• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3561-3566
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• 2010

Interleukin 32 (IL-32) is a recently identified cytokine that induces major proinflammatory cytokines such as $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, which play an important role in chronic inflammatory diseases. To antagonize the biological function of IL-32 in cells, we generated RNA aptamers that could bind specifically to IL-32 protein. The highest affinity aptamer, AC3-3, successfully antagonized IL-32 by abolishing the induction of $TNF{\alpha}$ in the human lung carcinoma cells expressing IL-32. This aptamer could be used as a potent and selective antagonist against IL-32 to further elucidate the roles of IL-32 in chronic inflammatory diseases, as well as a therapeutic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.471-479
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• 2023

Disulfiram (DSF), a medication for alcoholism, has recently been used as a repurposing drug owing to its anticancer effects. Despite the crucial role of dendritic cells (DCs) in immune homeostasis and cancer therapy, the effects of DSF on the survival and function of DCs have not yet been studied. Therefore, we treated bone marrow-derived DCs with DSF and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and performed various analyses. DCs are resistant to DSF and less cytotoxic than bone marrow cells and spleen cells. The viability and metabolic activity of DCs hardly decreased after treatment with DSF in the absence or presence of LPS. DSF did not alter the expression of surface markers (MHC II, CD86, CD40, and CD54), antigen uptake capability, or the antigen-presenting ability of LPS-treated DCs. DSF decreased the production of interleukin (IL)-12/23 (p40), but not IL-6 or tumor necrosis factor-α, in LPS-treated DCs. We considered the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as a factor to make DCs resistant to DSF-induced cytotoxicity. The resistance of DCs to DSF decreased when GM-CSF was not given or its signaling was inhibited. Also, GM-CSF upregulated the expression of a transcription factor XBP-1 which is essential for DCs' survival. This study demonstrated for the first time that DSF did not alter the function of DCs, had low cytotoxicity, and induced differential cytokine production.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.435-441
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• 2023

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) may secrete hormones or bioactive neuropeptides such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), which can mask the clinical manifestations of catecholamine hypersecretion. We report the case of a patient with delayed diagnosis of paraganglioma due to the development of IL-6-mediated systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). A 58-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and flank pain accompanied by SIRS and acute cardiac, kidney, and liver injuries. A left paravertebral mass was incidentally observed on abdominal computed tomography (CT). Biochemical tests revealed increased 24-hour urinary metanephrine (2.12 mg/day), plasma norepinephrine (1,588 pg/mL), plasma normetanephrine (2.27 nmol/L), and IL-6 (16.5 pg/mL) levels. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/CT showed increased uptake of FDG in the left paravertebral mass without metastases. The patient was finally diagnosed with functional paraganglioma crisis. The precipitating factor was unclear, but phendimetrazine tartrate, a norepinephrine-dopamine release drug that the patient regularly took, might have stimulated the paraganglioma. The patient's body temperature and blood pressure were well controlled after alpha-blocker administration, and the retroperitoneal mass was surgically resected successfully. After surgery, the patient's inflammatory, cardiac, renal, and hepatic biomarkers and catecholamine levels improved. In conclusion, our report emphasizes the importance of IL-6-producing PPGLs in the differential diagnosis of SIRS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.971-977
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• 1999

Background: Immunologic and inflammatory responses of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) influence postoperative mortality and morbidity with multiple organ injury. It has been reported that ischemia/reperfusion induced-myocardial injury during CPB is causative of release of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$). The purpose of this study was to detect the time course of the activated cytokine and troponin-T(TnT), and to examine the correlation between such parameters during CPB. Material and Method: The serial samples were collected from arterial blood via radial arterial catheter in 23 patients who are underwent open heart surgery (OHS) with CPB, the IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ and TnT were checked. Result: \circled1 IL-6, TNF$\alpha$- and TnT concentration increased significantly during CPB with a peaking level of CPB-off (p 0.05). \circled2 IL-6 had highly positive correlation with aortic cross clamping time and total bypass time(r=0.80, 0.78; p 0.05, respectively). \circled3 There was no correlation among IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ and TnT. Conclusion: In conclusion, these data showed that elevated production of serum IL-6 during CPB was attributable to ischemia/reperfusion induced-myocardial damage. IL-6 will become a new and sensitive biological marker in assessment of myocardial damage during OHS with CPB. However, further studies will be needed to apply IL-6 in more patient population.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.221-246
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• 2004

