• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.95-113
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• 2009

Objectives : Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) is a hair care product which is composed of ten plant extracts used in oriental medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) on hair regrowth and cytokine changes in a shaving model of C57BL/6 mice. Materials and Methods : Five-week-old mice were acclimated for 1 week at a temperature between $21-23^{\circ}C$, 40-60% relative humidity, and 12h of a light/dark cycle before beginning of the experiment. There were three experimental groups including 50% ethanol (EtOH, control), a positive control of 3% Minoxidil, and 30% Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) in 50% ethanol in 18 female mice. The test compounds were topically treated once a day over 12 days. The hair regrowth was photographically and histologically determined during the experimental period of 12 days. Revelation of EGF, $TGF-{\beta}1$ and IL-6 in hair follicle were also determined using immunohistochemistry. In addition to that, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in skin tissue were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results : Hair regrowth in 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups was promoted earlier and faster than the control group. Concentrations of hairs and thick-hair ratio in 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups were promoted than the control group. EGF was moderately positive in hair follicle of 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups, but negative in the control group. $TGF-{\beta}1$ was not significantly difference between the groups. IL-6 in hair follicle of Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) group was negative, but weakly positive in 3% Minoxidil and control group. IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ in skin tissue were significantly decreased in Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) group, but there was not significantly decreased in 3% Minoxidil and control group. $TNF-{\alpha}$ in skin tissue was significantly decreased in 3% Minoxidil and Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that Saengbal-eum-II($Sh{\bar{e}}ngf{\grave{a}}-y{\breve{i}}n-ll$) has hair growth promoting activity and it can be used for treatment of alopecia. And these effects relate to EGF revelation of hair follicle and a decrease IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in skin tissue.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.155-170
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• 2015

Objective : Jaeumgeonbitang have been used in Korean medicine for many centuries as a therapuetic agent of vertigo. JAE was extract of Jaeumgeonbitang adding Evodiae Fructus. The effects of JAE on the cerebral blood flow and blood pressure is not known. This study was designed to investigate the effects of JAE on the ischemic crebral injuries. Method : We performed to investigate effects of JAE on the changes of regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal and ischemic rats, and further to determine the mechanism and cytokines production ($IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-10, $TGF-{\beta}$) of JAE. Results : In normal rats, JAE significantly increased rCBF and significantly decreased MABP in a dose-dependent manner. This result suggested that JAE significantly increased rCBF by dilating pial arterial diameter. Increase of JAE-induced rCBF was significantly inhibited by the pretreatment with indomethacin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, and was significantly inhibited by methylene blue ($10{\mu}g/kg$, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase. Decrease of JAE-induced MABP was significantly increased by the pretreatment with indomethacin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. So, these results suggested that the mechanism of JAE was mediated by cyclooxygenase. In ischemic rat, the rCBF was significantly and stably increased by JAE (10 mg/kg, i.p.) during the period of cerebral reperfusion, which contrasted with the findings of rapid and marked increase in Control group. In cytokine production of serum by drawing from femoral arterial blood at 1 hr after reperfusion, Sample group (JAE 10 mg/kg treated group) was significantly decreased $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production compared with Control group. In cytokine production of serum by drawing from femoral arterial blood at 1 hr after reperfusion, Sample group was significantly increased IL-10 production compared with Control group. Conclusion : These results suggested that JAE was significantly and stably increased regional cerebral blood flow by inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production, and increased IL-10 production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.463-472
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• 2015

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide expressed in all body tissues, and its related receptors are increased in liver fibrosis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AM deficiency on liver fibrogenesis induced by $CCl_4$ using AM heterozygous (HT) mice. The animals received a single injection of $CCl_4$ or olive oil for the acute experiment, and received $CCl_4$ or olive oil three times a week for 6 weeks for the chronic experiment. Fibrosis was accessed using histopathological analysis and the western blot. The AM HT mice showed mild pericentrilobular degeneration when compared to the AM wild type (WT) mice. In the acute experiment, there was no significant difference between the AM WT and AM HT mice. However, in the chronic experiment, the $CCl_4$-treated AM HT mice showed more severe liver fibrosis than that of the CCl₄-treated AM WT mice. The AST and ALT levels of the AM HT $CCl_4$ group were higher than those of the AM WT CCl₄ group. Additionally, the collagen deposition, $\alpha$- SMA protein and TGF-$\beta$ protein were increased in the AM HT $CCl_4$ group when compared to the AM WT $CCl_4$ group. The AM HT mice also exhibited severe lipid peroxidation through the GSH decrement. Taken together, our data suggest that AM deficiency increases the susceptibility to liver fibrosis induced by $CCl_4$, indicating a novel therapeutic target for patients with liver fibrosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2012

