• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

Objectives : Scutellariae Radix (Hwanggeum in Korean) is the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Scutellariae Radix is well known to be used as a medicine for common cold, upper respiratory infections, and to strengthen and regulate the immune system and anemia etc. Little is understood about the roles of Scutellariae Radix in the cytokine and chemokine secretion by immune cells. This study was designed to find out the effects of Scutellariae Radix on the cytokine and chemokine secretion in human mast cells (HMC-1). Methods : We treated hwanggeum according to consistency on HMC-1 and measured cytokines and chemokines levels using flow cytometry CBA system. Results : In hwanggeum treated group, the expression of interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9, MIG), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5 (IL-5), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and interferon ${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) were decreased significantly. Conclusion : These results suggest that hwanggeum may support some of immune diseases by means of amiliorating some chemokines or cytokines such as IP-10, MCP-1, MIG, IL-8, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IFN-${\gamma}$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.258-264
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• 2002

Zinc plays an important role in immunobiological responses, while excessive zinc attenuates immune functions in a dose-dependent manner. Zinc excess has been reported to increase levels of plasma prostaglandin E$_2$ (PGE$_2$), which is known to inhibit production of Th (helper T) 1-associated cytokines and to induce inflammatory responses. Thus, this study was investigated the effects of indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of PGE$_2$ synthesis, on the proinflammatory cytokine and lymphokine production in ICR mice exposed to excessive zinc. Indomethacin at doses of 5 mg/kg was administered i.p. 30 minutes before zinc chloride (Zn) 30 mg/kg orally daily for 10 days. Excessive Zn remarkedly increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-1$\beta$ levels in both serum and splenic supernatants compared with those in controls, while indomethacin significantly reduced the excessive Zn-induced levels of IL-1$\beta$. In serum, excessive Zn significantly decreased the levels of IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ compared with those in controls, whereas indomethacin significantly enhanced the excessive Zn-decreased levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ but did not affect the Zn-decreased levels of serum IL-2. In splenic supernatants, All of excessive Zn, indomethacin, and combination of Zn and indomethacin significantly enhanced IL-2 levels compared with those in controls, but indomethacin didn't affect the Zn-induced production of IL-2. These data, therefore, suggest that indomethacin significantly attenuated the in vivo and ex vivo IL-1$\beta$ production increased by excessive zinc and remarkedly enhanced the in vivo excessive zinc-suppressed production of IFN-${\gamma}$ but not IL-2.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6961-6967
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• 2014

Cytokine gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are involved in the genesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We hypothesized that combined effects of cytokine gene SNPs and SNP-SNP interactions are associated with HCC risk. Six SNPs in cytokine genes (IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10) were genotyped in a study of 720 Chinese HCC cases and 784 cancer-free controls. Although none of these SNPs individually had a significant effect on the risk of HCC, we found that the combined effects of these six SNPs may contribute to HCC risk (OR=1.821, 95% CI=1.078-3.075). This risk was pronounced among smokers, drinkers, and hepatitis B virus carriers. A SNP-SNP interaction between IL-2-330 and IFN-${\gamma}$-1615 was associated with an increased HCC risk (OR=1.078, 95% CI=1.022-1.136). In conclusion, combined effects of SNPs and SNP-SNP interactions in cytokine genes may contribute to HCC risk.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.120-132
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• 2009

