• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.665-671
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) on papain induced arthritis in C57BL/10 mice. The C57BL/10 mice were injected with papain and oral administration of Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) at different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) once a day for 42 days and compared with untreated mice. Histological examination and the measurement of inflammatory cytokine release were performed. The results showed that comparing with untreated mice, the treatment with Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) decreased the pathological changes of knee joint tissue. The level of inflammatory cytokine secreted from the tissues, such as IL-$1{\beta}$ (interleukin-$1{\beta}$), IL-6 (interleukin-6), TNF-${\alpha}$ (Tumor Necrosis Factor-${\alpha}$), were decreased. These results were confirmed by the quantification of cartilage volume using micro CT scanning. Consequently, Vigna angularis ethanol extract (VA-E) has a therapeutic potential in inflammatory joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2012

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease characterized by degradation of articular cartilage and its association with chronic pain. Purified Bee venom (PBV) has been traditionally used to the treatment for inflammatory diseases. The purpose of the current study is to examine whether PBV regulates the pro-inflammation against a mouse model of knee OA induced by papain. We studied the effect of PBV on papain-induced OA in the knee joints of mice. Mice were split into following groups: normal control, papain induced OA, OA treated with PBV, OA treated with meloxicam as positive control. Proteoglycan deposition was analyzed by safranin O-fast green staining and H&E staining. Papain injection significantly degraded the proteoglycan in OA mice at 42 days. Cartilage proteoglycan density was significantly higher in PBV treated OA group than those of the positive control groups. These results demonstrate that PBV efficiently suppresses pathological processes in an OA model. Thus, PBV could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OA.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2014

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent, with the ability to differentiate into different cell types. Additionally, the immunomodulatory activity of MSCs can downregulate inflammatory responses. The use of MSCs to repair injured tissues and treat inflammation, including in neuroimmune diseases, has been extensively explored. Although MSCs have emerged as a promising resource for the treatment of neuroimmune diseases, attempts to define the molecular properties of MSCs have been limited by the heterogeneity of MSC populations. We recently developed a new method, the subfractionation culturing method, to isolate homogeneous human clonal MSCs (hcMSCs). The hcMSCs were able to differentiate into fat, cartilage, bone, neuroglia, and liver cell types. In this study, to better understand the properties of neurally differentiated MSCs, gene expression in highly homogeneous hcMSCs was analyzed. Neural differentiation of hcMSCs was induced for 14 days. Thereafter, RNA and genomic DNA was isolated and subjected to microarray analysis and DNA methylation array analysis, respectively. We correlated the transcriptome of hcMSCs during neural differentiation with the DNA methylation status. Here, we describe and discuss the gene expression profile of neurally differentiated hcMSCs. These findings will expand our understanding of the molecular properties of MSCs and contribute to the development of cell therapy for neuroimmune diseases.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.8
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• 2014

Spa represents a treatment widely used in many rheumatic diseases (RD). The mechanisms by which immersion in mineral or thermal water ameliorates RD are not fully understood. The net benefit is probably the result of a combination of factors, among which the mechanical, thermal and chemical effects are most prominent. Buoyancy, immersion, resistance and temperature play important roles. According to the gate theory, pain relief may be due to the pressure and temperature of the water on skin; heat may reduce muscle spasm and increase the pain threshold. Mud-bath therapy increases plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels and secretion of corticotrophin, cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin. It has recently been demonstrated that thermal mud-bath therapy induces a reduction in circulating levels of prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, important mediators of inflammation and pain. Furthermore, balneotherapy has been found to cause an increase in insulin-like growth factor-1, which stimulates cartilage metabolism, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$. Beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-degenerative effects of mineral water were confirmed in chondrocytes cultures, too. Various studies in vitro and in humans have highlighted the positive action of mud-packs and thermal baths, especially sulphurous ones, on the oxidant/antioxidant system. Overall, thermal stress has an immunosuppressive effect. Many other non-specific factors may also contribute to the beneficial effects observed after spa therapy in some RD, including effects on cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. adipokines) and changes in the environment, pleasant surroundings and the absence of work duties.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.326-341
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that leads to the progressive destruction of articular cartilage. Current clinical therapeutic strategies are moderately effective at relieving OA-associated pain but cannot induce chondrocyte differentiation or achieve cartilage regeneration. We investigated the ability of wedelolactone, a biologically active natural product that occurs in Eclipta alba (false daisy), to promote chondrogenic differentiation. Methods and Results: Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining assays were used to evaluate the effects of wedelolactone on the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). RNA sequencing, microRNA (miRNA) sequencing, and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation analyses were performed to explore the mechanism by which wedelolactone promotes the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that wedelolactone facilitates the chondrogenic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs and rat bone-marrow MSCs. Moreover, the forkhead box O (FOXO) signaling pathway was upregulated by wedelolactone during chondrogenic differentiation, and a FOXO1 inhibitor attenuated the effect of wedelolactone on chondrocyte differentiation. We determined that wedelolactone reduces enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)-mediated histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation of the promoter region of FOXO1 to upregulate its transcription. Additionally, we found that wedelolactone represses miR-1271-5p expression, and that miR-1271-5p post-transcriptionally suppresses the expression of FOXO1 that is dependent on the binding of miR-1271-5p to the FOXO1 3'-untranscribed region. Conclusions: These results indicate that wedelolactone suppresses the activity of EZH2 to facilitate the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs by activating the FOXO1 signaling pathway. Wedelolactone may therefore improve cartilage regeneration in diseases characterized by inflammatory tissue destruction, such as OA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1841-1846
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• 2009

