• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.450-457
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• 2015

Medicinal mushrooms have been used worldwide to treat cancer and modulate the immune system. Over the last several years, there has been increasing interest in isolating bioactive compounds from medicinal mushrooms and evaluating their health beneficial effects. Fomes fomentarius is used in traditional oriental medicine and is known to possess antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, and antitumor effects. In the present study, we isolated fomentariol from Fomes fomentarius and investigated its anti-inflammatory effect in murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) stimulated with lipopolysaccharides. Fomentariol inhibited the production of nitric oxide and intracellular reactive oxygen species triggered by lipopolysaccharides. Interestingly, fomentariol differentially regulated cytokine production triggered by lipopolysaccharides. Fomentariol effectively suppressed the production of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and interleukin-6 but not tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. The inhibitory effect of fomentariol against nitric oxide, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6 production was possibly mediated by downregulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that fomentariol differentially modulated inflammatory responses triggered by lipopolysaccharides in macrophages and is one of the bioactive compounds that mediate the physiological effects of Fomes fomentarius.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.264-270
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• 2009

We investigated the effect of black soybean and doenjang with black soybean on production of cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) compared with yellow soybean and doenjang with yellow soybean. We also determined inhibitory effect of two types of soybeans and doenjang on tumor metastasis produced by colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma cells. The cytokine productions of mouse splenocytes increased by the exposure of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 ${\mu}g$/ml) compared to without treatment of LPS. The LPS-induced IL-2 production was highest in the black soybean methanol extract, while the methanol extract from black soybean doenjang fermented for 2 mo showed the higher levels of IL-2 without LPS (p<0.05). In case of LPS-induced IL-6 production, the methanol extracts from control, yellow soybean, black soybean doenjang fermented for 2 and 7 mo showed higher levels of IL-6 compared to those of black soybean, and yellow soybean doenjang fermented for 2 mo (p<0.05). The methanol extract of black soybean doenjang fermented for 2 mo showed significantly higher levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ in both with and without LPS (p<0.05). In experiment of tumor metastasis, the treatment (1 mg/mouse) of methanol extract from black soybean doenjang fermented for 7 mo inhibited tumor metastasis by 50% and had the highest inhibitory effect among other samples (p<0.05). From these results, doenjang manufactured with black soybean modulated the production of cytokine and showed anticancer effect, suggesting that this effect was increased with increased periods of fermentation.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-16
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• 2021

Recently, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems, which are superior to conventional two-dimensional (2D) vascular systems that mimic the in vivo environment, are being actively studied to reproduce drug responses and cell differentiation in organisms. Conventional two-dimensional cell culture methods (scaffold-based and non-scaffold-based) have a limited cell growth rate because the culture cannot supply the culture medium as consistently as microvessels. To solve this problem, we would like to propose a 3D culture system with an environment similar to living cells by continuously supplying the culture medium to the bottom of the 3D cell support. The 3D culture system is a structure in which microvascular structures are combined under a scaffold (agar, collagen, etc.) where cells can settle and grow. First, we have manufactured molds for the formation of four types of microvessel-mimicking chips: width / height ①100 ㎛ / 100 ㎛, ②100 ㎛ / 50 ㎛, ③ 150 ㎛ / 100 ㎛, and ④ 200 ㎛ / 100 ㎛. By injection molding, four types of microfluidic chips were made with GPPS (general purpose polystyrene), and a 100㎛-thick PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) film was attached to the top of each microfluidic chip. As a result of observing the flow of the culture medium in the microchannel, it was confirmed that when the aspect ratio (height/width) of the microchannel is 1.5 or more, the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet without a backflow phenomenon. In addition, the culture efficiency experiments of colorectal cancer cells (SW490) were performed in a 3D culture system in which PDMS films with different pore diameters (1/25/45 ㎛) were combined on a microfluidic chip. As a result, it was found that the cell growth rate increased up to 1.3 times and the cell death rate decreased by 71% as a result of the 3D culture system having a hole membrane with a diameter of 10 ㎛ or more compared to the conventional commercial. Based on the results of this study, it is possible to expand and build various 3D cell culture systems that can maximize cell culture efficiency by cell type by adjusting the shape of the microchannel, the size of the film hole, and the flow rate of the inlet.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.282-288
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• 2023

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the immuneenhancing health functional food market that protects our bodies from pathogens such as viruses continues to grow. In this study, we aimed to prove the Cheonggukjang, a high-nutrient food with high protein, fat, and dietary fiber content, as an immuneenhancing nutraceutical. Cheonggukjang water extract (CWE) increased the production of nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and cytokines such interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α without affecting viability in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, CWE significantly upregulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. CWE enhanced the phosphorylation of I kappa B kinase α/β and I kappa B (IκB)α, as well as the degradation of IκBα. CWE also induced increased phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 and facilitated the redistribution of p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in RAW 264.7 cells. These findings suggest that CWE has potential as a health functional food material that can enhance the innate immune response.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2006

