• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2017

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27OHChol) has been reported to induce differentiation of monocytic cells into a mature dendritic cell phenotype. We examined the effect of methanol extract of Nardostachys chinensis (Nard) on 27OHChol-induced differentiation using THP-1, a human monocytic cell line. Treatment of monocytic cells with methanol extract of Nard resulted in decreased transcription and surface expression of CD80, CD83, and CD88 elevated by 27OHChol in a dose-dependent manner. Surface levels of MHC class I and II molecules elevated by 27OHChol were also reduced to basal levels by treatment with the Nard extract. Decreased endocytosis activity caused by 27OHChol was recovered by treatment with the Nard extract. CD197 expression and cell attachment were attenuated by the Nard extract. In addition, levels of transcription and surface expression of CD molecules involved in atherosclerosis, such as CD105, CD137, and CD166 upregulated by 27OHChol were significantly decreased by treatment with methanol extract of Nard. These results indicate that methanol extract of Nard down-regulates 27OHChol-induced differentiation of monocytic cells into a mature dendritic cell phenotype and expression of CD molecules associated with atherosclerosis. The current study suggests that biological activity of oxygenated cholesterol derivatives can be inhibited by herbal medication.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.296-304
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• 2016

It has been reported that fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) do not act only as intracellular mediators of lipid responses but also have extracellular functions. This study aimed to investigate whether extracellular liver type (L)-FABP has a biological activity and to determined serum L-FABP levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We isolated L-FABP complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) from the Huh7 human hepatocarcinoma cell line and expressed the recombinant L-FABP protein in Escherichia coli. A549 lung carcinoma and THP-1 monocytic cells were stimulated with the human recombinant L-FABP. Human whole blood cells were also treated with the human recombinant L-FABP or interleukin (IL)-1α. IL-6 levels were measured in cell culture supernatants using IL-6 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Human recombinant L-FABP induced IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner in A549, THP-1 cells, and whole blood cells. The blood samples of healthy volunteers and patients with ESRD were taken after an overnight fast. The serum levels of L-FABP in healthy volunteers and ESRD patients were quantified with L-FABP ELISA. The values of L-FABP in patients with ESRD were significantly lower than those in the control group. Our results demonstrated the biological activity of L-FABP in human cells suggesting L-FABP can be a mediator of inflammation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.551-563
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• 2022

L-asparaginase (E.C. 3.5.1.1) purified from bacterial cells is widely used in the food industry, as well as in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In the present study, the Burkholderia pseudomallei L-asparaginase gene was cloned into the pGEX-2T DNA plasmid, expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS, and purified to homogeneity using Glutathione Sepharose chromatography with 7.26 purification fold and 16.01% recovery. The purified enzyme exhibited a molecular weight of ~33.6 kDa with SDS-PAGE and showed maximal activity at 50℃ and pH 8.0. It retained 95.1, 89.6%, and 70.2% initial activity after 60 min at 30℃, 40℃, and 50℃, respectively. The enzyme reserved its activity at 30℃ and 37℃ up to 24 h. The enzyme had optimum pH of 8 and reserved 50% activity up to 24 h. The recombinant enzyme showed the highest substrate specificity towards L-asparaginase substrate, while no detectable specificity was observed for L-glutamine, urea, and acrylamide at 10 mM concentration. THP-1, a human leukemia cell line, displayed significant morphological alterations after being treated with recombinant L-asparaginase and the IC₅₀ of the purified enzyme was recorded as 0.8 IU. Furthermore, the purified recombinant Lasparaginase improved cytotoxicity in liver cancer HepG2 and breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 1.53 and 18 IU, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.564-570
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• 2015

Peptidoglycan (PG), the gram positive bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), is detected in a high proportion in macrophage-rich atheromatous regions, and expression of chemokine CXCL8, which triggers monocyte arrest on early atherosclerotic endothelium, is elevated in monocytes/ macrophages in human atherosclerotic lesion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PG induced CXCL8 expression in the cell type and to determine cellular signaling pathways involved in that process. Exposure of THP-1 cell, human monocyte/macrophage cell line, to PG not only enhanced CXCL8 release but also profoundly induced il8 gene transcription. PG-induced release of CXCL8 and induction of il8 gene transcription were blocked by OxPAPC, an inhibitor of TLR-2/4 and TLR4, but not by polymyxin B, an inhibitor of LPS. PG-mediated CXCL8 release was significantly attenuated by inhibitors of PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathways. PKC inhibitors, MAPK inhibitors, and ROS quenchers also significantly attenuated expression of CXCL8. The present study proposes that PG contributes to inflammatory reaction and progression of atherosclerosis by inducing CXCL8 expression in monocytes/macrophages, and that TLR-2, PI3K-Akt-mTOR, PKC, ROS, and MAPK are actively involved in the process.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.803-823
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• 1999

