• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.295-300
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• 2015

Stress and its related hormones epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) play a crucial role in tumor progression. Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) polarized to M2 is also a vital pathway for tumor deterioration. Here, we explore the underlying role of macrophages in the effect of stress and E promoting breast cancer growth. It was found that the weight and volume of tumor in tumor bearing mice were increased, and dramatically accompanied with the rising E level after chronic stress using social isolation. What is most noteworthy, the number of M2 macrophages inside tumor was up-regulated with it. The effects of E treatment appear to be directly related to the change of M2 phenotype is reproduced in vitro. Moreover, E receptor $ADR{\beta}2$ involved in E promoting M2 polarization was comprehended simultaneously. Our results imply psychological stress is influential on specific immune system, more essential for the comprehensive treatment against tumors. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(5): 295-300]

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.336-341
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• 2015

Sepsis is a life-threatening, infectious, systemic inflammatory disease. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of α-cubebenoate, a novel compound isolated from Schisandra chinensis against polymicrobial sepsis in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) experimental model. Administration of α-cubebenoate strongly enhanced survival in the CLP model. α-cubebenoate administration also markedly blocked CLP-induced lung inflammation and increased bactericidal activity by enhancing phagocytic activity and hydrogen peroxide generation in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and neutrophils. Expression of two important inflammatory cytokines, IL-1 and IL-6, was strongly increased in the CLP model, and this was dramatically blocked by α-cubebenoate. Lymphocyte apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, which are associated with immune paralysis during sepsis, were markedly attenuated by α-cubebenoate. Taken together, our findings indicate that α-cubebenoate, a natural compound isolated from Schisandra chinensis, is a powerful potential anti-septic agent. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 336-341]

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.780-785
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• 2004

Recently many investigators have initiated searches for immunomodulating substances from natural food sources. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many traditional preparations since the ancient time. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate the immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts of the plant were orally administrated into mice, and isolated splenocytes and macrophages were used as experimental model. In order to identify its ex vivo effect six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet and water extracts of ginger were orally administrated every other day for two weeks at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). After preparing the single cell suspension, the proliferation of splenocytes was determined by MTT assay. The result of ex vivo study showed that the highest proliferation of splenocytes and macrophage activatation was seen in the mice orally administrated at the concentration of 500 mg/kg b. w. of ginger water extracts. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts nay enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and cytokine prodution capacity by activated macrophages in mice.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2013

Syntenin is an adaptor molecule containing 2 PDZ domains which mediate molecular interactions with diverse integral or cytoplasmic proteins. Most of the results on the biological function of syntenin were obtained from studies with malignant cells, necessitating exploration into the role of syntenin in normal cells. To understand its role in normal cells, we investigated expression and function of syntenin in human lymphoid tissue and cells in situ and in vitro. Syntenin expression was denser in the germinal center than in the extrafollicular area. Inside the germinal center, syntenin expression was obvious in follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). Flow cytometric analysis with isolated cells confirmed a weak expression of syntenin in T and B cells and a strong expression in FDCs. In FDC-like cells, HK cells, most syntenin proteins were found in the cytoplasm compared to weak expression in the nucleus. To study the function of syntenin in FDC, we examined its role in the focal adhesion of HK cells by depleting syntenin by siRNA technology. Knockdown of syntenin markedly impaired focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation in HK cells. These results suggest that syntenin may play an important role in normal physiology as well as in cancer pathology.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.219-240
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• 2009

Since NF-${\kappa}B$ has been identified as a transcription factor associated with immune cell activation, groups of researchers have dedicated to reveal detailed mechanisms of nuclear factor of ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) in inflammatory signaling for decades. The various molecular components of NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factor pathway have been being evaluated as important therapeutic targets due to their roles in diverse human diseases including inflammation, cystic fibrosis, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, myocardial infarction, osteoporosis, transplantation rejection, and neurodegeneration. With regards to new drugs directly or indirectly modulating the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway, FDA recently approved a proteasome inhibitor bortezomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Many pharmaceutical companies have been trying to develop new drugs to inhibit various kinases in the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway for many therapeutic applications. However, a gene knock-out study for $IKK{\beta}$ in the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway has given rise to controversies associated with efficacy as therapeutics. Mice lacking hepatocyte $IKK{\beta}$ accelerated cancer instead of preventing progress of cancer. However, it is clear that pharmacological inhibition of $IKK{\beta}$ appears to be beneficial to reduce HCC. This article will update issues of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway and inhibitors regulating this pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.217-231
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• 2011

