• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.482-489
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• 2021

Background: Asthma is an incurable hyper-responsive disease of the pulmonary system that is caused by various allergens, including indoor and outdoor stimulators. According to the Global Asthma Network, 339 million people suffered from asthma in 2018, with particularly severe forms in children. Numerous treatments for asthma are available; however, they are frequently associated with adverse effects such as growth retardation, neurological disorders (e.g., catatonia, poor concentration, and insomnia), and physiological disorders (e.g., immunosuppression, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and osteoporosis). Methods: Korean Red Ginseng has long been used to treat numerous diseases in many countries, and we investigated the anti-asthmatic effects and mechanisms of action of Korean Red Ginseng. Eighty-four BALB/c mice were assigned to 6 treatment groups: control, ovalbumin-induced asthma group, dexamethasone treatment group, and 3 groups treated with Korean Red Ginseng water extract (KRGWE) at 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg/day for 5 days. Anti-asthmatic effects of KRGWE were assessed based on biological changes, such as white blood cell counts and differential counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum IgE levels, and histopathological changes in the lungs, and by examining anti-asthmatic mechanisms, such as the cytokines associated with Th1, Th2, and Treg cells and inflammation pathways. Results: KRGWE affected ovalbumin-induced changes, such as increased white blood cell counts, increased IgE levels, and morphological changes (mucous hypersecretion, epithelial cell hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration) by downregulating cytokines such as IL-12, IL-4, and IL-6 via GATA-3 inactivation and suppression of inflammation via NF-κB/COX-2 and PGE₂ pathways. Conclusion: KRGWE is a promising drug for asthma treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.175-184
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• 1999

연구배경: 알레르기성 기관지 천식은 가역적인 기도폐색과 기관지의 과민성을 동반하는 기도의 만성적인 호산구성 염증성 질환으로서 기도의 염증발현에 관여하는 세포는 여러가지가 있지만 Th 림프구는 cytokine을 분비하여 염증반응을 조절하는 중요한 역할을 하고 있다. Th 림프구는 cytokine의 분비양상에 따라 Th1 림프구와 Th2 림프구로 나뉘어지며 Th1 림프구는 지연형 과민반응과 결핵균이나 바이러스 감염등에 대한 방어작용 그리고 종양에 대한 숙주반응에 관여하고 Th2 림프구는 즉시형 과민반응과 알레르기성 천식과 같은 알레르기성 질환 그리고 기생충 감염등에 대한 방어작용에 관여한다. Th1 림프구와 Th2 림프구는 서로 길항작용을 하는 것으로 알려지고 있어 대표적인 Th1 림프구 매개 질환인 결핵과 Th2 림프구 매개질환인 알레르기성 기관지 천식은 서로의 발생을 억제할 것으로 추정되며 알레르기성 기관지 천식환자에서는 Th2 림프구의 기능이 항진되어 Th1 림프구의 기능이 억제되고 반대로 Th1 림프구의 기능이 정상인 집단에서는 알레르기성 천식환자에 비해 Th2 림프구의 기능이 저하되어 있을 것으로 추정된다. 방 법: 정상 대조군과 알레르기성 천식환자군, 그리고 내인성 천식환자군에서 투베르쿨린 피부반응의 양상을 실시하여 지연형 과민반응의 양상을 관찰하고 혈청 IgE의 농도와 말초혈액 호산구 수를 조사하였다. 그리고 Th1 림프구에서 주로 생산되는 cytokine인 IFN-$\gamma$와 IL-12, Th2 림프구에서 주로 생산되는 IL-4, IL-5, IL-10의 혈청 농도를 측정하였다. 결 과: 투베르쿨린 피부반응의 양성율은 알레르기성 천식환자군이 내인성 천식환자군에 비해 투베르쿨린 피부반응에 대한 양성율이 유의하게 낮았으며(p<0.05), 투베르쿨린 피부반응의 정도는 내인성 천식환자군에 비하여 알레르기성 천식환자에서 유의하게 감소되어 있었다 (p<0.05). IL-4와 IL-10은 알레르기성 천식환자군에서 다른 두 군에 비하여 통계적으로 유의하지 않았으나 증가되어 있었고 IL-5는 알레르기성 천식환자군에서 다른 두 군에 비하여 유의하게 증가되어 있었다 (p<0.01). IL-12와 IFN-$\gamma$는 알레르기성 천식환자군과 내인성 천식환자군에서 정상 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 감소되어 있었다(p<0.05). 알레르기성 천식환자군에서 말초 혈액 호산구 수와 혈청 IgE 농도는 정상 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 증가하여 있었다(p<0.05). 알레르기성 천식환자에서 말초혈액 호산구 수는 혈청 IgE(r=0.737, p=0.003), IL-5(r=0.352, p=0.038), IL-10(r=0.827, p=0.001)과 서로 유의한 상관관계를 보이면서 증가하고 있었다. 전체적으로 Th2 cytokine인 IL-5와 IL-10의 혈청 농도는 서로 유의한 상관관계를 나타내고 있었고(r=0.340, p=0.046), IL-12와 IFN-$\gamma$ 혈청 농도도 서로 유의한 상관관계를 나타내고 있었다(r=0.593, p=0.001). 결 론: 알레르기성 기관지 천식환자는 정상 대조군에 비하여 Th1 림프구의 기능이 저하되어 있었고 Th2 림프구의 기능은 항진되어 있었으며, 이러한 Th2 림프구의 기능 항진은 말초혈액 호산구 수와 혈청 IgE와 유의한 상관관계를 보이고 있어 Th2 림프구 기능 항진이 알레르기성 기관지 천식의 병인에 중요한 역할을 할 가능성이 있음을 알 수 있다.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.17-22
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• 2008

