• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2020

Mast cells play a key role in IgE-mediated allergic response. We investigated whether Swertia pseudochinensis Hara extract (SPE) inhibits IgE-mediated allergic response in mast cells and an allergic animal model. Additionally, we explored SPE's mechanism of action in mast cells. Our results showed that SPE inhibited both antigen-stimulated degranulation and the production of TNF-α and IL-4 in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. SPE also suppressed allergic response in IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in mice. As for the mechanism of action of SPE in mast cells, it inhibited the activation of Syk kinase, a critical signaling protein in the FcεRI-mediated signaling pathway, and also the activation of LAT, a downstream adaptor protein of Syk. We further observed the reduced activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (P38, ERK1/2, and JNK) and Akt in mast cells. Our results described for the first time that SPE has an anti-allergic effect by suppressing mast cells through the inhibition of Syk kinase. Therefore, SPE may be useful for the treatment of type I allergic diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.210-219
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• 2002

Background and Objectives The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis includes detailed clinical history, physical examination and the use of either in vivo or vitro tests for relevant allergens. Skin test has been used the most commonly. Recently MAST CLA is used for determination of serum spcecific IgE, This study attempted to find out the distribution of Sasang Constitution and to compare the MAST CLA with skin tests in allergic rhinitis patients. Methods Skin tests, MAST CLA and Sasang Constitution study were performed for 35 allergic rhinitis patients who visited Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from Sept. 2001 to Nov. 2001. Results 1. The ratio between male and female was 1:1.5. the peak age was the thirties(42.9$\%$) 2. 45.7$\%$ of patients had family history of allergic diseases and allergic rhinitis was the most common. 3. 51.4$\%$ of patients lived in A.P.T. and in preference of cool and warm, 54.3$\%$ of patients prefered both of cool and warm. 4. Among 24 cases who were consulted to dept. of Sasang, 45.8$\%$ was Taeumin. 5. 65.7$\%$ of patients reacted positive to skin test and the common offending allergen was D. pteronyssinus(82.6$\%$). 6. 25.7$\%$ of patients reacted positive to MAST CLA and the common offending allergen was D. farinae(88.9$\%$). 7. Among 22 cases who was performed skin test and MAST CLA the sensivity and specificity of MAST CLA was 27.4$\%$ and 94.9$\%$. There was significant correlations between MAST CLA and skin test(p=0.005, r=0.574, 1, spearman correlation coefficienct).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2015

Allergic diseases have rapidly increased in recent years. Mast cells play a critical role in IgE-mediated allergy responses and, therefore, closely associated with rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. We studied anti-allergic effect of Penthorum chinense extract (PCE) in vitro and in vivo. PCE inhibited the degranulation of mast cells by antigen stimulation and its effect was dose-dependent and reversible in mast cells. PCE also suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-4 by antigen in mast cells. Mechanistically, PCE inhibited the activation of Syk/LAT pathway which is a key signaling pathway for the activation of mast cells by antigen. Notably, PCE suppressed IgE-mediated allergic responses by antigen in mice. These results strongly suggest that PCE is a potential candidate for anti-allergic treatment.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2000

We investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Cichorium intybus (CIAE) on mast cell-mediated immediate type allergic reactions. CIAE dose-dependently inhibited systemic anaphylactic reaction induced by compound 48/80 in mice. Especially, CIAE inhibited compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic reaction 100% with the dose of 1000 mg/kg. CIAE 1000 mg/kg also significantly inhibited local anaphylactic reaction activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE. When mice were pretreated with CIAE at a concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1000 mg/kg, the plasma histamine levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. CIAE (1 to 1000 g/ml) dose-dependently inhibited histamine release from the rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. These results indicate that CIAE inhibits mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic reactions.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.386-391
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• 2005

The discovery of drugs for the treatment of mast cell-mediated allergic disease is a very important subject in human health. The Amomum xanthiodes (Zingiberaceae) has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine in Korea and is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, its specific mechanism of action is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the effect of hot water extract from Amomum xanthiodes (EAX) on the mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and studied its possible mechanisms of action. EAX inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis and serum his­tamine release in mice. EAX decreased the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE antibody. EAX dose-dependently reduced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. EAX increased cAMP and decreased compound 48/80-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels. Our findings provide evidence that EAX inhibits mast cell-derived allergic reactions, and also demonstrate the involvement of cAMP and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in these effects.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 1983

A Scanning electron microscope which can obtain additional information not readily available with either the light or transmission electron microscope was used to study the mast cell shape and its granules in normal mammal tissue(rat mesentery, stomach and mouse stomach) by fretting cut using liquid nitrogen. The results showed that rat mesentery and mouse stomach mast cell surfaces had no ridges and microvilli, but revealed several microvilli projecting into the surrounding connective tissue in the rat stomach mast cell. The shape of the mast cell varied from discoid(in the rat mesenteric mast cell) to ellipsoid (rat and mouse stomach), ranging from 7.5 to $10{\mu}m$ in diameter. The shape of the nucleus was ellipsoid and nucleic membrane was adherent to the outer surface of the granules. The granules, approximately 0.2 to $0.9{\mu}m$ in diameter, were various shapes. Frequently, rounded protrusions of cytoplasmic granules could be discerned under the cell membrane. Many small granules were seen in the cytoplasm.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.398-404
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• 2010

