• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1827-1828
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.382.1-382.1
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• 2002

Blood monocytes are the precursors for the lipid-laden foam cells of early atherosclerotic lesions. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a CC chemokine. and chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) playa crucial role in the recruitment of monocytes to the vascular lesion. Using the human monocyte THP-1 cell line. we investigated the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 127 medicinal herbs on MCP-1-induced chemotaxis. (omitted)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2007

Background: Although glucocorticoids (GCs) are effective in controlling asthma in the majority of patients, a subset of asthmatics fails to demonstrate a satisfactory response, even to systemic GC therapy. This population is referred to as being "steroid-resistant". The actual mechanism underlying steroid resistance in asthma remains to be elucidated. Methods: We have investigated how dexamethasone (DEX) regulates asthmatic phenotypes in a murine model of asthma, in which mice received i.p. immunization twice, followed by two bronchoprovocations with aerosolized OVA with a one-week interval, which we have recently described. Results: Pretreatment with DEX resulted in an inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in asthmatic lungs, and also inhibited bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) levels of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and CC chemokines [eotaxin and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1]. DEX was effective in suppressing airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) at 10 h, Th2-dependent asthmatic phenotypes such as airway eosinophilia, BAL levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13), and mucin production. However, DEX failed to suppress BAL levels of CXC chemokines [macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC)] and airway neutrophilia. Conclusion: Airway neutrophilia is among the phenomena observed in patients with severe GC-resistant asthma. This study will provide insight into the molecular basis for airway neutrophila seen in steroid-resistant asthma. Further studies are required to delineate the underlying mechanism of CXC chemokine expression in asthma.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Allergic inflammation is thought to be a Th2 cell-dominant immune response during which tissue-resident fibroblasts produce chemokines which contribute to the recruitment of migratory leukocytes to sites of tissue injury. Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC; CCL17) is a potent member of the CC chemokine family and a selective chemoattractant for Th2 cells. In order to study the regulatory profiles of TARC production by $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, and Il-4 in human normal skin fibroblast, CCD-986sk cell line was used. The expression of TARC protein was measured using ELISA, and mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR. The combination of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-4 induced a time-and dose-dependent synergistic increase in the expression of TARC at both protein and mRNA levels in the cultured human skin fibroblasts. Exposure of the cells to single cytokine had no effect on TARC expression. The high concentration (100 ng/ml) and long incubation time (72 h) of $IFN-{\gamma}$ further enhanced the TARC production induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$/lL-4 in the skin fibroblast. This synergistic effect of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines on TARC production by skin fibroblasts may contribute to the inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue damage with allergic inflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2007

It is well known that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is the most characterized humoral factor that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The water extract of the Korean herbal remedy, ZoaGumHwan (ZGH), which is composed of roots of Coptis chinensis Franch and fruits of Evodia officinalis Dode with the ratio of 6 to 1, reduced the in vitro oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL). Also, the ZGH extract and berberine, one of the major components of ZGH, significantly prevented oxLDL-induced adhesion of monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Furthermore, the ZGH water extract and berberine decreased oxLDL-induced expression of CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), a dominant monocyte chemotaxis receptor, in U937 human monocytic cells. The protective effects of the ZGH water extract and berberine were similar to those of simvastatin, an effective lipid-lowering drug. The results suggest that Korean herbal remedy, ZGH, seems to have protective effect against oxLDL-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1/CCR2-dependent monocyte recruitment onto endothelial cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.134-137
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• 2008

Atherosclerosis is characterized by a chronic inflammatory disease, and chemokines play an important role in both initiation and progression of atherosclerosis development. Leukotactin-1 (Lkn-1/CCLl5), a new member of the human CC chemokine family, is a potent chemoattractant for leukocytes. Our previous study has demonstrated that Lkn-1/CCL15 plays a role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, however, little is currently known whether Lkn-1/CCL15 is associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions playa crucial role in the progression of atherosclerosis by altering the vulnerability of plaque rupture. In the present study, we examined whether Lkn-1/CCLl5 modulates MMP-9 release, which is a prevalent form expressed by activated macrophages and foam cells. Human THP-1 monocytic cells and/or human peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC) were treated with phorbol myristate acetate to induce their differentiation into macrophages. Foam cells were prepared by the treatment of THP-1 macrophages with human oxidized LDL. The macrophages and foam cells were treated with Lkn-1/CCL15, and the levels of MMP-9 release were measured by Gelatin Zymography. Lkn-1/CCL15 significantly enhanced the levels of MMP-9 protein secretion from THP-1 monocytic cells-derived macrophages, human PBMC-derived macrophages, as well as macrophage-derived foam cell in a dose dependent manner. Our data suggest that the action of Lkn-1/CCL15 on macrophages and foam cells to release MMP-9 may contribute to plaque destabilization in the progression of atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.155-164
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• 2005

Objective : Chemokines are important for the recruitment of leukocytes, which is essential in host defense to the sites of infection. The thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is a CC chemokine which potentially plays a role via a paracrine mechanism in the development of allergic respiratory diseases. Methods : The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Herbal Acupuncture Solution (PHS) on the secretion of TARC of human bronchial epithelial cell. Methods : Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the secretion of TARC. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay. Results : PHS significantly inhibited the secretion of TARC with a dose-dependant manner. The effective dosage did not have the cytotoxicity on human bronchial epithelial cell by MTT assay. Conclusion : Results of our study imply that PHS would play an important role in modulation of TARC in Human bronchial epithelial cells.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.775-778
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• 2001

Chemokines are small chemotalic cytokines that have a number of biological functions. Some chemokines regulate the proliferation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells(HSPC). Leukotactin-l(Lkn-l) is a CC chemokine and is known to reduce colony forming unit(CFU). The N-terminal truncated Leukotactin-l(rtLkn-l), produced by Pichia pastoris, suppressed CFU from 40 to 60%. The rtLkn-l protected CFU from cytotoxic effect of anticancer drug such as Ara-C, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and 5-FU by cell cycle arrest.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.132-134
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• 2005

The CC chemokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), plays a crucial role in the initiation of atherosclerosis and has direct effects that promote angiogenesis. To develop a specific inhibitor for MCP-1-induced angiogenesis, we performed in vitro selection employing phage display random peptide libraries. Most of the selected peptides were found to be homologous to the second extracellular loops of CCR2 and CCR3. We synthesized the peptide encoding the homologous sequences of the receptors and tested its effect on the MCP-1 induced angiogenesis. Surface Plasmon Resonance measurements demonstrated specific binding of the peptide to MCP-1 but not to the other homologous protein, MCP-3. Flow cytometry revealed that the peptide inhibited the MCP-1 binding to THP-1 monocytes. Moreover, CAM and rat aortic ring assays showed that the peptide inhibited MCP-1 induced angiogenesis. Our observations indicate that the MCP-1-binding peptide exerts its anti-angiogenic effect by interfering with the interaction between MCP-1 and its receptor.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.3
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• pp.163-171
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• 2011

Recently published articles on interstitial lung disease (ILD) have focused on the accurate diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), serum biomarkers, acute exacerbation of IPF, the prognostic factors of ILD and the trial of new treatment. In particular, reports on the serum biomarkers such as CC-chemokine ligand 18, surfactant protein, circulating fibrocytes, and acute exacerbation of IPF are sufficient to be mentioned here. Pirfenidone therapy is the most important trial for the treatment of IPF. Other newer treatment trials such as interferon-gamma, sildenafil and imatinib have been reported to be unsuccessful. On the other hand, the sirolimus trial for lymphangioleiomyomatosis is promising. Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema and IgG4-related disease are established to be the new disease entities of ILD.