• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.61-77
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• 2004

Present review is built on base of research work on Ganoderma lucidum in our laboratory. A great deal of experimental evidence has suggested that the pharmacological activities of Ganoderma lucidum(Lingzhi) are related to anti-oxidative and free radical scavenging activity. The anti-oxidative and free radical scavenging effects of polysaccharides and triterpenoids isolated from Ganoderma lucidum in different oxidative injury models including tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH)- damaged mice peritoneal macrophages, alloxan-induced diabetes, experimental liver injury models induced by carbon tetrachloride (CC14), D-galactosamine (DGal) and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG) plus lipopolysaccharides(LPS) were investigated. It is also demonstrated that Lugu lingzhi, one of Ganoderma product, significantly inhibited LDL oxidation mediated by endothelial cells and decreased monocyte adhesion to endothelial cell (EC) induced by Oxidative low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and advanced glycation endproducts(AGE). Lugulingzhi-treated serum could markedly inhibit the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-l (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-l (VCAM-1) induced by ox-LDL and AGE.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2007.03a
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• pp.59-61
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• 2007

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.364-373
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• 2004

Background : Obstructive sleep apnea is a contributory factor of hypertension, arrhythmia, ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the pathophysiology underlying this relationship is unclear. Recent reports have shown that the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) are involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, and some reports state that increased levels of these cytokines are found in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. In this study, the levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF were measured in patients with obstructive sleep apnea in order to determine if obstructive sleep apnea is involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. Methods : Thirty-seven patients were chosen amongst a population who visited the Sleep Disorders Clinic of St. Paul's Hospital in Seoul, Korea for a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and who had subsequently undergone an overnight polysomnography at the clinic. The sera from these patients were retrieved after an overnight polysomnography session and the samples were kept at $-70^{\circ}C$. The cytokine levels were determined with ELISA and the relationships between the serum levels of sICAM-1 and VEGF along with polysomnography parameters were analyzed. Results : No statistically significant correlation was observed between the sICAM-1 levels and the apnea-hypopnea index(r=0.27, P>0.05). Positive correlations were found between the apnea-hypopnea index and serum VEGF levels (r=0.50, P<0.01), the apnea index and the serum sICAM-1 levels (r=0.31, P<0.01), and the apnea index and the serum VEGF levels (r=0.45, P<0.01). Conclusions : Obstructive apnea or hypopnea leads to an increase in the sICAM-1 and VEGF levels. Such an increase in the cytokine levels most likely leads to the higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.130-136
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• 2012

The GroEL heat-shock protein from Fusobacterium nucleatum, a periodontopathogen, activates risk factors for atherosclerosis in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and ApoE-/- mice. In this study, we analyzed the signaling pathways by which F. nucleatum GroEL induces the proinflammatory factors in HMEC-1 cells known to be risk factors associated with the development of atherosclerosis and identified the cellular receptor used by GroEL. The MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathways were found to be activated by GroEL to induce the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and tissue factor (TF). These effects were inhibited by a TLR4 knockdown. Our results thus indicate that TLR4 is a key receptor that mediates the interaction of F. nucleatum GroEL with HMEC-1 cells and subsequently induces an inflammatory response via the MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ pathways.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2005

Leukocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium is a critical initiating step in inflammation and atherosclerosis. We have herein studied the effect of manassantin A (1) and S (2), dineolignans, on interaction of THP-1 monocytic cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin in HUVEC. When HUVEC were pretreated with 1 and 2 followed by stimulation with $TNF-{\alpha}$, adhesion of THP-1 cells to HUVEC decreased in dose-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ values of 5 ng/mL and 7 ng/mL, respectively, without cytotoxicity. Also, 1 and 2 inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induceda$ up-regulation of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin. The present findings suggest that 1 and 2 prevent monocyte adhesion to HUVEC through the inhibition of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression stimulated by $TNF-\alpha$, and may imply their usefulness for the prevention of atherosclerosis relevant to endothelial activation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.352-357
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• 2013

Atherosclerosis, which manifests as acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and peripheral arterial diseases, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall. Prunella vulgaris, a perennial herb with a worldwide distribution, has been used as a traditional medicine in inflammatory disease. Here, we investigated the effects of P. vulgaris ethanol extract on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced inflammatory responses in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). We found that P. vulgaris ethanol extract inhibited adhesion of monocyte/macrophage-like THP-1 cells to activated HASMCs. It also decreased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and ROS, No production in TNF-${\alpha}$-induced HASMCs and reduced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Furthermore, P. vulgaris extract suppressed TNF-${\alpha}$-induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). These results demonstrate that P. vulgaris possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can regulate TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of adhesion molecules by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2013

