• Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.227-235
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• 2017

Objective. Failure of first-line anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents in in rheumatoid arthritis patients leads to decisions among second-line biologic agents. To better inform these decisions, the therapeutic effectiveness of rituximab is compared with other second-line biologic agents in this observational study. Methods. Between November 2011 and December 2014, study subjects were observed for 12 month periods. Patients with an inadequate response to initial anti-TNF agent received either rituximab or alternative anti-TNF agents (adalimumab/etanercept/infliximab) based on the preference of patients and physicians. The efficacy end point of this study was the change in 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) at six and 12 months from baseline. Safety data were also collected. Results. Ninety patients were enrolled in the study. DAS28 at six months did not change significantly whether the patients were treated with rituximab or alternative anti-TNF agents in intention-to-treat analysis (n=34, $-1.63{\pm}0.30$ vs. n=31, $-2.05{\pm}0.34$) and standard population set analysis (n=31, $-1.51{\pm}0.29$ vs. n=24, $-2.21{\pm}0.34$). Similarly, the change in DAS28 at 12 months did not reach statistical significance ($-1.82{\pm}0.35$ in the rituximab vs. $-2.34{\pm}0.44$ in the alternative anti-TNF agents, p=0.2390). Furthermore, the incidences of adverse events were similar between two groups (23.5% for rituximab group vs. 25.8% for alternative anti-TNF agents group, p=0.7851). Conclusion. Despite the limitations of our study, switching to rituximab or alternative anti-TNF agents after failure of the initial TNF antagonist showed no significant therapeutic difference in DAS28 reduction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Clinical and animal studies have shown that free radical overload is an important cause for a variety of diseases. Although ginseng has been recognized as antioxidant, how it modulates anti-oxidative process at the molecular level remains unknown. Free radical production is induced by tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) under the stress condition, and (TNF-$\alpha$) release is activated by TNF-$\alpha$-converting enzyme (TACE). Since TACE inhibitor is also well known for anti-inflammatory agent, ginseng seems to show anti-oxidative activity by repressing TACE pathway. Further studies on signal transduction would be warranted to elucidate molecular action mechanisms of ginseng on anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 2022

Tertomotide is a peptide vaccine developed for anti-cancer therapy. Since it has been found to ameliorate inflammatory symptoms in animal studies and clinical test, we investigated anti-inflammation activity of the tertomotide and the mechanism of action in monocyte in order to assess if tertomotide may serve as an anti-inflammatory agent by checking inflammatory cytokines and related signaling pathway following tertomotide treatment. We found that tertomotide reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 in LPS- or PMA-stimulated monocyte cell line and suppressed NF-κB signaling including the activation of ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK following TNF-α treatment. These results may correlate to the beneficial findings in animal studies, implicating that tertomotide may act as a potential anti-inflammatory agent. This study is an exemplary case for convergence that a computationally designed peptide for immunological purpose exerting unexpected biological activity may elicit novel anti-inflammatory drug.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2011

Background: In this study, we have investigated the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extracts on the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 in human keratinocytes. Also, to examine the antioxidative effect of red ginseng extracts, free radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human dermal fibroblasts was measured. Methods: To investigate the effect of KRG in atopic dermatitis, we measured the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 secretion in LPS-stimulated human keratinocytes after the treatment of KRG extracts using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-oxidative activity was investigated by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and SOD activity. Results: The stimulation of human keratinocytes with KRG extracts shifted the LPS-induced cytokine secretion toward a more immunosuppressive response. KRG dose-dependently decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-8 production in HaCaT cells and a significant inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ was shown when cells were treated with 500 and $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of KRG extracts. Additionally, KRG extracts showed DPPH radical scavenging and SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, SOD activities of concentrations higher than $60{\mu}g/ml$ of KRG extracts were significantly different in human dermal fibroblast cells. Conclusion: Based on this study, KRG extracts may be a useful immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2019

Inflammation is the crucial biological process of immune system which acts as body's defense and protective response against the injuries or infection. However, the systemic inflammation devotes the adverse effects such as multiple inflammation associated diseases. One of the best ways to treat this entity is by blocking the tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to avoid the proinflammation cytokines production. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the potency of Sambucus bioactive compounds as anti-inflammation through in silico approach. In order to assess that, molecular docking was performed to evaluate the interaction properties between the $TNF-{\alpha}$ or TRAIL with the ligands. The 2D structure of ligands were retrieved online via PubChem and the 3D protein modeling was done by using SWISS Model. The prediction results of the study showed that caffeic acid (-6.4 kcal/mol) and homovanillic acid (-6.6 kcal/mol) have the greatest binding affinity against the $TNF-{\alpha}$ and TRAIL respectively. This evidence suggests that caffeic acid and homovanillic acid may potent as anti-inflammatory agent against the inflammation associated diseases. Finally, this study needs further examination and evaluation to validate the potency of Sambucus bioactive compounds.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2010

