• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.7-11
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• 2013

Objectives : Seungmagalgeun-tang (SMGGT) is traditional medicine widely used for inflammatory disease and flu. But SMGGT exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity with an unknown mechanism. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of SMGGT water extract on pharmacological and biochemical actions in inflammation, we examined the effect of SMGGT on pro-inflammatory mediators in Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)+A23187-stimulated mast cells. Methods : In the present study, pro-inflammatory cytokine production was determined by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and western blot analysis to measure the activation of MAPKs. Cells were treated with SMGGT 1 h prior to the addition of 50 nM of PMA and $1{\mu}M$ of A23187. Cell viability was measured by MTS assay. The investigation focused on whether SMGGT inhibited the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in PMA+A23187-stimulated mast cells. Results : SMGGT has no cytotoxicity at examined concentration (100, 250, and $500{\mu}g/ml$). Also, gene expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in HMC-1 cells stimulated by PMA+A23187 was down regulated by SMGGT. Furthermore, SMGGT suppressed the PMA+A23187-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-jun N-terminal Kinase(JNK). But, SMGGT could not regulate phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. Conclusions : These results suggest that SMGGT has inhibitory effects on PMA+A23187-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production. These inhibitory effects occur through blockades on the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2022

Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg (PJT) has been used in traditional medicine to treat colds, coughs, fevers, and other inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to investigate whether 3'-isovaleryl-4'-senecioylkhellactone (IVSK) from PJT has anti-inflammatory effects on lung epithelial cells. The anti-inflammatory effects of IVSK were evaluated using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated A549 cells and regular human lung epithelial cells as a reference. IVSK reduced the secretion of the inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and IL-1β. Additionally, it inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB kinase (IKK), p65, Iκ-Bα, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38, JNK, and ERK in A549 cells stimulated with PMA. Moreover, the binding affinity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was significantly reduced in the luciferase assay, while nuclear translocation was markedly inhibited by IVSK in the immunocytochemistry. These findings indicate that IVSK can protect against inflammation through the AP-1 and NF-κB pathway and could possibly be used as a lead compound for the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.39-44
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• 2013

Objectives : Allergy is an immune dysfunction caused by degranulation from mast cells in the early phase of allergic disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-allergic effect of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix in human mast cell line, HMC-1. Method : The Angelicae gigantis Radix was fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus. The cell toxicity of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix(FAGR) was determined by MTT assay. The release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase from HMC-1 stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 was determined by ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase assay. Also, the concentrations of cytokines (interleukin-$1{\beta}$, -6, -8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The gene expression of COX-2 from HMC-1 stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The release of histamine on substance P-stimulated HMC-1 was measured by histamine assay. Result : The FAGR suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, a marker of degranulation, from HMC-1 stimulated by PMA plus A23187. The FAGR inhibited the production of interleukin-$1{\beta}$, -6, -8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The FAGR inhibited the expression of COX-2 mRNA. The FAGR suppressed the release of histamine on substance P-stimulated HMC-1. Conclusion : These results provide that FAGR may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic inflammatory disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2016

Voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ ($Ca_V$) channels are dynamically modulated by Gprotein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The $M_1$ muscarinic receptor stimulation is known to enhance $Ca_V2.3$ channel gating through the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Here, we found that $M_1$ receptors also inhibit $Ca_V2.3$ currents when the channels are fully activated by PKC. In whole-cell configuration, the application of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, potentiated $Ca_V2.3$ currents by ~two-fold. After the PMA-induced potentiation, stimulation of $M_1$ receptors decreased the $Ca_V2.3$ currents by $52{\pm}8%$. We examined whether the depletion of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ($PI(4,5)P_2$) is responsible for the muscarinic suppression of $Ca_V2.3$ currents by using two methods: the Danio rerio voltage-sensing phosphatase (Dr-VSP) system and the rapamycin-induced translocatable pseudojanin (PJ) system. First, dephosphorylation of $PI(4,5)P_2$ to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) by Dr-VSP significantly suppressed $Ca_V2.3$ currents, by $53{\pm}3%$. Next, dephosphorylation of both PI(4)P and $PI(4,5)P_2$ to PI by PJ translocation further decreased the current by up to $66{\pm}3%$. The results suggest that $Ca_V2.3$ currents are modulated by the $M_1$ receptor in a dual mode-that is, potentiation through the activation of PKC and suppression by the depletion of membrane $PI(4,5)P_2$. Our results also suggest that there is rapid turnover between PI(4)P and $PI(4,5)P_2$ in the plasma membrane.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1994

