• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.1158-1165
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• 2014

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Sargassum fulvellum ethanol extract (SFEE) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response. SFEE remarkably suppressed production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ at 50 and $100{\mu}g/mL$. There were no cytotoxic effects on proliferation of macrophages treated with SFEE compared to the control. SFEE reduced expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in a dose-dependent manner. The formation of edema in mouse ears was reduced at the highest dose tested compared to the control. Moreover, in the acute toxicity test, no mortality occurred in mice administered 5,000 mg/kg body weight of SFEE over the 2-week observation period. These results suggest that SFEE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic material.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2012

In the present study, we investigated anti-inflammatory activity of artemisinic acid in HaCaT cells and RAW264.7 cells. Artemisinic acid showed inhibitory activity on macrophage-derived chemokines (MDC) expression, a factor related with atopic dermatitis (AD), in interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-stimulated HaCaT cells. In the study on action mechanism, pretreated artemisinic acid reduced the phosphorylation of STAT1 and p38 and the degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ by IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ stimulations. However, artemisinic acid didn't show the inhibitory activity on LPS-induced inflammatory mediators (NO, $PGE_2$, IL-6) in RAW264.7 cell. These results indicate that artemisinic acid inhibits IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MDC expression through inhibition of signal factors, STAT1, NF-${\kappa}B$, and p38, in HaCaT keratinocytes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1174-1178
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• 2011

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are microbial polysaccharides that are released outside of the bacterial cell wall. There have been few studies on EPS-producing lactic acid bacteria that can enhance macrophage activity and the underlying signaling mechanism for cytokine expression. In the current study, EPS-overproducing Lactobacillus (L.) paracasei KB28 was isolated from kimchi and cultivated in conditioned media containing glucose, sucrose, and lactose. The whole bacterial cells were obtained with their EPS being attached, and the cytokine-inducing activities of these cells were investigated. Gas chromatography analysis showed the presence of glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, and rhamnose in EPS composition. EPS-producing L. paracasei KB28 induced the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12 in mouse macrophages. This strain also caused the degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and phosphorylation of the major MAPKs: Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. The use of pharmacological inhibitors showed that different signaling pathways were involved in the induction of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-12 by L. paracasei KB28. Our results provide information for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effect of food-derived EPS-producing lactic acid bacteria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.914-918
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• 2006

It was examined that the effect of fermented traditional wine made by using mycelium of Phellinus linteus on the expression of inflammation-related proteins in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were incubated with or without ertract of traditional wine (ETMP), then analyzed by microscopic observation, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. The results of RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ was induced by LPS, Dut the treatment of ETMP inhibited the expression of these proteins and its mRNAs. Besides, the results of Western blot analyses showed that the expression of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}Bp65$ and $inhibitory-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were also slightly affected by ETMP treatment. These results suggest that ETM P alleviate the expression of inflammation-related protein expressions and thus may be used as a functional alcoholic beverage.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.213-219
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• 2019

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease outbreak in the sebaceous glands within the hair follicle. The proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) causes monocytes to stimulate secretion of inflammatory cytokines. A number of studies proposed the inhibitory effects of P. acnes-mediated inflammation by several natural extracts. However, studies on the effect of Eurya persicifolia Gagnep. (E. persicifolia) extracts on the inflammatory responses by P. acnes have not been explored yet. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of E. persicifolia extract in the inflammatory reactions induced by P. acnes. We found that E. persicifolia extract successfully diminished the expression levels of inflammatory mediators such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and iNOS in P. acnes-activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. We found that the immunosuppressive effect of E. persicifolia extract in the P. acnes-activated inflammatory signaling is mediated by the regulation of NF-${\kappa}B$ transcriptional activation, which is a key regulator of inflammatory cytokine expression. Our results suggest that E. persicifolia extract held potentials for the treatment of P. acnes by suppressing NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathways.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2011

The activation of microglia induces the overproduction of inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The large amounts of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) produced by inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) is one of the main inflammatory mediators that can contribute to neurodegeneration. The inhibition of COX-2 thus may provide therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. From the activity-guided purification of EtOAc soluble fraction of Siegesbeckia glabrescens, four compounds were isolated as inhibitors of $PGE_2$ production in LPS-activated microglia. Their structures were determined as 3, 4'-dimethylquercetin (1), 3, 7-dimethylquercetin (2), 3-methylquercetin (3) and 3, 7, 4'-trimethylquercetin (4) by the mass and NMR spectral data analysis. The compounds 1-4 showed dose-dependent inhibition of $PGE_2$ production in LPS-activated microglia with their $IC_{50}$ values of 7.1, 4.9, 4.4, $12.4\;{\mu}M$ respectively. They reduced the expression of protein and mRNA of COX-2 through the inhibition of I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation and NF-$\kappa}B$ activity that were correlated with the inactivation of p38 and ERK. Therefore the active compounds from Siegesbeckia glabrescens may have therapeutic effects on neuro-inflammatory diseases through the inhibition of overproduction of $PGE_2$ and suppression of COX-2 overexpression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.704-712
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• 2019

