• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2014

An increasing number of recent studies have focused on the impact of particulate matter on human health. As a model for atmospheric particulate inhalation, we investigated the effects of inhaled carbon black nanoparticles (CBNP) on mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The CNBPs were generated by a novel aerosolization process, and the mice were exposed to the aerosol for 4 hours. We found that CBNP inhalation exacerbated lung inflammation, as evidenced by histopathology analysis and by the expression levels of interleukin-6 protein, fibronectin, and interferon-${\gamma}$ mRNAs in lung tissues. Notably, fibronectin mRNA expression showed a statistically significant increase in expression after CBNP exposure. These data suggest that the concentration of CBNPs delivered (calculated to be $12.5{\mu}g/m^3$) can aggravate lung inflammation in mice. Our results also suggest that the inhalation of ultrafine particles like PM 2.5 is an impactful environmental risk factor for humans, particularly in susceptible populations with predisposing lung conditions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.21-28
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• 2019

Objectives : In present study, we investigated a therapeutic effect and optimum dose of Socheongryong-Tang (SCT) on LPS-induced lung inflammation rats model. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats ($260{\pm}10g$) were divided into 12 groups : Group 1 included the normal rats, and Group 2-12 were administrated LPS by intranasal injection to induce experimental lung inflammation. After 1 day of LPS administration, Group 3-9 were treated with SCT ${\times}1/4$, ${\times}1/2$, ${\times}1$, ${\times}3$, ${\times}6$, ${\times}12$ or ${\times}18$, respectively. Group 10-12 (positive control) were treated with dexamethasone 1 mg/kg or acetylcystein 1.5 mg/kg or diclofenac sodium 0.4 mg/kg, respectively. After sacrifice, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was isolated. The levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, mucin glycoprotein 5AC (MUG5AC) were measured in BALF using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results : LPS injected rats exhibited outstanding lung inflammation manifestations, including increased amount of total cells and neutrophil, and upregulated inflammatory cytokines level in BALF. However, the administration of SCT ${\times}1/4$, ${\times}1/2$ and ${\times}1$ decreased total cells and neutrophil, and suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines, including $IL-1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, and MUG5AC in BALF. Notably, inhibitory effect of SCT ${\times}1/2$ and ${\times}1$ on the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ was markedly better than that of positive controls, dexamethasone and acetylcystein. Conclusions : Taken together, these results suggest that SCT ${\times}1/2$ and ${\times}1$ has therapeutic effects on LPS-induced lung inflammation rats model.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2010

Pulmonary pathogenesis in lupus is characterized by interstitial inflammation and vasculitis in lungs. We investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) attenuates pulmonary inflammation and lung injury in pristane-induced lupus mice. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were administrated with BC 0.5 ml/kg or PBS orally once a day for 14 days. Our results demonstrated that BC significantly attenuated levels of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) IL-6, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$, $PGE_2$ and VEGF, and pulmonary vascular permeability in pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, these findings suggest that BC may inhibit development of pulmonary inflammation and lung injury in lupus.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.7
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• pp.203-207
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• 2017

Chorioamnionitis is an inflammation in the fetal membranes or placenta. When chorioamnionitis develops, fetal lungs are exposed to inflammatory cytokines and mediators via amniotic fluid. Because inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease of prematurity, fetal lung inflammation induced by chorioamnionitis has been considered to be one of the major pathogenetic factors for BPD. Although there have been a number of studies that demonstrated the relationship between chorioamnionitis and BPD, there are still controversies on this issue. The controversies on the relationship between chorioamnionitis and BPD arise from not-unified definitions of chorioamnionitis and BPD, different study populations, and the proportion of contribution between inflammation and infectious microorganisms. The publication bias also contributes to the controversies. Clinical trials targeting chorioamnionitis or microorganisms that cause chorioamnionitis will answer on the actual relationship between chorioamnionitis and BPD and provide a novel prophylactic strategy against BPD based on that relationship.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.12
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• pp.459-465
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• 2015

Postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) is an irreversible obstructive lung disease characterized by subepithelial inflammation and fibrotic narrowing of the bronchioles after lower respiratory tract infection during childhood, especially early childhood. Although diagnosis of PIBO should be confirmed by histopathology, it is generally based on history and clinical findings. Irreversible airway obstruction is demonstrated by decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 second with an absent bronchodilator response, and by mosaic perfusion, air trapping, and/or bronchiectasis on computed tomography images. However, lung function tests using spirometry are not feasible in young children, and most cases of PIBO develop during early childhood. Further studies focused on obtaining serial measurements of lung function in infants and toddlers with a risk of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) after lower respiratory tract infection are therefore needed. Although an optimal treatment for PIBO has not been established, corticosteroids have been used to target the inflammatory component. Other treatment modalities for BO after lung transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have been studied in clinical trials, and the results can be extrapolated for the treatment of PIBO. Lung transplantation remains the final option for children with PIBO who have progressed to end-stage lung disease.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.23-24
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• 2003

