• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.134-146
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• 2013

Objectives : Auklandia Lappa (ALE) is one of the herbs used frequently to treat abdominal pain and diarrhea and reported anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines. This study was designed to investigate whether ALE could show protective activities on experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) models. Methods : Colitis was induced by DSS in Balb/c mice. ALE 10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg were orally administered twice a day for 7 days in DSS model. Mice weight was measured daily. Scoring of clinical findings was measured every other day. Colon length, edema, fecal blood and histological damages were assessed at day 7 in DSS model. In histological analysis, we checked cryptal glands, surface epithelium, submucosa, transmural, stroma and scored degree of inflammatory cell damage by modified histological scoring. We also calculated cytokines concentrations including IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-17, IL-23, IL-10 and TGF-${\beta}1$ by Biometric Multiplex Cytokine Profiling method. Results : ALE showed the protective effects on DSS-induced experimental colitis. ALE inhibited shortening of colon length and histological damages of colon does-dependently, but it did not inhibit weight loss. ALE also inhibited IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-6 expression, and upregulated cytokines (IL-10, TGF-${\beta}1$) related to regulatory T cell differentiation and proliferation. Conclusions : The current results demonstrate the clinical utility of ALE in traditional medicine and indicate the possibility of potent drug development of inflammatory bowel diseases from natural products. Further investigations for exact mechanisms will be needed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2013

Although BMP6 is highly capable of inducing osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs), the molecular mechanism involved remains to be fully elucidated. Using dominant negative (dn) mutant form of type I and type II $TGF{\beta}$ receptors, we demonstrated that three dn-type I receptors (dnALK2, dnALK3, dnALK6), and three dn-type II receptors (dnBMPRII, dnActRII, dnActRIIB), effectively diminished BMP6-induced osteogenic differentiation of MPCs. These findings suggested that ALK2, ALK3, ALK6, BMPRII, ActRII and ActRIIB are essential for BMP6-induced osteogenic differentiation of MPCs. However, MPCs in this study do not express ActRIIB. Moreover, RNA interference of ALK2, ALK3, ALK6, BMPRII and ActRII inhibited BMP6-induced osteogenic differentiation in MPCs. Our results strongly suggested that BMP6-induced osteogenic differentiation of MPCs is mediated by its functional $TGF{\beta}$ receptors including ALK2, ALK3, ALK6, BMPRII, and ActRII.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3137-3140
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• 2015

Objective: To explore the immune reconstitution of $CD4^+T$ cells after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) and its relationship with invasive fungal infection (IFI) in patients with hematological malignancies. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven patients with hematological malignancies undergoing Allo-HSCT in Binzhou Medical University Hospital from February, 2010 to October, 2014 were selected. At 1, 2 and 3 months after transplantation, the immune subpopulations and concentration of cytokines were assessed respectively using flow cytometry (FCM) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The incidence of IFI after transplantation and its correlation with immune reconstitution of $CD4^+T$ cells were investigated. Results: The number of $CD4^+T$ cells and immune subpopulations increased progressively after transplantation as time went on, but the subpopulation cell count 3 months after transplantation was still significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.01). In comparison to the control group, the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 after transplantation rose evidently (p<0.01), while that of transforming growth factor-${beta}$ (TGF-${beta}$) was decreased (p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference level of interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) (p>0.05). The incidence of IFI was 19.2% (9/47), and multivariate logistic regression revealed that IFI might be related to Th17 cell count (p<0.05), instead of Th1, Th2 and Treg cell counts as well as IL-6, IL-10, TGF-${beta}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ levels (p>0.05). Conclusions: After Allo-HSCT, the immune reconstitution of $CD4^+T$ cells is delayed and Th17 cell count decreases obviously, which may be related to occurrence of IFI.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.649-655
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• 2006

