• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2008

In traditional oriental medicine, Gentianae Radix has been used clinically for clearing away 'heat', removing dampness and purging fire in the liver and gall bladder. However, there has been a lack of studies regarding the effects of Gentianae Radix on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Gentianae Radix on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide(NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of Gentianae Radix MeOH extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS was determined by immunoblot analysis, and the content of levels of cytokines in media was analyzed by ELISA kit. Results provided evidence that Gentianae Radix inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-l{\beta}$ $(IL-l{\beta})$ and IL-6, and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($p-I {\kappa}B{\alpha}$) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These findings suggest that Gentianae Radix can make anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.144-160
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• 2007

목 적 : 이 연구는 천식, 기관지염, 폐렴, 결핵, 산후감모 등의 호흡기 질환에 사용되는 청폐화담탕(淸肺化痰湯)의 항염작용(抗炎作用)의 효과에 대해 알아보기 위해 시행되었다. 방 법 : 청폐화담탕(淸肺化痰湯)의 항염작용(抗炎作用)의 효과를 평가하기 위해 세포독성에 미치는 영향, NO, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-l${\beta}$, IL-6 생성량에 미치는 영항, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-l${\beta}$, IL-6 유전자 발현에 미치는 영향, iNOS, 염증cytokine 유전자 및 단백질 발현에 미치는 영향, PGE$_2$ 합성에 미치는 영향 및 NF-${\kappa}$B 활성에 미치는 영향에 대한 실험평가를 하였다. 결 과 : 청폐화담탕(淸肺化痰湯)은 MTT 분석을 통한 RAW 264.7 세포주의 생존력 평가에서 세포독성이 없었고, LPS로 유도된 RAW 264.7 세포주에서 NO 생성량을 농도 의존적으로 억제하였다. 청폐화담탕(淸肺化痰湯)은 400 g/ml 농도에서 LPS로 유도된 RAW 264.7 세포주에 대해 TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 생성량을 각각 41.86${\pm}$2.26 %, 61.11${\pm}$2.54 %, 55.33${\pm}$3.65 % 억제하였으며 TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$ 및 IL-6 유전자 발현을 농도 의존적으로 억제하였고, LPS로 유도된 RAW 264.7 세포주에서 iNOS와 COX-2 유전자 및 단백질 발현은 농도 의존적으로 억제하였다. 또한 그 농도에 따라 PGE$_2$ 생성량이 현저하게 억제하였고, LPS로 유도된 NF-${\kappa}$B 전사활성을 농도 의존적으로 억제함으로써 iNOS와 염증Cytokine 유전자 발현을 하향조절 하였다. 결 론 : 이상의 실험을 통해 청폐화담탕(淸肺化痰湯)은 LPS로 유도된 macrophage에서 NO와 염증Cytokine 생성량을 억제하였고 murine macrophage에서 NF-${\kappa}$B 활성을 억제함으로써 iNOS와 염증Cytokine 유전자 발현을 하향조절 하였다. 이러한 청폐화담탕(淸肺化痰湯)의 항염작용으로 천식, 기관지염, 폐렴, 결핵, 산후감모 등의 호흡기 질환에 응용할 수 있으리라 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.336-341
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• 2019

The cGAS-STING pathway plays an important role in pathogen-induced activation of the innate immune response. The 29-kDa amino-terminal fibronectin fragment (29-kDa FN-f) found predominantly in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritis (OA) patients increases the expression of catabolic factors via the toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated whether 29-kDa FN-f induces inflammatory responses via the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon gene (STING) pathway in human primary chondrocytes. The levels of cGAS and STING were elevated in OA cartilage compared with normal cartilage. Long-term treatment of chondrocytes with 29-kDa FN-f activated the cGAS/STING pathway together with the increased level of gamma-H2AX, a marker of DNA breaks. In addition, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF/CSF-2), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF/CSF-3), and type I interferon ($IFN-{\alpha}$), was increased more than 100-fold in 29-kDa FN-f-treated chondrocytes. However, knockdown of cGAS and STING suppressed 29-kDa FN-f-induced expression of GM-CSF, G-CSF, and $IFN-{\alpha}$ together with the decreased activation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and inhibitor protein ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$). Furthermore, NOD2 or TLR-2 knockdown suppressed the expression of GM-CSF, G-CSF, and $IFN-{\alpha}$ as well as decreased the activation of the cGAS/STING pathway in 29-kDa FN-f-treated chondrocytes. These data demonstrate that the cGAS/STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway plays a critical role in 29-kDa FN-f-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2015

