• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2016

Trichomonas vaginalis causes the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Trichomonads have been detected in prostatic tissues from prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. Chronic prostatic inflammation is known as a risk factor for prostate enlargement, benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms, and acute urinary retention. Our aim was to investigate whether T. vaginalis could induce inflammatory responses in cells of a benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cell line (BPH-1). When BPH-1 cells were infected with T. vaginalis, the protein and mRNA of inflammatory cytokines, such as CXCL8, CCL2, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6, were increased. The activities of TLR4, ROS, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, and NF-${\kappa}B$ were also increased, whereas inhibitors of ROS, MAPK, PI3K, NF-${\kappa}B$, and anti-TLR4 antibody decreased the production of the 4 cytokines although the extent of inhibition differed. However, a JAK2 inhibitor inhibited only IL-6 production. Culture supernatants of the BPH-1 cells that had been incubated with live T. vaginalis (trichomonad-conditioned medium, TCM) contained the 4 cytokines and induced the migration of human monocytes (THP-1 cells) and mast cells (HMC-1 cells). TCM conditioned by BPH-1 cells pretreated with NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor showed decreased levels of cytokines and induced less migration. Therefore, it is suggested that these cytokines are involved in migration of inflammatory cells. These results suggest that T. vaginalis infection of BPH patients may cause inflammation, which may induce lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권9호
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• pp.765-772
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• 2015

Saussurea lappa has been reported to possess anti-atopic properties. In this study, we have confirmed the S. lappa's anti-atopic properties in Nc/Nga mice and investigated the candidate gene related with its properties using microarray. We determined the target gene using real time PCR in in vitro experiment. S. lappa showed the significant reduction in atoptic dermatitis (AD) score and immunoglobulin E compared with the AD induced Nc/Nga mice. In the results of microarray using back skin obtained from animals, we found that S. lappa's properties are closely associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Consistent with the microarray data, real-time RT-PCR confirmed these modulation at the mRNA level in skin tissues from S. lappa-treated mice. Among these genes, PI3Kca and $IL20R{\beta}$ were significantly downregulated by S. lappa treatment in Nc/Nga mouse model. In in vitro experiment using HaCaT cells, we found that the S. lappa components, including alantolactone, caryophyllene, costic acid, costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone significantly decreased the expression of PI3Kca but not $IL20R{\beta}$ in vitro. Therefore, our study suggests that PI3Kca-related signaling is closely related with the protective effects of S. lappa against the development of atopic-dermatitis.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.173-180
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• 2011

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disease that is associated with Th2 cell-mediated allergy. The process that leads to infiltration of inflammatory cells into an AD lesion is remarkably dependent on various chemokines, especially TARC (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/CCL17) and MDC (macrophage-derived chemokine/CCL22). Serum levels of these chemokines are over-expressed in AD patients. Citrus unshiu, which is known as Satsuma mandarin, has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation, and anti-microviral activity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EtOH extract of premature C. unshiu on AD. We did this using a DNCB-induced AD mouse model. We also tried to confirm an inhibitory effect for premature C. unshiu on the expression of inflammatory chemokines in IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ stimulated HaCaT human keratinocytes. We found that extract of premature C. unshiu reduced DNCB-induced symptoms such as hyperkeratosis, increased skin thickness, and infiltrated mast cells, in our AD-like animal model. The extract decreased levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 in ConA-stimulated splenocytes isolated from DNCB-treated mice. Also, extract of premature C. unshiu inhibited mRNA expression and protein production of TARC and MDC through the inhibition of STAT1 phosphorylation. These results suggest that C. unshiu has anti-atopic activity by regulating inflammatory chemokines such as TARC and MDC.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.255-262
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• 2012

Inflammation is the immune system's response to infection and injury-related disorders, and is related to pro-inflammatory factors (NO, $PGE_2$, cytokines, etc.) produced by inflammatory cells. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a representative inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by increasing serum levels of inflammatory chemokines, including macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC). Carpinus tschonoskii is a member of the genus Carpinus. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of C. tschonoskii by studying the effects of various solvent fractions prepared from its leaves on inflammatory mediators in HaCaT and RAW264.7 cells. We found that the chloroform fraction of C. tschonoskii inhibited MDC at both the protein and mRNA levels in HaCaT cells, acting via the inhibition of STAT1 in the IFN-${\gamma}$ signaling pathway. In addition, the chloroform fraction significantly suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors induced by lipopolysaccharide stimulation, except COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$. These results suggest that the chloroform fraction of C. tschonoskii leaves may include a component with potential anti-inflammatory activity.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Objectives : This study was conducted to verify the anti-inflammatory effects of Aster glehni water extracts in HaCaT keratinocytes. Methods : In this study, cell viability was confirmed by MTT assay. Production of TNF-α and IL-6 was determined by ELISA. mRNA expression of TARC and MDC were measusred by qRT-PCR. Also, expressions of p-JNK, JNK, p-ERK, ERK, p-p38, and p-38 were investigated by using western blot assay. Results : Aster glehni water extracts were not shown any significant cytotoxicity at 15.625-500㎍/㎖ in HaCaT keratinocytes. Aster glehni extracts inhibited the TNF-α and IL-6 production in HaCaT keratinocytes treated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. Also, expression of TARC, MDC, p-ERK, and p-STAT1 was decreased. Conclusions : These results suggest that Aster glehni water extracts have anti-inflammatory effects in HaCaT keratinocytes and can be applied to the development of anti-inflammatory treatment substances.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제43권5호
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• pp.859-876
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• 2023

