• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.437-442
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• 2020

Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is critical for host defense as well as the progression of inflammatory diseases through the production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β, which is cleaved by active caspase-1. It has been reported that overactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the development and pathology of acne vulgaris. Therefore, inhibiting activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome may provide a new therapeutic strategy for acne vulgaris. In this study, we investigated whether auranofin, an anti-rheumatoid arthritis agent, inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, thereby effectively treating acne vulgaris. Auranofin suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by Propionibacterium acnes, reducing the production of IL-1β in primary mouse macrophages and human sebocytes. In a P. acnes-induced acne mouse model, injection of P. acnes into the ears of mice induced acne symptoms such as redness, swelling, and neutrophil infiltration. Topical application of auranofin (0.5 or 1%) to mouse ears significantly reduced the inflammatory symptoms of acne vulgaris induced by P. acnes injection. Topical application of auranofin led to the downregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome activated by P. acnes in mouse ear skin. These results show that auranofin inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome, the activation of which is associated with acne symptoms. The results further suggest that topical application of auranofin could be a new therapeutic strategy for treating acne vulgaris by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2020

Soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma haematobium affect more than 3 billion people globally and mainly occur in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study assessed the overall infection status of a 1716-student cohort of schoolchildren in Zanzibar and applied mass drug administration (MDA) to the cohort from 2007 to 2009. Schools in Pemba, Zanzibar, had a much higher prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections than those in Unguja, and the Chaani, Ghana, and Machui schools of Unguja exhibited high S. haematobium infection rates. The MDA program only partially controlled parasite infections, owing to high rates of re-infection. The infection rate of S. haematobium across all 10 schools, for example, was only reduced by 1.8%, and even this change not significant, even though the S. haematobium infection rates of the Chaani and Mzambarauni schools were significantly reduced from 64.4 and 23.4%, respectively, at the first screening, to 7.3 and 2.3% at the last screening. The overall infection rate of Ascaris lumbricoides was reduced from 36.0% at the first screening to 22.6% at the last screening. However, the infection rates for both Trichuris trichiura and hookworm were generally unaffected by MDA. In the future, parasite control programs should involve strategically designed MDA schedules and holistic intervention (e.g., sanitation improvement, hygiene behavior changes, and control of intermediated hosts).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.311-318
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• 2013

Schisandra chinensis containing a variety of pharmacologically active lignans has been traditionally used in oriental medicine. In this study, anti-inflammatory compounds were screened from the hexane extracts of S. chinensis by activity-guided fractionation. First, we investigated the regulatory effects on the expression of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) with 38 fractions from the hexane extracts of S. chinensis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). As a result, SCKH1 among the 38 fractions from the hexane extract of S. chinensis was selected for further analysis based on its unique regulatory effect on cell adhesion molecules, especially on VCAM-1, in LPS-stimulated HUVECs. The subsequent activity-guided fractionation of SCKH1 resulted in the purification of SCKH1PAIBPB, which was found to suppress the expression of VCAM-1, MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-8 in HUVECs stimulated with LPS, and to inhibit the adhesive capacity between HUVECs and monocytes. Taken together, our data indicate that SCKH1PAIBPB can be proposed as an effective anti-inflammatory compound that may have a potential therapeutic use for the prevention and treatment of various inflammatory diseases as well as ischemic vascular diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2013

In this study, we observed optimal conditions and suitable bacteria for the fermentation of steam-dried ginseng berry extracts (SGB) and determined antioxidant effects of the fermented extracts. Five bacteria (Lactobacillus fermentarum, L. plantarum, L. brevis, L. casei, Bacillus subtillis) were examined on their growth activities and viabilities in various culture temperatures ($25-35^{\circ}C$) and concentrations (25-100%). L. plantarum was considered to be the most suitable bacteria for the fermentation in both growth activity and viability. Moreover, the extracts fermented with L. plantarum showed more potent antioxidant efficacy in both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that fermentation with L. plantarum changed the contents and components of ginsenosides. In conclusion, these data suggest that L. plantarum efficiently ferment SGB and the fermented extracts may have therapeutical values against oxidative stress and be a good candidate in adjuvant therapy where ginsenoside would be the main composition.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2006

