• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.664-670
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• 2014

In the present study, we investigate the role of V. vulnificus in promoting the inflammation of mouse ileal ephitelium and its related signaling pathways. ICR mice were infected orally with V. vulnificus ($1{\times}10^9CFU$) for 16 h as a representative model of food-borne infection. To find the major portal of entry of V. vulnificus in mouse intestine, we have measured the levels of bacterial colonization in small intestine, colon, spleen, and liver. V. vulnificus appeared to colonize in intestine and colon in the order of ileum >> jejunum> colon, but lack in the duodenum, spleen, and liver. V. vulnificus in ileum caused severe necrotizing enteritis and showed shortened villi heights accompanied by an expanded width and inflammation, compared with the control mice. V. vulnificus induced ileal epithelium inflammation by activating phosphorylation of PKC and membrane translocation of $PKC{\alpha}$. V. vulnificus induced the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, but did not affect p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Notably, V. vulnificus stimulated the I-${\kappa}B$-dependent phosphorylation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in mouse ileal epithelium. Finally, the ileal infection of V. vulnificus resulted in a significant increase in expression of proinflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptors, respectively, compared to the control. Collectively, our results indicate that V. vulnificus induces ileal epithelium inflammation by increasing NF-${\kappa}B$ phosphorylation via activation of PKC, ERK, and JNK, which is critical for host defense mechanism in food-borne infection by V. vulnificus.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.724-734
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• 2019

The present study investigated the cytotoxicity of particulate matter (PM) derived from car air filter (outdoor PM) and home cleaner filter (indoor PM) in the various human cell lines. Each outdoor and indoor PM were harvested by ethanol extraction method, subsequently sieved with 10 um filter paper, sterilized with autoclave and added to culture media. The half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the outdoor PM, compared with indoor PM, and the significantly (p<0.05) higher $IC_{50}$ values were observed in the cancer cell lines (A-549 lung adenocarcinoma and AGS stomach adenocarcinoma), than those of normal MRC-5 fibroblasts and dental papilla tissue derived-mesenchymal stem cells (DSC). After being exposed to $100{\mu}g/ml$ outdoor PM for 7 days, the population doubling time (PDT) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in especially MRC-5 and DSC cell lines, compared with untreated cell lines. Further, the expression of senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity was up-regulated in all the cells exposed to outdoor PM than those of untreated control. Besides, the expression level of inflammation-associated genes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) increased in the outdoor PM-treated cell lines than those of untreated cell lines. Our results showed that PM induces the cytotoxicity via arrest of cell growth, cell damage and inflammation response.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.596-606
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• 2019

The study investigated the physiochemical properties and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the sea tangle (Saccharina japonica) in a water extract before (STWE) and after (STFL) fermentation with Lactobacillus brevis. The pH values of STWE and STFL were 6.18 and 4.16, and the sugar contents were $8.50^{\circ}Brix$ and $7.40^{\circ}Brix$, respectively. The main free amino acids of STWE and STFL were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and alanine, and the ${\gamma}$-amino butyric acid (GABA) content was increased by fermentation. The total polyphenol contents of STWE and STFL were 498.29 and 615.77 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/ml, respectively. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities of STWE and STFL were markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner, and revealed about 89.89% and 96.94% activities, respectively, at 10% concentration (p<0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of STWE and STFL were also markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the activity of STFL was significantly increased when compared with STWE (p<0.05). The anti-inflammatory activity was examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. STWE and STFL decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which had levels of about 189.90% and 174.69% at 1% concentration, respectively (p<0.05). The contents of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were decreased more by addition of STFL than by addition of STWE. The STWE and STFL showed high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and these activities were increased by fermentation. Therefore, sea tangle extracts can be used as functional food materials.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2018