It is known that animal-origin medicine could be one of effective treatment to remedy atopic dermatitis (AD) by controlling the cytokines. Cicadidae Periostracum (CP), the slough of Cryptotympana pustulata, has been frequently used for treating AD and skin affliction in traditional Korean Medicine. This study is aimed at investigating the ameliorating effects of CP on AD and its potential mechanism. The dinitrochlorobenzene sensitized mice were treated with CP for 2 weeks. The various biomarkers and the dermatitis scores presented that CP treatment can induce the visual and biological improvements of AD model. Pruritus, the most serious symptom of AD, which can cause repeated scratching behaviors and finally lead to lichenification, was reduced with CP treatment by regulating the inflammatory reactions. In addition, CP treatment diminished the number of mast cells that are known for causing inflammatory reactions. Moreover, it is proven that CP can decline secretion of interleukin-22, which means CP treatment has anti-inflammatory effects. CP treatment can correct the imbalance of helper T (Th)1 and Th2, downregulating thymic stromal lymphopoietin that leads to decrease of mRNA level of inflammatory cytokines. The crucial role of CP treatment is controlling of the Janus kinase 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. In addition, CP treatment has the inhibitory effects on kallikrein related peptidase (KLK) 5 and KLK7. Taken together, CP treatment can ameliorate most symptoms and problems caused by AD disease, improving the AD patients' life quality.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.91-108
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• 2010

Background & Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of P. radix on the inflammatory related gene expression in IL-$1{\beta}$-stimulated primary human gingival fibroblast using Whole Transcript Sense Target (WT-ST). Method: Human gingival fibroblast was incubated with P. radix [100 or $200\;{\mu}g/ml$], and IL-$1{\beta}$ [$1ng/m{\ell}$] added an hour later. After 24h, total RNA was extracted using RNeasy Mini Kit and the whole gene expression patterns were performed using WT-ST Labeling $Assay^{(R)}$. Result: In the DEG results, 782 genes were up-regulated in the IL-$1{\beta}$-treated group as compared to control and among those, 43 genes were associated with inflammation. 981 genes were down-regulated after treatment with IL-$1{\beta}$ and of those 7 genes were associated with inflammation. 1439 genes were up-regulated after treatment with P. radix plus IL-$1{\beta}$-treated when compared to IL-$1{\beta}$-treated alone group and 1225 genes were down-regulated in the same condition. Among the down-regulated genes, 5 were associated with inflammation- and inhibitor genes such as GDF15 and LIF. In the analysis of the P. radix plus IL-$1{\beta}$-treated group, the most significant pathways were the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, toll-like receptor signaling, JAK-STAT signaling and tyrosine metabolism. The gene expression patterns in the P. radix $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ plus IL-$1{\beta}$-treated group appear to be more involved in the metabolism-related pathways than in the $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ plus IL-$1{\beta}$-treated group. Conclusion & Discussion: By microarray analysis of gene expression data, we are able to identify gene expression patterns associated with not only anti-inflammation effect but also transcription function of P. radix.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권8호
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• pp.1159-1163
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• 2009

ER stress에 관련된 유전자의 기능변화와 전사조절인자 분석하기 위해 ER stress를 유도한 간세포에서 expression microarray로 유전자 발현을 확보한 후 GSECA로 분석하였다. ER stress가 유도되면, ER에 주어지는 과도한 부하를 감소시키는 기능들이 증가하는 반면, ER stress가 더 증가함에 따라 ATP 생성이나 DNA repair, 더 나아가 세포분열의 기능이 감소하는 등 세포가 damage을 받음을 알 수 있었다. ER stress에 관련된 전사조절인자로는 FOX04, AP-1, FOX03, HNF4, IRF-1, GATA 등의 전사조절인자들이 ER stress에 의해 발현이 증가하는 유전자들의 promoter에 공통적으로 존재하였으며, E2F, Nrf-1, Elk-1, YY1, CREB, MTF-1, STAT-1, ATF 등의 전사인자들이 발현이 감소하는 유전자들의 promoter에서 공통적으로 존재하여, 이들의 전사인자들이 ER stress에 의한 유전자의 발현조절에 중요한 역할을 하는 전사조절인자임을 알 수 있었다.

• Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.204-209
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• 2018

Purpose: Growth hormone transduction defect (GHTD) is characterized by severe short stature, impaired STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) phosphorylation and overexpression of the cytokine inducible SH2 containing protein (CIS) and p21/CIP1/WAF1. To investigate the role of p21/CIP1/WAF1 in the negative regulation of the growth hormone (GH)/GH receptor and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)/EGF Receptor pathways in GHTD. Methods: Fibroblast cultures were developed from gingival biopsies of 1 GHTD patient and 1 control. The protein expression and the cellular localization of p21/CIP1/WAF1 was studied by Western immunoblotting and immunofluorescence, respectively: at the basal state and after induction with $200-{\mu}g/L$ human GH (hGH) (GH200), either with or without siRNA CIS (siCIS); at the basal state and after inductions with $200-{\mu}g/L$ hGH (GH200), $1,000-{\mu}g/L$ hGH (GH1000) or 50-ng/mL EGF. Results: After GH200/siCIS, the protein expression and nuclear localization of p21 were reduced in the patient. After successful induction of GH signaling (control, GH200; patient, GH1000), the protein expression and nuclear localization of p21 were reduced. After induction with EGF, p21 translocated to the cytoplasm in the control, whereas in the GHTD patient it remained located in the nucleus. Conclusion: In the GHTD fibroblasts, when CIS is reduced, either after siCIS or after a higher dose of hGH (GH1000), p21's antiproliferative effect (nuclear localization) is also reduced and GH signaling is activated. There also appears to be a positive relationship between the 2 inhibitors of GH signaling, CIS and p21. Finally, in GHTD, p21 seems to participate in the regulation of both the GH and EGF/EGFR pathways, depending upon its cellular location.