• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2014

Phellinus linteus has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries and is known to have anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activities. However, the protective effects of P. linteus against experimental asthma have not been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether P. linteus ethanol extract (PLE) suppresses inflammatory response in an OVA-induced asthma model. As expected, the oral administration of PLE significantly inhibited eosinophilic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-challenged BALB/c mice. Supporting these data, the augmentation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), eotaxin, and adhesion molecules in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after OVA inhalation was markedly attenuated by PLE. Furthermore, PLE reduced OVA-induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK in lung tissues. Therefore, our results suggest the potential of P. linteus as a therapeutic agent for asthma.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4 s.55
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• pp.349-355
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• 2006

Dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DXM) has been widely used as a nonopioid antitussive drug with low toxicity and low potential for drug dependency. DXM is a psychotropic drug since 2003 in our country. This study was performed to investigate the immunotoxicity induced by abuse of DXM. Mice were orally exposed to DXM dissolved in saline as concentration of 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg b.w. before (day-2) or after (day+2) immunization (OVA-antigen, day 0). Thereafter, we measured the increased rate of body weight, relative weight of organ (thymus, spleen, liver, kidney) and OVA-specific IgM level in sera. In addition, mouse splenocytes were exposed to various concentration of DXM $(0.001{\sim}100{\mu}M)$ and cultured with B cell mitogen (LPS) and splenocytes proliferations (SP) were measured by MTT-assay. Thymus-weight were slightly changed on day 9 after administration of DXM, but body-, spleen-, liver-, and kidney-weight were not different between control group and DXM-treated group. SP to LPS were significantly decreased at high concentration $(100{\mu}M)$ when compared with controls. When DXM was administered before or after immunization with OVA-antigen, OVA-specific IgM levels were significantly lowered in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that DXM nay depress the primary humoral immune response to the initial antigenic challenge.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.611-618
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• 2023

Rhizome of Alisma orientale has been used as a traditional medicine for treating kidney diseases in East Asian countries. Its inhibitory effects on hypersensitivity responses have been reported for methanol extracts, with alisol B 23-acetate (AB23Ac) being the most active constituent among six terpenes in inhibiting the direct passive Arthus reaction. However, whether AB23Ac has efficacy against allergic asthma has not been tested to date. The in vivo efficacy of AB23Ac in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mouse model was evaluated by administrating AB23Ac before OVA sensitization or OVA challenge in BALB/c mice. AB23Ac suppressed antigen-induced degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The administration of AB23Ac both before OVA sensitization and OVA challenge greatly lowered pulmonary resistance and the increase in immune cell counts and inflammatory responses around the peribronchial and perivascular regions. In addition, the inflammatory cytokine levels of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid decreased in the AB23Ac-treated groups. AB23Ac reduced the number of PAS-stained cells in the lungs. Furthermore, a computer modeling study indicated that AB23Ac can bind tightly to spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). These results suggest that AB23Ac may ameliorate allergic asthma by suppressing immune responses in dendritic cells during sensitization and in mast cells during challenge periods.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2008

In a search for new molecular pathways associated with asthma, we performed an mRNA differential display analysis using total RNA extracted from the tracheal tissues of ovalbumin (OVA)-challenged mice and sham controls. cDNAs corresponding to mRNAs for which expression levels were altered by OVA-challenge were isolate and sequenced. Twenty-eight genes differentially expressed in sham and OVA challenged mice were identified. A GenBank BLAST homology search revealed that they were related to cytoskeleton remodeling, transcription, protein synthesis and modification, energy production, and cell growth and differentiation. Two were selected for further characterization. Up-regulation of both the perinatal skeletal myosin heavy chain (skMHC) and fast skeletal muscle myosin light chain (skMLC) genes was confirmed by RT-PCR of trachea tissue from OVA challenged mice. Overexpression of skMLC protein was observed in the smooth muscle layers of OVA-challenged mice by immunohistochemistry, and the surface areas stained with skMLC antibody increased in the OVA-challenged mice. The overexpression of skMLC in murine asthma may be associated with the changes of bronchial smooth muscle.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2014

Asian sand dust is known to promote various respiratory symptoms or disorders. For the prevention of harmful health effects by Asian sand dust, the best strategy is known to avoid or reduce exposure to the Asian sand dust. Several studies have shown that Korean red ginseng (RG) has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. The study aimed to clarify the effect of Korean red ginseng intake on lung inflammation responses to artificial sand dust (ASD) similar to Asian sand dust. BALB/c mice were divided into five groups (n=12) of control (saline), ovalbumin (OVA), OVA with ASD, OVA plus RG with ASD, and OVA plus dexamethasone (DEXA) with ASD. Histopathologic evaluation of lung was conducted. Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, IL-13, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and eotaxin within bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured by ELISA. OVA+ASD group significantly increased concentrations of IL-5, IL-13, MCP-1, and eotaxin (P<0.01) compared to the control. OVA+ASD+RG group showed significant decreased levels of IL-2, IL-13, MCP-1 and eotaxin (P<0.01) compared with OVA+ASD. Between RG and DEXA treatment groups, there was no significant difference in all cytokines and chemokines. The inflammatory cells were significantly decreased in treatment groups with RG or DEXA compared to OVA+ASD group. This study suggests a beneficial effect of Korean RG administration in preventing inflammation of lung resulting from Asian sand dust.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.77-84
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• 2010