Korean Sophora japonica has been found to posses an anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, Korean Sophora japonica extract, rutin, was used to know whether rutin inhibits to produce inflammatory mediators NO and TNF-$\alpha$ from the mouse peritoneal macrophages that were treated an inflammatory agent LPS. The rutin-1 hr pretreated macrophages were incubated with LPS for 0.5~5 hrs, and then collected the supernatant and the cell lysate for measurements of the level of iNOS, NO, TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA, TNF-$\alpha$, and p-NF-${\kappa}B$. Minimal and maximal effective doses of the rutin on them were 1 and $100{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The maximal effective dose of rutin certainly inhibted the productions of iNOS, NO, TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA, TNF-$\alpha$and p-NF-${\kappa}B$ from the LPS-treated macrophages (p<0.0001). Its $ED_{50}$ for inhibition of TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA and p-NF-${\kappa}B$ was $5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, and for iNOS, NO, and TNF-$\alpha$ was $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The rutin did not have any cytotoxic effect. As the results, the Sophora japonica rutin could be a good candidate for an anti-inflammatory action.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2008

Objectives : Evodia officinalis DODE (EO), an herbal plant, has been widely used in traditional Korean medicine for the treatment of vascular diseases such as hypertension. The crude extract of EO contains phenolic compounds that are effective in protecting liver microsomes, hepatocytes, and erythrocytes against oxidative damage. But EO has been little found to have an anti-inflammatory activity. We investigated anti-inflammatory activity of EO in RAW 264.7 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods : Cytotoxic activity of EO on RAW 264.7 cells was investigated by using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. And proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. The levels of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression were measured by flow cytometer. Results : EO decreased LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory activity of EO on LPS-induced NO release is probably associated with suppressing TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and MCP-1 formation. These results indicate that EO has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. Moreover, EO decreased TNF-${\alpha}$-induced IL-8, IL-6 production, and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in HUVECs. Conclusions : EO inhibits TNF-${\alpha}$-induced inflammation via decreasing cytokines production and adhesion molecules expression. These results indicate that EO has potential as an anti-inflammation and anti-artherosclerosis agent.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.5778-5784
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• 2013

In order to develop anti-wrinkle agent, we measured the anti-oxidative activity of gallic acid (GA) from Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews and investigated its cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells and then investigated its effect on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) mRNA, protein expressions and secretion in same cells. GA showed anti-oxidative activity with $IC_{50}$ of 30 ${\mu}g/mL$ and its activity was higher than that of butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA). GA showed weak cytotoxicity with high concentration (200 ${\mu}g/mL$) in HaCaT cells. MMP-1 mRNA, protein expression and secretion induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) in HaCaT cells were significantly decreased by treatment of GA with dose-dependent manner(p<0.05). Therefore, our findings suggest that GA can be useful as an active ingredient for cosmeceuticals of anti-wrinkle effects.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.211-216
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• 2004

Citrus unshiu (Rutaceae) has long been known as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of CUWE (Citus unshiu water extract) on the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and tryptase was examined. In addition, a possible mechanism for the inhibition of trypsin-stimulated human leukemic mast cell-1 (HMC- 1 ) activation was determined. To do so, $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from the HMC-1 cells that were stimulated by trypsin (100 nM) in the presence or absence of CUWE $(10,\;100,\;and\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-PCR. The tryptase production was evaluated by reverse transcription-PCR. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation was analyzed by Western blot. Trypsin activity was measured by using Bz-DL-Arg-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) as substrate. Results showed that the CUWE inhibited production of both $TNF-{\alpha}$ and tryptase from the trypsin-stimulated HMC-1 in a dose-dependent manner. The CUWE a1so inhibited the ERK phosphorylation and trysin activity. These results indicate that the CUWE had an inhibitory effect on $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the tryptase productions by blocking the ERK phosphorylation and trypsin activity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2023

Inflammation plays an important role in immune system's response to tissue injury and biological stimuli. However, excessive inflammation can cause tissue damage. Therefore, the development of naturally derived anti-inflammatory agents have received broad attention. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Rubi Fructus (RF) extract on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory response. To determine the regulatory mechanism of RF in inflammatory reaction, we evaluated the effects of RF on secretion of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and caspase-1 in activated human mast cells-1 (HMC-1). The results showed that RF attenuated IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, RF significantly attenuated caspase-1and NF-κB activation in activated HMC-1. Conclusively, the present results provide evidence that RF may be a promising agent for anti-inflammatory therapy.