• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2008

Although hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction occurs during endotoxemia, the mechanism responsible for this remains unclear. Since Kupffer cells provide signals that regulate hepatic response in inflammation, this study was designed to investigate the role of Kupffer cells in the imbalance in the expression of vasoactive mediators. Endotoxemia was induced by intraperitoneal E. coli endotoxin (LPS, 1 mg/kg body weight). Kupffer cells were inactivated with gadolinium chloride ($GdCl_3$, 7.5 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) 2 days prior to LPS exposure. Liver samples were taken 6 h following LPS exposure for RT-PCR analysis of mRNA for genes of interest: endothelin (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A$ and $ET_B$, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase (HO-1), and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$). mRNA levels for iNOS and TNF-$\alpha$ were significantly increased 31.8-fold and 26.7-fold in LPS-treated animals, respectively. This increase was markedly attenuated by $GdCl_3$, HO-1 expression significantly increased in LPS-treated animals, with no significant difference between saline and $GdCl_3$ groups. ET-1 was increased by LPS. mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptor showed no change, whereas $ET_B$ transcripts increased in LPS-treated animals. The increase in $ET_B$ transcripts was potentiated by $GdCl_3$. We conclude that activation of Kupffer cells plays an important role in the imbalanced hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression induced by endotoxin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 2013

Ginseng is known to have antistress effects. Previously, red ginseng (RG) was shown to repress stress-induced peptidyl arginine deiminase type IV (PADI4) via estrogen receptor ${\beta}$ ($ER{\beta}$) in the brain, thus inhibiting brain cell apoptosis. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ plays a critical role in immobilization (IMO) stress. However, the signaling pathway of RG-mediated repressesion of inflammation is not completely understood. In this study, we determined how RG modulated gene expression in stressed brain cells. Since secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ is modulated via TNF-${\alpha}$ converting enzyme (TACE) and nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, we examined the inflammatory pathway in stressed brain cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that TACE was induced by IMO stress, but RG repressed TACE induction. Moreover, PADI4 siRNA repressed TACE expression compared to the mock transfected control suggesting that PADI4 was required for TACE expression. A reporter assay also revealed that $H_2O_2$ oxidative stress induced NF-${\kappa}B$ in neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells, however, RG pretreatment repressed NF-${\kappa}B$ induction. These findings were supported by significant induction of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by oxidative stress, which could be repressed by RG administration. Taken together, RG appeared to repress stress-induced PADI4 via TACE and NF-${\kappa}B$ in brain cells thus preventing production of ROS and subsequently protecting brain cells from apoptosis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.2878-2882
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• 2012

Amentoflavone is naturally occurring bioflavonoid that is found in a number of plants. In this paper, the anti-inflammatory activity of amentoflavone in LPS-stimulated macrophages and its mode of action were examined. Using LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells, we found that amentoflavone exerted anti-inflammatory activities through inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 secretion. Amentoflavone (1.0-20 ${\mu}M$) gradually inhibited nitrite production without cytotoxicity. Amentoflavone (1.0 and 10 ${\mu}M$) effectively suppressed both TNF-${\alpha}$ and MIP-2 cytokine release from LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The expression of mIL-$1{\beta}$ and mMIP-2 cytokine mRNAs was completely inhibited while expression of mMIP-1 was effectively suppressed and mTNF-${\alpha}$ expression was slightly inhibited by 10 ${\mu}M$ amentoflavone. We also demonstrated that the innate immune response to amentoflavone involves the toll-like receptor (TLR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. LPS-induced upregulation of p38 MAPK phosphorylation was significantly reduced by 10 ${\mu}M$ amentoflavone. These results suggest that amentoflavone exhibits effective anti-inflammatory activities through regulation of TLR4 and phosphorylation of p38 MAPKs.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2013

