• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.132-141
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• 2021

Objective: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria causes poor uterine receptivity by inducing excessive inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface. This study aimed to investigate the detrimental effects of LPS on the attachment and outgrowth of various types of trophoblastic spheroids on endometrial epithelial cells (ECC-1 cells) in an in vitro model of implantation. Methods: Three types of spheroids with JAr, JEG-3, and JAr mixed JEG-3 (JmJ) cells were used to evaluate the effect of LPS on early implantation events. ECC-1 cells were treated with LPS to mimic endometrial infection, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The attachment rates and outgrowth areas were evaluated in the various trophoblastic spheroids and ECC-1 cells treated with LPS. Results: LPS treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (CXCL1, IL-8, and IL-33) and decreased the protein expression of adhesion molecules (ITGβ3 and ITGβ5) in ECC-1 cells. The attachment rates of JAr and JmJ spheroids on ECC-1 cells significantly decreased after treating the ECC-1 cells with 1 and 10 ㎍/mL LPS. In the outgrowth assay, JAr spheroids did not show any outgrowth areas. However, the outgrowth areas of JEG-3 spheroids were similar regardless of LPS treatment. LPS treatment of JmJ spheroids significantly decreased the outgrowth area after 72 hours of coincubation. Conclusion: An in vitro implantation model using novel JmJ spheroids was established, and the inhibitory effects of LPS on ECC-1 endometrial epithelial cells were confirmed in the early implantation process.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.41-50
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• 2022

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water extract of Agastache rugosa (AR) on productions of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. Methods : Cell viabilities were measured with MTT assay. The production of nitric oxide (NO) from RAW 264.7 cells was measured with Griess reagent assay. The production of cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells was measured with multiplex cytokine assay. Results : AR showed no cytotoxicity on RAW 264.7 cells. AR at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. AR at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL significantly inhibited productions of TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 50 and 200 ㎍/mL significantly inhibited productions of RANTES (CCL5) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 100 ㎍/mL significantly inhibited productions of macrophage inflammatory protein-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL significantly increased productions of IP-10 (CXCL10) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 100 and 200 ㎍/mL significantly increased MCP-1 (CCL-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 50 and 100 ㎍/mL significantly increased productions of IL-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions : AR might have immunomodulatory effects on productions of NO, cytokines, and chemokines in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.56-71
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• 2021

Objectives: This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effects of GGX on lung injury of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) mice model. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6 mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and then treated with vehicle only (Control group), dexamethasone 3 mg/kg (Dexa group), gam-gil-tang 200 mg/kg (GGT group), GGX 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg (GGX group). After sacrifice, its bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or lung tissue was analyzed with cytospin, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hematoxylin & eosin (H&E), and Masson's trichrome staining. Results: In the COPD model, GGX significantly inhibited the increase of neutrophils, TNF-𝛼, IL-17A, CXCL-1, MIP2 in BALF and TNF-𝛼, IL-1𝛽, IL-10 mRNA expression in lung tissue. It also decreased the severity of histological lung injury. Conclusion: This study suggests the usability of GGX for COPD patients by controlling lung tissue injury.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Objective: The DNA integrity of spermatozoa that attach to fallopian tube (FT) cells is higher than spermatozoa that do not attach. FT epithelial cells can distinguish normal and abnormal sperm chromatin. This study investigated the effects of sperm with a high-DNA fragmentation index (DFI) from men with unexplained repeated implantation failure (RIF) on the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway in human FT cells in vitro. Methods: Ten men with a RIF history and high-DFI and 10 healthy donors with low-DFI comprised the high-DFI (>30%) and control (<30%) groups, respectively. After fresh semen preparation, sperm were co-cultured with a human FT epithelial cell line (OE-E6/E7) for 24 hours. RNA was extracted from the cell line and the human innate and adaptive immune responses were tested using an RT2 profiler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array. Results: The PCR array data showed significantly higher TLR-1, TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-6, interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, interferon α (IFN-α), IFN-β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), CXCL8, GM-CSF, G-CSF, CD14, ELK1, IRAK1, IRAK2, IRAK4, IRF1, IRF3, LY96, MAP2K3, MAP2K4, MAP3K7, MAP4K4, MAPK8, MAPK8IP3, MYD88, NFKB1, NFKB2, REL, TIRAP, and TRAF6 expression in the high-DFI group than in the control group. These factors are all involved in the TLR-MyD88 signaling pathway. Conclusion: The MyD88-dependent pathway through TLR-1, TLR-2, and TLR-6 activation may be one of the main inflammatory pathways activated by high-DFI sperm from men with RIF. Following activation of this pathway, epithelial cells produce inflammatory cytokines, resulting in neutrophil infiltration, activation, phagocytosis, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and apoptosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.213-218
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• 2017

