• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.33-43
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the protective effects of acupuncture on the liver in the oxidative stress caused by cadmium accumulation. Sprague-Dawley male($150{\pm}30g$) rats were stabilized for a week and divided into 5 groups which is normal, control, $LR_3$ acupuncture, $BL_{23}$ acupuncture and sham acupuncture group. For three days experimental groups were received oral doses of cadmium 2 mg/kg twice a day. Acupuncture was given bilaterally at each point 10 times for two weeks. The depth of stimulation was 1 mm at right angles and torsion of acupuncture was produced 2 times per second for 1 minutes. The liver was shipped off and taken weight at the last day of two weeks, and hepatic functions was confirmed through alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate amino-transferase(AST). We measured reactive oxygen species of serum, liver and kidney, and compared expression levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase(Gpx), nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor 2(Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), Bax and Cytochrome c. $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly increased liver weight and decreased ALT compared to control group. For the oxidative stress, $LR_3$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species, and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species and inflammation-related protein compared to control group. But $LR_3$ acupuncture group and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group didn't significantly reduce apoptosis-related protein. Therefore $LR_3$ and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture showed the effects of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, especially $BL_{23}$ acupuncture was more effective than $LR_3$ acupuncture on the protection of liver in the oxidative stress.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

We investigated the role of central P2X receptors in inflammatory pain transmission in the orofacial area in rats. Experiments were carried out using male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230-280g. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, $40{\mu}L$) was applied subcutaneously to the vibrissa pad to produce inflammatory pain. The intracisternal administration of iso-PPADS tetrasodium salt, a non-selective P2X receptor antagonist, A317491 sodium salt hydrate, a $P2X_{2/3}$ receptor antagonist, 5-BDBD, a $P2X_4$ receptor antagonist, or A438079 hydrochloride, a $P2X_7$ receptor antagonist, was performed 5 days after CFA injection. Subcutaneous injections of CFA produced increases in thermal hypersensitivity. Intracisternal injections of iso-PPADS ($25{\mu}g$) or A438079 (25 or $50{\mu}g$) produced significant anti-hyperalgesic effects against thermal stimuli compared to the vehicle group. A317491 or 5-BDBD did not affect the head withdrawal latency times in rats showing an inflammatory response. Subcutaneous injections of CFA resulted in the up-regulation of OX-42, a microglia marker, and GFAP, an astrocyte marker, in the medullary dorsal horn. The intracisternal administration of A438079 reduced the numbers of activated microglia and astrocytes in the medullary dorsal horn. These results suggest that a blockade of the central $P2X_7$ receptor produces antinociceptive effects, mediated by inhibition of glial cell function in the medullary dorsal horn. These data also indicate that central $P2X_7$ receptors are potential targets for future therapeutic approaches to inflammatory pain in the orofacial area.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.39-57
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study is to prove the effect of Kyejakjimotangkami(KMK) on osteoarthritis. Methods We checked antioxidant activity and measured production of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ in RAW 264.7 cell after treat by KMK. Then we measured hind paw weight of Wister Rat with arthritis induced by MIA after KMK oral administration, checked Prostaglandin E2, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, Osteocalcin, TIMP-1, MMP-9, LTB-4 in serum, ran histopathological test and ${\mu}CT$-arthrography. Results 1. DPPH radical Scavenging was increased depend on concentration of KMK ethanol extract in RAW 264.7 cell. 2. Production of NO was significantly decreased by KMK ethanol extract on concentration of $200{\mu}g/ml$ in RAW 264.7 cell. 3. Production of IL-$1{\beta}$ was significantly decreased by KMK ethanol extract on concentration of $200{\mu}g/ml$. And Production of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly decreased KMK ethanol extract of every concentration in RAW 264.7 cell. 4. Result of checking hind paw weight when administered KMK ethanol extract to Wister Rat with arthritis induced by MIA was significantly higher than control group and similar to normal group. 5. Production of Prostaglandin E2, IL-$1{\beta}$, Osteocalcin, TIMP-1, MMP-9 and LTB-4 in serum was significantly decreased by KMK ethanol extract after administerd to Wister Rat with arthritis induced by MIA. 6. In Hematoxylin & Eosin staining and Safranin-O staining, we could find inflammation of synovial cell, infiltration of macrophage and granulocyte and degeneration of cartilage and bone were decreased in comparison with control group. 7. When checked cartilage volume to examine degree of cartilage degeneration using ${\mu}CT$-arthrography, volume of cartilage was increased in comparison with control group. Conclusions Comparison of the results for this study showed that KMK ethanol extract have anti-inflammatory effectiveness and can protect cartilage and bone. So we expect that KMK can be used as a effective drugs for osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.478-486
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• 1995

