• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2015

We tested the hypothesis that micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis provides a better quantitative readout of the therapeutic potential of methotrexate (MTX) for treating collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and compared to conventional histopathological examination. Rats were divided into three groups: Group 1 (G1) was treated with 0.9% saline, whereas groups 2 (G2) and 3 (G3) were boosted with type II collagen at days 0 and 7. Following the first collagen immunization, rats in G1 and G2 were treated with 0.9% saline and those in G3 were treated with 1.5 mg/kg MTX from day 14 to 28. All rats were sacrificed on day 28, at which point and all hind knee joints were analyzed by micro-CT and histopathological examination. Micro-CT analyses showed that bone volume and trabecular number were significantly decreased in G2 and G3 compared to G1 (p<0.01), as was percent bone volume (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). However, bone surface/bone volume was significantly increased in G2 and G3 compared to G1 (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Trabecular separation was significantly increased in G3 compared to G1 (p<0.05). Histopathological examination showed that knee joints of rats in G2 and G3 showed severe joint destruction with inflammatory cell infiltration. However, cartilage destruction was slightly reduced in G3 compared to G2. Taken together, these results suggest that MTX treatment reduced cartilage destruction in rats with CIA, and micro-CT analyses made it possible to quantify arthritic bony lesion.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.161-175
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• 2002

