• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.32-44
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• 2002

Objective: In this study, we investigated the effects of Rhizoma Cimicifugae (RC) on the induction of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: We examined whether RC have an antipyretic effect by inhibition of COX and/or NOS in fever that is evoked by an intraperitoneal injection of LPS in rats. Results: 1. RC inhibited NO metabolites produced by activated murine macrophage in a dose-dependent manner. 2. RC had an antipyretic effect in a dose-dependent manner in LPS-induced fever. 3. RC inhibited levels of both COX-2 protein and iNOS protein increased by the treatment of LPS in brain tissues as well as brain blood vessels. 4. There were no changes in proteins of nNOS/COX-1. Conclusions: RC has an antipyretic effect by attenuating the level of iNOS and COX-2 protein.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2003

The effects of soy-isoflavones, which are phytoestrogens derived from plants with a flavonoid structure, on cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) expression, PGE2 production, and mapkinases expression, were investigated in experimentally-induced atherogenic rats by feeding a high fat-high cholesterol diet. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized; sham-operated animals were used as controls. Three weeks later, the animals were randomized to the following treatments for an eight-week experimental period: 17$\beta$-estradiol (200$\mu$ g/kg diet), low concentration of isoflavones (0.8g/kg diet), and high concentration of isoflavones (4.0g/kg diet). In the group supplemented with a high dose of isoflavones, COX-2 expression was down-regulated. This down-regulation was accompanied by a reduced expression of pERK1/2. In the second experiment using 48-week old female Sprague-Dawly rats, the effects of isoflavones and estrogen were compared in the basal estrogen-supplementation at the level of 600$\mu$ g/kg diet. Isoflavones induced the marked down-regulation of COX-2 protein and the decrease in $PGE_2$ production in estrogen supplemented states and this was followed by the down-regulation of p38 among mapkinases. The two different mapkinases are involved in the down-regulation of COX-2 depending on estrogen-deficient and estrogen supplemented states. This kind of COX-2 down-regulation by isoflavones was not observed in the different tissue, mammary glands. Further investigations on the relationship between COX-2 and biological activities such as vasodilation by isoflavonesin the absence or the presence of estrogen ave required in vivo system of female rats.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2014

Aspirin has been demonstrated to be effective in inhibiting COX-2 and $PGE_2$ in Alveolar macrophages (AMs). However, the mechanisms have not been fully understood. In the present study, we found that pretreatment with aspirin inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 and$PGE_2$ upregulation, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the increase of PKC activity, but elevated LPS-induced the decrease of PTP activity. The PKC inhibitor calphostin C dramatically reduced the COX-2 mRNA and $PGE_2$ levels, but the PTP inhibitor peroxovanadium (POV) significantly increased the COX-2 mRNA and$PGE_2$ levels. Furthermore, the PTP inhibitor mitigated the inhibitory effect of aspirin on COX-2 and$PGE_2$ upregulation and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, whereas the PKC inhibitor enhanced the inhibitory effects of aspirin on the production of COX-2 and$PGE_2$. Our data indicate a novel mechanism by which aspirin acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent in alveolus macrophages and ALI.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.151-157
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• 2012

Purpose: Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme catalyzes the production of prostaglandins, which are important mediators of tissue destruction in periodontitis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of $COX_2$ enzyme have been associated with increasing susceptibility to inflammatory diseases. The present study evaluates the association of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in $COX_2$ gene (-1195G>A and $8_{473}$C>T) with chronic periodontitis in North Indians. Methods: Both SNPs and their haplotypes were used to explore the associations between $COX_2$ polymorphisms and chronic periodontitis in 56 patients and 60 controls. Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed for association analysis. Results: By the individual genotype analysis, mutant genotypes (GA and AA) of $COX_2$-1195 showed more than a two fold risk (odds ratio [OR]>2) and $COX_2$ $8_{473}$ (TC and CC) showed a reduced risk for the disease, but the findings were not statistically significant. Haplotype analysis showed that the frequency of the haplotype AT was higher in the case group and a significant association was found for haplotype AT (OR, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 3.11; P=0.0370) indicating an association between the AT haplotype of $COX_2$ gene SNPs and chronic periodontitis. Conclusions: Individual genotypes of both the SNPs were not associated while haplotype AT was found to be associated with chronic periodontitis in North Indians.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.254-259
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• 2004

Jeongshin-tang (JST) is a Korean herbal prescription, which has been successfully applied for the various neuronal diseases. However, it's effect remains unknown in experimental models. To investigate the biological effect of JST in Alzheimer's disease (AD) in vitro model, we analized the production of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in IL-1β plus β-amyloid [25-35] fragment (A)-stimulated human astrocytoma cell line U373MG. JST alone had no effect on the cell viability. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with JST (1mg/㎖) on IL-1β plus A-stimulated U373MG cells. Maximal inhibition rate of IL-6 and IL-8 production by JST was about 41.22% (P<0.01) and 34.45% (P<0.05), respectively. The expression level of COX-2 protein was up-regulated by IL-1β plus A but the increased level of COX-2 was inhibited by pretreatment with JST (1 mg/㎖). These data indicate that JST has a regulatory effect on cytokine production and COX-2 expression, which might explain it's beneficial effect in the treatment of AD.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-21
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• 2001

