• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2017

To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of natural products, we determined the anti-inflammatory activity of purified epigallocatechin (EGC) from Camellia sinensis leaves. In the present study, we found that EGC inhibited the production of proinflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NO, and $PGE_2$) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. Suppression of IL-6 seems to be at least partly attributable to the inhibitory effect of EGC. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a major cytokine produced by LPS-induced macrophages, and they have a wide variety of biological functions including regulation of inflammation. The inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production by EGC may downregulate the acute-phase response to LPS, thereby reducing LPS-induced inflammation. In addition to IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, EGC effectively reduced the production of other key inflammatory mediators, including NO and $PGE_2$. The inhibitory effect of EGC on NO and $PGE_2$ production was supported by the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and COX-2 at protein levels. These results support the traditional use of EGC in the alleviation of various inflammation-associated diseases and suggest that EGC might be useful in the development of new functional foods for inflammatory diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2008

Although hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction occurs during endotoxemia, the mechanism responsible for this remains unclear. Since Kupffer cells provide signals that regulate hepatic response in inflammation, this study was designed to investigate the role of Kupffer cells in the imbalance in the expression of vasoactive mediators. Endotoxemia was induced by intraperitoneal E. coli endotoxin (LPS, 1 mg/kg body weight). Kupffer cells were inactivated with gadolinium chloride ($GdCl_3$, 7.5 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) 2 days prior to LPS exposure. Liver samples were taken 6 h following LPS exposure for RT-PCR analysis of mRNA for genes of interest: endothelin (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A$ and $ET_B$, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase (HO-1), and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$). mRNA levels for iNOS and TNF-$\alpha$ were significantly increased 31.8-fold and 26.7-fold in LPS-treated animals, respectively. This increase was markedly attenuated by $GdCl_3$, HO-1 expression significantly increased in LPS-treated animals, with no significant difference between saline and $GdCl_3$ groups. ET-1 was increased by LPS. mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptor showed no change, whereas $ET_B$ transcripts increased in LPS-treated animals. The increase in $ET_B$ transcripts was potentiated by $GdCl_3$. We conclude that activation of Kupffer cells plays an important role in the imbalanced hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression induced by endotoxin.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2008

Active cardiovascular anaphylactic response was induced in ovalbumin-sensitized, pithed Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats. On intravenous administration of the antigen, ovalbumin, marked tachycardia and pressor responses were immediately elicited. Thereafter, a delayed long-lasting severe hypotensive response was observed. These anaphylactic cardiovascular responses were maximal 2-3 weeks after the sensitization, and the response was slightly diminished 6 weeks after sensitization. The immediate pressor response was blocked by a non-selective serotonin antagonist methysergide at a dose-dependent manner, but not by histamine receptor antagonists mepyramine (pyrilamine) or cimetidine. The delayed hypotension was reduced either by histamine $H_1$ receptor antagonist mepyramine or $H_2$ receptor antagonist cimetidine, both in a dose-dependent manner. The tachycardic response was not influenced by serotonin or histamine receptor antagonists examined in this study. Differently from the cardiovascular responses, there was no observable bronchial contraction in Sprague-Dawley rat trachea in contrast to Wistar rat where the trachea contracted to in vitro antigen challenge. The cardiovascular anaphylactic model seems to be useful for studying cardiovascular events that occur exclusively in peripheral heart-blood vessel systems. The involvement of two major anaphylactic mediators, serotonin and histamine, is partially demonstrated.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.143-149
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activity of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) ethanolic extract fractions (CFEFs). Butanol fraction had the strongest antioxidant activity, and all CFEFs, except for chloroform fraction, partly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in RAW 264.7 cells. In the cell-free system, hexane and butanol fractions chemically quenched nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the iNOS mRNA transcription was suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the inhibitory effect of CFEFs on NO production from LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, might be due to both the chemical NO quenching activity and the suppression of iNOS mRNA transcription partially. The synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was potently inhibited by ethanol extract to below basal label, and the transcription of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involving in $PGE_2$ synthesis, was partially suppressed by ethanol extract and hexane fraction. Based on these results, CFEFs may be useful as an alternative medicine for the relief and retardation of immunological inflammatory responses through the reduction of inflammatory mediators, including NO and $PGE_2$ production.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.135-145
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• 2020

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), anti-oxLDL, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in hyperlipidemic patients with periodontal disease. Methods: This study included 123 patients with hyperlipidemia categorized based on metabolic control as mild to moderate (H1) (n=66) or poor (H2) (n=57), as well as systemically healthy controls (C) (n=68). Serum levels of lipids, oxLDL, anti-oxLDL, and MPO were evaluated, along with clinical periodontal parameters. Results: The percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP%) and the clinical attachment level were significantly higher in the H2 group than in the C group. Patients with hyperlipidemia had a relatively high risk of developing periodontal disease. The oxLDL and anti-oxLDL levels were higher in H2 patients with periodontitis than in the control or H1 patients with periodontitis. In the H1 and H2 groups, the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein was significantly correlated with gingival index, BOP%, and oxLDL levels. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the lipoprotein-associated inflammatory mediators of oxLDL, anti-oxLDL, and MPO may play an important role in the relationship between periodontal disease and hyperlipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 2016

