• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.27-40
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of water extract of Cervi Parvum Cornu(CPC), Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata(ALR), and Yongbu-tang(YBT) on suppression of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand(RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Methods : The effects of CPC, ALR, YBT extracts on osteoclast differentiation were determined by culture of bone marrow macrophage(BMM). The mRNA expression levels of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1(NFATc1), c-Fos and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) in BMMs were analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Similarly, the protein expression levels of NFATc1, c-Fos, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)s and ${\beta}$-actin in cell lysates were measured by western blotting. In addition, effects of CPC, ALR and YBT extracts were determined by means of Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced bone-loss with mice. Results : CPC, ALR and YBT extracts showed remarkable inhibition on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation without cytotoxicity. CPC and ALR extracts significantly reduced the protein expression level of NFATc1. YBT extract significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of c-Fos, NFATc1 and the protein expression levels of c-Fos, NFATc1, AKT, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK). Further, YBT extract suppressed degradation of$ I-{\kappa}B$. And ALR extract significantly restored the bone erosion by LPS treatment in mice. Conclusions : YBT extract showed more remarkable inhibition on osteoclast differentiation than CPC and ALR extracts in vitro. ALR extract showed remarkable inhibition on bone resorption in vivo. Thus, YBT extract can be a useful treatment for bone-loss diseases such as osteoporosis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.325-329
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• 2012

The anti-inflammatory effects of Sargassum fulvellum water extracts (SFWE) were investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in this study. To examine the potential anti-inflammatory properties of SFWE, the NO, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and cell proliferation were measured. It was confirmed that the NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion were significantly suppressed when SFWE was added to LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, the expression of IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ cytokines was suppressed by SFWE in a dose-dependent manner. Especially, IL-6 inhibition activities were over 50% at 1% of SFWE. The cytotoxicity of SFWE and the proliferation of macrophages was measured by MTT assay. As a result, there was no cytotoxicity in the macrophage proliferation treated with SFWE compared to the control. In conclusion, these results suggested that the SFWE may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and can be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic materials.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2010

The mycelial dispersed growth of Cordyceps sinensis was optimized in submerged batch culture at initial pH of 5.0, 150 rpm, and $25^{\circ}C$. The morphological data showed much more dispersed growth of C. sinenesis at initial pH of 5.0. Also, projected area, main hyphal length and number of tips for the mycelial growth of initial pH 5.0 were higher than those of other initial pHs. The industrial medium for mycelial production of C. sinensis was determined to be molasses of 100 g and crushed brewery yeast of 10 g per liter as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. With these culture conditions, the maximum production of mycelia was approximately 30.0 g per liter by batch culture in 5-liter jar fermenter with no controlled pH. This result suggests that large-scale mycelia production of C. sinensis may be possible in submerged batch culture. The hot water extract of mycelia from C. sinensis was mainly composed of 83.0% carbohydrate, 11.8% protein, 1.9% lipid, and 2.4% ash and there were present glucose, mannose, galactose, and arabinose as molar ratio of 8.79 : 2.59 : 1.34 : 1.0 in the carbohydrate, respectively. In the experiment using spleen cell and macrophage, the extract showed potent mitogenic and immuno-stimulating activities and among various components, an important factor that contribute to the immunological activities was turned out to be carbohydrate moiety.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Background and Objective: Coptidis Rhizoma is a medicinal herb known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of CR on the experimental burn elicitation in vitro and in vivo. Material and Methods: In order to know the antioxidant effect on skin cell of mice after burn elicitation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured. In vitro, the RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides for experimental inflammation. iNOS mRNA expression was observed after CR-treatment. In order to know effects on the skin regeneration in the burned mice, we counted the nitric oxide (NO) in blood. We also observed the histological structure in the epidermal basal layer and the dermal section, and we studied changes of angiogenesis in the capillaries surrounding the basal layer and dermal papilla. The changes of transcription of iNOS mRNA (inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA) and changes of NF-${\kappa}$B (nuclear factor ${\kappa}$B) p65 positive reaction were also observed to investigate the changes of the stress in the skin. Results: The results indicated that CR has significant effects on the antioxidant effect on skin cells of mice after burn elicitation by increasing SOD activity in the in vitro test. It seemed that CR decreased the amount of NF-${\kappa}$B which induced the iNOS mRNA dose-dependently and suppress activating NO and angiogenesis. Furthermore, CR facilitated the process of skin recovery after experimental burn. Conclusion: CR can be applied for burned skin via antioxidant effect and skin regeneration.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.112-123
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• 2010

Objectives: Three yin-tonifying formulae (Ssanghwa-tang, Yukmijihwang-tang and Jaeumganghwa-tang) were applied to investigate their immunological activities on antigen (Ag)-specific or Ag-non-specific immune responses in the murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) and in ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized mice. Methods: This study was carried out in nitricoxide (NO) synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells and cellular proliferation in mouse splenocytes in association with three herbal formulas. C57BL/6 mice were immunized intraperitoneally with OVA/aluminum ($100\;{\mu}g/200\;{\mu}g$/mouse) on days 1, 8, and 15. Three herbal formulas were administrated to mice orally for 3 weeks from day 1. On day 22, OVA-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-, and concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and antibodies (OVA-specific antibodies of the IgG, IgG1, and total IgM classes) in plasma were measured. Results: All three yin-tonifying formulas significantly enhanced cellular proliferation by LPS and Con A in splenocytes from OVA-immunized mice (p<0.001). Also, these herbal formulas all significantly enhanced plasma OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, and total IgM levels compared with the OVA/Alum group. Conclusion: These results suggested that the three yin-tonifying formulae could be used as stimulators of immune response.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.93-104
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• 2004

