• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.635-644
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• 2019

Background: To increase the pharmacological effects of red ginseng (RG, the steamed root of Panax ginseng Meyer), RG products modified by heat process or fermentation have been developed. However, the antiallergic effects of RG and modified/fermented RG have not been simultaneously examined. Therefore, we examined the allergic rhinitis (AR)-inhibitory effects of water-extracted RG (wRG), 50% ethanol-extracted RG (eRG), and bifidobacteria-fermented eRG (fRG) in vivo. Methods: RBL-2H3 cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate/A23187. Mice with AR were prepared by treatment with ovalbumin. Allergic markers IgE, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5 were assayed in the blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, nasal mucosa, and colon using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mast cells, eosinophils, and Th2 cell populations were assayed using a flow cytometer. Results: RG products potently inhibited IL-4 expression in phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate/A23187-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. Of tested RG products, fRG most potently inhibited IL-4 expression. RG products also alleviated ovalbumin-induced AR in mice. Of these, fRG most potently reduced nasal allergy symptoms and blood IgE levels. fRG treatment also reduced IL-4 and IL-5 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, nasal mucosa, and reduced mast cells, eosinophils, and Th2 cell populations. Furthermore, treatment with fRG reduced IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in the colon and restored ovalbumin-suppressed Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria populations and ovalbumin-induced Firmicutes population in gut microbiota. Treatment with ginsenoside Rd significantly alleviated ovalbumin-induced AR in mice. Conclusion: fRG and ginsenoside Rd may alleviate AR by suppressing IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 expression and restoring the composition of gut microbiota.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.21
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• 2024

The cytokine IL-7 plays critical and nonredundant roles in T cell immunity so that the abundance and availability of IL-7 act as key regulatory mechanisms in T cell immunity. Importantly, IL-7 is not produced by T cells themselves but primarily by non-lymphoid lineage stromal cells and epithelial cells that are limited in their numbers. Thus, T cells depend on cell extrinsic IL-7, and the amount of in vivo IL-7 is considered a major factor in maximizing and maintaining the number of T cells in peripheral tissues. Moreover, IL-7 provides metabolic cues and promotes the survival of both naïve and memory T cells. Thus, IL-7 is also essential for the functional fitness of T cells. In this regard, there has been an extensive effort trying to increase the protein abundance of IL-7 in vivo, with the aim to augment T cell immunity and harness T cell functions in anti-tumor responses. Such approaches started under experimental animal models, but they recently culminated into clinical studies, with striking effects in re-establishing T cell immunity in immunocompromised patients, as well as boosting anti-tumor effects. Depending on the design, glycosylation, and the structure of recombinantly engineered IL-7 proteins and their mimetics, recombinant IL-7 molecules have shown dramatic differences in their stability, efficacy, cellular effects, and overall immune functions. The current review is aimed to summarize the past and present efforts in the field that led to clinical trials, and to highlight the therapeutical significance of IL-7 biology as a master regulator of T cell immunity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.862-870
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• 1995

