• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.137-149
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• 2001

Cytokines are polypeptides which possess various biological properties affecting. host defense function and response to disease. Inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin(IL)-1 and IL-6 induce inflammation, fever, hypotension and pain when injected into animals or human subject. When glial cell cultures were prepared from neonatal mice or rats, astrocytes were reported to produce these inflammatory cytokines to viral infection, lipopolysaccharide(LPS), or cytokines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory effect of these cytokines secretion from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Substance P(SP) can stimulate secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ from astrocytes stimulated with LPS. Sesim-Tang significantly inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with SP and LPS. IL-1 has been shown to elevate TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore also investigated whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion from primary astrocytes by Sesim-Tang. Treatment of Sesim-Tang to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion significantly. The secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ by LPS and SP in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. Furthermore Sesim-Tang inhibited the IL-6 secretion by astrocytes stimulated with SP and LPS. The inhibitory effect of inflammatory cytokines by Sesim-Tang, observed in this study, might reflect an antiinflammatory activity and a reduction of various-type pains, fever etc. in the central nervous system.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2019

In the present study, the effect of Z. jujuba Miller var. inermis Rehder extracts on the secretion of atopic dermatitis (AD)-related cytokines and hyaluronidase activity was investigated. We prepared four fractions, butylene glycol (JB), ethanol (JE), and water (JW), with Z. jujuba Miller var. inermis extracts. JW significantly reduced the secretion of interleukin-8 and JE reduced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Also, hyaluronidase activity was measured by enzyme assay and the fractions inhibited the activity in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the human dermal fibroblast, HDF-n cells were treated with the extracts and antioxidant activities were measured. The results showed that the extracts increased the free radical scavenging activity and the superoxide dismutase activity. Taken together, Z. jujuba Miller var. inermis extracts reduced the secretion of AD-related cytokines and inhibited the hyaluronidase. In addition, the extracts showed antioxidant activity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.349-356
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• 2018

Generally, berry fruits have various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-cancer effects. The effects of gooseberry, a berry fruits, on atopic dermatitis (AD) have not been widely examined. The aim of this present study is to investigate whether gooseberry modulates AD. We examined the pharmacological effects of gooseberry on 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD symptoms in mice. To determine the anti-atopic mechanism of gooseberry, we investigated its effects on the production of inflammatory cytokines and activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ in PMA + ionophore -stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1). The results demonstrated that gooseberry attenuated AD clinical symptoms such as erythema, edema and dryness as well as histamine and IgE serum levels in DNCB-induced AD model mice. Additionally, gooseberry suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ in stimulated HMC-1. These findings demonstrate that gooseberry is potential agent for treating AD and allergic inflammation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2017

Objectives: The Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular opportunistic protozoan parasite that infects approximately one-third of the human population worldwide. Honey has long been used for treatment of many diseases in folk medicine. Honey has exhibited significant anthelmintic, nematicidal and anti-protozoal activities. This study was conducted to investigate the immunological patterns in rats infected with T. gondii who were treated orally with supplemented 15% Capparis spinosa honey (Saudi Arabia) for a period of 28 days. Methods: Immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, and cytokines were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In addition, the mortality and the morbidity rates were assessed. Results: Oral administration of Capparis spinosa honey as a natural food additive was experimentally shown to increase the antibody titer; furthermore, compared with the rats in the control group, the levels of the sera cytokines ($IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-1 and IL-6) were consistently higher at day 7 post-infection in the infected rats treated with oral supplements of Capparis spinosa honey. Conclusion: Orally administered supplements of Capparis spinosa honey increased both the antibody titer and the cytokines ($IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-1 and IL-6) levels in rats infected with T. gondii.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.921-930
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• 2010

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common rheumatic childhood disease; its onset is before 16 years of age and it persists for at least 6 weeks. JRA encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases that is classified according to 3 major presentations: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, and systemic onset diseases. These presentations may originate from the same or different causes that involve interaction with specific immunogenetic predispositions, and result in heterogeneous clinical manifestations. An arthritic joint exhibits cardinal signs of joint inflammation, such as swelling, pain, heat, and loss of function; any joint can be arthritic, but large joints are more frequently affected. Extra-articular manifestations include high fever, skin rash, serositis, and uveitis. The first 2 types of JRA are regarded as T helper 1 (Th1) cell-mediated inflammatory disorders, mainly based on the abundance of activated Th1 cells in the inflamed synovium and the pathogenetic role of proinflammatory cytokines that are mainly produced by Th1 cell-stimulated monocytes. In contrast, the pathogenesis of systemic onset disease differs from that of other types of JRA in several respects, including the lack of association with human leukocyte antigen type and the absence of autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells. Although the precise mechanism that leads to JRA remains unclear, proinflammatory cytokines are thought to be responsible for at least part of the clinical symptoms in all JRA types. The effectiveness of biologic therapy in blocking the action of these cytokines in JRA patients provides strong evidence that they play a fundamental role in JRA inflammation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

