• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.90-97
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• 2015

Water chestnut (Trapa japonica Flerov.) is an annual aquatic plant. In the present study, we showed that the treatment of water chestnut extracted with boiling water resulted in a significant increase 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and decrease the intracellular $H_2O_2$-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species. In addition, water chestnut extract (WCE) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production and suppressed mRNA and protein expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene. The cytokine array results showed that WCE inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion. Also, WCE reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$- and interleukin-6-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activity. Furthermore, during sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation of human skin, WCE reduced SLS-induced skin erythema and improved barrier regeneration. These results indicate that WCE may be a promising topical anti-inflammatory agent.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.215-221
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• 2010

목 적 : IgA 신병증은 세계적으로 가장 흔한 사구체 질환으로 최근 들어 interleukin (IL)-17의 면역조절 반응에 있어서의 관련성이 밝혀지고 있다. 이 연구에서는 IL-17RA 유전자의 단일 염기다형성과 소아 IgA 신병증의 발생 및 진행과의 연관성을 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 조직 검사를 통해 확인된 IgA 신병증 환아 156명과 건강한 정상 성인 245명을 대조군으로 하여 말초혈액을 채취하였다. PCR 방법으로 IL-17RA 유전자의 SNP (rs2895332, rs1468488, rs4819553)를 분석하였다. 환자군을 단백뇨(${\leq}4$ and >$4mg/m^2/hr$, ${\leq}40$ and >$40mg/m^2/hr$)와 병리학적 진행 여부에 따라서 두 그룹으로 나누어 IL-17RA SNP와의 연관성을 확인하였다. 결 과 : IgA 신병증 환자군과 정상 대조군에서 IL-17RA 유전자 rs2895332, rs1468488, rs4819553의 발현율은 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 또한 IL-17RA 유전자 각각에 대하여, 병리학적 진행성 병변을 가진 군과 그렇지 못한 군 사이에 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 그러나 rs2895332 유전자의 경우, 단백뇨가 있는 군(단백뇨>$4mg/m^2/hr$)과 없는 군(단백뇨${\leq}4mg/m^2/hr$)에서는 두 군간에 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보였다. 결 론 : IL-17RA 유전자 rs2895332의 단일염기다형성은 소아의 IgA 신병증에서 단백뇨의 발생과 통계학적으로 의미 있는 연관성이 있었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권12호
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• pp.1894-1903
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine the probiotic properties of Lactobacillus brevis KCCM 12203P isolated from the Korean traditional food kimchi and to evaluate the antioxidative activity and immune-stimulating potential of its heat-killed cells to improve their bio-functional activities. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, which is a representative commercial probiotic, was used as a comparative sample. Regarding probiotic properties, L. brevis KCCM 12203P was resistant to 0.3% pepsin with a pH of 2.5 for 3 h and 0.3% oxgall solution for 24 h, having approximately a 99% survival rate. It also showed strong adhesion activity (6.84%) onto HT-29 cells and did not produce β-glucuronidase but produced high quantities of leucine arylamidase, valine arylamidase, β-galactosidase, and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase. For antioxidant activity, it appeared that viable cells had higher radical scavenging activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, while in the 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay, heat-killed cells had higher antioxidant activity. Additionally, L. brevis KCCM 12203P showed higher lipid oxidation inhibition ability than L. rhamnosus GG; however, there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between heat-killed cells and control cells. Furthermore, heat-killed L. brevis KCCM 12203P activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells without cytotoxicity at a concentration lower than 10⁸ CFU/ml and promoted higher gene expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 than L. rhamnosus GG. These results suggest that novel L. brevis KCCM 12203P could be used as a probiotic or applied to functional food processing and pharmaceutical fields for immunocompromised people.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.364-369
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inflammation is associated with various types of acute and chronic alcohol liver diseases. In this study, we examined whether umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin, UF) ameliorates chronic alcohol-induced liver damage by modulating inflammatory response and the antioxidant system. METHODS: Rats were fed a Liber-Decarli liquid diet containing 5% alcohol with or without UF (0.05 g/L) for 8 weeks, while normal rats received an isocaloric carbohydrate liquid diet. RESULTS: Chronic alcohol intake significantly increased serum tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin 6 levels and decreased interleukin 10 level; however, UF supplementation reversed the cytokines related to liver damage. UF significantly suppressed hepatic lipopolysaccharide binding protein, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B, and TNF-${\alpha}$ gene expression increases in response to chronic alcohol intake. Masson's trichrome staining revealed that UF improved mild hepatic fibrosis caused by alcohol, and UF also significantly increased the mRNA expressions and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in liver, and thus, decreased lipid peroxide and mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide levels. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that UF protects against alcohol-induced liver damage by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway and activating the antioxidant system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권10호
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• pp.1635-1644
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• 2018

Asterias amurensis (starfish) is a marine organism that is harmful to the fishing industry, but is also a potential source of functional materials. The present study was conducted to analyze the profiles of fatty acids extracted from A. amurensis tissues and their anti-inflammatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophage cells. In different tissues, the component ratios of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids differed; particularly, polyunsaturated fatty acids such as dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) were considerably different. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, fatty acids from A. amurensis skin, gonads, and digestive glands exhibited anti-inflammatory activities by reducing nitric oxide production and inducing nitric oxide synthase gene expression. Asterias amurensis fatty acids effectively suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin $E_2$, which are critical inflammation biomarkers, were also significantly suppressed. Furthermore, A. amurensis fatty acids reduced the phosphorylation of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ p-65, p38, extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, indicating that these fatty acids ameliorated inflammation through the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. These results provide insight into the anti-inflammatory mechanism of A. amurensis fatty acids on immune cells and suggest that the species is a potential source of anti-inflammatory molecules.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권4호
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• pp.229-239
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• 2022