Sopungsan (SS) is a traditional Korean decoction used for the treatment of dermatitis. The aim of this study is to confirm whether or not SS has a preventive effect on the development of atopic dermatitis in dinitrochlorobenzene-applied Nc/Nga mice. SS was administered orally to Nc/Nga mice, which led to the remarkable suppression of the development of dermatitis, as determined by a histological examination and the serum IgE levels. Moreover, SS inhibited the production of thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and its mRNA expression in a keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, which had been stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$). Activation of the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) or activator protein-1 (AP-1) is one of key steps in the signaling pathways mediating induction of TARC. In this study, SS selectively suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ activation which may be essential for TARC expression in $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}$ treated keratinocytes. The inhibitory effect of SS on NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and TARC production might be associated with the anti-dermatitic effects of SS.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.501-509
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• 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Suppression of MAPKs and NF-κB is implicated as a vital mechanism of action of several traditional Chinese medicines for AD therapy. Although overexpression of MAPK mRNA in the skin tissue has been shown in the AD model, the roles of each MAPK in AD pathogenesis have rarely been studied. This study examined the effect of NJK14047, an inhibitor of p38 MAPKs, on AD-like skin lesions induced in BALB/c mice by sensitization and challenges with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) on dorsal skin and ears, respectively. After induction of AD, NJK14047 (2.5 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) was administrated for 3 weeks via intraperitoneal injection. Following its administration, NJK14047 suppressed CDNB-induced AD-like symptoms such as skin hypertrophy and suppressed mast cell infiltration into the skin lesions. It also reduced CDNB-induced increase in T_H2 cytokine (IL-13) and T_H1 cytokines (interferon-γ and IL-12A) levels but did not decrease serum IgE level. Furthermore, NJK14047 blocked CDNB-induced lymph node enlargement. These results suggest that NJK14047, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, might be an optimal therapeutic option with unique modes of action for AD treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.823-830
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• 2023

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium and used in the dairy food industry. The ameliorating effects of Lactobacillus species on atopic dermatitis (AD) have been extensively studied, but the specific effect of L. lactis strains has not yet been investigated. In this study, the efficacy of L. lactis LB 1022, isolated from natural cheese, was evaluated using RAW 264.7, HMC-1 and HaCaT cell lines and an ovalbumin-sensitized AD mouse model. L. lactis LB 1022 exhibited nitric oxide suppression and anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Oral administration of L. lactis LB 1022 to AD mice significantly reduced the levels of IgE, mast cells, and eosinophils, and a range of T cell-mediated T helper Th1, Th2, and Th17-type cytokines under interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). In addition, L. lactis LB 1022 treatment increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids. Overall, L. lactis LB 1022 significantly modulated AD-like symptoms by altering metabolites and the immune response, illustrating its potential as candidate for use in functional food supplements to alleviate AD.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.201-210
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• 2003

