• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2000

A human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 cells are a reliable for the study of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, the author investigated the effect of an aqueous extract of Asparagus $cochinchinensis_{MERRIL}$ (Liliaceae) roots (ACAE) on ethanol (EtOH)-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells. ACAE dose-dependently inhibited the EtOH-induced tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ secretion. ACAE also inhibited the EtOH and $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the author found that ACAE inhibited the $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ apoptosis of Hep G2 cells. These results suggest that ACAE may prevent the EtOH-induced cytotoxicity through inhibition of the apoptosis of Hep G2 cells.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2001

Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi infection, is clinically and histopathologically characterized by local as well as systemic inflammatory reactions, indicating that orientiae induce mechanisms that amplify the inflammatory response. To reveal underlying mechanisms of chemoattraction and activation of responding leukocytes, expression of chemokine and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) genes in murine peritoneal macrophages after infection with the obligate intracellular bacterium Ο.tsutsugamushi was investigated. The genes that were unregulated included macrophage inflammatory proteins l$\alpha$/$\beta$(MIP-l$\alpha$/$\beta$), MIP-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1), RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), gamma-interferon-inducible protein 10(IP-10) and TNF-$\alpha$. Peak expression of these chemokines and TNF-$\alpha$ was observed between 1 and 3 h after infection. These responses returned to or approached baseline preinfection levels 6 h after challenge. Semiquantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis revealed dramatic Increases during infection in the steady-state levels of mRNA ceding for the inhibitory subunit of NF-kB (IkB$\alpha$), whose transcription is enhanced by binding of NF-kB within the IkB$\alpha$promoter region. Thus, Ο. tsutsugamushi appears to be a stung inducer of chemokines and TNF-$\alpha$ which may significantly contribute to inflammation and tissue damage observed in scrub typhus by attracting and activating phagocytic leukocytes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2010

Objectives: Various cytokines induced by inhalation of coal dust may mediate inflammation and lead to tissue damage or fibrosis, such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Methods: To investigate the relevance of serum cytokines in CWP, the levels of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) as CWP biomarkers in 110 retired coal miners (22 controls and 88 CWP subjects) were related to cross sectional findings and 1-year progressive changes of the pneumoconiosis. Progressive changes of CWP were evaluated by paired comparison of chest radiographs. Analysis by a receiver operating characteristic curve assessed the biomarker potential of each cytokine. Results: The mean serum IL-8 level was significantly higher in CWP compared to controls and IL-8 levels correlated with the degree of CWP. The median serum TNF-${\alpha}$ level was significantly higher in subjects with progressive CWP compared to subjects without CWP progression. The area under the ROC curve for IL-8 (0.70) and TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.72) for CWP identification and progression, respectively, indicated the biomarker potential of the two cytokines. Serum cutoff values of IL-8 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were 11.63 pg/mL(sensitivity, 69%; specificity, 64%) and 4.52 pg/mL (sensitivity, 67%; specificity, 79%), respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that high levels of serum IL-8 are associated with the presence of CWP and those of serum TNF-${\alpha}$ are associated with the progression of CWP.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2007

목 적 : 약침으로서 씀바귀의 염증 효과를 알아보기 위해 RAW 264.7 대식세포에서 Tnf 생성을 확인하였다. 방 법: 씀바귀를 RAW 264.7 대식세포에 미리 처치한 후 LPS로 염증 반응을 유도하였다. ELISA, Western blotting, RT-PCR, 그리고 EMSA을 통해 Tnf의 생성과 발현에 대한 효과를 평가하였다. 결 과 : LPS 유도된 세포에서 씀바귀 1, 5, 10, 50 ${\mu}g/ml$의 농도는 각각 23.7, 37.8, 66.4, 86.1% Tnf 생성을 억제한 것을 ELISA 통해 확인되었다. LPS로 유도된 대식세포에서 Tnf 생성은 농도에 따라 감소하였고, Western blotting, RT-PCR 분석에서는 씀바귀 5과 50 ${\mu}g/ml$가 LPS로 유도된 대식세포에서 Tnf의 mRNA와 단백질 발현을 저해 하는 것으로 관찰되었다. 또한 EMSA에서도 씀바귀 5과 50 ${\mu}g/ml$가 LPS로 유도된 Nf-kB를 감소시키는 것을 확인하였다. 고 찰 : 이런 결과는 씀바귀가 $Nf-{\kappa}B$를 저해하면서 LPS로 유발된 Tnf 생성을 감소시킨다는 것을 보여주었고, 이는 더 나아가 염증 질환에서 씀바귀가 약침으로써의 치료적 효과를 나타낼 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. 고 찰 : 이런 결과는 씀바귀가 $Nf-_{k}B$를 저해하면서 LPS로 유발된 Tnf 생성을 감소시킨다는 것을 보여주었고, 이는 더 나아가 염증 질환에서 씀바귀가 약침으로써의 치료적 효과를 나타낼 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1207-1211
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• 2008

The pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) is an important mediator of the immune response in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Since the production of TNF-$\alpha$ is mostly regulated at the transcriptional level and polymorphisms in the TNF-$\alpha$ promoter alter its expression, TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms could affect the pathogenesis of chronic HBV infection. In this study, we investigated the potential association of TNF-$\alpha$ promoter polymorphisms with chronic HBV infection. The study included 181 patients with chronic HBV infection, 201 persons who had been spontaneously recovered from hepatitis B, and 170 unrelated healthy controls. The -308G/A and -238G/A polymorphisms in the TNF-$\alpha$ promoter were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The distribution of both the -308 and -238 genotypes in the patient group was not statistically different from that in the spontaneous recovery and control groups (p>0.05). There was also no significant difference in the allele frequency between the groups (p>0.05). The results suggest that the TNF-$\alpha$ -308 and -238 promoter polymorphisms are not associated with the development of chronic HBV infection in the Korean population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3389-3393
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• 2015

Background: Chronic inflammation could affect the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. To explore the levels of tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and their clinical significance. Materials and Methods: A total of 210 patients hospitalized in Affiliated Hospital of Taishan Medical University from Jun., 2013 to Dec., 2014 were selected, in which 92 cases were accompanied by IGT. Meanwhile, 80 randomly-selected healthy people by physical examination were as the control. The levels of routine biochemical indexes, plasma TNF-${\alpha}$ and CRP in all subjects were measured. Results: Both systolic and diastolic pressures in hypertension group and hypertension plus IGT group were significantly higher than in control group (p<0.01), but there was no statistical significance between these two groups (p>0.05). The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and blood glucose 2 h after taking glucose in hypertension plus IGT group were markedly higher than other groups (p<0.01). Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), TNF-${\alpha}$ and CRP contents were on the progressive increase in control, hypertension and hypertension plus IGT groups, but significant differences were presented among each group (P<0.01). Hypertension accompanied by IGT had a significantly-positive association with CRP, TNF-${\alpha}$, FPG and blood glucose 2h after taking glucose. Conclusions: The levels of plasma TNF-${\alpha}$ and CPR in patients with hypertension accompanied by IGT increase significantly, indicating that inflammatory reaction in these patient increases, thus suggesting that these patients should be focused regarding cancer prevention.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.240-246
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• 2002

Purpose : It is not clear that the development of glomerular injury and aggravation by tumor necrosis factor alpha($TNF-{\alpha}$) is related to intrarenal or serum concentration of $TNF-{\alpha}$. So, we studied the relationship between the concentration of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and aggravation of glomerular damage in the Henoch-$Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ nephritis(HSN) and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome(INS). Methods : We collected the sera and urines of 21 patients with Henoch-$Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ purpura(HSP) and 22 patients with INS visited Chungbuk National University hospital from March 1998 to March 2001. The concentration of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the sera and urines were measured by sandwich ELISA. Results : Serum $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels in the HSP patients with renal involvement were significantly higher than those without renal involvement(P=0.009). But urine $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels have no correlation with renal involvement(P=0.088). In the HSN patients, proteinuria have a significant correlation with serum $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels(P=0.004) but less correlation with urine $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels(P=0.053). Otherwise, proteinuria have no correlation with serum $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels(P=0.763) but have a significant correlation with urine $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels(P=0.007) in INS. Conclusion : These result suggest that the serum concentration of $TNF-{\alpha}$ would be important to glomerular involvement in HSP. And, it is interesting that proteinuria shows a significant relation with serum $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels in the HSN, but with urine $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels in the INS. This means the major production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ may be originated by extrarenal inflammation in the HSN and by intrarenal tubulo-interstitial damage due to proteinuria in the INS.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.70-74
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• 1999

In the course of a search for tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ inhibitory compounds from medicinal plants, we identified neolignans, honokiol and magnolol, from the alcoholic extract of Magnolia offcinalis as active inhibitory principles. These compounds dose-dependently inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$ production without displaying cytotoxicity and their inhibitory activities measured by $IC_{50}$ values were 53.7 and $61.4\;{\mu}M$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.210-217
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• 2003

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse splenic macrophages to produce tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha}$) and might play a role in anticancer. To know the effect of M11C on the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, the splenic macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated splenic macrophage-conditioned media; MSCM). MSCM was analyzed for the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion by means of ELISA and immunoblotting, and mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. The S-180 murine sarcoma model was established to know the effect of M11C on the inhibition of tumor growth. M11C had the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from splenic macrophages performed by ELISA technique. This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay. The effects of M11C on the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA from the macrophages was also shown. M11C also had the inhibitory effect of S-180 tumor growth. These data suggest that Korean mistletoe extract M11C may be used for an immunomodulator.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2006

Objective : To investigate the effects of Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture on lowering lipid and contents of serum tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ $(TNF-{\alpha})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in hyperlipidemic rats. Methods : Triglyceride, total cholesterol, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6 levels in Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture groups were compared with those in the control group. Results : Concentration of triglyceride and total cholesterol in plasma was decreased in the Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture groups. In Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncre groups, plasma LDL-cholesterol showed a lower value and HDL-cholesterol showed a higher value than those of the control group. Contents of $TNF-{\alpha}$ was decreased in the Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture groups. Contents of IL-6, however, were not significantly different. Conclusions : The results suggest that Poncirus trifoliata Pharmacopuncture may have an impact on lipid metabolism to potentially prevent development of diabetes mellitus and accompanying cerebrovascular diseases.