• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.754-761
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Baekhasuoyijung-Tang(BHSYJT)on mouse T cell cytokines. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells under the influence of BHSYJT extract was measured. When mouse CD4 T cell were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 in various concentrations of BHSYJT extract, it increased proliferation of CD4 cells by 28% in $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration and by 32% in $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration. Treatment of CD4+ T cells stimulated by anti-CD3e and anti-CD28 with BHSYJT resulted in reduction of $IFN-{\gamma}$,but IL-4 levels is not changed. Oral administration of BHSYJT resulted in increase of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell population in Balb/c mice by 11%. Oral administration of BHSYJT resulted in reduction of serum $IFN-{\gamma}$ level by 27% but, IL-4 level is not changed. CD4+ T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with BHSYJT resulted in decrease of $IFN-{\gamma}$ level in TH1 cells. Experimental results of this study show that BHSYJT helps to reduce secretion of $IFN-{\gamma}$ by mouse T helper cell in vitro and it had the same effect in vivo. Thus, it can be concluded that use of BHSYJT is an effective treatment for correcting immune imbalance in immune disorders and autoimmune diseases by reducing secretion of cytokine by Th1 cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2020

Acacetin, which is present in damiana (Turnera diffusa) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), has several pharmacologic activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells. However, the effect of acacetin on head and neck cancers has not been clearly established. This study aimed to examine the effects of acacetin on cell growth and apoptosis induction in FaDu human pharyngeal carcinoma cells. These were investigated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, Live/Dead cell assay, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride staining, caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation assay, and immunoblotting in FaDu cells. Acacetin induced FaDu cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with an estimated IC₅₀ value of 41.9 µM, without affecting the viability of L-929 mouse fibroblasts as normal cells. Acacetin treatment resulted in nuclear condensation in the FaDu cells. It promoted the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, -8, and -9 with increasing amounts of the cleaved caspase isoforms in FaDu cells. Acacetin-induced apoptosis in FaDu cells was mediated by the expression of Fas and activation of caspase-8, caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Immunoblotting showed downregulation of the anti-apoptotic mitochondrial proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, but upregulation of the mitochondria-dependent pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Badin FaDu cells after acacetin treatment. These findings indicate that acacetin inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptotic cell death in FaDu human pharyngeal carcinoma cells via both the death receptor-mediated extrinsic apoptotic pathway and the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.34-46
• /
• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate health service weight for resource allocation and performance monitoring using Basic Priority Rating System. Methods: The Health service would be classified according to New Health Plan 2010, and Burden of disease collected from preceding studies. The data of severity of health problem and effectiveness of intervention were collected through the survey of experts' suggestion. The health service weight was estimated in the formula which is Basic Priority Rating System. Results: In the result of analysis, the health service weight of Infectious disease was ranked highest at 58.97% followed by Anti-smoking campaign(14.07%), Hypertension(3.87%), Diabetes mellitus(3.40%), Cancer(2.90%), Cardiovascular-Cerebrovascular diseases(2.86%), Physical activity(2.10%), Moderate drinking(2.07%), Medical examination(1.92%), Mental health promotion(1.72%), Serious mental illnesses(1.62%), Nutrition(1.52%), Oral health promotion(1.15%), Oral diseases(1.10%), Addiction(0.73%). Conclusions: We think the result of this study provides a rational basis for resource allocation and performance monitoring of health service.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.783-796
• /
• 2006

