• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.429-434
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the potential of Glechoma hederacea var. longituba 70% ethanol extract as a natural functional material by examining the anti-inflammatory effect of it. Macrophages results in (Raw 264.7) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Confirming the viability of the macrophages Glechoma hederacea var. longituba 70% ethanol extract showed a 95.8% survival rate at $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. Anti-inflammatory activity was examined the inhibitory tests on the production of LPS included nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells by Griess assay. The result showed that NO production deterrent effect of 37.4% at a concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/ml$. The deterrent effect of GG 70% ethanol extract on protein expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was measured by Western blotting using the concentrations 50, 100 and $500{\mu}g/ml$, with ${\beta}$-actin used as the positive control. The inhibitory effect of iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using 50, 100 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ concentration of GG 70% ethanol extract, with GAPDH used as the positive control. In experiments using Western blot and RT-PCR when compared with the control group vitamin C it was confirmed that the 70% ethanol extract from GG suppressed. When compiling the results of this study, we confirmed the possibility of GG 70% ethanol extract as an anti-inflammatory material.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.185-193
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• 2004

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which invades a wide range of hosts including humans. The exact mechanisms involved in its invasion are not fully understood. This study focused on the roles of $Ca^{2+}$ in host cell invasion and in T. gondii replication. We examined the invasion and replication of T. gondii pretreated with several calcium modulators, the conoid extrusion of tachyzoites. Calmodulin localization in T. gondii were observed using the immunogold method, and $Ca^{2+}$ levels in tachyzoites by confocal microscopy. In light microscopic observation, tachyzoites co-treated with A23187 and EGTA showed that host cell invasion and intracellular replication were decreased. The invasion of tachyzoites was slightly inhibited by the $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, bepridil and verapamil, and by the calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. We observed that calcium saline containing A23187 induced the extrusion of tachyzoite conoid. By immunoelectron microscopy, gold particles bound to anti-calmodulin or anti-actin mAb, were found to be localized on the anterior portion of tachyzoites. Remarkably reduced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was observed in tachyzoites treated with BAPTA/AM by confocal microscopy. These results suggest that host cell invasion and the intracellular replication of T. gondii tachyzoites are inhibited by the calcium ionophore, A23187, and by the extracellular calcium chelator, EGTA.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

Objective ： Lonicera japonica contains anti complementary polysaccharides and polyphenolic compound. Among these polyphenolic substances, chlorogenic acid is the major active component of this plant. However, the immunological mechanisms for these activities, have not been elucidated, nor the active components. To clarify immunomodulatory effects of those we examined the relationship between the activity of CD8+ T cell-mediated lysis and the frequency of cytokine profiles in spleen, thymus (especially IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, GM-CSF etc.) expressing CD8+ T cells activated by IL-2. Methods : To study immunomodulatory effects ethyl acetate fraction from Lonicera japonica, chlorogenic acid on cytokine gene expression from spleen, thymus cells, RT-PCR was performed after quantitative normalization for each gene by a densitometry using ${\beta}$-actin gene expression. A modified standard $^{51}Cr$-release assay was used to measure cytotoxic activities of cytotoxic T cells. Spleen, thymus cells from NOD mice were stained with CD3, CD4, CD44, CD69 in staining buffer and analyzed by two color flow cytometry. Results : We showed that ethyl acetate fraction from Lonicera japonica in combination with IL-2 resulted in a significant enhancement of PCR products for IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF, IL-6 and cytotoxtic CD8+ T cell proportion in spleen and thymus T cells in NOD mice. This suggests that IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-6 like IL-4 may be acting as a regulatory rather than proinflammatory cytokine. Conclusions : In conclusion, based on the results of the present study which showed that ethyl acetate fraction from Lonicera japonica and chlorogenic acid upregulating cytokine gene expression in spleen and thymus, we are tempted to speculate that some of the therapeutic efficacies such as anti-diabetic activity of Lonicera japonica are due to the immunomodulatory its ethylacetate fraction and chlorogenic acid.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2019

Background: Efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, in treatment of asthma have been reported. However, its effect on airway remodeling in chronic asthma of the elderly has not been clearly verified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tiotropium and expression of muscarinic receptors as its related mechanism in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma with airway remodeling. Methods: BALB/c female mice age 6 weeks, 9 and 15 months were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) for three months. Tiotropium bromide was administered during the challenge period. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and pulmonary inflammation were measured. Parameters of airway remodeling, and expression levels of $M_2$ and $M_3$ receptors were examined. Results: Total cell with eosinophils, increased in the OVA groups by age, was decreased significantly after treatment with tiotropium bromide, particularly in the age group of 15 months. AHR and levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were decreased, after tiotropium administration. In old aged group of 9- and 15-months-treated groups, hydroxyproline contents and levels of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin were attenuated. Tiotropium enhanced the expression of $M_2$ but decreased expression of $M_3$ in all aged groups of OVA. Conclusion: Tiotropium bromide had anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling effects in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma. Its effects seemed to be partly mediated by modulating expression $M_3$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors. Tiotropium may be a beneficial treatment option for the elderly with airway remodeling of chronic asthma.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2022

