• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-119
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• 2006

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Sesami Semen on the itching and anti-allergic inflammation mechanism related with cytokine, chemokine, histamine, $\beta$-hexosaminidase, NF-$\kappa$B, and free radical, and it was concluded as follows : 1. Sesami Semen did not show any cytotoxicity at the range of con-centration (1-250 ${\mu}g/m\ell$) on the human fibroblast cell (hFCs). 2. Sesami Semen reduced the gene expressions of IL-8, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 mRNA comparing with control. 3. Sesami Semen reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 within THP-1 cell depending on the concentration, and especially significantly reduced the the levels of IL-6, MCP-1 at all the concentration. 4. Sesami Semen significantly decreased the histamine secretion on HMC-1 at all the concentration. 5. Sesami Semen decreased the $\beta$-Hexosaminidase secretion 6.2% at 10 ${\mu}g$/ml conc., 58.3% at 100 ${\mu}g$/ml conc. and 63.2% at 200 ${\mu}g$/ml conc., respectively. And IC50 (${\mu}g$/ml) was 158.25 ${\mu}g$/ml. 6. Sesami Semen significantly suppressed the activity of NF-$\kappa$B promoter depending on the concentration. 7. Sesami Semen decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DPPH generation depending on the concentration. As judged with above results, the effects of Sesami Semen on the anti-allergic inflamation would be recognized, and it could be applied on the medicinal sources for prevention or treatment of several allergy disease. And more studies are needed furthermore with the seperation of effective materials.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.98-105
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• 2009

Background: It has been recently noticed that type 2 diabetes (T2D), one of the most common metabolic diseases, causes a chronic low-grade inflammation and activation of the innate immune system that are closely involved in the pathogenesis of T2D. Cordyceps militaris, a traditional medicinal mushroom, produces a component compound, cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine). Cordycepin has been known to have many pharmacological activities including immunological stimulating, anti-cancer, and anti-infection activities. The molecular mechanisms of cordycepin in T2D are not clear. In the present study, we tested the role of cordycepin on the anti-diabetic effect and anti-inflammatory cascades in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Methods: We confirmed the levels of diabetes regulating genes mRNA and protein of cytokines through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and followed by FACS analysis for the surface molecules. Results: Cordycepin inhibited the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in LPS-activated macrophages via suppressing protein expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. T2D regulating genes such as $11{\beta}$-HSD1 and PPAR${\gamma}$ were decreased as well as expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as ICAM-1 and B7-1/-2 were also decreased with the increment of its concentration. In accordance with suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine production lead to inhibition of diabetic regulating genes in activated macrophages. Cordycepin suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in LPS-activated macrophages. Conclusion: Based on these observations, cordycepin suppressed T2D regulating genes through the inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$ dependent inflammatory responses and suggesting that cordycepin will provide potential use as an immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.940-948
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the immune activity of Ailantias altissima as an active ingredient on the immune enhancement by mixing ethanol extract with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The activity of $NF-{\kappa}B/AP1$ transcription factor increased by $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity when mixed with LAB samples rather than with the extract alone. Nitric oxide (NO) production was similar in ethanol extract alone group and LPS treatment group. Mixing Ailantias altissima extract and lactic acid bacteria led to low NO production. The cytokine productivity of $TNF-{\alpha}$ significantly increased in Ailantias altissima extract when treated with LPS, and increased even more when mixed with lactic acid bacteria. The $IL-1{\beta}$ cytokine production was high when the Ailantias altissima extract were treated alone, but no $IL-1{\beta}$ cytokine was produced in the mixtures with isolates. The combination of the ethanol extract of the Ailantias altissima and the lactic acid bacteria was found to be effective in the immune function. Consequently, the ingredient to combine Ailantias altissima extract and lactic acid bacteria can be effectively used for development of the health functional food on the prevention and treatment of hypoimmunities.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2023

