• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2007

Background: Although glucocorticoids (GCs) are effective in controlling asthma in the majority of patients, a subset of asthmatics fails to demonstrate a satisfactory response, even to systemic GC therapy. This population is referred to as being "steroid-resistant". The actual mechanism underlying steroid resistance in asthma remains to be elucidated. Methods: We have investigated how dexamethasone (DEX) regulates asthmatic phenotypes in a murine model of asthma, in which mice received i.p. immunization twice, followed by two bronchoprovocations with aerosolized OVA with a one-week interval, which we have recently described. Results: Pretreatment with DEX resulted in an inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in asthmatic lungs, and also inhibited bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) levels of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and CC chemokines [eotaxin and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1]. DEX was effective in suppressing airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) at 10 h, Th2-dependent asthmatic phenotypes such as airway eosinophilia, BAL levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13), and mucin production. However, DEX failed to suppress BAL levels of CXC chemokines [macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC)] and airway neutrophilia. Conclusion: Airway neutrophilia is among the phenomena observed in patients with severe GC-resistant asthma. This study will provide insight into the molecular basis for airway neutrophila seen in steroid-resistant asthma. Further studies are required to delineate the underlying mechanism of CXC chemokine expression in asthma.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2007

Background: Mizoribine (MZR) is an imidazole nucleoside isolated from Eupenicillium brefeldianum. MZR is currendy in clinical use for patients who have undergone renal transplantation. Therapeutic efficacy of MZR has also been demonstrated in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus nephritis. MZR has been shown to inhibit the proliferation or lymphocytes by interfering with inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. Since the exact mechanism by which MZR benefits rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not clear, we investigated the ability of MZR to direct its immunosuppressive influences on other antigen presenting cells, such as macrophages. Methods: Mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in the presence of MZR. To elucidate the mechanism of the therapeutic efficacy in chronic inflammatory diseases, we examined the effects of MZR on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ in macrophages. Results: MZR dose-dependendy decreased the production of nitric oxide and pro- inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukins $1{\beta}$ (IL-${\beta}$ and IL-6 $PGE_2$. Examination of gene expression levels showed that the anti-inflammatory effect correlated with the down-regulation of inducible nitiric oxide synthase expression, cycloxygenase-2 expression and TNF-${\alpha}$ gene expression. Conclusion: In this work, we resulted whether MZR $(1.25{\sim}10{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited macrophage activation by inhibiting secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, NO and $PGE_2$. These findings provide an explanation for the therapeutic efficacy of MZR in chronic inflammation-associated diseases.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.23-37
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• 2001

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop and activate anti-tumor herbal acupuncture for cancer patients in South Korea. Methods: We investigated some literatures on anti-tumor herbal acupuncture which is used in South Korea and China, and made diagrams. Results: The results are summarized as follows. Anti-tumor herbal acupuncture is one of the traditional oriental medical method which is effective for cancer patients. In domestic studies, most of herb materials are belong to action of cooling&detoxification(25.0%) and strengthening body resistance(46.4%) which are proved to have effects of anti-tumor, immune activation and preventing tumor. In China, point injection therapy are used for improving symptoms of cancer patients and hea1ing tumor. Also herbal intravenous injection is used for combination of chinese traditional and western cancer therapy and treating cancer patients variously. Conclusions: From the above results. it is expected that anti-tumor herbal acupuncture is useful to improve clinical symptoms and quality of life(QOL) of cancer patients. Also we must develop new progressive methods of point injection and herbal intravenous injection for treating cancer patients, and advance clinical studies and trials.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.501-508
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• 2004

