• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.336-341
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• 2014

Endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) plays important roles in blood coagulation and inflammation. EPCR activity is markedly changed by ectodomain cleavage and release as the soluble EPCR. EPCR can be shed from the cell surface, which is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ converting enzyme (TACE). Oroxylin A (OroA), a major component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is known to exhibit anti-angiogenic, antiinflammation, and anti-invasive activities. However, little is known about the effects of OroA on EPCR shedding. Data showed that OroA induced potent inhibition of phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced EPCR shedding through suppression of TACE expression and activity. In addition, treatment with OroA resulted in reduced PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of p38, extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). These results demonstrate the potential of OroA as an anti-sEPCR shedding reagent against PMA and CLP-mediated EPCR shedding.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 2007

Mast cells play important roles in immune-related diseases, in particular, allergic diseases. Although 9-cis retinoic acid (9CRA) has been known as an immune regulator, its function in mast cells is not characterized well. In a previous paper, we demonstrated that 9CRA differentially decreases both CCR2 expression and the MCP-1-induced chemotactic activity of the human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. In the present study, we examined the effects of 9CRA on the migration and expressions of inflammatory cytokines in HMC-1 cells. It was found that 9CRA significantly inhibited the migration of HMC-1 cells in response to stem cell factor (P<0.01), and it had no effect on the mRNA and protein expression of c-kit, a receptor binding to SCF. We further investigated the alternation of inflammatory cytokine expression and identified that 9CRA blocked the mRNA and protein expressions of Th2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5. Taken together, our results demonstrate that 9CRA blocks SCF-induced cell movement and the protein secretion of IL-4 and IL-5, and this indicates that 9CRA may have anti-inflammatory effects on mast cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2004

Objective : Mast cells are a potent source of mediators that regulate inflammatory response in allergies and asthma. The author studied the effect of Bojungikgitanggamibang(BITB) on mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reaction. Method : When BITB was given as pre-treatment at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 mg/ml, the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80 was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Result : BITB dose-dependently inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic shock. BITB also inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis activated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE. In addition, BITB inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and A23187-induced interleukin-6 secretion from human mast cell line HMC-1 cells. Conclusion : These results indicate that BITB may be actively anti-allergic.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2005

GyeongshinhaeGihwan T1 (GGT1) is a newly developed oriental medicine to help weight control. We investigated nitric oxide production and cytokine secretion in mouse peritoneal macrophages. According to recent reports, macrophages are participated in fat accumulation and closely related with obesity. In this study, using mouse peritoneal macrophages, we have examined whether GGT1 affects the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and interleukin (IL)-12 by the stimulation of interferon-${\gamma}$ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). GGT1 inhibits LPS-induced NO production in a dose-dependent manner. The decrease in NO synthesis was reflected as a decreased amount of inducible NO synthese protein. We also found that GGT1 inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-12 production. In mouse embryo preadipocyte 3T3-L1, GGT1 reduced the viability in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that GGT1 may have potential effects in preventing and controlling adipogenesis and obesity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1258-1266
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• 2005

The present study was carried out in order to assess the protective effects of calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, isolated from Astragali radix (AR), on hyaluronidase (HAase) and the recombinant human interleukin-$1\beta$ (IL-$1\beta$)-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage and chondrocytes. We isolated the active component from the n-butanol soluble fraction of AR (ARBu) as the HAase inhibitor and structurally identified as calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside by LC-MS, IR, ${1}^H$ NMR, and ${13}^C$ NMR analyses. The $IC_{50}$ of this component on HAase was found to be 3.7 mg/ml by in vitro agarose plate assay. The protective effect of ARBu on the matrix gene expression of immortalized chondrocyte cell line C28/I2 treated with HAase was investigated using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and its effect on HAase and IL-$1\beta$-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage was determined by a staining method and calculating the amount of degraded glycosaminoglycan (GAG) from the cultured media. Pretreatment with calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside effectively protected human chondrocytes and articular cartilage from matrix degradation. Therefore, calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside from AR appears to be a potential natural ant-inflammatory or antii-osteoarthritis agent and can be effectively used to protect from proteoglycan (PG) degradation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.321-328
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• 2008