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented garlic solution (FGS) on the performance, egg quality and blood profiles of laying hens in the finishing period. In total, 432 Lohmann Brown hens aged 79 weeks were equally distributed into four dietary treatments with six replicate. Hens were fed the basal diet containing 2,750 kcal/kg of ME and 16% of CP, which was supplemented with either 0% (control), 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.20% FGS from 79 to 83 weeks old. Laying performance, egg quality, yolk fatty acids and serum characteristics were analyzed at the end of experiment. Egg production and feed conversion was numerically improved in FGS supplementation treatments compared to those in the control, but were not statistically different. The albumen height and Haugh unit showed significant increase (P<0.05) in the FGS supplementation groups. The concentration of saturated fatty acid decreased in the yolks of birds fed FGS (P<0.01), whereas the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) and mono-UFA contents were significantly higher (P<0.01) in those treatments than in the control. Significantly lower natural fat and cholesterol in serum were observed in birds fed the 0.20% FGS supplementation diet (P<0.01). However, the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased in both the 0.10% and 0.20% FGS supplementation groups. In addition, interleukin-2 mRNA and CD4+/CD8+ level in serum which were cellular immunity indicators showed statistical differences (P<0.01) among treatments and a higher concentration in the 0.10% and 0.20% FGS groups than in the control. Thus, it can be concluded that dietary supplementation of FGS improved egg quality and stimulated immune response in mature laying hens.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2018

Chijabaegpi-tang (CHG) is an oriental herbal medicine that has been used for its various pharmacological effects, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immunoregulation activities. In the present study, we investigated which skin inflammations are involved in the $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced HaCaT cells. We investigated the suppressive effect of CHG on $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced HaCaT cell production of the following chemokines: macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC)/CCL22; regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES)/CCL5; and interleukin-8 (IL-8); thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)/CCL17. The pre-treatment of HaCaT cells with CHG suppressed $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced nuclear transcription factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$). In addition, CHG inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38. $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN{\gamma}$ suppressed the expression of skin barrier proteins, including filaggrin (FLG), Involucrin (IVL) and loricrin (LOR). By contrast, CHG restored the expression of FLG, IVL and LOR. Taken together, our findings suggest that CHG could be a therapeutic agent for prevention of skin disease, including atopic dermatitis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2018

Environmental stimuli can lead to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is one of the risk factors for premature skin aging. Here, we investigated the protective effects of $7-MEGA^{TM}$ 500 (50% palmitoleic acid, 7-MEGA) against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage and its underlying therapeutic mechanisms in the HaCaT human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells). Our results showed that treatment with 7-MEGA prior to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced damage significantly increased the viability of HaCaT cells. 7-MEGA effectively attenuated generation of $H_2O_2$-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced inflammatory factors, such as prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$). In addition, cells treated with 7-MEGA exhibited significantly decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and increased expression of procollagen type 1 (PCOL1) and Elastin against oxidative stress by $H_2O_2$. Interestingly, these protective activities of 7-MEGA were similar in scope and of a higher magnitude than those seen with 98.5% palmitoleic acid (PA) obtained from Sigma when given at the same concentration (100 nL/mL). According to our data, 7-MEGA is able to protect HaCaT cells from $H_2O_2$-induced damage through inhibiting cellular oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, 7-MEGA may affect skin elasticity maintenance and improve skin wrinkles. These findings indicate that 7-MEGA may be useful as a food supplement for skin health.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2146-2152
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• 2015

