• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.530-535
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• 2005

Background and Aims : Cigarette smoking induces an inflammatory response in the airways, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the cytokines that plays an important role in inducing bronchial inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine if the level of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-6, is increased when the bronchial epithelial cells are exposed to a cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and an extract from stop smoking-aiding cigarettes, and examined the safety of these commercially available stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Method : Bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to CSE from cigarette and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes for 24 hours. ELISA was used to measure the IL-6 levels in the supernatant from each condition. The IL-6 mRNA levels were measured by Taqman Real time RT-PCR. N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC) was added to each condition to determine if NAC can inhibit the release of IL-6 from the bronchial epithelial cells when they are exposed to CSE from cigarette and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Result : When bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to a CSE from cigarettes and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes, each type of CSE stimulated IL-6 production from the bronchial epithelial cells. The IL-6 mRNA level in the Bronchial epithelial cells was also elevated and NAC was found to inhibit the release of IL-6 from bronchial epithelial cells when they were exposed to the CSE from cigarettes and stop smoking-aiding cigarettes. Conclusion : Commercially available stop smoking-aiding cigarette can induce bronchial inflammation and can be harmful to smokers. Therefore, the safety of these cigarettes for smoking cessation should be evaluated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.407-418
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• 2000

Background: With open heart surgery(OHS), it has been recognized that many postoperative complications and postperfusion syndrome are associated with the activations of complements and leulocytes. Recently, some investigators also demonstrated that interlukin-6(IL-6) linked highly with postperfusion syndrome. The puropose of this study was to investigate the sequential changes of the IL-6 and to clarify each IL-6 relationship to the complements(C3, C4) and inflammatory response following cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). Material and Method: To determine serum levels of IL-6, complements, leukocytes, and biochemistric markers of liver and renal function, blood samples were taken from th radial artery in 30 adult patients undergoing OHS with CPB. Result: Serum IL-6 levels incrased significantly at 10 minutes after CPB-on(CPB-10) in comparison with the control levels and reached the peak at CPB-off(p<0.05). Serum complement levels declined rapidly at CPB-10 and remained at the lower levels during CPB(p<0.01). Sequential changes of IL-6 levels had positive correlations with the changes of total leukocytes and neutrophil fractions(p<0.05), but had negative correlations with lymphocyte fractions(p<0.05). Changes of C3 related postively to monocyte fractions(p<0.05). Postoperative levels of total protein and albumin, decreased significantly in comparison with the control levels(p<0.01), while the postoperative levels of AST(aspartate transaminase) and bilirubin increased (p<0.01). At CPB-off, IL-6 levels had negative correlations with total protein and albumin levels(r=-0.60, -0.47 respectively, p<0.05), whereas C3 levels had positive correlations with albumin levels(r=0.40, p<0.05). IL-6 levels, as well as neutrophil fractions, had positive correlations with aortic clamp time(ACT) and total bypass time(TBT) (IL-6; r=0.82, 0.79 respectively, neutrophil fractions; r=0.50, 0.56 respectively, p<0.05), wheres lymphocyte frations and albumin levels had negative correlations whith ACT and TBT(lymphocyte fractions; r=-0.52, -0.58 respectively, albumin; r=-0.58, -0.55 respectively, p<0.05). Conclusion: These data showed that elevated production of serum IL-6 during CPB may play a pivotal role in systemic inflammatory responses and prologed CPB period may be assosiated with more sever postperfusion syndromes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.234-241
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• 2009