Fascioliasis is one of the public health problems in the world. Cysteine proteinases (CP) released by $Fasciola$ $gigantica$ play a key role in parasite feeding, migration through host tissues, and in immune evasion. There has been some evidence from several parasite systems that proteinases might have potential as protective antigens against parasitic infections. Cysteine proteinases were purified and tested in vaccine trials of sheep infected with the liver fluke. Multiple doses (2 mg of CP in Freund's adjuvant followed by 3 booster doses 1 mg each at 4 week intervals) were injected intramuscularly into sheep 1 week prior to infect orally with 300 $F.$ $gigantica$ metacercariae. All the sheep were humanely slaughtered 12 weeks after the first immunization. Changes in the worm burden, ova count, and humoral and cellular responses were evaluated. Significant reduction was observed in the worm burden (56.9%), bile egg count (70.7%), and fecel egg count (75.2%). Immunization with CP was also found to be associated with increases of total IgG, $IgG_1$, and $IgG_2$ ($P$<0.05). Data showed that the serum cytokine levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$, revealed significant decreases ($P$<0.05). However, the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and IL-6, showed significant increases ($P$<0.05). In conclusion, it has been found that CP released by $F.$ $gigantica$ are highly important candidates for a vaccine antigen because of their role in the fluke biology and host-parasite relationships.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.255-264
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• 2009

Background: Chronic low grade inflammation is closely linked to type II diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. Macrophages play a key role in the regulation of pro- or anti-inflammatory actions at the lesion sites of disease. Components of cordyceps militaris, cordycepin and adenosine, have been used for the modulation of inflammatory diseases. The effects of cordycepin in the modulation of macrophages have yet to be be elucidated. We investigated the effects of cordycepin and adenosine on the morphological changes of macrophages under the inflammatory condition of LPS and an anti-inflammatory condition involving high concentrations of adenosine. Methods: We confirmed the mRNA levels of the M1/M2 cytokine genes through RT-PCR and morphological change. Results: LPS-activated macrophages returned to their inactivated original shape, i.e., they looked like naive macrophages, through the treatment with high concentrations of cordycepin ($40{\mu}g/ml$). LPS and adenosine activated macrophages also returned to their original inactivated shapes after cordycepin treatment; however, at relatively higher levels of cordycepin than adenosine. This change did not occur with relatively low concentrations of cordycepin. Adenosine down-regulated the gene expression of M1 cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) and chemokines (CX3CR1, RANTES), such as cordycepin. Additionally, M2 cytokines (IL-10, IL-1ra, TGF-${\beta}$) were up-regulated by both cordycepin and adenosine. Conclusion: Based on these observations, both cordycepin and adenosine regulated the phenotypic switch on macrophages and suggested that cordycepin and adenosine may potentially be used as immunomodulatory agents in the treatment of inflammatory disease.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.141-149
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• 2005

In order to investigate the immunomodulational effects of Lonicerae Caulis et Folium, the author measured cytokines production(IL-10, IL-12(P35), IL12(P40), $IFN-{\gamma}$) in mice splenocytes. The results were obtained as follows : 1. The water extract of Lonicerae Caulis et Folium significantly enhanced the gene expression of IL-12(P35), IL-12(P40), but reduced the gene expression of IL-10, $IFN-{\gamma}$. 2. In water fraction and ethyl acetate fraction, the gene expression of IL-12(P35), $IFN-{\gamma}$ was significantly increased and that of IL-12(P40), IL-10 was decreased. The above results demonstrate that Lonicerae Caulis et Folium has enhancing immune activity by upregulation of these cytokines. Therefore, if we make the relationship between these cytokines(IL-10, IL-12, $IFN-{\gamma}$) besides IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-8, $TGF-{\beta}$ and so on which concerned the immunopotentiation, the immunopotentiational mechanism of Lonicerae Caulis et Folium will be shown clearly.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.208-220
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• 2006

Objective: Eosinophils are typically characterized by a bilobar nucleus with highly condensed chromatin and cytoplasm containing two major types of granules, specific and primary granules, and lipid bodies. The role of inflammation in asthma and other allergic diseases of the airways is widely appreciated, and airway inflammation is now included as a defining feature of asthma. The importance of the presence of eosinophils in the airways of patients with fetal asthma has long been recognized, but the mechanism by which these cells are recruited and retained in the lungs are only now being elucidated. Eotaxin is a potent and specific eosinophil chemoattractant that is mobilized in the respiratory epithelium after allergic stimulation. Methods : Water extracts of Armeniacae Amarum Semen(AAS) and pulmonary epithelial cell lines A549(alveolar typeII epithelial cells) and human eosinophils were used. Cytotoxic effects of AAS and MIS assay were estimated, as well as the effects of AAS on chemokines from prestimulated A549 cells by sandwich ELISA and RI-PCR. Chemotaxis assay was conducted on prestimulated eosinophils treated with AAS. Results : In this study it is demonstrated that $TGF-{\alpha}$, IL-4 and $IL-1{\beta}$ induced the accumulation of chemokine mRNAs in the alveolar epithelial cell lines A549 in dose-dependent manner. Eotaxin and IL-8 were inhibited by AAS in dose-dependent manner(p<0.05). Eosinophil migration was inhibited at high concentrations of AAS(p<0.05). Conculusions : These findings are indicative of suppression of eotaxin and IL-8, and suggest that this is accomplished through AAS treatment. This raises the possibility that AAS is of therapeutic value in diseases such as asthma.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.93-104
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• 2014