Numerous studies have revealed the importance of tumor-derived exosomes in rectal cancer (RC). This study aims to explore the influence of tumor-derived exosomal integrin beta-1 (ITGB1) on lung fibroblasts in RC along with underlying mechanisms. Exosome morphology was observed using a transmission electron microscope. Protein levels of CD63, CD9, ITGB1, p-p65 and p65 were detected using Western blot. To determine ITGB1's mRNA expression, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used. Moreover, levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1β, and IL-6 in cell culture supernatant were measured via commercial ELISA kits. ITGB1 expression was increased in exosomes from RC cells. The ratio of p-p65/p65 as well as levels of interleukins in lung fibroblasts was raised by exosomes derived from RC cells, while was reduced after down-regulation of exosomal ITGB1. The increased ratio of p-p65/p65 as well as levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines caused by exosomes from RC cells was reversed by the addition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor. We concluded that the knockdown of RC cells-derived exosomal ITGB1 repressed activation of lung fibroblasts and the NF-κB pathway in vitro.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.513-523
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• 2017

Background: Korean Red Ginseng extracts (RGE) have been suggested as effective immune modulators, and we reported that ginsenosides possess anti-inflammasome properties. However, the properties of nonsaponin components of RGE have not been well studied. Methods: To assess the roles of nonsaponin fractions (NS) in NLRP3 inflammasome activation, we treated murine macrophages with or without first or second inflammasome activation signals with RGE, NS, or saponin fractions (SF). The first signal was nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$)-mediated transcription of pro-interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and NLRP3 while the second signal triggered assembly of inflammasome components, leading to IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation. In addition, we examined the role of NS in IL-6 production and IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation in mice. Results: NS induced IL-$1{\beta}$ and NLRP3 transcription via toll-like receptor 4 signaling, whereas SF blocked expression. During the second signal, SF attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation while NS did not. Further, NS-injected mice presented increased IL-$1{\beta}$ maturation and IL-6 production. Conclusion: SF and NS of RGE play differential roles in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Hence, RGE can be suggested as an NLRP3 inflammasome modulator.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.702-710
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• 2019

Neuroinflammation is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). We previously reported that our novel synthetic compound KMS99220 has a good pharmacokinetic profile, enters the brain, exerts neuroprotective effect, and inhibits $NF{\kappa}B$ activation. To further assess the utility of KMS99220 as a potential therapeutic agent for PD, we tested whether KMS99220 exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in vivo and examined the molecular mechanism mediating this phenomenon. In 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated mice, oral administration of KMS99220 attenuated microglial activation and decreased the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and interleukin 1 beta ($IL-1{\beta}$) in the nigrostriatal system. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged BV-2 microglial cells, KMS99220 suppressed the production and expression of $IL-1{\beta}$. In the activated microglia, KMS99220 reduced the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAP kinase; this effect was mediated by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), as both gene silencing and pharmacological inhibition of HO-1 abolished the effect of KMS99220. KMS99220 induced nuclear translocation of the transcription factor Nrf2 and expression of the Nrf2 target genes including HO-1. Together with our earlier findings, our current results show that KMS99220 may be a potential therapeutic agent for neuroinflammation-related neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2004

I report that single-stranded antisense as a part of large circular (LC-) genomic DNA of recombinant M13 phage exhibits enhanced stability, sequence specific antisense activity, and no need for target site search. A cDNA fragment (708 bp) of rat TNF-$\alpha$ was inserted into a phagemid vector, and TNF-$\alpha$ antisense molecules (TNF$\alpha$-LCAS) were produced as single-stranded circular DNA. When introduced into a rat monocyte/macrophage cell line, WRT7/P2, TNF$\alpha$-LCAS was able to ablate LPS-induced TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA to completion. The antisense effect of TNF$\alpha$-LCAS was shown to be sequence-specific because expressions of three control genes ($\beta$-actin, GAPDH and IL-1$\beta$) were not significantly altered by the antisense treatment. Further, TNF$\alpha$-LCAS was found to be highly efficacious as only 0.1 $\mu$g (0.24 nM) of TNF$\alpha$-LCAS was sufficient to block TNF-$\alpha$ expression in 1$\times10^5$ WRT7/P2 cells. I have also observed specific antisense activity in reduction of NF-$\kappa$B gene expression. The results suggest that an antisense sequence as a part of single-stranded circular genomic DNA has a specific antisense activity.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2009

