• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2017

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of MOK, a pharmacopuncture medicine, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Methods : Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from ICR mice. Primary macrophages were treated with MOK extract (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/ml) for 30 min and then stimulated with LPS ($1{\mu}g/ml$) for the indicated times. Cytotoxicity was measured using MTT and LDH assays. Nitric oxide (NO) production in culture supernatants was measured using the Griess assay. The mRNA expression of iNOS, COX-2, proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6) and antioxidant enzymes (HO-1 and MnSOD) was measured by RT-PCR. Results : Treatment with MOK extract (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/ml) significantly decreased LPS-induced NO production in peritoneal macrophages through inhibition of iNOS expression. The expression of COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 mRNA was also decreased in LPS-stimulated macrophages upon treatment with MOK extract. MOK treatment also increased the expression of HO-1 and MnSOD mRNA in macrophages. Conclusion : These results indicate that MOK exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by regulating the transcription levels of inflammatory mediators and antioxidant proteins in activated macrophages.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the anti-tumor metastasis by immunomodulating effects of extracts of Prunellae Spica. Methods: Antimetastatic experiment was conducted in vivo by using colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma. And we observed cytotoxicity of Prunellae Spica on colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma, L5178Y-R lymphoma cell, hela cell and macrophage. To observe the immnomodulating effects of Prunellae Spica, we estimated IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$ from peritoneal macrophages. And we evaluated the activation of NK cell by using anti-asialo-GM1 serum. Results: We found that the administration of Prunellae Spica extracts significantly inhibited tumor metastasis in vivo. In an in vitro cytotoxicity analysis, cell growth are closer to 100% in case of colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma, L5178Y-R lymphoma cell, hela cell at low concentration. In case of macrophage, cell proliferation is closer to 100% less than $62.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of Prunellae Spica extracts. The level of cytokine such as IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 which stimulates Prunellae Spica extracts was increased in dose-dependent manner compared to the control group. TNF-${\alpha}$ is hardly secreted less than $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ The depletion of NK cells by anti-asialo GM1 serum partly abolished the inhibitory effect of Prunellae Spica on tumor metastasis. Conclusion: Prunellae Spica appears to have considerable activity on the anti-metastasis by activation the immune system such as macrophage and NK cell.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2021

Marine sources as potential treatment options for various diseases have been a subject of growing interest. However, information on the anti-inflammatory mechanism employed by Undaria pinnatifida (UP) remains limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms of UP on the mast cell-mediated inflammatory response. To determine the pharmacological mechanism of UP in inflammatory reaction, we evaluated the effects of UP on interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and caspase-1 activation in calcium ionophore A23187 plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated human mast cells-1 (HMC-1). The results showed that UP suppressed IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α production in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, UP significantly attenuated NF-kB/caspase-1 activation in stimulated HMC-1. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence that UP may be a useful candidate for the inflammation-related diseases treatment.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.273-273
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• 2006

The encapsulation of volatile organic electrolytes is a major challenge in practical applications of the DSSC. Ionic liquid (IL) within polymer electrolytes is an attractive candidate for replacement. Here we used a low viscosity ionic liquid 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate in order to modify ionic conductivity (${\sigma}$) of polymer electrolyte ($PEO:Kl/l_{2}$) and hence DSSC efficiency. The doping of IL enhanced ${\sigma}$ and attained maximum (${\sigma}=7.62{\times}10^{-4}S/cm$) at 80 wt% of IL concentration. Beyond this it was harder to get stable films. XRD confirmed that the intensity of the sharp PEO crystalline peaks decreased when IL was added. The DSC studies confirmed the reduction in crystallinity by adding ionic liquid.The efficiency of solar cell using aforesaid material was 0.6 % at 1 sun irradiation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.369-377
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• 2018

