• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.40-54
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• 2006

Objective: This study aimed to identify the different effects of GMCSBHT water-extract and ethanol-extract on Th1/Th2 differentiation by monitoring Th1/Th2 specific cytokine secretion patterns and the transcriptional activities of T-bet, GATA-3, c-maf, $INF{\gamma}$ and IL-4. Materials and Methods: Spleen cells from eight week-old BALB/c mice were cultured in GMCSBHT extracts containing medium without activation for 24 hours and with activation for 48 hours. CD4+ T cells were isolated and mRNA expression levels of $INF{\gamma}$, IL-4, T-bet, GATA-3, c-maf by RT-PCR and secretion cytokines levels of $IFN{\gamma}$, IL-4 by ELISA were analyzed. Results: GMCSBHT extracts didn't have mitogenic effects on the unstimulated CD4+ T cells. In Th1 skewed condition, GMCSBAHT water extract had no significant effects on mRNA expression levels of $IFN{\gamma}$, T-bet and c-maf, but inhibited mRNA expression levels of IL-4, GATA-3. It showed significantly increased secretion cytokine levels of $IFN{\gamma}$, but had no significant effect on secretion cytokine levels of IL-4. In Th2 skewed condition, GMCSBHT ethanol extract inhibited mRNA expression levels of $INF{\gamma}$, IL-4, GATA-3 and c-maf significantly, but had no significant effects on mRNA expression levels of T-bet. It had no significant effects on secretion cytokine levels of $INF{\gamma}$, but showed remarkable inhibitory effects on secretion cytokine levels of IL-4. Conclusion: Results suggest that on Th1/Th2 deviation, GMCSBHT water extract has both amplifying effects on Th1 differentiation and inhibitory effects on Th2, but GMCSBHT ethanol extract has stronger inhibitory effects on Th2 differentiation than on Th1.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.257-269
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• 2009

Objective : Obesity is an important cause of diabetes, and lipotoxicity causes insulin resistance. Recently a lot of research is being done on PPAR-${\alpha}$. TNF-${\alpha}$. adiponectin, and leptin, which are important obesity related factors. In this study, we investigated the effects of Supungsunki-hwan on high fat. high carbohydrate diet-induced obese type 2 diabetic mouse models. Methods: Diabetes was induced in ICR male mouse (30${\pm}$5g) with Surwit's high fat, high sucrose diet. Mice were divided into 4 groups(n=10) of Normal. Control. Supungsunkj-hwan group. and acarbose group. The Supungsunki-hwsn group was given 10% Supungsunkj-hwan in their diet. and the acarbose group was given 0.5% acarbose in their diet. After 6 weeks. body weight. food intake, FBS and OGTT. lipid profile and liver enzymes, epididymal fat weight, and gene expression of leptin, adiponectin, TNF-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\alpha}$ were measured. Leptin. adiponectin. tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-${\alpha}$ were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results : Supungsunkj-hwan increased the gene expression of PPAR-${\alpha}$, which reduces lipotoxicity and insulin resistance. Supungsunkj-hwan also significantly reduced triglyceride. AST. ALT serum levels. and 1 hour oral glucose tolerance levels. Conclusion : These results show that Supungsunkj-hwan improves insulin resistance in the liver and muscles, by reducing triglyceride levels and lipotoxicity through increased PPAR-${\alpha}$ gene expression. This is supported by the fact that Supungsunkj-hwan significantly reduces 1 hour oral glucose tolerance levels. Therefore we suggest that Supungsunkj-hwan would be an effective treatment for obese type 2 diabetic patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.871-877
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• 2008

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible heme-degrading enzyme, is expressed by macrophages and endothelial cells in response to various stresses and mediators of inflammation. HO-1 has been recently implicated in regulation of angiogenesis via expression of VEGF. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of HO-1 modulation on the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model and on angiogenesis via up- regulation of VEGF expression in human synovial fibroblast. DBA/1J mice were treated with an inhibitor of HO-1, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), or with an inducer of HO-1, cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), from day 1 to day 35 after CIA induction. The clinical evolution of disease was monitored visually. At the end of the experiment, histopathologic changes were examined on the joints. VEGF expression in paws were measured by immunohistochemical stain. mRNA expression of HO-1 and VEGF stimulated with various concentration of $TNF-{\alpha}$, CoPP accessed on human synovial fibroblast by RT-PCR. Effects of pretreatment with SnPP on mRNA expression of HO-1 and VEGF in the presence of CoPP and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in synovial fibroblast was accessed by Real-time RT-PCR. Administration of cobalt protoporphyrin IX significantly induced the inflammatory response, with increased arthritis index and expression of VEGF in the paws of the arthritis models. Treatment with SnPP significantly reduced the severity of CIA through inhibition of joint inflammation and cartilage destruction. The expression of VEGF were also significantly reduced by SnPP treatment in the paw. CoPPIX as inducer of HO-1, increased HO-1 and VEGF expression dose dependently in synovial fibroblast. In contrast, inhibition of HO-1 activity by SnPPIX abrogated CoPPIX-induced HO-1 and VEGF production in synovial fibroblast. Stimulation with $TNF-{\alpha}$ increased HO-1 and VEGF expression itself and showed additive effect on HO-1 and VEGF expression when it treated with CoPP. When SnPP was treated with CoPP and $TNF-{\alpha}$, it abrogated the CoPP induced HO-1 and VEGF expression and also abrogated $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced HO-1 and VEGF expression in synovial fibroblast. The effects of HO-1 induction in rheumatoid arthritis results in aggravation of arthritis via up-regulation of VEGF. I concluded that inhibition of the expression or activity of HO-1 could be a therapeutic target of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.209-218
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• 2014

