• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.768-773
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• 2002

Behcets disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder. The etiology and pathogenesis of Behcets disease has yet been fully elucidated but might involve immune dysfunction. Cytokines involved in the regulation of inflammatory reactions and immune responses may play a role in the pathogenesis of Behcets disease (BD). Onchungeum is an Oriental herbal medication, which has been successfully used in Korea for the treatment of BD. This report describes modulation effects of Onchungeum on cytokine production from phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Behcets patients by ELISA. Onchungeum significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. TNF-α and IL-1β, compared to absence of Onchungeum (by 52.3 1.4 % inhibition for TNF-α and 113.5 3.3 % for IL-1β, p < 0.001). Onchungeum also inhibited the production of IFN-γ, immunoregulatory Th1 cytokine, by 89.4 0.8 % (p < 0.001). The inhibitory effects of Onchungeum on cytokine production showed dose-dependent manner, and the pre-treatment of 1 mg/ml Onchungeum had better effects than immunosuppressive drug for treatment of BD, cyclosporin A. Our results suggest that Onchungeum treatment for Behcets disease patients may have pharmacologic activities and abilities of regulation of immune and inflammatory responses by cytokine modulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.220-231
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• 1992

We have performed 28 single lung transplantation in mongrel dogs transplanting the left lung exclusively from November 1989 to September 1991, in the department of thoracic surgery of Seoul National University Hospital. In the donor dogs, the main pulmonary artery was divided proximal to its bifurcation, and the left atrium was incised freeing the left veins with a generous atrial cuff. We used cold saline in the first 7 transplantations and Euro-Collins or modified Euro-Collins solution in the remaining 17 transplantations as a lung preservatives. The bronchus was divided at two cartilage rings proximal to the upper lobe bronchus take off. In the recipient procedure, we used a Fogarty catheter as a bronchus block. Left atrial anastomosis was performed first using 5-O prolene and the pulmonary artery was anastomosed using 6-O prolene. The bronchus was anastomosed next with 4-O vicryl interruptedly and covered with a greater omentum which had been prepared previously. All dogs received cyclosporin A and azathioprine as immunosuppressants and were divided into two group. In the 10 Group I dogs, they survived within 6 days, mean survival time was 66.8$\pm$53.4 hours. In remainder 14 Group lI dogs, they survived above 6 days, mean survival time was 9. 5$\pm$5.6 days. The cause of death were as follows: 2 cases of sacrifice, 2 cases of respiratory insufficiency during operation, 2 cases of arrhythmia immediate postoperatively, 2 cases of bleeding, others in Group I, and 6 cases of sacrifice, 4 cases of sepsis, 3 cases of bleeding, others in Group lI. Results of bronchoscopic findings were obstruction above 50% in 12 cases of 16 performance cases within 5th day. Early chest radiologic haziness were showed, and total lung perfusion defect was frequently showed in both group within 7th day. Main autopsy findings were left atrial and pulmonary arterial thrombi and bronchial obstruction The major histologic findings of Group I were pleural exudate, hemorrhagic infarct, pulmonary congestion, and interesting histologic findings of Group II were 3 cases of perivascular or peribronchial lymphocyte infiltration, 3 cases of hemorrhage infarct, 2 cases of interstitial pneumonitis. The structual change of bronchioles, suggesting bronchiolitis obliterans was not observed due to improper preparation of proximal pulmonary tissue and short term survival times.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2005

Recently increasing attention has been focused on solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) as a parenteral drug carrier due to its numerous advantages that can come from both polymeric particle and fat emulsions, together with the possibility of controlled release and increasing drug stability. Lipophilic drugs such as paclitaxel, cyclosporin A, and all-trans retinoic acid have been successfully entrapped in SLN but the incorporation of hydrophilic drugs in SLN is very limited because of their very low affinity to the lipid. Therefore, as a new approach to improve the loading of hydrophilic drugs, a w/o/w emulsion technique has been developed. The primary objective of the current study was to improve the loading efficiency of a model hydrophilic drug, glycine (Log P = -3.44) into SLN. The proposed preparation process is as follows: A heated aqueous phase consisting of 0.1 ml of glycine solution in water (100 mg/ml), and poloxamer 188 (5 mg) were then added to a molten oil phase containing precirol (100 mg) and lecithin (5 mg). This mixture was dispersed by sonicator, leading to a w/o emulsion. A double emulsion (w/o/w) was formed after the addition of 2% poloxamer solution to the above dispersed system. After cooling the double emulsion, solid lipid nanosuspensions were successfully formed. The lipid nanoparticles had the mean particle size of 441.25 nm, and the average zeta potential of -20.98 mV. The drug loading efficiency was measured to be 8.54% and the drug loading amount was measured to be 0.92%. The w/o/w emulsion method showed an increased loading efficiency compared to conventional o/w emulsion method.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.353-361
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• 2005

