• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2018

Acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical syndrome of diffuse lung inflammation with high mortality rates and limited therapeutic methods. Diosmetin, an active component from Chinese herbs, has long been noticed because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diosmetin on LPS-induced ALI model and unveil the possible mechanisms. Our results revealed that pretreatment with diosmetin effectively alleviated lung histopathological changes, which were further evaluated by lung injury scores. Diosmetin also decreased lung wet/dry ratios, as well as total protein levels, inflammatory cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine (eg. $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6) overproduction in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additionally, increased MPO, MDA and ROS levels induced by LPS were also markly suppressed by diosmetin. Furthermore, diosmetin significantly increased the expression of Nrf2 along with its target gene HO-1 and blocked the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in the lung tissues, which might be central to the protective effects of diosmetin. Further supporting these results, in vitro experiments also showed that diosmetin activated Nrf2 and HO-1, as well as inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome in both RAW264.7 and A549 cells. The present study highlights the protective effects of diosmetin on LPS-induced ALI via activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome, bringing up the hope of its application as a therapeutic drug towards LPS-induced ALI.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.508-513
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• 2019

In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of ${\alpha}-lipoic$ acid (LA) and decursinol (Dec) hybrid compound LA-Dec were evaluated and compared with its prodrugs, LA and Dec. LA-Dec dose-dependently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation in BV2 mouse microglial cells. On the other hand, no or mild inhibitory effect was shown by the Dec and LA, respectively. LA-Dec demonstrated dose-dependent protection from activation-induced cell death in BV2 cells. LA-Dec, but not LA or Dec individually, inhibited LPS-induced increased expressions of induced NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins in a dose-dependent manner in both BV2 and mouse macrophage, RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, LA-Dec inhibited LPS-induced expressions of iNOS, COX-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ mRNA in BV2 cells, whereas the same concentration of LA or Dec was ineffective. Signaling studies demonstrated that LA-Dec inhibited LPS-activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and protein kinase B activation, but not nuclear factor-kappa B or mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. The data implicate LA-Dec hybrid compound as a potential therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.25-34
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• 2011

Objectives : Citrus is the fruit that is readily available around us. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of fraction isolated from the Citrus hassaku pericarp in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Methods : The effects of fraction from Citrus hassaku pericarp on cell viability on RAW264.7 cells were measured by the MTT assay. The mRNA levels of iNOS and COX-2, its protein level by fraction of Citrus hassaku pericarp treatment in RAW264.7 macrophage cells were investigated by RT-PCR and immunoblots. Nitrite accumulation in the culture was measured colorimetrically by the Griess reaction using a Griess reagent. The amount of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results : The results indicated that the fraction of Citrus hassaku pericarp concentration highly suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and IL-6 productions without a cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. fraction of Citrus hassaku pericarp inhibited the expressions of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 protein and their mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, fraction of Citrus hassaku pericarp suppressed the level of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) activity, which was linked with the suppression of LPS-induced phosphorylation of p65 at serine 276 and p65 translocation into nuclei, but not MAPK signaling. In addition, treatment with fraction of Citrus hassaku pericarp inhibited the production of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusion : Our results indicate that fraction of Citrus hassaku pericarp potentially inhibits the biomarkers related to inflammation through the blocking of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 activation, and it may be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.681-687
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• 2017

This study was focused on the anti-inflammatory activities of Annona muricata leaf ethanol extracts (AME). Inflammation of macrophages was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, and various inflammation-mediated factors [cytokines and nitric oxide (NO)] were measured. AME treatment significantly reduced LPS-induced NO, cytokine levels [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$], and expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanical studies showed that AME treatment inhibited activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ in macrophages treated with LPS. From these results, AME treatment strongly inhibits LPS-induced inflammation through inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, suggesting AME could be a potential candidate for treatment of inflammatory disease as a nutraceutical drug.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1614-1625
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• 2020

A number of species of the genus Trichilia (Meliaceae) exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of Trichilia martiana C. DC. (TM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation has not, to the best of our knowledge, yet been determined. Therefore, in the present study, the antiinflammatory effect of TM on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages was evaluated. The ethanol extract of TM (TMEE) significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin 2 (PGE₂), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). TMEE also reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. The upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation was revealed to be downregulated following TMEE pretreatment. Furthermore, TMEE was indicated to lead to the nucleus translocation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In H292 airway epithelial cells, the pretreatment of TMEE significantly downregulated the production of LPS-stimulated IL-1β, and TMEE was indicated to increase the expression of HO-1. In animal models exhibiting LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI), treatment with TMEE reduced the levels of macrophages influx and TNF-α production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ALI mice. Additionally, TMEE significantly downregulated the activation of ERK, JNK and IκB, and upregulated the expression of HO-1 in the lungs of ALI mice. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that TMEE could exert a regulatory role in the prevention or treatment of the endotoxin-mediated inflammatory response.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.13-24
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• 2010

