• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제9권3호
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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 Korea Journal of Herbology
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.73-79
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• 2018

Objectives : Coriandrum sativum is a medicinal herb that is used to enhance organoleptic quality and food flavor and as source of natural antioxidants. This research investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of Coriandrum sativum stem methanol extract (CSSE) using RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : Production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and nitric oxide (NO) in the culture supernatant, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) in the extract were assayed. Results : Treatment with CSSE ($100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) resulted in inhibited levels of protein expression of lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced iNOS, COX-2, and NF-${\kappa}B$ as well as production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and NO induced by LPS. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that CSSE exhibits anti-inflammatory activities via decreasing production of pro-inflammatory mediators through suppression of the pathways of NF-${\kappa}B$ in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Thus, CSSE may have therapeutic potential for a variety of inflammation-mediated diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

Objectives : Portulaca oleracea (PO) have been used as a traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases in Korea. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of PO ethanol extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation is not well-known. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory effect of PO on LPS induced inflammatory.Methods : Identification of PO was conducted by comparison with purified standards by HPLC. To measure out the cytotoxicity of PO, author performed the MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of PO, author examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin, (IL)-1β and IL-6) on RAW 264.7 cells. Author also examined molecular mechanisms such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-B (NF-κB) activation by western blot.Results : Three major components (peaks 1, 2, 3) were detected in both varieties and peak 1 was characterized as caffeic acid, peak 2 as p-coumaric acid, and peak 3 as ferulic acid by comparison of chromatographic properties with authentic standards. Extract from PO itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. PO inhibited LPS-induced productions of inflammatory mediators such as NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7cells. In addition, PO inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB activation in RAW 264.7 cells.Conclusions : Above experiment data can be an important indicator for the identification of PO and this study suggest that treatment of PO could reduce the LPS-induced inflammation. Thereby, PO could be used as a protective agent against inflammation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.40-50
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate anti-inflammatory effects of Kyungheechunggan-tang (KHCGT) on LPS- induced RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells and anti-fibrotic effects of KHCGT on LX-2 cells. Materials and Methods: Three types of KHCGTs (KHCGT-A, -B, and -C) by narrowing down the number of constituent herbs from 9 (KHCGT-A) to 5 (KHCGT-B) and to 3 (KHCGT-C) were developed. To understand pharmacological effects of KHCGT, three types of KHCGTs were treated on RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells. Anti-inflammatory activities of KHCGT were evaluated by ELISA assay for pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-10, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and for IL-6 production in LPS-induced LX-2 cells. In addition, anti-fibrotic effects of KHCGT were determined by quantitative real-time PCR assay for fibrosis-related genes, ${\alpha}-SMA$, collagen1A1, TIMP1, MMP-2, in LX-2 cells. Results: KHCGT-A and KHCGT-C showed inhibitory effects on secretion of IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells. KHCGT-B and KHCGT-C exhibited inhibitory effects on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The mRNA expression levels of collagen1A1 and MMP-2 were significantly reduced by KHCGT-C whereas TIMP-1 was suppressed by KHCGT-A and KHCGT-B in LX-2 cells. Among three different formulas, KHCGT-C demonstrated the most remarkable effects on inflammation and fibrosis. Conclusions: In this study, KHCGT showed both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects which make it to be a prospective agent for chronic liver diseases with inflammation and fibrosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.135-144
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• 2010

The pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium have been implicated in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In fact, inflammatory responses in vascular endothelium are primarily regulated through oxidative stress-mediated signaling pathways leading to overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Enhanced expression of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and their close interactions facilitate recruiting and adhering blood leukocytes to vessel wall, and subsequently stimulate transendothelial migration, which are thought to be critical early pathologic events in atherogenesis. Although interleukin-4 (IL-4) was traditionally considered as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, recent in vitro and in vivo studies have provided robust evidence that IL-4 exerts pro-inflammatory effects on vascular endothelium and may play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. The cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for IL-4-induced atherosclerosis, however, remain largely unknown. The present review focuses on the distinct sources of IL-4-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as the pivotal role of ROS in IL-4-induced vascular inflammation. These studies will provide novel insights into a clear delineation of the oxidative mechanisms of IL-4-mediated stimulation of vascular inflammation and subsequent development of atherosclerosis. It will also contribute to novel therapeutic approaches for atherosclerosis specifically targeted against pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제32권11호
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• pp.899-907
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• 2022