Apios americana Medik (hereinafter Apios) has been reported to treat diseases, including cancer, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. The therapeutic effect of Apios is likely to be associated with its anti-inflammatory activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of Apios in animal models of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza A virus (H1N1). Mice were exposed to LPS or H1N1 for 2-4 days to induce acute lung injury. The treatment groups were administered Apios extracts via oral injection for 8 weeks before LPS treatment or H1N1 infection. To investigate the effects of Apios, we assessed the mice for in vivo effects of Apios on immune cell infiltration and the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and histopathological changes in the lung. After induction of acute lung injury, the numbers of neutrophils and total cells were lower in the Apios-treated groups than in the non-Apios-treated LPS and H1N1 groups. The Apios groups tended to have lower levels of tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-6 in BAL fluid. In addition, the histopathological changes in the lungs were markedly reduced in the Apios-treated groups. These data suggest that Apios treatment reduces LPS- and H1N1-induced lung inflammation. These protective effects of Apios suggest that it may have therapeutic potential in acute lung injury.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.249-256
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The traditional Korean diet is plant-based and rich in antioxidants. Previous studies have investigated the potential health benefits of individual nutrients of Korean foods. However, the cumulative effects of a Korean diet on inflammation remain poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of a plant-based Korean diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Using data from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 75 individual plant food items were selected which represent over 1% of the total diet intake of the Korean diet. These items were classified into ten different food groups, and the vegetable (Veg) and fruit (Fruit) groups were studied based on their high antioxidant capacity. For comparison, a mixture of all ten groups (Mix) was prepared. To produce a model of inflammation with which to test these Veg, Fruit, and Mix plant-based Korean food extracts (PKE), RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). RESULTS: Levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), as well as protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were found to be lower following PKE treatment. Furthermore, PKE treatment was found to suppress tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) via the nuclear transcription factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) signaling pathway. Overall, the Mix group exhibited the greatest anti-inflammatory effects compared with Veg and Fruit PKE group. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators by the PKE tested was found to involve an inhibition of NF-kB activation. Moreover, PKE tested have the potential to ameliorate various inflammation-related diseases by limiting the excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2000

This study was conducted to compare probiotic activities and physiological functions of Bifidobacterium longum Mk-G7 with weveral commercial and type strains of bifidobacteria. bif. longum MK-G7 showed the highest acid tolerance against HCl and acetic acid, whereas bif. infantis Y-1 showed the lowest acid tolerance and more than 4 log cycles of viable cell count decreased due to acid injuty. Viable cell counts of bifidobacteria strains decreased more than 1.5 log cycles owing to oxygen toxicity, with the exception of Bif. longum MK-G7, Bif. infantis Y-2, Bif. longum Y-3, Bif. longum Y-6, and Bif. longum RD-13 showed the highest bile tolerance, whereas Bif. longum MK-G7 showed a medium level of bile tolerance. Only Bif. longum MK-G7 howed much higher antibiotic resistance against both tetracycline and penicillin-G in the MIC(minimum inhibitory concentration) level of 24.8 mg/I and 0.52mg/I, respectively. Bif longum Y-6, and Bif. bifidum ATCC 29539 showed more than 80% of anti-mutagenicity against NQO(4-nitroquinolinel-oxide). Since the production of cytokines such as $TNF(tumor necrosis factor)-{\alpha}$ and IL (interleukin)-6, and NO(nitric oxide) in the macrophage cell line Raw 264.7 cells increased as Bif. longum MK-G7 cell concentration increased, ti was suggested that Bif. longum MK-G7 is able to enhance immunopotentiating activity in vitro. When freeze-dred Bif. longum MK-G7 was administered to mice at the dose of 1,2,4, and 6 g/kg of body weight, all of the mice survived in all feeding groups, proving the GRAS(generally recognized as safe) status of Bif. longum MK-G7. When fermented milk containing Bif. longum MK-G7 was administered to human volunteers, viable cell count of total bifidobacteria and anaerobes in the feces increased up to 0.5 log cycles more than before the administration. In particular, Bif. logum MK-G7 ingibited the growth of Bacteroides at the level of 1.0-1.5 log cycles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2016

This study investigated the fermentation effect of Taraxacum platycarpum Dahlst. leaf extracts using Hericium ernaceum mycelia to test antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. The antioxidant activities of fermented or non-fermented extracts of T. platycarpum leaves were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity. The leaf extract of T. platycarpum showed higher antioxidant activity than extract of fermented leaves. However, ethanolic extract of fermented T. platycarpum leaves decreased levels of nitric oxide production and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, fermented leaf extract suppressed protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in RAW 264.7 cell culture. Therefore, the enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extracts of fermented T. platycarpum leaves might be attributed to the molecular conversion of leaf ingredients during fermentation and the active ingredients might have specific affinity with ethanol during extraction.