• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2010

The function of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in cancer remains controversial, and its signaling pathways remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that MIC-1 induces the transactivation of EGFR, ErbB2, and ErbB3 through the activation of c-Src in SK-BR-3 breast cells. MIC-1 induced significant phosphorylation of EGFR at Tyr845, ErbB2 at Tyr877, and ErbB3 at Tyr1289 as well as Akt and p38, Erk1/2, and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Treatment of SK-BR-3 cells with MIC-1 increased the phosphorylation level of Src at Tyr416, and induced invasiveness of those cells. Inhibition of c-Src activity resulted in the complete abolition of MIC-1-induced phosphorylation of the EGFR, ErbB2, and ErbB3, as well as invasiveness and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in SK-BR-3 cells. Collectively, these results show that MIC-1 may participate in the malignant progression of certain cancer cells through the activation of c-Src, which in turn may transactivate ErbB-family receptors.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.45-60
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was guided to estimate inhibitory effects against hepatic metastasis and activation of immunocytes by Carthami Semen Herbal Acupuncture. Methods : Colon26-L5 carcinoma cells were injected through hepatic portal vein to induce hepatic metastatic cancer. Changes in weight, morphology of the cancer were estimated and cytokine level was analyzed to produce immunological changes. Results: The experimental group was significantly decreased metastatic size and proliferation compared with the control group. Observing immunocytes from the spleen of experimental group T-lymphocytes were significantly increased. As compared with control group, the differentiation of total T cell, helper T cell, cytotoxic T cell, Macrophage and NK cell was increased. Measuring the level of cytokine $IFN-{\gamma}$ which stimulates Th 1 was significantly increased in splenocyte with Con A stimuli. $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-12 were significantly increased in peritoneal exudate macrophage with LPS stimuli. Conclusion : These findings strongly indicate Carthami Semen Herbal Acupuncture improves immunity to inhibit the growth of cancer and metastasis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.258-263
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• 2013

We demonstrate herein that silibinin, a polyphenolic flavonoid compound isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), inhibits LPS-induced activation of macrophages and production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells. Western blot analysis showed silibinin inhibits iNOS gene expression. RT-PCR showed that silibinin inhibits iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $IL1{\beta}$. We also showed that silibinin strongly inhibits p38 MAPK phosphorylation, whereas the ERK1/2 and JNK pathways are not inhibited. The p38 MAPK inhibitor abrogated the LPS-induced nitrite production, whereas the MEK-1 inhibitor did not affect the nitrite production. A molecular modeling study proposed a binding pose for silibinin targeting the ATP binding site of p38 MAPK (1OUK). Collectively, this series of experiments indicates that silibinin inhibits macrophage activation by blocking p38 MAPK signaling.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.382-387
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• 2014

Corn silk (CS) has long been consumed as a traditional herb in Korea. Maysin is a major flavonoid of CS. The effects of maysin on macrophage activation were evaluated, using the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Maysin was isolated from CS by methanol extraction, and preparative $C_{18}$ reverse phase column chromatography. Maysin was nontoxic up to $100{\mu}g/ml$, and dose-dependently increased TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion and iNOS production by 11.2- and 4.2-fold, respectively, compared to untreated control. The activation and subsequent nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ was substantially enhanced upon treatment with maysin ($1-100{\mu}g/ml$). Maysin also stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt and MAPKs (ERK, JNK). These results indicated that maysin activates macrophages to secrete TNF-${\alpha}$ and induce iNOS expression, via the activation of the Akt, NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPKs signaling pathways. These results suggest for the first time that maysin can be a new immunomodulator, enhancing the early innate immunity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated the immunological properties of six strains of Acetobacter pasteurianus through nuclear factor-kappa B/activator protein-1 (NF-κB/AP-1) transcription factor activation and nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production in macrophages. We found that the six A. pasteurianus strains had no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of RAW-Blue^TM cells at the concentration of (25, 50, 100 CFU/macrophage). The production of NO and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) showed different abilities of immune activation for each strain, and it was 0.7 to 0.9 times higher than that of the LPS (100 ng/mL, v/v) positive control and 7 to 8 times superior to that of the negative control group. To explore the underlying mechanism, we evaluated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Consequently, we found that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression including genes expression of cytokines were elevated by the six A. pasteurianus treatment. These results suggested that the six strains of A. pasteurianus have an excellent industrial application value as a functional material for the purpose of enhancing immune function.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2024