Background: Oxygen free radicals have generally been considered as cytotoxic agents. On the other hand, recent results suggest that small nontoxic amounts of these radicals may act a role in intracellular signal transduction pathway and many efforts to reveal the role of these radicals as secondary messengers have been made. It is evident that the oxygen radicals are released by various cell types in response to extracellular stimuli including LPS, TNF, IL-1 and phorbol esters, all of which translocate the transcription factor $NF{\kappa}B$ from cytoplasm to nucleus by releasing an inhibitory protein subunit, $I{\kappa}B$. Activation of $NF{\kappa}B$ is mimicked by exposure to mild oxidant stress, and inhibited by agents that remove oxygen radicals. It means the cytoplasmic form of the inducible tanscription factor $NF{\kappa}B$ might provide a physiologically important target for oxygen radicals. At the same time, it is well known that LPS induces the release of oxygen radicals in neutrophil with the activation of $NF{\kappa}B$. From above facts, we can assume the expression of IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ gene by LPS stimulation may occur through the activation of $NF{\kappa}B$, which is mediated through the release of $I{\kappa}B$ by increasing amounts of oxygen radicals. But definitive evidence is lacking about the role of oxygen free radicals in the expression of IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ gene in mononuclear phagocytic cells. We conducted a study to determine whether oxygen radicals act a role in the expression of IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ gene in mononuclear phagocytic cells. Method: Human peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy volunteers. Time and dose relationship of $H_2O_2$-induced IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA expression was observed by Northern blot analysis. To evaluate the role of oxygen radicals in the expression of IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA by LPS stimulation, pretreatment of various antioxiants including PDTC, TMTU, NAC, ME, Desferrioxamine were done and Northern blot analysis for IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA was performed. Results: In PBMC, dose and time dependent expression of IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA by exogenous $H_2O_2$ was not observed. But various antioxidants suppressed the expression of LPS-induced IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA expression of PBMC and the suppressive activity was most prominant when the pretreatment was done with TMTU. Conclusion: Oxygen free radical may have some role in the expression of IL-8 and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA of PBMC but that radical might not be $H_2O_2$.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.206.1-206.1
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• 2003

The immunomodulator Ginsan has been found previously by us to stimulate the secretion of high levels of IL -1. IL -6 and TNF-alpha in irradiated mice. These cytokines are known to induce proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells from the spleen and bone marrow and to protect mice from DNA-damaging agents. The present studies were evaluated as a cytoprotective agent against toxicity of the alkylating drugs. (omitted)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.315-324
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• 2001

Background : IL-8 is a potent chemotactic cytokine that plays an important role in the host defense mechanism against M. tuberculosis by recruiting inflammatory cells to the site of the infection. Lung epithelial cells, as well as alveolar macrophages are known to produce IL-8 in response to M. tuberculosis. IL-8 gene expression is mainly regulated on the level of transcription by NF-${\kappa}B$. This study investigated whether or not A549 cells produce IL-8 in NF-${\kappa}B$ dependent mechanism in response to macrophages phagocytosing M. tuberculosis. Methods : Peripheral blood monocytes that were obtained from healthy donors were cultured for 24 h with M. tuberculosis and a conditioned medium(CoMTB) was obtained. As a negative control, the conditioned medium without M. tuberculosis (CoMCont) was used. A549 cells were stimulated with M. tuberculosis, CoMCont and CoMTB and the IL-8 concentration in the culture media was measured by ELISA. The CoMTB induced IL-8 mRNA expression in the A549 cells was evaluated using RT-PCR, and CoMTB induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation was measured using western blot analysis. CoMTB induced nuclear translocation and DNA binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ was also examined using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA), and the CoMTB induced NF-${\kappa}B$ dependent IL-8 transcriptional activity was measured using a luciferase reporter gene assay. Results : CoMTB induced IL-8 production by A549 cells($46.8{\pm}4.8\;ng/ml$) was higher than with direct stimulation with M. tuberculosis ($6.8{\pm}2.9\;ng/ml$). CoMTB induced IL-8 mRNA expression increased after 2 h of stimulation and was sustained for 24 h. $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ was degraded after 10 min of CoMTB stimulation and reappeared by 60 min. CoMTB stimulated the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of NF-${\kappa}B$. The CoMTB induced NF-${\kappa}B$ dependent IL-8 transcriptional activity($13.6{\pm}4.3$ times control) was higher than either CoMCont($2.0{\pm}0.6$ times control) or M. tuberculosis ($1.4{\pm}0.6$ times control). Conclusion : A conditioned medium of peripheral blood monocytes phagocytosing M. tuberculosis stimulates NF-${\kappa}B$ dependent IL-8 production by the lung epithelial cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.568-575
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• 2000

