• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.89-105
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• 2005

Objective & Methods : This study is performed to observe the effect of Herbal-acupuncture with Notopterygii Radix Herbal-Acupuncture Solution(NR-HAS) at Joksamni(ST36) on Collagen II-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mice. Result : 1. The highest survival rate of mice lung fibroblasts were measured in the 1% NR-HAS, and the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in synovial cells were significantly decreased in the 1% and 10% NR-HAS. 2. The incidence of arthritis and the spleen weight were significantly decreased by Notopterygii Radix Herbal-acupuncture(NR-HA) at ST36. 3. The levels of IL-6, $INF-{\gamma},\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IgG, IgM, anti-collagen II in serum of CIA mice were significantly decreased by NR-HA at ST36. 4. In histology, the cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation were decreased by NR-HA at ST36, and the collagen fiber expressions in the NR-HA I II groups were similar with that of the normal group. 5. In lymph node, the expression ratios of $CD3e^+\;to\;CD19^+$ cell and $CD4^+\;to\;CD8^+$ cell in the NR-HA I II groups were similarly maintained as those in the normal group. 6. In lymph node, $CD69^+/CD3e^+$ cells and $CD11a^+/CD19^+$ cells were decreased by NR-HA at ST36. 7. In the articular joint, $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells were decreased by NR-HA at ST36. 8. NR-HA at ST36 did not make a considerable difference in DBA/1J mice without CIA 9. Throughout the overall experimental result, NR-HA I group showed more predominant effect than the NR-HA II group. Conclusion : These results suggest that NR-HA at ST36 has an effect to control synovial cell proliferation and cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis, as well as prophylaxis is important to treat rheumatoid arthritis in clinic.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.161-176
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• 2013

Objectives : To clarify the anti-arthritic activity of Ostericum koreanum Maxim. (OS) plus Aralia continentalis Kitagawa (AC) in vivo. Methods : All mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen. After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with OS plus AC once a day for 7 weeks. Oral administration of OS plus AC (200 or 50 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the progression of CIA, which extend is comparable to that of methotrexate (MTX, 0.3 mg/kg), a positive control. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. Results : Administration of OS plus AC significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 in serum. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with OS plus AC. In conclusion, our results demonstrates that OS plus AC significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and that this action was characterized by the decreased production of IL-6, IFN-${\gamma}$ and collagen II specific antibody in serum, CD3+CD69+ T cells, MHC class II+/CD11c+ (in DLN), CD11b+Gr-1+ cells (in PBMC), CD11b +Gr-1+ cells, B220+/CD23+ (in paw joint). Conclusions : The the levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ in the culture supernatant of splenocytes stimulated with CD3/CD28 or collagen were dramatically decreased, while those of IL-4 was increased. In the serum of OS and AC-treated mice, the levels of IgM RA factor were decreased.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.103-113
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate effect of suppressing the expression of cyclo-oxygenase-type-2 (COX-2) as a consequence of inhibition macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) activation by $Sambucus$ $williamsii$ $Hance$ (SWH) pharmacopunctureon rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods : In vitro test, synoviocytes extracted from type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse's knee joint were cultivated After that, each well of synoviocytes was mixed with the extract of SWH at the dosage of $0.4mg/m{\ell}$, $0.6mg/m{\ell}$, $0.8mg/m{\ell}$, and $1.0mg/m{\ell}$ respectively, and cultivated for 24 hours after the addition. Reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is used to investigate the expression of MIF, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, COX-2 mRNA. $In$ $vivo$ test, thirty DBA female mice were used, and each ten mice were allocated into three group; normal group, CIA-elicitated group, and group treated with SWH pharmacopuncture on it's the point of $ST_{35}$ after CIA elicitation. It is investigated that change of mice foot thickness, histologic change of sliced synovial joint of mouse, and extent change of MIF, TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 in synovial membrane. Results : $In$ $vitro$ test, the expressions of cytokine(MIF, TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2) mRNAs related to RA were dose-dependent decreased. In the SWH pharmacopuncture group, foot thickness and histologic change of sliced synovial joint were decreased comparing with CIA-elicitated group's change. In the SWH pharmacopuncture group, the suppression of MIF, TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 in synovial membrane was clearly shown comparing with CIA-elicitated group's change. Conclusions : It might be suggested that SWH pharmacopuncture mitigate tissue damage originated from rheumatoid arthritis by suppressing the expression of COX-2 as a consequence of inhibition MIF activation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to inquire into the effect of different concentrations of bee venom pharmacopuncture to inhibit genesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and to inhibit nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ activation on type II collagen induced arthritis. Methods : The experiment was divided into category of the normal group (NOR)-no treated group, control group (CON)-CIA (collagen induced arthritis) induced group, and 4,000 : 1 bee venom group (BV-L)- 4000:1 bee venom pharmacopuncture treated group after CIA, and 2000:1 bee venom group (BV-H)- 2,000 : 1 Bee venom pharmacopuncture treated group after CIA. RA was induced in the mice via injecting $50{\mu}{\ell}$ C II mixed CFA. The bee venom pharmacopuncture was applied on $ST_{35}$ for 19 days from the 3rd day of RA inducement. To research the effect on the expression of IKK ($I{\kappa}B$ kinase), iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) & COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) mRNA, RT-PCR was performed on synovial membrane cells from the knee joint of CIA mice. Results : The PMA-induced $I{\kappa}B$ kinase (IKK), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) mRNA expression were dose-dependantly decreased in bee venom treated with synoviocytes. In mice treated with bee venom pharmacopuncture, foot thickness and the damage of synovial membranes of the joint was lessened, and the activation of RA-related pro-inflammatory cytokines such as MIF, TNF-${\alpha}$ and MMP-9 was significantly decreased. The activation of iNOS and COX-2 was suppressed by the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$. In addition, each data was shown that 2,000 : 1 bee venom pharmacopuncture was more effective than 4,000 : 1 bee venom pharmacopuncture. Conclusions : It is speculated that bee venom pharmacopuncture has the therapeutic effect of palliating the damage of the synovial membrane and inflammation on RA by suppressing of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1095-1105
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• 2009