Blueberry (BB), fruit of Vacciniumi, has been hailed as an antioxidant superfood. BB is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, phenolic acids and known to have a variety of pharmacological actions. The purpose of this work is to clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanism of BB in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophage. We explored the effects of BB on the production of inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophage. Moreover, to investigate the molecular mechanisms by BB, we evaluated whether BB modulate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF)-kB pathway and caspase- 1 activation. The findings of this work demonstrated that BB alleviated the LPS-enhanced inflammatory cytokines and PGE₂, as well as COX-2 levels. Additionally, we demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of BB occurs due to the attenuation of IκB-α degradation, NF-kB translocation and caspase-1 activation. Conclusively, these findings provide evidence that BB may be useful agents in the treatment of inflammation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.177-181
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• 2010

Few cases of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) or reactive hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) during the acute febrile phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) have been reported. We report on a case of a 19 month-old girl with MAS or reactive HLH during the course of KD. Despite immunoglobulin and steroid therapy, she showed persistent fever with hepatosplenomegaly and evidence of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow. A high index of suspicion for clinical features associated with MAS is necessary for KD patients in order to provide appropriate treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.2 s.33
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• pp.10-35
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• 2007

Objectives : To investigate the effects of Ohbaesangami (OBSGM) on mucosa and skin diseases, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory tests were performed using several in vitro test models. Results : In anti-microbial test, OBSGM showed the slight inhibitory effect against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In anti-oxidant test, OBSGM showed the potent radical scavenging activity. In anti-inflammatory test, OBSGM weakly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide(NO) release from the RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. OBSGM also inhibited the LPS-induced $interleukin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$ and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions. The inhibitory effects of OBSGM on macrophage activation was via the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$, evidenced by transient transfection assay. Furthermore, OBSGM markedly inhibited the activation of Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase in RAW 264.7 cells. In skin wrinkle formation assay, OBSGM strongly inhibited collagnease and elastase, whose activities are tightly related with the wrinkle formation. In addition, OBSGM inhibited the activities of MMP-1, MMP-2 on the mRNA levels in RAW 264.7 cells. However, OBSGM did not show an inhibitory potential on tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis, indicating that it could not be applicable for skin whitening. Conclusion : These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of OBSGM may be due to its inhibitory potentials on the macrophage activation. And, the anti-wrinkle effects of OBSGM may be due to its inhibitory potential on the collagnease and elastase activities. Therefore, OBSGM could be applicable for the treatment of mucosa and skin diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.10
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• pp.421-424
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• 2016

Recurrent macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is very rare. We present the case of an adolescent boy with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis (AS), who experienced episodes of recurrent MAS since he was a toddler. A 16-year-old boy was admitted because of remittent fever with pancytopenia and splenomegaly after surgical intervention for an intractable perianal abscess. He had been diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) 4 different times, which was well controlled with intravenous immunoglobulin and steroids since the age of 3. We were unable to identify the cause for the HLH. He remained symptom-free until the development of back pain and right ankle joint pain with swelling at 15 years of age. He was diagnosed with HLA B27-positive AS with bilateral active sacroiliitis. He showed symptom aggravation despite taking naproxen and methotrexate, and the symptoms improved with etanercept. On admission, his laboratory data showed leukopenia with high ferritin and triglyceride levels. Bone marrow biopsy examination showed histiocytic hyperplasia with hemophagocytosis. There was no evidence of infection. He received naproxen alone, and his symptoms and laboratory data improved without any other immunomodulatory medications. Genetic study revealed no primary HLH or inflammasome abnormalities. In this case, underlying autoimmune disease should have been considered as the cause of recurrent MAS in the young patient once primary HLH was excluded.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2018

Flammulina velutipes is an edible mushroom and contains a lot of fiber, vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$, niacin and folic acid. This study was conducted to explore the effects of the Flammulina velutipes mushroom on immune cells and immunity. Th1 cytokine productions as $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-2 were measured in an activated macrophage by Flammulina velutipes water extract in seven concentrations (0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and $1,000{\mu}g/mL$). Also, the splenocyte proliferation index was measured at 48 hours after treatment of the Flammulina velutipes water extract in seven concentrations or mitogen, LPS and ConA. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ productions were increased by treatment of the Flammulina velutipes water extract. The $TNF-{\alpha}$ production was significantly higher in the $50{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ Flammulina velutipes water extract treated macrophages. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of macrophages treated with the Flammulina velutipes water extract increased significantly in all groups, and the highest $1000{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. The splenocyte proliferation index was enhanced when the $10{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ Flammulina velutipes water extracts were treated compared to the control. These primary results suggest that Flammulina velutipes may enhance the immune function by activation of the macrophage and spleen cell.