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS), reflects pathophysiologic steps in MS such as the influence of T cells and antibodies reactive to the myelin sheath, and the cytotoxic effect of cytokines. Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a member of animal lectins that plays an essential role in various biological functions. The expression of Gal-9 is significantly enhanced in MS lesions; however, its role in autoimmune disease has not been fully elucidated. To identify the role of Gal-9 in EAE, we measured changes in mRNA and protein expression of Gal-9 as EAE progressed. Expression increased with disease progression, with a sharp rise occurring at its peak. Gal-9 immunoreactivity was mainly expressed in astrocytes and microglia of the central nervous system (CNS) and macrophages of spleen. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that $Gal-9^+CD11b^+$ cells were dramatically increased in the spleen at the peak of disease. Increased expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-R1 and p-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was observed in the CNS of EAE mice, suggesting that TNF-R1 and p-JNK might be key regulators contributing to the expression of Gal-9 during EAE. These results suggest that identification of the relationship between Gal-9 and EAE progression is critical for better understanding Gal-9 biology in autoimmune disease.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to evaluated the efficacy of mixture of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria supplement, which are contained with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum SPM1205, and Pediococcus pentosaceus for the management of constipation in animal model and clinical trials. 5 ICR mice and 4 female constipation subjects were orally taken mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria for 2 weeks. We investigated the number of fecal LAB and harmful enzymes activities before and after mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria application. As a result, fecal LAB count was increased and harmful enzymes activities of intestinal microflora were generally decreased after mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria application. Also, 61 female subjects were randomly assigned to receive either mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria or lactose and were taken three times a day for 2 weeks. Then, we analyzed mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria effect through the questionnaires. Daily consumption of this mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria improved the constipation in constipation group (56.3%) compared with lactose application group (26.7%). Furthermore, after mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria treatment, frequency of hard stool decreased from 0.22 to 0.03. These results indicated that mixture of LAB and bifidobacteria application is effective to improve the constipation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.486-491
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• 2010

Tight control of blood glucose is the most important strategy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of Welsh onion on fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia. Inhibitory activities of hot water extracts from the green stalk and white bulb, which are the edible portions of the Welsh onion, and the fibrous root extract against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase were measured in vitro. To study the effects of Welsh onion on postprandial hyperglycemia, a starch solution (1 g/kg) with and without Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) or acarbose (50 mg/kg) was administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after an overnight fast. Postprandial plasma glucose levels were measured and incremental areas under the response curve were calculated. To study the hypoglycemic effects of chronic feeding of Welsh onion, five-week-old db/db mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing either Welsh onion fibrous root extract at 0.5% or acarbose at 0.05% for 7 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Fasting plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin were measured. Compared to the extract from the edible portions of Welsh onion, the fibrous root extract showed stronger inhibition against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, with an $IC_{50}$ of 239 ${\mu}g/mL$. Oral administration of Welsh onion fibrous root extract (500 mg/kg) and acarbose (50 mg/kg) significantly decreased incremental plasma glucose levels 30-120 min after oral ingestion of starch as well as the area under the postprandial glucose response curve, compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The plasma glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin levels of the Welsh onion group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01), and were not significantly different from those fed acarbose. Thus, we conclude that the fibrous root of Welsh onion is effective in controlling hyperglycemia in animal models of diabetes mellitus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.95-95
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• 1997