T cell exhaustion develops under conditions of antigen-persistence caused by infection with various chronic pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and myco-bacterium tuberculosis (TB), or by the development of cancer. T cell exhaustion is characterized by stepwise and progressive loss of T cell function, which is probably the main reason for the failed immunological control of chronic pathogens and cancers. Recent observations have detailed some of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the severity of T cell exhaustion. Duration and magnitude of antigenic activation of T cells might be associated with up-regulation of inhibitory receptors, which is a major intrinsic factor of T cell exhaustion. Extrinsic factors might include the production of suppressive cytokines, T cell priming by either non-professional antigenpresenting cells (APCs) or tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs), and alteration of regulatory T (Treg) cells. Further investigation of the cellular and molecular processes behind the development of T cell exhaustion can reveal therapeutic targets and strategies for the treatment of chronic infections and cancers. Here, we report the properties and the mechanisms of T cell exhaustion in a chronic environment.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.4 s.127
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• pp.280-286
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• 2001

Epigallocathechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenol component in green tea, inhibits angiogenesis, urokinase, and matalloproteinases, and EGCG also has the antioxidative property. Recent reports proposed that EGCG may modulate the immune response on allergy or asthma. Human nasal mucosal fibroblasts are a rich source of cytokines, inflammatory mediators, and chemokines. Chemokines are important for the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of infection, which is essential in host defense. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of EGCG on the expression of the chemokines such as RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted), eotaxin, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human nasal mucosal fibroblasts after stimulation with cytokines like IL-4, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$, and $interferon-{\gamma}\;(IFN-{\gamma})$. To detect the expression of chemokine genes, RT-PCR was performed. Expressions of RANTES, eotaxin, and IL-8 mRNA stimulated with IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were increased, respectively, while the expression of those genes incubated with $IFN-{\gamma}$ was similar pattern compared to control group. Analyses of chemokine genes of cells pretreated with EGCG showed that the expressions of eotaxin, and IL-8 genes stimulated $IFN-{\gamma}$ were higher compared with those not pretreated with EGCG.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2003

A nonspecific immunostimulator $BARODON^{\circledR}$ was tested for mutagenicity using Ames Salmonella tester strains TA98, TA1 00, TA 102, TA 1535 and TA 1537 with or without metabolic activation (59 mix). None of the fresh species showed mutagenicity. In the reverse mutation test using Salmonella phimurium TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535 and TA1537 did not increase the number of revertants at all doses tested (5, 2.5 or 1.25 mg/ml). Chromosome aberration test was carried out in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell line. The cells were treated with $BARODON^{\circledR}$ (1, 0.5 or 0.25 mg/ml), while positive control group was treated with Mitomycin C (0.1 mg/ml). The results show that there is no statistically significant difference between positive control and treatment groups. In mouse micronucleus test, there was significant increase in the ratio of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte (MNPCE) in the high dose group (10% $BARODON^{\circledR}$), while there is no significance between control and low (2.5% $BARODON^{\circledR}$) or middle (5% $BARODON^{\circledR}$ dose groups. Taken together, this results suggest that below 5% $BARODON^{\circledR}$ might not have mutagenic potential in vitro and vivo systems.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.251-257
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• 1995

The objective of the present study was to test the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on rat alveolar macrophages. PAF alone did not stimulate superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF $(10^{-5}\;M)$ significantly enhanced phagocytic activator zymosan-induced superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. This enhancement of PAF plus zymosan was 30% above the sum of the separate effects of PAF and zymosan. Similarly, PAF $1.3{\times}(10^{-5}\;M)$ was not a direct stimulant of alveolar macrophages, as it had no stimulatory effect on chemiluminescence generation, but potentiated zymosan-induced activation of chemiluminescence, i.e., 162% above the separate effects of each stimulant. PAF $10^{-16}{\pm}10^{-6}\;M$ also failed to stimulate IL-1 production from alveolar macrophages. In contrast, when both PAF $10^{-10}\;M$ and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) $(1 {\mu}g/ml)$ were added together at the initiation of the culture, IL-1 production was significantly increased indicating the potentiative effects of PAF on IL-1 production by alveolar macrophages. Collectively, these data suggest that PAF alone does not activate the release of bioactive products from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF appears to act as a priming mediator that potentiates stimuli-induced macrophage activity. These novel actions of PAF prove its role as a potent mediator of inflammatory and immune responses in the lung.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.173-180
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• 2006

Microglial activation is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of many brain disorders. Therefore, understanding the response of microglia to noxious stimuli may provide insights into their role in disorders such as stroke and neurodegeneration. Many genes involved in this response have been identified individually, but not systematically. In this regards, the microarray system permitted to screen a large number of genes in biological or pathological processes. Therefore, we used microarray technology to evaluate the effect of oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and reperfusion on gene expression in microglia under ischemia-like and activating conditions. Primary microglial cultures were prepared from postnatal mice brain. The cells were exposed to 4 hrs of OGD and 1 h of reperfusion at $37^{\circ}C$. Isolated mRNA were run on GeneChips. After OGD and reperfusion, ＞2-fold increases of 90 genes and ＞2-fold decrease of 41 genes were found. Among the genes differentially increased by OGD and reperfusion in microglia were inflammatory and immune related genes such as prostaglandin E synthase, $IL-1{\beta}$, and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Microarray analysis of gene expression may be useful for elucidating novel molecular mediators of microglial reaction to reperfusion injury and provide insights into the molecular basis of brain disorders.