The analytical measurement range (AMR) is the range of analyte values that a method can directly measure on a specimen without any dilution, concentration, or other pretreatment not part of the usual assay process. The linearity of the AMR is its ability to obtain test results which are directly proportional to the concentration of analyte in the sample from the upper and lower limit of the AMR. The AMR validation is the process of confirming that the assay system will correctly recover the concentration or activity of the analyte over the AMR. The test specimen must have analyte values which, at a minimum, are near the low, midpoint, and high values of the AMR. The AMR must be revalidated at least every six months, at changes in major system components, and when a complete change in reagents for a procesure is introduced; unless the laboratory can demonstrate that changing the reagent lot number does not affect the range used to report patient test results. The AMR linearity was total protein (0-16.6), albumin (0-8.1), total bilirubin (0-18.1), alkaline phosphatase (0-1244.3), aspartate aminotransferase (0-1527.9), alanine aminotransferase (0-1107.9), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (0-1527.7), creatine kinase (0-1666.6), lactate dehydrogenase (0-1342), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.3-154.3), sodium (35.4-309), creatinine (0-19.2), blood urea nitrogen (0.5-206.2), uric acid (0-23.9), total cholesterol (-0.3-510), triglycerides (0.7-539.6), glucose (0-672.7), amylase (0-1595.3), calcium (0-23.9), inorganic phosphorus (0.03-17.0), potassium (0.1-116.5), chloride (3.3-278.7). We are sure that materials for the AMR affect the evaluation of the upper limit of the AMR in the process system.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.309-321
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• 1987

For the investigation of microbiological and immunological specificity of Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides gingivalis were isolated, enumerated and characterized from 13 Korean rapidly progressive periodontitis and 7 healthy control by anaerobic culture technique. The total proportion of black-pigmented Bacteroides from Korean R.P.P. patients and healthy control were 8.78% and 0.92%, respectively, among total isolated black-pigmented Bacteroides. In antibiotic susceptibility test, Bacteroides gingivalis isolated from R.P.P. patients were sensitive to Ampicillin and Tetracycline, and resistant to Gentamicin and Erythromycin in disc diffusion method. In antibiotic broth dilution method, the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) to Bacteroides gingivalis was 2 unit/ml of Penicillin and $0.25{\sim}1{\mu}g/ml$ of Tetracycline, respectively. The concentration of serum IgG in rapidly progressive periodontitis patients were sigificantly higher than that of healthy control, and concentration of diluted gingival crevicular IgG has not any significant differences between two groups. Serum and gingival crevicular IgG antibody to Bacteroides gingivalis were significantly higher titer in rapidly progressive periodontitis patients to compare with healthy control. The lipopolysaccharide profiles of 2 Korean B. gingivalis in silver stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were similar to type strains of B. gingivalis and typical LPS band were appeared around the 24-Kd molecular weight. Immunodiffusion test and immunoelectrophoresis of the L.P.S. extracted from 2 Korean B. gingivalis and 2 kinds of type strains of B. gingivalis showed that B. gingivalis Korean-1 was reacted identically to B. gingivalis ATCC 33277. In trypsin and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity test of 2 Korean B. gingivalis, both of them revealed positive trypsin and negative ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity, respectively. These investigation suggested that B. gingivalis is important pathogenic plaque bacteria for the pathogenesis of periodontitis and further study is needed to purify and characterize of the species-specific antigens of this organisms to develop monoclonal antibody and potential diagnostic reagents.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.477-484
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• 2000

Objective : Despite advances in the understanding of tumor biology and the tumor immunology, there has been no effective treatment. The Intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) has been shown to be important in interaction involving cells of the immune system and to be upregulated in a number of cell culture systems by cytokines, including immune interferon($IFN-{\gamma}$) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$($TNF-{\alpha}$). ICAM-1 has been identified as one of the ligands for lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1(LFA-1). The effectiveness of various cytokines to ICAM-1 induction on cultured human glioblastoma cell lines and potential efficacy of immunotherapy were studied. Method : Human glioblastoma cell lines, U-251 MG, U-373 MG were trypsinized and suspended at $1{\times}10^5cells/ml$ and grown on 8 well chamber slide, the cells were incubated in 0.3ml medium alone or medium containing $IFN-{\gamma}$(1000U/ml) or $TNF-{\alpha}$(250U/ml) or $IFN-{\gamma}$ plus $TNF-{\alpha}$ for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours. The coverslip were then removed and stained with a 1/30 dilution of anti-ICAM-1 antibody. Result : Surface antigen expression of ICAM-1 was increased by incubating glioblastoma cell lines with $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Combined effect of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ has induced more ICAM-1 expression on glioblastoma cell lines. Upregulation of ICAM-1 expression in an established glioblastoma cell line was of greater magnitude and more rapid following incubation with $IFN-{\gamma}$ plus $TNF-{\alpha}$. Surface antigen expression of ICAM-1 was increased for up to 48 hours after cytokine treatment on both cell lines(p<0.05). There was no difference on both cell lines(p>0.05). Conclusion : The results of the present study indicate that ICAM-1 expression in glioblastoma cell lines, U-251 MG and U-373 MG, are induced and enhanced after treatment with $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Combined effect of $IFN-{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\gamma}$ is stronger and more rapid than $IFN-{\gamma}$ or $TNF-{\alpha}$ alone.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.2.1-2.12
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• 2018