This study was carried out to know the immunological effect of GDGT on CIA(collagen induced arthritis) mice, a model of rheumatoid arthritis. For this purpose, GDGT was orally administerd to mice with arthritis induced by collagen II and then value of cytotoxicity on hFLSs and liver, the arthritis index, immunocyte in paw joint and DNL, rheumatoid factor (IgG and IgM), collagen II specific antibody in the serum were measured. The cytotoxicity were not shown on hFLSs and liver. The arthritis index decreased significantly after 3 week. In total cell counts of DLN and paw joint, there was a significant increase in DLN and significant decrease in paw joint. In DNL, $CD19^+$, $CD3^+$, $CD4^+$, $CD3^+/CD69^+$, $CD8^+$, $CD4^+/CD25^+$, $ CD3^+/CD49b^+$ cells increased significantly. In Paw joints, $CD3^+$, $ CD4^+$, $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cells decreased significantly. The level of serum IgG and IgM decreased significantly. The level of collagen II in the serum was decreased significantly. Marginal erosion, necrotic chodrocytes, cartilage and bone degradation were improved in histological section of paw joints. The results present significant immunological effect of GDGT on rats with arthritis induced by collgen II. So we expect that GDGT should be used as a effective drugs for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also another auto-immune disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2015

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+ Tregs) have been shown to play a regulatory or suppressive role in the immune response and are possibly relevant to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we attempted to investigate the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in peripheral blood (PB) of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats during the development of arthritis, to determine whether their frequency is involved in the immunoregulation of this disease. The results showed that normal rats had similar frequencies of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in PB during the experiment time, expressed as a percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells among the CD4+ T lymphocyte population. In contrast, the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells in CIA rats was found to change during the development of arthritis. In CIA rats, there is a significant negative correlation between the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells and paw swelling (r=-0.786, p< 0.01). The relationship between the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T and immune activation was not found in normal rats. During the time course, the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T was lower in CIA rats than in normal ones. The data suggest that the frequency of PB CD4+CD25+ Tregs may be a promising marker for arthritis activity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.92-104
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• 2002

