• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1140-1146
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the comparison of immunomodualtory effects of water-extracted Ginseng Radix(GR), Pilose Asia-bell(PA), Astragali Radix(AR), Astractylodes Rhizoma alba(AA) and Dioscoreae Rhizoma (DR). The parameter examined to assess apparent immunomodulatory effect of the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR included the regulation of Nitric oxide (NO), the expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokine, the change of B cell phenotype. The water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression, the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR induced IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression. Therefore, it seems that the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR have a inducing effect of Th1 type cytokines. In the Flow cytometry analysis, the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR did not change B cell phenotype (CD45R/B220). The water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR have a reducing effect of immune suppression cause by Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR may be, in part, associated with the inducing IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression in and regulation of NO production in macrophage cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.16-25
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• 2000

Objective : Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli have long been used to cure human diseases. However, the exact physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved remain undiscovered. Thus, many attempts have been made to show the scientific mechanisms involved. The effects of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture, which was known to date, as follow; effective circulation of body blood system and proliferation of leucocytes. Methods : In this study, we have applied acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli to mouse on Sinsuhyul, a stimulative point of oriental medicine, to see effects on the expression of cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$. Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) for inflammation induction and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using each primer set were performed to trace the amounts of mRNA. Results : 1. $IL-1{\beta}$ was not expressed in LPS-nontreated mice at 15 to 60 min after acupuncture-stimuli. However, expression occurred after 3hrs. 2. $IL-1{\beta}$ was specifically expressed in LPS-treated mice at 30 min after acupuncture-stimuli. 3. $IL-1{\beta}$ was expressed in LPS-nontreated mice at 30 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli, however, not expressed at 60, 180 min. 4. $IL-1{\beta}$ was gradually expressed in LPS-treated mice at 15 to 180 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli. Conclusions : $IL-1{\beta}$ in LPS-treated mice was more effective than that of LPS-nontreated mice. We are now in the process of elucidating the immunological action mechanism of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli. And cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$ can be used not only as a basis of the effects of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture but also as a diagnosis guide through the immunological actions of those.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is an important pathogen in the development of localized aggressive periodontitis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a virulent factor of periodontal pathogens that contributes to alveolar bone loss and connective tissue degradation in periodontal disease. Our present study was designed to investigate the cytokine expression and signaling pathways regulated by A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS (Aa LPS). Cytokine gene expression profiling in RAW 264.7 cells was performed by microarray analyses. The cytokine mRNA and protein levels and related signaling pathways induced by Aa LPS were measured by RT-PCR, ELISA and western blotting. Microarray results showed that Aa LPS strongly induced the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$, NF-${\kappa}B$-related genes, inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in RAW 264.7 cells. NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitor pretreatment significantly reduced the levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA and protein. In addition, the Aa LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ expression was inhibited by p38/JNK MAP kinase inhibitor pretreatment. These results show that Aa LPS stimulates TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ expression through NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38/JNK activation in RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting the essential role of this pathway in the pathogenesis of localized aggressive periodontitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1000-1010
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the comparison of immunomodualtory effects of water-extracted Aconiti lateralis Preparata Radix(PR), Zingiberis Rhizoma(ZR), Cinnamomi Cortex(CC) and Evodiae Fructus(EF). The parameter examined to assess apparent immunomodulatory effect of the water-extracted PR, ZR, CC and EF included the regulation of Nitric oxide (NO). Also, ZR and EF represent the expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokine, the change of B cell phenotype. The water-extracted PR, ZR, CC and EF inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression, the water-extracted ZR and EF induced IL-2, IFNr and IL-10 mRNA gene expression. Therefore, it seems that the water-extracted ZR and EF have a inducing effect of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines. In the Flow cytometry analysis, the water-extracted ZR and EF changed B cell phenotype (CD45R/B220), did NOT in PR and CC. The water-extracted PR, ZR, CC and EF have a reducing effect of immune suppression cause by Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of the water-extracted ZR and EF may be, in part, associated with the inducing IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression In and regulation of NO production in macrophage cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 1998

Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli have long been used to cure human diseases. However, it still remains to be unkown on its action mechanism, physiolosical and biochemical aspects. Thus, many attempts were made to show the scientific background covering the above mentioned mechanisms. Most recent studies show that these tests improve blood circulatory system and increase leucocyte counts. In this study, we have applied the acupuncture stimuli to mouse Sinsu(BL-23), which is a stimulative point of oriental medicine, to see if cytokine such as IL-6 can be detected. Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) for inflammation induction, and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using each primer set was performed to trace the amounts of mRNA. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. IL-6 was not temporarily expressed in normal mice 15 min after the acupuncture was pulled out. But, it started to show a feeble expression at 30 min after the removal of acupuncture and it started to reduce at 1h. after the acupuncture was pulled out 2. IL-6 was specifically expressed in LPS-treated mouse 30 min after the acupuncture was pulled out. The transcriptional expressions of LPS-treated mice were more effective than those of normal mice at 30 min after the removal of acupuncture 3. IL-6 was not temporarily expressed in normal mice 15 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture. But it expressed most highly at 30 min, and the transcriptional expressions of IL-6 was continued to 3 h. 4. IL-6 was not expressed in all the time after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture in LPS-treated mice. Therefore, a follow-up of cytokine IL-6 can be used not only a basis of the effect of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture but a diagnosis giude through the immunological action of thats. And, it is suggested that cytokine's expression by Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimulation should be continuously elucidated.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.81-94
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• 2008

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a general, chronic, inflammatory and auto-immune disease and it can lead to joint edema, pain, stiffness which are caused by an inflammation in synovium covering our joints. Ulmus davidiana Planchon is a traditional herb used for the treatment on various inflammations, gastrointestinal trouble, ENT(ear, nose, and throat) disease, edema, cancer etc. and it works effectively on arthritis as well. In these study to search for the treatment efficacy of Ulmus davidiana Planchon in RA, I measure manifestation of cytokine gene in synoviocyte treated with Ulmus davidiana Planchon herbal acupuncture and in EL-4 cell, manifestation of cytokine gene cell related to T-cell. And after Ulmus davidiana Planchon herbal acupuncture treatment in Collagen induced arthritis(CIA) which has been known by a general model of RA, DBA mice, I observed foot thickness, general shape of synovium, early cytokine induce CIA and, generation and mutation of cytokine related to the control of T-cell specialization. It comes to conclusion as belows. 1. In synovium treated with Ulmus davidiana Planchon herbal acupuncture, there was the decrease in MIF mRNA does-dependently. Incase of CIA mice treated with Ulmus davidiana Planchon herbal acupuncture, there were the decrease in the damage in synovium and generation of the MIF which is related to induction of the early RA cytokine and IL-6 proinflammatory cytokine. 2. In case of EL-4 treated with Ulmus davidiana Planchon herbal acupuncture, there were decrease in the manifestation of the IL-2 mRNA, but the increase in the manifestation of the IL-4 does-dependently. 3. In the synovium of CIA mice treated with Ulmus davidiana Planchon herbal acupuncture, there were the decrease in generation of IL-2, IL-12 and CD-28, but the increase in generation of IL-4. These result suggest that Ulmus davidiana Planchon can block the process of the early RA by Inhibiting MIF activation, and mitigate Rheumatoid Arthritis by controlling Tcell specialization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.94-110
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• 2010

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of immune reaction inductive substances such as phorbol-myristate-acetate(PMA), lipopolysaccharide(LPS), dermato-phagoides pteronyssus crude extract(DPE), dinitrochloro-benzene(DNCB) and Cryptotympana pustulata(CP), the Cryptotympana pustulata extracting substance at simultaneously on the translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-${\kappa}B$) towards to the nucleus and the mRNA expression patterns of various cytokine genes in Human acute monocytic leukemia cell line(THP-1 cells), monocytes of human. Experiment : To analyze cytokine genes expression patterns, the RT-PCR method was used, measuring tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-$\alpha$ that had been secreted during cell culture in the ELISA method. The morphological change in the cell observed during THP-1 cell culture was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the quantitative distribution in the cell NF-${\kappa}B$ was analyzed through immunocytochemistry and a confocal microscopy. Result : CP showed different influences onto the mRNA expression patterns of cytokine genes with PMA, LPS. DPE and DNCB according to the types of immune inductive substances in the THP-1 cells. The expressions of inter-leukin(IL)-10, interferon(INF)-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$ and monocyte chemoattractantant protein(MCP)-1 induced by PMA were suppressed by CP while the expression of transforming growth factor(TGF)-$\beta$ was promoted. Regarding the secretion pattern of TNF-$\alpha$ according to PMA processing, its secretion amount was increased by CP concurrent processing, in case of processing CP onto PMA and LPS, We discovered that the secretion amount of TNF-$\alpha$ was increased. Upon processing PMA and LPS on the THP-1 cell strain at the same time or either additionally processing CP thereon, the movement increase towards the nucleus from the NF-${\kappa}B$ cell cytoplasm, a transcription factor was able to be observed. Conclusion : In this study, Cryptotympana pustulata extracting substance was confirmed that it had an influence on expression patterns of cytokine genes according to the actions of a variety kinds of immune reaction inductive substances processed on the monocyte THP-1 cell of humans. Therefore, additional studies as for the immune adjusting function of Cryptotympana pustulata are considered to be able to offer important materials for curing immune abnormal diseases such as atopy dermatitis afterward.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.156-171
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• 2023