Although nanometric dead Lactobacillus plantarum has emerged as a potentially important modulator of immune responses, its underlying mechanism of action has not been fully understood. This study aimed to identify the detailed biochemical mechanism of immune modulation by micronized and heat-treated L. plantarum LM1004 (MHT-LM1004, <$1{\mu}m$ in size). MHT-LM1004 was prepared from L. plantarum LM1004 via culture in a specifically designed membrane bioreactor and heat treatment. MHT-LM1004 was shown to effectively induce the secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 and the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). MHT-LM1004 enhanced the expression of TLR-2, phosphorylation of MAPKs (ERK), and nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in a dose-dependent manner. Oral administration of MHT-LM1004 ($4{\times}10^9$ or $4{\times}10^{11}cells/kg$ mouse body weight) increased the splenocyte proliferation and serum cytokine levels. These results suggested that MHT-LM1004 effectively enhances early innate immunity by activating macrophages via the TLR-2/MAPK/$NF-{\kappa}B$ signalling pathway and that this pathway is one of the major routes in immune modulation by the Lactobacillus species.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.98-98
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• 2018

In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of extracts of leaves (ST-L) and branches (ST-B) from Sageretia theezans in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. ST-L and ST-B significantly inhibited the production of the pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. ST-L and ST-B blocked LPS-induced degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ and nuclear accumulation of p65, which resulted to the inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in RAW264.7 cells. ST-L and ST-B also attenuated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, ST-L and ST-B increased HO-1 expression in RAW264.7 cells, and the inhibition of HO-1 by ZnPP reduced the inhibitory effect of ST-L and ST-B against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Inhibition of p38 activation and ROS elimination attenuated HO-1 expression by ST-L and ST-B, and ROS elimination inhibited p38 activation induced by ST-L and ST-B. ST-L and ST-B dramatically induced nuclear accumulation of Nrf2, but this was significantly reversed by the inhibition of p38 activation and ROS elimination. Collectively, our results suggest that ST-L and ST-B exerts potential anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK signaling activation, and activating HO-1 expression through the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 via ROS-dependent p38 activation. These findings suggest that ST-L and ST-B may have great potential for the development of anti-inflammatory drug to treat acute and chronic inflammatory disorders.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.275-279
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• 2011

In order to validate the use of Saussurea Lappa as an anti-inflammatory drug in the traditional Korean medicine, I have investigated the effects of water-soluble extract of Saussurea Lappa (ESL) on the production of pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The extract inhibited dose-dependently TNF-${\alpha}$ production without its cytotoxic effect on the macrophages, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and significantly decreased mRNA levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, as determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The extract also inhibited LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$, thereby resulting in TNF-${\alpha}$ gene expression. These results suggest that ESL may have therapeutic potential in the control of inflammatory diseases mediated by activated macrophages.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.415-422
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• 2013

Gamma irradiation (${\gamma}IR$) is widely used for radiotherapy as a treatment of cancer cells although it has a risk to damage normal cells. Inflammation is regarded as one of side effects of ${\gamma}IR$ while the effect of low dose of ${\gamma}IR$ on inflammation has not been researched well. Here, we investigated the inflammatory responses of low dose of ${\gamma}IR$ on murine spleen cells. It was evaluated if ${\gamma}IR$ affected the mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, the regulation of various inflammatory cytokines (IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-17, IL-4, IL-10), and the involvement of Ikaros and MAPK/NF-${\kappa}B$ medicated mechanism. Exposure of $^{137}Cs-{\gamma}IR$ below 2 Gy decreased the lymphocytes proliferative response to mitogens (LPS, ConA) except at the lowest dose, 0.05 Gy. IL-17, IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA increased at 0.5 and 2 Gy, but not altered at 0.05 Gy. IL-10, anti-inflammatory cytokine, increased only at 0.05 Gy. In regard to intracellular signaling, p-JNK, p-p38 and p-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were not changed, whereas the activation of ERK and Ikaros increased at the lowest dose. These results suggest that exposure of ${\gamma}IR$ less than 0.5 Gy (or below 0.05 Gy) has beneficial effects as a radiation hormesis on immune function.