A bacterial strain CJ-3 which produced chitinase was isolated from Korean traditional soy sauce. Using 16S rDNA analysis, the strain CJ-3 was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus. The approximate molecular weight of the putative chitinase enzyme was 31.0 kDa and the enzyme activity was remarkably induced by addition of colloidal chitin (0.5, 1.0, 2.0%). The antioxidant activity was increased 53% by the browning reaction products of B. atrophneus CJ-3. Escherichia. coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide(NO) was reduced up to 45% by the browning reaction product in RAW264.7 macrophage. Inhibition of cell viability in the presence of LPS was recovered to normal level by the browning reaction product. These results suggest that browning reaction of B. atrophaeus CJ-3 plays an important role for activation of immune system. B. atrophaeus CJ-3 exhibited optimum temperature and pH of 37$^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0∼8.0, respectively. The major intracelluar free amino acid was determined to be glutamate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.703-706
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate the combined effect of L-arginine supplementation and regular physical exercise on HR, BP, eNOS and Macrophage activation using SHR. To examine the differences among HR, BP, eNOS, and Macrophage activity levels, normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as a control. Thirty two male rats (six weeks old) were divided into four groups; eight WKY control (WKYC), eight SHR control (SHRC), eight SHR supplemented with L-arginine (SHRA), and eight SHR trained and supplemented with L-arginine (SHRTA). Obtained results were as follows : In the heart and blood pressure, there was significant differences anong the four group (p<.05) compare to SHRC. In the eNOS levels, there was significant differences among the four groups (p<.05) compare to SHRC. In the macrophage activity, there was significant differences among the four groups (p<.05) compare to SHRC. In conclusion, For the SHRC group, the level of eNOS is higher than that of WKYC, and we can expect tissue damage caused by toxic free radical. However, this can be stabilized by the L-arginine supplementation and regular physical training. we can also conclude regular aerobic training decrease cardiovascular stress caused by stabled macrophage activity. Therefore, we can trace it is the effect of training in SHR.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.181-188
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• 2012

Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR) has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and is reported to have anti-diabetes and anti-tumor activities. To identify a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of DR (EDR), we determined the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and performed a FACS analysis for measuring surface molecules. EDR dose-dependently decreased the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $PGE_2$, as well as mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 was also reduced by EDR. Furthermore, activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$, but not that of IL-4 and IL-10, in macrophages was inhibited by EDR. These results show that EDR decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory protein level, suggesting that EDR could be a useful immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2014

K/BxN serum can transfer arthritis to normal mice owing to the abundant autoantibodies it contains, which trigger innate inflammatory cascades in joints. Little is known about whether gut-residing microbes affect host susceptibility to autoantibody-mediated arthritis. To address this, we fed C57BL/6 mice with water containing a mixture of antibiotics (ampicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, and metronidazol) for 2 weeks and then injected them with K/BxN serum. Antibiotic treatment significantly reduced the amount of bacterial genomic DNA isolated from fecal samples, in particular a gene encoding 16S ribosomal RNA derived from segmented filamentous bacteria. Arthritic signs, as indicated by the arthritic index and ankle thickness, were significantly attenuated in antibiotic-treated mice compared with untreated controls. Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes from antibiotic-treated mice contained fewer IL-17-expressing cells than those from untreated mice. Antibiotic treatment reduced serum C3 deposition in vitro via the alternative complement pathway. IL-$17^{-/-}$ congenic C57BL/6 mice were less susceptible to K/BxN serum-transferred arthritis than their wild-type littermates, but were still responsive to treatment with antibiotics. These results suggest that gut-residing microbes, including segmented filamentous bacteria, induce IL-17 production in GALT and complement activation via the alternative complement pathway, which cause the host to be more susceptible to autoantibody-mediated arthritis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.95-109
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• 2003

