• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2017

Angelica koreana is an important medicinal plant for some locals in East Asia including Korea. A few reports have shown the efficacy of its phytochemical constituents. We have isolated and purified one compound falcarindiol (FAL) from the methanolic extract of A. koreana roots. At concentrations from to $1{\mu}M$ to $25{\mu}M$, the FAL isolated from the roots of A. koreana exerted no significant cytotoxicity and down-regulated LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in colon epithelial cells, while up-regulating anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In addition, the FAL decreased the expression of LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein by Western blot analysis. Colon epithelial cells play pivotal roles in regulating the colon immune system and thus FAL is expected to be candidate agent as therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by modulating LPS-induced inflammation in colon epithelial cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.385-390
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• 2020

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is caused by an acute or chronic dysfunction of the mucosal inflammatory system in the intestinal tract. In line with the results of our previous study, wherein we found that the PKCα-LSD1-NF-κB signaling plays a critical role in the prolonged activation of the inflammatory response, we aimed to investigate the effect of signaling on colitis in the present study. Lsd1 S112A knock-in (Lsd1^SA/SA) mice, harboring a deficiency in phosphorylation by PKCα, exhibited less severe colitis symptoms and a relatively intact colonic epithelial lining in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis models. Additionally, a reduction in pro-inflammatory gene expression and immune cell recruitment into damaged colon tissues in Lsd1^SA/SA mice was observed upon DSS administration. Furthermore, LSD1 inhibition alleviated colitis symptoms and reduced colonic inflammatory responses. Both LSD1 phosphorylation and its activity jointly play a role in the progression of DSS-induced colitis. Therefore, the inhibition of LSD1 activity could potentially protect against the colonic inflammatory response.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.7.1-7.14
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• 2018

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression is linked to the development of various diseases. Recently, an emerging body of evidence has indicated that lncRNAs play important roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative Colitis (UC). In IBD, lncRNAs have been shown to be involved in diverse processes, including the regulation of intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, association with lipid metabolism, and cell-cell interactions, thereby enhancing inflammation and the functional regulation of regulatory T cells. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of lncRNAs in IBD and highlight potential avenues for future investigation. We also collate potentially immune-relevant, IBD-associated lncRNAs identified through a built-by association analysis with respect to their neighboring protein-coding genes within IBD-susceptible loci. We further underscore their importance by highlighting their enrichment for various aspects of immune system regulation, including antigen processing/presentation, immune cell proliferation and differentiation, and chronic inflammatory responses. Finally, we summarize the potential of lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in IBD.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.5
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• 2020

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon and rectum. The abnormal lesions in the digestive system caused by ulcerative colitis and intermittent colitis are of major clinical importance. MDM2 is a phospho-protein that functions as a ubiquitin ligase for p53. Recently, a T>G substitution in the promoter of the MDM2 gene (rs309) has been identified. In this case-control study, 174 ulcerative colitis biopsy samples and 82 control samples were collected from colonoscopy centers, hospitals, and clinics in Mazandaran and Gilan Provinces in Iran from October 2014 to May 2015. This MDM2 polymorphism was investigated in DNA samples (extracted from biopsy samples) by amplification-refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. The mean age of patients with ulcerative colitis was 46.5 years (range, 28 to 69 years) and that of control individuals was 45.3 years (range, 26 to 71 years). Seventy-eight patients (44.82%) were men and 96 (55.18%) were women. The distribution of the TT, TG, and GG genotypes was 17.93%, 27.59%, and 34.48%, respectively, in the ulcerative colitis patients and 31.70%, 24.40%, and 43.90%, respectively, in the control individuals (odds ratio of GG for ulcerative colitis, 7.142; 95% confidence interval, 2.400 to 9.542; p = 0.001). It was found that a single-nucleotide polymorphism at rs309 in the MDM2 gene was associated with ulcerative colitis. A direct relationship was found between age and ulcerative colitis, while no relationship was found with sex. This finding is of note because the occurrence of intestinal inflammation and subsequent ulcers can precede the development of cancer.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.422-433
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• 2018

Objective: Neuropsychiatric manifestations like depression and cognitive dysfunction commonly occur in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the context of the brain-gut axis model, colitis can lead to alteration of brain function in a bottom-up manner. Here, the changes in the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammation-related markers in the brain in colitis were studied. Methods: Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was used to generate a mouse model of colitis. Mice were treated with DSS for 3 or 7 days and sacrificed. We analyzed the gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and the expression of GFAP, in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala. Additionally, the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum cortisol/corticosterone were measured. Results: Alteration of inflammatory-related markers varied depending on the brain region and exposure time. In the hippocampus, COX-2 mRNA, GFAP mRNA, and GFAP expression were upregulated during exposure to DSS. However, in the hypothalamus, COX-2 mRNA was upregulated only 3 days after treatment. In the amygdala, BDNF and COX-2 mRNAs were downregulated. CRP and corticosterone expression increased with DSS treatment at day 7. Conclusion: IBD could lead to neuroinflammation in a bottom-up manner, and this effect varied according to brain region. Stress-related hormones and serum inflammatory markers, such as CRP, were upregulated from the third day of DSS treatment. Therefore, early and active intervention is required to prevent psychological and behavioral changes caused by IBD, and region-specific studies can help understand the precise mechanisms by which IBD affects the brain.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1506-1512
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• 2023

