• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.96-103
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• 2008

Objectives : Tongqiao-tang(TQT) has been commonly used for the treatment of common cold, rhinitis etc. Nowadays, TQT becomes one of the most frequently used medicines for allergic rhinitis, but the mechanism of TQT in vivo isn't investigated yet. This study was performed to investigate the effect of TQT on OVA-induced allergic rhinitis mouse model by calculating serum cytokines and IgE. Methods : 8 weeks aged male BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: the normal group, the control group and the medicated group (the TQT group). Each group was consisted of 15 mice. The TQT group was administered TQT extract orally one time a day (1g/kg) from the $1^{st}$ day of experiment till the $26^{th}$ day. The control group and the normal group were administered normal saline by the same method of the TQT group. To induce the allergic rhinitis in the control group and the TQT group, mice of each group were sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA) solution at the $1^{st}$, the $7^{th}$ and the $14^{th}$ day. After then, intranasal sensitization was performed by dropping 0.1% OVA solution in nasal cavity at the $22^{th}$, the $24^{th}$ and the $26^{th}$ day. At the $27^{th}$ day, the mice were killed and the changes of interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, total IgE and OVA-specific IgE were checked. Results : IFN-${\gamma}$ was increased 36% more in the TQT group than that in the control group. IL-4, IL-5, the total IgE and OVA-specific IgE were decreased in the TQT group as compared with the control group and these results were statistically significant. Conclusions : Considering the above experimental results, this study showed that TQT could reduce the allergic reaction in allergic rhinitis. Advanced studies are required to investigate the further mechanisms of TQT.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1791-1799
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• 2018

In this study, the immunomodulatory activity of oligopeptide (CP) derived from solid-state fermented cottonseed meal were investigated in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice models by treatment with cyclophosphamide (CY). Results indicated that oligopeptide increased the thymus and spleen indices of CY-treated mice. The count of plague forming cells (PFC) and the content of half serum hemolysis ($HC_{50}$) in immunosuppressive mice were restored to the normal level in CP-10 and CP-20 groups while the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) were increased significantly in CP-20 group. Similar increasing the immunoglobulin of IgG and IgM content in the serum of CP-10 group were also observed. These findings indicated that oligopeptide derived from solid-state fermented cottonseed meal had a strong immune-enhancing activity as well as a protective effect against immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide in mice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2022

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of 80% ethanol extracts of Stachys affinis (MQ) on 1-fluoro-2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in Balb/c mice. AD-like allergic contact dermatitis was induced by challenge of DNFB on the ear after DNFB sensitization on the back sides of mice. MQ alleivated clinical severity in AD-like skin lesions. In addition, ear thickness of epidermis and penetration of inflammatory cells in AD-like skin lesions were decreased by topical application of MQ. The the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were measured in AD mice using ELISA kits. Levels of TNF-α and IL-4 in serum were significantly decreased by topical application of MQ. Therefore, this study could give a clinical basis that MQ could be a agent to prevent AD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.397-405
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• 2023

Although glutathione (GSH) has been shown to play an important role in the prevention of oxidative damage as an antioxidant, studies on immune regulation by it have not been properly conducted. In this study, we investigated whether luthione^®, a reduced GSH, has an immune enhancing effect in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The results of flow cytometry and immunofluorescence experiments indicated that luthione increased phagocytic activity, a representative function of macrophages, compared to the control cells. According to the results of the cytokine array, the expression of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-1β, and IL-27 was significantly increased in the luthione-treated cells. Luthione also enhanced the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β through increased expression of their proteins, and increased release of the immune mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ was associated with increased expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, the expression of cluster of differentiation 86, an M1 macrophage marker, was dramatically enhanced in RAW 264.7 cells treated with luthione. Furthermore, as a result of heat map analysis, we found that cytokine signaling 1/3-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription/Janus tyrosine kinase signaling pathway was involved in the immunomodulatory effect by luthione. In conclusion, our data suggested that luthione could act as a molecular regulator in M1 macrophage polarization and enhance immune capacity by promoting macrophage phagocytic function.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2951-2957
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• 2014

