• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.383-388
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• 2003

Bee venom is used as a traditional medicine for treatment of arthritis. The anti-inflammatory activity of the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous partitions from bee venom (Apis mellifera) was studied using cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$) production, in vitro. COX-2 is involved in the production of prostaglandins that mediate pain and support the inflammatory process. The aqueous partition of bee venom showed strong dose-dependent inhibitory effects on COX-2 activity ($IC_{50} = 13.1 \mu$ g/mL), but did not inhibit COX-1 activity. The aqueous partition was subfractionated into three parts by molecular weight differences, namely, B-F1 (above 20 KDa), B-F2 (between 10 KDa and 20 KDa) and BF-3 (below 10 KDa). B-F2 and B-F3 strongly inhibited COX-2 activity and COX-2 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, without revealing cytotoxic effects. TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$ are potent pro-inflammatory cytokines and are early indicators of the inflammatory process. We also investigated the effects of three subfractions on TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$ production using ELISA method. All three subfractions, B-F1, B-F2 and B-F3, inhibited TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$production. These results suggest the pharmacological activities of bee venom on anti-inflammatory process include the inhibition of COX-2 expression and the blocking of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$) production.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.304-318
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• 2023

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment and significantly contribute to immune evasion. We investigated the effects of CAFs on the immune function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We isolated CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) from tumors and normal lung tissues of NSCLC patients, respectively. CAFs were co-cultured with activated T cells to evaluate their immune regulatory function. We investigated the effect of CAF conditioned medium (CAF-CM) on the cytotoxicity of T cells. CAFs were also co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and further incubated with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitors to investigate the potential role of COX2 in immune evasion. Results: CAFs and NFs were isolated from the lung tissues (n=8) and lymph nodes (n=3) of NSCLC patients. Immune suppressive markers, such as COX2 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), were increased in CAFs after co-culture with activated T cells. Interestingly, CAFs promoted the expression of programmed death-1 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and strongly inhibited T cell proliferation in allogenic and autologous pairs of CAFs and T cells. CAF-CM decreased the cytotoxicity of T cells. COX2 inhibitors partially restored the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and downregulated the expression of COX2, prostaglandin E synthase, prostaglandin E2, and PD-L1 in CAFs. Conclusion: CAFs promote immune evasion by suppressing the function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells via their effects on COX2 and PD-L1 in NSCLC. The immunosuppressive function of CAFs could be alleviated by COX2 inhibitors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2000

Rheum undulatum L. has been used as Rhei Radix in Korean Pharmacopea although their pharmacological effects were not studied much. In this studym, we tested anti-inflammatory effect as a representative activity of Rheum undulatum L. extracts using cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibition. Murine macrophage, Raw 264.7 cells were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) to induce COX-2. The prostagladin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) levels as an indicator of COX-2 activity were determined in the culture medium using ELISA. Inhibition of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as a standard, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, rhein, 80% ethanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. (Ex) and ether fraction (Fr) after acid hydrolysis of Rheum undulatum L. were tested in induced COX-2 described above. $IC_{50}$ values were 0.082 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for ASA. 181 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for aloe-emodin, 3.65 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for emodin, 144 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for chrysophanol, 39.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for rhein, 141 $\mu\textrm{g}$ of herb/ml for Ex, and 95.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$ of herb/ml for Fr. We found that Ex and Fr of Rheum undulatum L. were more effective than other anthraquinones, since their $IC_{50}$ are lower than others.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.144-144
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• 2001

Inappropriate up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been implicated for pathogenesis of various types of human cancer. COX-2 expression is known to be regulated by the eukaryotic transcription factor NF-$textsc{k}$B. In an attempt to link the NF-$textsc{k}$B activation and COX-2 induction, we have examined the kinetics of phorbol ester-induced activation of NF-$textsc{k}$B and COX-2 expression in the immortalized human breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A).(omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1102-1108
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• 2006

An in vitro bioassay-guide revealed that the methanol (MeOH) extract of the stem bark of Populus davidiana showed considerable inhibitory activity against cyclooxygenase (COX-1, COX-2). Continuous phytochemical study of the MeOH extract of this plant led to the isolation of ten flavonoids; sakuranetin (1), rhamnocitrin (2), 7-O-methylaromadendrin (3), naringenin (4), eriodictyol (5), aromadendrin (6), kaempferol (7), neosakuranin (8), sakuranin (9) and sakurenetin-5,4'-di-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (10). Their structures were identified on the basis of their physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses. The isolated compounds, 1-10, were tested for their inhibitory activities against COX-1 and COX-2. Compound 7 was found to have potent inhibitory effect on COX-1 and a moderate effect on COX-2, meanwhile, compounds 1-6 showed moderate inhibition against COX-1 only. Moreover, compounds 5-8 exhibited suppressive effects on xanthine oxidase (XO). These results may explain, in part, the traditional uses of P. davidiana in ethnomedicine.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1288-1294
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• 2011

Resveratrol, a kind of phytochemical, is presented in grape skins. Resveratorl exerts antiproliferative, anti-cancer and pro-apoptotic activities in cancer cells. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a critical regulator of cellular growth and proliferation, and it is known to be a strategic target for anti-cancer therapeutic uses. mTOR is a major downstream of the PI3K/Akt pathway, which is activated in various cancer cells. It also plays an important role in the survival, proliferation and angiogenesis of cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important protein that mediates inflammatory processes. It plays an important role in various tumors by affecting cell proliferation, mitosis, apoptosis and angiogenesis. In this study, we have investigated the effects of resveratrol on apoptosis through mTOR and COX-2 expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The treatment of resveratrol with different concentrations inhibited proliferation of MCF-7. The data showed that resveratrol induced apoptotic cell death of cancer cells and decreased mTOR and COX-2 expression. These results suggest that resveratrol induces apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by inhibiting mTOR and COX-2 expression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.188-199
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• 2002