Osteocytes may function as mechanotransducers by regulating local osteoclastogenesis. Reduced availability of oxygen, i.e. hypoxia, could occur during disuse, bone development, and fracture. Receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) is an osteoblast/stromal cell derived essential factor for osteoclastogenesis. The hypoxia induced osteoclastogenesis via increased RANKL expression in osteoblasts was demonstrated. Hypoxic regulation of gene expression generally involves activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription pathway. In the present study, we investigated whether hypoxia regulates RANKL expression in murine osteocytes and HIF-$1{\alpha}$ mediates hypoxia-induced RANKL expression by transactivating RANKL promoter, to elucidate the role of osteocyte in osteoclastogenesis in the context of hypoxic condition. The expression levels of RANKL mRNA and protein, as well as hypoxia inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) protein, were significantly increased in hypoxic condition in MLO-Y4s. Constitutively active HIF-$1{\alpha}$ alone significantly increased the levels of RANKL expression in MLO-Y4s under normoxic conditions, whereas dominant negative HIF-$1{\alpha}$ blocked hypoxia-induced RANKL expression. To further explore to find if HIF-$1{\alpha}$ directly regulates RANKL transcription, a luciferase reporter assay was conducted. Hypoxia significantly increased RANKL promoter activity, whereas mutations of putative HIF-$1{\alpha}$ binding elements in RANKL promoter prevented this hypoxia-induced RANKL promoter activity in MLO-Y4s. These results suggest that HIF-$1{\alpha}$ mediates hypoxia-induced up-regulation of RANKL expression, and that in osteocytes of mechanically unloaded bone, hypoxia enhances osteoclastogenesis, at least in part, via an increased RANKL expression in osteocytes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.406-416
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• 2011

In this study, we have verified the memory and cognitive enhancing effect of Longanae Arillus, the fruit of Euphoria longana Lamarck, which has been used as a tonic and for the treatment of amnesia, insomnia, and palpitations in oriental medicine. To investigate the effect of Longanae Arillus water extract(LAE) on the memory and cognitive dysfunction, scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected in C57BL/6 mice and several behavior tests including Y-maze, Morris water-maze, passive avoidance and fear conditioning tests were conducted. Administration of LAE (100 or 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) effectively improved scopolamine-induced memory impairment and dysfunction. To further determine the possible molecule mechanism of LAE, we have examined the activity and/or mRNA expression of diverse proteins involved in the acetylcholine metabolism. LAE particularly increased the amount of acetylcholine in the cortex which was mediated by suppression of acetylcholine esterase (AchE) activity. In addition, LAE elevated the mRNA expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAchRs) without affecting the mRNA levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholine esterase (AchE). In another experiment, LAE effectively inhibited mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL1-${\beta}$), which seemed to be mediated by inhibition of upstream transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ and extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). These results demonstrate that Longanae Arillus can increase acetylcholine amount the cortex via regulation of AchE activity as well as mAchRs expression and decrease pro-inflammatory responses via inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway, thereby having therapeutic potential to improve memory and cognitive deficit in amnesia.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2023