Quercetin is one of bio-flavonoids which are abundant in fruits and vegetables and has been reported to have various pharmacological potentials such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-virus effects. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects and its working molecular mecha- nism of quercetin were investigated in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Quercetin significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cell viability and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, quercetin decreased phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK, and inhibited phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 protein and its inhibitor IκBα indicating that quercetin has the anti-inflammatory effects via regulation of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathway. We also detected expression changes of four kinds of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (CSF2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) with quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that quercetin decreased the expression of four pro-inflammatory genes in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Overall, our results showed that quercetin effectively suppressed inflammation responses induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells via regulating MAPK and NF-κB pathway and down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.489-499
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• 2023

Isoegomaketone(IK), isolated from the radiation-induced mutant cultivar of Perilla frutescens var. crispa, is a major phytochemical compound that has attracted attention in pharmacological research. In this study, we demonstrated that IK exerts anti-inflammatory and protective effects on human mast cells and in an atopic dermatitis mouse model. IK inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-8 expression in human mast cells (HMC-1) stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate(PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI). IK significantly reduced the PMACI-induced phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, but not p38. IK also inhibited the PMACI-induced phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT3. Oral administration of IK in atopic dermatitis mouse model ameliorated skin inflammation severity, as measured by skin thickness and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels such as TNF-α, IL-8, IL-4, and IL-13. These results might suggest that IK is a potent therapeutic agent against skin inflammation and atopic dermatitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.4277-4283
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• 2015

Anthocyanin, a phenolic compound, has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced changes in immune cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effects. Few research studies have concerned the anti-inflammation properties of colored rice extract as a functional material. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine anti-inflammatory effects of the polar fraction of black rice whole grain extracts (BR-WG-P) that features a high anthocyanin content. Our results showed that BR-WG-P significantly inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, including production of NO and expression of iNOS and COX-2. In addition, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 was also significantly inhibited. Moreover, BR-WG-P and anthocyanin inhibited NF-kB and AP-1 translocation into the nucleus. BR-WG-P also decreased the phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK in a dose dependent manner. These results suggested that BR-WG-P might suppress LPS-induced inflammation via the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway leading to decrease of NF-kB and AP-1 translocation. All of these results indicate that BR-WG-P exhibits therapeutic potential associated with the anthocyanin content in the extract for treating inflammatory diseases associated with cancer.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.202-210
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• 2018

Abeliophyllum distichum is a medicinal plant used in regional traditional medicine to relieve pain in inflammatory processes. In this study, anti-inflammatory effects of Abeliophyllum distichum flower (ADF) extract were examined. Furthermore, possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects were dissected. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in murine macrophage-like cell line Raw264.7 cells. The measurement of the induced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were carried out by ELISA. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and MAPK, and the nuclear expression of nuclear factor NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 were investigated by Western blot analysis. The extract of ADF significantly decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the extract suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 in activated cells. Our findings provide evidence for the popular use of Abeliophylli distichum in inflammation around Goesan region and also suggest that the flower extract has potential therapeutic benefits against various inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.120-124
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• 2022

Actinidia polygama has long been used in traditional Korean medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Although numerous chemical compounds in the fruit extracts of A. polygama have been characterized and their role in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production has been reported, the anti-inflammatory properties of A. polygama extracts remain to be explored. In this study, we investigated the in-vivo effect of A. polygama extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in BV-2 microglial cell lines. We discovered that 100% ethyl alcohol extract of A. polygama effectively attenuates the release of NO and is superior to both water extract and 50% ethanol extract. Using MTT assay, western blot, and ELISA on LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells lines, we established the ability of A. polygama extract to markedly suppress the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6. These results reveal that the anti-inflammatory property of A. polygama in BV-2 microglial cells is due to the downregulation of iNOS, COX-2, MAPK protein, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.