• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2015

This study was performed to examine the effects of dietary Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) on growth performance, immune organ weights, blood biochemical parameters and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in broiler chicks. A total of 120 4-day-old birds were given a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 0.5% (AS1) or 1.0% (AS2) AS powder until the birds were 35 days of age. There was no difference in body weight, total gain, feed intake or immune organ weights among the treatment groups. However, the feed conversion ratio in the AS2 group was lower (p<0.05) than that in the CON group. Serum biochemical components, including AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), albumin and total protein, were not affected by the dietary treatments, whereas glucose and triglyceride levels increased (p<0.05) in the AS2 group compared with the CON group. The AS1 group exhibited decreased mRNA expression (p<0.05) of IFN-${\gamma}$ in white blood cells and iNOS in the liver compared with the CON group. The other pro-inflammatory cytokines were unaffected by dietary AS supplementation, although there was a trend towards decreased expression of these genes, including those encoding Il-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 0.5% AS decreased the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines without affecting growth performance, suggesting that this supplement might be applicable as an immunoregulatory feed additive in broiler chicks.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.467-475
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• 2020

Ultraviolet radiation is a major cause of photoaging, characterized by wrinkle formation and skin dehydration. Mojaban (Sargassum fulvellum), belonging to the brown algae of the Sargassaceae family, exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-atopic activities. Particularly, Mojaban extract alleviated ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced inflammatory responses in human keratinocytes and BALB/c mice. Here, the dorsal skin of hairless mice was exposed to UVB for photoaging. The mice were administrated 300 mg/kg Mojaban extract (S. fulvellum extract; SFE) daily. Phenotypically, SFE reduced wrinkle formation and epidermal thickness and increased skin elasticity. SFE increased hydroxyproline content by upregulating the expression of collagen-related genes and downregulating matrix metalloproteinase expression. Furthermore, SFE increased skin moisture content and inhibited transepidermal water loss. SFE upregulated the expression of involucrin, loricrin, and transglutaminase for cornified envelope formation as well as the expression of filaggrin and caspase-14 for natural moisturizing factors. Collectively, SFE may be employed as a nutraceutical ingredient for anti-photoaging.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1872-1881
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• 2010

Extracts of soybeans fermented by Bacillus subtilis have a wide variety of functions, such as enhancing the body's immune function, fibrinolysis activity, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, estrogen function and anti-infection effects. Recently, it was reported that the extracts of fermented beans exhibit strong anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes and induction of apoptosis, respectively. However, the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity in human gastric cancer cells are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethyl alcohol extracts from fermented soybean (FS) and yellow agabean (FYA) on cell growth and apoptosis in AGS human gastric cancer cells. A treatment of FS and FYA inhibited the growth of AGS cells in a concentration-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. FS- and FYA-induced apoptosis were associated with down-regulation of XIAP and cIAP-2, and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. Moreover, a treatment of FS and FYA not only triggered an increase in the levels of death receptor (DR)4, DR5, Fas and FasL, but also induced the activation of casepase-3, -8 and -9. These findings illustrate that FS and FYA may have a therapeutic potential in human gastric AGS cells and as a functional food.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.200-204
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• 2007

Objective : Radiation therapy is an important treatment for brain tumor. However, serious complications such as radiation necrosis can occur and it may be secondary to the expression of acute phase genes, like cytokines. In particular, inflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$) and other immunomodulatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, TGF-${\beta}1$) might be changed after irradiation (high single dose irradiation). Although it has been reported that IL-1 level is remarkably elevated within 8 week after the irradiation to the rat brain. the change of cytokines levels at acute phase (within 24 hours) has not been reported. In the present study, we examined TNF-${\alpha}$, TGF-${\beta}1$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ levels in acute phase to clarify the early effect of cytokines on the radiation-induced brain damage. Methods : Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were used and these were divided into irradiation group and control group. After a burr-hole trephination on the right parietal area using a drill, a single 10Gy was irradiated at the trephined site. Their forebrains were extirpated at 30 min, 2 hr, 8 hr, 12 hr and 24 hr, respectively and examined for the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, TGF-${\beta}1$, and IL-$1{\beta}$. Results : The expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and TGF-${\beta}1$ were decreased until 12 hr after irradiation but elevated thereafter. The expression of IL-1 was peak at 8 hr and then decreased until 12 hr but elevated after this time window. The present study indicated that expression of cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, TGF-${\beta}1$ and IL-$1{\beta}$) were increased at 24 hr after the irradiation to the rat brain. IL-$1{\beta}$ level, on the other hand. reached peak at 8 hr after radiation injury. Conclusion : These findings indicate that IL-1, among various cytokines, may have a more important role in the inflammatory reaction by radiation injury at acute phase and provide some clues for better understanding of the pathogenesis of radiation injury.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.163-177
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• 2008