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kamikwiryongtang (KKT) on the immune response and growth in a young mouse (3 weeks mice). Methods The viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in vivo and in vitro system, the population of helper T (Th) cells and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in thymocytes and increased the population of T-lymphocytes and the population of Th cells in splenocytes, the production of ${\gamma}$ -interferon, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in splenocytes was investigated. KKT (500mg/kg) was administerd p.o. once a day for 7 days. Results: KKT increased the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in vivo, but did not affect the viability of thymocytes and enhanced the viability of splenocytes in vitro system. In addition, KKT did not affect the population of helper T (Th) cells and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in thymocytes and increased the population of T -lymphocytes and the population of Th cells in splenocytes. Also, KKT increased the production of ${\gamma}$-interferon, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in splenocytes. Furthermore, KKT increased the production of nitric oxide in vivo, but did not affect the production of nitric oxide in vitro system. KKT enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in vivo, but decreased the phagocytic activity in vitro system: KKT increased the body weight of a young mouse. Conclusions: KKT stimulates the specific immune response via increase of, the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes and the non-specific immune response via increase of phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and stimulates the growth of a young mouse.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2006

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease that is characterized by invasive synovial hyperplasia, leading to progressive joint destruction. Recent studies have described that RA is caused by virus, bacteria or outside material. Approximately 2 to 20% of RA cases arc reported to be associated with infected hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the mechanisms underlying virus-induced RA are still unknown. Moreover, few molecular studies have addressed the inflammatory aspects of HCV-associated autoimmune RA. In this study, we aimed to determine whe ther or not another HCV core protein transactivates the IL-8 gene expression, prototypic chemokine, in synovial cell. Methods: To establish the HCV core expressing stable synovial cell line, pCI-neo-core, a plasmid encoding HCV core protein, were transfected to HIG-82 cell line that is an established cell line from rabbit periaricular soft tissue. We examined the morphological changes and cell cycle distribution of HIG-82 cells with expression of HCV core protein by inverted microscopy and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Also, we determined the mRNA levels of Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 related to the inflammation by RT-PCR and then analyzed regulation of IL-8 expression by the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Results: Our study showed no significant differences in morphology and cell cycle between HIG-82 control cell line and HIG-82 expressing HCV core protein. However, expression of HCV core protein induces the IL-8 mRNA expression in HIG-82 core cells via activated NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Conclusion: These results suggest that HCV core protein can lead to enhanced IL-8 expression. Such a proinflammatory role may contribute to the etiologic pathogenesis in RA patients with HCV infection.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2005

Both nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been thought to have a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory periodontal disease as it does in other inflammatory diseases, and the inhibitors of NO and IL-6 production have been considered as potential anti-inflammatory agents. In this study, we evaluated methanol extract of Sophorae Flos for inhibition of NO and IL-6 production in Prevotella intermedia LPS-induced mouse macrophages RAW264.7 cells. Dried Sopharae Flos was sliced, and extracted with 100% methanol. LPS from p. intermedia ATCC 25611 was prepared by the standard hot phenol-water method. NO production was assayed by measuring the accumulation of nitrite in culture supematants and IL-6 was measured using mouse IL-6 ELISA kit. Western blot analysis of iNOS and analysis of reverse transcription (RT)-PCR products were carried out. The methanol extract of Sophorae Flos concentration-dependently reduced the production of NO and the expression of iNOS protein and mRNA in RAw264.7 cells treated with P. intermedia LPS. Sophorae Flos also suppressed IL-6 production and the expression of IL-6 mRNA in RAw264.7 cells stimulated by P. intermedia LPS. The inhibition of NO and IL-6 production by Sophorae Flos may be useful in the therapy of inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis. This hypothesis, however, remains to be tested.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.479-490
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• 2020

Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is well known for its role in allergic inflammation. For cancer, both pro- and anti-tumor effects of IL-9 were controversially reported, but the impact of IL-9 on tumor metastasis has not yet been clarified. In this study, IL-9 was expressed as a secretory form (sIL-9) and a membrane-bound form (mbIL-9) on B16F10 melanoma cells. The mbIL-9 was engineered as a chimeric protein with the transmembrane and cytoplasmic region of TNF-α. The effect of either mbIL-9 or sIL-9 expressing cells were analyzed on the metastasis capability of the cancer cells. After three weeks of tumor implantation into C57BL/6 mice through the tail vein, the number of tumor modules in lungs injected with IL-9 expressing B16F10 was 5-fold less than that of control groups. The percentages of CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, NK cells, and M1 macrophages considerably increased in the lungs of the mice injected with IL-9 expressing cells. Among them, the M1 macrophage subset was the most significantly enhanced. Furthermore, peritoneal macrophages, which were stimulated with either sIL-9 or mbIL-9 expressing transfectant, exerted higher anti-tumor cytotoxicity compared with that of the mock control. The IL-9-stimulated peritoneal macrophages were highly polarized to M1 phenotype. Stimulation of RAW264.7 macrophages with sIL-9 or mbIL-9 expressing cells also significantly increased the cytotoxicity of those macrophages against wild-type B16F10 cells. These results clearly demonstrate that IL-9 can induce an anti-metastasis effect by enhancing the polarization and proliferation of M1 macrophages.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.319-327
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• 2004

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of defibrotide on the development of the surgically induced reflux esophagitis, on gastric secretion, lipid peroxidation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) accumulation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes adherence, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in PMNs, scavenge of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide, cytokine (interleukin-1 ${\beta}$, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$) production in blood, and intracelluar calcium mobilization in PMNs. Defibrotide did not inhibit the gastric secretion and not change the gastric pH. Treatment of esophagitis rats with defibrotide inhibited lipid peroxidation, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the esophagus in comparison with untreated rats. Defibrotide significantly decreased the PMN adherence to superior mesenteric artery endothelium in a dose-dependent manner, Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in $1{\mu}M$ formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP)- or $0.1{\mu}g/ml$ N-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-activated PMNs was inhibited by defibrotide in a dose-dependent fashion. Defibrotide effectively scavenged the hydrogen peroxide but did not scavenge the hydroxyl radical. Treatment of esophagitis rats with defibrotide inhibited interleukin-1 ${\beta}$ production in the blood in comparison with untreated rats, but tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ production was not affected by defibrotide. The fMLP-induced elevation of intracellular calcium in PMNs was inhibited by defibrotide. The results of this study suggest that defibrotide may have partly beneficial protective effects against reflux esophagitis by the inhibition lipid peroxidation, PMNs accumulation, PMNs adherence to endothelium, reactive oxygen species production in PMNs, inflammatory cytokine production(i.e. interleukin-1 ${\beta}$), and intracellular calcium mobilization in PMNs in rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.149-154
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• 2003

The immunomodulatory activity of PJ-P, a polysaccharide fraction extracted from Paeonia japonica, were reported in our previous paper. In the present study, we investigated that PJ-P inhibited cancer growth through activation of macrophages. The activities of peritoneal macrophage to induce tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin-1 (IL-1)$\beta$, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) as well as to ingest fluorescence-latex microbeads were enhanced by treatment of PJ-P. Direct cytocidal activity of PJ-P against cancer cells was not shown. However, in vitro, peritoneal macrophages treated with PJ-P had an activity to kill cancer cells. Furthermore, PJ-P significantly prolonged the survival of mice implanted intraperitoneally with B16F0 mel-anoma cells. These results suggest that PJ-P could be a useful immunomodulator and assistant of anti-tumor agent.