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogen which persists and multiplies within macrophage. Competent cell mediated immunity by cooperation of both T lymphocyte and macrophage of the host is required to kill the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. But a precise understanding of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis infection in pulmonary alveolar macrophage has not been achived. Research on the macrophage's basic microbicidal mechanism has elucidated the importance of oxygen-dependent or oxygen-independent components. Oxygen dependent processing begins with the reduction of oxygen by NADPH oxidase and generation of superoxide. In this study, the oxidative metabolic status of blood monocyte and pulmonary alveolar macrophage in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis was accessed and compared with that of healthy control subjects to know whether there was a basic difference in superoxide generation by mononuclear cells between two groups. Methods: Pulmonary alveolar macrophage was purified after performing BAL(bronchoalveolar lavage) through the bronchi of infected lesion by plastic adhesion method. Blood monocyte was purified by Ficoll-Hypaque method. Superoxide generation by blood monocyte and pulmonary alveolar macrophage was measured by ferricytochrome-C reduction method after either stimulated with PMA(phorbol myristate acerate) or non-stimulated states. We also measured the effect of pulmonary tuberculosis patient's serum on superoxide generation by monocyte. Results: 1) Generation of superoxide by alveolar macrophage obtained from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was little higher than those of controls, and PMA enhanced the generation of 2) Generation of superoxide by blood monocyte obtained from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was little higher than those of control(p>0.05), and PMA more enhanced the generation of superoxide in patientswith pulmonary tuberculosis than those in controls(p<0.02). 3) Patient's serum enhanced the generation of superoxide by blood monocyte obtained from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and controls, but not in the case of PMA stimulated blood monocyte. Conclusion: The present study suggest that the phenomenon of M.tuberculosis escape the microbicidal action of macrophage was not result of suppressed superoxide generation by blood monocyte and pulmonary alveolar macrophage, rather there might be a factor to stimulate the generation of superoxide by blood monocyte in pulmonary tuberculosis patient serum, but the comparision with effect of control's serum on superoxide generation needs further elucidation.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2000

Immunological mechanisms involving the release of inflammatory factors by HIV-1 infected microglia in the brain have been implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV dementia (HIVD). Since the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity can be influenced by variety of inflammatory mediators, this study was undertaken to look for a correlation between the MMP-9 release and the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ in response to HIV-1 p24 in the human monocyte cell line THP-1 as a model for microglia. First, it was shown that HIV-l core p24 antigen induced THP-1 to secrete MMP-9 in a dose response manner while it elicited a little effect on MMP-2 release in human astroglial cell line T98G. Next, it was found that p24 induced THP-1 to secrete TNF-${\alpha}$ without prior differentiation into macrophages by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) treatment. Furthermore, anti-TNF-${\alpha}$ neutralizing antibodies significantly blocked p24-induced MMP-9 release in a dose dependent manner. Our data indicate that p24 antigen induces monocytic MMP-9 release by triggering up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.63-76
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• 1996

The aim of present study was to characterize phosphate uptake and to investigate the mechanism for the insulin and insulin-like growth factor(IGF) stimulation of phosphate uptake in primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells. Results were as follows : 1. The primary cultured proximal tubule cells had accumulated $6.68{\pm}0.70$ nmole phosphate/mg protein in the presence of 140 mM NaCl and $2.07{\pm}0.17$ nmole phosphate/mg protein in the presence of 140 mM KCl during a 60 minute uptake period. Raising the concentration of extracellular phosphate to 100 mM$(48.33{\pm}1.76\;pmole/mg\;protein/min)$ induced decrease in phosphate uptake compared with that in control cells maintained in 1 mM phosphate$(190.66{\pm}13.01\;pmole/mg\;protein/min)$. Optimal phosphate uptake was observed at pH 6.5 in the presence of 140 mM NaCl. Phosphate uptake at pH 7.2 and pH 7.9 decreased to $83.06{\pm}5.75%\;and\;74.61{\pm}3.29%$ of that of pH 6.5, respectively. 2. Phosphate uptake was inhibited by iodoacetic acid(IAA) or valinomycin treatment $(62.41{\pm}4.40%\;and\;12.80{\pm}1.64%\;of\;that\;of\;control,\;respectively)$. When IAA and valinomycin were added together, phosphate uptake was inhibited to $8.04{\pm}0.61%$ of that of control. Phosphate uptake by the primary proximal tubule cells was significantly reduced by ouabain treatment$(80.27{\pm}6.96%\;of\;that\;of\;control)$. Inhibition of protein and/or RNA synthesis by either cycloheximide or actinomycin D markedly attenuated phosphate uptake. 3. Extracellular CAMP and phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate(PMA) decreased phosphate uptake in a dose-dependent manner in all experimental conditions. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin or cholera toxin inhibited phosphate uptake. cAMP concentration between $10^{-6}\;M\;and\;10^{-4}\;M$ significantly inhibited phosphate uptake. Phosphate uptake was blocked to about 25% of that of control at 100 ng/ml PMA. 3-Isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine(IBMX) inhibited phosphate uptake. However, in the presence of IBMX, the inhibitory effect of exogenous cAMP was not significantly potentiated. Forskolin decreased phosphate transport. Acetylsalicylic acid did not inhibit phosphate uptake. The 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycorol(DAG) and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn- glycerol(OAG) showed a inhibitory effect. However, staurosporine had no effect on phosphate uptake. When PMA and staurosporine were treated together, inhibition of phosphate uptake was not observed. In conclusion, phosphate uptake is stimulated by high sodium and low phosphate and pH 6.5 in the culture medium. Membrane potential and intracellular energy levels are also an important factor fer phosphate transport. Insulin and IGF-I stimulate phosphate uptake through a mechanisms that involve do novo protein and/or RNA synthesis and decrease of intracellular cAMP level. Also protein kinase C(PKC) is may play a regulatory role in transducing the insulin and IGF-I signal for phosphate transport in primary cultured proximal tubule cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.728-735
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• 1996