Periodontal disease, a form of chronic inflammatory bacterial infectious disease, is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated in periodontal disease and widely studied for its role in the pathogenesis of CVD. A previous study demonstrating that periodontopathic P. gingivalis is involved in CVD showed that invasion of endothelial cells by the bacterium is accompanied by an increase in cytokine production, which may result in vascular atherosclerotic changes. The present study was performed in order to further elucidate the role of P. gingivalis in the process of atherosclerosis and CVD. For this purpose, invasion of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) by P. gingivalis 381 and its isogenic mutants of KDP150 ($fimA^-$), CW120 ($ppk^-$) and KS7 ($relA^-$) was assessed using a metronidazole protection assay. Wild type P. gingivalis invaded HASMCs with an efficiency of 0.12%. In contrast, KDP150 failed to demonstrate any invasive ability. CW120 and KS7 showed relatively higher invasion efficiencies, but results for these variants were still negligible when compared to the wild type invasiveness. These results suggest that fimbriae are required for invasion and that energy metabolism in association with regulatory genes involved in stress and stringent response may also be important for this process. ELISA assays revealed that the invasive P. gingivalis 381 increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and the chemotactic cytokines (chemokine) IL (interleukin)-8 and monocyte chemotactic (MCP) protein-1 during the 30-90 min incubation periods (P<0.05). Expression of RANTES (regulation upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), was increased in HASMCs infected with P. gingivalis 381 by RT-PCR analysis. P. gingivalis infection did not alter interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein-10 expression in HASMCs. HASMC nonspecific necrosis and apoptotic cell death were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase activity assays, respectively. LDH release from HASMCs and HAMC caspase activity were significantly higher after a 90 min incubation with P. gingivalis 381. Taken together, P. gingivalis invasion of HASMCs induces inflammatory cytokine production, apoptotic cell death, and expression of TLR-4, a PRR which may react with the bacterial molecules and induce the expression of the chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and RANTES. Overall, these results suggest that invasive P. gingivalis may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, leading to CVD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.346-351
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• 2003

The current studies investigated the therapeutic effects of Ephedra sinica Stapf (ES) herb-acupuncture on the inflammatory responses of rat arthritic joint, which was induced by the intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis emulsified in squalene to the base of the tail. The measurements of body weight and articular index were exploited as the assessment methods addressing arthritic symptoms, and the expression profiles of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the rat joint were analyzed using RT-PCR. The articular indexes of arthritic rats were significantly restored after the treatment with ES herb-acupuncture. Although the clinical symptoms of arthritic rats were apparently alleviated by the ES treatments, their body weights were not recovered. It maybe due to the weight-loss and energy enhancement effects of ES extracts. The expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 genes, which were highly stimulated in the knee joints of arthritic rats, were restored to the levels of normal rats after the ES treatment. The therapeutic effect of ES herb-acupuncture was not observed in ES-treated, non-acupoint arthritic group as a sham control. The ES herb-acupuncture into an acupoint ST36 was found to be effective in alleviating the arthritic symptoms in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats as regards the body weight, joint appearance and the expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2009

Objectives: Peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$), superoxide anion radical (${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and nitric oxide (NO) are cytotoxic because they can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. They have been implicated in the aging processes, and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the $ONOO^-$, NO, ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ scavenging and NF-${\kappa}B$ related anti-inflammatory activities of Sotosaja-hwan in ob/ob mice. Methods: Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the normal lean (C57/BL6J black mice) and control obese (ob/ob mice) groups have received standard chow. The experimental groups were fed with a diet of chow supplemented with 30 and 90 mg Sotosaja-hwan per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. For this study, the fluorescent probes, namely 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used. Western blotting was performed using anti-phospho-$I{\kappa}B$-${\alpha}$, anti-IKK-${\alpha}$, anti-NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), anti-COX-2, anti-iNOS, anti-YCAM-1 and anti-MMP-9 antibodies, respectively. Results: Sotosaja-hwan inhibited the generation of $ONOO^-$, NO and ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mouse kidney postmitochondrial fraction in vitro. The generation of $ONOO^-$, NO, ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and PGE2 were inhibited in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered ob/ob mice groups. The GSH/GSSG ratio was decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas the ratio was improved in the Sotosaja-hwan-administered groups. Sotosaja-hwan inhibited the protein expression levels of phospho-$I{\kappa}B$-${\alpha}$, IKK-${\alpha}$, NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), COX-2, iNOS, YCAM-1 and MMP-9 genes. Conclusions: These results suggest that Sotosaja-hwan is an effective $ONOO^-$, ${\cdot}{O_2}^-$ and NO scavenger and has NF-kB related anti-inflammatory activity in ob/ob mice. Therefore, Sotosaja-hwan might be a potential therapeutic drug against the inflammation process and inflammation-related diseases.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2010