봉독은 거풍습(祛風濕), 지통(止痛), 해경평천(解痙平喘), 소종강압(消腫降壓)의 효능으로 오랫동안 통증과 염증성 질환을 치료하는데 이용되어져 왔는데 최근에는 면역관련질환치료에 응용하여 좋은 결과가 보고되고 있다. 본 연구는 Rheumatoid arthritis와 유사한 형태의 대표적 실험모델로 알려진 실험용 쥐의 Type II collagen 유발 관절염(Type II collagen induced arthritis : CIA)의 활액에서 봉독약침이 단백분해효소와 유리기 손상에 미치는 면역억제효과를 알아보기 위해 실행되었다. 본 실험에서는 CIA가 유발된 실험용 쥐에 봉독약침($5{\mu}l/kg$)을 처리한 실험군과 대조군으로서 CIA 유발 쥐에 생리식염수를 처리한 군(CIA군), 정상적인 쥐에 생리식염수로 처리한 군(정상군)으로 구분하여 각 군들의 일련의 표본에서 세포질, 리소좀, 간질성 단백분해효소의 활성과 유리기로 인한 단백질 손상정도를 (carbonyl 유도체를 측정하여)서로 비교하였다. 그 결과 각 군의 활액표본에서는 많은 종 류의 단백분해효소가 정산군보다 CIA군에서 유의하게 활성이 높았으며, 봉독약침($5{\mu}l/kg$)을 처리한 군에서 효소들의 활성이 유의하게 감소하였다. 그러나 각 군들의 혈장표본에서는 이 효소들의 활성은 서로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 이는 혈장속의 면역반응과 연관되리라고 추측되는 단백분해효소들의 활성변화는 병인적 측면에서 RA와 같은 염증성관절 질환과는 큰 상관성이 없다는 것을 의미한다. Carbonyl 유도체 측정으로 평가한 유리기 손상은 활액과 현장표본에서 모두 봉독약침($5{\mu}l/kg$)을 처리한 군에서 유의성 있게 감소하였다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 단백분해효소와 유리기의 활성은 RA의 병인학적 측면에서 모두 잠재적인 중요성을 가지고 있으므로 향후 새로운 RA치료법은 이들 단백분해효소의 활성저해와 유리기의 소거능을 포함해야 한다고 사료되며 봉독약침은 이러한 2가지 효능을 포함한 효과적인 치료라고 평가된다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.51-65
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was built to investigate the effect of Trachelospermi Caulis herbal-acupuncture on the Collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) in rats. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of Bovine type II collagen solution into base of tail. Experimental group were divided into 5 groups ; Normal(N) group, Control(C) group, Trachelospermi Caulis high(TH) group, Trachelospermi Caulis low(TL) group, Saline(S) group(n=7 for each group). Normal group was had no management. Control group was injected with Bovine type II collagen solution and taken no treatment. Trachelospermi Caulis high group was injected with Bovine type II collagen solution and taken high-intensity(10mg/kg) herbal-acupuncture treatment on $ST_{36}$. Trachelospermi Caulis low group was injected with Bovine type II collagen solution and taken low-intensity(5mg/kg) herbal-acupuncture treatment on $ST_{36}$. Saline group was injected with Bovine type II collagen solution and taken saline injection on $ST_{36}$. Body weight, paw edema volume and ankle joint thickness were measured during experimental day. On the last experimental day, we analyzed WBC count, TNF-$\alpha$ & IL-$1{\beta}$ concentration, c-fos immunohistochemistry and NADPH-d histochemistry for evaluating the effect of Trachelospermi Caulis herbal-acupuncture. Results : The results were as follows ; 1. In the change of paw edema volume, TH group only has significant difference compared with C group. 2. In the change of ankle joint thickness, TH group only has significant difference compared with C group. 3. In WBC count of serum, TH, TL groups have significant decrease compared with C group. 4. In TNF-$\alpha$ concentration of effusion, TH, TL groups have significant decrease compared with C group. and TH group has significant decrease compared with TL group. 5. In IL-$1{\beta}$ concentration of effusion, TH, TL groups have significant decrease compared with C group. and TH group has significant decrease compared with TL group. 6. In c-fos positive neurons of S1S2(cortex) region, TH, TL, S groups have significant decrease compared with C group. 7. In NADPH-d positive neurons of CPu(caudate putamen) region, TH, TL groups have significant decrease compared with C group. 8. In NADPH-d positive neurons of Tfp(transverse fibers of pons) region, TH, TL, S groups have significant decrease compared with C group. and TH group has significant decrease compared with S group. Conclusions : According to above results, we hope that Trachelospermi Caulis herbal-acupuncture may have the effect that decreases progression and development of CIA. And it can be suggested that Trachelospermi Caulis herbal-acupuncture may reduce the expression of c-fos and NOS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.14-25
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Aurothiomalate acupuncture containing Sodium Aurothiomalate on Type II collagen-induced arthritic DBA/1 mice. Methods : The mice were divided into three groups, one control group and two test groups. The control group was injected with saline on Choksamni(ST36) and the two test groups were injected either with Aurothiomalate acupuncture into Choksamni(AT1 group), or with Aurothiomalate acupuncture into Hwando(G30, AT2 group). We measured the incidence of arthritis, the mean index of arthritis, the number of arthritic limbs for the clinical examination and evaluation. We also examined the changes in the level of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. Results : 1. The incidence of arthritis in mice of the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. 2. The mean indices of arthritis in mice of the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. 3. The mean number of arthritic limbs in mice of the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. 4. The levels of TNF-$\alpha$ of the mice in the AT1 and AT2 groups were significantly different from that of the control group. 5. The levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ of the mice in the AT1 and AT2 groups were not significantly different from that of the control group. Conclusion : These results indicate that the treatment with Aurothiomalate acupuncture could improve the clinical status of Arthritis by suppressing immune responses in the mice of Type II collagen-induced arthritic.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