Purpose: The development of vaccines that confer protection against multiple avian influenza A (AIA) virus strains is necessary to prevent the emergence of highly infectious strains that may result in more severe outbreaks. Thus, this study applied reverse vaccinology approach in strategically constructing messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine construct against avian influenza A (mVAIA) to induce cross-protection while targeting diverse AIA virulence factors. Materials and Methods: Immunoinformatics tools and databases were utilized to identify conserved experimentally validated AIA epitopes. CD8⁺ epitopes were docked with dominant chicken major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) to evaluate complex formation. Conserved epitopes were adjoined in the optimized mVAIA sequence for efficient expression in Gallus gallus. Signal sequence for targeted secretory expression was included. Physicochemical properties, antigenicity, toxicity, and potential cross-reactivity were assessed. The tertiary structure of its protein sequence was modeled and validated in silico to investigate the accessibility of adjoined B-cell epitope. Potential immune responses were also simulated in C-ImmSim. Results: Eighteen experimentally validated epitopes were found conserved (Shannon index <2.0) in the study. These include one B-cell (SLLTEVETPIRNEWGCR) and 17 CD8⁺ epitopes, adjoined in a single mRNA construct. The CD8⁺ epitopes docked favorably with MHC peptidebinding groove, which were further supported by the acceptable ∆G_bind (-28.45 to -40.59 kJ/mol) and Kd (<1.00) values. The incorporated Sec/SPI (secretory/signal peptidase I) cleavage site was also recognized with a high probability (0.964814). Adjoined B-cell epitope was found within the disordered and accessible regions of the vaccine. Immune simulation results projected cytokine production, lymphocyte activation, and memory cell generation after the 1st dose of mVAIA. Conclusion: Results suggest that mVAIA possesses stability, safety, and immunogenicity. In vitro and in vivo confirmation in subsequent studies are anticipated.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.26-42
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Manbunbang extract (MBB). Methods: In order to understand the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect of MBB, expression of cytokines and its levels in RAW 264.7 cell lines, as well as changes of cytokine gene expressions in serum, spleen, and liver tissues in acute inflammation induced mouse model were investigated. Results: 1. MBB significantly suppressed the expression levels of IL-1${\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and COX-2 mRNAs at 100 and 50 ${\mu}$g/m${\ell}$ concentrations, and IL-6 and NOS-II genes at 100, 50 and 10 ${\mu}$g/m${\ell}$ concentrations in RAW 264.7 cell lines, compared to those of the control. 2. MBB significantly reduced the production level of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ at 100 and 50 ${\mu}$g/m${\ell}$ concentrations in RAW 264.7 cell lines compared the those of the control. 3. MBB significantly reduced the production of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels in sera of acute inflammation induced mice. 4. MBB significanlty suppressed the expression level of IL-1${\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA in spleen tissues as well as IL-6 mRNA in liver tissues in acute inflammation induced mice. Conclusion: From the results above, anti-inflammatory effect of MBB through its immune regulation could be experimentally explained. Wide treatment of inflammatory diseases such as pelvic inflammation using MBB are recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4197-4201
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• 2014

Minor trauma to the uterine cervix is supposed to induce local immunity to prevent cervical lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This study aimed to investigate the local cervical immunity in women with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and effects of abrasion after cryosurgery or Pap smear. One hundred women with LSIL and known results of HPV detection were recruited. HPV positive women were randomly divided according to abrasion into cryotherapy and Pap smear observation groups. Cervical tissues and cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) were collected at 6 and 12 months after allocation. The levels of cytokines at first recruitment were compared with cytokine levels at 6 months after abrasions. The mRNA of IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10 in cervical tissues and these cytokines secreted in CVL were determined using real time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Anti-HPV16 IgG and IgA antibodies in CVL were assessed by western blotting. At first recruitment of women with LSIL (100 cases), IL-10 mRNA and cytokine in HPV positive group (60 cases) was significantly higher than negative group (40 cases). IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA level in both groups were comparable but their secretions in CVL were significantly increased in HPV negative group. After abrasion for 6 months in HPV-positive women, all mRNA and secreted cytokines were changed, but no significant difference was observed between cryotherapy and observation groups. When individuals were compared between first recruitment and after abrasion for 6 months, IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA and anti-HPV16 L1 IgA antibodies were significantly increased in the cryotherapy group. The results suggest that modulation of local cervical immunities by abrasion might promote different effects in clearance of HPV-related cytological abnormalities.