The periodontium is a topographically complex organ consisting of epithelial tissue, soft and mineralized tissues. Structures comprising the periodontium include the gingiva, periodontal ligament (PDL) , cementum and the alveolar bone. The molecular mechanism of differentiation in PDL fibroblast cells remain unclear. Amino acid transporters play an important role in supplying nutrition to normal and cancer cells and for cell proliferation. Amino acid transport system L is a major nutrient transport system responsible for the Na+-independent transport of neutral amino acids including several essential amino acids. The system L is divided into two major subgroups, the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and the L-type amino acid transporter 2 (LAT2). In this study, the expression pattern of amino acid transport system L was, therefore, investigated in the differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells. To determine the expression level of amino acid transport system L participating in intracellular transport of amino acids in the differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells, it was examined by RT-PCR, observation of cell morphology, Alizaline red-S staining and uptake analysis after inducing experimental differentiation in PDL fibroblast cells isolated from mouse molar teeth. The results are as follows. 1. The LAT1 mRNA was expressed in the early stage of PDL fibroblast cell differentiation. This expression level was gradually reduced by differentiation- inducing time and it was not observed after the late stage. 2. The expression level of LAT2 mRNA was increased in time-dependent manner during differentiation induction of PDL fibroblast cells. 3. There was no changes in. the expression level of 4F2hc mRNA, the cofactor of LAT1 and LAT2, during differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells. 4. The expression level of ALP mRNA was gradually increased and the expression level of Col I mRNA was decreased during differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells. 5. The L-leucine transport was reduced by time from the early stage to the late stage in PDL fibroblast cell differentiation. As the results, it is considered that among neutral ammo acid transport system L in differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells, the LATl has a key role in cell proliferation in the early stage of cell differentiation and the LAT2 has an important role in the late stage of cell differentiation for providing cells with neutral amino acids including several essential amino acids.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.704-711
• /
• 2011

Traditionally, mistletoes have been used as immunostimulant for the management of certain diseases such as cancer with high profile immune depleting potentials. In order to examine the safety of the 20 kGy irradiated cold water extract powder of mistletoes, we performed a 90-day repeated-dose toxicity study with ICR mice. The mice were treated with daily doses of the 20 kGy irradiated cold water extract powder of mistletoes by gavage at 0, 20, 100, and 500 mg/kg/day for 90 consecutive days. We recorded clinical signs of toxicity, body weight, organ weights, histological changes in target organs, hematology, and clinical blood chemistry analysis data for all mice. There were no significant changes in body and organ weights during the experimental period. The hematological analysis and clinical blood chemistry data revealed no toxic effects from the 20 kGy irradiated cold water extract powder of mistletoes. Pathologically, neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were observed between the control and treated mice of both sexes. Collectively, these data suggest that the 20 kGy irradiated cold water extract powder of mistletoes have a high margin of safety.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.911-920
• /
• 2006

Phenolic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a commonly used food preservative with broad biological activities, including protection against chemical-induced carcinogenesis, acute toxicity of chemicals, modulation of macromolecule synthesis and immune response, induction of phase II detoxifying enzymes, as well as its undesirable potential tumor-promoting activities. Understanding the molecular basis underlying these diverse biological actions of BHA is thus of great importance. Here we studied the pharmacokinetics, activation of signaling kinases and induction of phase II/III drug metabolizing enzymes/transporter gene expression by BHA in the mice. The peak plasma concentration of BHA achieved in our current study after oral administration of 200 mg/kg BHA was around $10\;{\mu}M$. This in vivo concentration might offer some insights for the many in vitro cell culture studies on signal transduction and induction of phase II genes using similar concentrations. The oral bioavailability (F) of BHA was about 43% in the mice. In the mouse liver, BHA induced the expression of phase II genes including NQO-1, HO-1, ${\gamma}-GCS$, GST-pi and UGT 1A6, as well as some of the phase III transporter genes, such as MRP1 and Slco1b2. In addition, BHA activated distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), as well as p38, suggesting that the MAPK pathways may play an important role in early signaling events leading to the regulation of gene expression including phase II drug metabolizing and some phase III drug transporter genes. This is the first study to demonstrate the in vivo pharmacokinetics of BHA, the in vivo activation of MAPK signaling proteins, as well as the in vivo induction of Phase II/III drug metabolizing enzymes/transporters in the mouse livers.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.230-237
• /
• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Chronic gut inflammation is recognized as a risk factor for tumor development, including CRC. American ginseng is a very commonly used ginseng species in the West. Methods: A genetically engineered $Apc^{Min/+}$ mouse model was used in this study. We analyzed the saponin composition of American ginseng used in this project, and evaluated its effects on the progression of high-fat-diet-enhanced CRC carcinogenesis. Results: After oral ginseng administration (10-20 mg/kg/d for up to 32 wk), experimental data showed that, compared with the untreated mice, ginseng very significantly reduced tumor initiation and progression in both the small intestine (including the proximal end, middle end, and distal end) and the colon (all p < 0.01). This tumor number reduction was more obvious in those mice treated with a low dose of ginseng. The tumor multiplicity data were supported by body weight changes and gut tissue histology examinations. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that compared with the untreated group, ginseng very significantly reduced the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-$1{\alpha}$ (IL-$1{\alpha}$), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in both the small intestine and the colon (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Further studies are needed to link our observed effects to the actions of the gut microbiome in converting the parent ginsenosides to bioactive ginseng metabolites. Our data suggest that American ginseng may have potential value in CRC chemoprevention.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.261-270
• /
• 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activities of Typhae pollen (TP) by confirming in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor and immune-modulatory effect with anti-cachexia effect. The MTT assay is used in HepG2 cell to detect potential cytotoxic activities of aqueous extract of Typhae pollen (TPe). After HepG2 tumor cell implantation, eight mice per groups were assigned to six groups. Three different dosages of TPe (500, 250 and 125 mg/kg) were orally administered in the amount of $10m{\ell}/kg$ and sorafenib also administered 20mg/kg, every day for 35 days from 28 days after the tumor cell implantation. We observed the changes on body weights, tumor volume and weights, lymphatic organ, serum interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ levels, splenocytes and peritoneal NK cell activity, splenic tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-10 contents. Periovarian fat weights, serum IL-6 levels, thicknesses of deposited periovarian adipose tissue and mean diameters were also detected to monitor the tumor-related anticachexic effects. In tumor masses, the immunoreactivities of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (cleaved PARP) - apoptotic marks, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ were additionally observed by immunohistochemistry. The results were compared with sorafenib. Decreases of COX-2 were demonstrated in sorafenib and TPe treated mice and also increases of iNOS in tumor masses were observed in TPe, not in sorafenib. TPe increased periovarian fat pad weights compared with tumor-bearing controls and sorafenib treated mice. TPe showed increases of splenic $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-10 and $IL-1{\beta}$, serum $IFN-{\gamma}$ and NK cell activities corresponding to increases of spleen weights, lymph node weights and non-atrophic changes of lymph nodes. Our results show oral treatment of TPe 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg has potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities through modest cytotoxic effects, immunomodulatory effects and apoptotic activities in HepG2 tumor cells. In addition, TPe can prevent cancer related cachexia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.782-788
• /
• 2013

