• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.8
• /
• pp.1121-1127
• /
• 2015

This study investigated the effects of Myagropsis myagroides ethanol extract (MMEE) on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice. The effects of MMEE on DNCB-induced BALB/c mice were evaluated by examining skin symptom severity, levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10 in serum, and levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and $interferon-{\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$) in splenocytes. MMEE significantly reduced the total clinical severity score, total IgE levels, as well as $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-4 production in an AD mouse model but increased IL-10 production. Production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in splenocytes was reduced by MMEE, whereas $IFN-{\gamma}$ production increased. These results suggest that MMEE can inhibit the development of AD-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice by modulating the immune response and may be an effective potential therapeutic agent for AD.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2018

The warming of water as a result of climate change affects fish habitat. Variations in water temperature affect fish physiology almost totally. The rise in water temperature due to climate change leads to hypoxia following decreased oxygen solubility and decreased binding capacity of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin. This study was conducted to evaluate the health status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry at elevated water temperatures($20^{\circ}C$) compared with optimum water temperature ($15^{\circ}C$). The method facilitated the detection of biomarker genes using NGS RNAseq analysis and evaluation of their expression pattern using RT-qPCR analysis. The biomarker genes included interferon alpha-inducible protein 27-like protein 2A transcript variant X3, protein L-Myc-1b-like, placenta growth factor-like transcript variant X1, fibroblast growth factor receptor-like 1 transcript variant X1, transferrin, intelectin, thioredoxin-like, c-type lectin lectoxin-Thr1-like, ladderlectin-like and calponin-1. The selected biomarker genes were sensitive to changes in water temperature based on NGS RNAseq analysis. The expression patterns of these genes based on RT-qPCR were similar to those of NGS RNAseq analysis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2015

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a representative traditional herbal medicine with many different pharmacological properties including anticancer, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-diabetes, and anti-inflammatory activities. Only a few studies have explored the molecular mechanism of KRG-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Methods: We investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the protopanaxadiol saponin fraction (PPD-SF) of KRG using in vitro and in vivo inflammatory models. Results: PPD-SF dose-dependently diminished the release of inflammatory mediators [nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and prostaglandin $E_2$], and downregulated the mRNA expression of their corresponding genes (inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, and cyclooxygenase-2), without altering cell viability. The PPD-SF-mediated suppression of these events appeared to be regulated by a blockade of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and TANK (TRAF family member-associated NF-kappa-B activator)-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), which are linked to the activation of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) and interferon regulatory transcription factor 3 (IRF3). Moreover, this fraction also ameliorated HCl/ethanol/-induced gastritis via suppression of phospho-JNK2 levels. Conclusion: These results strongly suggest that the anti-inflammatory action of PPD-SF could be mediated by a reduction in the activation of p38-, JNK2-, and TANK-binding-kinase-1-linked pathways and their corresponding transcription factors (ATF2 and IRF3).

• Food Engineering Progress
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.337-343
• /
• 2018

Coffee is a commonly consumed beverage that contains anti-inflammatory compounds such as caffeine, chlorogenic acid, cafestol, trigonelline, and kahweol. Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacterium most frequently used in the fermentation of food products of plant origin. L. plantarum is able to degrade some food phenolic compounds and provide high value-added compounds such as powerful antioxidants or food additives approved as flavouring agents. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of coffee extract fermented by L. plantarum on RAW264.7 macrophages. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, these coffee extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory activities through the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase expression. Fermented coffee extracts significantly decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$, interleukin $1{\beta}$, interleukin 6, and interferon ${\gamma}$. Cyclooxygenase-2, which is one of the key biomarkers for inflammation, was significantly suppressed. These results might be helpful for understanding the anti-inflammatory mechanism of fermented coffee extract on immune cells and, moreover, suggest that fermented coffee extract may be a beneficial anti-inflammatory agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.313-320
• /
• 2014

The study was conducted to investigate the role of vitamin E in the high altitude hypoxia-induced damage to the intestinal barrier in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (Control), high altitude hypoxia (HH), and high altitude hypoxia + vitamin E (250 mg/kg $BW^*d$) (HV) groups. After the third day, the HH and HV groups were placed in a hypobaric chamber at a stimulated elevation of 7000 m for 5 days. The rats in the HV group were given vitamin E by gavage daily for 8 days. The other rats were given equal volume saline. The results showed that high altitude hypoxia caused the enlargement of heart, liver, lung and kidney, and intestinal villi damage. Supplementation with vitamin E significantly alleviated hypoxia-caused damage to the main organs including intestine, increased the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p< 0.05), diamino oxidase (DAO) (p< 0.01) levels, and decreased the serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) (p< 0.01), interleukin-4 (IL-4) (p<0.001), interferon-gamma ($IFN-{\gamma}$) (p<0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.001), and decreased the serum erythropoietin (EPO) activity (p<0.05). Administration of vitamin E significantly increased the S-IgA (p<0.001) in ileum and significantly improved the expression levels of occludin and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and decreased the expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and 2 alpha ($HIF-1{\alpha}$ and $HIF-2{\alpha}$), Toll-like receptors (TLR4), P-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ p65(NF-${\kappa}B$ P65) in ileum compared to the HH group. This study suggested that vitamin E protectis from intestinal injury caused by high altitude hypoxia environment. These effects may be related to the HIF and TLR4/NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.22-30
• /
• 2011