Crown gall on rose was observed in greenhouse during year 2003-2005. The disease incidence was up to 28.3% and the disease was the severer in hydrophonics culture than that in soil. The typical gall symptom occurred mainly on the root and crown resulting in poor foliage, stunting, and fewer blossoms. Sixty-three rose cultivars were inoculated with Agrobacterium. tumefaciens isolated from rose crown gall, to evaluate rose cultivar-specific resistance. The size of galls from inoculated rose stems was measured in a greenhouse test. Tumors formed in almost varieties of rose inoculated. Based on the frequency of tumor occurrence and weight of galls formed on the stem of rose, it was shown that 'Little Marble', 'Golden Gate' and 'Rosa Rox-ette' were extremely susceptible to crown gall. Some varieties such as 'Little Silver' appeared to be resistant to the crown gall.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2016

Anti-inflammatory effects of dihydrobenzofuran neolignans isolated from Euonymus alatus leaves and twigs were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Six neolignans, (+)-simulanol (1), (+)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (2), (-)-simulanol (3), (-)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4), (+)-dihydrodehyrodiconiferyl alcohol (5), threo-buddlenol B (6) effectively inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) induced by LPS, and the activity of iNOS. (-)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4), which showed the most potent inhibitory activity, attenuated the activity of iNOS enzyme and also the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins. The subsequent production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and prostaglandin E2 were also inhibited by the pretreatment of RAW264.7 cells with (-)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4). These neolignans are thought to contribute to anti-inflammatory effects of E. alatus, and expected to be potential candidates to prevent/treat inflammation-related diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.663-668
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• 2014

An in-vivo diagnosis of trace Mg(II) ion was performed using a low-cost and environment-friendly voltammetric method, using a graphite counter and reference electrodes and a fluorine-immobilized graphite working electrode, and clean deep seawater was used as an electrolyte solution. Under optimum conditions, the analytical working ranges attained microgram ranges, and a detection limit of $80.6ugL^{-1}$ was obtained using stripping voltammety with 60 sec accumulation time. Ex-vivo application was performed on fish liver and mice droppings. The developed techniques can be applicable to tumor cell analysis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.184-189
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• 2012

Keloid disease is a fibroproliferative dermal tumor with an unknown etiology that occurs after a skin injury in genetically susceptible individuals. Increased familial aggregation, a higher prevalence in certain races, parallelism in identical twins, and alteration in gene expression all favor a remarkable genetic contribution to keloid pathology. It seems that the environment triggers the disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Several genes have been implicated in the etiology of keloid disease, but no single gene mutation has thus far been found to be responsible. Therefore, a combination of methods such as association, gene-gene interaction, epigenetics, linkage, gene expression, and protein analysis should be applied to determine keloid etiology.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2016

Background Reconstruction of orofacial soft tissue defects is often challenging due to functional and aesthetic demands. Despite advances in orofacial soft tissue defect reconstruction using free flaps, locoregional flaps still remain an important option, especially in health resource-depleted environments. This retrospective study highlights our experiences in oral and maxillofacial soft tissue reconstruction using locoregional flaps. Methods A twenty-three years retrospective analysis of all patients managed in our department was undertaken. Information was sourced from patients' case notes and operating theater records. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 16 (SPSS Inc.) and Microsoft Excel 2007 (Microsoft). Results A total of 77 patients underwent orofacial soft tissue defect reconstruction within the years reviewed. Males accounted for 55 (71.4%) cases and trauma was the main etiological factor in 45 (58.4%) of the patients treated. When sites of defect were considered, the lip, 27 (32.1%), was the most frequent site followed by the nose, 17 (20.2%). Forehead flap, 51 (59.3%), was the most commonly used flap. Complications noted were tumor recurrences at the recipient bed in 3 (3.9%) cases, tumor occurrence at the donor site in 1 (1.3%) case and postoperative infection in 11 (14.3%) cases. Conclusions Locoregional flaps still have an important role in the rehabilitation of patients with orofacial soft tissue defects. They remain a vital tool in the armamentarium of the reconstructive surgeon, especially in health resource-depleted environments where advanced reconstructive techniques may not be feasible.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.100-105
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• 2005

Mancozeb (MCZ) is known to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, but the toxicity of MCZ on immune responses has not been systematically investigated. We investigated the effects of MCZ exposure on the activities of murine peritoneal macrophages through evaluation of MCZ-induced alteration of nitric oxide (NO) production and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-\alpha)$ synthesis. Macrophages were examined ex vivo from mice orally treated with various doses of MCZ for 5 consecutive days per week for 4 weeks (subacute exposure, 250, 1000, 1500 mg/kg/day) followed by culture for 2 $(TNF-{\alpha})$ or 3 days (NO) in the presence of LPS plus $IFN-{\gamma}$. Macrophages from naive mice were also cultured with various concentrations of MCZ (0.05, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 ${\mu}g//mIL$ in the presence of LPS plus $IFN-{\gamma}$ for 2 $(TNF-{\alpha})$ or 3 days (NO) in vitro. NO production was decreased with the in vitro exposure to all concentrations of MCZ. However, the amount of NO production by peritoneal macrophages from MCZ-subacutely exposed mice was increased in comparision with that of control group. In vitro, MCZ suppressed $(TNF-\alpha)$ secretion with significant reduction at 2 ${\mu}g/mL$ MCZ. Conversely, $(TNF-{\alpha})$ release was enhanced ex vivo. This study provides the substantial evidence on MCZ-induced alternation in macrophage activity. In order to clearly understand the contrasting effect of MCZ on peritoneal macrophage activity, it is necessary to further investigate the influence of major metabolite of MCZ (ETU) exposure on the NO production and $(TNF-{\alpha})$ synthesis.