• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2007

Objectives : Sophora flavescens (SF) is widely used in traditional herbal medicine in Korea and is well recognized for its anti-inflammatory effect. However, its effect on Tumornecrosis factor alpha (Tnf) production in BV2 microglial cell is not yet known. Methods : We investigated the effect of SF on the production and expression of Tnf, a well known inflammatory mediator, in lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-activated BV2 microglial cells. Results : The LPS-induced Tnf production was markedly reduced by treatment with SF (50 ${\mu}g/ml$). In reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, SF suppressed the LPS activated expression of Tnf mRNA. In addition, Western blot analysis confirmed that SF suppressed the expression of Tnf. Sophora flavescens also inhibited the LPS-induced phosphylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), which mediate the Tnfproduction signaling pathway whereas LPS-induced phosphylation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK) was not inhibited by SF, which implies that SF suppresses LPS-induced Tnf production via the ERK mediated pathway. Conclusion : Taken together, these findings indicated that SF inhibits LPS-induce Tnf production, and that this inhibitory effect is mediated via the ERK pathway.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

Objectives Hwanggeumjakyak-tang (HJT) has traditionally been used to treat gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases; however, its protective effects against neuronal inflammation are still undiscovered. Methods We investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of HJT water extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 mouse microglia cells. BV2 cells were treated with LPS (1 ㎍/mL) 1 hour prior to the addition of HJT. We measured cell viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and nitrite production using the Griess assay. We performed a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay to measure messenger RNA expression of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Western blot analysis was performed to determine protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)α. Results HJT inhibited excessive nitrite release in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells and also significantly inhibited inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Moreover, HJT significantly suppressed LPS-induced MAPK and NF-κB activation and inhibited the elevation of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the brain of LPS-injected mice. Conclusions Our study highlights the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of HJT via MAPK and NF-κB deactivation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2006

Objectives : Coptidis Rhizoma has been known traditional medicine with antimicrobial activities. We investigated inhibitory effects of Coptidis Rhizoma extract on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nitric oxide production from mouse macrophages. Methods : After Coptidis Rhizoma extract was pretreated in BV2, mouse brain macrophages and RAW264.7 mouse macrophages, cells were activated with LPS. To investigate cytotoxicity Coptidis Rhizoma extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The production of nitric oxide(NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) was determined in each culture supernatant and mRNA by Griess reaction and RT-PCR. The production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ from cells was measured by ELISA. Results : Coptidis Rhizoma extract significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production in BV2 and RAW264.7 cells. Coptidis Rhizoma extract also greatly suppressed mRNA expression of iNOS in BV2 and RAW264.7 cells activated by LPS. Conclusion : These data suggests that Coptidis Rhizoma extract may have an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of NO production.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.93-102
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• 2008

Objectives : Forsythiae Fructus (Forsythia koreana Nakai) has been used anti-inflammatory, diuretics, antidote, and antibacterials in traditional herbal medicine. The present study is focused on the inhibitory effect of Forsythiae Fructus ethanol extract (FF-E) on the production of inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS and proinflammatory cytokines ($TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6) in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells, a mouse microglial cell line, and investigated the scavenging activity of FF-E. Methods : BV-2 cells were pre-incubated with FF-E for 30 min and then stimulated with LPS (1 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$) at indicated times. Cell toxicity of GCF was determined by MTT assay. The levels of NO, PGE2 and cytokines were measured by Griess assay and ELISA. The mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS and cytokines were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Free radical scavenging activity of GCF was determined by DPPH assay in tube test. Results : FF-E significantly inhibited the excessive production of NO, $PGE_2$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. In addition, FF-E attenuated the mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS, and proinflammatory cytokines. FF-E also significantly scavenged the DPPH free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions : These results indicate that FF-E exhibits anti-inflammatory property by suppressing the transcription of inflammatory mediator genes, suggesting the anti-inflammatory property of FF-E may make it useful as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of human neurodegenerative diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.339-346
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• 2000

Using murine immortalized microglial cells (BV-2), we examined the regulation of RANTES production stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), focusing on the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B.$ The result showed that RANTES (regulated upon activation of normal T cell expressed and secreted) was induced at the mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to LPS. From investigations of second messenger pathways involved in regulating the secretion of RANTES, we found that LPS induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), p38 MAPK and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), and activated $(NF)-{\kappa}B.$ To determine whether this MAPK phosphorylation is involved in LPS-stimulated RANTES production, we used specific inhibitors for p38 MAPK and Erk, SB 203580 and PD 98059, respectively. LPS-induced RANTES production was reduced approximately 80% at $25\;{\mu}M$ of SB 203580 treatment. But PD 98059 did not affect RANTES production. Pyrrolidine-dithiocarbamate (PDTC), $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, reduced RANTES secretion. These results suggest that LPS-induced RANTES production in microglial cells (BV-2) is mainly mediated by the coordination of p38 MAPK and $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ cascade.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.43-61
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to analyse single dose toxicity of Sweet Bee Venom(Sweet BV) extracted from the bee venom in Beagle dogs. Methods : All experiments were conducted under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) at Biotoxtech Company, a non-clinical study authorized institution. Male and female Beagle dogs of 5-6 months old were chosen for the pilot study of single dose toxicity of Sweet BV which was administered at the level of 9.0 mg/kg body weight which is 1300 times higher than the clinical application dosage as the high dosage, followed by 3.0 and 1.0 mg/kg as midium and low dosage, respectively. Equal amount of excipient(normal saline) to the Sweet BV experiment groups was administered as the control group. Results : 1. No mortality was witnessed in all of the experiment groups. 2. Hyperemia and movement disorder were observed around the area of administration in all the experiment groups, and higher occurrence in the higher dosage treatment. 3. For weight measurement, Neither male nor female groups showed significant changes. 4. To verify abnormalities of organs and tissues, thigh muscle which treated with Sweet BV, brain, liver, lung, kidney, and spinal cords were removed and histologocal observation using H-E staining was conducted. In the histologocal observation of thigh muscle, cell infiltration, inflammation, degeneration, necrosis of muscle fiber, and fibrosis were found in both thigh tissue. And the changes depend on the dose of Sweet BV. But the other organs did not showed in any abnormality. 5. The maximum dose of Sweet BV in Beagle dogs were over 9 mg/kg in this study. Conclusions : The above findings of this study suggest that Sweet BV is a relatively safe treatment medium. Further studies on the toxicity of Sweet BV should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.455-464
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• 2022

