• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.221-228
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• 2006

A lectin was purified from Serrognathus platymelus castanicolor larvae and named as SPL. The purification was carried out by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50 and gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-200. The purity of the protein was verified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the purified lectin agglutinated erythrocytes of rabbit and human A, B, O, AB. SPL was tested it's ability to enhance the expressions of cytokines, $IL-1\alpha$, IL-2, IL-6, $TNF\alpha$ and $IFN\gamma$ by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from healthy donors. mRNA analyses were performed by RT-PCR at the moment of 1, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after stimulation of PBMC with purified SPL. The patterns of IL-2 band were slightly expressed from 24 h and the strongest band was appeared at 96 h. The expressions of $IL-1\alpha$ and IL-6 mRNA were strong from 1 to 8 h and those of $TNF\alpha$ were from 48 to 96 h. The mRNA encoding $IFN\gamma$ were not detected. The addition of SPL for macrophage cultures induced production of nitric oxide (NO) by cells in a dose-dependent manner. NO release was partially inhibited by $TNF\alpha$ antibodies. These results suggest that SPL has the ability to enhance cytokine expressions in PBMC and to induce the NO release by TNFa in macrophage cultures from PBMC cultures.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.60-73
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• 2009

Objective : Houttuyniae Herba is widely used in oriental medicine as a remedy for inflammation. However, as yet there is no clear explanation of how Houttuyniae Herba affects the production of inflammatory cytokine. This study was to determine the effects of Essence extracted from Houttuynia cordata Thunb(HCT) on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses. Method : We measured the amount of inflammatory cytokine production induced by the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore(A23187) in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) incubated with various concentrations of HCT. The TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 secreted protein levels were measured by the ELISA assay. The TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels were measured by the RT-PCR analysis. Nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins were exmined by Western blot analysis. The NF-$\kappa$B promoter activity was examined by a luciferase assay. Result : HCT inhibited the PMA + A23187-induced TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 expression and reduced mRNA of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8. we observed that HCT suppressed the induction of NF-B activity. In addition, HCT suppressed PMA plus A23187-induced NF-$\kappa$B promoting activity. Conclusion : In this study, we have found that HCT is an inhibitor of NF-$\kappa$B and cytokines on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2001

Objective : There are many reports that acupuncture has thermoregulatory effects on human and animals. To investigate the effect and mechanism of antipyretic action of acupuncture, we observed the body temperature and cytokine expressions in the hypothalamus of rats. Methods : Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, i.p., 2.5mg/kg) was injected to conscious rats (Sprague-Dawley, male, n=4l) to cause hyperthermia and simple needling (stainless steel, 0.25 mm o.d., 5 mm insertion for 10 sec with no manipulation) was performed bilaterally with the measurement of rectal temperature. Next, we sacrificed rats to remove brain and determined the level of mRNA for interleukin-6 (IL-6), $interleukin-1{\beta}{\;}(IL-1{\beta})$, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and $interferon-{\gamma}{\;}(IFN-{\gamma})$ in the hypothalamus by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Resul1s : Needling on forepaw (acupoint HT8) and needling on hindpaw (acupoint BL66 and acupoint LR2) significantly inhibited LPS-induced fever of rats (P<0.01, 10 min after treatment respectively), but same treatment on proximal tail (non-acupoint) did not cause any change on fever. The levels of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA in the hypothalamus was significantly enhanced by LPS-injection, while the level of IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA was markedly reduced after treatment on BL66 (P<0.01). Treatment on forepaw reduced it slightly, but not significantly. Equivalent stimulation on proximal tail did not cause any changes. Conclusions : Our results indicate that acupuncture stimulation on various body parts has differential thermoregulatory effects on LPS-induced fever of rats with site-specificity. And, we suggest that its antipyretic action might be accompanied with the suppression of hypothalamic production of pro-inflammatory cytokine of immune system, IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.13-30
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• 2005

Objective: Danguieumja-gagambang (DGEJGB), a traditional Korean prescription, has been used as therapeutics for allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we compared with regulatory Effect of Atopic Allergic Reaction by Prescriptions A and by Prescriptions B. Methods : To evaluate and compare the atopic allergic effectiveness of two prescription (A, B) of DGEJGB, the author investigated a possible effect of DGEJGB on mast cell-mediated allergic reaction, cytokine secretion and mRNA expression in vivo and in vitro. Results : Mast cells are a potent source of mediators that regulate the inflammatory response in allergic reaction. In mice orally administered A, B of DGEJGB ( 0.1, 0.1 and 1.0 g/kg) for 1 h, compound 48/80-induced ear swelling was significantly reduced. Significant reduced levels (P < 0.05). of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ was observed in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) with DGEJGB (A). IL-6 and IL-8 secretion were significantly inhibited by DGEJGB (A, B). In addition, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-8 mRNA expression were reduced by DGEJGB (A) at the dose of 0.01 mg/ml without cell toxicity. Conclusions : These results suggest that DGEJGB (A) contributes to the treatment of atopic allergic reactions rather than DGEJGB (B), and that its action may be due to inhibition of cytokine secretion and mRNA expression HMC-1.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-63
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• 2011