Spinal tuberculosis (ST) is the tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections in spinal curds. Isoliquiritigenin (4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone, ISL) is an anti-inflammatory flavonoid derived from licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), a Chinese traditional medicine. In this study, we evaluated the potential of ISL in treating ST in New Zealand white rabbit models. In the model, rabbits (n=40) were infected with Mtb strain H37Rv or not in their $6^{th}$ lumbar vertebral bodies. Since the day of infection, rabbits were treated with 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of ISL respectively. After 10 weeks of treatments, the adjacent vertebral bone tissues of rabbits were analyzed through Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. The relative expression of Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2), transcription factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65 in lymphocytes were verified through reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The serum level of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon ${\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$) were evaluated through ELISA. The effects of ISL on the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, $IKK{\alpha}/{\beta}$ and p65 in $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways were assessed through western blotting. In the results, ISL has been shown to effectively attenuate the granulation inside adjacent vertebral tissues. The relative level of MCP-1, p65 and IL-4 and IL-10 were retrieved. $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling was inhibited, in which the phosphorylation of p65, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and $IKK{\alpha}/{\beta}$ were suppressed whereas the level of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were elevated. In conclusion, ISL might be an effective drug that inhibited the formation of granulomas through downregulating MCP-1, $NF-{\kappa}B$, IL-4 and IL-10 in treating ST.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.115-121
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• 2018

Upon sensing of microbial infections or endogenous danger signals in macrophages, inflammasome signaling plays a significant role in triggering inflammatory responses via producing interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$. Recent studies revealed that active caspase-1, a product of the inflammasome complex, causes maturation of inactive pro-IL-$1{\beta}$ into the active form. However, the underlying mechanism by which this leaderless cytokine is secreted into the extracellular space remains to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that prolonged lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment to macrophages could trigger the unexpected maturation and extracellular release of IL-$1{\beta}$ through a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)-independent manner. Short-term treatment (less than 6 h) of LPS induced robust production of the IL-$1{\beta}$ precursor form inside cells but did not promote the maturation and secretion of IL-$1{\beta}$ in bone marrow-derived macrophages or peritoneal macrophages. Instead, prolonged LPS treatment (more than 12 h) led to a significant release of matured IL-$1{\beta}$ with no robust indication of caspase-1 activation. Intriguingly, this LPS-triggered secretion of IL-$1{\beta}$ was also observed in NLRP3-deficient macrophages. In addition, this unexpected IL-$1{\beta}$ release was only partially impaired by a caspase-1 and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor. Collectively, our results propose that prolonged exposure to LPS is able to drive the maturation and secretion of IL-$1{\beta}$ in an NLRP3 inflammasome-independent manner.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.78-78
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• 2020

This study aimed to discover functional materials derived from resources, which can improve the troublesome symptoms of a bronchus by improving bronchial hyperresponsiveness as air pollution in Korea caused by fine dust and yellow dust is getting worse. Of natural resources grown naturally in Korea, Chrysanthemum morifolium(CM), and Scutellaria baicalensis(SB) have been used as a safe raw material for drinking or medicine for a long time, and it has been found that a combination of CS73 can improve bronchial health function in experimental animal models. Analysis of serum of animal models with asthma induced by ovalbumin (chicken egg albumin) and analysis of cytokine production in BALF (Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) showed that inflammatory indices IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-17E were significantly reduced and that respective production of IL-2 and IFN-γ was significantly increased in the group taking extracts from CS73 when compared with the control group. These results suggested that the combination of CS73 could be used as a natural treatment for asthma. In addition, in the animal models that the combination of CS73 significantly decreased the respective production of IgE, histamine and TSLP when compared with the control group. In experimental models, the ratio of Chrysanthemum morifolium to Scutellaria baicalensis of 7 : 3 had more excellent effect than other combined experimental groups, which suggests that the above combination can be developed as a natural treatment for asthma and is valuable as a pharmaceutical composition with an effect of improving bronchial health, capable of contributing to the public health threatened by fine dust.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.46.1-46.16
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• 2023