Oxidative stress is the hallmark of various inflammatory lung diseases/disorders such as asthma, adult respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, lung transplantation, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer and various occupational diseases. (omitted)

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2014

Asian sand dust is known to promote various respiratory symptoms or disorders. For the prevention of harmful health effects by Asian sand dust, the best strategy is known to avoid or reduce exposure to the Asian sand dust. Several studies have shown that Korean red ginseng (RG) has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. The study aimed to clarify the effect of Korean red ginseng intake on lung inflammation responses to artificial sand dust (ASD) similar to Asian sand dust. BALB/c mice were divided into five groups (n=12) of control (saline), ovalbumin (OVA), OVA with ASD, OVA plus RG with ASD, and OVA plus dexamethasone (DEXA) with ASD. Histopathologic evaluation of lung was conducted. Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, IL-13, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and eotaxin within bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured by ELISA. OVA+ASD group significantly increased concentrations of IL-5, IL-13, MCP-1, and eotaxin (P<0.01) compared to the control. OVA+ASD+RG group showed significant decreased levels of IL-2, IL-13, MCP-1 and eotaxin (P<0.01) compared with OVA+ASD. Between RG and DEXA treatment groups, there was no significant difference in all cytokines and chemokines. The inflammatory cells were significantly decreased in treatment groups with RG or DEXA compared to OVA+ASD group. This study suggests a beneficial effect of Korean RG administration in preventing inflammation of lung resulting from Asian sand dust.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.132-141
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• 2015

Objectives: With recent advances in nanoparticle manufacturing and applications, potential exposure to nanoparticles in various settings is becoming increasing likely. No investigation has yet been performed to assess whether respiratory tract exposure to cerium oxide ($CeO_2$) nanoparticles is associated with alterations in protein signaling, inflammation, and apoptosis in rat lungs. Methods: Specific-pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats were instilled with either vehicle (saline) or $CeO_2$ nanoparticles at a dosage of 7.0 mg/kg and euthanized 1, 3, 14, 28, 56, or 90 days after exposure. Lung tissues were collected and evaluated for the expression of proteins associated with inflammation and cellular apoptosis. Results: No change in lung weight was detected over the course of the study; however, cerium accumulation in the lungs, gross histological changes, an increased Bax to Bcl-2 ratio, elevated cleaved caspase-3 protein levels, increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, and diminished phosphorylation of ERK-1/2-MAPK were detected after $CeO_2$ instillation (p<0.05). Conclusions: Taken together, these data suggest that high-dose respiratory exposure to $CeO_2$ nanoparticles is associated with lung inflammation, the activation of signaling protein kinases, and cellular apoptosis, which may be indicative of a long-term localized inflammatory response.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.229-239
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• 2022

The high percentage of Vermamoeba was found in tap water in Korea. This study investigated whether Vermamoeba induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. We selected 2 free-living amoebas (FLAs) isolated from tap water, which included Korean FLA 5 (KFA5; Vermamoeba vermiformis) and 21 (an homolog of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2). We axenically cultured KFA5 and KFA21. We applied approximately 1×10⁶ to mice's nasal passages 6 times and investigated their pathogenicity. The airway resistance value was significantly increased after KFA5 and KFA21 treatments. The eosinophil recruitment and goblet cell hyperplasia were concomitantly observed in bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue in mice infected with KFA5 and KFA21. These infections also activated the Th2-related interleukin 25, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokines gene expression in mouse lung epithelial cells. The CD4⁺ interleukin 4⁺ cell population was increased in the lung, and the secretion of Th2-, Th17-, and Th1-associated cytokines were upregulated during KFA5 and KFA21 infection in the spleen, lung-draining lymph nodes, and BAL fluid. The pathogenicity (allergenicity) of KFA5 and KFA21 might not have drastically changed during the long-term in vitro culture. Our results suggested that Vermamoeba could elicit allergic airway inflammation and may be an airway allergen.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of bee venom on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods : In this study, LPS was administrated to Balb/c mice to induce a disease that resembles COPD. 2 hr prior to LPS administration, mice were treated with bee venom via an intraperitoneal injection. Total cell number and neutrophils number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were counted and pro-inflammatory cytokines were also measured. For histologic analysis, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains were evaluated. Proliferating cell nuclear antigens (PCNA) were also assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results : On 7 days after LPS stimulation, influx of neutrophils significantly decreased in the bee venom group, compared with the COPD group. In addition, TNF-a and IL-6 levels decreased in bee venom group. Histological results also demonstrated the attenuation effect of bee venom on LPS-induced lung inflammation. Conclusions : These data suggest that bee venom has protective effects on LPS-induced lung inflammation. Therefore, bee venom may represent a novel therapeutic agent for lung inflammation and in particular for COPD.