantly inhibits the spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils. Its effect is increased by co-treatment with $TNF-\alpha$ (P<0.05). The 9CRA-induced inhibition is blocked by the following enzyme inhibitors: Ly 294002, phosphoinoside (PI)-3 kinase inhibitor, U73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, PP2, Src family protein inhibitor, SB202190, p38 MAPK inhibitor, and BAY-11-7085, NF-kB inhibitor. This study also demonstrates that all-trans retinoic acid suppresses spontaneous apoptosis, similar to the mechanism of inhibition exhibited by 9CRA. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK decreases by 9CRA treatment. $Ik-B{\alpha}$ is degraded until 30 minutes after a time-dependent 9CRA treatment, but degradation can be inhibited by Ly 294002. These results indicate that 9CRA decreases p38 MAPK activation, induces NF-kB activation via PI-3 kinase, and also blocks cleavage of caspase 3. As these findings suggest, 9CRA has a molecular mechanism which may help pro-inflammatory response by blocking neutrophil apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.257-263
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• 2010

Visnagin (4-methoxy-7-methyl-5H-furo[3,2-g][1]-benzopyran-5-one), which is an active principle extracted from the fruits of Ammi visnaga, has been used as a treatment for low blood-pressure and blocked blood vessel contraction by inhibition of calcium influx into blood cells. However, the neuroprotective effect of visnagin was not clearly known until now. Thus, we investigated whether visnagin has a neuroprotective effect against kainic acid (KA)-induced neuronal cell death. In the cresyl violet staining, pre-treatment or post-treatment visnagin (100 mg/kg, p.o. or i.p.) showed a neuroprotective effect on KA ($0.1{\mu}g$) toxicity. KA-induced gliosis and proinflammatory marker (IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and COX-2) inductions were also suppressed by visnagin administration. These results suggest that visnagin has a neuroprotective effect in terms of suppressing KA-induced pathogenesis in the brain, and that these neuroprotective effects are associated with its anti-inflammatory effects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.113-122
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• 2003

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Gagamchunggan-tang on anti-inflammation reaction with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HepG2 cell. Method : We examined the effects of the Gagamchunggan-tang, a traditional drug for liver inflammation, on the process of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}Bp65(NF-{\kappa}Bp65)$ activation in HepG2 cell. SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, Immunofluorescence staining were studied. Results : Immunoblot analysis showed that the level of nucleic $NF-{\kappa}Bp65$ was rapidly up-regulated and cytosolic inhibitory $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ was down-regulated by LPS challenge. While Gagamchunggan-tang inhibited an increase of $NF-{\kappa}Bp65$ and degradation of $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ in HepG2 cell. Besides LPS-induced expression of a group of genes, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$, inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), are repressed by Gagamchunggan-tang. It may be concluded that Gagamchunggan-tang attenuates the progress of LPS-induced inflammation by reduction of $NF-{\kappa}Bp65$ activation. Conclusion : The Gagamchunggan-tang would be useful as a therapeutic agent for endotoxin-induced liver disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2013

Broussonetia papyrifera and Lonicera japonica have long been used in the treatment of inflammatory disorders in Chinese medicine, especially respiratory inflammation. Previously, a new phytoformula (BL) containing B. papyrifera and L. japonica was found to exert strong anti-inflammatory activity against several animal models of inflammation, especially against an animal model of acute bronchitis. In the present investigation, the effects of BL on animal models of septic inflammation and chronic bronchitis are examined. Against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic inflammation in mice, BL (200-400 mg/kg) reduced the induction of some important proinflammatory cytokines. At 1 h after LPS treatment, BL was found to considerably inhibit TNF-${\alpha}$ production when measured by cytokine array. At 3 h after LPS treatment, BL inhibited the induction of several proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, although dexamethasone, which was used as a reference, showed a higher inhibitory action on these biomarkers. Against chronic bronchitis induced by LPS/elastase instillation in rats for 4 weeks, BL (200-400 mg/kg/day) significantly inhibited cell recruitment in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Furthermore, BL considerably reduced lung injury, as revealed by histological observation. Taken together, these results indicate that BL may have a potential to treat systemic septic inflammation as well as chronic bronchitis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.289-295
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• 2013

Different functions have been attributed to $CD4^+CD25^+Foxp3^+$ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) during malaria infection. Herein, we describe the disparity in Treg response and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA between young (3-week-old) and middle-aged (8-month-old) C57BL/6 mice. Young mice were susceptible to cerebral malaria (CM), while the middle-aged mice were resistant to CM and succumbed to hyperparasitemia and severe anemia. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-${\alpha}$, in young CM-susceptible mice were markedly higher than in middle-aged CM-resistant mice. An increased absolute number of Tregs 3-5 days post-inoculation, co-occurring with elevated IL-10 levels, was observed in middle-aged CM-resistant mice but not in young CM-susceptible mice. Our findings suggest that Treg proliferation might be associated with the suppression of excessive pro-inflammatory Th1 response during early malaria infection, leading to resistance to CM in the middle-aged mice, possibly in an IL-10-dependent manner.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2009

Anti cancer agent 5-FU (Fluoro Uracil) is a prodrug that can be metabolized and then activated to interfere with RNA and DNA homeostasis. However, the majority of administered 5-FU is known to be catabolized in vivo in the liver where Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is abundantly expressed to degrade 5-FU. The biological factors that correlate with the response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy have been proposed to include uridine phosphorylase (UPP), thymidine phosphorylase (TPP), p53 and microsatellite instability. Among these, the expression of UPP is known to be controlled by cytokines such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL1 and $IFN-{\gamma}$. Our preliminary study using a DNA microarray technique showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) markedly induced the expression of UPP1 at the transcription level. In the present study, we investigated whether bFGF could modulate the expression of UPP1 in osteo-lineage cells and examined the sensitivity of these cells to 5-FU mediated apoptosis.