Objectives : Ulcerative colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease in the gastrointestinal tract. We investigated whether Aurantii fructus immaturus (AFI) pharmacopuncture has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : in vitro experiments, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, prevention on $H_2O_2$-induced cell death in RAW264.7 cell line, DNA fragmentation, and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were analyzed to investigate antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of AFI pharmacopuncture. in vivo experiment, a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis was used to examine the effect of AFI pharmacopuncture on CV12 at different doses of 5 ${\mu}l$, 0.5 ${\mu}l$, 0.05 ${\mu}l$ for 10 days. Body weight, colon length and macroscopic features were investigated. Results : AFI pharmacopuncture showed DPPH free radical scavenging and SOD active effects in a dose-dependent manner. AFI pharmacopuncture showed a protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced cell injury and also attenuated LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression. In a DSS- induced colitis murine model, however, AFI pharmacopuncture at CV12 had no anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions : The present results suggest that AFI pharmacopuncture extract may have anti- inflammatory and antioxidative effects in vivo test, but further research on the underlying mechanism is required.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.83-89
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of Houttuyniae Herba water extract (HC) on calcium release and production of various inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. Methods : NO production was measured by Griess reagent assay. Intracellular calcium level was measured with Fluo-4 assay. Levels of cytokines were measured by High-throughput multiplex bead array cytokine assay based on xMAP (multi-analyte profiling beads) technology. Results : HC significantly decreased NO production for 24 hrs incubation at the concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}/mL$ in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). HC significantly decreased production of IP-10, KC, VEGF, and PDGF-BB for 24 hrs incubation at the concentrations of 50, 100, and $200{\mu}/mL$ in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). HC also significantly decreased intracellular calcium release for 24 hrs incubation at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}/mL$ in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05). But HC did not show any significant effect on production of IL-4 and IL-5 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7. Conclusions : The results suggested that HC has anti-inflammatory property related with its inhibition on the production of NO, IP-10, KC, VEGF, and PDGF-BB in LPS-induced macrophages via calcium pathway.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.9
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• pp.35-49
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• 2000

Purpose: This study is to investigate the alleviation effects of Daebangpoongtang in LPS induced arthritis in mice knee joint. Methods : Daebangpoongtang was chosen to treat the arthritis caused by injecting $300{\mu}g/kg$ LPS to mice knee joint. The control group had no treatment, while the LPS group was injected $300{\mu}g/kg$ LPS to mice knee joint and the DBP group was oral administrated of Daebangpoongtang. After injection of $300{\mu}g/kg$ LPS to mice knee joint, the alteration of synovial lining cell, vessel, fibrosis, distribution of collagen fiber, fibroblast, mast cell, infiltration of inflammation component cell and distribution of ICAM and VCAM was observed by light microscope(BX50). Results : In the DBP extract treatment group, the distribution of vessel, the enlargement of synovial lining cell layer, the synovial lining cells with filopodia, the fibrosis, the distribution of fibroblast in synovial membrane, the distribution of TCAM and VCAM on the knee joint was less than that of LPS group. Infiltrated lymphocyte into the apical surface had not observed in the DBP extract treatment group. The distribution of mast cell was as same as control group(no treatment group) and it showed granulated type. Conclusion: According to the above results, it might be considered that the administration of Daebangpoongtang has a curative effect on synovial membrane injury in arthritis by inhibiting increase of vessel, cell adhesion molecule(ICAM and VCAM) in LPS induced arthritis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.547-554
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• 2017

Previous studies have demonstrated the role of hydroquinone (HQ), a hydroxylated benzene metabolite, in modulating various immune responses; however, its role in macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses is not fully understood. In this study, the role of HQ in inflammatory responses and the underlying molecular mechanism were explored in macrophages. HQ down-regulated the expression of interferon $(IFN)-{\beta}$ mRNA in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without any cytotoxicity and suppressed interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3-mediated luciferase activity induced by TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF) and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). A mechanism study revealed that HQ inhibited IRF-3 phosphorylation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TRIF, and AKT by suppressing phosphorylation of AKT, an upstream kinase of the IRF-3 signaling pathway. IRF-3 phosphorylation is highly induced by wild-type AKT and poorly induced by an AKT mutant, AKT C310A, which is mutated at an inhibitory target site of HQ. We also showed that HQ inhibited IRF-3 phosphorylation by targeting all three AKT isoforms (AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3) in RAW264.7 cells and suppressed IRF-3-mediated luciferase activities induced by AKT in HEK293 cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that HQ inhibits the production of a type I IFN, $IFN-{\beta}$, by targeting AKTs in the IRF-3 signaling pathway during macrophage-mediated inflammation.