The NSAID activated gene (NAG-1), a member of the TGF-$\beta$ superfamily, is involved in tumor progression and development. The over-expression of NAG-1 in cancer cells results in growth arrest and increase in apoptosis, suggesting that NAG-1 has anti-tumorigenic activity. This conclusion is further supported by results of experiments with transgenic mice that ubiquitously express human NAG-1. These transgenic mice are resistant to the development of intestinal tumors following treatment with azoxymethane or by introduction of a mutant APC gene. In contrast, other data suggest a pro-tumorigenic role for NAG-1, for example, high expression of NAG-1 is frequently observed in tumors. NAG-1 may be like other members of the TGF-$\beta$ superfamily, acting as a tumor suppressor in the early stages, but acting pro-tumorigenic at the later stages of tumor progression. The expression of NAG-1 can be increased by treatment with drugs and chemicals documented to prevent tumor formation and development. Most notable is the increase in NAG-1 expression by the inhibitors of cyclooxygenases that prevent human colorectal cancer development. The regulation of NAG-1 is complex, but these agents act through either p53 or EGR-1 related pathways. In addition, an increase in NAG-1 is observed in inhibition of the AKT/GSK-$3{\beta}$ pathway, suggesting NAG-1 alters cell survival. Thus, NAG-1 expression is regulated by tumor suppressor pathways and appears to modulate tumor progression.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2006

Cryopreserved fibroblast implants represent a major advancement for healing of chronic wounds. Bone marrow stromal cells, which include the mesenchymal stem cells, have a low immunity-assisted rejection and are capable of expanding profoundly in a culture media. Therefore, they have several advantages over fibroblasts in clinical use. The ultimate goal of this study was to compare the wound healing accelerating growth factor secretion of the bone marrow stromal cells with that of the fibroblasts and this pilot study particularly focuses on the growth factor secretion to accelerate wound healing. Bone marrow stromal cells and fibroblasts were isolated from the same patients and grown in culture. At 1, 3, and 5 days post-incubating, secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor beta(TGF-${\beta}$) were compared. In TGF-${\beta}$ secretion fibroblasts showed 12~21% superior results than bone marrow stromal cells. In contrast, bFGF levels in the bone marrow stromal cells were 47~89% greater than that in fibroblasts. The VEGF levels of the bone marrow stromal cells was 7~12 fold greater than that of the fibroblasts. Our results suggest that the bone marrow stromal cells have great potential for wound healing accelerating growth factor secretion.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

It is well established that TGF-${\beta}1$ and retinoic acid (RA) cause IgA isotype switching in mice. We recently found that lactoferrin (LF) also has an activity of IgA isotype switching in spleen B cells. The present study explored the effect of LF on the Ig production by mouse peritoneal B cells. LF, like TGF-${\beta}1$, substantially increased IgA production in peritoneal B1 cells but little in peritoneal B2 cells. In contrast, LF increased IgG2b production in peritoneal B2 cells much more strongly than in peritoneal B1 cells. LF in combination with RA further enhanced the IgA production and, interestingly, this enhancement was restricted to IgA isotype and B1 cells. Similarly, the combination of the two molecules also led to expression of gut homing molecules ${\alpha}4{\beta}7$ and CCR9 on peritoneal B1 cells, but not on peritoneal B2 cells. Thus, these results indicate that LF and RA can contribute to gut IgA response through stimulating IgA isotype switching and expression of gut-homing molecules in peritoneal B1 cells.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.793-825
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• 1999