Periodontal therapy for treatment of periodontitis involves the elimination of bacterial plaque and elimination of the anatomic defects by regenerative procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate on the biological effect of magnolia and Ginkgo biloba extract to the antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and cellular activity. Antimicrobial assay was performed with the diffusion method of the extract by measuring of growth inhibitory zone of B. cereus from blood agar plate. Effect of the extract to cellular activity of gingival fibroblast were examined using MTT method and measured the result with optical density on 570nm by ELISA reader. Inhibitory effects of $PGE_2$ production from gingival fibroblast was performed with the addition of $IL-l{\beta}$ and the extract to the well and examined to the product of $PGE_2$ from cell by ELISA reader. In vivo anti-inflammatory effect was performed with injection examined with clinically and histologically for their extent of mecrosis and inflammation. Antimicrobial activity of Magnolia extract showed significantly higher activity than that of control. However, GBE did not showed significant activity to compare with control, and mixture of Magnolia and GBE extract showed significantly higher activity than that of control. The effect of cellular activity to gingival fibroblast showed no significant differences of between control and Magnolia extract. However, GBE showed significantly higher rate of cellular activity to compare with control and even to PDGF-BB, and also showed same degree of cellular activity even though mixed with Magnolia extract. The inhibitory effect of $PGE_2$ production showed significantly reduction of $PGE_2$ production to compare with control, but its inhibitory effect was not much strong to compare with Indomethacin. In vivo, antiinflammatory effect of Magnolia extract to P. gingivalis injection of Hamster buccal check showed significantly reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue necrosis, but GBE showed no effect on the inhibition of inflammatory process. These results suggested that Magnolia and GBE extract possessed different kind of biological activity and also can be compensated on their activity with each other for elimination of bacterial plaque and anatonical defect.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.682-698
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• 2000

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functions as a suppressor of inflammation by inhibiting the expression of many cytokine genes activated by NF-${\kappa}B$. The goal of this study is to investigate the mechanism by which GR repress NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in lung epithelial cells. We used A549 and BEAS-2B lung epithelia! cell lines. Using Ig$G{\kappa}$-NF-${\kappa}B$ luciferase reporter gene construct, we found that dexamethasone significantly suppressed TNF-$\alpha$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the overexpression of GR showed dose-dependent reduction of TNF-$\alpha$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in both cell lines. However, DNA binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ induced by TNF-$\alpha$ in electromobility shift assay was not inhibited by dexamethasone. Super shift assay with anti-p65 antibody demonstrated the existence of p65 in NF-${\kappa}B$ complex induced by $\alpha$ Western blot showed that $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation induced by TNF-$\alpha$ was not affected by dexamethasone and $I{\kappa}B{\kappa}$ was not induced by dexamethasone, neither. To evaluate p65 specific transactivation, we adopted co-transfection study of Gal4-p65TA1 or TA2 fusion protein expression system together with 5xGal4-luciferase vector. Co-transfection of GR with Gal4-p65TA1 or TA2 repressed luciferase activity profoundly to the level of 10-20% of p65TA1- or TA2-induced transcriptional activity. And this transrepressional effect was abolished by co-transfection of CBP of SRC-1 expression vectors. These results suggest that GR-mediated transrepression of NF-${\kappa}B$ in lung epithelial cells is through competing for binding to limiting amounts of transcriptional coactivators, CBP or SRC-1.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.273-277
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• 2004

Methotrexate is commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis as an anti-inflammatory agent, but treatment with methotrexate can lead to severe side effects, especially pulmonary complication. Interstitial pneumonitis is one of the most important pulmonary adverse effects of methotrexate and most patient present with a subacute febrile illness and peripheral eosinophilia is seen in about a half of patients. Almost all patients have abnormal chest roentgenograms and bibasilar interstitial infiltration with alveolar pulmonary consolidations is the most characteristic finding. Interstitial inflammation with mononuclear cell infiltration is a characteristic pathologic feature and findings that suggest acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis, such as bronchiolitis, granuloma formation with giant cells, and infiltration with eosinophils are often present. Methotrexate-induced pneumonitis is a potentially life threatening and unpredictable complication but it is difficult to make a definite diagnosis in the absence of high index of clinical suspicion. Early recognition and appropriate management may avoid the serious outcome. Herein we report a case of methotrexate-induced pneumonitis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.295-304
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• 2017

Opisthorchis viverrini infection induces chronic inflammation, and a minor proportion of infected individuals develop advanced periductal fibrosis (APF) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Inflammatory cytokines and/or their gene polymorphisms may link to these biliary pathologies. We therefore investigated associations among cytokine gene polymorphisms and cytokine production in 510 Thai cases infected with O. viverrini who presented with APF+ or APF-, as established by abdominal ultrasonography as well as in patients diagnosed with CCA. Levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined in culture supernatants after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with O. viverrini excretory-secretory (ES) products. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IFN-${\gamma}$, LT-${\alpha}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly increased in CCA patients compared with non-CCA (APF- and APF+) cases. Polymorphisms in genes encoding IL-$1{\beta}$-511C/T, IL-6-174G/C, IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G, and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A were then investigated by using PCR-RFLP or allele specific-PCR (AS-PCR) analyses. In the CCA cases, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A heterozygous and homozygous variants showed significantly higher levels of these cytokines than the wild type. By contrast, levels of cytokines in wild type of IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A were significantly higher than the variants in CCA cases. IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A polymorphisms were associated with advanced periductal fibrosis, whereas IL-6-174G/C polymorphisms were associated with CCA. To our knowledge, these findings provide the first demonstration that O. viverrini infected individuals carrying several specific cytokine gene polymorphisms are susceptible to develop fibrosis and CCA.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.244-255
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• 2018