Objective: The role of prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2) in the etiopathogenesis of immune and inflammatory diseases has become the subject of recent debate. To determine the role of PGE2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we tested the effect of exogenous PGE2 on the production of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by rheumatoid synoviocytes. Methods: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were prepared from the synovial tissues of RA patients, and cultured in the presence of PGE2. The COX-2 mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The PGE2 receptor subtypes in the FLS were analyzed by RT-PCR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to measure the NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity for COX-2 transcription. The in vivoeffect of PGE2 on the development of arthritis was also tested in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) animals. Results: PGE2 ($10^{-11}$ to $10^{-5}M$) dose-dependently inhibited the expression of COX-2 mRNA and the COX-2 protein stimulated with IL-$1{\beta}$, but not COX-1 mRNA. NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, displayed an additive effect on PGE2-induced COX-2 downregulation. The FLS predominantly expressed the PGE2 receptor (EP) 2 and EP4, which mediated the COX-2 suppression by PGE2. Treatment with anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibodies partially reversed the PGE2-induced suppression of COX-2 mRNA, suggesting that IL-10 may be involved in modulating COX-2 by PGE2. Experiments using an inducer and an inhibitor of cyclic AMP (cAMP) suggest that cAMP is the major intracellular signal that mediates the regulatory effect of PGE2 on COX-2 expression. EMSA revealed that PGE2 inhibited the binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the COX-2 promoter via a cAMP dependent pathway. In addition, a subcutaneous injection of PGE2 twice daily for 2 weeks significantly reduced the incidence and severity of CIA as well as the production of IgG antibodies to type II collagen. Conclusion: Our data suggest that overproduced PGE2 in the RA joints may function as an autocrine regulator of its own synthesis by inhibiting COX-2 production and may, in part, play an anti-inflammatory role in the arthritic joints.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.634-640
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder mediated by inflammatory cells, such as macrophages and mast cells. Rifampicin is mainly used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Recently, it was reported that rifampicin has anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of rifampicin on atopic dermatitis in vivo and in vitro. AD was induced by treatment with 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in NC/Nga mice. A subset of mice was then treated with rifampicin by oral administration. The severity score and scratching behavior were alleviated in the rifampicin-treated group. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels were also ameliorated in mice treated with rifampicin. We next examined whether rifampicin has anti-atopic activity via suppression of mast cell activation. Rifampicin suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and histamine from human mast cell (HMC)-1 cultures stimulated with compound 48/80. Treatment with rifampicin also inhibited secretion of inflammatory mediators, such tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$), in mast cells activated by compound 48/80. The mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) was reduced in the cells treated with rifampicin in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that rifampicin can be used to treat atopic dermatitis.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제39권11호
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• pp.1611-1618
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• 2010

본 연구는 in vitro 실험결과 아토피 피부염의 억제 효능이 기대되는 비파엽 추출물(BI군), 삼백초 추출물(SA군), 비파엽 추출물과 삼백초 추출 혼합물(FB군) 그리고 삼백초와 비파엽 추출 혼합 발효물(FA군)을 경구 투여하여 DNCB 처리한 아토피 실험동물을 대상으로 아토피 질환 개선에 대한 유효성을 평가하였다. 혈청 중의 IgE 수치를 측정한 결과, DNCB군에서 $227.21{\pm}60.04$ ng/mL를 나타내었으며, FA군에서는 $154.78{\pm}78.99$ ng/mL로 IgE 생성량이 감소되었다. 혈청내의 히스타민 농도는 DNCB군에서 $1.90{\pm}0.04$ ng/mL 였으며, FA, FB, BI, SA군에서 각각 $1.47{\pm}0.20$ ng/mL, $1.41{\pm}0.07$ ng/mL, $1.61{\pm}0.05$ ng/mL, $1.08{\pm}0.07$ ng/mL로 DNCB군과 비교 시 유의적인 감소를 나타내었다. 세라마이드 총 함량을 측정한 결과, FA군에서 $1,350{\pm}357\;{\mu}g/g$으로 DNCB와 비교 시 세라마이드 함량이 유의적으로 증가되었다. IFN-$\gamma$의 경우, DNCB군에서 $2.5{\pm}0.5$ ng/mL로 분석되 었으며, FA, FB, BI 및 SA군에서 각각 $7.1{\pm}1.3$ ng/mL, $7.7{\pm}0.2$ ng/mL, $11.5{\pm}0.6$ ng/mL 및 $6.9{\pm}0.2$ ng/mL로 DNCB 군과 비교 시 모두 유의적인 증가를 나타내었다. 특히 비파엽 및 삼백초 추출물 혼합 발효물은 등 부위 피부의 육안 증상을 관찰한 결과, 가피형성과 발적 감소가 가장 우수하여 아토피 피부염 질환 개선에 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.481-487
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• 2010