Objective: The impact of imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on ovarian follicles and several proteins related to follicular function and apoptosis was investigated in mice. Methods: Saline, cyclophosphamide (Cp; 50 or 75 mg/kg), or imatinib (7.5 or 15 mg/kg) was injected once intraperitoneally into female B6D2F1 mice (18 mice in each group). In multiple ovarian sections, the number of various types of follicles and the proportion of good-quality (G1) follicles were counted. The levels of six proteins (anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], BCL-xL, BAX, acid sphingomyelinase [A-SMase], caspase-3, and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) within the whole ovaries were quantified using Western blots. Results: Compared to the saline group, a significant reduction of the primordial follicle count was observed in the group treated with imatinib 7.5 and 15 mg/kg, as well as in the group treated with Cp 75 mg/kg. Administration of Cp significantly decreased the proportion of G1 primordial follicles, but administration of imatinib did not. No differences in the AMH, anti-apoptotic BCLX-L, pro-apoptotic BAX, and A-SMase levels in the ovarian tissues were observed among the five groups. However, caspase-3 and α-SMA levels were significantly higher in the imatinib and Cp groups than in the saline group. Conclusion: The administration of imatinib to mice significantly reduced the primordial follicle count and increased the protein levels of caspase-3 and α-SMA. Our findings suggest that imatinib potentially exerts ovarian toxicity via apoptotic processes, similarly to Cp.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2024

Hydroxychavicol, a primary active phenolic compound of betel leaves, previously inhibited bone loss in vivo by stimulating osteogenesis. However, the effect of hydroxychavicol on bone remodeling induced by osteoclasts is unknown. In this study, the anti-osteoclastogenic effects of hydroxychavicol and its mechanism were investigated in receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclasts. Hydroxychavicol reduced the number of tartrate resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated, F-actin ring formation and bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts differentiated from RAW264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, hydroxychavicol decreased the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, including cathepsin K, MMP-9, and dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP). For mechanistic studies, hydroxychavicol suppressed RANKL-induced expression of major transcription factors, including the nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1), c-Fos, and c-Jun. At the early stage of osteoclast differentiation, hydroxychavicol blocked the phosphorylation of NF-κB subunits (p65 and Iκβα). This blockade led to the decrease of nuclear translocation of p65 induced by RANKL. In addition, the anti-osteoclastogenic effect of hydroxychavicol was confirmed by the inhibition of TRAP-positive multinucleated differentiation from human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In conclusion, hydroxychavicol inhibits osteoclastogenesis by abrogating RANKL-induced NFATc1 expression by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.47-62
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• 2009

Glenditsia spina (GS) can resolve carbuncle, relive swelling, dispel wind and destroy parasites. For these reasons, GS has been widely used as dermatologic agent clinically. In this study, the specific pathways of anti-proliferative effect of GS on human derived melanoma cells were identified. The molecular profile was measured using microarray technique to identify up- or down-regulated genes in SK-MEL-2 cell line. Pathway analysis was done by listing percentage of pathway involvement, and the represented pathways were obtained from KEGG. The transcription factor binding sequences were obtained by Transfac database. By the promoter analysis, up-regulated genes by GS were mainly associated with MAPK, Regulation of actin cytoskeleton, Wnt, Focal adhesion and Long term potentiation pathway. Down-regulated genes by GS were mainly associated with MAPK and Antigen processing and presentation pathway. And some of the transcription factors like Sp1 and NF-Y in up-regulated genes and Oct-1 in down-regulated genes by GS also identified.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.194-196
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• 2006

A leiomyosarcoma that occurred in the right kidney with hepatic metastasis of a 15-year-old intact female Asian water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in a zoo, Republic of Korea. The animal showed no clinical signs. Grossly, a firm and white mass (6.0 x- 5.0- x 4.0 cm) was observed in the renal capsule and multiple firm white nodules, measuring 1.0-2.5 cm, were present on the surface of the liver. Microscopically, tumor cells were spindle-shaped, the cell density was high, and complex fasciculated tumor cells showing longitudinal and transverse cross-sections were observed. Tumor cell nuclei was ordinarily cigar shaped and had rounded blunt ends. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells reacted intensely with anti-smooth muscle actin antibody. This is the first case report of a renal leiomyosarcoma with hepatic metastasis in a Asian water buffalo.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.89-99
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• 2008

GPCRs are large families of cell surface receptors that transmit signals through conformational changes upon ligand activation and an interaction with the heterotrimeric G-proteins. GPCRs regulate the cell-signaling pathways and participate in the regulation of physiological processes through the G-proteins defined by their ${\alpha}$ subunits. A family of 20 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that provide a large class of tractable drug targets for new anti-inflammatory drugs and, in certain instances, for the treatment of the inflammatory indications such as atherosclerosis, rhinitis, asthma, pulmonary disease and arthritis. In view of the important findings showing that $G{\alpha}_{12}/G{\alpha}_{13}$ regulate the various cellular processes such as actin-stress fiber formation, neurite retraction, platelet aggregation, gene induction, and apoptosis, we became interested in whether, after coupling to the activated GPCRs, the G-proteins and their downstream molecules might be involved in the pathologic processes of chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., liver fibrosis). In this symposium, the possible link of the G-proteins with the pathophysiology will be discussed with the aim of finding potential new drug targets.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.288-293
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• 2007

The conversion of mitotic chromosome into interphase chromatin consists of at least two separate processes, the decondensation of the mitotic chromosome and the formation of the higher-order structure of interphase chromatin. Previously, we showed that depletion of BAF53 led to the expansion of chromosome territories and decompaction of the chromatin, suggesting that BAF53 plays an essential role in the formation of higher-order chromatin structure. We report here that BAF53 is associated with mitotic chromosomes during mitosis. Immunostaining with two different anti-BAF53 antibodies gave strong signals around the DNA of mitotic preparations of NIH3T3 cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). The immunofluorescent signals were located on the surface of mitotic chromosomes prepared by metaphase spread. BAF53 was also found in the mitotic chromosome fraction of sucrose gradients. Association of BAF53 with mitotic chromosomes would allow its rapid activation on the chromatin upon exit from mitosis.