Most men infected with Trichomonas vaginalis are asymptomatic and can remain undiagnosed and untreated. This has been hypothesized to result in chronic persistent prostatic infection. Adhesion of the protozoan organisms to mucosal cells is considered a first and prerequisite step for T. vaginalis infection. Adhesion of T. vaginalis to prostate epithelial cells has not yet been observed; however, there are several reports about inflammation of prostate epithelial cells induced by T. vaginalis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether adhesion and cytotoxicity of T. vaginalis are involved in inflammation of prostate epithelial cells. When RWPE-1 cells were infected with T. vaginalis (1:0.4 or 1:4), adhesion of T. vaginalis continuously increased for 24 hr or 3 hr, respectively. The cytotoxicity of prostate epithelial cells infected with T. vaginalis (RWPE-1: T. vaginalis=1:0.4) increased at 9 hr; at an infection ratio of 1:4, cytotoxicity increased after 3 hr. When the RWPE-1 to T. vaginalis ratio was 1:0.4 or 1:4, production of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, CCL2, and CXCL8 also increased. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was verified by measuring decreased E-cadherin and increased vimentin expression at 24 hr and 48 hr. Taken together, the results indicate that T. vaginalis adhered to prostate epithelial cells, causing cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and EMT. Our findings suggest for the first time that T. vaginalis may induce inflammation via adhesion to normal prostate epithelial cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.373-380
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• 2011

We have reported that a 24 kDa protein (22U homologous; As22U) of Anisakis simplex larvae could elicit several Th2-related chemokine gene expressions in the intestinal epithelial cell line which means that As22U may play a role as an allergen. In order to determine the contribution of As22U to allergic reactions, we treated mice with 6 times intra-nasal application of recombinant As22U (rAs22U). In the group challenged with rAs22U and ovalbumin (OVA), the number of eosinophils in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was significantly increased, as compared to the group receiving only OVA. In addition, mice treated with rAs22U and OVA showed significantly increased airway hyperresponsiveness. Thus, severe inflammation around the airway and immune cell recruitment was observed in mice treated with rAs22U plus OVA. The levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 cytokines in the BALF increased significantly after treatment with rAs22U and OVA. Similarly, the levels of anti-OVA specific lgE and lgG1 increased in mice treated with rAs22U and OVA, compared to those treated only with OVA. The Gro-${\alpha}$ (CXCL1) gene expression in mouse lung epithelial cells increased instantly after treatment with rAs22U, and allergy-specific chemokines eotaxin (CCL11) and thymus-and-activation-regulated-chemokine (CCL17) gene expressions significantly increased at 6 hr after treatment. In conclusion, rAs22U may induce airway allergic inflammation, as the result of enhanced Th2 and Th17 responses.

• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.269-281
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• 2017

