• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.864-878
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• 2006

Purpose : Panax ginseng(PG) is considered to have salutary effects and stimulant actions on physical capacity. However, the effects of PG on the inflammatory cytokine secretion and hypoxia condition are still not understood. This study wasto elucidate the effect of PG on inflammatory cytokine secretion such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. Also, the effects on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) were measured. Methods : The water extract of PG was administrated to HMC-1 cells before phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)+A23187 treatment. $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, GM-CSF, and VEGF secretion were measured by a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HIF-1 activation was measured by transcription factor enzyme-linked immunoassay (TF-EIA) Results : PG significantly decreased secretion of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and GM-CSF in PMA+A23187-induced HMC-1 cells. VEGF secretion was not changed but HIF-1 activation was decreased by the treatment of PG. Conclusions : PG inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, which impliesPG might contribute to treatment of mast cell-mediated inflammatory disease. Also, PG inhibited PMA+A23187-induced $HIF -1{\alpha}activation}$ and DNA-binding activity for HIF-1. Therefore, these data demonstrate that PG modulates inflammatory cytokines through inhibition of $HIF-1{\alpha}activation}$ activation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1257-1262
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• 2005

MMP-9 is a metalloproteinase capable of basement membrane degradation in vivo. Expression of MMP-9 can be found in normal conditions such as trophoblasts, osteoclasts, and leukocytes and their precursors. They also occur as well as in pathological conditions, such as the invasive growth of primary tumors, metastasis, angiogenesis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal diseases. MMP-9 upregulation can be highly induced by a wide range of agents. These agents include growth factors, cytokines, cell-cell, and cell-ECM adhesion molecules, and agents altering cell shape. Here, we observed that TNF-$\alpha$ stimulated human monocytic cell line, HL-60 produced MMP-9 in a dose and time dependent manner. Real time PCR results indicated transcriptional upregulation of MMP-9 as early as 3 h post TNF-$\alpha$ stimulation. To investigate the signaling pathway underlined in TNF-$\alpha$ induced MMP-9 expression, three MAP kinase inhibitors were added to cells 1 h prior to TNF-$\alpha$ treatment. The ERK inhibitor completely abolished MMP-9 expression by TNF-$\alpha$. But neither p38 MAP kinase nor JNK inhibitor had an effect on TNF-$\alpha$ induced MMP-9 expression, suggesting that ERK activation is required for the MMP-9 induction by TNF-$\alpha$. Taken together, we found that TNF-$\alpha$ stimulation facilitates ERK activation, which results in the transcriptional upregulation of MMP-9 gene and subsequent MMP-9 production and secretion.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 2001

A human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 cells, is reliable for the study of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\alpha}$ production and EtOH-induced cytotoxicity on Hep G2 cells. The cells were incubated with EtOH in the presence of Artemisia Capillaris Herba(AC) for 24 hours and in the absence of AC for 48 hours. Cytoviability and cytokines release were analyzed by MTT assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. After 24 hours of EtOH exposure, the cytoviability had markedly decreased, and the release of cytokines had increased. The increased amount of cytokines contributed to EtOH-induced cytotoxicity. Anti-TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\alpha}$ antibodies almost abolished it. Interestingly, EtOH-induced cytotoxicity and cytokines production were inhibited by AC. Moreover, when AC was used in combination with antibodies, there was a marked inhibition of EtOH-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that EtOH-induced cytotoxicity may regulate, by various factors, and AC may prevent the cytotoxicity through partial inhibition of the $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\alpha}$ secretion.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.474-480
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to define whether Asterina pectinifera Lectin (APL) is effective on the cytokine production. Isolated mRNA from hPBMC (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells) stimulated with APL for various reaction times (1 to 96 hours) was detected by RT-PCR. The intensity of band for IL-1 and $IFN{\gamma}$ mRNA was markedly increased at l hour, and IL-2 mRNA was strongly expressed at 4 hours. The mRNA band of APL-induced IL-2 and $IFN{\gamma}$ was weaker than that of IL-1, IL-6 and $TNF{\alpha}$. The mRNA expression of 4 cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, $IFN{\gamma}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$) was detected up to 48 hours, and that of IL-6 was detected until 72 hours. ELISA was used to look protein secretion of the cytokine gene with IL-1, IL-2 and TNF$\alpha$expressed strongly in RT-PCR. The highest protein secretion was at 4 hours with IL-1, at 8 hours with IL-2 and at 4 hours with $TNF{\alpha}$. These results suggest that APL can induce the production of some cytokines and the immune response from PBMC was done within the first few hours of stimulation with APL.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.76-87
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• 2008