The number of patient with allergic asthma and atopy have increased in the cities of Korea steadily. In order to elucidate the primary factor, we investigated whether the house dust particles collected from an apartment of the middle classes has promoting effects of allergen-related airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. Mice were treated with 0.1 mL of 1 mg/mL of house dust particles suspension by intratracheal instillation once weekly for 10 weeks combined with ovalalbumin (OVA) sensitization. Intratracheal instillation of house dust particles and OVA sensitization caused an increase in the level of serum L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), immunoglobulun-E (IgE) and histamine, and an elevation in respiratory resistance. It also enhanced infiltration of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice, IgE and eotaxin expression in blood, and T helper type 2 cell derived cytokine levels such as of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and IL-5 in the BALF. However, it did not influence T helper type 1 cytokine such as interferon-gamma in the BALF. These results indicate that house dust particles elevate allergen-related airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice and may play an important role in the aggravation of asthma and atopy in Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate whether asian yellow sand dust (AS) has promoting effects of allergen-related airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, because the number of patient with allergic asthma and atopy, and with chronic bronchial inflammation and pneumonia have increased steadily in the cities of Korea. The appearance of AS collected was all round and flat, and the diameter was mostly below about 5 ${\mu}m$. When mice were treated with AS suspension by intratracheal instillation combined with ovalalbumin(OVA) sensitization chronically, the level of serum L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IgE and histamine, and respiratory resistance was increased. Intratracheal instillation of AS and OVA also enhanced infiltration of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), IgE and eotaxin expression, and T helper type 2 cell derived cytokines of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and IL-5 as major contributors to allergy and asthma. These results indicate that AS elevates allergen-related airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in mice and may play an important role in the aggravation of respiratory diseases in Korea.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2005

'SecSec' has been used for the purpose of prevention and treatment of throat diseases such as sore throat, cough, bronchial asthma and allergic asthma in Korea. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. To investigate the biological effect of SecSec, we examined cytotoxicity and secretion of inflammatory cytokines on human leukemic mast cell line, HMC-1, stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187. SecSec by itself had no cytotoxicity on HMC-1. When SecSec (1 mg/ml) was added, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha $(TNF-{\alpha})$, interleukin (IL)-6, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was significantly inhibited about 47.20%, 25.55%, and 46.43%, respectively on PMA plus A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells. But SecSec did not inhibit IL-8 secretion. These findings may help understanding the mechanism of action of this medicine leading to control activated mast cells on allergic inflammatory condition like asthma.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.57-71
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• 1994

Gingival fibroblasts were cultured and subjected to the test of Northern blot analysis for the demonstration of various mRNA expression in response to the low level laser treatment. For duplication of in vivo. Wound healing process, fibroblasts were pretreated with proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1$\beta$(IL-1$\beta$) or mitogenic substance phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) prior to laser irradiation. The results were as follows : 1. By the laser irradiation, the gene expression of collagen type I was markedly increased I n gingival fibroblasts, especially in the case of PMA pretreatment. The gene expression of collagen type IV, however, was not only affected by laser irradiation but also by chemical cell stimulation. 2. Oncogene v-myc expression was affected by both laser irradiation and IL-1$\beta$ or PMA stimulation, But v-fos gene expression was not detected in any case of this experimental system. 3. Heat shock gene(Hsp 70)was expressed constiutively, but slightly increased by laser irradiation. 4. mRNA of fibroblast growth factor(FGF) was induced by both laser irradiation and IL-1$\beta$ or PMA treatment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

Occupational long-term exposure to inorganic dusts may cause a variety of lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Diagnosis of pneumoconiosis and COPD, however, is currently dependent on radiological findings and pulmonary test, which are both late diagnostic tools. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel biomarkers in pneumoconiosis and COPD. Hence, in this current study we investigated the serum concentrations of YKL-40, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) as biomarkers for pneumoconiosis and COPD in 161 retired male workers exposed to inorganic dusts. The serum concentration of YKL-40 was significantly increased with age, pneumoconiosis, and airflow limitation. The serum concentration of IL-6 was significantly higher in airflow limitation. These results suggest that serum concentration of YKL-40 is associated with age, pneumoconiosis, and airflow limitation. Also, serum concentration of IL-6 is associated with airflow limitation.