Objectives : Samhwangsasim-tang (SHSST) is a traditional Korean medication, which has been used in Korea for treatment of hypertension and chest pain. Hyperlipidemia and inflammation could influence hypertension and chest pain. This study investigated whether and how SHSST reduces the hyperlipidemia and inflammation related to high-cholesterol diet-induced obesity in rats. Methods : Mice were divided randomly into four groups: the normal diet group, high-cholesterol diet group, low dose treatment group supplemented with 30% ethanol extract of SHSST (L) and high dose treatment group supplemented with 80% ethanol extract of SHSST (H). L and H groups were orally administered with SHSST at the dose of 50mg/kg a day respectively and others were administered with the same volume of physiological saline. Results : Administration of SHSST resulted in a decrease in serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Expression of hepatic genes(SREBP2, LXR, LDLR, and HMG-CoA) related with cholesterol metabolism was also suppressed. In addition, SHSST decreased the expression of inflammation-related gene (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TGF-${\beta}1$ and fibronectin). Histological examinations also showed that the size of the adipocytes was smaller in the SHSST treated group than in the high-colesterol diet group. In an in vitro study, SHSST inhibited the production of nitric oxide in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions : This study indicates that SHSST has anti-hyperlipidemia and anti-inflammatory effects. It may also suggest that SHSST may be alternative therapy for treatment of hyperlipidemia and its complications.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.29-50
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate effectiveness of KamiCheongsimyeonjatang(KCSYJT) medicines to suppress atopic dermatitis in mouse model experimentally. Methods : First, in vitro, we isolated B cells from 18 weeks of atopicdermatitis-like skin NC/Nga mouse. Then we analyzed FACS(Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter) by intracellular staining of IFN-$\gamma$, GATA-3+ analyzed cytokines by using real-time PCR. Secondly, in vivo, after administration of KCSYJT to atopic dermatitis NC/Nga mouse at 12 weeks of age, we analyzed serum IgE and the change of activated cell in PBMCs(Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells). Results : In vitro, KCSYJT medicines supressed IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, and TGF-$\beta$ mRNA and increased IL-10 mRNA in B cells. Also, KCSYJT medicines decreased the levels of GATA-3$^+$CD4$^+$ and increased the levels of IFN-$\gamma^+$CD4$^+$T Cell. In vivo, serum IgE levels dreased in KCSYJT group than control group and In PBMCs, the activated cell percentage of granulocytes, CD3+, CD3+/CD4+, B220+/CD23+, and CCR3+ decreased and CD19+, CD3+/CD8+ increased in KCSYJT group than control group. Conclusions : This study demonstrates immunological activity of KCSYJT on atopic dermatitis-like model mice.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2003

Since the establishment of embryonic stem cell, pluripotency of the cells was known to allow differentiation of the cells into various cell types consisting whole body. Several protocols have been developed to induce expression of specific genes.. However, no precise protocol that will generate a single type of the cells from stem cells has been reported. In order to produce cells suitable for transplantion into brain of PD animal model, which arouse due to a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in midbrain, human embryonic stem cell (hESC, MB03) was transfected with cDNAs cording for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Successful transfection was confirmed by western immunoblotting. Newly transfected cell line (TH#2/MB03) was induced to differentiate by the two neurogenic factors retinoic acid (RA) and b-FGF. Exp. I) Upon differentiation using RA/ascorbic acid (AA), embryoid bodies (EB, for 4days) derived from hES cells were exposed to RA (10$^{-6}$ M)/AA (50 mM) for 4 days, and were allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Exp. II) When bFGF was used, neuronal precursor cells were selected for 8 days in N2 medium after EB formation. After selection, cells were expanded at the presence of bFGF (20 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. By indirect immunocytochemical studies, proportion of cells expressing NF200 increased rapidly from 20% at 7 days to 70 % at 28 days in RA/AA-treated group, while those cells expressing NF160 decreased from 80% at 7 days to 10% at 28 days upon differentiation in N2 medium. However, in differentiation by RA/AA treatment system, there was a significant increase in proportion of neuron maturity (73%) at day 14 after N2 medium. TH#2/MB03 cells expressing TH are >90% when matured at the absence of either bDNF or TGF-$\alpha$. These results suggested that TH#2/MB03 cells could be differentiated in vitro into mature neurons by RA/AA.