Low-grade pro-inflammatory state and leptin resistance are important underlying mechanisms that contribute to obesity-associated hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that Astragaloside IV (As IV), known to counteract obesity and hypertension, could prevent obesity-associated hypertension by inhibiting pro-inflammatory reaction and leptin resistance. High-fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats were randomly assigned to three groups: the HFD control group (HF con group), As IV group, and the As IV + ${\alpha}$-bungaratoxin (${\alpha}-BGT$) group (As IV+${\alpha}-BGT$ group). As IV ($20mg{\cdot}Kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) was administrated to rats for 6 weeks via daily oral gavage. Body weight and blood pressure were continuously measured, and NE levels in the plasma and renal cortex was evaluated to reflect the sympathetic activity. The expressions of leptin receptor (LepRb) mRNA, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3), phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA, and protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) mRNA, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA and neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA were measured by Western blot or qRT-PCR to evaluate the hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. Additionally, we measured the protein or mRNA levels of ${\alpha}7nAChR$, inhibitor of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ kinase subunit ${\beta}/nuclear$ factor ${\kappa}B$ ($IKK{\beta}/NF-KB$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$) in hypothalamus and adipose tissue to reflect the anti-inflammatory effects of As IV through upregulating expression of ${\alpha}7nAChR$. We found that As IV prevented body weight gain and adipose accumulation, and also improved metabolic disorders in HFD rats. Furthermore, As IV decreased BP and HR, as well as NE levels in blood and renal tissue. In the hypothalamus, As IV alleviated leptin resistance as evidenced by the increased p-STAT3, LepRb mRNA and POMC mRNA, and decreased p-PI3K, SOCS3 mRNA, and PTP1B mRNA. The effects of As IV on leptin sensitivity were related in part to the up-regulated ${\alpha}7nAchR$ and suppressed $IKK{\beta}/NF-KB$ signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus and adipose tissue, since co-administration of ${\alpha}7nAChR$ selective antagonist ${\alpha}-BGT$ could weaken the improved effect of As IV on central leptin resistance. Our study suggested that As IV could efficiently prevent obesityassociated hypertension through inhibiting inflammatory reaction and improving leptin resistance; furthermore, these effects of As IV was partly related to the increased ${\alpha}7nAchR$ expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1396-1402
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• 2009

Hizikia fusiforme is a kind of edible brown seaweed that grows mainly in the northwest Pacific including Korea, Japan and China, and has been widely used as food in Korea. Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production is thought to have beneficial immunomodulatory effects in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. In this study, we investigated the effects of extracts of H. fusiforme on the expression of COX-2 and production of $PGE_2$ in U937 human pre-monocytic cell models. In U937 cells stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to mimic inflammation, methanol extract of H. fusiforme (MEHF) and ethanol extract of H. fusiforme (EEHF), but not water extract of H. fusiforme (WEHF), inhibited PMA-induced expression of both COX-2 protein and mRNA, which was associated with inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. To investigate the mechanism by which MEHF and EEHF inhibit COX-2 gene expression and $PGE_2$ production, we examined the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-$\kappa$B) in U937 cells. Pre-treatment with MEHF and EEHF significantly attenuated the PMA-induced IkappaB degradation and prevented nuclear translocation of NF-$\kappa$B. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of H. fusiforme.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.567-575
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• 2014

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring stilbene which is safe and well-described compound with a potent anti-inflammatory activity. Recent studies suggested that resveratrol suppressed various inflammation mediated diseases such as asthma, chronic colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes. These studies indicated that resveratrol might directly modulate $CD4^+$ helper T cells (Th cells)-mediated immune responses. However, it is not fully elucidated whether resveratrol directly regulates $CD4^+$ Th cell activation and differentiation. In the present study, $CD4^+$ Th cells were purified from C57BL/6 and treated with various concentrations of resveratrol. We found that resveratrol directly suppressed $CD4^+$ Th cells activation, leading to a defect in T cell proliferation. When $CD4^+$ Th cells were treated with resveratrol, cytokine production was also significantly reduced in a dose dependent manner. In accordance with these results, resveratrol even inhibited $CD4^+$ Th cells differentiation into Th1, Th2 or Th17, which produces IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4 or IL-17 respectively. We also found that resveratrol could induce apoptosis of $CD4^+$ T cells at a high concentration. Our data demonstrated that resveratrol inhibited directly $CD4^+$ Th cells activation and differentiation. It suggests that resveratrol could be an efficient therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases in which $CD4^+$ Th cells play a critical role.