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) affects all age group and occurs mainly in women. Pyroptosis is a novel programmed cell death featured with cell bursting and release of proinflammatory cytokines. A deeper understanding of AIH pathogenesis will contribute to novel therapy for AIH patients. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of IL-17 in immune-mediated liver injury. The levels of cytokines were measured by ELISA, and mRNA levels of STAT3 and IFN gamma-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) were detected by PCR. Expressions of STAT3, IFI16, gasdermin D and cleaved caspase-1 were measured by western-blotting. Immunohistochemical staining and transmission electron microscopy were applied to evaluate liver histopathological changes of the treated mice. Our results showed that the levels of IFI16 was increased in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further elevated after STAT3-overexpressed (STAT3-OE) lentivirus treatment. The levels of IFI16 were reduced in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 neutralizing Ab (nAb), but were significantly increased after STAT3-OE treatment. Pyroptosis was observed in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further cell damage was observed after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. Liver damage was alleviated in mice treated with IL-17 nAb, however sever damage was experienced after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. A binding interaction between IFI16 and STAT3 was detected in IL-17 treated hepatocytes. Glutathione transaminase activity was enhanced in concanavalin A-induced AIH mice compared to the control group (p<0.01). IL-17 plays an important role in activating STAT3 and up-regulating IFI16, which may promote the pyroptosis in AIH-related liver injury through STAT3-IFI16 axis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2023

Purpose : Excessive alcohol causes damage to skeletal muscles, leading to the development of a specific disease entity called alcoholic myopathy. Chronic inflammation is related as an underlying mechanism for the loss of muscle mass induced by alcohol. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) play a role in this process. The acupuncture point Feng Shi (GB 31) is located on the midline of the lateral aspect of the thigh, above the transverse popliteal crease. This acupoint is used for the treatment of weakness, atrophy, numbness, and post-stroke symptoms of lower limbs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Feng Shi stimulation on muscle atrophy caused by chronic alcohol administration. Method : Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of eight each: Normal, Control, and GB31. The rats in the Control and GB31 groups were orally given 25 % ethanol (5 ㎖/kg, body weight) daily for 4 weeks. The Normal group was similarly administered saline. The acupressure at Feng Shi was treated to rats in the GB31 group. After 4 weeks, the body weight, muscle weight and cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius were assessed and the histological changes in gastrocnemius muscle fiber were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, TNF-α and IL-6 expressions were immunohistochemistrically evaluated. Results : Acupressure stimulation at Feng Shi had a protective effect on the weight reduction of the gastrocnemius muscle caused by alcohol intake, and had an effect of suppressing anatomical change in muscle fiber and decreasing the average cross-sectional area. Also, the immunoreactivities of TNF-α and IL-6 in the GB31 group were decreased. Conclusion : These results suggest that acupressure at Feng Shi has protective effects on chronic alcohol-induced muscle atrophy by inhibiting pre-inflammatory proteins such as TNF-α and IL-6.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.6
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• pp.482-489
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• 2011

Background: Based on the assertion that apocynin diminishes acute lung injury (ALI) by inhibition of NADPH oxidase, the effect of apocynin was tested in interleukin-$1{\alpha}$ (IL-1)-induced ALI in rats. Methods: IL-1 was insufflated into the trachea of Sprague-Dawley rats to induce ALI, and apocynin (8 mg/kg) was given intravenously for inhibition of NADPH oxidase. In addition, we determined whether apocynin inhibited generation of superoxide anions from isolated human neutrophils. Five hours after IL-1 instillation, lung injury parameters, expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) by cells from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), an index of oxidative stress in lung tissues (${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase, activity), and ultrastructure of alveolar type II (AT II) cells were evaluated. Results: Apocynin decreased the generation of free radicals from phorbol myristate (PMA)-activated neutrophils in vitro, but did not ameliorate ALI. IL-1 induced enhancement of the expression of cPLA2 on neutrophils was not altered by apocynin. Conclusion: Apocynin induced suppression of the generation of superoxide anions from neutrophils by inhibition of NADPH oxidase does not attenuate IL-1-induced ALI in rats.