Quantitative analysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been widely used as a diagnostic tool in the food and medical industries. Particularly, the pathogenesis of a few diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely related to high ATP concentrations. A bioluminescent D-luciferin/luciferase system, which includes a luciferase (FLuc) from the firefly Photinus pyralis as a key component, is the most commonly used method for the detection and quantification of ATP. Here, instead of isolating FLuc produced in recombinant Escherichia coli, we aimed to develop a whole-cell biocatalyst system that does not require extraction and purification of FLuc. To this end, the gene coding for FLuc was introduced into the genome of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii using the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing system. The linear relationship (r² = 0.9561) between ATP levels and bioluminescence generated from the engineered S. boulardii expressing FLuc was observed in vitro. To explore the feasibility of using the engineered S. boulardii expressing FLuc as a whole-cell biosensor to detect inflammation biomarker (i.e., ATP) in the gut, a colitis mouse model was established using dextran sodium sulfate as a colitogenic compound. Our findings demonstrated that the whole-cell biosensor can detect elevated ATP levels during gut inflammation in mice. Therefore, the simple and powerful method developed herein could be applied for non-invasive IBD diagnosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.431-439
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• 2004

Scutellariae Radix (Scu.), one of the immune-regulatory substances, is recognized to play the role in the metabolic process of inflammation, allergy and immunity. It has been traditionally used in the Oriental medicine to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of Scutellariae Radix on the spleen lymphocyte immune function in the Balb/c female mice treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to induce colitis. Water extract of Scutellariae Radix (100 mg/kg) and sulfasalazine (50 mg/kg) were administrated orally for 2 weeks of experimental period. Mice were divided into three experimental groups randomly: DSS group (5％ DSS was ad libitum for 5 days) as control group, DSS ＋ Scu. (water extracts of Scutellariae Radix for 2 weeks after 5％ DSS was ad libitum for 5 days) as experimental group, and DSS ＋ Sulfasalazine group (Sulfasalazine for 2 weeks after 5％ DSS was ad libitum for 5 days) as positive control group. Levels of Ig A, Ig E, CD4$^{＋}$, CD8$^{＋}$, TNF-$\alpha$ and other cytokines were measured. Treatment of DSS for 5 days induced bowel inflammation and the treatment with Scu. water exteract and sulfasalazine significantly recovered the damage. The length of intestine of DSS group was significantly shorter than that of other groups. The serum and fecal concentration of Ig A of SS ＋ Scu group was higher than those of DSS group. The contents of CD4$^{＋}$ T cells was higher in the DSS ＋ Scu. group than the other groups and CD8$^{＋}$ T cells was the lowest in DSS ＋ Sulfasalazine group. The Ig A level of cultured supernatant of spleen lymphocyte was the highest, while the Ig E level was the lowest in SS ＋ Scu group. The concentration of TNF-$\alpha$, cytokine secreted from the Th1 cell in the supernatant spleen lymphocyte, was the highest in the DSS group and the lowest in the DSS ＋ Scu. group. The concentration of IFN-${\gamma}$ and ll...-12 was lower in the DSS ＋ Scu. group than those of the other groups. The concentration of IL-4 in the supernatant of spleen lymphocyte was the lowest in the DSS ＋ Scu. group but IL-10 was not significantly different. Based on these findings, water extract of Scutellariae Radix exhibited the inhibitory effect via IL-4 production thereby inhibited the production of Ig E and strengthened immune system, and alleviated injury in DSS- induced colitis mice model.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.263-269
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• 2016

The intestine represents the largest and most elaborate immune system organ, in which dynamic and reciprocal interplay among numerous immune and epithelial cells, commensal microbiota, and external antigens contributes to establishing both homeostatic and pathologic conditions. The mechanisms that sustain gut homeostasis are pivotal in maintaining gut health in the harsh environment of the gut lumen. Intestinal epithelial cells are critical players in creating the mucosal platform for interplay between host immune cells and luminal stress inducers. Thus, knowledge of the epithelial interface between immune cells and the luminal environment is a prerequisite for a better understanding of gut homeostasis and pathophysiologies such as inflammation. In this review, we explore the importance of the epithelium in limiting or promoting gut inflammation (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease). We also introduce recent findings on how small RNAs such as microRNAs orchestrate pathophysiologic gene regulation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.433-440
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• 2003

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology limited to the large intestine. The disease is prevalent in industrial societies and is associated with specific ethnic populations. A number of murine models, each focused on distinct aspects of the disease process, were developed over the past 20 years to further our understanding of the pathogenesis of UC. These models have been and remain our best resource for the study of the disorder as a result of their homology to human UC and the ease in which they can be manipulated and examined. This review examines and distills what has been learned from these models and how this information is related back to human UC.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2005

Purpose: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is frequently yet little understood disease. Review was performed to promote understanding on the characteristics, pathophysiology, and risk factors of IBS. Content: IBS is characterized by abdominal discomfort associated with pain and altered bowel function; structural and biochemical abnormalities are absent. Generally IBS is more prevalent in women and people with higher educational and social background, but there are some controversies. IBS is diagnosed by the Rome II or Manning criteria after excluding organic gastrointestinal diseases. The pathophysioloy is explained by abnormal control mechanism of central and enteric nervous system. Mucosal immunity, secretions, and neurotransmitter are also associated with the hypersensitivity and motility change of bowel function. Stress is known as a major triggering factor and contributed to symptoms. Other risk factors are genetic elements, childhood experiences, inflammation, anxiety, depression, diet, and sleep disorders.