• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.255-259
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• 2014

Physical activity could be considered one of the factors that affect the immune system status and function. To find the relation between exercise and cytokines, we examined the possible effects of an 8-week endurance training program on the serum levels of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) in sedentary men. A total of 30 healthy young male volunteers were randomly divided into an endurance training group and a control group. The training group followed a specific exercise protocol (running on a treadmill for 15~30 min at 50~70% maximal heart rate) for 8 weeks and the control group did not participate in any exercise program. Venous blood samples were collected from both the groups 24 h before and 24 h and 48 h after the exercise. Repeated ANOVA was used for statistical purposes. The serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ were determined by ELISA. Significant (p<0.05) and non-significant (p>0.05) decreases were observed in the serum levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, respectively, after the 8-week endurance training program. Our findings indicated that an 8-week endurance exercise may affect the serum levels of some inflammatory cytokines, suggesting the beneficial role of this training protocol in elderly population and people with certain conditions (inflammation of the vertebrae or other inflammatory diseases).

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.139-149
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• 2009

1. Objectives The roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton (SFA) are widely used as a herbal remedy for allergic inflammation. In this study, we invested the effect of SFA on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction and histamin releas and we demonstrated that SFA suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin- 6 (IL-6), and interleukin -8 (IL-8), through inhibition of the $NF{\kappa}B$, JNK and p38 pathway in the human mast cell line, HMC-1. 2. Methods To accomplish this, we invested passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction and histamin release at an animal experiment. In addition, we investigated the effect of SFA on the production of inflammation-related cytokines in HMC-1 cells that were co-treated with PMA and A23187, which can induce production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. 3. Results and Conclusions SFA induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction and histamin releas and supressed the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-8. In addition, the protein levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ were also decreased by SFA treatment. Furthermore, SFA inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor $NF{\kappa}B$ through inhibition of the phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, which is an inhibitor of $NF{\kappa}B$. Moreover, SFA also inhibited induction of MAPKs (JNK, p38) and $NF{\kappa}B$ promoter-mediated luciferase activity. Taken together, these results suggest that SFA could be used as a treatment for mast cell-derived allergic inflammatory diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.69-76
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• 2006

Objectives : The fresh young leaves and dried fruits of Zanthoxylum piperitum (Korean name: Chopi) are used as diuretics, stomachies, anthelmintic and for the treatments of disorders of the digestive organ in Asia. We investigated inhibitory effects of Zanthoxylum piperitum extract on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide(NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines including $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ from RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells. Methods : After methanol extract of Zanthoxylum Fructus (Zanthoxylum extract) was pretreated in RAW264.7 cells, the cells were stimulated with LPS. Cell toxicity of Zanthoxylum extract was assayed bv MTT assay. The production of NO from the cells was measured in culture medium by Griess reaction. The production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1 \;{\beta}$ from the cells was measured in culture medium by ELISA. Results : Zanthoxylum Fructus extract greatly inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators such as NO, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ from LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion : This result suggests that Zanthoxylum extract may have an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of inflammatory mediators.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2002

In our study, the several cytokines were determined in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Adamantiades-Behcets patients. Adamantiades-Behcets disease (ABD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder and might involve immune dysfunction. High levels of $TNF-\alpha,\;IL-1\beta$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ indicate the activation of inflammatory reactions and immune system in ABD. Gami-Phedoc-San (GPS) is an Oriental herbal medication, which has been used in Korea for the treatment of ABD. GPS (1 mg/ ml) significantly inhibited the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, $TNF-\alpha\;and\;IL-1\beta$, compared to absence of GPS (by $50.5{\pm}1.9%$ inhibition for $TNF-\alpha$ and $106.9{\pm}16.8%$ for $IL-1\beta$). GPS also inhibited the production of $IFN-\gamma$, immunoregulatory Th1 cytokine, by $78.4{\pm}2.8%$. The inhibitory effects of GPS on cytokine secretion showed dose-dependent manner, and the pre-treatment of 1 mg/ml GPS had better effects than immunosuppressive drug for treatment of ABD, cyclosporin A. Our results suggest that GPS treatment for ABD patients might have pharmacological activity of immune and inflammatory responses through the cytokine modulation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.474-480
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to define whether Asterina pectinifera Lectin (APL) is effective on the cytokine production. Isolated mRNA from hPBMC (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells) stimulated with APL for various reaction times (1 to 96 hours) was detected by RT-PCR. The intensity of band for IL-1 and $IFN{\gamma}$ mRNA was markedly increased at l hour, and IL-2 mRNA was strongly expressed at 4 hours. The mRNA band of APL-induced IL-2 and $IFN{\gamma}$ was weaker than that of IL-1, IL-6 and $TNF{\alpha}$. The mRNA expression of 4 cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, $IFN{\gamma}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$) was detected up to 48 hours, and that of IL-6 was detected until 72 hours. ELISA was used to look protein secretion of the cytokine gene with IL-1, IL-2 and TNF$\alpha$expressed strongly in RT-PCR. The highest protein secretion was at 4 hours with IL-1, at 8 hours with IL-2 and at 4 hours with $TNF{\alpha}$. These results suggest that APL can induce the production of some cytokines and the immune response from PBMC was done within the first few hours of stimulation with APL.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2018

