• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.40-50
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate anti-inflammatory effects of Kyungheechunggan-tang (KHCGT) on LPS- induced RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells and anti-fibrotic effects of KHCGT on LX-2 cells. Materials and Methods: Three types of KHCGTs (KHCGT-A, -B, and -C) by narrowing down the number of constituent herbs from 9 (KHCGT-A) to 5 (KHCGT-B) and to 3 (KHCGT-C) were developed. To understand pharmacological effects of KHCGT, three types of KHCGTs were treated on RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells. Anti-inflammatory activities of KHCGT were evaluated by ELISA assay for pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-10, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and for IL-6 production in LPS-induced LX-2 cells. In addition, anti-fibrotic effects of KHCGT were determined by quantitative real-time PCR assay for fibrosis-related genes, ${\alpha}-SMA$, collagen1A1, TIMP1, MMP-2, in LX-2 cells. Results: KHCGT-A and KHCGT-C showed inhibitory effects on secretion of IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and LX-2 cells. KHCGT-B and KHCGT-C exhibited inhibitory effects on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The mRNA expression levels of collagen1A1 and MMP-2 were significantly reduced by KHCGT-C whereas TIMP-1 was suppressed by KHCGT-A and KHCGT-B in LX-2 cells. Among three different formulas, KHCGT-C demonstrated the most remarkable effects on inflammation and fibrosis. Conclusions: In this study, KHCGT showed both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects which make it to be a prospective agent for chronic liver diseases with inflammation and fibrosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.425-433
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• 2023

During liver injury, hepatic stellate cells can differentiate into myofibroblast-like structures, which are more susceptible to proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix generation, leading to liver fibrosis. Anaerobic glycolysis is associated with activated stellate cells and glyceraldehyde (GA) is an inhibitor of glucose metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in human stellate LX-2 cells. In this study, we used cell viability, morphological analysis, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), western blotting, and qRT-PCR techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of GA in LX-2 cells. The results showed that GA significantly reduced cell density and inhibited cell proliferation and lactate levels in LX-2 cells but not in Hep-G2 cells. We found that GA prominently increased the activation of caspase-3/9 for apoptosis induction, and a pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, attenuated the cell death and apoptosis effects of GA, suggesting caspase-dependent cell death. Moreover, GA strongly elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and notably increased the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Interestingly, it dramatically reduced α-SMA and collagen type I protein and mRNA expression levels in LX-2 cells. Thus, inhibition of ERK and JNK activation significantly rescued GA-induced cell growth suppression and apoptosis in LX-2 cells. Collectively, the current study provides important information demonstrating the anti-fibrotic effects of GA, a glycolytic metabolite, and demonstrates the therapeutic potency of metabolic factors in liver fibrosis.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.254-262
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• 2010

Artemisia capillaris (A. capillaries) is known to play roles in many cellular events, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. We investigated the antifibrogenic efficacy of A. capillaris in the immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line LX2. Cell proliferation was determined by the MTT assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by the flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells were measured using a cell death detection ELISA. Caspase activity was detected by a colorimetric assay. The mRNA level of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA were measured by real-time PCR. MEK and ERK protein were detected by Western blot analysis. We provide evidence that A. capillaris induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and potently inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. A. capillaris inhibited cell proliferation of LX2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, increased the apoptosis fraction at cell cycle analysis with an accompanying DNA fragmentation, and resulted in a significant decrease in Bcl-2 mRNA levels and an increase in Bax expression. Exposure of LX2 cells to A. capillaris induced caspase-3 activation, but co-treatment of A. capillaris with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, and the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVE-FMK, blocked apoptosis. A. capillaris down-regulated Mcl-1 protein levels and inhibited phosphorylation of MEK/ERK, suggesting that it mediates cell death in LX2 cells through the down-regulation of Mcl-1 protein via a MEK/ERK-independent pathway.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.19-28
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• 2024

Objectives : Ephedrae Herba has been used in the East Asian traditional medicine, for treatment of asthma, cold and influenza. Silymarin is an effective antioxidant and its anti-fibrogenic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties have been reported. This study was performed to explore an anti-fibrogenic potential of Ephedrae Herba extract (EHE) + silymarin on immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2 cells. Methods : We studied the anti-fibrogenic effects of EHE + silymarin on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway in LX-2 cells. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. TGF-β1 signaling-related proteins expression were detected by Western blot. Results : Silymarin 30 ㎍/mL and EHE 100 ㎍/mL showed cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Therefore, the concentrations of silymarin and EHE were studied at 10 ㎍/mL, respectively. Silymarin significantly reduced PAI-1 protein expression, Smad binding element (SBE) luciferase activity, and mRNA (PAI-1, MMP2 and 9) expression compared to TGF-β1. EHE significantly reduced SBE luciferase activity and mRNA (PAI-1, MMP2 and 9) expression compared to TGF-β1. More importantly, EHE + silymarin significantly reduced all parameters compared to TGF-β1, and also significantly reduced compared to EHE alone and silymarin alone. Conclusion : The results indicate that EHE + silymarin has anti-fibrogenic effect in LX-2 cells induced by TGF-β1. Additionally, EHE + silymarin shows more effective anti-fibrogenic effect than EHE alone and silymarin alone.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 2002

