• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2017

Sinensetin, a pentamethoxyflavone, is known to exert various pharmacological activities including anti-angiogenesis, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its effects on the human mast cell - 1 (HMC-1) mediated inflammatory mechanism remain unknown. To explore the mediator and cellular inflammatory response of sinensetin, we examined its influence on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 induced inflammatory mediator production in a human mast cell line. In this study, interleukin (IL)-6 production was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Sinensetin inhibited PMA plus A23187 induced IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner as well as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-8 mRNA expression. Furthermore, sinensetin inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation, suggesting that sinensetin inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators by blocking STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, sinensetin was found to inhibit nuclear factor kappa B activation. These findings suggest that sinensetin may be involved in the regulation of mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.119-137
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• 2003

Younggaechulgam-tang has been used for treating skin diseases. In this study, I investigated the immunosuppressive effect of Younggaechul-tang in the human T cell line MOLT-4 cells. MOLT-4 cells were stimulated with the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) + A23187. The secretion appeared to be greater when cells were stimulated with PHA than with PMA + A23187. Younggaechulgam-tang had no affect proliferation stimulated by PHA. I showed that IL-2 secretion and expression by PHA stimulated MOLT-4 cells were inhibited by Younggaechugam-tang treatment. Maximal inhibition rate of IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion was 80$\%$ and 30$\%$, respectively. Younggaechulgam-tang also inhibited nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kB and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). In conclusion, these results suggest that Younggaechulgam-tang may contribute to the immunosuppressive oriental drug clinically.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.444-453
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• 2018

Aberrations in histone modifications are being studied in mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-AF9-driven acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we focused on the regulation of the differentiation of the MLL-AF9 type AML cell line THP-1. We observed that, upon phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment, THP-1 cells differentiated into monocytes by down-regulating Aurora kinase A (AURKA), resulting in a reduction in H3S10 phosphorylation. We revealed that the AURKA inhibitor alisertib accelerates the expression of the H3K27 demethylase KDM6B, thereby dissociating AURKA and YY1 from the KDM6B promoter region. Using Flow cytometry, we found that alisertib induces THP-1 differentiation into monocytes. Furthermore, we found that treatment with the KDM6B inhibitor GSK-J4 perturbed the PMA-mediated differentiation of THP-1 cells. Thus, we discovered the mechanism of AURKA-KDM6B signaling that controls the differentiation of THP-1 cells, which has implications for biotherapy for leukemia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-58
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• 2010

Silibinin is the major active molecule of silymarin, the mixture of flavonolignans extracted from Cirsium japonicum (CJ). It has been used for treatment of hepatitis and inflammation related diseases. The aim of this study was to prove whether Silibinin has effectiveness for allergic inflammation. Silibinin processes the inflammatory reaction in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMA plus A23187) stimulated human mast cell line (HMC-1). Its effect was examined by ELISA, RT-PCR, Western blot, and Luciferase assay. The results were Silibinin inhibited the expression of histamine, TNF-$\alpha$ (tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$), IL-6 (interleukin-6), and IL-8 (interleukin-8). Silibinin suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ (nuclear factor kappa B) activation in stimulated HMC-1 (human mast cell-1). This effect was mediated through inhibition of phosphorylation and degradation of $IkB{\alpha}$, an inhibitor of NF-kB. Silibinin significantly inhibited induction of NF-kB promoter mediated Luciferase assay. These results suggest that Silibinin has a potential molecule for therapy of mast cell-derived allergic inflammatory diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2017

Angelica decursiva has been utilised as remedy for controlling the airway inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. We investigated whether nodakenin, columbianadin, and umbelliferone isolated from the roots of Angelica decursiva inhibit the gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin from human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with nodakenin, columbianadin or umbelliferone for 30 min and then stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression was measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Production of MUC5AC mucin protein was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were as follows: (1) Nodakenin did not affect the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$. Columbianadin inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF or PMA. However, umbelliferone inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$; (2) Nodakenin also did not affect the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$. Columbianadin inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by PMA. However, umbelliferone inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$. These results suggest that, among the three compounds investigated, umbelliferone only inhibits the gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin stimulated by various inducers, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells, and the results might explain the traditional use of Angelica decursiva as remedy for diverse inflammatory pulmonary diseases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1789-1800
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• 2019

Objective: Although alveolar macrophages play a key role in the respiratory immunity of livestock, studies on the mechanism of differentiation and survival of alveolar macrophages are lacking. Therefore, we undertook to investigate changes in the lipid metabolism and survival rate, using 3D4/31 macrophages and Dudleya brittonii which has been used as a traditional asthma treatment. Methods: 3D4/31 macrophages were used as the in vitro porcine alveolar macrophages model. The cells were activated by exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Dudleya brittonii extraction was performed with distilled water. For evaluating the cell survival rate, we performed the water-soluble tetrazolium salt cell viability assay and growth curve analysis. To confirm cell death, cell cycle and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using flow cytometric analysis by applying fluorescence dye dichlorofluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. Furthermore, we also evaluated cellular lipid accumulation with oil red O staining, and fatty acid synthesis related genes expression levels using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with SYBR green dye. Glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle related gene expression levels were measured using qPCR after exposure to Dudleya brittonii extract (DB) for 12 h. Results: The ROS production and cell death were induced by PMA treatment, and exposure to DB reduced the PMA induced downregulation of cell survival. The PMA and DB treatments upregulated the lipid accumulation, with corresponding increase in the acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha, fatty acid synthase mRNA expressions. DB-PMA co-treatment reduced the glycolysis genes expression, but increased the expressions of fatty acid oxidation and TCA cycle genes. Conclusion: This study provides new insights and directions for further research relating to the immunity of porcine respiratory system, by employing a model based on alveolar macrophages and natural materials.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1000-1006
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• 2015