For the development of drugs for alzheimer,s disease, the study was done to review the oriental pathology, clinical data, recent trends for research and strategy for future study. The results were as follows: 1. The medical term Chi-dsi implying alzheimer,s disease was referred for the first time in a medical book, Hwatasheneubijeon written by Hwa-Ta and its differentiation and treatment were studied more in Ming or Ching dynasties. Chi-dai can be differentated as weak(虛) syndrome and Shi(實) syndrome. This can be caused by deficiencies of renal Yin, renal Yang, cardiac Yin and hepatic blood, while that by deficiencies of pathological fluid(痰飮) and clotted blood(瘀血). 2. Dementia can be roughly classified as alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct disease. Its causes were known to be cholinergic transmitter, C-peptide, amyloid-${\beta}$, apolipoprotein, APP(amyloid precursor protein), TGF, MMP-9 and free radical. 3. In Korea experimental studies were chiefly done for the elimataion of C-peptide, amyloid-${\beta}$, apolipoprotein, APP for alzheimer's disease, for the development of drug inhibiting degerative change following CVA and loss of memory and also administrative measure was done by support of government. 4. Drugs of dimentia developed so far were Chi-Dai dan, extracts from aloe, mushroom, green tea, Ganoderma and also folic acid, vitamin C, DHEA and silk amino acid were reported to be effective in dimenta. 5. Future strategic research had better be done on dementia-inducing factors such as acetylcholine, C-peptide, amyloid-${\beta}$, apolipoprotein, APP, TGF, MMP-9 and free radical, development of animal model for dimentia, clinical study, epidemiology, nursing and administrative studies and also consortium for dimentia research should be formed so that repeated investment be avoided.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.14-28
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to identify relationships of maternal psychosocial factors including mother's mood state, childcare stress, social support and sleep satisfaction with breastfeeding adaptation and immune substances in breast milk, especially secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-${\beta}2$). Methods: Data were collected from 84 mothers who delivered full-term infants by natural childbirth. Structured questionnaires and breast milk were collected at 2~4 days and 6 weeks postpartum. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, multiple linear regression, and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results: Scores for the breastfeeding adaptation scale were significantly related with child care stress, mood state and social support. Mother's anger was positively correlated with the level of sIgA in colostrum (p<.01). Immune substances of breastmilk was significantly influenced by time for milk collection (p<.001) and the type of breastfeeding (sIgA, p<.001, TGF-${\beta}2$, p=.003). Regression analysis showed that breastfeeding adaptation could be explained 59.1% by the type of breastfeeding, childcare stress, the Profile of Mood States, emotional support and sleep quality (F=16.67, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings from this study provide important concepts of breastfeeding adaptation program and explanation of psychosocial factors by immune substances in breast milk. Future research, specially, bio-maker research on breast milk should focus on the ways to improve breastfeeding adaptation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1127-1134
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• 2007

The study was designed to investigate the mechanism of Patholoobi Caulis freeze dried powder (PCF) on the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal rats and cytokines production ($IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-10, $TGF-{\beta}$) in cerebral ischemic rats. The results in normal rats were as follows ; Increase of PCF-induced rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with methylene blue (10 ${\mu}g/kg$, I.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, and was inhibited by indomethacin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. Increase of PCF-induced MABP was decreased by pretreatment with methylene blue, but was increased by indomethacin. These results suggested that the mechanism of action PCF was mediated by cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate. The results in cerebral ischemic rats were as follows ; In cytokine production in serum from femoral arterial blood 1 hr after middle cerebral arterial occlusion, PCF (10 mg/kg. i.p.) significantly decreased $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production, and increased IL-10 production compared with control group. In cytokine production in serum from femoral arterial blood 1 hr 1 hr after reperfusion, PCF (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased $IL-1{\beta}$ production, and incresed IL-10 production compared with control group. These results suggested that PCF was significantly and stably increased regional cerebral blood flow by inhibiting $IL-1{\beta}$ production, and by accelerating IL-10 production.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 1999

Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) is a member of the transforming growth factor $\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) superfamily. It has been known that GDF-9 is a growth factor having a crucial role in normal folliculogenesis and its expression is oocyte-specific. The present study was aimed to elucidate the expression of GDF-9 mRNA in the mouse primordial follicles as well as in the other developmental stages. The semiquantitative analysis of GDF-9 mRNA expression was conducted. Total RNA was extracted from the ICR mice ovaries at gestational day 19, postnatal day 1, day 10, day 21, and day 28, and RT-PCR was performed to measure GDF-9 and $\beta$-actin mRNA levels. Level of GDF-9 mRNA were normalized against the level of $\beta$-actin mRNA, and compared among different stages. GDF-9 mRNA was detected in all samples including the fetal ovaries that mainly consists of primordial follicles. The highest level of mRNA was observed in ovaries obtained at day 10 that mainly consists of growing follicles. The present result suggests that GDF-9 may play an important role in the early stage of folliculogenesis.