Backgrounds : Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is known as the chronic inflammatory diseasethat induces persistent inflammation in the joint cavity. The destruction of cartilage occurs as the result of bones destoyed by pannus, several influential cytokines induced by the synovial capsulitis, varieties of proteinases, $O_2$ radicals, and the secondary degenerative changes of articular cartilage. The type 2 collagen-induced arthritis model is used in recent experimental research on rheumatoid arthritis. Cervus elaphus sibiricus (Nockyong) has the effect of relieving pain by nourishing the muscles, joints, and bones. It is also known to be efficacious in promoting and enhancing the immune system. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture to inhibit the generation of proinflammatory enzyme on type 2 collagen-induced arthritis. I investigated the inhibition of mRNA transcription of MIF(macrophage migration inhibitory factor), $TNF-{\alpha}$(Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$) and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) of Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture using an in vitro test. Also investigated was the inhibition of differentiation of Th 1 cells and activation of cytokines(MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, MMP-9), which are known to cause initial RA ,and are also related to the morphology of the synovial membranes of the joint capsule, by an in vivo test, using CIA(collagen induced arthritis) model mice. Materials & methods : The laboratory animals used in this experiment were 4 week-old DBA female mice, weighing approximately 20 grams, and adjusted to the laboratory environment. The experiment was divided into the normal group(NOR)-no treated group, control group(CON)-CIA induced group, and sample group(SAM)-Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture treated group. RA was induced in the mice via injection of $50{\mu}{\ell}$ C II mixed CFA. The Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution was applied on $GB_{35}$(陽陵泉) for 26 days from the 3rd day of RA inducement. The concentration of the solution was determined via a MTT assay. To research the effect on the expression of MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 mRNA, RT-PCR was performed on synovial membrane cells from the knee joint of CIA mice. C II induced RA knee joint's histo-chemical synovial membrane was observed using a specimen model via the Hematoxilin and Eosin dying technique. Results : The expression of mRNA of RA-related cytokines such as MIF, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and MMP-9 dosedependently decreased in the cell from the synovial membranes of the joint, which is treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture solution. In mice treated with Cervus elaphus sibiricusherbal acupuncture, the damage of synovial membranes of the joint was lessened, and differentiation of Th 1 cells was suppressed. The activation of RA-related cytokines such as MIF was suppressed, and the generation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and MMP-9 showed a statistically significant decreas. Conclusions : It is speculated that Cervus elaphus sibiricus herbal acupuncture has the therapeutic effect of palliating the damage of the tissue impaired by RA by inhibition of the initial RA progression and by regulating excessive differentiation of Th 1 cell as it suppresses the generation of RA-related cytokines during the highest stage of RA by acting on pro-inflammatory enzymes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2003

Oral administration of antigen has long been used in the induction of immune tolerance in various animal models of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Alleveation of arthritogenic symptoms has been reported from RA patients who received oral administration of type II collagen (CII) without side effects, however its rather inconsistent therapeutic efficacy and variation among patients calls for more detailed investigation on the mechanism of oral tolerance to be settled as regular treatment for RA. In an attempt to understand the immunogenic processes underpinning tolerance induction by orally administered CII, we analyzed changes in the expression of costimulatory molecules and STAT/SOCS signaling messengers in the mouse model of collagen induced arthritis (CIA). We found thatin the spleen of CIA mice, that has been undergone repeated oral feeding of CII prior to the induction of arthritis, showed increased promortion of CTLA4 expressing lymphocytes than in the spleen of PBS fed control. On the other hand, cells expressing CD28 or ICOS were decreased in the spleen of tolerized mice. Tolerance induction by oral CII administration also enhanced the expression of STAT6 in both RNA and protein level, while not affecting the expression of STAT3. The expression of SOCS3, which hasbeen known to transmit STAT-mediated signals from Th2 type cytokines, remained unchanged in the spleen of tolerized mice. Interestingly transcript of SOCS1, which has been associated with Th1 related pathways, was only visible in the spleen of tolerized but not of control mice, suggesting that as in the case of IL-6 signaling, it may exert a feed back inhibition toward the Th1 type stimulation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-21
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• 2001

The influence of electroacupuncture (EA), a traditional Chinese medical treatment, on type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was examined in DBA/1J mice in vivo. Mice were immunized intradermally twice at the 3-week interval with bovine type Ⅱ collagen(C Ⅱ). EA stimulation, begun on the 21 simultaneously with the second immunization, was applied at the acupoint equivalent to GV4 three times a week for 3 weeks. The results showed that EA delayed the onset, attenuated the severity of arthritis, and reduced the anti-collagen antibody level. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of EA on the productions of endogenous $interleukin-1{\Beta}$ (IL-1 beta) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and the levels of IL-1 beta mRNA in splenocytes and synovial tissues from C Ⅱ immunized mice on the 45 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages of normal mice by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). EA stimulation significant inhibited the concentrations of splenic endogenous IL-1 beta and serum PGE2. The expression of IL-1 beta mRNA in spleen cells was obviously down-regulated and that in synovial tissues was modestly affected by EA. COX-2 mRNA was highly expressed in cultured peritoneal macrophages when stimulated with LPS. Previous treatment with EA also reduced LPS-stimulated induction of COX-2 mRNA. These data suggest that EA has an inhibitory effect on murine CIA, and the partial mechanism of its therapeutic result may be attributed to inhibiting the productions of IL-1 beta and PGE2 by suppression the IL-1 beta and COX-2 gene activations.

• Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.192-202
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• 2017

Objective. Rebampide is a gastroprotective agent used to treat gastritis. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis effects, but the mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. The objective of this study was to explore mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of rebamipide in inflammatory arthritis. Methods. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in DBA/1J mice. DBA/1J mice were immunized with chicken type II collagen, then treated intraperitoneally with rebamipide (10 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg) or vehicle (10% carboxymethylcellulose solution) alone. Seven weeks later, plasma samples were collected. Plasma metabolic profiles were analyzed using ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics study and metabolite biomarkers were identified through multivariate data analysis. Results. Low dose rebamipide treatment reduced the clinical arthritis score compared with vehicle treatment, whereas high dose rebamipide in CIA aggravated arthritis severity. Based on multivariate analysis, 17 metabolites were identified. The plasma levels of metabolites associated with fatty acids and phospholipid metabolism were significantly lower with rebamipide treatment than with vehicle. The levels of $15-deoxy-^{{\Delta}12,14}$ prostaglandin J2 and thromboxane B3 decreased only in high dose-treated groups. Certain peptide molecules, including enterostatin (VPDPR) enterostatin and bradykinin dramatically increased in rebamipide-treated groups at both doses. Additionally, corticosterone increased in the low dose-treated group and decreased in the high dose-treated group. Conclusion. Metabolomics analysis revealed the anti-inflammatory effects of rebamipide and suggested the potential of the drug repositioning in metabolism- and lipid-associated diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.15-27
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture(UA) to inhibit nuclear $factor(NF)-{\kappa}B$ activation on type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Methods : Using an in vitro test, the synoviocytes picked out from the experimental CIA mice were subcultured. The synoviocyte cells were treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate(PMA) for 1 hour prior to the addition of indicated concentrations($0.4\;-\;1.0mg/m{\ell}$) of UA, and the cells were further incubated for 24 hours. The in vivo test, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), vascular cell adhesion molecule(VCAM)-1 production and apoptosis was observed by immunohistochemical staining. Results : The PMA-induced $I{\kappa}B$ kinase(IKK), iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression were dose-dependently decreased in UA treated synoviocytes. Using the in vivo test, the number of eosinophils in mice treated with UA noticeably decreased in the the CIA group(P<0.05 using student t test). In mice treated with UA, there was less cartilage erosion. less bone destruction, mild synovial hyperplasia, mild fibrosis, and mild angiogenesis with less MIP-2 production. By immunohistochemical staining, suppression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, iNOS production, inhibition of COX-2 production, inhibition of VCAM-1 production and inducing apoptosis were observed. Conclusions : These results suggest that UA might be applicable to the therapy of RA to suppress $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1278-1284
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• 2007

Solanum Iyratum Thunb (Solanaceae) has multiple applications in korean traditional medicine because of its cytotoxic, immunological and anti-inflammatory activities. However, no study on the anti-arthritic activity of Solanum Iyratum Thunb has been reported in vivo. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which ultimately leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Cytokine production were assessed during CIA(collagen-induced arthritis) model mice in lymph node (LN), in knee joint and spleen, using ELISA. DBA/1j mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen. After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with Solanum Iyratum Thunb (SLT) orally at 400, 200 mg/kg once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. SLT significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in serum and spleen cell culture supernatant. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with SLT. In conclusion, our results demonstrates that SLT significantly suppressed the progression of CIA. This action was characterized by suppression of arthritis index, cartilage erosion and synovial cell infiltration and the decreased production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, CD4+, CD19+, CD3+/CD69+ cells (in lymph node), CD11b+/Gr-1 + (in knee joint).