Reactive of gen species (ROS) contribute to several cellular function and are involved in the regulation of signal transduction, gene expression, and proliferation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of $H_2O_2$ treatment on IgM secretion in LPS-stimulated murine B Iymphoma, CH12.LX. Cells were treated directly With $H_2O_2$ and stimulated with LPS. $H_2O_2$ treatment during 72 h time period inhibited IgM secretion in LPS-stimulated CH12.LX cells in a dose- and time-dependent manners. After treatment with 50 $\mu\textrm{M}$ $H_2O_2$ during 72 h time period, the level of IgM in LPS-stimulated CH12.LX cells was markedly decreased, whereas cell viability was not significantly changed. Addition of $H_2O_2$ concomitantly with LPS, or 12 h post-LPS stimulation, produced a significant inhibition of IgM secretion, Whereas inhibitory effect of $H_2O_2$ on IgM secretion was not observed when added 24 h after LPS stimulation. These findings suggest that $H_2O_2$ can inhibit the secretion of IgM in LPS-stimulated CH15.LX cells, and may alter the events necessary for terminal B cell differentiation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

Objectives : Mori Folium was popularly used as one of the traditional medicinal herbs. Although M. Folium has been cultivated for rearing silkworm historically, it's use has been expanded as natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of filariasis, diabetes and dropsy in East Asia. However, little has been known about the effect of M. Folium on liver fibrosis. Therefore, we would like to explore an anti-fibrogenic potential of M. Folium extract (MFE) using immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2 cells. Methods : We examined the effects of MFE on the transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ ($TGF{\beta}1$)-induced liver fibrosis in LX-2 cells. Cell viability, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity, phosphorylations level of Smad 2/3, and expression level of $TGF{\beta}1$-dependent target genes were monitored in the MFE-treated LX-2 cells. Results : Up to 30 ${\mu}g/ml$ MFE treatment did not show any possible toxic effect in LX-2 cells. MFE inhibited $TGF{\beta}1$-inducible Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and decreased the $TGF{\beta}1$-inducible phosphorylations of Smad 2 and Smad 3 in hepatic stellate cell in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, increases of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, $TGF{\beta}1$ and matrix metalloproteinases 2 genes by $TGF{\beta}1$ were also attenuated by MFE treatment. Conclusions : These findings suggested that MFE would be used as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment liver fibrosis, which might be mediated by the inhibition of $TGF{\beta}1$-inducible Smad 2/3 transactivation and target genes expression.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 2013

In this study, novel peptides (NIPP-1, NIPP-2) derived from Navicula incerta (microalgae) protein hydrolysate were explored for their inhibitory effects on collagen release in hepatic fibrosis with the investigation of its underlying mechanism of action. TGF-${\beta}1$ activated fibrosis in LX-2 cells was examined in the presence or absence of purified peptides NIPP-1 and NIPP-2. Besides the mechanisms of liver cell injury, protective effects of NIPP-1 and NIPP-2 were studied to show the protective mechanism against TGF-${\beta}1$ stimulated fibrogenesis. Our results showed that the core protein of NIPP-1 peptide prevented fibril formation of type I collagen, elevated the MMP level and inhibited TIMP production in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of NIPP-1 and NIPP-2 on TGF-${\beta}1$ induced LX-2 cells alleviated hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, ${\alpha}$-SMA, TIMPs, collagen and PDGF in the NIPP-1 treated groups were significantly decreased. Therefore, it could be suggested that NIPP-1 has potential to be used in anti-fibrosis treatment.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2012

This study was designed to elucidate the effects of Cirsium japonicum (CJ) extracts on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs, LX-2 cells) proliferation, which is induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$). The content of total phenol, flavonoid, and silymarin derivatives was more higher in CJ-flower than in CJ-root. Consistent with these results, the LX-2 cells growth inhibition was more effective in CJ-flower extract than in CJ-root extract, the complete growth inhibition concentration was $1{\mu}g/mL$ and $50{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. These results suggest that extracts from CJ-flower can be potentially used as therapeutic substances for the regulatioin of HSCs activation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.519-529
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of Injinchunggan-tang on cell growth and apoptosis in human hepatic stellate cell line LX2. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells were treated with various concentrations of Injinchunggan-tang extract for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, caspase activity, caspase inhibitor and the mRNA of the Bcl-2, and Bax with ${\beta}$-actin were measured by using MTT assay, apoptosis assay and RT-PCR. Results : Proliferation, and mRNA expression of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited by Injinchunggan-tang treatment in a dose-dependent manner. This indicates the prescription has inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrogenesis-associated genes in transcription. Cell viability was inhibited in time- and dose-dependent manners. Conclusions : These results suggest that Injinchunggan-tang would be beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for the patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.71-82
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• 1998

The first original inducer of interferon had been synthesized in Russia in 1965-1967. It was 2-car-boxiethyl-germanysesquioxan (Lx-13) and other-1 hydroxigermanytrans-monohydral (Lx-5), These compounds have very high induct$\circledcirc$on of interferon. The strain of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer was recultivated on medium with different concentiation of (Lx-13) and (Lx-5) many times. The strain was stabilized when biomass of cells contain of the Ge form 10${\times}$10-3mg% to 2.3x10-3mg% to ashes, Biomass are hard physical work (swimming test) and also had stress-protective, immunomodulating action and anticarcinogenic effect hampered the sarcoma-180 by 33-80% and suppressed quantity of metanes on 43-46%.