Obesity may cause metabolic syndrome and adult diseases. This study was undertaken to investigate the ameliorative or useful effects of beanleaves on inflammation and liver damage in obese rat models. Rats were divided into three groups: a control group (normal diet, n=6), a fat diet group (45%-fat diet, n=7), and a bean leaf group (45%-fat+Korean bean leaves diet, n=7). Body weights in the bean leaf group were lower than those of the fat group (P<0.05). Serum tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) concentrations were lower in both the control and bean leaf groups than in the fat group (P<0.001). TNF-${\alpha}$ concentrations in the bean leaf group were slightly higher than in the control group but statistically significant (P<0.05). The bean leaf group histologically exhibited lower fatty degeneration, spotty necrosis, and leukocyte infiltrations in hepatic tissues than those of the fat group. In the homogenized liver tissues, the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene was only expressed in the fat group. The gene expression levels of hepatic TNF-${\alpha}$, inducible nitric-oxide synthase, peroxiome proliferator-activated receptor-${\alpha}$ (PPAR-${\alpha}$), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) were weaker in the bean leaf group than in the fat group. These results suggest that adding bean-leaves to the diet may ameliorate obesity-induced systemic inflammation and liver damage and that bean leaves may be a useful food for preventing obesity and thereby metabolic syndrome and adult diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.171-175
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• 2008

In the recently, increased concern has been focused on the pharmacology and clinical utility of herbal extracts and derivatives as a drug or adjunct to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Here we investigated the effect of the water extract of Loranthi Ramulus (LR) in production of inflammatory mediators and expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, CD14 from peritoneal macrophage. We assayed the effect of LR water extract in cell proliferation in vitro and Th1/Th2 cytokine level in vivo. In peritoneal macrophages, water extract of LR water extract increased the production of Nitric oxide (NO) and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Also, LR water extract increased Con A-induced cell proliferation and IgG1, IgG2a level in serum. However, i.p. injection of water extract of LR water extract did not affect the level of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 in serum of mice. These studies indicate that LR water extract induces macrophage activation and suggest the possible use of LR water extract in macrophage-based immunotherapies.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.111-116
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• 2015

To determine the effect of diabetes on root resorption in periodontitis, we investigated odontoclast formation and root resorption in diabetic rats with periodontitis. Odontoclast formation was observed in three groups of F344 rats: Controls (C) were normal rats without diabetes or periodontitis; the periodontitis (P) group had mandibular first molars to be ligatured; the periodontitis with diabetes (PD) group was intravenously administered streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) to induce diabetes and had mandibular first molars to be ligatured. On days 3, 10, and 20 after ligature, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) expression, odontoclast formation, and root resorption areas were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining, respectively. The PD group showed frequent urination, weight loss, and hyperglycemia. Numbers of TNF-${\alpha}$- and RANKL-positive cells were higher in the P and PD groups than in the C group. It was more prevalent in PD group on day 3. Odontoclast formation was greater in the P and PD groups than in the C group on days 3 and 10, then decreased to same level as the C group by day 20. Root resorption in the PD and P groups showed increases on days 3 and 10, respectively, compared to the C group. These results suggest that diabetes may transiently increase root resorption on day 3 with high expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and RANKL after periodontitis induction. This study could aid the understanding of root resorption in diabetic patients with periodontitis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.12-27
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Guibi-tang water extract (GB) on osteoporosis. Methods: We examined the effect of GB on osteoclast differentiation using murine pre-osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells treated with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL). The effect of GB on osteoclast was measured by counting TRAP (+) multinucleated cells and measuring TRAP activity. The mRNA expressions of osteoclastogenesis-related genes (Cathepsin K, MMP-9, TRAP, NFATc1, MITF, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, COX-2) were measured by real-time PCR. We examined the effect of GB on osteoblast proliferation, ALP activity, bone matrix protein synthesis and collagen synthesis using murine calvarial cell. Results: GB decreased the number of TRAP (+) multinucleated cells and inhibited TRAP activity in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell. GB decreased the expression of genes related osteoclastogenesis such as Cathepsin K, MMP-9, TRAP, NFATc1, MITF, COX-2 in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell. But GB did not decrease the expression of iNOS and increased the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell. These genes (iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6) are thought to be related with the inflammatory bone destruction. GB increased cell proliferation of rat calvarial cell and also increased ALP activity in rat calvarial cell. GB did not increase bone matrix protein synthesis but increased collagen synthesis in rat calvarial cell. Conclusions: This study suggests that GB may be effective in treating osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and its related gene expression and by increasing osteoblast proliferation.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2018

