• 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.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

Typha orientalis' stem (TOS) is traditionally used as an herbal medicine for difficulty in urination, galactophoritis purulenta, whooping cough, and allergic dermatitis. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. Here, we report the effect of TOS on the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187-induced inflammatory cytokine production and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation in the human mast cell line, HMC-1. TOS inhibited PMA plus A23187-induced cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) and interleukin (IL)-6. Maximal inhibition rate of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 production by TOS (1 mg/ml) was about 44.02%, and 45.20%, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, TOS inhibited the expression of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 mRNA under the same condition. Moreover, TOS partially blocked PMA plus A23187-induced ERK phosphorylation. These results suggested TOS could inhibit the cytokine production through blocking of ERK activity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.146-151
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• 2017

Objective: To identify differences in the expression of the genes for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR)-{\gamma}$, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ in granulosa cells (GCs) from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and controls undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. Methods: Nine patients with PCOS and six controls were enrolled in this study. On the day of oocyte retrieval, GCs were collected from pooled follicular fluid. Total mRNA was extracted from GCs. Reverse transcription was performed and gene expression levels were quantified by realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: There were no significant differences in age, body mass index, and total gonadotropin dose, except for the ratio of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone between the PCOS and control groups. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ and COX-2 mRNA was significantly downregulated in the GCs of PCOS women compared with controls (p= 0.034 and p= 0.018, respectively), but the expression of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA did not show significant differences. No significant correlation was detected between the expression of these mRNA sequences and clinical characteristics, including the number of retrieved oocytes, oocyte maturity, cleavage, or the good embryo rate. Positive correlations were found among the $PPAR-{\gamma}$, COX-2, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA levels. Conclusion: Our data may provide novel clues regarding ovarian GC dysfunction in PCOS, and indirectly provide evidence that the effect of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ agonists in PCOS might result from alterations in the ovarian follicular environment. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm these proposals.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.707-713
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• 2014

This study examined the inflammatory reaction effects of Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum in vivo at the time of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) shock in rats, and in vitro in cultured Raw 264.7 cells, with the aim of facilitating the development of a new anti-inflammatory medicine. Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and IL-10 in rats peaked 5 h after LPS treatment in all experimental groups, with those of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ being significantly lower in all animals treated with A. victorialis than in the control group at that time point. Conversely, the plasma concentration of IL-10 was higher in the rats treated with 300 mg/kg A. victorialis extract than in the control group at both 2 and 5 h after LPS treatment. Concentrations of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in the liver of rats treated with A. victorialis extract were significantly lower than those of the saline-treated control group. However, the liver concentrations of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10 did not vary significantly between the four animal groups. Similarly, concentrations of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ obtained from cultured Raw 264.7 macrophages were lower in all of the A.-victorialis-extract-treated groups than in the control group. Although the concentration of IL-10 in the A.-victorialis-extract-treated groups tended to be greater than in the control group, the differences between groups were not statistically significant. Together the findings of this study suggest that A. victorialis var. platyphyllum contains functional substances that are involved in inflammatory reactions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.513-523
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• 2017

Background: Korean Red Ginseng extracts (RGE) have been suggested as effective immune modulators, and we reported that ginsenosides possess anti-inflammasome properties. However, the properties of nonsaponin components of RGE have not been well studied. Methods: To assess the roles of nonsaponin fractions (NS) in NLRP3 inflammasome activation, we treated murine macrophages with or without first or second inflammasome activation signals with RGE, NS, or saponin fractions (SF). The first signal was nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$)-mediated transcription of pro-interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and NLRP3 while the second signal triggered assembly of inflammasome components, leading to IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation. In addition, we examined the role of NS in IL-6 production and IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation in mice. Results: NS induced IL-$1{\beta}$ and NLRP3 transcription via toll-like receptor 4 signaling, whereas SF blocked expression. During the second signal, SF attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation while NS did not. Further, NS-injected mice presented increased IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation and IL-6 production. Conclusion: SF and NS of RGE play differential roles in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Hence, RGE can be suggested as an NLRP3 inflammasome modulator.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.281-286
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• 2008