Objective : Yukmijihwang-tang is one of the important medicines for blood- deficiency and yin-deficiency. Atopic dermatitis usually shows dampness-heat pattern in its acute stage and blood-deficiency or yin-deficiency pattern in its chronic stage. Therefore, I hypothesized that Yukmijihwang-tang is effective on atopic dermatitis and investigated the effects of Yukmijihwang-tang on NC/Nga mice's atopic dermatitis induced by DNCB. Methods : The NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis were divided into four groups: three experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups were respectively put on 2.5g(YM-2.5), 5g(YM-5) and 10g(YM-10) of Yukmijihwang-tang extract per their weight once a day for 10 days while the control group was fed normal saline. After 10 days, I measured TEWL(transepidermal water loss), observed scratching behaviors, conducted a skin biopsy and checked levels of Total IgE, IL-4 and $IFN-\gamma$ on NC/Nga mice. Results : 1. Yukmijihwang-tang significantly suppressed skin dryness. In particular, YM-5 and YM-10 had better skin hydration than YM-2.5. 2. Yukmijihwang-tang significantly suppressed pruritus while there was no significant difference among the experimental groups. 3. Yukmijihwang-tang retained skin structure(epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat). 4. Yukmijihwang-tang reduced Total IgE level while there was no significant difference between the control group and the experimental groups. 5. Yukmijihwang-tang did not reduce IL-4(Th2 cytokine) level. 6. Yukmijihwang-tang significantly reduced $IFN-\gamma$(Th1 cytokine) level. In particular, YM-2.5 and YM-5 had lower $IFN-\gamma$ level than YM-10. Conclusion : The results suggest that Yukmijihwang-tang suppresses skin dryness and pruritus, retains skin structure and is effective on chronic atopic dermatitis which is associated with Th1 cytokines in the immune response.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.336-340
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• 2008

Corilagin (CRN) isolated from Euphorbia helioscopia as rheumatoid arthritis drug. CRN was medicated to the abdominal cavity of collagen induced arthritis (CIA) mice that was an animal model for rheumatoid arthritis and its effects on incidence and arthritis index were studied. The results were as folllows; It was exhibited that medicating corilagin inhibited the infiltration of activated T lymphocytes into an inflammatory joint. The production of IgG and IgM that were RF (rheumatoid factor) and inflammatory cytokine, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$were reduced. After measuring $IFN-{\gamma}$and IL-4, it was found that it was shifted into Th2 immune response as increasing in IL-4. After liver function test, studies on liver poisoning of AST/ALT should be continued.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2006

Objective : Based on the Th1/Th2 inbalance hypothesis, we aimed to evaluate the effects of NaesowhajungtongGamibang on serum $interferon{\gamma}$, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, of 19 patients with atopic dermatitis. Materials & Methods: The subjects are consisted of 19 patients with atopic dermatitis, and had been treated with NaesowhajungtongGamibang decoction for 45 days. Serum $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, IL-5 level were checked before and 45 days after treatments. Results: The serum $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-5, level in patients with atopic dermatitis were slightly decreased compared with normal control group, but had no statistical significance. The serum IL-4, level in patients with atopic dermatitis was slightly increased compared with normal control group, but had no statistical significance. After treatment with NaesowhajungtongGamibang for 45 days, serum $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-5, level were increased, but had no statistical significance. After treatment with NaesowhajungtongGamibang for 45 days, serum IL-4 level were decreased, but had no statistical significance. Conclusion: This study shows that NaesowhajungtongGamibang decoction had effects were not correspond with Th1/Th2 inbalance hypothesis. Therefore study for other mechanism of NaesowhajungtongGamibang on atopic dermatitis is required.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1285-1289
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• 2006

Hominis placenta (HP) has been used as an agent for promoting physiological function in traditional asian medicine. The present study was peformed to investigate whether HP acupuncture treatment in an experimental tumor mice model inhibit tumor growth through immunomodulatory effects. Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with colon26-L5 cells on the back. Three days after tumor inoculation, HP herbal acupuncture treatment was conducted on BL18 acupoint every other day for three weeks. HP Herbal acupuncture treatment significantly suppressed the primary tumor growth and prolonged survival rate. To evaluate immunomodulatory effect of HP acupuncture, splenocytes proliferation assay, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and ELISA for IFN- ${\gamma}$, and IL-4 cytokine level. HP herbal acupuncture enhanced the mitogenic activity of Balb/c whole splenocytes induced by various mitogenic stimuli and increased immune cell population such as T cell, B cell, Th cell, Tc cell and Macrophages. HP herbal acupuncture caused a marked increase of production of Th1 cytokine (IFN- ${\gamma}$ ,) and decrease of production of Th2 cytokine (IL-4). These results indicated that HP herbal acupuncture suppresses tumor growth through a mechanism leading to a Th1 dominant immune state.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.58-67
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• 2013