Background: Gastric carcinogenesis is a complicated process that involves environmental and genetic factors like interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-8. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in their genes are associated with changed levels of gene expression. Here, we investigated the association between IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A and gastric cancer (GC) risk in Sichuan of Southwestern China. Materials and Methods: We surveyed the research subjects using a self-designed questionnaire with questions on demographic factors and putative risk factors. Approximately 2-5ml of whole blood was collected after field survey to analyze IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A genotypes using MALDI-TOF MS. Results: Our study recruited 308 pairs of GC patients and controls, including 224 (72.7%) men and 84 (27.3%) women in each group. There were 99 cardia and 176 noncardia GC patients in the case group. The case and control groups had an average age of $57.7{\pm}10.6$ ($mean{\pm}SD$) and $57.6{\pm}11.1$ years. GC patients reported a significantly greater proportion of family history of cancer (29.9% vs 10.7%, p<0.01) and drinking (54.6% vs 43.2%, p<0.01) than did controls. Variant genotypes of IL-4-590 C>T and IL-8-251 T>A were not associated with overall GC risk (adjusted OR, 0.89; 95%CI, 0.61-1.28 for CT or CC vs TT; adjusted OR, 1.14; 95%CI, 0.86-1.79 for TA or AA vs TT). Stratification analysis of two SNPs for risk by subsites only found that variant IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype was associated with increased noncardia GC risk (adjusted OR, 2.58; 95%CI, 1.19-5.57). We did not observe interactions between the IL-8-251 T>A genotype and smoking (adjusted OR, 0.38; 95%CI, 0.08-1.79) or drinking (adjusted OR, 0.36; 95%CI, 0.08-1.65) for risk of noncardia GC. Conclusions: Our data indicate no association between the two SNPs of IL-4-590 and IL-8-251 with overall GC risk, while the IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype conferred risk of cardia GC. Our findings contribute to the evidence body for risk of SNPs associated with the development of gastric cancer in this region.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.922-931
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• 2000

Background : It has been well known that bronchia1 asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder. Recently, sputum induced with hypertonic saline was introduced as a simple and useful nonivasive medium to investigate airway inflammation and symptom severity in patients with asthma. We examined the eosinophil, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin(IL)-3, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating facta (GM-CSF), and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives in induced sputum from patients with bronchia1 asthma in order to determine the role of NO and various inflammatory cytokines as a useful markers of airway inflammation or changes in pulmonary function tests and symptoms. Methods : A total 30 patients with bronchia1 asthma received oral prednisolone 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), total blood eosinophil count and induced sputum eosinophil count, ECP, IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and NO derivatives were determined before and after the administration of prednisolone. Results : Of the 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were male and 17 (56.7%) were female. The mean age of patients was 41.8 years (range 19-64 years). Two patients could not produce sputum at the second study and 3 could not be followed up after their first visit. Two weeks after the prednisolone administration, there was a significant increase in $FEV_1$ (% of predicted value) from 78.1$\pm$20.6 % to 90.3$\pm$ 18.3 % (P<0.001). The eosinophil percentages in induced sputum were significantly decreased after treatment with prednisolone, with values of 56.1$\pm$27.2 % versus 29.6$\pm$21.3 % (P<0.001), and ECP were $134.5\pm68.1\;{\mu}g/L$ versus $41.5\pm42.4\;{\mu}g/L$ (P<0.001) respectively. After the prednisolone treatments, the eotaxin concentration also showed a decreasing tendency from 26.7$\pm$12.8 pg/ml to 21.7$\pm$8.7 pg/ml. There was a decreasing tendency but no significant differences in total blood eosinophil count (425.7$\pm$265.9 vs 287.7$\pm$294.7) and in the concentration of NO derivatives ($70.4\pm44.6{\mu}mol/L$ vs $91.5\pm48.3\;{\mu}mol/L$) after the prednisolone treatments. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF were undetectable in the sputum of most subjects either before the prednisolone treatments or after the treatments. Before the prednisolone treatments, a significant inverse correlation was observed between FEV1 and sputum ECP (r=-D.364, P<0.05) and there was a significant correlation between sputum eosinophils and eotaxin (r=0.369, P<0.05) Conclusion : The eotaxin and ECP concentration in induced sputum may be used as markers of airway inflammation after treatments in bronchia1 asthma. In addition, the measurement of sputum eosinophil percent ages is believed to be a simple method displaying the degree of airway inflammation and airway obstruction before and after the prednisolone treatment in bronchia1 asthma. However, unlike exhaled NO, the examination of NO derivatives with Griess reaction in induced sputum is considered an ineffective marker of changing airway inflammation and obstructing symptoms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.340-347
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• 2022

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the Ulva lactuca Linnaeus extracts were measured. As a result of the MTT assay of the extract, it was found that the cell viabilities were higher than 90% at all concentrations, and the cell promotion rate exceeded 100% at a certain concentration. Therefore, in all subsequent experiments, the highest concentration was set at 500 ㎍/ml. In the nitric oxide (NO) assay, one of the anti-inflammatory experiments, the Ulva lactuca Linnaeus extracts exhibited inhibitory effects of 16%, 19%, and 62% at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ㎍/ml, respectively, compared with the LPS-only group. In tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) assay, the extracts showed inhibitory effects of 16%, 17%, and 27% at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ㎍/ml, respectively, compared with the LPS-only group. In the interleukin-6 (IL-6) assay, the extracts also showed inhibitory effects of 15% and 28% at concentrations of 50 and 500 ㎍/ml, respectively, compared with the LPS-only group. In the total polyphenol content assay, the extracts exhibited 8.02, 9.90, and 23.8 mg GAE/g at concentrations of 0.3, 3, and 30 mg/ml, respectively. In the ABTS assay, the extracts exhibited scavenging activities of 2.6, 12.6, and 77.3% at concentrations of 0.3, 3, and 30 mg/ml, respectively. Therefore, it is considered that Ulva lactuca Linnaeus extracts can be used as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1130-1136
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• 2017