Objective : Bee venom (BV) has traditionally been used in Oriental medicine to relieve pain and to treat inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Autoimmunity to type II collagen (CII) may involve in the pathogenesis of RA. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of BV on type II collagen induced arthritis (CIA) with the naked eye, a immunohistochemical method and the examination of histology. Method : Male mice were immunized by subcutaneously injection of an $200{\mu}g$ emulsion mixed with bovine CII and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) twice for two weeks. In the control group, normal saline was injected, and in the experimental group, BV was applied. Result : The incidence of arthritis, the mean arthritis index and the number of the arthritic limbs of the BV group were all significantly lower than those of the control group. Among the pro-inflammatory cytokines, the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the BV group was also suppressed compared with the control group, but $IL-1{\beta}$ was not. The examination on the histopathology of joints of CIA mice showed the effect of Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture on the arthritis. Conculusion : Treatment with BV resulted in inhibition of development of arthritis and immune responses to CII.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2005

Objective : The effect of Ulmus davidiana Planch(UD), which has long been known to have anti-inflammation and protective effects on damaged tissue, inflammation and bone among other functions, on the development of type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats was studied. Methods : Male rats were immunized with an emulsion of $200\;{\mu}g$ of CII and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The rats were then given intraperitoneal stimulation of Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture(UDHA)or saline during the experiment. When compared with rats treated with saline as control, UDHA at doses of more than $20{\mu}g/100\;g$ rat once a day for 7 days inhibited the ability of inguinal lymph node cells to produce T cell cytokines interleukin-2, interleukin-6, $IFN-{\gamma}$ when the cells were obtained from rats 14 days after immunization and cultured in vitro with CII. Results : When rats were injected intraperitoneally, UD -treated group and control group rats did not differ significantly when low doses of UD was given to rats. Conclusion : The recommended dose of UD in the management and treatment of rat CIA will be more than $20{\mu}g/100\;g$, which is two-firth of human therapeutic dose. From the results, it was concluded that the effect of UDHA is dependent of dosage.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.179-204
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• 2007

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Angelicae Radix Pharmacopuncture(AR-P) at Joksamni(ST36) on collagen II induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice. The authors evaluated arthritis index, arthritis incidence and joint edema, and measured body weight, spleen size and stenosis rate, serum cytokine level, serum antibody level, immune cell populations In spleen, lymph node, and knee joint, and performed histological analysis of CIA mouse joint. Results : In the AR-P group, arthritis index, arthritis incidence and joint edema were decreased, and the enlargement, malformation and stenosis of spleen and the malformation of joint appeared milder than the control group. In AR-P group, the levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$ in serum were significantly decreased. And the level of anti-collagen II in serum was maintained lower in AR-P group than in the control group. In AR-P group, the level of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-10, and $IFN-{\gamma}/IL-4$ ratio were significantly decreased, and the ratios of $CD3e^+$ cells to $CD45^+$ cells, $CD4^+$ cells to $CD8^+$ cells in spleen were similarly maintained as those of the normal group. In the AR-P group, the populations of $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cells in spleen and lymph nodes, $CD45R^+/CD69^+$ cells in lymph nodes, $CD3^+/CD69^+$ cells and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells in knee joint were decreased. In the histological analysis, the cartilage destruction, synovial cell proliferation and the collagen fiber destruction were decreased in the AR-P group Conclusions : The results suggest that AR-P at right ST36 has a therapeutic effect on collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.510-518
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• 2021

Background: Gintonin is a newly derived glycolipoprotein from the roots of ginseng. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-arthritic efficacy of Gintonin on various proteases and inflammatory mediators that have an important role in arthritis. Methods: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were treated with Gintonin and stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β 1 hour later. The antioxidant effect of Gintonin was measured using MitoSOX and H₂DCFDA experiments. The anti-arthritic efficacy of Gintonin was examined by analyzing the expression levels of inflammatory mediators using RT-PCR, western blot, and ELISA. The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 into the nucleus were also analyzed using western blot, ELISA, and immunocytochemistry. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice model was used. Mice were orally administered with Gintonin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) every 2 days for 45 days. The body weight, arthritis score, squeaking score, and paw volume were measured as the behavioral parameters. After sacrifice, H&E and safranin-O staining were performed for histological analysis. Results: Gintonin significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory intermediates. Gintonin prevented NF-κB/p65 from moving into the nucleus through the JNK and ERK MAPK phosphorylation in FLS cells. Moreover, Gintonin suppressed the symptoms of arthritis in the CIA mice model. Conclusion: As a result, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Gintonin were demonstrated, and ultimately the anti-arthritic effect was proved. Collectively, Gintonin has a great potential as a therapeutic agent for arthritis treatment.