The influence of electroacupuncture (EA), a traditional Chinese medical treatment, on type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was examined in DBA/1J mice in vivo. Mice were immunized intradermally twice at the 3-week interval with bovine type Ⅱ collagen(C Ⅱ). EA stimulation, begun on the 21 simultaneously with the second immunization, was applied at the acupoint equivalent to GV4 three times a week for 3 weeks. The results showed that EA delayed the onset, attenuated the severity of arthritis, and reduced the anti-collagen antibody level. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of EA on the productions of endogenous $interleukin-1{\Beta}$ (IL-1 beta) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and the levels of IL-1 beta mRNA in splenocytes and synovial tissues from C Ⅱ immunized mice on the 45 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages of normal mice by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). EA stimulation significant inhibited the concentrations of splenic endogenous IL-1 beta and serum PGE2. The expression of IL-1 beta mRNA in spleen cells was obviously down-regulated and that in synovial tissues was modestly affected by EA. COX-2 mRNA was highly expressed in cultured peritoneal macrophages when stimulated with LPS. Previous treatment with EA also reduced LPS-stimulated induction of COX-2 mRNA. These data suggest that EA has an inhibitory effect on murine CIA, and the partial mechanism of its therapeutic result may be attributed to inhibiting the productions of IL-1 beta and PGE2 by suppression the IL-1 beta and COX-2 gene activations.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.201.2-201.2
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• 2001

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.4067-4070
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• 2014

Background: The Chinese Hui ethnic group has diverse origins, including Arab, Persian, Central Asian, and Mongol. The standardized mortality rate of gastric cancer in the Hui population is higher than the overall Chinese population. In this study, we investigated whether COX-2-765G>C polymorphism, an extensively studied polymorphism, contributes to gastric cancer and its precursor lesions (GPL) in the Chinese Hui ethnic group. Materials and Methods: COX-2-765G>C polymorphism was determined by pyrosequencing in 100 gastric cancer cases, 102 gastric cancerand its precursor lesions cases and 105 controls. Data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Results: Among the Chinese Hui ethnic group COX-2-765 C allele carriers were at increased risk for gastric cancer (OR=1.977, 95%CI=1.104-3.541). We also found an interaction between COX-2 -765 C carriers and Helicobacter pylori infection and eating pickled vegetables. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a multi-step process of gene-environment interaction contributes to gastric carcinogenesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.418-425
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• 2016

We measured anti-nociceptive activity of prim-o-glucosylcimifugin (POG), a molecule from Saposhnikovia divaricate (Turcz) Schischk. Anti-nociceptive or anti-inflammatory effects of POG on a formalin-induced tonic nociceptive response and a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) inoculation-induced rat arthritis pain model were studied. Single subcutaneous injections of POG produced potent anti-nociception in both models that was comparable to indomethacin analgesia. Anti-nociceptive activity of POG was dose-dependent, maximally reducing pain 56.6% with an $ED_{50}$ of 1.6 mg. Rats given POG over time did not develop tolerance. POG also time-dependently reduced serum TNF${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in arthritic rats and both POG and indomethacin reduced spinal prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$). Like indomethacin which inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity, POG dose-dependently decreased spinal COX-2 content in arthritic rats. Additionally, POG, and its metabolite cimifugin, downregulated COX-2 expression in vitro. Thus, POG produced potent anti-nociception by downregulating spinal COX-2 expression.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2010

Background: There have been several reports describing the capability of ginseng extracts as an adjuvant. In this study, we tested if ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng, was effective in enhancing antibody response to orally delivered Salmonella antigen. Methods: Ginsan was treated before oral salmonella antigen administration. Salmonella specific antibody was determined by ELISA. mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Cell migration was determined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. COX expression was detected by western blot. Results: Ginsan treatment before oral Salmonella antigen delivery significantly increased both secretory and serum antibody production. Ginsan increased the expression of COX in the Peyer's patches. Various genes were screened and we found that CCL3 mRNA expression was increased in the Peyer's patch. Ginsan increased dendritic cells in the Peyer's patch and newly migrated dendritic cells were mostly found in the subepithelial dome region. When COX inhibitors were treated, the expression of CCL3 was reduced. COX inhibitor also antagonized both the migration of dendritic cells and the humoral immune response against oral Salmonella antigen. Conclusion: Ginsan effectively enhances the humoral immune response to orally delivered antigen, mediated by CCL3 via COX. Ginsan may serve as a potent vaccine suppliment for oral immunization.