Traditionally, the larvae of Allomyrina dichotoma (AD), a species of the rhinoceros beetle, have been widely used for their antidiabetic, antihepatofibrotic, antineoplastic, and antiobesity effects. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization has reported on the possibility of using edible insects in human dietary supplements in the future. However, despite the growing interest in insect-based bio-active products, the biological activities of these products have rarely been studied. Previously, we reported that AD larvae inhibit the in vitro differentiation of adipocytes via transcription factor downregulation. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the effects of a hot-water extract of AD larvae on allergy and inflammation. To investigate the inhibitory effect of the extract on allergic reactions, we measured the levels of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) after activation of RBL-2H3 cells using Compound 48/80. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the extract on inflammation was determined using Raw 264.7 cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The extract significantly inhibited the ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, and COX-2 levels in RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, it effectively inhibited the inflammatory cytokine IL-6, nitric oxide, and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. These results suggest that AD larval extract can be potentially developed as an antiallergic and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1999

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the changes in soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level in sera and urines of children with primary nephrotic syndrome, eliminating the confounding effects of age, proteinuria, and steroid treatment. Methods: Soluble IL-2R was measured by ELISA in sera and urines from patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis as well as from healthy controls. The serum levels and urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were compared between control group and the 12 patient groups divided by their ages (0-1, 2-4, over 5 years), and presence or absence of proteinuria and/or steroid treatment (PU+Tx-, PU+Tx+, PU-Tx+, PU-Tx-). Results: Though the differences were not statistically significant probably because of the small numbers, serum sIL-2R levels seemed to be higher in younger age groups both in patients and control group. Nephrotic children did not show higher serum levels than normal children. Among the patients, proteinuric condition seemed to raise and steroid treatment tended to suppress the serum sIL-2R levels. Urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were higher in younger age groups, more significantly in patients (P<0.001). Proteinuria and steroid treatment affected the urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios by the same way as the serum sIL-2R levels. Serum sIL-2R levels and urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were not different between groups of different histologic findings or steroid responsiveness (P>0.05). Conclusion: Serum sIL-2R levels and the urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios were higher in younger age, and they were not higher in nephrotic patients compared to control group. The patients in relapse showed higher levels, while the levels were suppressed with steroid treatment. In proteinuric state, urinary sIL-2R/creatinine ratios reflected serum sIL-2R levels.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.674-691
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils extracted from the wood of Chamaecyparis obtusa, Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, and Larix kaempferi. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation, and their chemical components were determined by GC/MS. Major chemical components of these essential oils were ${\alpha}$-cadinol (19.25%), ${\tau}$-muurolol (14.20%), and ${\alpha}$-pinene (13.74%) in C. obtusa; ${\alpha}$-pinene (47.16%), longifolene (14.31%), ${\beta}$-phellandrene (11.78%), and ${\beta}$-pinene (11.02%) in P. densiflora; ${\alpha}$-pinene (13.49%) and longifolene (10.79%) in P. koraiensis, and geranyl linalool (23.58%) and ${\alpha}$-pinene (18.57%) in L. kaempferi. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RBL-2H3 mast cells were treated with these essential oils; then, the changes in the mRNA expression level of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 were examined. Further, degranulation was evaluated by measuring ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release. After LPS-induced RBL-2H3 mast cells were exposed to $10^{-7}%$ of all types of essential oils, the gene expression levels of IL-4 and IL-13 within the cells remarkably decreased. The relative mRNA expression level of IL-4 was 69.6% in P. densiflora, 63.2% in P. koraiensis, 55.1% in C. obtusa, and 45.8% in L. kaempferi compared with that in the group treated with LPS. The mRNA expression level of L-13 should a similar trend. The inhibitory rate of IL-13 mRNA expression of P. densiflora, P. koraiensis, C. obtusa, and L. kaempferi was 57.8%, 57.1%, 51.1%, and 34.5%, respectively. ${\beta}$-Hexosaminidase release significantly decreased following the treatment with the four types of essential oils. The rate of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release were 38.1% C. obtusa; 33.0% P. densiflora; 27.4% P. koraiensis; and 9.1% L. kaempferi. Among all types of essential oils, that extracted from P. densiflora wood showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity. These results show that the tested essential oils exert an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of degranulation and expression of cytokines.