1. Objectives Yanggyuksanhwa-tang for Soyangin was applied to investigate the immunological activities on antigen (Ag)-specific or Ag-non-specific immune responses on murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) and ovalbumin/aluminium (OVA/Alum)-immunized mice. 2. Methods This study were carried out in nitric oxide (NO) synthesis on RAW 264.7 cells and cellular proliferation on mouse splenocytes. C57BL/6 mice were immunized intraperitonially with OVA/Alum (100 ${\mu}g$/200 ${\mu}g$) on day 1, 8, and 15. Yanggyuksanhwa-tang was administrated to mice orally for 3 weeks from day 1. On day 22, OVA-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-, and concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and antibodies (OVA-specific antibodies of the IgG, IgG1, and total IgM classes) in plasma were measured. 3. Results Yanggyuksanhwa-tang significantly enhanced cellular proliferation by LPS and Con A on splenocytes from OVA/Alum-immunized mice (p<.001). Yanggyuksanhwa-tang also significantly enhanced plasma OVA-specific IgG (p<.001), IgG1 (p<.001), and total IgM (p<.01) levels compared with the OVA/Alum group. 4. Conclusions These results suggested that Yanggyuksanhwa-tang for Soyangin could be used as immunopotent.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.119-135
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the Asthma-suppressive and Immune-regulatory effect of AF-HA(Aristolochiae Fructus Herbal-acupuncture) at Joksamni(St36) in OVA(ovalbumin) induced asthma mouse model. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA(ovalbumin) for 12 weeks(once a week). The mice in the OVA-AF-HA group were treated with AF-HA at St36 for the later 8weeks(3times/week). The mice in the OVA-Needle-prick group were treated with single prick with an injection needle at St36 for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). Results : 1. The lung weight and the total cells in lung of the mice treated with AF-HA at St36 decreased significantly compared with those of the OVA-control group. 2. Total leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with AF-HA at St36 decreased remarkably compared with those of the OVA-control group. 3. The collagen accumulation in lung of OVA-AF-HA group decreased significantly compared with that of the OVA-control group, 4. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with AF-HA at St36 decreased significantly compared with those of the OVA-control group. 5. The numbers of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;and\;CD11b^+$ cells in lung of the mice group treated with AF-HA at St36 decreased significantly compared with those of the OVA-control group. 6. The numbers of $CCR3^+,\;CD4^+,\;CD8^+\;and \;CD3e^+/CD69^+$ cells in lung of the mice group treated with AF-HA at 5136 decreased significantly compared with those of the OVA-control group. 7. The mRNA expressions of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL13 in lung of the mice group treated with AF-HA at St36 decreased significantly compared with those of the OVA-control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that Aristolochiae Fructus Herbal-acupuncture at Joksamni(St36) may be an effictive therapeutic method to treat asthma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.848-853
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• 2001

This research was conducted to study the effects on antigenicities (allergenicity) and structural changes of gamma-irradiated hen’s egg albumin (ovalbumin, OVA) by heating. Three groups of OVA solution (2.0 mg/mL) were prepared; 1) heat treatment; 2) irradiation after heating; 3) heating after irradiation. Samples were isothermally heated and/or irradiated at the absorption dose of 10 kGy. Competitive indirect ELISA was individually formatted with egg-allergic patients IgE (P-IgE), and mouse murine monoclonal IgG (M-IgG) and rabbit polyclonal IgG (R-IgG) for evaluating bindinhg abilities of antibodies to OVA in the sample solutions. Binding abilities of antibodies to thermally denatured OVA were changed : R-IgG to the sample treated with above 6$0^{\circ}C$, M-IgG to that above 7$0^{\circ}C$, and P-IgE to that above 8$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. P-IgE did not well recognize OVA heated at 8$0^{\circ}C$ and the above. However, binding abilities of M-IgG and R-IgG highly in creased. Significant differences of binding abilities were not observed in all samples with the combination of heat treatment and irradiation, regardless the order of the treatment. Turbidity of samples in creased both by heating and by irradiation, and the increase by irradiation was much higher than by heating. These results showed that allergenicity of OVA reduced by gamma irradiation was not affected by heating.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.84-87
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• 1977

The distribution of number of ovulation between right and left ovary in superovulated mice were examined. 50 adult female mice of CF#1 strain were used in this study. Superovulation was induced by the subcutaneous injection of 5 IU PMS and followed 48 hours later by the subcutaneous injection of 5 IU HCG. Females a were killed at 24 hours after injection of HCG, and ova in the oviducts were counted under a microscope. The number of ova ovulated from the left and the right ovary were 603 and 594. The number of ova in both sides were found equal frequency by $X^2$ test method. Ovulation occurred more frequently in the left ovary than in the right in 24 females and with equal frequency in both ovaries in 3 females, while more frequently in the right ovary than in the left in 23 females. The possitive correlation was found between right and left ovary.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2019

Background: Efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, in treatment of asthma have been reported. However, its effect on airway remodeling in chronic asthma of the elderly has not been clearly verified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tiotropium and expression of muscarinic receptors as its related mechanism in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma with airway remodeling. Methods: BALB/c female mice age 6 weeks, 9 and 15 months were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) for three months. Tiotropium bromide was administered during the challenge period. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and pulmonary inflammation were measured. Parameters of airway remodeling, and expression levels of $M_2$ and $M_3$ receptors were examined. Results: Total cell with eosinophils, increased in the OVA groups by age, was decreased significantly after treatment with tiotropium bromide, particularly in the age group of 15 months. AHR and levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were decreased, after tiotropium administration. In old aged group of 9- and 15-months-treated groups, hydroxyproline contents and levels of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin were attenuated. Tiotropium enhanced the expression of $M_2$ but decreased expression of $M_3$ in all aged groups of OVA. Conclusion: Tiotropium bromide had anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling effects in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma. Its effects seemed to be partly mediated by modulating expression $M_3$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors. Tiotropium may be a beneficial treatment option for the elderly with airway remodeling of chronic asthma.