Efonidipine, a calcium channel blocker, is widely used for the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. In our preliminary study using structure-based virtual screening, efonidipine was identified as a potential inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3). Although its antihypertensive effect is widely known, the role of efonidipine in the central nervous system has remained elusive. The present study investigated the effects of efonidipine on the inflammation and cell migration induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using murine BV2 and human HMC3 microglial cell lines and elucidated signaling molecules mediating its effects. We found that the phosphorylations of JNK and its downstream molecule c-Jun in LPS-treated BV2 cells were declined by efonidipine, confirming the finding from virtual screening. In addition, efonidipine inhibited the LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nitric oxide. Similarly, the IL-1β production in LPS-treated HMC3 cells was also inhibited by efonidipine. Efonidipine markedly impeded cell migration stimulated by LPS in both cells. Furthermore, it inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor kappa B, thereby suppressing nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in LPS-treated BV2 cells. Taken together, efonidipine exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-migratory effects in LPS-treated microglial cells through inhibition of the JNK/NF-κB pathway. These findings imply that efonidipine may be a potential candidate for drug repositioning, with beneficial impacts on brain disorders associated with neuroinflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.519-527
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• 2017

Excessive activation of microglia causes the continuous production of neurotoxic mediators, which further causes neuron degeneration. Therefore, inhibition of microglial activation is a possible target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Balanophonin, a natural neolignoid from Firmiana simplex, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory effects and mechanism of balanophonin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia cells. BV2 microglia cells were stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of balanophonin. The results indicated that balanophonin reduced not only the LPS-mediated TLR4 activation but also the production of inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), $Interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), in BV2 cells. Balanophonin also inhibited LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) protein expression and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK. Interestingly, it also inhibited neuronal cell death resulting from LPS-activated microglia by regulating cleaved caspase-3 and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage in N2a cells. In conclusion, our data indicated that balanophonin may delay the progression of neuronal cell death by inhibiting microglial activation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.13-27
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• 2009

Objectives: Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) is the main component of Cinnamomi Ramulus and it has been reported that TCA inhibits inflammatory responses in various cell types. Inflammation-mediated neurological disorders induce the activation of macrophages such as microglia in brain, and these activated macrophages release various inflammation-related molecules, which can be neurotoxic if overproduced. In this study, we evaluated gene expression profiles using gene chip microarrays in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells to investigate the antiinflammatory effect of TCA on inflammatory responses in brain microglia. Methods: A negative control group was cultured in normal medium and a positive control group was stimulated with $1{\mu}g/ml$ in the absence of TCA. TCA group was pretreated with $10{\mu}g/ml$ before $1{\mu}g/ml$ LPS stimulation. The oligonucleotide microarray analysis was performed to obtain the expression profiles of 28,853 genes using gene chip mouse gene 1.0 ST array in this study. Results: In positive control group, 1522 probe sets were up-regulated in the condition of the cutoff value of 1.5-fold change and 341 genes with Unigene ID were retrieved. In TCA group, 590 probe sets were down-regulated from among 1522 probe sets and 33 genes with Unigene ID were retrieved, which included 6 inflammation-related genes. We found out that Id3 gene is associated with transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) signaling pathway and Klra8 gene is related to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathway. Conclusions: The results mean that TCA inhibits inflammatory responses through down-regulating the expressions of inflammation-related genes in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-88
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• 2010

Objectives: This research investigates the effect of the DHJHT extract on Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, the effects of the DHJHT extract on (1) the behavior (2) the infarction area of the hippocampus, and brain tissue injury in AD mice induced with ${\beta}A$ were investigated. Methods: The effects of the DHJHT extract on the proinflammation cytokines mRNA expression and production of BACE, APP and ${\beta}A$ in in BV2 microglial cell line treated by lipopolysacchaide(LPS) plus ${\beta}A$ were investigated. The effects of the DHJHT extract on the behavior of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine were investigated. Results: 1. The DHJHT extract suppressed the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, COX-2, and NOS-II, BACE and APP mRNA in BV2 microglial cell line treated by LPS plus ${\beta}A$. 2. The DHJHT extract suppressed the expression of ${\beta}A$ production in BV2 microglial cell line treated with LPS plus ${\beta}A$. 3. The DHJHT extract showed significantly inhibitory effect on the scopolamine-induced impairment of memory in the experiment of Morris water maze. 4. The DHJHT group suppressed the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-$\alpha$, MDA, and CD68+/CD11b+ in the brain tissue of the mice with AD induced by ${\beta}A$. 5. The DHJHT group reduced the infarction area of hippocampus, and controlled the injury of the brain tissue in the mice with AD induced by ${\beta}A$. 6. The DHJHT group reduced tau protein, and GFAP in the brain tissue of the mice with AD induced by ${\beta}A$. Conclusions: These results suggest that the DHJHT group may be effective for the treatment of AD. Thus, DHJHT could be considered among the future therapeutic drugs indicated for the treatment of AD.