• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2018

Periodontitis is generally a chronic disorder characterized by breakdown of tooth-supporting tissues, producing dentition loss. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a Gramnegative anaerobic rod, is one of the major pathogens associated with periodontitis. Neutrophils are first line defense cells in the oral cavity that play a significant role in inflammatory response. Xylitol is a known anti-caries agent and has anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we conducted experiments to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of xylitol on P. gingivalis infected neutrophils for possible usage in prevention and treatment of periodontal infections. P. gingivalis was intraperitoneally injected and peritoneal lavage was collected for cytokine determination. For in vitro study, neutrophils were collected from mouse peritoneal cells after zymosan injection or bone marrow cells. Neutrophils were stimulated with live P. gingivalis and ELISA was used to determine the effect of xylitol on P. gingivalis induced cytokine production. $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentration and neutrophil population in the peritoneal lavage was increased in P. gingivalis-infected mouse. Peritoneal cells infected with live P. gingivalis revealed significantly increased production of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ at multiplicity of infection of 10. Neutrophils from bone marrow and peritoneal lavage revealed increased production of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Xylitol significantly mitigated P. gingivalis induced cytokine production in neutrophils. Findings indicate that xylitol is an anti-inflammatory agent in neutrophils infected with live P. gingivalis, that suggests its use in periodontitis management.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate whether herb mixture extract (HME) would affect allergic contact dermatitis induced by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-chlorobenzene (DNCB) in mice. For this, the level of blood IgE was identified. To evaluate anti-inflammatory effect of HME, we tested HMC-1 cells stimulated by PMA+A231867. Methods : In order to evaluate allergic contact dermatitis effects we observed HME on contact-hypersensitive skin of Balb/cmice induced by 0.5% DNCB and measured concentration of IgE in blood of Balb/c mice. In order to evaluate anti-inflammatory effect of cytokine expression we used the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : We confirmed deep wounds, erosions, progress of keratinization and drop out of dead skin cells from Balb/c mice induced by 0.5% DNCB. We also observed a remarkable decrease in symptoms of atopic dermatitis in the group that received injection of 200mg/kg HME. In addition, in the measurement outcome for IgE concentration in blood, we confirmed that IgE concentration was increased by treatment with DNCB only, while it was markedly decreased by treatment with HME. We confirmed that cytokine expression decreased through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and pERK, pJNK, and pp38 also decreased through western blot test Conclusions : According to the above results, HME has some effect on alleviating symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis and has anti-inflammatory effects.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.331-347
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• 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of major skin inflammatory diseases characterized by excessive Th2-mediated immune responses. Recent evidence provides that interlukin-13 (IL-13) plays the role of a key Th2 cytokine that drives the inflammation underlining AD. Due to adverse effects of commercially available synthetic drugs, the need for treatments based on natural products is gaining much attention. Sargassum horneri is an edible brown algae known for beneficial bioactivities including anti-inflammation. We investigated if polyphenol-rich S. horneri extracts (SHE) could suppress AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice and if that involved inhibition of the infiltration of Th2-mediated cytokine IL-13. We observed markedly increased infiltration of IL-13 positive cells in AD-like skin lesions of mice but SHE treatments decreased it. Also, the dermal expression of IL-13 was sufficient to cause inflammatory responses in mice skin resembling human AD. SHE suppressed the dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells where IL-13 plays a crucial role in skin tissues and in the recruitment of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, it was confirmed that SHE reduced T cell, dendritic cell, and macrophage populations in spleen. Moreover, SHE decreased the collagen deposition in skin and ear dermis resulting in reduced fibrosis that occurs in AD due to excessive collagen. Taken together, our results reveal that SHE suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells into skin dermis by decreasing the infiltration of IL-13 positive cells. Therefore, SHE could be taken as a useful therapeutic agent to alleviate AD.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2017

To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of natural products, we determined the anti-inflammatory activity of purified epigallocatechin (EGC) from Camellia sinensis leaves. In the present study, we found that EGC inhibited the production of proinflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NO, and $PGE_2$) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. Suppression of IL-6 seems to be at least partly attributable to the inhibitory effect of EGC. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a major cytokine produced by LPS-induced macrophages, and they have a wide variety of biological functions including regulation of inflammation. The inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production by EGC may downregulate the acute-phase response to LPS, thereby reducing LPS-induced inflammation. In addition to IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, EGC effectively reduced the production of other key inflammatory mediators, including NO and $PGE_2$. The inhibitory effect of EGC on NO and $PGE_2$ production was supported by the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and COX-2 at protein levels. These results support the traditional use of EGC in the alleviation of various inflammation-associated diseases and suggest that EGC might be useful in the development of new functional foods for inflammatory diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2009

Aprotinin is used clinically in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to reduce transfusion requirements and the inflammatory response. The mechanism of action for the anti-inflammatory effects of aprotinin is still unclear. We examined our hypothesis whether inhibitory effects of aprotinin on cytokine-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression (IL-$l\beta$ plus TNF-$\alpha$), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation were due to HO-l induction in rat VSMCs. Aprotinin induced HO-l protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, which was potentiated during inflammatory condition. Aprotinin reduced cytokine mixture (CM)-induced iNOS expression in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, aprotinin reduced CM-induced ROS generation, cell proliferation, and phosphorylation of JNK but not of P38 and ERK1/2 kinases. Aprotinin effects were reversed by pre-treatment with the HO-l inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPPIX). HO-l is therefore closely involved in inflammatory-stimulated VSMC proliferation through the regulation of ROS generation and JNK phosphorylation. Our results suggest a new molecular basis for aprotinin anti-inflammatory properties.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.391-398
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• 2022