Background : Recognition and ingestion of opsonized microorganisms by neutrophils induces the burst of oxidative metabolic activity. Products of the respiratory burst activity provide powerful oxygen dependent killing mechanism. Measurement of respiratory burst activity has been a major indicator of the functional capacity of neutrophils. We determined the respiratory burst activity of neutrophils in patients with pneumonia and observed the changes during the clinical course of pneumonia. Methods: The EDTA blood was drawn from 24 normal controls and same numbers of pneumonia patients. The respiratory burst activity(with the production of $H_2O_2$ which changes nonfluorescent DCF-DA to green fluorescent DCF) in the non-stimulated state and the stimulated state with fMLP and PMA of neutrophils was measured by flowcytometry at day 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 of admission. Results: The respiratory burst activity of neutrophils was mildly increased by stimulation with fMLP. But there was no statistical significance between normal control and patients with pneumonia. The respiratory burst activity of neutrophils was markedly increased by stimulation with PMA in both groups. There was a significant difference in response to PMA between normal control and patients with pneumonia. The production of hydrogen peroxide from neutrophils was decreased during early course of pneumonia and it was recuperated gradually to normal level in 9 days. Conclusion : Hydrogen peroxide production from neutrophils was suppressed during early course of pneumonia and restored after treatment. It is suggested that the production of oxygen radical in response to PMA stimulation from each neutrophils is decreased rather than increased during the early course of pneumonia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2007

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a recurrent or chronic eczematous skin disease with severe pruritus. Although the pathogenic mechanisms of atopic dermatitis are yet unknown, recently hyperresponsive Th2 cells in the acute phase are reported as the important mechanisms. Cheonggisan(CGS) is used in oriental clinics for curing acute skin lesions of eczema, atopic dermatitis or urticaria. There have been no studies on the therapeutic mechanism of CGS for curing atopic dermatitis. We aimed to find out the therapeutic mechanism of CGS on atopic dermatitis, so we observed Th2 cell differentiation in EL 4 cells and $NF-kB$ p65 activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Materials and Methods : EL 4 cells were induced the increase of IL-4 mRNA expression by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate(PMA) and 4-tert-Octylphenol(OP) and treated with CGS extract. RAW 264.7 cells were induced the increase of cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 mRNA expression by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and treated with CGS extract. Results : The PMA and OP induced IL-4 mRNA expression was dose-dependantly decreased in CGS treated EL 4 cells. The LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression was dose-dependantly decreased in CGS treated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : The results may suggest that the CGS inhibits Th2 cell differentiation in EL 4 cells and inhibits $NF-kB$ p65 activation in RAW 264.7 cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1576-1584
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• 2016

Acetyl xylan esterase (AXE), which hydrolyzes the ester linkages of the naturally acetylated xylan and thus known to have an important role for hemicellulose degradation, was isolated from the anaerobic rumen fungus Neocallimastix frontatlis PMA02, heterologously expressed in Escherichi coli (E.coli) and characterized. The full-length cDNA encoding NfAXE1 was 1,494 bp, of which 978 bp constituted an open reading frame. The estimated molecular weight of NfAXE1 was 36.5 kDa with 326 amino acid residues, and the calculated isoelectric point was 4.54. The secondary protein structure was predicted to consist of nine ${\alpha}$-helixes and 12 ${\beta}$-strands. The enzyme expressed in E.coli had the highest activity at $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 8. The purified recombinant NfAXE1 had a specific activity of 100.1 U/mg when p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NA) was used as a substrate at $40^{\circ}C$, optimum temperature. The amount of liberated acetic acids were the highest and the lowest when p-NA and acetylated birchwood xylan were used as substrates, respectively. The amount of xylose released from acetylated birchwod xylan was increased by 1.4 fold when NfAXE1 was mixed with xylanase in a reaction cocktail, implying a synergistic effect of NfAXE1 with xylanase on hemicellulose degradation.