• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2012

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Forsythiae Fructus (FF) ethanol extract on inflammatory cytokine production and its underlying mechanisms in mouse macrophages. Methods : Peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate medium-injected mice were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or LPS/interferon(IFN)-${\gamma}$ for cytokine measurement and cellular signaling molecule analysis. Results : FF ethanol extract decreased the levels of secreted tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin(IL)-6 in IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS-stimulated cells in a concentration-dependent manner. FF extract reduced IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS-induced STAT1 phosphorylation and LPS-induced p38 and JNK activation, but not ERK1/2 activity. The extract also inhibited LPS-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation through suppression of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ kinase. Conclusions : These results suggest that FF ethanol extract affects the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 through inhibition of activation of STAT-1, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, p38, and JNK.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.21-29
• /
• 2004

We used cDNA microarray to assess gene expression profiles in hematopoetic cell line, U-937, exposed to low doses of ionizing irradiation. The 1,000 DNA elements on this array were PCR-amplified cDNAs selected from named human cancer related genes. According to the strength of irradiation, the levels of some gene expression were increased or decreased as dose-dependent manner. The gene expressions of Tubulin alpha, protein kinase, interferon-alpha, -beta, -omega receptor and ras homolog gene family H were significantly increased. Especially, Tubulin gene was shown 2.5 fold up-regulated manner under stress of 500 rad irradiation than 200 rad. On the other hand, fibroblast growth factor 12 and four and a half LIM domains, etc. were significantly down-regu-lated. Also, tumor protein 53(TP53) related genes that p53 inducible protein, tumor protein 53-binding protein looks of little significance as radiation sensitive manner. The radio-sensitivity of tubulin gene etc. that we proposed could be useful to rapid and correct survey for the bio-damage by exposure to low dose irradiation.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.273-280
• /
• 2013

Bamboo salt, a Korean folk medicine, is prepared with solar salt (sea salt) and baked several times at high temperatures in a bamboo case. In this study, we compared the preventive effects of bamboo salt and purified and solar salts on hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with purified and solar salts, bamboo salts prevented hepatic damage in rats, as evidenced by significantly reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05). Bamboo salt (baked $9{\times}$) triggered the greatest reduction in these enzyme levels. In addition, it also reduced the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. Histopathological sections of liver tissue demonstrated the protective effect of bamboo salt, whereas sections from animals treated with the other salt groups showed a greater degree of necrosis. We also performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses of the inflammation-related genes iNOS, COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ in rat liver tissues. Bamboo salt induced a significant decrease (~80%) in mRNA and protein expression levels of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$, compared with the other salts. Thus, we found that baked bamboo salt preparations could prevent $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damage in vivo.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 2007

Inhibitory effect of Scutellaria baicalensis ethanol extracts (SR) on chemical mediator release and immunoglobulin (Ig) production from Sprague-Dawley rats originated cells as type I allergic reaction was examined. SR showed concentration-dependent inhibition on basal and concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated Ig production. In the mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes, the inhibitory effect of SR on the IgE production in the presence of Con A was stronger than these on IgA and IgG production. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor-alpha $(TNF-{\alpha})$ production-inhibiting effect of SR in the presence ConA was observed. However, SR did not affect the production of $interferon-{\gamma}$. SR also inhibited histamine release from the peritoneal exudate cells stimulated with a calcium ionophore A23187. In the case of leukotriene B4, SR markedly inhibited it at the concentration of 100 mg/ml. From these results, ethanol extracts obtained from Scutellaria baicalensis may have an anti-allergic effect on the intestinal system of rats.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.247-254
• /
• 2007

Improvement in the pharmacokinetic properties of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is a prerequisite for the therapeutic application of RNA interference technology. When injected into mice as unmodified siRNAs complexed to DOTAP/Chol-based cationic liposomes, all 12 tested siRNA duplexes caused a strong induction of cytokines including interferon ${\alpha}$, indicating that the immune activation by siRNA duplexes is independent of sequence context. When modified by various combinations of 2'-OMe, 2'-F, and phosphorothioate substitutions, introduction of as little as three 2'-OMe substitutions into the sense strand was sufficient to suppress immune activation by siRNA duplexes, whereas the same modifications were much less efficient at inhibiting the immune response of single stranded siRNAs. It is unlikely that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) signaling is involved in immune stimulation by siRNA/liposome complexes since potent immune activation by ds siRNAs was induced in TLR3 knockout mice. Together, our results indicate that chemical modification of siRNA provides an effective means to avoid unwanted immune activation by therapeutic siRNAs. This improvement in the in vivo properties of siRNAs should greatly facilitate successful development of siRNA therapeutics.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.160-166
• /
• 2015

Yijung-tang (YJT) is a traditional herbal formula comprising 4 medicinal herbs. In the present study, we performed the simultaneous analysis for three compounds of YJT and examined anti-allergic effects in vitro. The column for separation of three compounds was used Gemini C18 column and maintained at 40$^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase for gradient elution consisted of two solvent systems. To evaluate Th2 chemokines, YJT was treated into tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$-stimulated HaCaT cells, and performed ELISA for thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). To measure Th2 cytokines, YJT was added into primary mouse splenocytes, and performed ELISA for interleukin (IL)-4, 5, 13. Calibration curves were acquired with r² >0.9999. The contents of liquiritin, glycyrrhizin, and 6-gingerol in YJT were 4.50 mg/g, 11.10 mg/g, and 1.33 mg/g, respectively. YJT inhibited production of TARC and RANTES in TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$-treated HaCaT cells. YJT also reduced production of IL-4, 5, and 13 in primary mouse splenocytes. In conclusion, our data will be a valuable information to improve quality control and anti-allergic effects of YJT.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.258-264
• /
• 2002

Zinc plays an important role in immunobiological responses, while excessive zinc attenuates immune functions in a dose-dependent manner. Zinc excess has been reported to increase levels of plasma prostaglandin E$_2$ (PGE$_2$), which is known to inhibit production of Th (helper T) 1-associated cytokines and to induce inflammatory responses. Thus, this study was investigated the effects of indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of PGE$_2$ synthesis, on the proinflammatory cytokine and lymphokine production in ICR mice exposed to excessive zinc. Indomethacin at doses of 5 mg/kg was administered i.p. 30 minutes before zinc chloride (Zn) 30 mg/kg orally daily for 10 days. Excessive Zn remarkedly increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-1$\beta$ levels in both serum and splenic supernatants compared with those in controls, while indomethacin significantly reduced the excessive Zn-induced levels of IL-1$\beta$. In serum, excessive Zn significantly decreased the levels of IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ compared with those in controls, whereas indomethacin significantly enhanced the excessive Zn-decreased levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ but did not affect the Zn-decreased levels of serum IL-2. In splenic supernatants, All of excessive Zn, indomethacin, and combination of Zn and indomethacin significantly enhanced IL-2 levels compared with those in controls, but indomethacin didn't affect the Zn-induced production of IL-2. These data, therefore, suggest that indomethacin significantly attenuated the in vivo and ex vivo IL-1$\beta$ production increased by excessive zinc and remarkedly enhanced the in vivo excessive zinc-suppressed production of IFN-${\gamma}$ but not IL-2.