Chrysanthemum zawadskii Herbich var. latilobum Kitamura (Compositae), colloquially known "Gujulcho" in Korea, has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including cough, common cold, bladder-related disorders, gastroenteric disorders, hypertension, and inflammatory diseases, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) However, the effect of Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum on breast cancer invasion is unknown. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum extract (CZE) on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and cell invasion, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in MCF-7 cells. CZE were not cytotoxic up to 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ concentration in the MCF-7 cell line. CZE decreased MMP-9 expression. TPA substantially increased NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity. Pre-treatment with CZE inhibited TPA-stimulated NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity and NF-${\kappa}B$ related protein expression. To identify invasion ability of MCF-7 cells decreased by CZE, we used martrigel invasion assay. As a result, it is significantly decreased cell invasion. These results indicate that CZE-mediated inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion involves the suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in MCF-7 cells. Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum may have potential value in restricting breast cancer metastasis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.5049-5053
• /
• 2014

Background: To investigate the expression of CD44v3 and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and their relationship with lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the uterine cervix. Materials and Methods: Expression of CD44v3 and VEGF-C was analyzed in 109 cases of cervical SCC by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The relationship was analyzed between expression and the patient age, histological differentiation, formation of tumor emboli in lymphoid vessels, lymph node metastasis, FIGO staging, and TNM classification. Results: Expression rates for both CD44v3 and VEGF-C were 43.1% in cervical SCC. The cells with positive immunohistochemical staining of CD44v3 were distributed mainly around the keratin pearls in well differentiated carcinomas, but distributed diffusely in the moderately and poorly differentiated lesions. VEGF-C was found stained positively in most of the tumor cells. There were differences in expression between normal epithelium and atypical hyperplasia as well as carcinoma. Both CD44v3 and VEGF-C were found to be associated positively with lymph node metastasis and TNM classification (both p=0.000). Neither CD44v3 nor VEGF-C was found to be associated with patient age, histological differentiation, formation of tumor emboli in lymphoid vessels and FIGO staging. CD44v3 was found to be associated with VEGF-C positively (p=0.000). Conclusions: Abnormal expression of CD44v3 and VEGF-C is associated closely with the lymph node metastasis in cervical SCC, and these agents may cooperate in carcinogenesis and development of metastatic lesions.