In order to reveal immunopathogenesis of periodontal tissue destruction, it is important to clarify the molecular mechanism of trafficking and retention of activated leukocytes, including monocytes/macrophages. Gingival fibroblasts may be involved in the regulation of inflammatory cell accumulation in the extravascular periodontal connective tissues via cytokine production and surface expression of adhesion molecules. In this study, it was investigated the molecular basis for the adhesive interactions between monocytes and fibroblasts such as peri-odontal ligament fibroblast(PDLF), human gingival fibroblast(HGF), and human dermal fibroblast(HDF). First, it was examined the evidence whether monocyte-fibroblast cell contact may cause signal transduction in fibroblasts. Being directly in contact with fixed human monocyte cell line THP-1, or U937, upregulation of IL-6 production, $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA expression and increased cell proliferation could be seen for fibroblasts. IL-6 production induced by monocyte- fibroblast coculture were further increased when fibroblasts had been pretreated with $IFN-{\gamma}$ or $IL-1{\beta}$ , and monocytes with LPS. Next, it was examined the expression of ICAM-1 which has been known to be involved in accumulation and activation of leukocytes in inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis. ICAM-1 was upregulated up to 10-fold on PDLF, HGF, and HDF by exposure to $IFN-{\gamma}$ or $IL-1{\beta}$. Furthermore, anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody clearly blocked cocultureinduced IL-6 production by fibroblasts, suggesting that $ICAM-1/{\beta}_2$integrin pathway is involved in periodontal fibroblastmonocyte interaction. Overall, these findings provide evidence that periodontal fibroblasts could be involved in the accumulation and retention of monocytes/macrophages in periodontal inflammatory lesion at least in part by ICAM-1 expression. In addition, periodontal fibroblast-monocyte interaction could cause activation signals in fibroblasts intracellularly which result in cytokine production and cell proliferation. Thus, periodontal fibroblasts are speculated to play an important role in immunoregulation and tissue destruction in chronic periodontal diseases by interaction with monocytes/macrophages.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5767-5772
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• 2014

Background and Aim: B7-H1, a co-inhibitory molecule of the B7 family, is found aberrantly expressed in ovarian cancer cells and infiltrating macrophage/dendritic-like cells, and plays a critical role in immune evasion by ovarian cancer. IL-12, an inducer of Th1 cell development, exerts immunomodulatory effects on ovarian cancer. However, whether IL-12 regulates B7-H1 expression in human ovarian cancer associated-macrophages has not been clarified. Therefore, we investigated the effects of IL-12 on the expression of B7-H1 in ovarian cancer-associated macrophages and possible mechanisms. Methods: PMA induced THP-1-derived macrophages or human monocyte-derived macrophages were treated with recombinant IL-12 (rIL-12) or infected with adenovirus carrying human IL-12 gene (Ad-IL-12-GFP) for 24 h, then cocultured with the SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line for another 24 h. Macrophages were collected for real-time PCR and Western blot to detect the expression of B7-H1, and activation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Moreover, supernatants were collected to assay for IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-10 by ELISA. In addition, monocyte-derived macrophages treated with IFN-${\gamma}$ were cocultured with SKOV3 and determined for the expression of B7-H1. Furthermore, the expression of B7-H1 in monocyte-derived macrophages was also evaluated after blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling. Results: The expression of B7-H1 was significantly upregulated in monocyte-derived macrophages treated with rIL-12 or Ad-IL-12-GFP compared with the control groups (p<0.05), accompanied by a remarkable upregulation of IFN-${\gamma}$ (p<0.05), a marked downregulation of IL-10 (p<0.05) and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling. However, the upregulation of B7-H1 was inhibited by blocking the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway (p<0.05). Expression of B7-H1 was also increased (p<0.05) in monocyte-derived macrophages treated with IFN-${\gamma}$ and cocultured with SKOV3. By contrast, the expression of B7-H1 in THP-1-derived macrophages was significantly decreased when treated in the same way as monocyte-derived macrophages (p<0.05), and IL-10 was also significantly decreased but IFN-${\gamma}$ was almost absent. Conclusions: IL-12 upregulates the expression of B7-H1 in monocyte-derived macrophages, which is possible though inducing the secretion of IFN-${\gamma}$ and further activating the NF-${\kappa}B$ signal pathway. However, IL-12 downregulates the expression of B7-H1 in THP-1-derived macrophages, associated with a lack of IFN-${\gamma}$ and inhibition of expression of IL-10.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1051-1058
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• 2014

Platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) plays an important role in bacterial infection and inflammation. We examined the effect of the bacterial cell wall components lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Lactobacillus plantarum (pLTA) and Staphylococcus aureus (aLTA) on PAFR expression in THP-1, a monocyte-like cell line. LPS and aLTA, but not pLTA, significantly increased PAFR expression, whereas priming with pLTA inhibited LPS-mediated or aLTA-mediated PAFR expression. Expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4, and CD14 increased with LPS and aLTA treatments, but was inhibited by pLTA pretreatment. Neutralizing antibodies against TLR2, TLR4, and CD14 showed that these receptors were important in LPS-mediated or aLTA-mediated PAFR expression. PAFR expression is mainly regulated by the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. Blocking PAF binding to PAFR using a PAFR inhibitor indicated that LPS-mediated or aLTA-mediated PAF expression affected TNF-${\alpha}$ production. In the mouse small intestine, pLTA inhibited PAFR, TLR2, and TLR4 expression that was induced by heat-labile toxin. Our data suggested that pLTA has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the expression of PAFR that was induced by pathogenic ligands.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.895-913
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• 2000

It is becoming increasingly clear that human gingival fibroblasts(HGF) may play a role in regulating immune responsiveness in inflammatory periodontal lesions. Stimulation of HGF with locally-secreted T cell cytokine $IFN_{\gamma}$ induces human leukocyte antigen class II(HLA II) expression on HGF, which is one of the characteristic feature of professional antigen presenting cells(pAPC). However, $IFN_{\gamma}$-treated HGF and other nonprofessional antigen presenting cells(npAPC) are known to be ineffective or less effective antigen presenter to resting T cells. This study, therefore, was undertaken in an effort to elucidate the differences in expression of cell surface molecules between npAPC in periodontal tissues, such as HGF and periodontal ligament fibroblasts(PDLF), and pAPC such as monocytes/macrophages. Using flow cytometry, the levels of cell surface expression of HLA-D, ICAM-1, LFA-3, and B7-1, which are involved in antigen presentation, were determined in HGF, PDLF and human myelomonocytic cell line THP-1. $IFN_{\gamma}$ clearly induced HLA-D expression on both of fibroblasts and monocytes dose dependently. However, expression level on monocytes were 4 to 5 times higher than that on fibroblasts, and induction rate was faster in monocytes than in fibroblasts. The levels of ICAM-1 expression on fibroblasts and monocytes were enhanced by $IFN_{\gamma}$ in a dose dependent manner. On the other hand, the expression of LFA-3 molecule, which could be detected in fibroblasts and monocytes without cytokine stimulation, was no more enhanced by addition of $IFN_{\gamma}$. B7-1, important costimulatory molecule in T cell activation and proliferation, was not detected on both of fibroblasts and monocytes even when stimulated with $IFN_{\gamma}$, except on monocytes fully differentiated by pretreatment of PMA and treated by $IFN_{\gamma}$. These results suggest that delayed expression of HLA-D and absence of B7-1 on $IFN_{\gamma}$ - treated fibroblasts may at least in part be involved in the ineffectiveness of fibroblasts as primary APC. And it is postulated that although periodontal fibroblasts may not serve as primary APC in normal periodontium, sustained expression of HLA II on ubiquitous fibroblasts in inflammatory lesions may perpetuate immune responses and produce chronic inflammation and tissue injury.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.410-415
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• 2013

Adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 are important in the infiltration of leukocytes into the site of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on ICAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesiveness as well as its underlying action mechanism in the TNF-${\alpha}$-stimulated keratinocytes. Curcumin induced expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. In addition, curcumin induced Nrf2 activation in dose- and time-dependent manners in the HaCaT cells. Curcumin suppressed TNF-${\alpha}$-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion, which were reversed by the addition of tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a specific inhibitor of HO-1, or HO-1 knockdown using siRNA. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown using siRNA reversed the inhibitory effect of curcumin on the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced ICAM-1 expression and adhesion of monocytes to keratinocytes. These results suggest that curcumin may exert its anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion via expression of HO-1 in the keratinocytes.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.4 s.131
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• pp.352-358
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• 2002

Blood monocytes are the precursors for the lipid-laden foam cells of early atherosclerotic lesions. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1), a CC chemokine, and chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) play a crucial role in the recruitment of monocytes to the vascular lesion. Using the human monocyte THP-1 cell line, we investigate the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 127 medicinal herbs on MCP-1 induced chemotaxis. Seven kinds of methanol extracts of medicinal herbs showed above 40% inhibitory effect with the concentration of $25{\mu}g/ml$. They were divide three fractions of $CHCI_3$, BuOH, $H_2O$ to use solvent partition. Among them, butanol extract of Junci Medulla and $CHCI_3$ extract of Clematidis Radix are showed significant inhibitory activities (above 50% inhibition) at the same concentration.