• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.754-759
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• 2008

Purpose : Abnormal activation patterns of Th1/Th2-cells have been suggested to increase the prevalence of allergic diseases. Prevention is regarded as an important corner stone in the management of allergic diseases. In this study, we have investigated the relationship between cord blood levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 in preterm newborns and the development of allergic respiratory diseases in infancy Methods : Forty-six preterm newborns born at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2003 and July 2005, were enrolled for this study, and consent was obtained to test their cord blood samples. Clinical history was obtained from the hospital records. Cord blood was obtained at birth and kept frozen until it was tested. The levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results : All infants were followed-up for a median of $16.0months{\pm}13.2d$ (range, 12.0 to 36.0 months). Eighteen infants who developed wheezing showed lower cord blood levels of IL-12 ($366.60{\pm}140.40$ vs $435.09{\pm}91.20pg/mL$, P=0.009). Cord blood levels of IL-4 and IL-10 showed no significant difference between the two groups. Four newborns who later developed asthma, and infants with asthma showed lower IL-12 level in the cord blood than other groups. Conclusion : Lower concentration of cord blood levels of IL-12 in newborns who later developed wheezing and asthma suggested that they had abnormal activation patterns of Th1/Th2-cells at the time of birth, and cord blood IL-12 level can be used as a predictor of allergic respiratory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2019

In this study, the in vitro hepatotoxic mechanism of Ephedra sinica (ma-huang) was investigated by measuring the degree of cell death, secretion of cytokine, and fat accumulation by treating HepG2 cells with 70% ethanolic extracts of ma-huang. Cell death was observed at concentrations of around $5-100{\mu}g/mL$ by treatment with ma-huang extracts (p<0.05). The secretion of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), which are inflammatory cytokines, were significantly promoted at concentrations of around 0.05-100 and $0.5-100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively (p<0.05). In this experiment, it was shown that the extracts of ma-huang stimulate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-8 and M-CSF, and lead to fat accumulation in the hepatocytes, thereby causing inflammation of the hepatocytes. Hepatotoxicity was observed at around 10-500 times lower concentration than the concentration required to cause serious toxicity, such as cell death, suggesting that hepatic toxicity (hepatitis) may be induced at a low dose.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.420-432
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• 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and digestive enzyme activity in water extract (SAW) and 60% ethanol extract (SAE) from Stachys sieboldii. As the treatment concentration of each extract S. sieboldii extract increased, antibacterial and antioxidant activity increased. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of SAW were 106.25 ± 0.94 mgGAE/g, 24.4 ± 0.24 mgQE/g and SAE were 124.61 ± 1.11 mgGAE/g, 45.2 ± 3.52 mgQE/g, respectively. The 400 ㎍/mL of SAW and SAE performed more than 53% protective effects against oxidative stress in HepG2 cell lines. All extracts were not showed cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7 cell line at 100 ㎍/mL. NO production was reduced to 44.3 ± 1.4% for SAW and 45.1 ± 1.0% for SAE at a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL. The production of inflammatory cytokines each TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was inhibited in a concentration-dependent. S. sieboldii extract did not showed Caco-2 cells cytotoxicity and inhibited NO production in concentration-dependent. As the concentration of the S. sieboldii extract increased of α-amylase and protease enzymes activity, which are digestive enzyme. As a result of the experiment, it is judged that it can be used as basic data for the development of health food using S. sieboldii.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.559-566
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• 2017

This aim of this study was to examine the immunomodulatory activities of crude polysaccharides from Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo (PCP) in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC) and splenocytes. The immunomodulatory activity was determined by cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) production, cell surface marker expression (CD 80/86 and MHC class I/II), and cytokine production in BMDC, and cell viability, and cytokine production in splenocytes. Cell proliferation and cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor; TNF-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-12) tested in BMDC were significantly increased by PCP treatment. Additionally, the cell surface markers (CD 80/86, MHC class I/II) were highly increased by PCP treatment. For cytokine production in splenocytes, PCP treatment significantly increased the production of Th 1 cytokines [IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$], but not Th 2 cytokines (IL-4). Therefore, PCP can induce immune cell activation and is a potential candidate for the development of nutraceuticals to boost the immune system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5825-5831
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• 2013