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major etiologic agent of chronic periodontitis and cytokines produced by macrophages play important roles in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. In this study we investigated the cytokine response of phorbol myristate acetatedifferentiated THP-1 cells exposed to P. gingivalis. Compared with the prominent cell wall components of P. gingivalis (lipopolysaccharide and the major fimbrial protein FimA), live P. gingivalis stimulated much higher levels of cytokine production. In addition, whereas low multiplicity of infection challenges (MOI=10) of P. gingivalis 381 stimulated high levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1${\beta}$, high dose challenges with this bacterium (MOI = 100) resulted in a substantially diminished production of MCP-1 and IL-6. Moreover, high MOI P. gingivalis challenges achieved only low levels of induction of MCP-1 and IL-6 mRNA. The decreased production of MCP-1 and IL-6 appeared to be mediated by P. gingivalis proteases, because high MOI challenges with congenic protease mutant strains of this microorganism (MT10 and MT10W) did not result in a diminished production of MCP-1 and IL-6. Similar to its protease mutant strains, leupeptin (a protease inhibitor)- treated P. gingivalis at high doses induced high levels of MCP-1 production. To examine the mechanisms underlying the diminished production of MCP-1 by P. gingivalis proteases, the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and NF-${\kappa}$B was compared between the 381 and MT10W strains. Whilst high doses of both 381 and MT10W similarly activated the three members of the MAP kinase family, the DNA binding activity of NF-${\kappa}$B, as revealed by gel shift assays, was greatly increased only by MT10W. Taken together, our data indicate that P. gingivalis stimulates the production of high levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, and MCP-1 but that high dose challenges with this bacterium result in a diminished production of MCP-1 and IL-6 via the protease-mediated suppression of NF-${\kappa}$B activation in THP-1 macrophagic cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2013

Objective : Lithospermum Erythrorhizon (LE) has been used as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. However, it is unclear that LE aqueous extract could show the anti-inflammatory effects in RAW 264.7cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous extract from LE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - induced inflammatory response. Methods : To measure out the cytotoxicity of LE, we performed the MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of LE, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin, (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and (IL)-6) on RAW 264.7 cells. We also examined molecular mechanisms such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-B (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation by western blot. Results : Aqueous Extract from LE itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. Aqueous extract from LE inhibited LPS-induced productions of inflammatory mediators such as NO, $PGE_2$, and pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in RAW 264.7cells. In addition, LE inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 kinases (p38), c-Jun $NH_2$-terminal kinase (JNK), and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : LE down-regulated LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators through the inhibition of p38, JNK and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Taken together, these results could provide the evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of LE. Therefore, LE may be a novel target in the management of inflammation and help to support a potential strategy for prevention and therapy of inflammatory diseases.

• CELLMED
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.20.1-20.6
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• 2017

Inflammation has been linked to various diseases. Especially, fatigue is a frequent symptom in several inflammatory disorders. Therefore, blocking inflammatory process is effective in fatigue. We investigated whether Denmark porcine placenta (DPP) alleviates fatigue by inhibiting inflammatory reaction using forced swimming test (FST) animal model and RAW264.7 cells. In FST-induced fatigue animal model, the mice which received the DPP for 21 days showed decreases of interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 serum levels. Furthermore, our data revealed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ secretion were markedly inhibited by DPP in RAW264.7 cells without inducing cytotoxicity. LPS-enhanced nitric oxide secretion and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression were inhibited by DPP. The present study also figured out that these effects of DPP were mediated by blockade of caspase-1 and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ activation. Taken together, our results indicated that DPP could be alleviating fatigue as candidate of anti-inflammatory agent.