Purpose : We investigated the relationship between thyroid hormone and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL-6) and N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods : Serum levels of thyroid hormone, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and NT-proBNP were measured in 52 KD patients in the acute and subacute phase and 10 patients with acute febrile illness (control group). TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Echocardiography was performed to detect coronary artery lesions (CAL) in KD patients. Results : Low $T_3$ syndrome occurred in 63.5% of KD patients. $T_3$ in the acute phase of KD was lower than that in the control. In KD patients, $T_3$ was lowered in the acute phase and elevated in the subacute phase, whereas TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and NT-proBNP were elevated in the acute phase and decreased in the subacute phase. NT-proBNP, and IL-6 were higher in patients with low $T_3$ than in those with normal $T_3$. In addition, $T_3$ inversely correlated with IL-6 and NT-proBNP. Of the 4 patients with CAL, 3 had very low $T_3$. Compared with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-responsive patients, IVIG-resistant patients had lower $T_3$ and higher IL-6 and NT-proBNP. Conclusion : $T_3$ decreases in the acute phase of KD and normalizes in the subacute phase without thyroid hormone replacement. Low $T_3$ may be partially induced by IL-6 rather than TNF-${\alpha}$, and is strongly associated with high NT-proBNP. $T_3$ in KD may be used for the differential diagnosis, monitoring the activity of the disease, and predicting the severity of inflammation.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.69-89
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate anti-oxidant activities and anti-inflammatory effects of Sungyoutanggagambang(SYTG). Methods: In the study of anti-oxidant activities. SYTG was investigated by DPPH radical scavenger activity. superoxide dismutase activity and superoxide anion radical scavenger activity. In the study of anti-inflammatory effects. SYTG was investigated using cultured cells and murine models. As for the parameters of inflammation. levels of several inflammatory cytokines and chemical mediators which are known to be related to inflammation were measured in mouse lung fibroblast cells(mLFCs) and RAW264.7 cells. Results: Prior to the experiment. we investigated the security of SYTG by measuring GOT and GPT in serum. 1. SYTG showed high antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent degree by measured scavenging activity of DPPH free radical, superoxide dismutase and superoxide anion radical. 2. SYTG inhibited IL-1$\beta$, IL-6. TNF-$\alpha$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA expression as compared with the control group in a concentration-dependent degree in RAW264.7 cell line. 3. SYTG inhibited IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 production significantly at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ and TNF-$\alpha$ production significantly at 50, 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ as compared with the control group in RA W264.7 cell line. 4. SYTG inhibited IL-1$\beta$, and IL-6 production significantly as compared with the control group in serum of acute inflammation-induced mice. and decreased IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 production in spleen tissue. and also decreased IL-1$\beta$, IL-6 production in liver tissue. Conclusion: These results suggest that SYTG can be useful in treating diverse female diseases caused by inflammation such as endometrosis, myoma, pelvic congestion. chronic cervicitis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and so on.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1503-1508
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• 2005

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Squalene, Alkoxy Glycerol, Batyl and Chimyl solutions on the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- $\alpha$ ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells after treatment of C.albicans. The cytotoxic effects was evaluated by the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). All solutions did not affect on the LDH and NO production by itself. At 6th hour, the TNF- $\alpha$ and IL-6 production was not affected by each solutions. However, at 24th hour, the TNF- $\alpha$ and IL-6 production was affected by itself (p < 0.05). Each solution in the presence of C. albicans decreased the C. albicans-induced TNF- $\alpha$ and IL-6 production compared with C. albicans only (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). These results suggest that Squalene, Alkoxy Glycerol, Batyl and Chimyl solutions will increase the immune response on the C. albicans-induced damage.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2012

The anti-inflammatory effects of Undaria pinnatifida water extract (UPWE) were investigated using lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in this study. To examine the potential anti-inflammatory properties of UPWE, the cell proliferation, nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and IL-$1{\beta}$ were measured. As a result, there was no cytotoxicity in the macrophage proliferation treated with UPWE compared to the control. NO levels decreased with increasing concentration of UPWE. Moreover, the secretion of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ were suppressed in a dose-dependent manner, and IL-6 inhibition activities were over 50% at 0.1%. These results suggested that UPWE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic materials.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

Toxoplasma gondii provokes rapid and sustained nuclear translocation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) in HeLa cells. We observed activation of STAT6 as early as 2hr after infection with T. gondii by the nuclear translocation of fluorescence expressed from exogenously transfected pDsRed2-STAT6 plasmid and by the detection of phosphotyrosine-STAT6 in Western blot. STAT6 activation occurred only by infection with live tachyzoites but not by co-culture with killed tachyzoites or soluble T. gondii extracts. STAT6 phosphorylation was inhibited by small interfering RNA of STAT6 (siSTAT6). In view of the fact that STAT6 is a central mediator of IL-4 induced gene expression, activation of STAT6 by T. gondii infection resembles that infected host cells has been stimulated by IL-4 treatment. STAT1 was affected to increase the transcription and expression by the treatment of siSTAT6. STAT6 activation was not affected by any excess SOCS's whereas that with IL-4 was inhibited by SOCS-1 and SOCS-3. T. gondii infection induced Eotaxin-3 gene expression which was reduced by $IFN-{\gamma}$. These results demonstrate that T. gondii exploits host STAT6 to take away various harmful reactions by $IFN-{\gamma}$. This shows, for the first time, IL-4-like action by T. gondii infection modulates microbicidal action by $IFN-{\gamma}$ in infected cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.568-575
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• 2000