The high percentage of Vermamoeba was found in tap water in Korea. This study investigated whether Vermamoeba induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. We selected 2 free-living amoebas (FLAs) isolated from tap water, which included Korean FLA 5 (KFA5; Vermamoeba vermiformis) and 21 (an homolog of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2). We axenically cultured KFA5 and KFA21. We applied approximately 1×10⁶ to mice's nasal passages 6 times and investigated their pathogenicity. The airway resistance value was significantly increased after KFA5 and KFA21 treatments. The eosinophil recruitment and goblet cell hyperplasia were concomitantly observed in bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue in mice infected with KFA5 and KFA21. These infections also activated the Th2-related interleukin 25, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokines gene expression in mouse lung epithelial cells. The CD4⁺ interleukin 4⁺ cell population was increased in the lung, and the secretion of Th2-, Th17-, and Th1-associated cytokines were upregulated during KFA5 and KFA21 infection in the spleen, lung-draining lymph nodes, and BAL fluid. The pathogenicity (allergenicity) of KFA5 and KFA21 might not have drastically changed during the long-term in vitro culture. Our results suggested that Vermamoeba could elicit allergic airway inflammation and may be an airway allergen.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권2호
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• pp.117-126
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• 2022

Cystatin, a cysteine protease inhibitor found in many parasites, plays important roles in immune evasion. This study analyzed the molecular characteristics of a cystatin from Fasciola hepatica (FhCystatin) and expressed recombinant FhCystatin (rFhcystatin) to investigate the immune modulatory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation, migration, cytokine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production, and apoptosis in mouse macrophages. The FhCystatin gene encoded 116 amino acids and contained a conserved cystatin-like domain. rFhCystatin significantly inhibited the activity of cathepsin B. rFhCystatin bound to the surface of mouse RAW264.7 cells, significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, rFhCystatin inhibited the expression of cellular nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and promoted the expression of transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-10. These results showed that FhCystatin played an important role in regulating the activity of mouse macrophages. Our findings provide new insights into mechanisms underlying the immune evasion and contribute to the exploration of potential targets for the development of new drug to control F. hepatica infection.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제66권5호
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• pp.525-535
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• 2023

Objective : We performed an expanded multi-ethnic meta-analysis to identify associations between inflammation-related loci with intracranial aneurysm (IA) susceptibility. This meta-analysis possesses increased statistical power as it is based on the most data ever evaluated. Methods : We searched and reviewed relevant literature through electronic search engines up to August 2022. Overall estimates were calculated under the fixed- or random-effect models using pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed according to ethnicity. Results : Our meta-analysis enrolled 15 studies and involved 3070 patients and 5528 controls including European, Asian, Hispanic, and mixed ethnic populations. Of 17 inflammation-related variants, the rs1800796 locus (interleukin [IL]-6) showed the most significant genome-wide association with IA in East-Asian populations, including 1276 IA patients and 1322 controls (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.56-0.75; p=3.24#x00D7;10^-9) under a fixed-effect model. However, this association was not observed in the European population (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.80-1.47; p=0.5929). Three other variants, rs16944 (IL-1β), rs2195940 (IL-12B), and rs1800629 (tumor necrosis factor-α) showed a statistically nominal association with IA in both the overall, as well as East-Asian populations (0.01<p<0.05). Conclusion : Our updated meta-analysis with increased statistical power highlights that rs1800796 which maps on the IL-6 gene is associated with IA, and in particular confers a protective effect against occurrence of IA in the East-Asian population.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.850-860
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• 2023

The effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis supplementation on hybrid grouper Epinephelus akaara ♀×Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ were evaluated. The fish were fed a basal diet and five other diets consisting of 0.6% mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis and mixture of each 0.15% prebiotic and all the probiotics (designated as MOS, LP, BS, BL, and SYN) for 56 days. Growth performance and feed utilization showed no significant differences among all experimental groups. Lipid level of whole-body was significantly high in MOS and BL groups. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase was significantly low in BL and SYN groups. Nitro-blue tetrazolium, lysozyme and anti-protease, and glutathione peroxidase in BS, SYN, and all probiotic groups, respectively, were significantly high. Intestinal Vibrio bacteria was significantly low in all probiotic and SYN groups. Gene expression of interleukin-1β and interleukin-10 in SYN group; transforming growth factor β2 in MOS and BS groups, toll-like receptor 2-2 in BS and BL groups; and C-type lectin in MOS, LP and SYN groups were significantly upregulated. Our findings indicate that mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis could improve innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammation, and intestinal microbiota of hybrid grouper.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2009

Gammaherpesvirus infection of the central nervous system (CNS) has been linked to various neurological diseases, including meningitis, encephalitis, and multiple sclerosis. However, little is known about the interactions between the virus and the CNS in vitro or in vivo. Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68 or ${\gamma}HV-68$) is genetically related and biologically similar to human gammaherpesviruses, thereby providing a tractable animal model system in which to study both viral pathogenesis and replication. In the present study, we show the successful infection of cultured neuronal cells, microglia, and astrocytes with MHV-68 to various extents. Upon intracerebroventricular injection of a recombinant virus (MHV-68/LacZ) into 4-5-week-old and 9-10-week-old mice, the 4-5-week-old mice displayed high mortality within 5-7 days, while the majority of the 9-10-week-old mice survived until the end of the experimental period. Until a peak at 3-4 days post-infection, viral DNA replication and gene expression were similar in the brains of both mouse groups, but only the 9-10-week-old mice were able to subdue viral DNA replication and gene expression after 5 days post-infection. Pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNAs of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin $1{\beta}$, and interleukin 6 were highly induced in the brains of the 4-5-week-old mice, suggesting their possible contributions as neurotoxic factors in the age-dependent control of MHV-68 replication of the CNS.