Objective : Atractyloides Chinensis Rhizome (ACR) is widely used in oriental medicine as a remedy for an inflammation and an allergic disease. However, as yet there is no clear explanation of how ACR affects the production of inflammatory cytokine. This study was to determine the effects of ACR on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses. Method : The amount of inflammatory cytokine production induced by the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore(A23187) in the human mast cell line (HMC-1) incubated with various concentrations of ACR was measured. The TNF-${\alpha}$ protein levels were analysised by Western blots. The TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 secreted protein levels were measured by the ELISA assay. The TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels were measured by the RT-PCR analysis. NF-${\kappa}$B, phospho-I${\kappa}$B and MAPKs were examined by Western blot analysis. The NF-${\kappa}$B promoter activity was examined by a luciferase assay. Results : 1. The expressions of TNF-${\alpha}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA were decreased dose-dependently at 0.05-0.2mg/$m\ell$ of ACR and significantly decreased at 0.2mg/$m\ell$. 2. The expressions of IL-6 and IL-6 mRNA were decreased dose-dependently at 0.05-0.2mg/$m\ell$ of ACR and significantly decreased at 0.2mg/$m\ell$. 3. The expressions of IL-8 and IL-8 mRNA were decreased dose-dependently at 0.05-0.2mg/$m\ell$ of ACR and significantly decreased at 0.2mg/$m\ell$ specially. 4. The expressions of Phosphorylated-JNK were decreased, not p38, ERK 5. The expressions of NF-${\kappa}$B were decreased dose-dependently at 0.1-0.2mg/$m\ell$ of ACR. The expressions of Phosphorylated I${\kappa}$B were significantly decreased at 0.2mg/$m\ell$. In addition, ACR suppressed PMA plus A23187-induced NF-${\kappa}$B promoting activity. Conclusion : It is suggested that ACR should suppress through inhibition of NF-${\kappa}$B activity and cytokine production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.569-577
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• 2013

Soy sauce is a traditional fermented seasoning in several oriental countries, such as Korea and Japan, and recently it has been reported to have biological activities. In Korean soy sauce, soybeans and wheat are the two main raw materials. Polysaccharides that originate from the cell wall of soybeans are resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis. These polysaccharides remain in the soy sauce even after fermentation and are termed Kanjang polysaccharides (KPS). In this study, polysaccharides were obtained from dialysate of different soy sauces labeled as A~T and manufactured by fermentation or the acid-hydrolyzate method. We investigated anti-inflammatory activities by examining the effects of these KPS on proinflammatory cytokine release and mRNA expression in mast cells. Histamine and ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release were strongly decreased by the KPS treatment in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment with KPS clearly reduced mRNA expression and the release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) in PMACI-stimulated HMC-1 cells. In particular, KPS derived from fermented Kanjang products showed a significant anti-inflammation effect on mast cells compared to the acid-hydrolyzed Kanjang products. This study suggests that KPS appear to be effective in suppressing allergic inflammatory reactions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.222-231
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• 2022

This study aimed to confirm the possibility of being used as a cosmetic material material through the verification of the whitening and anti-inflammatory activities of an ethyl acetate fraction from Glechoma hederacea var. longituba (GHEA). The observed electron donating and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging abilities of GHEA were 89.6% and 88.7%, respectively, at 1,000 ㎍/ml concentration, with a tyrosinase inhibitory effect of 22.3% at the same concentration. For cell viability, a rate of 80% or more was observed in all concentrations that treated GHEA on melanoma and macrophage cells. Protein and mRNA expression inhibition was measured by Western blot and RT-PCR for 25, 50, and 100 ㎍/ ml concentrations, and it was confirmed that expression decreases in a concentration-dependent manner as GHEA concentration increases. The inhibition of the whitening-related factors MITF and TRP-2 were superior following GHEA treatment than those of the control group treated with kojic acid of 100 ㎍/ml concentration. For tyrosinase, the lowest mRNA expression rate was 29.1% at 100 ㎍/ml which confirmed excellent inhibition. In analyzing the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α on protein and mRNA expression, IL-6 and TNF-α showed high protein and mRNA inhibition compared to a vitamin C control group. Based on these experimental results, GHEA could be applied as a natural cosmetic material.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.601-610
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• 1997