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has a broad spectrum of biological activity by regulating metabolic processes via both the direct activation of the class B family of G protein-coupled receptors and indirect nonreceptor-mediated pathways. GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have significant therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) in animal models. However, clinical studies indicated that GLP-1 treatment had little effect on hepatic steatosis in some NAFLD patients, suggesting that GLP-1 resistance may occur in these patients. It is well-known that the gut metabolite sodium butyrate (NaB) could promote GLP-1 secretion from intestinal L cells. However, it is unclear whether NaB improves hepatic GLP-1 responsiveness in NAFLD. In the current study, we showed that the serum GLP-1 levels of NAFLD patients were similar to those of normal controls, but hepatic GLP-1R expression was significantly downregulated in NAFLD patients. Similarly, in the NAFLD mouse model, mice fed with a high-fat diet showed reduced hepatic GLP-1R expression, which was reversed by NaB treatment and accompanied by markedly alleviated liver steatosis. In addition, NaB treatment also upregulated the hepatic p-AMPK/p-ACC and insulin receptor/insulin receptor substrate-1 expression levels. Furthermore, NaB-enhanced GLP-1R expression in HepG2 cells by inhibiting histone deacetylase-2 independent of GPR43/GPR109a. These results indicate that NaB is able to prevent the progression of NAFL to NASH via promoting hepatic GLP-1R expression. NaB is a GLP-1 sensitizer and represents a potential therapeutic adjuvant to prevent NAFL progression to NASH.

• Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.310-314
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• 2018

Purpose: Conventional serum IgE assay was costly, required the skills of expert, and relied heavily on expensive equipment. Quantitative measurement of total IgE using Point of Care Test (POCT) device can be the solution for these limitations. This study evaluated and validated the reproducibility of ImmuneCheck IgE. Methods: This study included 120 patients of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, drug allergy, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, or anaphylaxis. The reliability of POCT ImmuneCheck IgE was evaluated by comparing results from the naked eye and from the Q-Reader. Intratest reproducibility and intertest correlation were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Of the 120 enrolled patients, 51 were males and 69 were females. The ages ranged from 19 to 84 years, with an average age of 51.5 years. The concentration of serum total IgE measured by Phadia ImmunoCAP IgE ranged from 5.95 to 5,000 IU/mL. ICC for Intratest reproducibility of ImmuneCheck IgE by naked eye and by Q-Reader were 0.991 (P< 0.001) and 0.989 (P< 0.001), respectively. In addition, intertest correlation between ImmuneCheck IgE and Phadia ImmunoCAP IgE results of naked eye and Q-Reader were 0.968 (P< 0.001) and 0.948 (P< 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The ImmuneCheck IgE was reproducible and highly correlated with conventional Phadia ImmunoCAP IgE assay. This result suggests that ImmuneCheck IgE can be a useful tool for rapid and precise detection of total IgE.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2015

Background: Panax ginseng (i.e., ginseng) root is extensively used in traditional oriental medicine. It is a modern pharmaceutical reagent for preventing various human diseases such as cancer. Ginsenosidesd-the major active components of ginsengd-exhibit immunomodulatory effects. However, the mechanism and function underlying such effects are not fully elucidated, especially in human monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). Methods: We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng root on $CD14^+$ monocytes purified from human adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and on their differentiation into DCs that affect $CD4^+$ T cell activity. Results: After treatment with ginsenoside fractions, monocyte levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 increased through phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). After treatment with ginsenoside fractions, TNF-${\alpha}$ production and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK decreased in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitized monocytes.We confirmed that DCs derived from $CD14^+$ monocytes in the presence of ginsenoside fractions (Gin-DCs) contained decreased levels of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. The expression of these costimulatory molecules decreased in LPS-treated DCs exposed to ginsenoside fractions, compared to their expression in LPS-treated DCs in the absence of ginsenoside fractions. Furthermore, LPS-treated Gin-DCs could not induce proliferation and interferon gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) production by $CD4^+$ T cells with the coculture of Gin-DCs with $CD4^+$ T cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that ginsenoside fractions from the ginseng root suppress cytokine production and maturation of LPS-treated DCs and downregulate $CD4^+$ T cells.