Background: Small particles increase airway inflammation upon reaching the alveoli. Here, we investigated the protective or therapeutic effects of Salvia plebeia R. Br. (SP_R) extracts on airway inflammation. Methods and Results: To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of SP_R extracts, we measured their inhibitory effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression of inflammatory mediators, and immune cell infiltration in MH-S alveolar macrophage cells and in the ambient particulate matter (APM)-exposed airway inflammation mice model. The SP_R extracts inhibited the production of ROS and expression of IL-4, IL-10, IL-15, and IL-17A mRNA in APM-stimulated MH-S cells. Oral administration of SP_R extracts suppressed APM-induced inflammatory symptoms, such as high alveolar wall thickness, excess collagen fibers, decreased mRNA expression of chemokines (Ccr9, Ccl5, Ccr3), inflammatory cytokines (IL-15, TNF-${\alpha}$), and IL-4 Th2 cytokine in the lung. The SP_R extracts also inhibited ROS production, granulocyte ($CD11b^+Gr-1^+$) infiltration, IL-17A, TNF-${\alpha}$, macrophage inflammatory protein (Mip-2), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (Cxcl-1) production in the airway. The specific compounds in the SR-R extracts that mediate the anti-inflammatory effects were identified. Conclusions: In this study, SP_R extracts effectively inhibited airway inflammatory responses, such as ROS production and granulocyte infiltration into the airway, by regulating the expression of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.342-355
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Osteoblasts are derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and play important role in bone remodeling. While our previous studies have investigated the cell subtypes and heterogeneity in osteoblasts and BMMSCs separately, cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs in vivo in humans have not been characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular communication between human primary osteoblasts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Methods and Results: To investigate the cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs and identify new cell subtypes, we performed a systematic integration analysis with our single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) transcriptomes data from BMMSCs and osteoblasts. We successfully identified a novel preosteoblasts subtype which highly expressed ATF3, CCL2, CXCL2 and IRF1. Biological functional annotations of the transcriptomes suggested that the novel preosteoblasts subtype may inhibit osteoblasts differentiation, maintain cells to a less differentiated status and recruit osteoclasts. Ligand-receptor interaction analysis showed strong interaction between mature osteoblasts and BMMSCs. Meanwhile, we found FZD1 was highly expressed in BMMSCs of osteogenic differentiation direction. WIF1 and SFRP4, which were highly expressed in mature osteoblasts were reported to inhibit osteogenic differentiation. We speculated that WIF1 and sFRP4 expressed in mature osteoblasts inhibited the binding of FZD1 to Wnt ligand in BMMSCs, thereby further inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs. Conclusions: Our study provided a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of osteogenic cells. At the single cell level, this study provided insights into the cell-to-cell communications between BMMSCs and osteoblasts and mature osteoblasts may mediate negative feedback regulation of osteogenesis process.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권9호
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• pp.478-483
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• 2020

Kudoa septempunctata is a myxozoan parasite that causes food poisoning in individuals consuming olive flounder. The present study aimed to investigate the currently insufficiently elucidated early molecular mechanisms of inflammatory responses in the intestine owing to parasite ingestion. After Kudoa spores were isolated from olive flounder, HT29 cells were exposed to spores identified to be alive using SYTO-9 and propidium iodide staining or to antigens of Kudoa spores (KsAg). IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and NFKB1 expression and NF-κB activation were assessed using real-time PCR, cytokine array and western blotting. The immunofluorescence of FITC-conjugated lectins, results of ligand binding assays using Mincle-Fc and IgG-Fc, CLEC4E expressions in response to KsAg stimulation, and Mincle-dependent NF-κB activation were assessed to clarify the early immune-triggering mechanism. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, GM-CSF and TNF-α), chemokines (IL-8, CCL2, CCL5 and CXCL1) and NF-κB activation (pNF-κB/NF-κB) in HT29 cells increased following stimulation by KsAg. The immunofluorescence results of spores and lectins (concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin) suggested the importance of Mincle in molecular recognition between Kudoa spores and intestinal cells. Practically, data for Mincle-Fc and KsAg binding affinity, CLEC4E mRNA expression, Mincle immunofluorescence staining and hMincle-dependent NF-κB activation demonstrated the involvement of Mincle in the early immune-triggering mechanism. The present study newly elucidated that the molecular recognition and immune-triggering mechanism of K. septempunctata are associated with Mincle on human intestinal epithelial cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.138-148
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• 2018

Objective: Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), common contaminants in the feed of farm animals, cause immune function impairment and organ inflammation. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to elucidate DON and ZEN effects on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other immune related genes in the kidneys of piglets. Methods: Fifteen 6-week-old piglets were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments for 4 weeks: control diet, and diets contaminated with either 8 mg DON/kg feed or 0.8 mg ZEN/kg feed. Kidney samples were collected after treatment, and RNA-seq was used to investigate the effects on immune-related genes and gene networks. Results: A total of 186 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened (120 upregulated and 66 downregulated). Gene ontology analysis revealed that the immune response, and cellular and metabolic processes were significantly controlled by these DEGs. The inflammatory stimulation might be an effect of the following enriched Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis found related to immune and disease responses: cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tuberculosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and chemical carcinogenesis. The effects of DON and ZEN on genome-wide expression were assessed, and it was found that the DEGs associated with inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 10 receptor, beta, chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 9, CXCL10, chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 4), proliferation (insulin like growth factor binding protein 4, IgG heavy chain, receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase C, cytochrome P450 1A1, ATP-binding cassette sub-family 8), and other immune response networks (lysozyme, complement component 4 binding protein alpha, oligoadenylate synthetase 2, signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-9, ${\alpha}$-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, Ig lambda chain c region, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 4, carboxylesterase 1), were suppressed by DON and ZEN. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that high concentrations of DON and ZEN suppress the inflammatory response in kidneys, leading to potential effects on immune homeostasis.