Background : Monocytes/macrophages play a central role in determining the host response during Gram-negative infection through secretion of a variety of mediators after stimulation of LPS. Even though cytokine production has been shown to play an important role in host defense during sepsis, cytokine release may also lead to tissue injury. Thus, regulation of macrophage response to LPS is critical for host survival during Gram-negative sepsis. In animals exposed to nonlethal doses of endotoxin, a characteristic hyporesponsiveness to subsequent administration of endotoxin has been observed. This phenomenon was known as 'LPS tolerance'. However, little information is available regarding the underlying mechanism of LPS tolerance. Method : Peripheral blood monocyte(PBMC) was isolated from peripheral blood of normal volunteers by adhesion purification method. To evaluate the conditions to obtain LPS tolerance, preculture was carried out with LPS at 10ng/ml for 24 hours. For stimulation, culture plates were washed two times and were stimulated with LPS at $1{\mu}g/ml$ for 4, 6 and 26 hours. To assess the underlying mechanisms of LPS tolerance, autologous serum, PMA, anti-CD14 Ab, Indomethacin or $PGF_2$ were added to preculture solution respectively. Cytokine concentrations in culture supernatants were measured using ELISA for TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-8 and mRNA of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-8 were determined by Northern blot analysis. Results : The exposure of PBMC to low dose of LPS suppressed the cytokine production and mRNA expression of TNF-$\alpha$, but not IL-8. Anti-CD14 Ab partially recovered production of TNF-$\alpha$ which was suppressed by preculture with low dose LPS. The preculture with PMA induces LPS tolerance, as preculture with low dose LPS. Conclusion : LPS tolerance to TNF-$\alpha$ is regulated pretranslationally and is influenced by protein kinase C pathway and CD14.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2004

Objectives : In order to investigate effects and immune improvement of distilled white-ginseng herbal extract, expression of Cox-1, Cox-2, and mRNA of Bcl-2 and Bax were analyzed in A549 cell in vivo. Survival time and expression of cytokine mRNA were measured for the mice with Sarcoma-180 induced abdominal cancer. Methods : Balb/c mouse was treated with distilled white-ginseng Herbal Acupuncture at Wisu($Bl_{21}$) and Chung-wan($CV_{12}$) to investigate anti-cancer effects and immune response. Results : 1. For expression of mRNA of Cox-1 using RT-PCR. the control group and the experiment groups show significant increase. For Cox-2, both experiment groups and the normal group showed significant decrease. For Bcl-2, experiment groups showed slight decrease compared to the control group. For Bax, no significant changes were shown between the control group and experiment groups 2. For survival time, all of experiment groups didn't show significant differences. 3. IL-2 productivity using Flow cytometry, experiment group I didn't show any significance, For II-4, all of experiment groups showed slight decrease compared to the control group. 4. For IL-2 productivity using ELISA, experiment group I showed slight decrease compared to the control group, experiment group II didn't show any significance. 5. For expression of cytokine mRNA using RT-PCR, significant increase of IL-2 and IL-4 were witnessed in experiment group I compared to the control group. Significant decrease of IL-10 was shonwn in all of experiment groups compared to the control group. Conclusion : According to the results, we can expect that distilled white-ginseng Herbal Acupuncture may be further effects in anti-cancer and immune improvement if increasing concentration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.286-293
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• 2010

Cytokine production is a sensitive indicator for monitoring perturbations of the immune system by xenobiotics in animals and humans. In the present study, we evaluated the changes in $IFN{\gamma}$, IL-5 and $TNF{\alpha}$ mRNA expression after atrazine (ATZ), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or zearalenone (ZEA) exposure in Jurkat cells. The IC50 (concentration for a 50% inhibition of cell proliferation) of PFOA and ZEA after 3 days culture were $226.6\;{\mu}M$ and $52.6\;{\mu}M$, respectively. The effects of ATZ on cytokine expression followed in increasing order of $IFN{\gamma}$>IL-5>$TNF{\alpha}$ at $3\;{\mu}M$ and at the lower concentrations the degree of effects on three cytokines were less clear between the cytokines when compared to control level. PFOA had marked increasing effect in order of $IFN{\gamma}$>$TNF{\alpha}$>IL-5 mRNA expression at IC50, and these patterns were continued at the lower concentrations, IC50/2 and IC50/4. ZEA caused the overexpression of cytokine mRNAs in order of IL-5>$IFN{\gamma}$>$TNF{\alpha}$ at both IC50 and IC50/2, and at IC50/4 the overexpression order was IL-5>$TNF{\alpha}$. On other hand, $IFN{\gamma}$ was less distinct compared to the control. These data indicate that ATZ, PFOA and ZEA caused the overtranscription of $IFN{\gamma}$, IL-5 and $TNF{\alpha}$ mRNA, and the overproduction of these cytokines may eventually lead to immune disorders.