Objectives: In this study, the author investigated whether Haengso-tang (HST) and Chwiyeon-tang (CHT) affect both in vitro mucin secretion and MUC5AC gene expression in airway epithelial cells and in vivo mucin secretion from animal model for airway mucus hypersecretion. Materials and Methods: Confluent HTSE cells (non-labeled) were chased for 30 min in the presence of HST and CHT to assess the effects of the agents on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with removal of oriental herbal medicine extract from each agent-treated sample by centrifuge microfilter. Also, the effects of the agents on TNF- or EGF-induced MUC5AC gene expression in human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. The author also induced hypersecretion of airway mucus by exposure of rats to SO2 for 3 weeks. Effects of orally-administered HST and CHT during 1 week on in vivo mucin secretion from tracheal goblet cells of rats were assessed using ELISA. Results: (1) HST significantly decreased in vitro mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells. However, CHT did not affect in vitro mucin secretion from HTSE cells; (2) CHT significantly inhibited the expression levels of EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells. However, HST did not affect the expression levels of EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells; (3) CHT significantly inhibited hypersecretion of in vivo mucin. However, HST did not affect hypersecretion of in vivo mucin. Conclusion: These results suggest that CHT can not only affect the secretion of mucin but also the expression of the mucin gene and could be helpful for treating pulmonary disease caused by secretion of mucin.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2013

Obesity is consistently increasing in prevalence and can trigger insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Many lines of evidence have shown that macrophages play a major role in inflammation associated with obesity. This study was conducted to determine metformin, a widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, would regulate inflammation through down-regulation of scavenger receptors in macrophages from obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation, and C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet to generate obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mice. Metformin reduced the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) through down-regulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ translocation in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the protein expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were enhanced or maintained by metformin. Also, metformin suppressed secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and reduced the protein and mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in obese mice as well as in macrophages. The expression of scavenger receptors, CD36 and SR-A, were attenuated by metformin in macrophages and obese mice. These results suggest that metformin may attenuate inflammatory responses by suppressing the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the expressions of scavenger receptors.

• 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.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2005

Bioflavone quercetin is thought to have an important role to inhibit bone loss by affecting osteoclastogenesis and regulating a number of systemic and local factors such as hormones and cytokines. In this study, we examined how quercetin acts on cytokine production and mineralization of osteoblast in the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha $(TNF-{\alpha})$ which has been known to play a pivotal role in bone metabolic diseases. Quercetin inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ secretion of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-6 in differentiated MC3T3-E1 cells. As indicated by the markers that are characteristics of the osteoblast phenotype, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition, quercetin treatment slightly prevented the $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ dramatic inhibition of differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. Further, quercetin inhibited the production of nitric oxide induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that quercetin inhibites $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ secretion of inflammatory cytokines in differentiated MC3T3-E1 cells without any cytotoxic effects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.650-666
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• 2010

Objectives : In this study, the author tried to investigate whether wood vinegar produced from Morus alba (MA) significantly affects the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances and hyperplasia of tracheal goblet cells of rats, and in vitro airway mucin secretion and PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production / gene expression from human airway epithelial cells. Materials and Methods : For the in vivo experiment, the author induced hypersecretion of airway mucus and goblet cell hyperplasia by exposure of rats to SO2 over 3 weeks. Effect of orally-administered MA over 2 weeks on increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats and hyperplasia of goblet cells were assessed using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with alcian blue. For the in vitro experiment, confluent RTSE cells were chased for 30 min in the presence of MA to assess the effect of MA on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, effects of MA on PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of MA and treated with PMA (10 ng/ml), EGF (25 ng/ml) or TNF-alpha (0.2 nm) for 24 hrs, to assess both effects of MA on PMA- or EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Possible cytotoxicities of MA in vitro were assessed by examining LDH release from RTSE cells and the rate of survival and proliferation of NCI-H292 cells. In vivo liver and kidney toxicities of MA were evaluated by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN/creatinine concentrations of rats after administering MA orally. Results : 1. MA decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of rats exposed to sulfur dioxide inhalationally. 2. MA decreased in vitro mucin secretion from cultured RTSE cells. 3. MA significantly inhibited PMA-, EGF-, and TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC mucin productions and the expression levels of MUC5AC mRNA from NCI-H292 cells. 4. MA did not show either in vitro or in vivo hepatic or renal toxicities. Conclusion : The results from this study suggests that MA can regulate the secretion, production and gene expression of airway mucin observed in diverse respiratory diseases accompanied by mucus hypersecretion and does not show in vivo toxicity to liver and kidney functions after oral administration. Effects of MA should be further studied using animal experimental models that simulate the diverse pathophysiology of respiratory diseases via future research.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2005

'SecSec' has been used for the purpose of prevention and treatment of throat diseases such as sore throat, cough, bronchial asthma and allergic asthma in Korea. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. To investigate the biological effect of SecSec, we examined cytotoxicity and secretion of inflammatory cytokines on human leukemic mast cell line, HMC-1, stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187. SecSec by itself had no cytotoxicity on HMC-1. When SecSec (1 mg/ml) was added, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha $(TNF-{\alpha})$, interleukin (IL)-6, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was significantly inhibited about 47.20%, 25.55%, and 46.43%, respectively on PMA plus A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells. But SecSec did not inhibit IL-8 secretion. These findings may help understanding the mechanism of action of this medicine leading to control activated mast cells on allergic inflammatory condition like asthma.