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. This study was designed to investigate whether apoA-I affects apoptosis and cytokine production of human blood neutrophils in an in vitro culture system. Spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils was significantly delayed by apoA-I. In addition, high density lipoprotein containing apoA-I also delayed apoptosis of neutrophils. Apoptosis of neutrophils was inhibited by anti-scavenger receptor type B-I antibodies. The amounts of interleukin-8, interferon (IFN)-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) in the supernatants of cultured neutrophils treated with apoA-I were significantly increased. Combined treatment of neutrophils with IFN-$\gamma$ and apoA-I produced higher amounts of IP-10 and TNF-$\alpha$ than did treatment with IFN-$\gamma$ or apoA-I alone. The present study reveals that apoA-I activates neutrophils to produce cytokines and delays spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils. These findings suggest that apoA-I, although a well-known negative acute-phase protein, has a pro-inflammatory effect in neutrophils.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.306-313
• /
• 2017

Purple bamboo salt (PuBS) is commonly used as a medicinal food in Korea and has beneficial potentials such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Rubus coreanus is called Bokbunja, which is used as a traditional medicine for treating asthma, impotence, and allergic diseases in Korea. The aim of present study was to investigate the immunostimulatory effect of PuBS composed with Rubus coreanus (PuBS-R). We performed comparative analysis between PuBS and PuBS-R in Raw264.7 cells, which is a mouse macrophage cell line, and peritoneal macrophages isolated primarily from the mouse peritoneal cavity. We evaluated cytotoxicity and the immune cytokine response in PuBS- and PuBS-R-treated cells. Both PuBS and PuBS-R did not have any cytotoxicity in Raw264.7 cells up to $500{\mu}g/mL$. Gene and protein levels of immune cytokines such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), $interferon-{\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$), interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-12 were significantly elevated by PuBS-R more than PuBS in Raw264.7 cells. Moreover, we evaluated the immunostimulatory effects of PuBS-R on mouse primary peritoneal macrophages. Protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-10, and IL-12 were significantly higher in PuBS-R-treated peritoneal macrophages than PuBS-treated peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest the potential immunostimulatory effect of PuBS-R for immunity against harmful infection.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.961-966
• /
• 2011

This research was carried out to evaluate the value of tofu containing mushroom as a immunomodulator. Tofu was made using $CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$ or Lactobacillus extract as a coagulant after adding powder of fruit bodies or mycelia of Letino edodes and Lepista nuda to soybean milk. Proximate compositions of tofu and tofu containing mushroom were analyzed. Levels of interferon ${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) in culture media of lymphocytes collected from mouse spleens after being injected with mushroom, regular tofu, or tofu made with mushroom were measured by sandwich ELISA. In addition, concentrations of IgG1, IgG2a and IgE in plasma or lymphocyte culture media were analyzed. Crude protein, crude lipid and crude ash were decreased in tofu containing mushroom but phosphorus was increased significantly. IFN-${\gamma}$ concentration was significantly decreased in mice injected with fruit body or tofu alone. IL-4 level was decreased significantly in mice injected with tofu containing fruit body of L. edodes. However, TNF-${\alpha}$ was increased in mice injected with tofu containing fruit body of L. edodes. Plasma levels of IgG1 were increased in almost all groups, while there was no significant change in IgG2a levels among treated mice groups. Concentrations of IgG1 and IgG2a were increased significantly in lymphocyte culture media of mice injected with tofu containing mushroom. Plasma levels of IgE level was significantly increased in mice injected with tofu or fruit body of L. edodes, but not in mice treated with tofu containing mushroom. These results showed that tofu with mushroom affected immune activities, and it seems valuable to consider developing the mixture of tofu and L. edodes as an immunomodulator.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.410-417
• /
• 2016

During the lactation cycle of the bovine mammary gland, autophagy is induced in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) as a cellular homeostasis and survival mechanism. Interferon gamma ($IFN-{\gamma}$) is an important antiproliferative and apoptogenic factor that has been shown to induce autophagy in multiple cell lines in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether $IFN-{\gamma}$ can induce autophagy and whether autophagy affects milk synthesis in BMECs. To understand whether $IFN-{\gamma}$ affects milk synthesis, we isolated and purified primary BMECs and investigated the effect of $IFN-{\gamma}$ on milk synthesis in primary BMECs in vitro. The results showed that $IFN-{\gamma}$ significantly inhibits milk synthesis and that autophagy was clearly induced in primary BMECs in vitro within 24 h. Interestingly, autophagy was observed following $IFN-{\gamma}$ treatment, and the inhibition of autophagy can improve milk protein and milk fat synthesis. Conversely, upregulation of autophagy decreased milk synthesis. Furthermore, mechanistic analysis confirmed that $IFN-{\gamma}$ mediated autophagy by depleting arginine and inhibiting the general control nonderepressible-2 kinase (GCN2)/eukaryotic initiation factor $2{\alpha}$ ($eIF2{\alpha}$) signaling pathway in BMECs. Then, it was found that arginine supplementation could attenuate $IFN-{\gamma}$-induced autophagy and recover milk synthesis to some extent. These findings may not only provide a novel measure for preventing the $IFN-{\gamma}$-induced decrease in milk quality but also a useful therapeutic approach for $IFN-{\gamma}$-associated breast diseases in other animals and humans.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2012

Objective : Nelumbinis Folium (NF) is used for diarrhea, headache and dizziness in traditional medicine. In this paper, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of NF in mouse macrophages. Methods : Peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate medium-injected mice were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or LPS/interferon(IFN)-${\gamma}$ for viability assay, cytokine measurement and Western blotting. Results : NF methanol extract suppressed the levels of nitric oxide (NO) through reduction of inducible NO synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract reduced LPS/IFN-${\gamma}$-stimulated STAT1 phosphorylation and LPS-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation through inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ kinase activation. The extract also inhibited p38, JNK/SAPK and ERK1/2 activation. Conclusions : Our findings suggested that NF has anti-inflammatory activity, and have a potential for therapeutic application. Further research is required to investigate its anti-inflammatory active compounds.