Pu-erh tea, a popular and traditional Chinese tea, possesses various health-promoting effects, including inhibiting tumor cell progression and preventing type II diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the precise anti-inflammatory mechanisms are not well understood. In present study, we elucidated the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Pu-erh tea in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. We explored the effects of Pu-erh tea on the levels of inflammatory-related genes, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, we investigated its regulatory effects on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF)-κB and hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF)-1α activation. The findings of this study demonstrated that Pu-erh tea inhibited the LPS-increased inflammatory cytokines and PGE₂ release, as well as COX-2 and iNOS expression. Moreover, we confirmed that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Pu-erh tea occurs via the inhibition of NF-κB and HIF-1α activation. Conclusively, these findings provide experimental evidence that Pu-erh tea may be useful candidate in the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate whether Ostericum koreanum (OK) could regulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo. Methods : To evaluate of anti-inflammatory effect of OK, we examined Nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we checked molecular mechanism especially in the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the degradation of inhibitory kappa B a ($Ik-B{\alpha}$) using western blot and also investigated survival of mice in LPS-mediated endotoxin shock. Results : 1. Extract from OK itself have weak cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. Extract from OK inhibited LPS-induced NO, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and IL-10 production in RAW264.7 cells. 2. OK inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs, such as p38, extracelluar signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and also the degradation of $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells 3. OK did not inhibit LPS-induced endotoxin shock. Conclusions : OK down-regulated LPS-induced NO and cytokines production through suppressing activation of MAPKs and degradation of $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$. Our results suggested that OK may be a beneficial drug against inflammatory diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3395-3403
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• 2016

Conjugated linoleic acid, a functional lipid, produced from Lactobacillus plantarum (LP-CLA), has been demonstrated to possess apoptotic activity. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of LP-CLA was here evaluated in vitro using the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line as a model system. Proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells was inhibited with increasing concentrations of LP-CLA with altered morphological features like cell detachment, rounding of cells and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA. Flow cytometry confirmed the apoptotic potential of LP-CLA by ANNEXIN V/PI double staining. Furthermore, outcome results indicated that the apoptosis was mediated by downregulation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway which in turn acted through proteasome degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, inhibition of p65 nuclear translocation, release of cytochrome-C from mitochondria and finally overexpression of Bax protein. Thus, conjugated linoleic acid, a natural product derived from probiotics, could therefore be a possible potential chemotherapeutic agent due to its apoptotic activity against estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.54-64
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• 2013

Objectives : Stevia rebaudiana is a well-known herbal sweetener in the Korea, Japan and China, and its medical uses were originated from countries in South America. Although it has been shown the various medical effects of S. rebaudiana including contraception and treatment of human diseases such as hyperglycemia, it has almost not been studied about the efficacy of S. rebaudiana methanolic extract (SRE) on the acute inflammation and its action mechanism. Methods : To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of SRE, we treated SRE and examined the level of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. Results : Treatment of macrophage with LPS markedly induced the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pretreatment of SRE blocked the induction of inflammatory mediators and the expression of iNOS protein. More importantly, LPS-induced phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ was suppressed by the treatment of SRE, suggesting SRE inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Furthermore, SRE blocked LPS-induced phosphorylation of MAPKs. Conclusions : SRE inhibited the induction of NO, PGE2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Raw264.7 cells. SRE's effect may be mediated with its inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and MAPK phosphorylation, which suggests its uses as an anti-inflammatory agents.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.92-105
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• 2018

Objectives: This aim of this study is to compare the reflux esophagitis improvement effects of Sepiae Os, Arcae Concha, Ostreae Concha, and Proton Pump Inhibitor(esomeprazole) through rat experiments. Methods: NO production inhibitory effect was measured by NO production amount and iNOS mRNA expression level in cell lines. iNOS, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $p-I{\kappa}B$, and serotonin were compared using immunohistochemistry at the rat reflux esophagitis. Reflux esophagitis connection external form, lower esophageal sphincter, and gap were observed and an esophageal inflammatory indicator, IL-6 activity was also evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: NO production and iNOS mRNA expression was showed concentration dependent decrease in cell lines treated with Sepiae OS, Arcae Concha, and Ostreae Concha at the experiments of cell lines. In the suppression of iNOS and $p-I{\kappa}B$ at the rat reflux esophagitis, Sepiae Os treat group(SOT) and Ostreae Concha treat group(OCT) were more effective. In the increase of serotonin at the rat reflux esophagitis, ACT, MT and OCT were more effective. Damage of lower esophageal sphincter, and gap between esophageal keratin and mucosa were observed less at the SOT, ACT, OCT. In the suppression of IL-6 at the rat reflux esophagitis, SOT and OCT were more effective than GE and, SOT was more effective than MT significantly. Conclusions: The anti-inflammatory effect was the best in the SOT and lower esophageal sphincter muscle contraction was the best in the ACT at the rat reflux esophagitis. Sepiae OS was more effective than esomeprazole in the suppression of iNOS, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6.