Background : Cytokines are chemical mediators that control and modulate many inflammatory processes. They work in different fashions in a variety of diseases. Discriminating between malignant effusion, tuberculous effusion, and parapneumonic effusion are crucial from the clinical view-point in Korea. In the current study, interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured for this purpose. Methods : Pleural fluids from patients with malignant disease, tuberculosis, parapneumonic effusion and lung empysema were collected and gauged using commercial ELISA kits. Results : 34 patients were enrolled in this study. Among these 15 cases were malignant effusions, 12 were tuberculosis pleurisy and 7 were parapneumonic effusion and lung empyema. The levels of cytokines measured in this study were as follows, in order of frequency, malignant effusion, tuberculous effusion, parapneumonic effusion and lung empyema. The levels of INF-${\gamma}$ were higher in tuberculous effusion than in malignant or parapneumonic effusion ($295.5{\pm}585.5$ vs. $16.7{\pm}50$ vs. $10.0{\pm}0$ pg/ml, p>0.05). The levels of IL-2R were higher in tuberculous effusion than in malignant or parapneumoruc effusion ($7423.5{\pm}3752.8$ vs. $3247.4{\pm}1713.3$ vs. $3790.2{\pm}3201.1$ pg/ml, p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the levels of IL-6 between the groups ($600{\pm}12.8$ pg/ml in malignant effusion, $556.4{\pm}161.7$ pg/ml in tuberculous effusion, $514.4{\pm}224.8$ pg/ml in parapneumoruc effusion). IL-10 levels were higher in parapneumoruc effusion than in malignant or tuberculous effusions ($98.4{\pm}141.7$ vs. $28.2{\pm}55.5$ vs. $11.3{\pm}11.7$ pg/ml, p<0.05). Conclusion : These results suggest that the measurement of IL-2R levels in pleural fluids may be a useful means of differentiating between tuberculous effusion and pleural effusions of other origins, and that the measurement of IL-10 levels in pleural fluids may be useful to differentiate between parapneumonic effusion and pleural effusions of other origins.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.739-745
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• 2003

Interleukine-1(IL-1)은 여러 가지 기능을 가진 싸이토카인으로써 미생물에 대한 면역반응을 일으킨다. IL-1의 유전자 다형성과 치주질환과의 관련성에 대한 많은 연구가 있어왔지만, 대부분이 백인을 대상으로 한 연구였다. 이후 중국인과 일본인을 대상으로 한 연구에서 IL-1의 유전자 다형성의 분포가 인종간에 차이를 보인다는 점이 발견되었다. 이번 연구에서는 치주적으로 건강한 한국인에서 IL-1${\beta}$-511, IL-1${\beta}$+3954, IL-1RN에 대한 유전자형의 분포를 조사하고자 하였다. 서울대학교 치과병원에 근무하는 치과의사, 치과위생사, 간호조무사 및 서울대학교 치과대학 4학년 학생 중 치주낭 깊이와 부착소실이 4mm 이하인 치주적으로 건강한 한국인 65명을 대상으로 하였다. IL-1${\beta}$-511, IL-1${\beta}$+3954, IL-1RN의 유전자 다형성은 분리한 DNA에 각 대립유전자에 특이성을 지닌 primer를 넣고 PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction)법을 이용하여 증폭시킨후 전기영동법을 이용하여 각 대립유전자의 존재를 확인함으로써 결정하였다. IL-1${\beta}$-511 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12, 대립유전자 22의 유전자형에 대하여 각각 23.1%, 49.2%, 26.2%의 분포를 보였다. IL-1${\beta}$+3954의 유전자 다형성은 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12의 유전자형에 대하여 각각 89.2%, 10.8%의 분포를 보였으며, 대립유전자 22의 유전자형을 갖는 사람은 한명도 발견되지 않았다. IL-1RN의 유전자형은 5가지의 대립유전자 중에서 1, 대립유전자 2, 대립유전자 4만일 발견되었으며, 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12, 대립유전자 14의 유전자형이 86.2%, 12.3%, 1.5%로 분포하였다. 이를 바탕으로 각 대립유전자의 발생빈도 계산한 결과 IL-1${\beta}$-511에서는 대립유전자 1과 2의 비율이 거의 유사하였으나 (47.7%, 52.3%), IL-1${\beta}$+3954, IL-1RN에서는 대립유전자 1이 90%이상 발견되었으며, 또한 대립유전자 1외의 다른 대립유전자가 발견된 경우, 모두 이형접합체였다. 이 연구는 IL-1${\beta}$-511, IL-1${\beta}$+3954, IL-1RN에 대한 유전자형의 분포를 조사한 것으로 한국인에서 이들 유전자의 유전자형의 분포는 백인에서의 분포와 차이를 보이고 있었다. 이후 치주질환자의 유전자형 분포와의 비교로 치주질환과 IL-1${\beta}$-511, IL-1${\beta}$+3954, IL-1RN의 유전자다형성과의 관련성에 관한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 여겨진다.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.829-836
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• 2003