Among the various receptor molecules discovered so far the ${\beta}$2-adrenergic receptors have been regarded as excellent model systems for the so called 7 transmembrane helix receptor and have been the focus of extensive studies. For the analysis of receptor structure and function a monoclonal antibody plays a crucial role, thus providing useful tools for the study of receptor. However, because of the minute quantity of receptor molecules which could be obtained from natural sources, the generation of specific monoclonal antibody against receptor molecules from the purified receptors has been regarded as virtually impractical in consideration of cost and experimental times. The purpose of the present study was to generate and characterize a monoclonal antibody against human ${\beta}$2-adrenergic receptor. For the production of antibody, C-terminal regions of the human ${\beta}$2-adrenergic receptor was produced as a fusion protein with Glutathion S-transferase (GST) in E. Coli. The expression of the fusion protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot using monoclonal anti-GST antibody. The fusion protein was purified to an apparent homogeniety by affinity chromatography with Glutathion Sepharose CL-4B and used as an antigen for the immunization of BALB/C mice. The Production of monoclonal antibody was achieved by fusion of the immunized spleen cells and SP/2-0 myeloma cells. Positive hybridomas were screened by ELISA and were cloned by two consecutive rounds of limiting dilution. The monoclonal antibody produced in this study (mAb${\beta}$C02) was IgM type and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using anti-mouse IgM agarose as an affinity matrix. MAb${\beta}$C02 showed strong and specific immunoreactivity against both the fusion protein and human ${\beta}$2-adrenergic receptor in ELISA and Western blot. The molecular weight of immunoreactive band was 64 kDa and exactly coincided with the previously reported molecular weight of ${\beta}$2-adrenergic recepters. The results of the present study suggest that mAb${\beta}$C02 may be used for the study of receptor function and regulation in normal or nonphysiological status.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.420-426
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• 2011

Rice bran is by-product from the dehulling process of rice, an important staple food in Korea. Various studies have been reported immune-enhancing effects of rice bran cultured with Lentinus edodes. In particular black rice bran that contains anthocyanin has the beneficial effects on immune system. SuperC3GHi, a recently released black colored rice cultivar, has higher contents of cyanidine-3-glucoside (C3G), a strong antioxidant than those of currently cultivated black rice cultivars. In this study, we investigate the beneficial effects of fermented SuperC3GHi rice bran (C3G-F) with Lentinus edodes. Using in vivo and in vitro model for inflammation and allgergy, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of C3G-F were determined. C3G-F induced tumor suppressive effect on Sarcoma-180 cell and B16 melanoma cell injected to mice. These results suggest that the capacity of C3G-F seems to act as a potent immunomodulator and with the absence of notable side-effects, C3G-F could be used as a novel functional food ingredient having possible therapeutic effects against immunological disorders.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.364-373
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• 2011

Human embryonic stem cells have been highlighted as a valuable cellular source in the regenerative medicine field, due to their pluripotency. However, there is the challenge of the establishment of specific functional cell type forms of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC). To establish and purify functional cell types from hESCs, we differentiated undifferentiated hESCs into vascular lineage cells and sorted the specific cell population from the whole cell population, depending on their cell volume, and compared them with the non-sorted cell population. We observed that about 10% of the PECAM positive population existed in the VEGF induced differentiating human embryoid body (hEB), and differentiated hEBs were made into single cells for cell transplantation. After making single cells, we performed cell sorting using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACs), according to their cell volume on the basis of FSC region gating, and compared their therapeutic capacity with the non-sorted cell population through cell transplantation into hindlimb ischemic disease model mice. 4 Weeks after cell transplantation, the recovery rate of blood perfusion reached 54% and 17% in the FSC regions of sorted cells- and non-sorted cells, respectively. This result suggests that derivation of a functional cell population from hESCs can be performed through cell sorting on the basis of cell volume after preliminary differentiation induction. This approach may then greatly contribute to overcoming the limitations of marker sorting.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Licorice has been shown to possess cancer chemopreventive effects. However, glycyrrhizin, a major component in licorice, was found to interfere with steroid metabolism and cause edema and hypertension. The roasting process of licorice modifies the chemical composition and converts glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhetinic acid. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-carcinogenic effects of the ethanol extract of roasted licorice (EERL) and to identify the active compound in EERL. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of roasted and un-roasted licorice were prepared. The active fraction was separated from the methylene chloride (MC)-soluble fraction of EERL and the structure of the purified compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The anti-carcinogenic effects of licorice extracts and licochalcone A was evaluated using a MTT assay, Western blot, flow cytometry, and two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. RESULTS: EERL was determined to be more potent and efficacious than the ethanol extract of un-roasted licorice in inhibiting the growth of DU145 and MLL prostate cancer cells, as well as HT-29 colon cancer cells. The aqueous extracts of un-roasted and roasted licorice showed minimal effects on cell growth. EERL potently inhibited growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast, B16-F10 melanoma, and A375 and A2058 skin cancer cells, whereas EERL slightly stimulated the growth of normal IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells and CCD118SK fibroblasts. The MC-soluble fraction was more efficacious than EERL in inhibiting DU145 cell growth. Licochalcone A was isolated from the MC fraction and identified as the active compound of EERL. Both EERL and licochalcone A induced apoptosis of DU145 cells. EERL potently inhibited chemically-induced skin papilloma formation in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Non-polar compounds in EERL exert potent anti-carcinogenic effects, and that roasted rather than un-roasted licorice should be favored as a cancer preventive agent, whether being used as an additive to food or medicine preparations.