• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.622-626
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• 2020

Recent studies have suggested that Canavalia gladiate, a dietary food and traditional folk medicine, has promising pharmaceutical potential, but the effects have mostly been demonstrated using its organo-soluble extract. To date, its immunomodulatory effect depending on the extraction method is unclear. Here, the immune responses of macrophages to C. gladiate and the underlying mechanisms were studied. C. gladiate hot water extract (CGW) induced cytokine production in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in a dose-dependent manner, whereas its ethanolic extract (CGE) did not. Immunoblotting analysis also showed that CGW activated nuclear factor (NF)-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Moreover, an inhibitor assay revealed the involvement of NF-κB, p38, and JNK, but not ERK, in CGW-induced cytokine production. CGE inhibited lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of NF-κB and MAPKs in BMDMs. The results suggest that C. gladiate regulates the immune responses of macrophages differently depending on the extraction method.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.491-497
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• 2007

Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang (HYT; Jingjielianqiao-tang), is known to be effective in lowering wind-heat blended as a pathogen of kidney. HYT has been traditionally used for the treatment of a syndrome in kidney meridian, due to invasion of pathogenic wind and heat. Nowadays, this prescription is used to treat diseases marked by excessive wind and heat in the kidney meridian, such as acute otitis media, empyema, hypertrophic rhinitis, nasal bleeding, nasal obstruction, acne and tonsillitis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of HYT on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of HYT water extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2_ and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. The production of No was significantly inhibited by pre-treatment (1h) with HYT(0.1-0.3 mg/ml) on LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells. The expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein were up-regulated by LPS, but the increased levels of iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by pre-treatment of HYT (0.3-1.0 mg/ml), respectively. And the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), cytokine released from macrophage, was reduced by HYT pre-treatment (0.3-1.0 mg/ml). Thus, the present data suggest that HYT may play an important role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.78-78
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• 1995

Increasing evidence indicates that the production of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible NO synthase (NOS) is tightely regulated. Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) is a homodimeric protein secreted during macrophage activation, but several lines of evidence suggest that TGF-${\beta}$ is selectively suppressive for macrophage NO production. We therefore reasoned that a strategy employing oligodeoxynucleotides(ODNs) complemently to TGF-${\beta}$ mRNA (antisense ODNs) might increase NO production in IFN-${\gamma}$-treated murine peritoneal macrophages. To evaluate this concept, we tested the effects of antisense ODNs targeted to TGF-${\beta}$ mRNA (25-mer ODNs complemently to TGF-${\beta}$mRNA sequences) by introducing it into the medium of cultured macrophages. Phosphorothiolation of ODNs were employed to retard their degradation. Antisense ODNs had no effect on NO production by itself, whereas IFN-${\gamma}$ alone had modest effect. When antisense ODNs were used in combination with IFN-${\gamma}$, there was a marked cooperative induction of NO production, These effects of antisense ODNs were associated with decreased TGF-${\beta}$ expression in activated macrophages. ODNs with the same nucleotides but a scrambled sequence had no effect. Adding anti-TGF-${\beta}$ antibodies to the IFN-${\gamma}$-treated macrophages mimicked the positive effect of antisense ODNs on NO production. In addition, the effects of either antisense ODNs or anti-TGF-${\beta}$ antibodies were blocked by adding TGF-${\beta}$ in cultured macrophages. These results indicate that the generation of TGF-${\beta}$ by activated macrophages provides a self-regulating mechanism by which the temporal and perhaps spatial production of NO, a reactive and potentially toxic mediator, can be finely regulated.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1063-1070
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• 2009

Dangyuja (Citrus grandis Osbeck) is a native plant growing only on Jeju Island in Korea. In this study, antiinflammatory effect of dangyuja leaves on a murine macrophage cell line was investigated. RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $1{\mu}g/mL$) to induce expression of pro-inflammatory markers [interleukin (IL)-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)]. The crude extract (80% MeOH Ex.) and solvent fractions (hexane, $CHCl_3$, EtOAc, BuOH, and $H_2O$ Ex.) were obtained from dangyuja leaves. The $CHCl_3$ fraction inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) and IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the $CHCl_3$ fraction inhibited mRNA expression and protein levels of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the $CHCl_3$ fraction inhibited LPS-induced nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ activation and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs: ERK, JNK, and p38). These results suggest that dangyuja leaves may inhibit LPS-induced production of inflammatory markers by blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPKs signaling in RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2006

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench(Sorghum, su-su) extracts on mouse immune cell activation. As ex vivo experiment, different concentrations(0, 50, 500mg/kg B.W.) of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts were orally administrated into mouse every other day for four weeks. The proliferation of mouse splenocytes, the number of plaque forming cells(PFC) and the cytokine IL-1β production by activated macrophage were used as indices for immunocompetence. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced in mouse orally administrated with 50mg/kg B.W./day concentration compared to that of control group. Especially, the highest proliferation of spleoncyte was seen in the mouse orally administrated at the concentration of 50mg/kg B.W./day. The number of plaque forming cells(PFC) to SRBC were significantly enhanced when compared with control group. Also, the mouse of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts 50mg/kg B.W./day supplementation group with LPS stimulation enhanced level of IL-1$\beta$ cytokine production. This study suggest that supplementation of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation, increasing the number of PFC and enhancing the cytokine production by activated macrophage.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.706-713
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• 2017

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing cells that are derived from hematopoietic precursor cells and require macrophage-colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) for their survival, proliferation, differentiation, and activation. The binding of RANKL to its receptor RANK triggers osteoclast precursors to differentiate into osteoclasts. This process depends on RANKL-RANK signaling, which is temporally regulated by various adaptor proteins and kinases. Here we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms that regulate RANK signaling during osteoclastogenesis. In the early stage, RANK signaling is mediated by recruiting adaptor molecules such as tumor necrosis factor receptorassociated factor 6 (TRAF6), which leads to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and the transcription factors nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). Activated NF-${\kappa}B$ induces the nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), which is the key osteoclastogenesis regulator. In the intermediate stage of signaling, the co-stimulatory signal induces $Ca^{2+}$ oscillation via activated phospholipase $C{\gamma}2$ ($PLC{\gamma}2$) together with c-Fos/AP-1, wherein $Ca^{2+}$ signaling facilitates the robust production of NFATc1. In the late stage of osteoclastogenesis, NFATc1 translocates into the nucleus where it induces numerous osteoclast-specific target genes that are responsible for cell fusion and function.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.324-330
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• 1998

We Previously reported that Polysaccharide Isolated from panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, stimulates murine splenocytes to proliferate and to be cytotoxic against a wide range of tumor cells in MHC non-restricted manner:) Therefore, we examined the cytokine mRNA expression induced by the ginseng polysaccharide in this paper. This study demonstrates that the ginseng polysaccharide stimulates Thl type cytosine expression such as IL-2 and IFNY, and macrophage type cytokine expression such as IL-lc and GM-CSF in a dose-dependent manner at different time: IL-2 mRNA was induced at 30 min, IL-la, GM-CSF mRNA at 3 hr, IFNY at 6 hr after the ginseng polysaccharide treatment. In contrast with these, Th2 type cytokine expression such as IL-4 and IL-5 was not induced. The generation of the ginseng polysaccharide-activated killer cells which was induced at the optimal doses of 50 pEyml was neutralized in the presence of anti-lL-2, anti-lFNy, anti-IL-l ${\alpha}$ antibodies, showing the importance of these cytokines produced by the ginseng polysaccharide. In flow cytometry analysis, the blastogenesis of IgM+ cells was induced on day 3 and the number of Thy 1.21 cells, CD4+ and CD8+ cells was increased on day 5. The ginseng polysaccharide also induced blastogenesis of T cells. In conclusion, the ginseng polysaccharide may have considerable antitumor immunotherapeutic modality by stimulating the cytokine production from Thl cells and macrophage and by proliferating lymphocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2017

Beauvericin (BEA), a cyclic hexadepsipeptide produced by the fungus Beauveria bassiana, is known to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial actions. However, how BEA suppresses macrophage-induced inflammatory responses has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory properties of BEA and the underlying molecular mechanisms using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Levels of nitric oxide (NO), mRNA levels of transcription factors and the inflammatory genes inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and interleukin (IL)-1, and protein levels of activated intracellular signaling molecules were determined by Griess assay, semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), luciferase reporter gene assay, and immunoblotting analysis. BEA dose-dependently blocked the production of NO in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells without inducing cell cytotoxicity. BEA also prevented LPS-triggered morphological changes. This compound significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ subunits p65 and p50. Luciferase reporter gene assays demonstrated that BEA suppresses MyD88-dependent NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. By analyzing upstream signaling events for $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and overexpressing Src and Syk, these two enzymes were revealed to be targets of BEA. Together, these results suggest that BEA suppresses $NF-{\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory responses by suppressing both Src and Syk.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.780-785
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• 2004

Recently many investigators have initiated searches for immunomodulating substances from natural food sources. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many traditional preparations since the ancient time. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts of the plant were orally administrated into mice, and isolated splenocytes and macrophages were used as experimental model. In order to identify its ex vivo effect six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet and water extracts of ginger were orally administrated every other day for two weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT assay. The result of ex vivo study showed that the highest proliferation of splenocytes and macrophage activatation was seen in the mice orally administrated at the concentration of 500 mg/kg b. w. of ginger water extracts. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts nay enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and cytokine prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2010

The function of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in cancer remains controversial, and its signaling pathways remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that MIC-1 induces the transactivation of EGFR, ErbB2, and ErbB3 through the activation of c-Src in SK-BR-3 breast cells. MIC-1 induced significant phosphorylation of EGFR at Tyr845, ErbB2 at Tyr877, and ErbB3 at Tyr1289 as well as Akt and p38, Erk1/2, and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Treatment of SK-BR-3 cells with MIC-1 increased the phosphorylation level of Src at Tyr416, and induced invasiveness of those cells. Inhibition of c-Src activity resulted in the complete abolition of MIC-1-induced phosphorylation of the EGFR, ErbB2, and ErbB3, as well as invasiveness and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in SK-BR-3 cells. Collectively, these results show that MIC-1 may participate in the malignant progression of certain cancer cells through the activation of c-Src, which in turn may transactivate ErbB-family receptors.