• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.203-215
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• 2021

Bok choy is one of Brassica vegetables widely consumed worldwide. Brassica vegetables have been reported to exert various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-cancer and cardioprotective activity. However, studies on immunostimulatory activity of bok choy sprout have not been conducted properly. Thus, in this study, we investigated in vitro immunostimulatory activity of bok choy sprout extract (BCS) using mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Our results showed that BCS increased the production of immunomodulators such as NO, iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and MCP-1, and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. BCS activated MAPK, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. However, BCS-mediated production of immunomodulators was dependent on JNK, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. the mRNA expression of TLR2 were significantly increased by BCS, TLR2 inhibition by anti-TLR2 dramatically suppressed the production of immunomodulators by BCS. In addition, TLR2 inhibition by anti-TLR2 significantly reduced BCS-mediated phosphorylation level of AKT, JNK and NF-κB. From these results, BCS may have immunostimulatory activity via TLR2-MAPK, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Therefore, BCS expected to be used as a potential immune-enhancing agent.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.18.1-18.15
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• 2023

It has been reported that some exercise could enhance the anti-viral antibody titers after vaccination including influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines. We developed SAT-008, a novel digital device, consists of physical activities and activities related to the autonomic nervous system. We assessed the feasibility of SAT-008 to boost host immunity after an influenza vaccination by a randomized, open-label, and controlled study on adults administered influenza vaccines in the previous year. Among 32 participants, the SAT-008 showed a significant increase in the anti-influenza antibody titers assessed by hemagglutination-inhibition test against antigen subtype B Yamagata lineage after 4 wk of vaccination and subtype B Victoria lineage after 12 wk (p<0.05). There was no difference in the antibody titers against subtype "A." The SAT-008 also showed significant increase in the plasma cytokine levels of IL-10, IL-1β, and IL-6 at weeks 4 and 12 after the vaccination (p<0.05). A new approach using the digital device may boost host immunity against virus via vaccine adjuvant-like effects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.843-848
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• 2020

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside-Rp1 (G-Rp1) on the ionizing radiation (IR)-induced response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and its effects on the malignancy of tumor cells. G-Rp1 inhibited the activation of IR-induced DNA damage-related signaling molecules and thereby interfered with the IR-increased production of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL)-1β. The inhibitory effect of G-Rp1 increased the survival rate of mice inoculated with CT26 colon cancer cells by suppressing the phenotypic variation of tumor cells induced by conditioned medium obtained from IR- and LPS-treated J774A.1 macrophages.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.343-351
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• 2019

Background: Preterm labor and miscarriage may occur in stressful situations, such as a surgical operation or infection during pregnancy. Pharyngeal and buccal abscess and facial bone fractures are inevitable dental surgeries in pregnant patients. Remifentanil is an opioid analgesic that is commonly used for general anesthesia and sedation. Nonetheless, no study has investigated the effects of remifentanil on amniotic epithelial cells. This study evaluated the effects of remifentanil on the factors related to uterine contraction and its mechanism of action on amniotic epithelial cells. Methods: Amniotic epithelial cells were preconditioned at various concentrations of remifentanil for 1 h, followed by 24-h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. MTT assays were performed to assess the cell viability in each group. The effects of remifentanil on factors related to uterine contractions in amniotic epithelial cells were assessed using a nitric oxide (NO) assay, western blot examinations of the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), and RT-PCR examinations of the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results: Remifentanil did not affect viability and nitric oxide production of amniotic epithelial cells. Western blot analysis revealed that remifentanil preconditioning resulted in decreased expressions of NF-κB and PGE2 in the cells in LPS-induced inflammation, and a tendency of decreased COX2 expression. The results were statistically significant only at high concentration. RT-PCR revealed reduced expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α. Conclusions: Preconditioning with remifentanil does not affect the viability of amniotic epithelial cells but reduces the expression of factors related to uterine contractions in situations where cell inflammation is induced by LPS, which is an important inducer of preterm labor. These findings provide evidence that remifentanil may inhibit preterm labor in clinical settings.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2022

We examined the anti-inflammatory properties of Nostoc commune HCW0811 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of HCW0811 on viability of treated cells was assessed by measuring the level of expression of NO, prostaglandin E₂ and pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in HCW0811 treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. HCW0811 was non-toxic to cells and inhibited the production of cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition its treatment suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner, and concomitantly decreased the protein expressions of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, the levels of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase family proteins such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and nuclear factor kappa B were reduced by HCW0811. These findings suggest that the HCW0811 collected from Daejeon National Cemetery have anti-inflammatory effects, and demonstrated its efficacy in cell-based in vitro assays.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.533-540
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• 2023