Objective : Allergic rhinitis(AR) is an inflammation or irritaion of nasal mucosa. Usually, serum cytokine is regarded as one of the most important factors in AR. Coisis semen have been used for the diseases in digestive organs in traditional chinese medicine. Nowaday, there were some studies reported about the effects of coisis semens on serum cytokine. However the results of theses studies were varies, and moreover there was no study which have used AR animal model. Therefore this study is aimed to determine therapeutic effects of coisis semen extract by observing changes of serum cytokine(IgE, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-13) with AR animal model. Methods : Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into six groups : Normal group, Control group, sample I, sample II, sample III, sample IV. Except for Normal group, all the mice in other 5 groups were sensitized intraperionealy by 0.1% ovalbumin solution three times at intervals of one week. Then intranasal sensitization was performed by diffusing 0.1% ovalbumin solution three times at intervals of two days. Normal group were used Normal Saline instead of ovalbumin solution. After the first day of study, sample I, sample II, sample III, and sample IV were orally administrated coisis semen extract by 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, 500mg/kg, and 1g/kg respectively for 28days. Then, the changes of serum IgE, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-13 were observed in 6 groups. We used the statistical methods of ANOVA, post hoc by duncun, and Kruskal-Wallis test(p<0.05) Results : There were statistical changes in IgE and TNF-${\alpha}$. But, there were no statistical changes in IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-13 and IFN-${\gamma}$. Conclusions : According to above results, it is supposed that coisis semen extract has not some significant effects on cytokine of AR animal model. There was no evidence for using coisis semen in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2011

The efficacies of anti-atopic preparations were investigated in hairless mice suffering from 2,4-dinitro-chlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis-like lesion. Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) containing ceramide and astaxanthin was prepared by a melt-homogenization method using Aminsoft-CT 12 (Cocoyl glutamate) as an emulsifier. And then, the SLNs were coated with silk fibroin (SF) by taking advantage of an electrostatic interaction between the surface of SLNs and SF. SLNs were included in lotion (FL) and cream (FC) types of preparations. Anti-atopic efficacies of the preparations were investigated in terms of appearance of skin surface, spleen index, serum IgE level, and serum cytokine level. SLN-containing preparations suppressed IgE production and IL-4 expression, but promoted $IFN-{\gamma}$ expression.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.162-167
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• 2014

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major global health problems and it has been estimated that in 5~10% of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-infected individuals, the infection progresses to an active disease. Numerous cytokines and chemokines regulate immunological responses at cellular level including stimulation and recruitment of wide range of cells in immunity and inflammation. In the present study, the mRNA expression levels of eight host immune markers containing of IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-2R, IL-4, IL-10, CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 in whole blood cells from active pulmonary TB patients were measured after T-cell mitogen (PHA) and MTB specific antigens (ESAT-6, CFP-10, and TB7.7). Among the TH1-type factors, IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA expression was peaked at 4 h, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-2R mRNA expression was significantly high at the late time points (24 h) in active TB patients, TH2-type cytokine (IL4 and IL10) mRNA expression levels in both active TB and healthy controls samples did not changed significantly, and the mRNA expression of the three IFN-${\gamma}$-induced chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11) were peaked at the late time points (24 h) in active TB patients after MTB specific antigen stimulation. In conclusion, the mRNA expression patterns of the TB-related immune markers in response to the T-cell mitogen (PHA) differed from those in response to MTB specific antigens and these findings may helpful for understanding the relationship between MTB infection and host immune markers in a transcripts level.