• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 2022

Relaxin has been demonstrated to have regulatory functions on both the smooth muscle and extracellular matrix (ECM) of blood vessels and fibrotic organs. The diverse mechanisms by which relaxin acts on small resistance arteries and fibrotic organs, including the bladder, are reviewed here. Relaxin induces vasodilation by inhibiting the contractility of vascular smooth muscles and by increasing the passive compliance of vessel walls through the reduction of ECM components, such as collagen. The primary cellular mechanism whereby relaxin induces arterial vasodilation is mediated by the endothelium-dependent production of nitric oxide (NO) through the activation of RXFP1/PI3K, Akt phosphorylation, and eNOS. In addition, relaxin triggers different alternative pathways to enhance the vasodilation of renal and mesenteric arteries. In small renal arteries, relaxin stimulates the activation of the endothelial MMPs and EtB receptors and the production of VEGF and PlGF to inhibit myogenic contractility and collagen deposition, thereby bringing about vasodilation. Conversely, in small mesenteric arteries, relaxin augments bradykinin (BK)-evoked relaxation in a time-dependent manner. Whereas the rapid enhancement of the BK-mediated relaxation is dependent on IK_Ca channels and subsequent EDH induction, the sustained relaxation due to BK depends on COX activation and PGI₂. The anti-fibrotic effects of relaxin are mediated by inhibiting the invasion of inflammatory immune cells, the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), and the differentiation and activation of myofibroblasts. Relaxin also activates the NOS/NO/cGMP/PKG-1 pathways in myofibroblasts to suppress the TGF-β1-induced activation of ERK1/2 and Smad2/3 signaling and deposition of ECM collagen.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2016

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important macromolecule in medical and pharmaceutical fields. HA is a natural and linear polymer composed of repeating disaccharide units of β-1, 3-N-acetyl glucosamine and β-1, 4-glucuronic acid. This work aimed to confirm the structural characteristics and anti-inflammatory activities of HA and its chemically sulfated-HA. HA was produced from a fed-batch fermentation process using Streptococcus dysgalactiae in a 5 l bioreactor. HA was isolated water-soluble form (HA-WS) and water-insoluble form (HA-WI) from culture medium, and was obtained chemically sulfated-derivative (S-HA) that resulted in a 90% yield from HA-WI. The structural features of the sulfated- HA (S-HA) were investigated by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The FT-IR and NMR patterns revealed the similarity in both the FTIR spectrum as well as NMR spectrum of both reference standard and purified HA from S. dysgalactiae. The anti-inflammatory activities of HA and S-HA were examined on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. S-HA was significantly inhibited production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and PGE₂ and the gene levels of iNOS and COX-2, which are responsible for the production of NO and PGE₂, respectively. Furthermore, S-HA also suppressed the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α (<80 pg/ml) and IL-6 (<100 pg/ml) compared to that of HA-WI. The present study clearly demonstrates that HA-S exhibits anti-inflammatory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2013

Pholiota nameko is an edible mushroom belonged to Family Strophariaceae of Agaricales, Basidiomycota. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities for the methanol and hot water extracts prepared from fruiting bodies of Pholiota nameko. Besides measuring for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, a reducing power and a chelating activity on ferrous ions were also measured to evaluate the antioxidant activity for those extracts. To measure the anti-inflammatory activities for the extracts, nitric oxide(NO) production from lipopolysaccharide treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and carrageenan-induced acute hind paw edema of rats were investigated. The results showed that those extracts has a excellent chelating activity on the ferrous ions compared with positive controls. And it also turned out that extracts had a good DPPH activity and a reducing power. The NO production in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were decreasing as we increased concentration of those mushroom extracts. Significant reduction of paw edema were also observed at 2~6 h after we treated methanol and hot-water extracts at the 50 mg/kg concentration to the rats which are induced acute hind paw edema by carrageenan treatment. The experimental results suggested that methanol and hot-water extracts of Pholiota nameko fruiting bodies might be used for potential source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.661-674
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the level of MMP-2, MMP-8 in the healthy, inflammed gingival tissue and inflammed gingival tissue associated with type 2 DM. We investigate whether expression of MMP-2, MMP-8 is increased by chronic periodontitis associated with type 2 DM. Gingival tissue samples were obtained during periodontal surgery or tooth extraction. Based on patient's systemic condition & clinical criteria of gingiva, each gingival samples were divided into three groups. Group l(n=8) is clinically healthy gingiva without bleeding and no evidence of bone resorption or periodontal pockets, obtained from 8 systemically healthy patients. Group 2(n=8) is inflammed gingiva from patients with chronic periodontitis. Group 3(n=8) is inflammed gingiva from type 2 diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis. Tissue samples were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting. The quantification of MMP-2, MMP-8 was performed using a densitometer and statistically analyzed by ANOVA. MMP-2, MMP-8 was expressed in all samples including healthy gingiva and increased in group 3 compared to group 1 and 2, and showed that significant variation was observed between group 1 & 3 in MMP-8 results. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that human gingival tissue with chronic periodontitis associated to type 2 diabetes showed slightly elevated MMP-2, MMP-8 levels compared to healthy gingiva and non-diabetic inflamed gingiva.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.269-277
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• 2013