Objective: This study investigated how family cohesion influences adolescents' positive attitude formation and their happiness as classified into hedonistic happiness and eudaimonistic happiness. We also examined whether adolescents' positive attitude functions as a mediator between family cohesion and the two kinds of happiness. Particularly, positive attitude consists of three subfactors: positive perspective, self-positivity, and social positivity. This study focused on exploring which subfactor primarily plays a mediating role. Methods: A total of 320 middle school students participated in the present study. Results and Conclusion: The findings of the study are as follows: first, positive attitude was shown to function as a mediator between family cohesion and two kinds of happiness. Second, through an analysis of multiple mediation, self-positivity and social positivity were found to be mediators between family cohesion and hedonistic happiness. However, positive perspective and self-positivity were revealed to serve as mediators between family cohesion and eudaimonistic happiness. Only self-positivity, being considered as a core construct of positive attitude, turned out to be a common mediator between family cohesion and the two kinds of happiness.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.8
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• pp.345-351
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• 2020

The study investigates how marketing mix factors are mediated by health consciousness and service quality in creating fresh fruit buying decisions of customers in Vietnam. This study employs samples of customers in Vietnam via the survey questionnaire. The authors have used a total of 256 responses that acquired the valid criteria. The compound of data analysis comprises reliability test, validity test, exploratory factor analysis, group analysis and multiple regression analysis to structure the hypothesized model. Respectively, the structural equation model (SEM) is applied to conduct the multiple multivariate equations. By the assumption of causal-effect relationship between independent variables such as marketing mixed factors, and mediator as health consciousness and service quality, which potentially impact on purchase decision; the SEM method is deployed. The results reveal that consumers have paid no attention to the marketing mix factors, but they care much about service quality and health consciousness. Thus, health consciousness and service quality are effective mediators. These findings are new and contribute to the consumer behavior and retail marketing literature. The findings of this study can provide assistance to managers in the given field to understand more easily the consumer behavior about fresh fruits, then improve their own performance.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.106-106
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• 2018

Cyanidin 3 - rutinoside chloride (CRC) is major anthocyanin, found in Schisandra chinensis, is known to have antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, tonic, and anti-aging effects in Korea, China and Japan. In the present study, the human mast cell line (HMC-1) was used to investigate the effects on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. In this study, CRC showed no cytotoxicity in HMC-1. CRC significantly inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6 in PMA plus A23187 cacium ionophore (PMACI)-stimulated HMC-1 cells. In addition, CRC suppressed the serum levels of IgE. Furthermore, CRC decreased the PMACI- stimulated phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as p-ERK, p- JNK and p-P38. These results indicate that the pharmacological actions of CRC suggest their potential activity for treatment of allergic inflammation through the down-regulation of mast cell activation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.191-196
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• 2017

Transglutaminase2 (TGM2) is a multi-functional calcium dependent enzyme that affects angiogenesis, apoptosis, differentiation, attachment, and changes in the extracellular matrix. However, its function in periodontal tissue has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the TGM2 expression and the modulation of inflammatory mediators in inflamed periodontal ligament (PDL) cells induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and the Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$. The expression of TGM2 was increased in the inflamed periodontal tissue and PDL cells. Over-expressed TGM2 in the PDL cells increased expression of MMP1, MMP3, IL-6, CXCL8, and PTGS2. Conversely, inhibition of TGM2 activity using LDN27219, a TGM2 inhibitor, resulted in decreased expression of MMP1, MMP3, IL-6, and CXCL8. The mRNA expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and quantified by qRT-PCR. Protein levels were also confirmed by immunofluoroscence staining. These results suggest that TGM2 plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory mediators which exacerbate tissue damage in inflamed periodontal tissue.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1551-1554
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• 2004

In the presence of laccase, low molecular weight (M.W.) fractions from lignosulfonate (M.W. 97 kD) were produced. By Sephadex column chromatography, four lower M.W. fractions of 9 kD, 1.8 kD, 1 kD and 0.85 kD were identified. The addition of acetovanillone (AV) or acetosyringone (AS) enhanced to the degradation of lignosulfonate with fungal laccase. During this process, there were found new generation of lower M.W. fractions, e.g. approximately 20 kD, 1.8 kD, 1 kD and 0.85 kD for AV, and 20 kD, 3 kD, 1 kD and 0.85 kD for AS, respectively. The quantities of lower M.W. products (especially the fractions of M.W. 1 kD and 0.85 kD) were larger than those in the controls. Also, its degradation became more active in the presence of AS than AV. The presence of AS or AV seems to prevent the re-polymerization of degraded lignosulfonate by the laccase.