Objectives : The aim was to identify the inhibitory effects of Liriopis Tuber on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by analysing the changes of imflammatory cell cytokines and SHI(Semiquantitative Histological Index), Materials and Methods : In this study fibrosis prone C57BL/6J mice were used. Control group was treated with blomycin(0.06mg/0.1 ml) by IT(intratracheal) instillation which is a popular method of inducing lung fibrosis and sample group took Liriopis Tuber water extract(38.0mg/10g body weight) orally for 14 days after IT instillation of blomycin. We measured the total and differential count of WBC, $IFN-{\gamma}$ & IL-4 in mice BALF and SHI(Semiquantitative Histological Index) from lung tissues of mice. BALF and lung tissues of mice were taken 14 days after IT instillation of blomycin. Results : In sample group total WBC count, proportion of neutrophil, SHI and IL-4 significantly(p<0.05) decreased, proportion of macrophage significantly(p<0.05) increased and proportion of lymphocyte, $IFN-{\gamma}$ did not decrease significantly. Conclusions : This study suggests that Liriopis Tuber has an inhibitory effects of pulmonary fibrosis by attenuation of inflammation and Th2 immune response. To determine whether this herbal medicine contribute to cure and prophylaxis of pulmonary fibrosis, further studies on the role of $IFN-{\gamma}$ relating to fibrosis are required.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2015

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide uncontrolled parasitic disease due to the lack of effective drug and vaccine. To speed up effective drug development, we need powerful methods to rapidly assess drug effectiveness against the intracellular form of Leishmania in high throughput assays. Reporter gene technology has proven to be an excellent tool for drug screening in vitro. The effects of reporter proteins on parasite infectivity should be identified both in vitro and in vivo. In this research, we initially compared the infectivity rate of recombinant Leishmania major expressing stably enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) alone or EGFP-luciferase (EGFP-LUC) with the wild-type strain. Next, we evaluated the sensitivity of these parasites to amphotericin B (AmB) as a standard drug in 2 parasitic phases, promastigote and amastigote. This comparison was made by MTT and nitric oxide (NO) assay and by quantifying the specific signals derived from reporter genes like EGFP intensity and luciferase activity. To study the amastigote form, both B10R and THP-1 macrophage cell lines were infected in the stationary phase and were exposed to AmB at different time points. Our results clearly revealed that the 3 parasite lines had similar in vitro infectivity rates with comparable parasite-induced levels of NO following interferon-${\gamma}$/lipopolysaccharide induction. Based on our results we proposed the more reporter gene, the faster and more sensitive evaluation of the drug efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 1996

The antitumor components of the protoplast fusants of Lentinula edodes and Ganoderma lucidum were examined for immunological activity to elucidate the mechanism of their antitumor activity. They did not show any direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. But being examined for immunopotentiation activity, they increased the number of colonies in the bone marrow stem cells to 3.0 times. They also increased the activities of the acid phosphatase in activated macrophages to 2.1 times and the secretion of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 to 2.2 times, respectively. They activated the components of the alternative complement pathway. In humoral immunity. they increased the activities of the alkaline phosphatase in differentiated B cells to 1.6 times and the number of plaque forming cells to 1.8 times, respectively. In cellular immunity, they restored the depressed response of delayed type hypersensitivity in tumor bearing mice to normal level.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.441-446
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• 1990

Encephalomyocarditis virus infection in pigs, characterized by severe reproductive failure in sows and sudden death in less than 7 day-old-piglets, a period of several months from October to December of 1989, in Korea was occurred. The most outstanding gross lesions at necropsy were found in the heart which were consisted of pale, yellow brown necrotic foci of varying size in myocardium. In some cases, pulmonary edema and liver congestion were observed. Histopathology of the heart revealed the interstitial myocarditis, endocarditis and epicarditis with lymphocytic, plasmacytic and macrophage cell infiltration and, in some cases, calcification of the necrotic myocardial muscle fibers. In some cases of brain, the perivascular cuffing and glial nodules were observed. In the liver and the lacrimal gland varying degrees of multifocal necrosis were seen. The virus was isolated from the heart and the brain in a stillborn piglet and a mummified fetus. This outbreak represents the first case of encephalomyocarditis virus infection of pigs in Korea.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.706-713
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• 2017

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing cells that are derived from hematopoietic precursor cells and require macrophage-colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) for their survival, proliferation, differentiation, and activation. The binding of RANKL to its receptor RANK triggers osteoclast precursors to differentiate into osteoclasts. This process depends on RANKL-RANK signaling, which is temporally regulated by various adaptor proteins and kinases. Here we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms that regulate RANK signaling during osteoclastogenesis. In the early stage, RANK signaling is mediated by recruiting adaptor molecules such as tumor necrosis factor receptorassociated factor 6 (TRAF6), which leads to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and the transcription factors nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). Activated NF-${\kappa}B$ induces the nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), which is the key osteoclastogenesis regulator. In the intermediate stage of signaling, the co-stimulatory signal induces $Ca^{2+}$ oscillation via activated phospholipase $C{\gamma}2$ ($PLC{\gamma}2$) together with c-Fos/AP-1, wherein $Ca^{2+}$ signaling facilitates the robust production of NFATc1. In the late stage of osteoclastogenesis, NFATc1 translocates into the nucleus where it induces numerous osteoclast-specific target genes that are responsible for cell fusion and function.