Dictyophora indusiata is an edible mushroom belongs to Family Phallaceae of Phallales, Basidiomycota. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol and hot water extracts prepared from fruiting bodies of Dictyophora indusiata. Besides measuring of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, a reducing power and a chelating activity on ferrous ions were also measured to evaluate the antioxidant activity for those extracts. To measure the anti-inflammatory activities for the extracts, nitric oxide(NO) production from lipopolysaccharide(LPS) treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and carrageenan-induced acute hind paw edema of rats were investigated. The results showed that the extracts have excellent DPPH scavenging and chelating activity on the ferrous ions compared with positive control. The nitric oxide(NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were decreased as we increased the concentration of the mushroom extracts. Significant reduction of paw edema of rats were observed at 2~6 h after treatment of methanol and hot-water extracts with 50 mg/kg concentration to the rats which are induced acute hind paw edema by carrageenan administration. Therefore, the experimental results suggested that methanol and hot-water extracts of Dictyophora indusiata fruiting bodies might be used for natural sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2013

Phellinus xeranticus is an medicinal mushroom belongs to Family Hymenochaetaceae of Polyporales, Basidiomycota. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of methanol and hot water extracts prepared from fruiting bodies of Phellinus xeranticus. Besides measuring of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, a reducing power and a chelating activity on ferrous ions were also measured to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extracts. To measure the anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts, nitric oxide(NO) production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and carrageenan-induced acute hind paw edema of rats were investigated. The results showed that the extracts have excellent DPPH scavenging and chelating activity on the ferrous ions compared with positive controls. The nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were decreased as the concentration of the mushroom extracts increased. Significant reduction of paw edema of rats were observed at 2~6 h after treatment of methanol and hot-water extracts with 50 mg/kg concentration to the rats which are induced acute hind paw edema by carrageenan administration. The anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of the methanol extract of the mushroom showed 83.34% inhibition on AcHE which is lower than that of positive control galanthamine. The experimental results suggested that methanol and hot-water extracts of Phellinus xeranticus fruiting bodies might be used for good sources of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-acetylcholinesterase agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.484-491
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• 2019

Proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds abundant in many vegetables, plant skins (rind/bark), seeds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated myriad effects potentially beneficial to human health, such as antioxidation, immunomodulation, DNA repair, and antitumor activity. Among immune cells, macrophages are crucial players in a variety of inflammatory responses to environmental conditions. However, it has been widely reported that macrophages cause chronic inflammation and are involved in a variety of diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. In this study, we report the suppressive effect of proanthocyanidins via the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-related system, on the immune response of the LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Increased HO-1 expression at mRNA and protein levels were found in proanthocyanidins-treated RAW264.7 cells. Further, proanthocyanidins enhanced nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 translocation into the nucleus. RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without proanthocyanidins, and inflammatory mediator expression levels were assessed. Proanthocyanidins treatment resulted in the attenuation of nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6, was inhibited by proanthocyanidins treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These findings support proanthocyanidins as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.881-885
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• 2005

Purpose : Airway dehydration and subsequent hyperosmolarity of periciliary fluid are considered critical events in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. The aim of this study was to establish if a hyperosmolar challenge could induce activation of eosinophils. Methods : Human eosinophilic leukaemic cell lines, EoL-1 cells were incubated with hyperosmolar solutions for 15 minutes. Activation of EoL-1 cells was monitored by degranulation and superoxide anion production. In addition, we examined surface expression of CD69 and ICAM-1. Results : Hyperosmolar stimuli didn't induce superoxide anion production and degranulation. In addition, EoL-1 cells cultured with hyperosmolar medium at 930 mOsm/kg $H_2O$ resulted in no significant increment in fluorescent intensity of CD69 and ICAM-1 expression compared with results for cells incubated with isomolar medium. Conclusion : We found that hyperosmolar stimuli don't cause activation of EoL-1 cells, but further studies are required to determine the role of eosinophil in the mechanism of exercise-induced asthma.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.476-482
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• 2020

In rice agriculture, Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi (olbanggae) is a target for herbicidal intervention as a problem weed although it has also long been used clinically as a traditional medicine for jaundice, fever, and blood flow. E. kuroguwai has been evaluated in many clinical trials, but its molecular biological advantages are still unknown. Here, we investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of E. kuroguwai 80% ethanol extracts by screening NO production in LPS-induced macrophage activation. To find the most effective fractions, we partitioned five sub-fractions using HP20 column chromatography, namely 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. Of these, the 60% and 80% sub-fractions were found to significantly inhibit NO production; there were no toxicological effects at any concentration. In addition, the 80% sub-fraction inhibited significantly the iNOS and the mRNA of the pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β by inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK pathways associated with MAPKs signaling. Our results suggest that the 80% E. kuroguwai sub-fraction has the most significant anti-inflammatory effects of inhibiting iNOS and pro-inflammatory mediators and suppressing the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK. Therefore, the 80% sub-fraction of E. kuroguwai extract may be a therapeutic candidate for inflammatory diseases associated with the overexpression of MAPKs.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.488-497
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to confirmed anti-inflammatory effect the apple Induced by mutants with ${\gamma}-Ray$ extract. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay using RAW 264.7 cells. The extracts measured through changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), inflammatory cytokines, NF-kB, and COX-2 on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. All test results were analyzed by ELISA reader, Luminex and RT-PCR. In result, the extracts was not toxic below in 25 ug/ml, and extracts was inhibited the productions nitric oxide, ROS, cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a), NF-kB and COX-2 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Also, the expression levels were decreased on mRNA of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and COX-2. In other words, Perilla frutescens var. crispa Induced by mutants with ${\gamma}-Ray$ extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory effect. These results may be developed as a raw material for new health food and therapeutics to ease the related to the above mediators.