Sweroside is a natural monoterpene derived from Swertia pseudochinensis Hara. Recently, studies have shown that sweroside exhibits a variety of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic effects. However, its role and mechanisms in high glucose (HG)-induced renal injury remain unclear. Herein, we established a renal injury model in vitro by inducing human renal tubular epithelial cell (HK-2 cells) injury by HG. Then, the effects of sweroside on HK-2 cell activity, inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) were observed. As a result, sweroside treatment ameliorated the viability, inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and VCAM-1), reduced the generation of ROS, and inhibited EMT in HK-2 cells. Moreover, the protein expression of SIRT1 was increased and the acetylation of p65 NF-kB was decreased in HK-2 cells with sweroside treatment. More importantly, EX527, an inhibitor of SIRT1, that inactivated SIRT1, abolished the improvement effects of sweroside on HK-2 cells. Our findings suggested that sweroside may mitigate HG-caused injury in HK-2 cells by promoting SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of p65 NF-kB.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.410-418
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• 2021

Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis through cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI), vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and flagellin as pathogen-related molecular patterns (PAMPs), which, in combination with the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of host cells promotes the expression and secretion of inflammation-causing cytokines and activates innate immune responses such as inflammasomes. To identify useful compounds against H. pylori-associated gastric disorders, the effect of chalcone derivatives to activate the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was examined in an H. pylori-infected human monocytic THP-1 cell line in this study. Among the five synthetic structurally-related chalcone derivatives examined, 2'-hydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxychalcone (8) and 2'-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethoxychalcone (12) strongly blocked the NLRP3 inflammasome in H. pylori-infected THP-1 cells. At 10 μM, these compounds inhibited the production of active IL-1β, IL-18, and caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization, but did not affect the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, and pro-caspase-1. The interruption of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by these compounds was found to be mediated via the inhibition of the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4)/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway. These compounds also inhibited caspase-4 production associated with non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation. These results show for the first time that certain chalcones could interrupt the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in H. pylori-infected THP-1 cells. Therefore, these chalcones may be helpful in alleviating H. pylori-related inflammatory disorders including chronic gastritis.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 1999

The complex [Ni(L)](ClO4)2 (1) (L=2,13-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,01.1807.12]docosane) has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. (1) crystallizes in the triclinic, space group P, with a=10.948(2), b=10.948(2), c=14.911(4) , α=93.73(2), β=93.77(2), γ=99.29(2)o, V=1754.8(7) 3, Z=2, R1(wR2) for 5217 observed reflections of [I>2σ(I)] was 0.048(0.099). The coordination environment around nickel(II) ion shows a distorted octahedron with four secondary and tertially amines of the macrocycle and two nitrogen atoms of pyridylmethyl groups.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2016

We examined whether apigenin affects the gene expression, secretion and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in primary cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes, as well as in vivo production of MMP-3 in the knee joint of rat to evaluate the potential chondroprotective effects of apigenin. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were cultured in a monolayer, and reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$)-induced expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS-4), and ADAMTS-5. In rabbit articular chondrocytes, the effects of apigenin on IL-$1{\beta}$-induced secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 were investigated using western blot analysis and casein zymography, respectively. The effect of apigenin on MMP-3 protein production was also examined in vivo. In rabbit articular chondrocytes, apigenin inhibited the gene expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5. Furthermore, apigenin inhibited the secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 in vitro, and inhibited production of MMP-3 protein in vivo. These results suggest that apigenin can regulate the gene expression, secretion, and activity of MMP-3, by directly acting on articular chondrocytes.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.359-365
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of dietary multi-carbohydrases (MCS) in a lactating sow diet on productive performance and immune responses of sows and their piglets. A total of 12 sows (218.37 ± 5.5 kg BW; 2 parity) were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments: a diet based on corn-soybean meal (CON) and CON with 0.01% MCS. The MCS contained xylanase (2,700 units/g), β-glucanase (700 units/g), and cellulase (800 units/g). Sows were fed the dietary treatments for 28 days (weaning) after farrowing. Blood samples were collected from sows on d 0, 3, and 7 after farrowing and randomly selected 2 nursing piglets in each sow on d 3, 7, and 14 after birth. Measurements were productive performance of sows, frequency of diarrhea of piglets, and immune responses of sows and their piglets. Sows fed MCS had lower (p < 0.05) their body weight change than those fed CON. Piglets from sows fed MCS had higher (p < 0.05) average weight gain and body weight at weaning day and lower (p < 0.10) frequency of diarrhea than those from sows fed CON. Sows fed MCS had lower number of white blood cells (WBC) on d 3 (p < 0.05) and TGF-β1 on d 7 (p < 0.10) during lactation than those fed CON. Similarly, piglets from sows fed MCS had also lower (p < 0.05) number of WBC on d 3 and d 7 and TGF-β1 and C-reactive protein on d 7 during lactation than those from sows fed CON. In addition, piglets from sows fed MCS had higher (p < 0.10) immunoglobulin G and M on d 7 during lactation those from sows fed CON. In conclusion, addition of dietary MCS in the lactating sow diet based on corn and soybean meal improved productive performance of sows and their litters and modulated their immune responses.