Objectives : Banhasasim-tang has been clinically used to treat upper gastric intestinal discomfort. The object of this study is to examine the defense effect of Banhasasim-tang for acute duodenal injury of the mouse. Methods and Materials : Twenty-one rats were divided into 3 groups and treated as follows: the control group was untreated mice. The ADE group was acute duodenal-damage-elicited mice. The BST group was Banhasasim-tang treated mice before acute duodenal damage elicitation. The groups were examined with common morphology, paneth cells in intestinal crypt, absorptive cells and goblet cells in epithelium, cell division in mucose, COX-l as mucosal protector, COX-2 (which appears to play an important role in inflammation), IL-2R-inducing cellular immuno-chainreaction, and the distribution of apoptotic cells. Results : 1. Common morphology: the ADE group was observed with duodenal injury - loss of villi, infiltration of cells concerned to inflammation (lymphocytes, granular leukocytes) to submucosal layer - by hemorrhagic erosions, while the BST group was seen the same as normal in proportion to increasing treatment time before injury. 2. Histochemical change: the ADE group was observed with noticeable decreased distribution of absorptive cells with microvilli, acid mucin secreted goblet cell, neutral mucin secreted goblet cell, paneth cells compared to the normal group. The BST group was seen to have distribution of epithelium cells resembling normal in proportion to increasing treatment time before injury. 3. Imnunohistochemical change: the ADE group showed a change of factors leading to duodenal injury as reduce of cytokinesis, COX-1, increase of COX-2, IL-2R-. In contrast, the BST group tended to reduction of cytokinesis, COX-1, increase of COX-2, IL-2R- in proportion to increasing taking time before injury. 4. Apoptosis change: the ADE group showed increasing apoptosis cells, in contrast to the BST group which was the same as normal in proportion to increasing treatment time before injury. Conclusions : According to the above results, by increasing the defense system of mucosal epithelium, Banhasasim-tang is thought to effectively protect tissue against ulcers resulting from acute duodenal injury.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.231-240
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• 2007

It has been reported the higher incidence rate of gastric cancer in our country. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), that exhibited a higher infection rate among Korean people, has been known as a cofactor to cause cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify correlations among overexpressions of COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2) gene, p53 mutation and cell proliferation index related to H. pylori. Taking 28 cases of gastric cancer with H. pylori detection, immunohistochemical staining for COX-2, p53 and Ki-67 were performed. In the H. pylori positive group, the well differentiated type and diffuse type of gastric cancer were distributed in larger area and the expression rate of COX-2 was revealed high. The H. pylori negative group showed higher p53 expression than that of the positive group. However, the statistical correlation between H. pylori and histopathological factors was not observed. The significantly higher expression of COX-2 had were observed in both well differentiated type and the intestinal type of gastric cancer. Although there were no statistical significances, this showed a higher inclination of manifest in the early gastric cancer. p53 exhibited a higher tendency of expression in the well differentiated, moderately differentiated and the intestinal type of gastric cancers including the early gastric cancer. Ki-67 was expressed in a significantly higher fashion along with the increase of age. In addition, it was significantly expressed in well differentiated type and intestinal type of gastric cancer. Therefore, these results suggest that H. pylori, COX-2, p53, and Ki-67 influences on the new occurrence of gastric cancer and its development procedures. In the future, the more researches would be required to focus on a larger category relative to gene expressions in gastric cancer.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.975-979
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• 2006

The extracts of Oenanthe javanica were evaluated for their effects on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which is mediated by the translocation of the p65 subunit into the nucleus. Fractions of ethyl acetate and chloroform from 80% ethanol extracts of O. javanica exhibited inhibitory effects on the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophages; however, the aqueous- and hexane-fractions showed no significant effect. The ethyl acetate- and chloroform-fractions also reduced the COX-2 enzyme levels after 24-hr treatment. RT-PCR showed that the mRNA levels of COX-2 decreased following treatment with these fractions, suggesting that COX-2 expression is transcriptionally regulated by these extracts. We examined the effects of the chloroform- and ethyl acetate-fractions on the cytosolic activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$, p65 subunit) and on the degradation of inhibitor-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$) in order to determine the mechanism of COX-2 regulation. The LPS-stimulated activation of the p65 subunit was significantly blocked upon the addition of $50\;{\mu}g/mL$ of these fractions, and the cytosolic $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation process was simultaneously inhibited. These findings suggest that the inhibition of COX-2 expression by the ethyl acetate-and chloroform-fractions may result from the inhibition of p65 translocation by blocking the degradation of $I-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$; this may be the mechanistic basis for the anti-inflammatory effects of O. javanica.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.143-149
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• 2005

The identification of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) has led to potential novel insights on disease pathogenesis (atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease) and the regulation of normal organ function. The present in vivo study with estrogen or soy-isoflavones has provided evidence for the association between COX-2 and ICAM-1 (Intercellular adhersion molecule-1). In the system of mature female rats, soy-isoflavones exerted more pronounced effect on ICAM-1 inhibitory and COX-2 stimulatory effect than estrogen. In the system of ovariectomized estrogen deficient rats, the down-regulatory properties of soy-isoflavones on ICAM-1 was less evident, whereas estrogen exerted the inhibitory activity. These results demonstrate that COX-2 limits adhersion molecule expression on rat aorta cells and suggest that COX-2 may play a protective role in cardiovascular system in mature female rats. Soy-isoflavones appear to have beneficial effect on vascular systems through modulation of ICAM-1 and COX-2, and these molecules appeared to be closely associated.