Although the interaction between gp130 and the ErbB family has frequently been shown in cancer cells, the mechanism of this interaction remains unclear and controversial. In the present study, we found that specific tyrphostin inhibitors of ErbB2 (AG825 and AG879), but not ErbB1 inhibitor (AG1478), suppressed IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 in schwannoma cells. However, biochemical evidence for transactivation of ErbB2 by IL-6 was not observed. Additionally, the inhibition of ErbB2 expression, with either a specific RNAi or transfection of an ErbB2 mutant lacking the intracellular domain did not inhibit the IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3. Thus, it seems that tyrphostins, which are known as specific inhibitors of the ErbB2 kinase, may have non-specific suppressive effects on the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.333-341
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• 2014

In this study, four compounds isolated from the red alga Laurencia snackeyi were evaluated for their potential anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Since $5{\beta}$-hydroxypalisadin B showed the best activity it was further tested for the production of prostaglandin-$E_2$ ($PGE_2$), expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). $5{\beta}$-Hydroxypalisadin B significantly reduced the $PGE_2$ release and suppressed the iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. It also significantly reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6. These findings provide the first evidence of anti-inflammatory potential of $5{\beta}$-hydroxypalisadin B isolated from the red alga L. snackeyi and hence, it could be exploited as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and functional food applications.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.115-119
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• 2018

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Daegangwhal-Tang (DGHT) hot aqueous extract on production of inflammatory mediators and antioxidants in RAW 264.7 macrophage. Methods: DGHT was extracted with water, filtered, concentrated and freeze-dried to perform. Cytotoxicity of DGHT extract was performed by MTT assay. Activated macrophages were treated with varying concentrations of DGHT extract (10, 50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$), and nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) concentrations were measured to detect anti-oxidative effects. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha($TNF-{\alpha}$) concentrations were also measured to detect inflammatory responses to DGHT Results: Cytotoxicity of DGHT extract at concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$ were not observed. NO production was significantly decreased in the DGHT hot aqueous extract $200{\mu}g/mL$ concentration group. $PGE_2$, IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was significantly decreased in the DGHT hot aqueous extract 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$ concentration groups. DGHT hot aqueous extract appeared to have DPPH free radical scavenging capability at all of concentrations, but did not exceed 50%. Conclusion: These results suggest that DGHT hot aqueous extract has concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effect.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2005

Objective : The effect of Ulmus davidiana Planch(UD), which has long been known to have anti-inflammation and protective effects on damaged tissue, inflammation and bone among other functions, on the development of type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats was studied. Methods : Male rats were immunized with an emulsion of $200\;{\mu}g$ of CII and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The rats were then given intraperitoneal stimulation of Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture(UDHA)or saline during the experiment. When compared with rats treated with saline as control, UDHA at doses of more than $20{\mu}g/100\;g$ rat once a day for 7 days inhibited the ability of inguinal lymph node cells to produce T cell cytokines interleukin-2, interleukin-6, $IFN-{\gamma}$ when the cells were obtained from rats 14 days after immunization and cultured in vitro with CII. Results : When rats were injected intraperitoneally, UD -treated group and control group rats did not differ significantly when low doses of UD was given to rats. Conclusion : The recommended dose of UD in the management and treatment of rat CIA will be more than $20{\mu}g/100\;g$, which is two-firth of human therapeutic dose. From the results, it was concluded that the effect of UDHA is dependent of dosage.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2012

Objectives : The gnarl of Pinus densiflora, called Songjeol in Korea, has been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases such as arthralgia, myalgia and bruise. However, the molecular actions and mechanisms have not been clearly investigated. The aim of this study was to clarify the anti-inflammatory activity of Pinus densiflora gnarl pharmacopuncture (PDGP) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Methods : Cytotoxicity was assessed by XTT assay. The amount of nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by nitrite assay. The mRNA expressions of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) generation was measured using the fluorescence microscopy. In addition, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and redox factor-1 (Ref-1) protein expressions were detected by Western blotting. Results : PDGP inhibited NO production and ROS generation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. At the mRNA level, PDGP suppressed IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and COX-2 expression. On the other hand, PDGP induced HO-1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, PDGP suppressed iNOS and Ref-1 protein expression. Conclusions : This result suggests that PDGP can act as a suppressor agent on NO and iNOS through induction of HO-1, and play an useful role in blocking inflammatory responses.