α-Asarone is the main component of Acorus gramineus, which is a widely used oriental traditional medicine. A. gramineus is known to have a variety of medicinal effects, such as anti-gastric ulcer, antiallergy and antioxidant activity. It is also known to inhibit the release of histamine. However, the mechanism of its action remains unclear in humans. In this study, the effects of α-asarone on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and its antioxidant effect in a cell-free system were examined in HT1080 cells. In an MTT assay, the effect of α-asarone on cell viability showed no cytotoxicity below 16 μM. In an antioxidant assay, α-asarone increased reducing power in a dose-dependent manner but not the scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. In addition, α-asarone exhibited the protective effect against DNA oxidation induced by hydroxyl radicals produced by the Fenton reaction. Furthermore, in a gelatin disk assay, α-asarone enhanced collagenase activity. It also increased the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in a gelatin zymography. On the other hand, the activity of MMP-9 stimulated by phenazine methosulfate (PMS) but not that of MMP-2 was increased in the presence of α-asarone. These findings suggest that α-asarone could be a candidate for the prevention and treatment of pathological diseases related to oxidative stress and MMPs.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.326-332
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• 2012

Mast cells play pivotal pathologic roles in allergic disease involving T helper 2 (Th2) cytokine such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. Fisetin has been known as an anti-allergic agent having inhibitory effects on the IL-4 and IL-13 gene expressions in inflammatory immune cells. However, its molecular mechanisms for suppressive effects of fisetin on IL-4 and IL-13 in activated mast cells have been incompletely elucidated. In this study we found that fisetin significantly inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin (PI)-induced production of IL-4 and IL-13 in mast cells. The levels of mRNA were dramatically decreased by fisetin, indicating the suppression might be regulated at the transcriptional levels. Western blot analysis of the nuclear expression of various transcription factors involved in the promoter activation indicated that suppression of c-Fos was prominent together with significant down-regulation of nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NF-AT) and NF-${\kappa}B$, but not c-Jun. Furthermore, the nuclear expression of GATA binding protein 2 (GATA-2) transcription factor was significantly down-regulated by fisetin. Taken together, our study indicated fisetin has suppressive effects on IL-4 and IL-13 gene expression through the regulation of selective transcription factors.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2001

Objectives : The water extract of Nueihyuljunbang (NHJB) has long been used for treatment of ischemic brain damage in Oriental Medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of NHJB recovers brain cens from ischemic damage. Methods : To elucidate the protective mechanism on ischemic induced cytotoxicity, we investigated the regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in C6 glial cells. Results : LPS combined PMA treatment for 72 hours in C6 glial cells markedly induced nitric oxide (NO), but treatment of the cells with the water extract of NHJB decreased dose-dependently nitrite formation. In addition, LPS combined PMA treatment for 72 hours induced severe celt death and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in C6 glial cells. However, treatment of the celts with the water extract of NHJB did not induce significant change compared to control cells. Furthermore, the protective effects of the water extract of NHJB were mimicked by the treatment of NGMMA, a specific inhibitor of NOS. LPS combined PMA induced iNOS activation in C6 glial cells caused chromosomal condensation and fragmentation of the nuclei by caspase activation. The treatment of C6 glial cells with the water extract of NHJB might suppress apoptosis via caspase inhibition by regulation of iNOS expression. Conclusions : From the results, we suggest that the protective effects of the water extract of NHJB against ischemic brain damage may be mediated by regulation of iNOS during ischemic condition.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2001

We have studied the effects of excitatory amino acids on the expression of the c-fos and c-jun mRNA in rat C6 glioma cells. The glutamate, $N-methyl-_D-aspartate$ (NMDA), and kainic acid (KA) increased c-fos mRNA level in a concentration-dependent manner. However, they did not affect c-jun mRNA level. In addition, forskolin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased c-fos mRNA level. Furthermore, PMA increased c-jun mRNA level whereas forskolin downregulated c-jun mRNA level. The glutamate, NMDA and KA, at a concentration of 0.25 mM, did not affect the basal c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels, and also did not affect forskolin- and PMA-induced responses. Furthermore, both forskolin and PMA itself increased the phosphorylation of ERK (extracellular signal regulated kinase) and CREB (cyclicAMP responsible element binding protein) proteins. The KA, NMDA, and glutamate did not affect forskolin- induced increase of ERK and CREB phosphorylation. The KA decreased PMA-induced increase of phosphorylation of ERK and CREB proteins, whereas glutamate and NMDA did not affect the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB proteins induced by PMA. These findings suggest that, in C6 glioma cells, c-fos mRNA induction induced by EAAs is not mediated by phosphorylation of ERK and CREB proteins.