Complementary and alternative medicines are considered as a promising research field to develop new therapies for various allergic diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-allergic effect of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb (AP) by using passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice and its mechanism of action in mast cells. The extract of AP reversibly inhibited degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells and bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). AP also suppressed the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis inducing by IgE and antigen (Ag) in a dose-dependent manner. In the study to find its mechanism of action, AP inhibited the phosphorylation of Syk kinase, a pivotal protein which is regulated by Src-family kinase for activation of mast cells. In addition, AP also suppressed activation of Akt and Erk1/2 that are critical for the production of cytokines in mast cells. The results strongly suggest that AP exerts anti-allergic activity in vitro and in vivo through the inhibition of activation of Syk in mast cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.370-375
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• 2008

In this study, the anti-allergic activity and mechanim of Salviae radix (SR) were investigated. The ethanol extract of SR showed significant inhibitory effect on degranulation from antigen-stimulated mast cells and it also inhibited the expression and secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-4 in antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. In the mast cell-mediated local animal allergy model, it suppressed the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in a dose-dependent manner. As its mechanism of action, SR inhibited the activating phosphorylation of Syk, a downstream signaling molecule of Src-family kinase, for the activation of mast cells. The results of the study indicate that the anti-allergic activity of SR is mediated by the inhibition of Src-family kinase in mast cells.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 1999

Objectives : The alcohol dependence in elderly people has been prevalent because of increase in geriatric population. However, it is difficult to find out alcohol dependence in the aged, because they have less specific clinical features as compared with adult alcoholics. The aims of this study were to screen alcohol dependence among elderly Koreans and to know the clinical characteristics of Korean delerly alcoholics. Methods : The questionnaires translated into Korean such as Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST-K), the Brief MAST and the MAST-Geriatirc Version (MAST-KG) were used to screen alcohol dependence in the elderly alcoholic inpatients aged over 60(N=43), adult alcoholic inpatients within 20-59 Yrs of age(N=60), which were compared with age matched normal healthy aged(N=18) or adult controls(N=45). The demographic data such as sex, age, education, occupation, socioeconomic status, marital status, numbers of children, dwelling and religion as well as alcohol history such as duration of alcohol drinking, onset age, family history, impulsivity, somatic illness and motivation were also obtained to identify characteristic features of Korean aged alcoholics by structured interviews. Results : 1) The aged alcoholics had the charateristic features of more in males, lower age, low education levels, more in blue-collar workers, lower socioeconomic class, more in single, few babies, more living alone, having no religion without statistical significance. 2) The onset age of alcohol dependence was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics($45.3{\pm}13.6Yrs$) than in the adult alcoholics($27.7{\pm}8.7Yrs$)(p<0.0001). The duration of problematic alcohol drinking was significantly longer in the aged alcoholics($22.0{\pm}15.1Yrs$) than in adult alcoholics($14.2{\pm}8.4Yrs$)(p<0.01). Otherwise, there were no significant difference between aged and adult alcoholics in the family history, imulsivity, somatic illness and motivation. 3) The mean score of the MAST-K was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics($20.6{\pm}5.4$) than in the normal aged($6.7{\pm}4.4$)(p<0.0001), which was significantly lower than in the adult alcoholics($26.2{\pm}8.0$) and in normal adult controls($9.5{\pm}3.2$)(p<0.05). The mean score of the Brief MAST was significantly lower in the aged alcoholics($9.3{\pm}3.5$) than in the adult alcoholics($14.5{\pm}6.6$)(p<0.0001). The mean score of the MAST-KG was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics($10.6{\pm}3.5$) than in the normal aged($4.8{\pm}4.3$)(p<0.0001). The former was significantly lower than in the adult alcoholics($12.9{\pm}4.3$)(p<0.005), and the mean score was $4.5{\pm}2.8$ in normal adult controls. 4) The items which showed statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K(items 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, 17, 21, 22 and 23), 2 items of the Brief MAST(items 2 and 9), and 7 items of the MAST-KG(items 6, 13, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24)(p<0.01). Conclusions : The scores of the MAST-K, the Brief MAST and the MAST-KG were significantly lower in the aged alcoholics than those in the adult alcoholics (p<0.05). The statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K, 2 items of the Brief MAST and 7 items of the MAST-KG. Therefore, a briefer rating scales around 10 items are needed to screen alcohol dependence among Korean elderly people.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2004

Mast cells and goblet cells have the ability to protect against parasites by increasing mucus production that traps and excludes worms and prevents their intimate contact with the gut mucosa in the host. In this study, we investigated the function of mast cells and goblet cells for the rejection of Echinostoma hortense (E. hortense). In addition, we used both C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice in order to examine whether mast cells and goblet cells function differentially according to the strains of mice. After an oral infection with 30 E. hortense metacercariae, the number of mucosal mast cells and goblet cells, as well as worm recovery rate, were observed in experimentally infected mice between 1 week and 8 weeks post-infection (PI). Worm recovery rates in C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice were 65.7％ and 23％, respectively, in week 1 P.I., indicating that worm expulsion in C3H/HeN mice was higher than in BALB/c mice. Our results demonstrate that the period (week 3 P.I.) in which worm recovery falls rapidly is the same period that the number of goblet cells and mast cells reaches a peak. These results indicate that worm recovery significantly correlates with the growth rate of goblet cells and mast cells (P=0.0482). However, worm expulsion is not associated with goblet cells or mast cells in BALB/c mice.