Purpose : Previous studies have suggested that Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-2 (CCL-2; also known as MCP-1) and CCL-5 (also known as RANTES) are possibly associated with the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and non-inflammatory renal diseases. The present study was conducted to investigate association of polymorphisms of CCL-2 and CCL-5 genes with childhood IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Methods : The authors analyzed six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CCL-2 and CCL-5 in 196 pediatric IgAN patients and in 285 healthy controls. We compared variations in SNPs between two several sets of IgAN subgroups, allocated by presence of proteinuria (>4 mg/$m^2$/hour), podocyte foot process effacement, and pathologically advanced disease markers, such as interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, or global sclerosis. Results : Genotypic data of IgAN patients and controls showed no significant SNP frequency difference in both of of CCL-2 and CCL-5. Even though two linkage disequilibrium blocks were formed, there was no significance in the haplotype analysis. In the patient subgroup analysis, no SNP of CCL-2 and CCL-5 was found to be associated with the presence of proteinuria, podocyte foot process effacement, and pathologically advanced disease markers. Conclusion : Our data indicate that no association exists between CCL-2 and CCL-5 SNPs and childhood IgAN susceptibility, and presence of proteinuria, podocyte foot process effacement, and pathologic progression of IgAN.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2016

Steroid hormone, glucocorticoid (GC) has strong anti-inflammatory effects by binding to glucocorticoid receptor (GR) inhibiting the expression of inflammatory genes. Therefore, agents that activate the GR have been used for the treatment of dermatitis. However, the agents have side effects such as skin barrier dysfunction and dermal atrophy, inducing skin damage as well as skin aging. It has been reported that GC is activated by 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 ($11{\beta}$-HSD1) to increase the activity of the GR. This study aimed to identify natural materials that can effectively inhibit dexamethasone. We found that alpinetin isolated from Alpinia katsumadai extract has a significant effect on this. Alpinetin not only inhibited $11{\beta}$-HSD1 expression, but also suppressed the increase of phosphorylated GR and cortisol concentration. Alpinetin also recovered collagen expression in dexamethasone-treated dermal fibroblasts, and the reduction of dermal thickness in dexamethasnone-treated 3D skin model. These results suggest that alpinetin prevents skin aging induced by the increase of $11{\beta}$-HSD1 expression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.196-208
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• 2019

Background: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the chronic inflammatory liver diseases and a leading cause of advanced liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The main purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of GBCK25 fermented by Saccharomyces servazzii GB-07 and pectinase, on NASH severity in mice. Methods: Six-wk-old male mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or a Western diet (WD) for 12 wks to induce NASH. Each group was orally administered with vehicle or GBCK25 once daily at a dose of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, or 400 mg/kg during that time. The effects of GBCK25 on cellular damage and inflammation were determined by in vitro experiments. Results: Histopathologic analysis and hepatic/serum biochemical levels revealed that WD-fed mice showed severe steatosis and liver injury compared to ND-fed mice. Such lesions were significantly decreased in the livers of WD-fed mice with GBCK25 administration. Consistently, mRNA expression levels of NASH-related inflammatory-, fibrogenic-, and lipid metabolism-related genes were decreased in the livers of WD-fed mice administered with GBCK25 compared to WD-fed mice. Western blot analysis revealed decreased protein levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) with concomitantly reduced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the livers of WD-fed mice administered with GBCK25. Also, decreased cellular damage and inflammation were observed in alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells and RAW264.7 cells, respectively. Conclusion: Administration of GBCK25 ameliorates NASH severity through the modulation of CYP2E1 and its associated JNK-mediated cellular damage. GBCK25 could be a potentially effective prophylactic strategy to prevent metabolic diseases including NASH.