Seogakjihwang-tang (SJT) was widely used to treat patients suffering from cerebral infarction. But scientific investigation has been carried out very little. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of SJT on the production of various cytokines in the patients with cerebral infarction (CI). We investigated interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-1 in the sera of 27 patients with cerebral infarction under consciousness disorders and 10 normal controls using an originally devised sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that plasma levels of IL-4 were slightly elevated in patients with cerebral infarction, whereas plasma levels of IL-10 (P<0.001) and TGF-1 were reduced. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from the patient with CI were cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). The amount of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-1, in culture supernatant, was significantly increased in the LPS or PHA treated cells compared to unstimulated cells (P<0.05), We also show that increased cytokines IL-4, and IL-10 level was significantly inhibited by SJT in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal inhibition rate of IL-4 and IL-10 production by SJT was 45.63.3% and 614.7% for LPS-stimulated cell and 27.31.2% and 83.62% for PHA-stimulated cells, respectively (P<0.05). On the other hand, SJT significantly increased the LPS or PHA-induced TGF-1 production (P<0.05). These data suggest that SJT has a regulatory effect on the cytokines production, which might explain its beneficial effect in the treatment of CI.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTP) on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) for clinical application of periodontal treatment. Materials and Methods: HGFs were treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Customized NTP device was developed for periodontal in vitro study. Cell viability was evaluated with cell counting kit-8. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-8 and 6, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: When NTP was applied, the cell viability did not change significantly, and there was no difference for 6 h and 24h. When Pg LPS was treated to HGFs, the secretion of IL-8 and IL-6 was increased compared to the control group. But when the NTP was applied, the secretion of them was significantly decreased. Conclusion: NTP did not affect cell viability of HGFs. And it inhibited the LPS-induced production of IL-8 and IL-6.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.71-75
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• 2010

In this study, we have assessed the fire risk of Buddhist temples located in Youngdong area by means of fire loads of components. First, we categorized the components into Buddhist temples (Dae-Ung-Jeon, Pal-Sang-Jeon), Sam-Seong-Gak (Chil-Seong-Gak, San-Sin-Gak), a Buddhist temple dormitory (Sim-Geom-Dang, Seol-Seon-Dang), Lu, Il-Ju-Mun and then carried out a field survey. Then, we examined the area of each room, types as well as quantity and dimension of combustibles. The fire loads calculated in this way were 446.96 $kg/m^2$ for Buddhist temples, 331.71 $kg/m^2$ for Sam-Seong-Gak, 164.14 $kg/m^2$ for the Buddhist temple dormitory, 463.91 $kg/m^2$ for Lu and 1042.14 $kg/m^2$ for Il-Ju-Mun, thus showing Il-Ju-Mun with the biggest fire load. We speculate that this is because construction materials were similar in size and quantity to others albeit the area of Il-Ju-Mun is smallest.