Inflammatory lung diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. The sources of the increased oxidative stress in patients with chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) derive from the increased burden of inhaled oxidants, and from the increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by several inflammatory, immune and various structural cells of the airways. Increased levels of ROS produced in the airways is reflected by increased markers of oxidative stress in the airspaces, sputum, breath, lungs and blood in patients with lung diseases. ROS, either directly or via the formation of lipid peroxidation products such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal may play a role in enhancing the inflammation through the activation of stress kinases (JNK, MAPK, p38) and redox sensitive transcription factors such as NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1. Recent evidences have indicated that oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators can alter nuclear histone acetylation/deacetylation allowing access for transcription factor DNA binding leading to enhanced pro-inflammatory gene expression in various lung cells. Understanding of the mechanisms of redox signaling, NF-${\kappa}B$/AP-1 regulation, the balance between histone acetylation and deacetylation and the release and expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators may lead to the development of novel therapies based on the pharmacological manipulation of antioxidants in lung inflammation and injury. Antioxidants that have effective wide spectrum activity and good bioavailability, thiols or molecules which have dual antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, may be potential therapeutic agents which not only protect against the direct injurious effects of oxidants, but may fundamentally alter the underlying inflammatory processes which play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory lung diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.296-302
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• 2002

Bohyulmyunyuk-dan is an Oriental herbal formulation to enhance the general body conditions as well as immune response against both endogenous and exogenous harmful challenges. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Bohyulmyunyuk-dan on the cisplatin-induced toxicity of primary rat astrocytes and C6 glioma cells. After trestment of astrocytes and C6 glioma cells with cisplatin, MTT assay was carried out to measure cytotoxicity of brain cells. To explore the mechanism of cytotoxicity, astrocytes were treated with Bohyulmyunyuk-dan and followed by the addition of cisplatin. Then, the protective effects of Bohyulmyunyuk-dan were investigated in apoptosis signaling pathway. The results were obtained as follows ; Bohyulmyunyuk-dan protected the death of astrocytes by cisplatin, which decreased the viability of astrocytes and C6 glioma cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Bohyulmyunyuk-dan protected the apoptotic death of astrocytes from cisplatin induced cell apoptosis. Bohyulmyunyuk-dan inhitited the activation of caspase-3 and -9 protease in astrocytes by cisplatin. Bohyulmyunyuk-dan inhibited the deavage of PARP in astrocytes by cisplatin. According to above results, Bohyulmyunyuk-dan may prevent brain cells from cytotoxicity induced cell apoptosis induced by chemotherapeatic agents induding displatin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1061-1070
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• 2004

Chronic oral aphthae, recurrent ulcer and uveitis are the three main festations of Behcet's disease(BD). The aetiopathogenesis of Behcet's disease is still obscure, but herpes simplex virus is one of the possible casual factors. Gamchosasim-tang (Gancaoxiexin-tang), Banhasasim-tang(Banxiaxiexin-tang) and Saenggangsasim-tang( Shengjiangxiexin-tang) are traditional medication in Oriental medicine, that has been used to treat inflammatory disease. Especially, Gamchosasim-tang used to treat Behcet's disease like symptoms. ICR mice were used for this study. The earlobe of the mice were scratched with a needle, then inoculation with 1.0×10/sup 6/ plaque forming units/㎖ of HSV type I. Virus inoculation was performed twice with 10 day interval, followed by 16 weeks of observation. Using the HSV-induced Behcet's disease mouse model, kinds of Sasim-tang were administered variously before and after inoculation. In order to. classify the symptomatic mice as having Behcet's disease like symptoms. We followed the revised Japanese classification with minor modifications. Ulceration of the mice were monitored. In addition, spleen cytokine expression were measured by polymerase chain reaction, ELISA. HSV DNA was detected in HSV inoculation mice. HSV-induced mice treated with kinds of Sasim-tang showed improvement in symptom. In RT-PCR results, IFN-γ was expressed for all groups, IL-2 was expressed for the treated groups, and IL-10 was also expressed. IL-4 was expressed nothing. In ELISA, IL-2 was increased for GSST 2, BSST 2, GSST 2, GSST3 and INF-γ was increased for GSST 2, BSST 2, SSST 2, SSST 3. This model suggest the possible role of immune response to viral infection in the development and activation of Behcet's disease.