Background/Objectives: Maintenance of cellular function in culture is vital for transfer and development following adoptive immunotherapy. Dual properties of IL-21 in activating T cells and reducing activation induced cell death led us to explore the mechanism of action of IL-21 enhanced proliferation and cytotoxic potential of CIK cells. Method: CIK cells cultured from PBMCs of healthy subjects were stimulated with IL-21 and cellular viability and cytotoxicity to K562 cells were measured. To elucidate the mechanism of action of IL-21, mRNA expression of cytotoxic factors was assessed by RT-PCR and protein expression of significantly important cytotoxic factors and cytokine secretion were determined through flow cytometry and ELISA. Western blotting was performed to check the involvement of the JAK/STAT pathway following stimulation. Results: We found that IL-21 did not enhance in vitro proliferation of CIK cells, but did increase the number of cells expressing the CD3+/CD56+ phenotype. Cytotoxic potential was increased with corresponding increase in perforin ($0.9831{\pm}0.1265$ to $0.7592{\pm}0.1457$), granzyme B ($0.4084{\pm}0.1589$ to $0.7319{\pm}0.1639$) and FasL ($0.4015{\pm}0.2842$ to $0.7381{\pm}0.2568$). Interferon gamma and TNF-alpha were noted to increase ($25.8{\pm}6.1ng/L$ to $56.0{\pm}2.3ng/L$; and $5.64{\pm}0.61{\mu}g/L$ to $15.14{\pm}0.93{\mu}g/L$, respectively) while no significant differences were observed in the expression of granzyme A, TNF-alpha and NKG2D, and NKG2D. We further affirmed that IL-21 signals through the STAT-3 and STAT-5b signaling pathway in the CIK cell pool. Conclusion: IL-21 enhances cytotoxic potential of CIK cells through increasing expression of perforin, granzyme B, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. The effect is brought about by the activation of STAT-3 and STAT-5b proteins.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate immune regulatory effects of the pharmacopuncture with MOK on hyperthyroid rats. Methods : The experimental hyperthyroidism was prepared by the intraperitoneal injection of L-thyroxine(LT4, 0.5 mg/kg) once daily for 2 weeks in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. The pharmacopuncture with MOK extract(MOK pharmacopuncture) at doses of 0.3 or 3 mg/kg was injected on acupuncture points in the thyroid glands of hyperthyroid rats once a day for 2 weeks. Propylthiouracil(PTU, 10 mg/kg) as a reference group was subcutaneously injected into the dorsal neck. We measured the levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 in the sera of rats using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay(ELISA) and determined the expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, IL-10, and Foxp3 in spleen tissues by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : The treatment of MOK pharmacopuncture in hyperthyroid rats significantly decreased the serum levels of Th1 cytokine, $IFN-{\gamma}$(p<0.01 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU) and significantly increased the levels of Th2 cytokine, IL-4(p<0.05 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.001 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU) compared to control group. Also, the MOK pharmacopuncture significantly increased IL-4 expression(p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.05 for PTU), IL-10(p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg, and p<0.01 for PTU), and Foxp3(p<0.01 for MOK 0.3 mg/kg, p<0.05 for MOK 3 mg/kg and p<0.01 for PTU) in spleen tissues of hyperthyroid rats compared to control group. Conclusions : Our results suggest that MOK pharmacopuncture can help to ameliorate the pathological progression of hyperthyroidism by regulation of the Th1/Th2 imbalance.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.126-133
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• 2014

Purpose: Smokeless tobacco-based oral-use products like gutka are popular in India. Gutka usage leads to increased periodontal destruction and inflammation; however, the relevant mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the role of gutka in periodontitis by examining its effect on the levels of interleukin (IL) $1{\beta}$ and IL-8 from the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Methods: A total of 45 patients were enrolled in this study. Thirty patients with periodontitis (15 gutka chewers [GCP] and 15 nongutka chewers [NGC]) and 15 periodontally healthy controls (HC) were selected. The full-mouth plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and recession (RC) were recorded. The IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-8 levels in the GCF of all subjects were assessed through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Quantikine). Results: The IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-8 levels were not significantly higher in the GCP group (IL-$1{\beta}$, $369.01{\pm}273.44{\mu}L$; IL-8, $205.97{\pm}196.78{\mu}L$) as compared to those in the NGC group (IL-$1{\beta}$, $195.57{\pm}96.85{\mu}L$; IL-8, $178.61{\pm}149.35{\mu}L$). More gingival RC and loss of attachment was seen among the GCP group (RC: $2.02{\pm}0.31$, P=0.013; CAL: $4.60{\pm}0.56$, P<0.001) than among the NGC group (RC, $1.21{\pm}1.15$; CAL, $3.70{\pm}0.32$); however, PD was deeper among the NGC subjects (P=0.002). PI and GI were significantly higher for the periodontitis group (P<0.001) when compared to the HC, but there was no difference among gutka chewers and non-chewers (P=0.22 and P=0.89). A positive correlation was found between the IL-8 levels and the duration of gutka chewing (r=-0.64, P<0.01). Conclusions: Gutka chewing leads to increased gingival RC and clinical loss of attachment. There was no effect seen in the proinflammatory cytokine levels in the GCF of gutka users.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.898-908
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• 2000