목 적: 최근 여러 연구결과 천식을 포함한 알레르기질환의 발병에 소아 성장시기에 알레르겐이나 내독소(LPS)등과 같은 물질에 노출이 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 제시되었다. 이에 연구자들은 출생 초기에 기도 점막을 통한 알레르겐과 내독소에의 노출이 성장한 후에 알레르기 기도염증과 과반응성의 발생에 미치는 효과를 생쥐 모델을 통하여 규명하고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법: 실험동물은 무균 상태의 생후 1주이내의 암컷 BALB/c 생쥐를 사용하였다. 실험동물들에게는 각각 신생생쥐시기에 생리식염수, 1% ovalbumin (OVA), $1.0{\mu}g$ LPS, $1.0{\mu}g$ LPS in 1% OVA를 각 비공을 통하여 투여하였다. 실험동물은 연구 시작 제 35일부터 10일간 5% OVA로 감작시켰으며 최종 기도 감작 10일 후부터 3일간 1% OVA로 기도 항원유발을 시행하였다. 최종 기도유발 48시간 후 체적검사(plethysmography)를 이용하여 비특이적 기도과반응성 검사(Methcholine challenge test)를 시행하였으며 검사 후 실험동물을 희생시켜 검체를 취하여 BAL액내 세포분획, 사이토카인, 혈청 면역글로불린을 측정하였다. 결 과: 1) 메타콜린에 의한 기도과반응성은 생후 초기에 OVA, LPS, OVA/LPS를 투여한 군에서 생리식염수를 투여한 군에 비해 통계적으로 유의하게 억제되었다. 2) OVA, LPS, OVA/LPS를 투여한 군에서 BAL 액내의 호산구수와 IL-4, IL-5가 유의하게 낮았다. 3) 혈청내 OVA 특이 IgE는 OVA, LPS, OVA/LPS 투여군에서 유의하게 감소되었다. 결 론: 본 연구 결과 신생생쥐 시기의 점막을 통한 항원, 내독소의 노출이 성숙한 후 항원에 의한 기도염증 및 과반응성의 발생을 억제하였으며 향후 이러한 효과의 작용기전에 대한 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각한다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.453-460
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• 2020

Background: BIOGF1K, a fraction of Panax ginseng, has desirable antimelanogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiphotoaging properties that could be useful for treating skin conditions. Because its potential positive effects on allergic reactions in skin have not yet been described in detail, this study's main objective was to determine its efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography was used to verify the compounds in BIOGF1K, and we used the (3-4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method to determine its cytotoxicity in RBL-2H3 and HMC-1 cell lines. RBL-2H3 cells were induced using both anti-DNP-IgE/DNP-BSA and calcium ionophore (A2187) treatments, whereas HMC-1 cells were induced using A2187 alone. To measure mast cell degranulation, we performed histamine (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and β-hexosaminidase assays. To quantify interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in RBL-2H3 cells, we performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR); to quantify expression levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in HMC-1 cells, we used semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Finally, we detected the total and phosphorylated forms of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p-38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase proteins by immunoblotting. Results: BIOGF1K decreased the AD response by reducing both histamine and β-hexosaminidase release as well as reducing the secretion levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in RBL-2H3 cells and IL-4 and IL-13 in HMC-1 cells. In addition, BIOGF1K decreased MAPK pathway activation in RBL-2H3 and HMC-1 cells. Conclusions: BIOGF1K attenuated the AD response, hence supporting its use as a promising and natural approach for treating AD.