The interaction of cyclosporine A (CsA), an immunosuppressant, with rat brain Kv1.5 (Kv1.5) channels, which were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, was investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. CsA reversibly blocked Kv1.5 currents at +50 mV in a reversible concentrationdependent manner with an apparent $IC_{50}$ of 1.0μM. Other calcineurin inhibitors (cypermethrin, autoinhibitory peptide) had no effect on Kv1.5 and did not prevent the inhibitory effect of CsA. Fast application of CsA led to a rapid and reversible block of Kv1.5, and the onset time constants of the CsA-induced block were decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The CsA-induced block of Kv1.5 channels was voltage-dependent, with a steep increase over the voltage range of channel opening. However, the block exhibited voltage independence over the voltage range in which channels were fully activated. The rate constants for association and dissociation of CsA were $7.0{\mu}M{-1}s^{-1}$ and $8.1s^{-1}$, respectively. CsA slowed the deactivation time course, resulting in a tail crossover phenomenon. Block of Kv1.5 by CsA was use-dependent. CsA also blocked Kv1.3 currents at +50 mV in a reversible concentration-dependent manner with an apparent $IC_{50}$ of $1.1{\mu}M$. The same effects of CsA on Kv1.3 were also observed in excised inside-out patches when applied to the internal surface of the membrane. The present results suggest that CsA acts directly on Kv1.5 currents as an open-channel blocker, independently of the effects of CsA on calcineurin activity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.844-853
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• 1990

We have performed 27 cases of orthotopic homologous cardiac transplantation using Korean mongrel dogs and one case of sham operation for the evaluation of harmful effect of cardiopulmonary bypass itself on the dog from April, 1989 to June, 1990. Our previous reports have already demonstrated basal hemodynamic and hematologic data on the canine homologous heart transplantation and the fundamental principles of transplantation of the heart. The mean body weight of recipients was 13.2$\pm$1.2kg with a rage of 11 ~ 15kg, and the hemodynamic and hematologic pictures were almost same as the result of previous reports from our hospital, except marked decrease in postoperative platelet count[from 3.18 $\pm$0.80x106/mm3 to 1.41$\pm$0 37x 106/mm3]. Mean survival time was 24.82$\pm$49.40 hours with the longest survival of 264 hours. Donor cardiectomy included coronary vasodilatation with diltiazem, potassium arrest, and the rapid cooling of the heart suspending in the specially designed ice-bath. Median sternotomy provided excellent exposure of the surgical field. 6 \ulcorner0 prolene suture was used for the anastomosis of both atrial cuffs and the great arteries, and we found the fact that stenosis, bleeding, thrombus formation around the anastomotic site could be decreased with the use of everted horizontal mattress suture techniques. Immunosuppression was done with a combination of lower dose Cyclosporin-A, Azathioprine, methyl-prednisolone, but our cases still showed too short survival to worry about graft rejection. Still poor was our quality control of experimental animal, we had much difficulties in postmortem evaluation of the dogs. Low cardiac output due to biventricular failure, intractable supraventricular or ventricular tachyarrhythmia, postoperative massive bleeding, sepsis were most frequent findings that could be thought as a cause of death. A few cases showed subendocardial patch hemorrhage in both ventricular cavity or atrial septum at autopsy, suggesting acute subendocardial infarction. Although our team overcome most of the technical problems of orthotopic heart transplantation, we should pile up further knowledges about donor heart preservation, quality control of animal, infection, rejection, the effect of the cardiopulmonary bypass to improve the results.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2006

A streptomycete strain was isolated from the soil samples from Korea. The chemotaxonomy and 16S rDNA sequencing confirmed that the strain belonged to the genus Streptomyces and we named it Streptomyces sp. AO-0511. Two antibiotics, herbimycin A and dihydroherbimycin A produced by this strain were tested for their physico-chemical and biological characteristics. Both compounds were stable under acidic pH. Dihydroherbimycin A was more heat-stable and polar compared with herbimycin A. Only weak antibacterial activities were detected against Bacillus subtilus ATCC 6633 and Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341. However, herbimycin A and dihydroherbimycin A showed strong inhibitory activities on lung cancer cells (A549 cells) and leukemia cells (HL-60). The cytotoxicity was determined using L5178Y and P388 cell lines. The results showed that herbimycin A and dihydroherbimycin A had lower toxic effects on the cells compared with the standard compounds, comptothecin and cyclosporin A. Therefore, both compounds could be good candidates for the development of new anticancer drugs.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2013

Receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) is an essential cytokine for osteoclast differentiation, activation and survival. T lymphocytes such as $T_{17}$ cells, a subset of T helper cells that produce IL-17, play an important role in rheumatoid arthritic bone resorption by producing inflammatory cytokines and RANKL. It has not yet been clearly elucidated how T cell activation induces RANKL expression. T cell receptor activation induces the activation of nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) and expression of its target genes. In this study, we examined the role of NFAT in T cell activation-induced RANKL expression. EL-4, a murine T lymphocytic cell line, was used. When T cell activation was induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, RANKL expression increased in a time-dependent manner. In the presence of cyclosporin, an inhibitor of NFAT activation, this PMA/ionomycin-induced RANKL expression was blocked. Overexpression of either NFATc1 or NFATc3 induced RANKL expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation results demonstrated that PMA/ionomycin treatment induced the binding of NFATc1 and NFATc3 to the mouse RANKL gene promoter. These results suggest that NFATc1 and NFATc3 mediates T cell receptor activation-induced RANKL expression in T lymphocytes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.343-350
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• 2009