Background : Cytokines are chemical mediators that control and modulate many inflammatory processes. They work in different fashions in a variety of diseases. Discriminating between malignant effusion, tuberculous effusion, and parapneumonic effusion are crucial from the clinical view-point in Korea. In the current study, interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured for this purpose. Methods : Pleural fluids from patients with malignant disease, tuberculosis, parapneumonic effusion and lung empysema were collected and gauged using commercial ELISA kits. Results : 34 patients were enrolled in this study. Among these 15 cases were malignant effusions, 12 were tuberculosis pleurisy and 7 were parapneumonic effusion and lung empyema. The levels of cytokines measured in this study were as follows, in order of frequency, malignant effusion, tuberculous effusion, parapneumonic effusion and lung empyema. The levels of INF-${\gamma}$ were higher in tuberculous effusion than in malignant or parapneumonic effusion ($295.5{\pm}585.5$ vs. $16.7{\pm}50$ vs. $10.0{\pm}0$ pg/ml, p>0.05). The levels of IL-2R were higher in tuberculous effusion than in malignant or parapneumoruc effusion ($7423.5{\pm}3752.8$ vs. $3247.4{\pm}1713.3$ vs. $3790.2{\pm}3201.1$ pg/ml, p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the levels of IL-6 between the groups ($600{\pm}12.8$ pg/ml in malignant effusion, $556.4{\pm}161.7$ pg/ml in tuberculous effusion, $514.4{\pm}224.8$ pg/ml in parapneumoruc effusion). IL-10 levels were higher in parapneumoruc effusion than in malignant or tuberculous effusions ($98.4{\pm}141.7$ vs. $28.2{\pm}55.5$ vs. $11.3{\pm}11.7$ pg/ml, p<0.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that the measurement of IL-2R levels in pleural fluids may be a useful means of differentiating between tuberculous effusion and pleural effusions of other origins, and that the measurement of IL-10 levels in pleural fluids may be useful to differentiate between parapneumonic effusion and pleural effusions of other origins.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2000

Objectives : Acupuncture is expected to have somewhat like the efficacy parallel increasing activity of immune system in Western modem medicine. There, already, are many animal researches on activating effect of acupuncture for the immune system in peripheral organs. So, we carried out this experiment to see whether acupuncture has controlling effect on interleukin-6(IL-6) activity in rat's brain. Methods and Results : We had topical application of IL-6(1U=lpg, $10{\mu}l$) on brain of rat. It reduced afferent sensory transmission to the primary somatosensory(SI) cortex from periphery. Whereas, electrical stimulation(ES, 2Hz, 1.5V, 15min) of ST36(足三里) with application of IL-6 prominently activated afferent sensory transmission. ES of non-acupoint(proximal tail) with IL-6 showed suppression of afferent transmission. ES of ST36 without IL-6 application also exerted facilitation of afferent transmission to the SI cortex. Conclusions : Electoacupuncture(EA) on ST36 has noticeable influences on modulating activation of IL-6 in central nervous system, which do major role in immune system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5443-5447
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• 2014

The cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a relatively rare cancer worldwide but it is highly prevalent in Thailand where the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini is endemic. There are reports that interleukin 6 (IL-6) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of opisthorchiasis associated CCA. Functionally, IL-6 can act on target cells through its receptor, IL-6R, and IL-6R polymorphisms may affect the functional activity of IL-6 leading to susceptibility to cholangiocarcinogenesis. Therefore, we assessed the association of the 48892 A/C (Asp358Ala) polymorphism in exon 9 of the IL-6R gene in 79 CCA cases compared to 80 healthy controls using the PCR-RFLP technique. The results showed significant differences between CCA cases and controls in overall genotype (p=0.001) and allele frequencies (p=0.0002). Chi-square for trend test revealed a significant association between genotype and CCA susceptibility (p=0.0002). The odds ratios (ORs) for genotype were 0.283 (95% CI=0.131-0.605, AC vs. AA; p=0.0003) and 0.206 (95% CI=0.196-1.245, CC vs. AA; p=0.0416), the OR for alleles was 0.347 (95% CI=0.187-0.633, allele C vs. allele A; p=0.0002) and that for the carrier C variant was 0.272 (95% CI=0.130-0.564; p=0.0001). This study demonstrated a close association between an IL-6R polymorphism, specifically higher A allele, and cholangiocarcinoma.