Background : Eotaxin a CC chemokine specific for eosinophils, is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma by recruiting eosinophils into the airways. Theophylline has been used for the treatment of asthma and recently was proposed to have an anti-inflammatory action. The aim of this study is to examine whether theophylline may inhibit the eosinophilic airway inflammation by reducing the expression of eotaxin. Methods : The expression of eotaxin mRNA was assessed by Northern analysis in A549 cells 4 h after stimulation with TNF-$\alpha$ or IL-1$\beta$. And then, theophylline was added to A549 cells stimulated with 0.1 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$. Results : Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL TNF-$\alpha$ as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 7%, 22%. 28%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$, as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 10%, 42%, 63%, 72%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 ${\mu}M$ dexamethasone induced by 10 ng/mL TNF-$\alpha$ as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 27%, 18%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rate after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 ${\mu}M$ dexamethasone induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$ as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 43%, 47%, 12%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 mM theophylline induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1$\beta$, as compared with $\beta$-actin, were 48%, 40%, 33%, 22%, 16%, 14%, respectively. Conclusion : These results suggest that theophylline may reduce eosinophil infiltration of the airway at least in part by reducing the expression of eotaxin under the conditions of these experiments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1567-1575
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• 2013

Anti-inflammatory effects of sulfur-fed duck extract on colitis induced by 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) were examined in male Balb/c mice. Animals were divided into eight groups: normal (0.1 mL of PBS without 2.5% DSS), control (0.1 mL of PBS with 2.5% DSS), SD-H (3 mL/kg of high sulfur-fed duck extract), SD-L (1 mL/kg of low sulfur-fed duck extract), GD-H (3 mL/kg of high general duck extract), GD-L (1 mL/kg of low general duck extract), GC-H (3 mL/kg of high general chicken extract), and GC-L (1 mL/kg of low general chicken extract). Mice were fed PBS or six different doses of extracts (sulfur-fed duck, general duck, and chicken), once daily for 14 days. Colitis was induced from day 7 to 14 via the administration of 2.5% DSS in drinking water. The colon length was significantly shortened in mice compared to the control group. The administration of SD-H, SD-L, and GD-L increased colon length and decreased histological colon injury from DSS-induced colitis. However, chicken extracts did not recover any clinical sign of the colitis. SD-L significantly suppressed not only the concentrations of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-17A, and IL-12 in serum but also the mRNA expressions of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, iNOS and COX-2 in DSS-treated colon tissues (P<0.05). The administration of SD-H suppressed the concentrations of IL-6 in serum and the mRNA expressions of IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 in colon tissues. Administration of GD-L suppressed the concentrations of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-17A in serum and the mRNA expressions of IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 in colon tissues. The inhibitory effects of sulfur-fed duck extracts were effective at a dose of 1 mL/kg. Our results indicate that sulfur-fed duck extracts may possess anti-inflammatory effects on DSS-induced colitis mice.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2018

In this study, the inflammation of ethanol extracts from Caryopteris incana (CI) and fermented C. incana (FCI) on induced to lipopolysaccharide with Raw 264.7 cell was tested. The composition profile of L. plantarum was changed by fermentation, and confirmed by HPLC analysis. We performed the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol]-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay to evaluate the toxicity of CI and FCI extracts. In cell viability, cell toxicity was not shown at 5, 10 and $15{\mu}g/mL$ of CI extracts and 10, 20, 30 and $40{\mu}g/mL$ of FCI extracts. The results of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein production were confirmed to be inhibitory in a concentration-dependent manner, respectively. Additionally, protein expression of nitric oxide and prostaglandin $E_2$ by CI and FCI extracts were also inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. In the result of pro-inflammatory cytokine, $15{\mu}g/mL$ concentration of CI extracts was showed tumar necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ (57.3%), interleukin (IL)-6 (35.2%), and $IL-1{\beta}$ (48.0%), respectively. And $40{\mu}g/mL$ of FCI extracts was showed $TNF-{\alpha}$ (34.6%), IL-6 (32.1%), and $IL-1{\beta}$ (30.0%), respectively. These results suggest that FCI extracts showed better effect of anti-inflammatory than CI extracts. Therefore, it was found that both CI and FCI can be used as an excellent material for the development of new anti-inflammatory resource.