Objectives : Scutellariae Radix (Hwanggeum in Korean) is the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Scutellariae Radix is well known to be used as a medicine for common cold, upper respiratory infections, and to strengthen and regulate the immune system and anemia etc. Little is understood about the roles of Scutellariae Radix in the cytokine and chemokine secretion by immune cells. This study was designed to find out the effects of Scutellariae Radix on the cytokine and chemokine secretion in human mast cells (HMC-1). Methods : We treated hwanggeum according to consistency on HMC-1 and measured cytokines and chemokines levels using flow cytometry CBA system. Results : In hwanggeum treated group, the expression of interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9, MIG), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5 (IL-5), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and interferon ${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) were decreased significantly. Conclusion : These results suggest that hwanggeum may support some of immune diseases by means of amiliorating some chemokines or cytokines such as IP-10, MCP-1, MIG, IL-8, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IFN-${\gamma}$.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of berberine using human monocytes. Infection of Propionibacterium acnes induced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-8 and $IL-1{\beta}$ in THP-1 monocytic cells. However, when berberine was supplemented in these P. acnes-induced THP-1 cells, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO was significantly reduced. We also analyzed signaling pathways of the antiinflammatory function of berberine and found that berberine suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK and p38 and the expression and nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 in the P. acnes-induced cells. From these results, we concluded that berberine can effectively exert the anti-inflammatory activity via suppressing the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways in human monocytes. Moreover, these results suggest the feasibility of developing natural therapeutics using berberine for the treatment of P. acnes-induced inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.50-62
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• 2013

Objective : Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a major pathogenic bacteria for acne vulgaris. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts on the inflammatory cytokines gene expression by P. acnes in human keratinocytes, HaCaT cell line. Methods : Anti-bacterial activity and cytotoxicity of LE extracts was analyzed by agar plate culture and XTT assay. The cytokines gene expressions were assessed by real time RT-PCR for IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$. During the cell culture and treatments, amounts of secreted TNF-${\alpha}$ were measured by ELISA. Translocation of transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytoplasm into nucleus was observed by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Results : There were no anti-bacterial effects and cytotoxicity as high as $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of LE extracts in XTT assay. Transcription levels of inflammatory cytokines, IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were increased by P. acnes in HaCaT. LE extracts decreased the upregulated gene transcription levels. However, amounts of secreted TNF-${\alpha}$ were similar in HaCaT cells with P. acnes and LE extracts. Translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ into nucleus by P. acnes was significantly inhibited by LE extracts. Conclusions : From the results of this study, LE extracts have anti-inflammatory effects on HaCaT cells by P. acnes that decreased the mRNA expressions of IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$. This anti-inflammatory effects of LE extracts could provide the potential of therapeutic substance for acne vulgaris.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-154
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• 2003

Background : Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of Lonicerae Flos and Paeoniae Radix on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16, and GM-CSF involved in the asthma model. Materials and Methods : In the study BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells were used. These cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-\alpha$ for artificial inflammatory expression. ${\beta}-actin$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was used for internal standard. After 24 hours of Lonicerae Flos, Paeoniae Radix, total cellular RNAs were collected treating RNA zol directly on the living cells. Then the transcriptional activities of IL-6, 16, GM-CSF were measured by RT- PCR with electrophoresis. Results : In the Lonicerae Flos study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. In the Paeoniae Radix study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-l6 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. Conclusion : This study shows that Lonicerae Flus and Paeuniae Radix have no inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF in BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells. Advanced studies are required to investigate the other mechanisms of inhibitory effect by Lonicerae Flus and Paeoniae Radix in the asthma model.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2015

An oral environment is constantly exposed to environmental factors and microorganisms. The periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts within this environment are subject to bacterial infection and allergic reaction. However, how these condition affect PDL fibroblasts has yet to be elucidated. PDL fibroblasts were isolated from healthy donors. We examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and measuring the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$). This study investigated the receptors activated by exogenous bacterial pathogens (Lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan) and allergens (German cockroach extract and house dust mite) as well as these pathogenic mediators-induced effects on the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in human PDL fibroblasts. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-8) and bone remodeling mediators (receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand and osteoprotegerin) and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-involved effect. Bacterial pathogens and allergic mediators induced increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and these results are dependent on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$. However, bacterial pathogens and allergic mediators did not lead to increased expression of bone remodeling mediators, except lipopolysaccharide-induced effect on receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand expression. These experiments provide evidence that a pathogens and allergens-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ affects the inflammatory response in human PDL fibroblasts.