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-asthmatic effects of Samjajihwang-tang (SJT) using OVA-induced asthmatic mice model. Asthmatic mice model was conducted by repeated challenge of OVA using C57BL/6 mice. Each group was treated with distilled water, SJT (400 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) extract or cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg) for the later 8 weeks, Penh (plethysmography and enhanced pause), immune cells subpopulation, eotaxin, IL-5, TNF-${\alpha}$, Anti-OVA-lgE in BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage), and lung tissue was analyzed, No cytotoxicity of SJT was shown on hFCs (human fibroblast cells). Administration of SJT significantly decreased Penh levels comparing to control group. SJT treatment significantly ameliorated the increase of total cells number and eosinophil including of immune cell subpopulation of $CD3^+/CD69^+$, $CCR3^+$, $B220^+/CD22^+$, $B220^+/CD45^+$, and $B220^+/lgE^+$ cells in BALF comparing to control group. Eotaxin, IL-5, TNF-${\alpha}$, and Anti-OVA-lgE level in BALF were significantly decreased by SJT treatment too. Histopathological finding verified the improvement of infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen tissue in the SJT groups comparing to control group. These results strongly suggest that SJT would be a effective candidate for herbal-originated anti-asthmatic drug. However, this drug should be further studied for characterization of the accurate action and underlying mechanisms using variant disease model in the future.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.457-463
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• 2009

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-asthmatic effects of Seonpye-tang (SPT) using OVA-induced asthmatic mice model. Scavenging activity of SPT on DPPH free radical and SOD-like activity of SPT were measured at final concentration 62.5, 125, 250, 500 (${\mu}g/m{\ell}$), RBL-2H3 cells were treated with DNP IgE for 24hr, and treated with SPT (1, 10, 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$) for 1hr, followed by treatment with DNP-HSA for 1hr at $37^{\circ}C$. The level of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were measured by ELISA. Asthmatic mice model was conducted by repeated challenge of OVA using C57BL/6 mice. Each group was treated with distilled water, SPT (400 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) extract or cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg) for the later 8 weeks. Immune cells subpopulation, eotaxin, IL-5 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in BALF were analyzed. SPT dose-dependently increased Scavenging activity on DPPH free radical and SOD-like activity. SPT significantly ameliorated the increase of total cells number and eosinophil including of immune cell subpopulation of $CD3^+/CD69^+$, $CCR3^+$, $B220^+/CD22^+$, $B220^+/CD45^+$ and $B220^+/IgE^+$ cells in BALF comparing to control group. Eotaxin and IL-5 level in BALF were significantly decreased by SPT. These results strongly suggest that SPT would be a effective candidate for herbal-originated anti-asthmatic drug. However, this drug should be further studied for characterization of the accurate action and underlying mechanisms using variant disease model in the future.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1995

Free vascularized composite tissue transfer is more frequently underwent for reconstruction of complicated tissue defects with the recent advance of microsurgery. But postoperative result was not satifactory because of donor site morbidity, flap bulkiness and cosmetic problem. So would no longer be a problem if we can obtain the exact donor tissue required for the recipient site as allotransplantation and designing the flap. Allotransplantation has been resolved with the recent development of immunosuppressive agents, while reconstruction has made great progress with the refinement of microsurgical techniques in the last 20 years. The final sucess or failure of the operative procedure in transplantation is so utterly dependent no the availability of strategies that can control the immune system effectively, selectively, safely to allow allotransplantation of a nonvital body part. 1 used 2 strains of rats, BUF and LEW, for the limb allotransplantation as a composite tissue transfer. The primary goal of this program is to improve results in clinical transplantation by accelerating the transformation of new immunological knowledge into useful medicine. Two of the most promising new immunosuppressive compounds are FK-t06(FK) and rapamycin(RPM). Both drugs are antibiotic macrolide fungal fermentation products that presumably suppress the immune system in ways similar to cyclosporin(CyA). This study shows that two new immunosuppressive drugs compare the immunosuppressive activity and effectiveness of FK-506 and RPM for prevention of the limb allograft rejection in the rat. Additional experiments investigate the dose, route of administration and histologic findings. These data demonstrates that rapamycin is far more potent and effective than FK-506 when both compounds are administered by the intraperitoneal route, as well as prolonged graft survival significantly in a dose-route dependent manner. These results lead to the view that vascularized allograft composite tissue transfer can become a reality with the expectation of possible future application in reconstructive surgery of humans.