• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1273-1278
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• 2009

This study aimed to evaluate the potential allergenicity of Cry proteins in insect-resistant genetically modified (GM) maizes (Bt11, MON810, and MON863) using serum screening tests. Serum samples were obtained from Korean children (0-15 years old) with allergic symptoms who had positive maize-specific IgE. The levels of serum specific IgE was measured by the Phadia ImmunoCAP system and considered as positive when they are 0.35 kU/L or higher. Cry proteins (Cry1Ab in Bt11, mCry1Ab in MON810, and Cry3Bb1 in MON863) were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified for serum screening. The reactivity of purified Cry proteins was confirmed by IgE immunoblots in 50 patients (maize-sensitized patients). There was no reaction between Cry proteins and sera from maize-sensitized patients. Our results suggest that these Cry proteins are not likely to cause allergic reactions. Further studies using more sera from patients with true clinical allergies are needed to evaluate the potential allergenicity of novel proteins in GM maize.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.555-564
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• 2021

We investigated the effects of naringenin and morin on IL-5 and ROS production in PMA+ionomycin-treated EL-4 cells with the corroboration of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties using an asthma-induced mouse model. The EL-4 cell line was used to study the outcomes of naringenin or morin, followed by cell viability studies. Western blot analysis and ELISA test were used to determine Th2 mediated cytokines. In vivo studies were carried out on BALB/c mice to induce allergic asthma using ovalbumin administered intraperitoneally. Intracellular ROS was determined using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, followed by serum enzymatic (AST and ALT) estimations and inflammatory cell count in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues. Histopathological studies were conducted to examine lung tissue-stained architecture. Our findings suggested that naringenin and morin significantly suppressed IL-5 and ROS production via various pathways. Interestingly, by reducing NFAT activity, naringenin and morin stimulated HO-1 expression, thereby suppressing IL-5 secretion due to regulating the transcription factor Nrf2 via P13/Akt or ERK/JNK signalling pathways in EL-4 cells, demonstrating the involvement of HO-1 expression in inhibiting asthmatic inflammation. The increased inflammatory cells in the BALF were substantially decreased by both naringenin and morin, followed by inhibition in the elevated Th-2 cytokines levels. The TNF-α protein levels in an allergic asthma mouse model were significantly reduced by suppressing Akt phosphorylation and eosinophil formation. Recent findings confirmed that naringenin and morin possess the potential to control asthma-related immune responses through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, indicating potential therapeutic agents or functional foods.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.315-315
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• 1994

Recently, it was reported that Pfaffia paniculata, known as Brazil ginseng, caused occupational asthma. To assess a potential relationship between Korean ginseng and allergic reactions, total IgE in serum, allergologic parameter, was investigated. Serum total IgE were measured in 8 takers of ginseng for more than 5 yr, 4 subjects of weak constitution, 10 workers participated in the washing of fresh ginseng in factory and 7 control subjects, Blood samples were taken before and after the scheduled exposure to Korean ginseng, sera were kept frozen until assay. Total IgE levels after the scheduled exposure to Korean ginseng were not significantly different in each group and total IgE levels were not significantly different in the control subjects compared with those of other groups at the start of experiment and at the end of experiment. These results suggest that the exposure to Korean ginseng dose not affect significantly the IgE immune response in volunteers. No changes of levels of IgE on the exposure of Korean ginseng may represent additional evidence of the lack of antigenic potential of Korean ginseng.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.80-80
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• 2003

The use of skin whitening agents have been recently increased in various kinds of cosmetic products, although there were reports that whitening agents might cause allergic contact dermatitis. A murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed as an alternative to guinea pigs for contact sensitization potential. This study was carried out to investigate the skin sensitization potential of three whitening agents, kojic acid, arbutin, azelaic acid, by LLNA using a non-radioistopic endpoint.(omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.388-394
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• 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in numerous cellular physiological processes. In the skin, NO is produced by keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells and is involved in skin functions such as vasodilation, pigmentation, hair growth, wound healing, and immune responses. NO modulates both innate and adaptive immune responses. As a signaling molecule and cytotoxic effector, NO influences the function of immune cells and production of cytokines. NO is a key mediator that protects against or contributes to skin inflammation. Moreover, NO has been implicated in skin sensitization, a process underlying contact dermatitis. It modulates the function of dendritic cells and T cells, thereby affecting the immune response to allergens. NO also plays a role in contact dermatitis by inducing inflammation and tissue damage. NO-related chemicals, such as nitrofatty acids and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, have potential therapeutic applications in skin conditions, including allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Further research is required to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of NO-related chemicals and develop personalized treatment strategies for skin conditions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 2013

Buckwheat is known as a health food but is one of the major food allergens triggering potentially fatal anaphylaxis in Asia, especially in Japan and Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the characteristic of enzymatic resistance of buckwheat protein and allergenic potential. Enzymatic resistance of buckwheat protein was performed with in vitro digestibility test in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), pH 1.2, using pepsin and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) using chymotrypsin. Reactivity of buckwheat proteins to human IgE was performed using six allergic patients sensitized to buckwheat. Buckwheat's IgE levels were measured using the Phadia UniCAP-system. Buckwheat protein, 16 kDa, still remained after 30 min treatment of pepsin on SDS-PAGE. Even though 16 kDa almost disappeared after 60 min treatment, two out of the six buckwheat patients' sera showed reactivity to hydrolysate after 60 min treatment, indicating that allergenicity still remained. In simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) using chymotrypsin, buckwheat protein, 24 kDa, showed resistance to hydrolysis with chymotrypsin on SDS-PAGE, and still had allergenicity based on the result of ELISA. Our results suggest that buckwheat proteins have strong resistance to enzyme degradation. This may be attributed in part to the allergenic potential of buckwheat. Further study should be continued regarding buckwheat allergy.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2003

The use of skin whitening agents has been recently increased in various kinds of cosmetic products, although there were some reports that whitening agents might cause allergic contact dermatitis. A murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) has been developed as an alternative to guinea pigs for contact sensitization potential. This study was carried out to investigate the skin sensitization potential of three whitening agents, arbutin, azelaic acid, and kojic acid, by LLNA using a non-radiois-topic endpoint. Female Balb/c mice were exposed topically to a weak allergen, $\alpha$-hexylcinnamalde-hyde (HCA), and three whitening agents following LLNA protocol. Lymph node (LN) weight and cell proliferation in ears and auricular lymph node using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry were evaluated. LN weights were significantly increased at the HCA group compared to the vehicle control. A weak allergen, HCA elicited 3-fold or greater increase in cell proliferation of lymph nodes as well as increase in cell proliferation of ear as measured by BrdU immunohistochemistry. However, in the case of skin whitening agent groups, there were no significant changes in LN weight and cell proliferation in the ear and lymph node of mice treated with 5, 10 and 20% of three whitening agents compared to the vehicle control. These results show that these three skin whitening agents may not have contact sensitization potentials at tested concentrations in Balb/c mice by LLNA.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.512-519
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• 2014

This study investegated the effect of Liriope platyphylla (LP) on allergic reactions and its mechanism of action. We investigated the effect of LP on Evans Blue (EB) extravasation induced by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-IgE in rats. We tested whether the ethanol extract of LP reduced ear skin thickness and historical changes induced by topical application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) to ears of mice. We evaluated compound 48/80-induced release of histamine in rats peritoneal mast cell (RPMCs). We also investigated the regulatory effect of LP on the level of inflammatory mediators in PMACI-induced human mast cell (HMC-1); cytokine IL-6, IL-8, TNF-${\alpha}$ in HMC-1, MAPKs (ERK, JNK and p38) in HMC-1. The ethanol extract of LP (81.3 mg/100 g body weight) significantly inhibited the PCA reaction compared with the control (P < 0.05). However, LP did not prevent topical applications of DNFB-induced ear skin thickening and histological changes. In RPMCs, histamine release induced by compound 48/80 was significantly attenuated by LP at $100{\mu}g/ml$ (P < 0.05). LP extract ($100{\mu}g/ml$) significantly reduced the PMACI-induced IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion via inhibition of ERK phosphorylation in HMC-1. In conclusion, the ethanol extract of LP inhibited mast cell-derived, immediate-type allergic reactions, and the result suggest the potential of LP for preventing allergic inflammatory disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.713-719
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• 2011

In this study, we evaluated whether Lunasin Enriched Soybean (LES) suppressed 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) induced allergic contact dermatitis in vivo. In the group treated with DNCB alone, erythema and hemorrhage in the skin were observed, while the application of LES after DNCB treatment modulated erythema and hemorrhage similar to the untreated group. In histopathological analysis of the skin, DNCB-treated groups showed increased skin thickness compared to the untreated groups, while the treatment of LES dose-dependently modulated skin thickness. Also, hypertrophy and hyperkeratosis of the epidermis, intracellular edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in the group treated with DNCB alone, while treatment of LES inhibited these inflammatory changes. DNCB also induced a significant up-regulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression, as compared to the untreated groups. However, the treatment of LES significantly decreased the down-regulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression, as compared to DNCB-treated groups. Also, LES reduced the IgE level in DNCB-stimulated groups. And lunasin from LES translocated the nucleus of the cells in the skin of Sprague-Dawley rats. Taken together, it is thought that LES has the potential to be used as an alternative treatment for allergic contact dermatitis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.343-352
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• 2008

Frankincense, the gum resin derived from Boswellia species, is complex mixtures composed of about $5{\sim}9%$ highly aromatic essential oil, $65{\sim}85%$ alcohol-soluble resins, and the remaining water-soluble gums. The anti-inflammatory properties of frankincense, alcohole-soluble resins, are well-recognized, but the question of whether aromatic essential oil also plays a role in the allergic asthma remains unanswered. This study was performed to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of Boswellia sacra essential oil (BSEO) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. BALB/c mice after intraperitoneal OVA sensitization were challenged with intratracheal OVA. One experimental group was inhaled with 0.3% BSEO for the later 8 weeks. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA and developed airway eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness. In contrast, the BSEO treated mice had reduced a number of eosinophils among BALF cells, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Cytokine analysis of BALF revealed that BSEO caused an increase in Th1 cytokine (interferon-$\gamma$ (IFN-$\gamma$)) and a decrease in Th2 cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13) levels. In addition, the OVA-specific serum IgE and eotaxin levels were also reduced. In mice inhaled BSEO, $CD4^+$, $CD3^+/CCR3^+$, and $B220^+/CD23^+$ mediastinal lymph nodes cells were also decreased. These results suggest that inhaled BSEO as a immunomodulator in Th1/Th2 mediated asthma may have therapeutic potential for the treatment in allergic airway inflammation by a simple, cost-effective way.