• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.111-122
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• 2021

Recently, interleukin 34 (IL-34) was identified as the second functional ligand for macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (M-CSFR). IL-34 functions similarly to M-CSF through its binding to the M-CSFR. There is still insufficient information on IL-34 in chickens, which has until now been reported only through predicted sequences and not through experimental research. Thus, to confirm its expression and to determine its potent biological activity, several chicken lines and cell lines were used. Cloning of recombinant chicken IL-34 and M-CSF genes was performed to investigate their modulatory effects on proinflammatory cytokine expression in vitro. The expression levels of IL-34, M-CSF, and M-CSFR genes were upregulated in broiler chickens with leg dysfunction (cause unknown). However, IL-34 was downregulated in most pathogen-stimulated tissues. M-CSFR expression was enhanced by recombinant IL-34 and M-CSF proteins in vitro. IFN-γ expression was enhanced by recombinant IL-34, but not by M-CSF. However, IL-12 expression was not regulated in any of the treated cells, and IL-1β was decreased in all tissues. These results indicate that IL-34 and M-CSF have roles in both the classical and alternative macrophage activation pathways. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the expression of IL-34 in chickens for pathogenic trials, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that the IL-34 protein plays a role in both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions in macrophages. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the cytokines or chemokines that can be induced by IL-34 and to further elucidate the functions of IL-34 in the inflammatory pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.189-202
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• 2017

This study was designed to examine the in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gonglodes) extract. Kohlrabi was extracted using 70% ethanol and then fractionated sequentially with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol. Antioxidative ability was evaluated by bioassays using total polyphenol contents and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid diammonium salt) radical scavenging activity. Ethyl acetate fraction of kohlrabi was best on total polyphenol contents ($27.33{\pm}0.26mg\;GAE/g$) and ABTS radical scavenging effects ($IC_{50}\;172.9{\pm}1.6{\mu}g/mL$).For the anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells, the EtOAc fraction showed the highest inflammatory effect. Dose response studies were performed to determine the inhibitory effect of EtOAc fraction of kohlrabi on pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The EtOAc fraction of kohlrabi inhibited the NO and $PGE_2$ production and the protein level of iNOS and COX-2, and protein expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$), in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that kohlrabi has considerable potential as a ingredient with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.6739-6745
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• 2014

Acer tegmentosum Maxim (AT) is a species of the maple genus, which is native to North-Eastern China and Korea. Traditionally, AT has been already used for pain relief in Korea. On the other hand, its antidepressant-like activity and related molecular mechanisms is not completely understood. Using the Forced Swimming Test (FST), the effects of a subacute treatment with AT(100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) on the immobility and FST-induced changes to the immune parameters, cortisol, ACTH, and cytokine, in rats were investigated. The tendency of immobility showed a dose-dependent decrease in FST. The levels of cortisol, IL-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ in the peripheral blood were increased significantly after FST exposure. Overall, these results suggest that AT treatment can decrease the immobility time and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the FST, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effects of AT might be involved in the antidepressant-like effect.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.389-395
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• 2019

This study investigated the pharmaceutical extraction and the functional health food extraction, which have a beneficial effect on the human body and which can be used safely for a long period of time without adverse side effects and also have excellent effects of protecting liver and improving liver function. As the results, the cabbage extract does not show cytotoxicity, and thus can be used safely. In an experiment performed on an animal model with liver injury induced by a drug (APAP), it could be seen that the cabbage extract exhibited the effects of protecting liver and improving liver function by effectively reducing AST and ALT which are liver injury markers, indicating that the cabbage extract is effective as a pharmaceutical extraction for preventing or treating liver disease. In particular, the cabbage extract was effective in treating inflammation of the liver by reducing the expression of the inflammatory mediators iNOS and COX-2 and the proinflammatory cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$, which are involved in acute inflammatory reactions accompanying liver injury. In the results, an extract of cabbage heat-treated at a temperature of 100 to $150^{\circ}C$ had a better liver function-improving effect or anti-inflammatory effect than an extract of raw cabbage.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.321-326
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between TNF polymorphism and generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP) in Korean subjects. The study population consisted of 60 subjects with GAP and 81 reference group. Genomic DNA was extracted from the buccal swabs and the polymorphisms of $TNF-{\alpha}-308$, -238 promoter genes, $TNF-{\beta}+252$ and TNFR 2+587 were determined by PCR-RFLP using restriction enzymes. The genotype distribution in the GAP were 3.2%, 38.7%, and 82.35% for A/A, A/G and G/G genotypes of $TNF-{\alpha}-308$. At the position of $TNF-{\alpha}-238$, the genotype distribution in the GAP were 25.5% and 74.5% for A/G and G/G genotypes. Allele A frequency of $TNF-{\alpha}-238$ were 67.6% in GAP and 72.2% in reference group. According to these findings, the polymorphism at $TNF-{\alpha}-308$ and -238 may be associated with GAP in Korean.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.1090-1098
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• 2016

The anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract from Grateloupia crispata (GCEE) were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages. Anti-inflammatory effects were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. There was no cytotoxic effect on proliferation of macrophages treated with GCEE compared to the control. GCEE significantly inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$] as well as nitric oxide in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, GCEE suppressed expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ in a dose-dependent manner. GCEE significantly reduced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. In the in vivo test, evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of GCEE was performed using croton oil-induced ear edema in ICR mice. Oral administration of 10 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg of GCEE significantly reduced ear edema in a dose-dependent manner compared to croton oil-induced mice. Moreover, GCEE reduced ear thickness and the number of mast cells compared to croton oil-induced mice in the histological analysis. These data suggest that GCEE could be used as a potential source for anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and multifactorial inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and chronic pruritus. AD has a complex etiology that includes genetic, immunological, and environmental factors that cause skin barrier abnormalities and immune dysfunctions. Sophora flavescens (SF) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, but little research has been conducted on its anti-AD efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of SF extract (SFE) on improving skin barrier function and immune abnormalities, which are the main symptoms of AD. SFE has the capacity to enhance the formation of cornified envelope (CE) that plays an important role in the skin barrier function. In addition, it was confirmed that SFE increased the expression of hyaluronic acid related to skin moisture. The effect of SFE against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which increases specifically in AD lesions, confirmed that SFE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by S. aureus. Furthermore, SFE was shown to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by substance P (SP), the cause of skin neurogenic inflammation. These results demonstrate that SFE could be one of potential candidate agent for the treatment of AD by improving the skin barrier function and immune responses.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.442-451
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Sargassum miyabei Yendo ethanol extract (SMYEE) using RAW 264.7 cells and croton oil-induced Balb/c mice. SMYEE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$] and nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response. In addition, SMYEE suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear factor-kappa B. Further, SMYEE inhibited the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as extra cellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. In ear edema test, edema formation in the SMYEE treatment was lower than that in the positive control and was similar to that in the prednisolone treatment group. Photomicrographs of mice ear tissue showed a reduction in dermal thickness and number of infiltrated mast cells. Therefore, our results indicate that SMYEE exerts an anti-inflammatory effect via inhibition of nuclear factor ${NF}-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK activation and can be used as a natural source of anti-inflammatory compounds.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.590-596
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• 2016

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities of the ethanol extracts (GBE) of grape branches (Campbell Early). The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of GBE was $201.42{\pm}4.16$ and $11.85{\pm}0.44mg\;GAE/g$, respectively. The antioxidant activity of GBE was measured using the ABTS and DPPH assays, and the $IC_{50}$ values were $45.60{\pm}0.09$ and $299.13{\pm}0.22$, respectively. GBE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, iNOS, $PGE_2$, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, GBE treatment significantly suppressed the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 cytokines in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 human mast cells. Furthermore, the administration of GBE markedly inhibited the scratching behavior induced by the compound 48/80 in ICR mice. These results suggested that GBE has potential as a therapeutic agent against inflammation and itch-related skin diseases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2021

Sepsis is a physiological response to a source of infection that triggers mechanisms that compromise organ function, leading to death if not treated early. Biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, speed, and accuracy that could differentiate sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) could bring about a revolution in sepsis treatment. Given the limitations and time required for microbial verification of pathogens, the accurate diagnosis of infection before employing antibiotic therapy is important and clinically necessary. Procalcitonin (PCT), lactate, C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, and proadrenomedullin (ProADM) are the common biomarkers used for diagnosis. The procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic treatment in patients with acute respiratory infections effectively reduces antibiotic exposure and side effects while improving survival rates. The evidence regarding sepsis screening in hospitalized patients is limited. Clinicians, researchers, and healthcare decision-makers should consider these findings and limitations when implementing screening tools, future research, or policy on sepsis recognition in hospitalized patients. The use of biomarkers in pediatric sepsis is promising, although such use should always be correlated with clinical evaluation. Biomarkers may also improve the prediction of mortality, especially in the early phase of sepsis, when the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteins are elevated.