Nucleotide-binding domain 1 (Nod1) is a cytosolic receptor that is responsible for the recognition of a bacterial peptidoglycan motif containing meso-diaminophimelic acid. In this study, we sought to identify the role of Nod1 in host defense in vivo against pulmonary infection by multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Wildtype (WT) and Nod1-deficient mice were intranasally infected with $3{\times}10^7CFU$ of A. baumannii and sacrificed at 1 and 3 days post-infection (dpi). Bacterial CFUs, cytokines production, histopathology, and mouse ${\beta}$-defensins (mBD) in the lungs of infected mice were evaluated. The production of cytokines in response to A. baumannii was also measured in WT and Nod1-deficient macrophages. The bacterial clearance in the lungs was not affected by Nod1 deficiency. Levels of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in the lung homogenates were comparable at days 1 and 3 between WT and Nod1-deficient mice, except the $TNF-{\alpha}$ level at day 3, which was higher in Nod1-deficient mice. There was no significant difference in lung pathology and expression of mBDs (mBD1, 2, 3, and 4) between WT and Nod1-deficient mice infected with A. baumannii. The production of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and NO by macrophages in response to A. baumannii was also comparable in WT and Nod1-deficient mice. Our results indicated that Nod1 does not play an important role in host immune responses against A. baumannii infection.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.585-593
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• 2015

Stress fiber (SF) alteration is mediated by cellular receptors, which, upon interaction with the extracellular counterpart, signal to the actin cytoskeleton for remodeling. This association is mediated by a variety of scaffold and signaling factors, which control the mechanical and signaling activities of the interaction site. The heterotrimeric transmembrane lymphotoxin α1β2 (LTα1β2), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines, including soluble homotrimeric lymphotoxin (LT α), plays an important role in lymphoid tissue architecture. Ligation between LTα1β2 and the lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) activates signal-cascade in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). We found LTβR stimulation using an agonistic anti-LTβR antibody alone or combined with LTα or TNFα induced changes in the actin and plasticity of cells. To clarify the involvement of myosin underlying the alteration, we analyzed the effect of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) with an MLCK inhibitor (ML7), the phosphorylation level of myosin light chains (MLC), and the level of phospho-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) after treatment with an agonistic anti-LTβR antibody for cytoskeleton reorganization in FRCs. The inhibition of MLCK activity induced changes in the actin cytoskeleton organization and cell morphology in FRC. In addition, we showed the phosphorylation of MLC and MYPT1 was reduced by LTβR stimulation in cells. A DNA chip revealed the LTβR stimulation of FRC down-regulated transcripts of myosin and actin components. Collectively, these results suggest LTβR stimulation is linked to myosin regarding SF alteration in FRC.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.511-518
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• 2012

The mechanisms of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling have been the focus of extensive studies because TLRs are the target of therapeutic intervention on multiple diseases. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory potential of Vigna angularis (azuki bean) on the TLR signaling. The effect of Vigna angularis extract (JSD) on TLR activation was investigated by assessing NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 inducible secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) activity. JSD significantly inhibited SEAP activity induced by poly I:C (TLR3 ligand) and poly I (TLR7 ligand) in a dose-dependent manner at concentration below 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ with no sign of cytotoxicity. Pretreatment of JSD markedly suppressed mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adhesive molecules such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, RANTES, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 induced by TLR ligands. It also diminished the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase and $I{\kappa}B$, and followed by $I{\kappa}B$-mediated nuclear translocation of p50, p65, and phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and IRF signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest that Vigna angularis has inhibitory activity on TLR-3 and -7 signaling and it can be further developed as a remedy in curing TLR-related multiple diseases.