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a typical inflammatory colon disorder. Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is known to exert various beneficial effects including anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial properties and improvements in liver function. However, the improving effect and mechanism of PG on intestinal inflammation are not fully understood. The present research was designed to investigate the effect of PG on the clinical signs of DSS-induced colitis in mice. The ameliorative effects of PG on inflammatory cytokine expression and the activation of hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF)-1α in DSS-treated colon tissue were also determined. Our results showed that mice treated with DSS displayed the main clinical symptoms of colitis, including weight loss, bloody stools, decrease in colon length and diarrhea and PG treatment significantly improved the clinical features induced by DSS in mice. PG inhibited the increase in the levels of inflammatory cytokines caused by DSS in colon tissues. We also showed that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of PG involved suppressing the activation of HIF-1α in DSS-treated colon tissues. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate the prospect of developing new drugs from PG for UC treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.172-184
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a natural product of cherry tree (Prunus serrulata var. spontanea: PS) as a test substance for improving cytokine and ovalbumin-specific IgE using an ovalbumin-induced asthma disease model of 5-week-old male BALB/c mice. Lung tissue pathology was analyzed to confirm anti-inflammatory and asthmatic effects. As a result of examining the effect on changes in inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in an ovalbumin-induced asthma disease model by administering the PS sample, total cells, eosinophil, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocytes were significantly decreased. Concentrations of cytokine-based TNF-alpha and IL-4 and immunoglobulin E in serum were significantly increased in the asthma-inducing negative control group than in the normal group. However, high concentrations of PS decreased them. In histopathological examination of the lung tissue, it was confirmed that inflammatory cells infiltrated around the alveoli and bronchioles were increased in ovalbumin-induced asthma disease model. After administration of cherry tree extract, bronchiolar morphological changes such as mucosal thickening were slightly improved. From the above results, it was confirmed that extract of cherry tree significantly reduced inflammation expression and tissue damage in alveolar tissues. It was also confirmed that the cherry tree extract had an excellent efficacy in improving asthma inflammation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.295-304
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• 2017

Opisthorchis viverrini infection induces chronic inflammation, and a minor proportion of infected individuals develop advanced periductal fibrosis (APF) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Inflammatory cytokines and/or their gene polymorphisms may link to these biliary pathologies. We therefore investigated associations among cytokine gene polymorphisms and cytokine production in 510 Thai cases infected with O. viverrini who presented with APF+ or APF-, as established by abdominal ultrasonography as well as in patients diagnosed with CCA. Levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined in culture supernatants after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with O. viverrini excretory-secretory (ES) products. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IFN-${\gamma}$, LT-${\alpha}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly increased in CCA patients compared with non-CCA (APF- and APF+) cases. Polymorphisms in genes encoding IL-$1{\beta}$-511C/T, IL-6-174G/C, IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G, and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A were then investigated by using PCR-RFLP or allele specific-PCR (AS-PCR) analyses. In the CCA cases, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A heterozygous and homozygous variants showed significantly higher levels of these cytokines than the wild type. By contrast, levels of cytokines in wild type of IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A were significantly higher than the variants in CCA cases. IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A polymorphisms were associated with advanced periductal fibrosis, whereas IL-6-174G/C polymorphisms were associated with CCA. To our knowledge, these findings provide the first demonstration that O. viverrini infected individuals carrying several specific cytokine gene polymorphisms are susceptible to develop fibrosis and CCA.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.309-316
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Violae Herba Water Extract (VH) on the proinflammatory factors of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced on the production of inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells. We examined effect of Violae Herba Water Extract on the cell viability of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells. Futhermore, After 24 hours treatment we investigated anti-inflammatory effect of Violae Herba Water Extract by the production of Bio-Plex cytokine assay, concentrations of various cytokines such NO, $interleukin(IL)-1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$ and IL-6. The water extract of Violae Herba significantly inhibited the production of NO, $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 at the concentration of 25, 50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$ in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells with no changes in the cell viability of them. These results suggest that water extract of Violae Herba has anti-inflammatory effect related with its inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines such as $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells. Further research is needed to develop therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases using Violae Herba.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.368-374
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• 2022

In this study, the effects of UV irradiation-enhanced ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂) content containing Lentinula edodes extract on inflammation and allergic responses were investigated in vitro. The anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of the mushroom extract were tested by estimating the cytokine secretions, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in LPS-activated macrophages (RAW 264.7), or histamine release in PMA and A23187-activated mast cells (RBL-2H3). Under the condition of macrophage activation with LPS, mushroom extract significantly reduced the secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6, and their mRNA expression also matched the observation. The current mushroom extract also significantly reduced the amount of mast cell degranulation-induced histamine secretion from PMA- and A23187-treated mast cells as well as the reduced secretion of IL-4. These results suggest that mushroom extract, which has increased ergocalciferol content by UV irradiation, inhibits the expression of cytokines in inflammation and allergic reactions; therefore, it can be used effectively for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases.