• BMB Reports
• /
• 제53권10호
• /
• pp.545-550
• /
• 2020

Combination therapy using chloroquine (CQ) and azithromycin (AZM) has drawn great attention due to its potential anti-viral activity against SARS-CoV-2. However, clinical trials have revealed that the co-administration of CQ and AZM resulted in severe side effects, including cardiac arrhythmia, in patients with COVID-19. To elucidate the cardiotoxicity induced by CQ and AZM, we examined the effects of these drugs based on the electrophysiological properties of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) using multi-electrode arrays. CQ treatment significantly increased the field potential duration, which corresponds to prolongation of the QT interval, and decreased the spike amplitude, spike slope, and conduction velocity of hESC-CMs. AZM had no significant effect on the field potentials of hESC-CMs. However, CQ in combination with AZM greatly increased the field potential duration and decreased the beat period and spike slope of hESC-CMs when compared with CQ monotherapy. In support of the clinical data suggesting the cardiovascular side effects of the combination therapy of CQ and AZM, our results suggest that AZM reinforces the cardiotoxicity induced by CQ in hESC-CMs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제14권4호
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 2010

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) functionally expressed in salivary epithelial cells, but their roles remain elusive. Among TLRs family, TLR3 is activated by dsRNA, a byproduct of viral infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TLR3 in the inflammatory immune responses using HSG cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR and ELISA were performed to identify expression of TLRs and TLR3-mediated chemokine inductions. The chemotaxis assay of activated T lymphocytes was also performed. Treatment of HSG cells with polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) significantly increased interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interferoninducible T-cell $\alpha$ chemoattractant (I-TAC), and regulated on activation, normal T-cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) gene expressions in a concentration-dependent manner. Anti-TLR3 antibody blocked the increases of IP-10 and I-TAC genes. Poly(I:C)-induced increases of IP-10 and I-TAC were also confirmed at protein levels from cell lysates, but their release into extracellular medium was detected only in IP-10. We found that the culture media from HSG cells stimulated with poly(I:C) significantly increases T lymphocyte migration. Our results suggest that TLR3 plays an important role in chemokine induction, particularly IP-10, in salivary epithelial cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제80권4호
• /
• pp.392-400
• /
• 2017

Background: Most patients with influenza recover spontaneously or following treatment with an anti-viral agent, but some patients experience pneumonia requiring hospitalization. We conducted a retrospective review to determine the incidence and risk factors of pneumonia in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. Methods: A total of 213 patients aged 18 years or older and hospitalized with influenza between January 2012 and January 2015 were included in this study. A reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect the influenza A or B virus in the patients' sputum samples. We collected demographic and laboratory data, combined coexisting diseases, and radiologic findings. Results: The incidence of pneumonia was higher in patients in the influenza A group compared to those in the influenza B group (68.6% vs. 56.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The presence of underlying respiratory disease was significantly associated with pneumonia in the influenza A group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.975; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.312-12.043; p=0.015). In the influenza B group, the white blood cell count (adjusted OR, 1.413; 95% CI, 1.053-1.896; p=0.021), platelet count (adjusted OR, 0.988; 95% CI, 0.978-0.999; p=0.027), and existence of an underlying medical disease (adjusted OR, 15.858; 95% CI, 1.757-143.088; p=0.014) were all significantly associated with pneumonia in multivariate analyses. Conclusion: The incidence of pneumonia was 65.7% in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. The risk factors of pneumonia differed in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.451-457
• /
• 2005

Experimental studies have demonstrated that the triple combination of amantadine (A)/ ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, U)/ biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB, D) might have a preferential antiviral effect compared with that observed in interferon-induced antiviral signal pathways, such as those of $STAT1\alpha$ and the 6-16 genes. To confirm the results, this study examined whether th signal transduction for the antiviral activity in HepG2 2.2.15 was induced dependently or independently of interferon. To accomplish this, the correlation between the $STAT1\alpha$ and 6-16 genes, and nitric oxide, for the mediation of the antiviral activity was assessed. The increase in nitric oxide in the UDCA groups suggests that the inhibition of viral gene replication was enhanced by the amantadine combinations (AU and AUD), and might be more effective if incubated for longer periods. It was found that $STAT1\alpha$ was activated by the amantadine combination, although to a lesser extent than that of $interferon-\alpha$, and the primary endpoints examined for the inhibition of gene expression (HBsAg and HBcAg) were remarkably well regulated. This suggests that the amantadine triple, or at least the double, combination had better clinical benefits than those of $IFN-\alpha$ and the nucleoside analogue single treatment. This demonstrates that the amantadine combination might be a substitute for the existing HBV therapy if the results of in vivo and in vitro studies concur.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제36권5호
• /
• pp.117-123
• /
• 2021

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of wogonin on the production of hydrogen peroxide in polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C)-stimulated TM4 mouse sertoli cells. Methods : TM4 were treated with poly I:C (50 ug/mL) and wogonin at concentrations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 µM for 30 min, 2 hr, 12 hr, 18 hr, and 24 hr. The production of intracellular hydrogen peroxide was measured by dihydrorhodamine 123 assay. Results : For 30 min, 2 hr, 12 hr, 18 hr, and 24 hr treatment, wogonin significantly inhibited intracellular hydrogen peroxide productions of TM4 at the concentration of 5, 10, 25, and 50 µM (p<0.05). In details, production of hydrogen peroxide in poly I:C-stimulated TM4 treated for 30 min with wogonin at concentrations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 µM was 95.67%, 92.69%, 92.05%, and 91.97% of the control group treated with poly I:C only, respectively; the production of hydrogen peroxide for 2 hr was 94.44%, 94.41%, 93%, and 92.98%, respectively; production of hydrogen peroxide for 12 hr was 96.78%, 95.32%, 94.33%, and 93.17%, respectively; production of hydrogen peroxide for 18 hr was 94.7%, 93.4%, 93.38%, and 93.35%, respectively; and production of hydrogen peroxide for 24 hr was 95.75%, 94.77%, 94.58%, and 92.8%, respectively. Conclusions : Wogonin might have anti-viral property related with its inhibition of intracellular hydrogen peroxide production in poly I:C-stimulated TM4 cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제46권3호
• /
• pp.337-347
• /
• 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 are directly associated with hyper-activation of innate immune response that excessively produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and induce cytokine storm, leading to multi-organ-failure and significant morbidity/mortality. Currently, several antiviral drugs such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) and molnupiravir are authorized to treat mild to moderate COVID-19, however, there are still no drugs that can specifically fight against challenges of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Panax ginseng, a medicinal plant widely used for treating various conditions, might be appropriate for this need due to its anti-inflammatory/cytokine/viral activities, fewer side effects, and cost efficiency. To review Panax ginseng and its pharmacologically active-ingredients as potential phytopharmaceuticals for treating cytokine storm of COVID-19, articles that reporting its positive effects on the cytokine production were searched from academic databases. Experimental/clinical evidences for the effectiveness of Panax ginseng and its active-ingredients in preventing or mitigating cytokine storm, especially for the cascade of cytokine storm, suggest that they might be beneficial as an adjunct treatment for cytokine storm of COVID-19. This review may provide a new approach to discover specific medications using Panax ginseng to control cytokine storm of COVID-19.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제47권1호
• /
• pp.33-43
• /
• 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made significant impacts on global public health, including the development of several skin diseases that have arisen primarily as a result of the pandemic. Owing to the widespread expansion of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), the development of effective treatments for these skin diseases is drawing attention as an important social issue. For many centuries, ginseng and its major active ingredients, ginsenosides and saponins, have been widely regarded as herbal medicines. Further, the anti-viral action of ginseng suggests its potential effectiveness as a therapeutic agent against COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this review was to examine the association of skin lesions with COVID-19 and the effect of ginseng as a therapeutic agent to treat skin diseases induced by COVID-19 infection. We classified COVID-19-related skin disorders into three categories: caused by inflammatory, immune, and complex (both inflammatory and immune) responses and evaluated the evidence for ginseng as a treatment for each category. This review offers comprehensive evidence on the improvement of skin disorders induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection using ginseng and its active constituents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제11권3호
• /
• pp.497-503
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and mechanism of the cryo-precipitation, solvent/detergent (S/D) treatment, monoclonal anti-FVIIIc antibody (mAb) column chromatography, Q-Sepharose column chromatography, and lyophilization involved in the manufacture of antithemophilic factor VII(GreenMono) from human plasma, in the removal and/or inactivation of blood-borne viruses. A variety of experimental model viruses for human pathogenic viruses, including the bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), bovine herpes virus (BHV), murine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and porcine parvovirus (PPV), were all selected for this study. BHV and EMCV were effectively partitioned from a factor VII during the cryo-precipitation with a log reduction factor of 2.83 and 3.24, respectively. S/D treatment using the organic solvent, tri(n-butyl) phosphate (TNBP), and the detergent, Triton X-100, was a robust and effective step in inactivating enveloped viruses. The titers of BHV and BVDV were reduced from the initial titer of 8.85 and $7.89{log_10} {TCID_50}$, respectively, reaching undetectable levels within 1 min of the S/D treatment. The mAb chromatography was the most effective step for removing nonenveloped viruses, EMCV and PPV, with the log reduction factors of 4.86 and 3.72, respectively. Q-Sepharose chromatography showed a significant efficacy for partitioning BHV, BVDV, EMCV, and PPV with the log reduction the log reduction factors of 2.32, 2.49, 2.60, and 1.33 respectively. Lyophilization was an effective step in inactivating g nonenveloped viruses rather than enveloped viruses, where the log reduction factors of BHV, BVDV, DMCV, and PPV were 1.41, 1.79, 4.76, and 2.05, respectively. The cumulative log reduction factors of BHV, BVDV, EMCV, and PPV were ${\geqq}$11.12, ${\geqq}$7.88, 15.46, and 7.10, respectively. These results indicate that the production process for GreenMono has a sufficient virus-reducing capacity to achieve a high margin of the virus safety.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제33권6호
• /
• pp.498-505
• /
• 2023

붉은색을 나타내는 홍영감자(Solanum tuberosum Linnaeus)는 국내에서 개발되었다. 이는 항산화, 항염증, 항바이러스 및 항암효과를 갖고 있는것으로 알려져 있으나, 아직까지는 YD-10B 구강암세포에서의 홍영에 의한 성장억제 및 세포사멸 효과 연구는 보고된 바가 없다. 본 연구에서는 시스플라틴과 홍영 에탄올 추출물의 병용처리에 의한 암세포 성장억제, 세포사멸 유도 및 MMP-2/-9 암전이 억제 능력을 확인하였다. 세포생존율 측정은 MTS법에 의해 조사하였고, 세포사멸 유도 능력은 FACS 분석기를 이용하여 분석하였고, MMP-2/-9의 유전자 발현과 단백질 활성은 RT-PCR과 Zymography법을 통하여 측정하였다. 결과로는, 홍영 에탄올 추출물의 농도가 증가함에 따라 구강암 세포 성장억제 효과가 증가함을 보였다. 시스플라틴 단독처리보다 200 µM의 시스플라틴과 500 ㎍/ml의 홍영 에탄올 추출물 병용처리로 YD-10B 구강암세포의 성장이 50% 이상 감소하였다. PMA 처리된 YD-10B 구강암 세포에서 500 ㎍/ml의 홍영 에탄올 추출물과 200 µM의 시스플라틴을 병용처리 하였을 때, MMP-2/-9의 mRNA 발현과 단백질 활성들이 모두 감소하였다. 또한, 시스플라틴 단독처리보다 200 µM의 시스플라틴과 500 ㎍/ml의 홍영 에탄올 추출물 병용처리로 세포사멸 능력을 나타내는 Sub-G1의 세포비율이2배 이상 증가하였다. 따라서, 본 연구결과는 시스플라틴과 홍영 에탄올 추출물의 병용처리가 구강암의 효과적인 항암제로서의 가능성을 시사하고 있다.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국응용약물학회 1996년도 춘계학술대회
• /
• pp.19-29
• /
• 1996

The neurological manifestations of AIDS include dementia, encountered even in the absence of opportunistic superinfection or malignancy. The AIDS Dementia Complex appears to be associated with several neuropathological abnormalities, including astrogliosis and neuronal injury or loss. How can HIV-1 result in neuronal damage if neurons themselves are only rarely, if ever, infected by the vitus\ulcorner In vitro experiments from several different laboratiories have lent support to the existence of HIV- and immune-related toxins. In one recently defined pathway to neuronal injury, HIV-infected macrophages/microglia as well as macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope protein gp120 appear to secrete excitants/neurotoxins. These substances may include arachidonic acid, platelet-activating factor, free radicals (NO - and O$_2$), glutamate, quinolinate, cysteine, cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL1-B, IL-6), and as yet unidentified factors emanating from stimulated macrophages and possibly reactive astrocytes. A final common pathway for newonal suscepubility appears to be operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy, and several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves excessive activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-operated channels, with resultant excessive influx of Ca$\^$2+/ leading to neuronal damage, and thus offers hope for future pharmacological intervention. This chapter reviews two clinically-tolerated NMDA antagonists, memantine and nitroglycerin; (ⅰ) Memantine is an open-channel blocker of the NMDA-associated ion channel and a close congener of the anti-viral and anti-parkinsonian drug amantadine. Memantine blocks the effects of escalating levels of excitotoxins to a greater degree than lower (piysiological) levels of these excitatory amino acids, thus sparing to some extent normal neuronal function. (ⅱ) Niuoglycerin acts at a redox modulatory site of the NMDA receptor/complex to downregulate its activity. The neuroprotective action of nitroglycerin at this site is mediated by n chemical species related to nitric oxide, but in a higher oxidation state, resulting in transfer of an NO group to a critical cysteine on the NMDA receptor. Because of the clinical safety of these drugs, they have the potential for trials in humans. As the structural basis for redox modulation is further elucidated, it may become possible to design even better redox reactive reagents of chinical value. To this end, redox modulatory sites of NMDA receptors have begun to be characterized at a molecular level using site-directed mutagenesis of recombinant subunits (NMDAR1, NMDAR2A-D). Two types of redox modulation can be distinguished. The first type gives rise to a persistent change in the functional activity of the receptor, and we have identified two cysteine residues on the NMDARI subunit (#744 and #798) that are responsible for this action. A second site, presumably also a cysteine(s) because <1 mM N-ethylmaleimide can block its effect in native neurons, underlies the other, more transient redox action. It appears to be at this, as yet unidentified, site on the NMDA receptor that the NO group acts, at least in recombinant receptors.