Menopause is often associated with the incidence of several chronic diseases including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective regimen that has been found to prevent these diseases in postmenopausal women. However, HRT is accompanied by an increased risk of unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ecklonia cava, a kind of seaweed, extract on bone turnover markers in symptomatic menopausal women. For this study, the following four groups of 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated over 6 weeks: normal rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON) and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extracts. The optimum extraction temperature and solvent of Ecklonia cava were found to be $80^{\circ}C$ and 80% ethanol. We measured the osteocalcin and CTx content, enzyme ALP activity in serum and collagen content in the cartilage, bone, skin and lungs. We found that the levels of indicators of bone metabolism such as ALP, osteocalcin and CTx were lower in rats in the Ecklonia cava extract group than the OVX-CON group. In addition, the collagen contents in the bone, cartilage, skin and lungs decreased in response to ovariectomy, but the levels of collagen were greater in the bone of rats that were treated with Ecklonia cava extract than in the bone of rats in the OVX-CON group. According to these results, we were able to know the effects of Ecklonia cava extract on bone aging in ovariectomized rats. Consequently, we expect Ecklonia cava extract to have an effect on bone aging in postmenopausal women.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.645-650
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• 2002

Extraosseous pulmonary chondrosarcoma is rare neoplasm, which is characterized into two groups. One is termed a primary chondrosarcoma, and arise de novo (bronchial cartilage), the other is termed a secondary chondrosarcoma, and is superimposed on preexisting benign cartilagenous neoplasms, such as a chondroma or hamartoma. The preferred treatment is surgical resection. We recently experienced a secondary chondrosarcoma changed from a hamartoma. A 54-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal chest X-ray with mild dyspnea. We performed a percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy and sputum examination. The abnormal mass had been diagnosed as a chondromatous hamartoma with active pulmonary tuberculosis, which had been treated with anti-tuberculosis regimens. Despite her medication, an abnormal mass had grown. Therefore, we undertook a pneumonectomy with chest wall reconstruction. Histopathologically, the mass was a grade II, dedifferenciated chondrosarcoma, with chronic granulomatous inflammation and necrosis. We suggest this case had changed from a chondromatous hamartoma to a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, with associated pulmonary tuberculosis. We report this case with a brief literature review.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.526-530
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• 2003

Bronchogenic cysts are generally presented as a well defined mass that have thin and smooth wall in the intrapulmonary or mediastinal area by simple chest radiographs. We present the case of a 20-year-old man with a ill-defined left upper lobe mass, found by chest radiographs. At the preoperative examinations, chest computed tomography showed ill-defined mass with Hounsfield Number 26, and nonspecific findings were shown by the bronchoscopy and percutaneous needle aspiration. The patient was undertaken the left upper lobectomy. The surgical specimen contained a ill-defined mass, measuring $2{\times}3$ cm. On the section of the mass, a cyst containing dark brown thick materials was noted. The cyst was unilocular, and the wall showed a trabeculation. Microscopically, the cystic mass was lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epitheliums and surrounded by smooth muscle and cartilage.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.455-458
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• 2015

Excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) is a disease entity of excessive reduction of the central airway diameter during exhalation, without cartilage collapse. An 80-year-old female presented with generalized edema and dyspnea at our hospital. The patient was in a state of acute decompensated heart failure due to pneumonia with respiratory failure. We accordingly managed the patient with renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation and antibiotics. Bronchoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of EDAC. We scheduled extubation after the improvement of pneumonia and heart condition. However, extubation failure occurred due to hypercapnic respiratory failure with poor expectoration. Her EDAC was improved in response to high flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNOT). Subsequently, the patient was stabilized and transferred to the general ward. HFNOT, which generates physiologic positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) effects, could be an alternative and effective management of EDAC. Further research and clinical trials are needed to demonstrate the therapeutic effect of HFNOT on EDAC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.84-90
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• 2000

The appearance of a tumor in the chest wall is rare compared to that in any other part of the body. It can be classified into benign and malignant types and can be located in the rib, clavicle, sternum, cartilage and soft tissues. Tumors that are metastatic are commonly located in the lung, breast, bone and pleura. But, the soft tissue mass of anterior chest wall is rarely metastasized from a distant organ that is not confined to the thoracic cavity. This and thus has rarely been described. A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of resting dyspnea. A huge non-tender mass of about $10{\times}15$ cm in size was visible on his left lower anterior chest wall. We pathologically confirmed that the mass was a metastatic renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type by incision biopsy. Through an incision biopsy, the mass was pathologically confirmed as a metastatic renal cell carcinoma of the clear cell type.