Triglyceride (TG) is known to be associated with inflammatory disease including atherosclerosis. In a variety of atherosclerosis models, T lymphocytes are localized in the earliest lesions of atherosclerosis. T cell associated cytokines such as $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ have pre-dominant inflammatory effects in chronic vascular diseases. In our previous study, we found that the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and its receptor, $TNF-{\alpha}R$ was increased when Jurkat T lymphocyte cell lines were exposed to TGs. Therefore, experiments were conducted to determine which cell signaling pathway are involved in the increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}R$ expression by TGs. To identify signal transduction pathways involved in TG-induced upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$, we treated TG-exposed Jurkat T cells with specific inhibitors for MEK1, PI3K, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and PKC. We found that inhibition of the MEK1 pathway blocked TG-induced upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$. However, the expression level of $TNF-{\alpha}R$ did not change with any signal transduction inhibitor. Based on this observation, we suggest that increase of exogenous TG induces increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ expression through MEK1 pathway in Jurkat T cells. In addition, it was confirmed that the increase of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}R$ expression by TGs occurs via different pathways.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.57-68
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• 2010

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts on the inflammatory cytokines gene expression by the bacteria of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) which elicits acne in human monocytes, THP-1 cell line. Experiment : Cytotoxicity of Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts was analyzed by XTT assay. Real time RT-PCR was applied to analyze the cytokines gene expressions of IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-$\alpha$. Translocation of transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytoplasm into nucleus was observed using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Results : Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts did not show cytotoxicity as high as in $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ of concentration. Transcription levels of inflammatory cytokines, IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-$\alpha$ were increased by P. acnes in THP-1 and Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts decreased the upregulated transcription levels. Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts significantly inhibited the translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ into nucleus by P. acnes. Conclusion : This study suggests that Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts have anti-inflammatory effects on P. acnes treated THP-1 as decreasing the mRNA expressions of IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-$\alpha$. This anti-inflammatory effect of Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts may be useful in therapeutic treatments for acne vulgaris.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.111-117
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• 2008

Objectives and methods : Previous mechanistic studies suggest the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors represent the good candidates against tumor progression. MeOH extract of the stem barks of Euonymus alatus induced the strong inhibition of COX-2. A phenolic compound responsible for the anti- COX-2 known to involve in tumor adhesion and invasion has been studied through the methanol extracts. The compound, rosmarinic acid (ROS-A) was an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid. ROS-A showed a strong inhibitory effect of COX-2 activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Then we have measured the IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production related the immune regulation, induction of inflammatory related genes. Results and Conclusions :Hep3B cells produce proinflammatory cytokines of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ while ROS A inhibited the cytokines production. Since IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ need the transcription factors such as nuclear factor- ${\kappa}$B (NF-${\kappa}$B) and activated protein-1 (AP-1), we measured the transcription factors. ROS-A inhibited the activation of p65, p50, c-Rel subunits of NF-${\kappa}$B and AP-1 transcription factors. These findings indicate that ROS A from the stem bark of E. alatus inhibits proliferation in metastatic cancer cells. It was suggested that stem barks of E. alatus could be suitable for anti-cancer drugs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.191-194
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• 2011

Sparganosis is a tissue invading helminthiasis infecting intermediate hosts, including humans. Strong immune responses are expected to occur in early phases of infection. Thus, we investigated cytokine expressions in splenic dendritic cells and in sera after experimental infection of mice. In splenic dendritic cells, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ expression peaked at week 1 and week 3 post -infection (PI), respectively, and also early phase (week 2 PI) depressed cytokine expression was noticed. Serum IL-$1{\beta}$ concentration increased significantly at week 2 PI and peaked at week 6 PI, and that of TNF-${\alpha}$ peaked at week 6 PI. These results showed that pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, are chronologically regulated in mouse sparganosis.