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), P- and E-selectin play a pivotal role for initiation of atherosclerosis. Ginsenoside, a class of steroid glycosides, is abundant in Panax ginseng root, which has been used for prevention of illness in Korea. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) by which ginsenoside Rg2 may inhibit VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expressions stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). LPS increased VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. Ginsenoside Rg2 prevented LPS-mediated increase of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. On the other hand, JSH, a nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) inhibitor, reduced both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression stimulated with LPS. SB202190, inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and wortmannin, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor, reduced LPS-mediated VCAM-1 but not ICAM-1 expression. PD98059, inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) did not affect VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression stimulated with LPS. SP600125, inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), reduced LPS-mediated ICAM-1 but not VCAM-1 expression. LPS reduced IkappaB${\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$) expression, in a time-dependent manner within 1 hr. Ginsenoside Rg2 prevented the decrease of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ expression stimulated with LPS. Moreover, ginsenoside Rg2 reduced LPS-mediated THP-1 monocyte adhesion to HUVEC, in a concentration-dependent manner. These data provide a novel mechanism where the ginsenoside Rg2 may provide direct vascular benefits with inhibition of leukocyte adhesion into vascular wall thereby providing protection against vascular inflammatory disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.231-236
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• 2008

Heparin is a well-known anticoagulant widely used in various clinical settings. Interestingly, recent studies have indicated that heparin also has anti-inflammatory effects on neuroinflammation-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and meningitis. However, the underlying mechanism of its actions remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory mechanism of heparin in cultured cerebral endothelial cells (CECs), and found that heparin inhibited the tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ ($TNF{\alpha}$)-induced and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$)-dependent expression of adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), which are crucial for inflammatory responses. Heparin selectively interfered with NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA-binding activity in the nucleus, which is stimulated by $TNF{\alpha}$. In addition, non-anticoagulant 2,3-O desulfated heparin (ODS) prevented NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by $TNF{\alpha}$, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of heparin action in CECs lies in heparin's ability to inhibit the expression of cell adhesion molecules, as opposed to its anticoagulant actions.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 1996

Histopathological vascular changes in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantaan virus include increased vascular permeability, disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenia and changes in coagulation activity. Although vascular endothelial cells of main target organs such as kidney infected with Hantaan virus are not damaged but swelling of endothelial cells, perivascular exudates and infiltration of mononuclear cells and fresh interstitial hemorrhages are common. However, the pathogenesis of cell infiltration and hemorrhages around vascular endothelial cells are not well understood. Some endothelial cell molecules or vascular adhesins that acts as adhesion moleulces for leukocyte are expressed on endothelial cells close to site of inflammation. However, whether the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM) on vascular endothelial cells are increased by infection with Hantaan virus has not been studied. In this study, the relationship between the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and ELAM and adhesion of mononuclear cells on endothelial cells of human blood vessels infected with Hantaan virus was investigated. The endothelial cells of umbilical vein was passaged three times in culture medium and the monolayered cells were infected with $10^5\;pfu/ml$ of Hantaan virus grown in Vera E6 cell cultures. The multiplication of virus in cultured endothelial cells was monitored by immunohistochemistry and the expression of adhesion molecules was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and ELAM. And in situ hybriditation against ICAM-1 was also performed. The endothelial adhesion molecules, VCAM and ICAM, were expressed after 6 hours postinfection, respectively, and their expressions lasted for 72 hours. Similar expression of VCAM and ICAM appeared on endothelial cells by infection with virus, but the expression of ELAM was not recognized up to 72 hours postinfection. Microscopically, it was noted that many monocuclear cells adhered on endothelial cells infected with viruses. In an electronmicroscopic study, the transendothelial migration of mononuclear cells was observed on monolayered endothelial cells infected with virus. This results suggested that the endothelial adhesion molecules, particulary VCAM and ICAM, might be expressed on endothelial cells by infection with Hantaan virus and these molecules play a key role in the adhesion and extravasation of inflammatory cells around blood vessels.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.199.1-199.1
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• 2003

In the course of our search for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)/leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) mediated cell adhesion inhibitors from natural sources, new type of cell adhesion inhibitors were isolated from the MeOH extract of Saururus chinensis roots. On the basis of spectral evidence, the structures of the active compounds were identified as manassantin A and B. Manassantin A and B inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced homotypic aggregation of the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells without cytotoxicity with MIC value of 1.0 and 5.5 nM, respectively. (omitted)