• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2007

Although the incidence and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) is steadily increasing at an alarming rate, its pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood yet. Recently, we found that the expression of Grb7 protein was markedly decreased in AD patients using proteomic analysis. In the present study, human Grb7 gene was fused with PEP-1 peptide in a bacterial expression vector to produce a genetic in-frame PEP-1-Grb7 fusion protein. The expressed and purified PEP-1-Grb7 fusion proteins transduced efficiently into skin cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner when added exogenously in culture media. Once inside the cells, the transduced PEP-1-Grb7 protein was stable for 48 h. In addition, transduced PEP-1-Grb7 fusion protein markedly increased cell viability in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells treated with LPS by inhibition of the COX-2 expression level. These results suggest that the PEP-1-Grb7 fusion protein can be used in protein therapy for inflammatory skin disorders, including AD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.584-591
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• 2016

Saururus chinensis is a perennial plants, its flavonoid compound is known to exhibit anti-oxidative activity. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Water Extract and Solvent Fractions of Saururus chinensis on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-invasive of Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) and MMP-9 activities. Plant samples were fractionated into hexane, CHCl₃, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions, and each of these was assayed individually. The water fraction showed the highest extraction yield at 9.25%(w/w). Anti-oxidative activity was analyzed by DPPH assay. Cell viability was detected by the MTS assay. Anti-inflammatory activity was assayed by the nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse macrophage Raw 264.7 cells. The activity and mRNA expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human oral squamous carcinoma YD-10B cells were examined by zymography and RT-PCR. As results, MMP-2/-9 activation was increased in PMA induced YD-10B cells. In PMA-treated YD-10B cells, the increased mRNA expression and protein activation of MMP-2/-9 were significantly inhibited in the ethyl acetate fraction. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest anti-oxidative activity at 73.38%. The ethyl acetate fraction at non-cytotoxic concentrations significantly exhibited the anti-inflammatory activity of Raw 264.7 cells in dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that the ethyl acetate fraction obtained from a chinensis water extract potentiates a promising therapeutic anti-invasive agent and, therefore, as an anti-cancer drug for cancer prevention and therapy in oral cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.730-735
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• 2012

Existing pharmaceutical studies show that Magnolia biondii is effective in treating rhinitis and in reducing cholesterol, given its endogenous, volatile ingredients. The study herein seeks to assess the cosmeceutical activities and anti-inflammatory activities of Magnolia biondii extracts for possible application as cosmetic ingredients. The cosmeceutical and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) inhibition, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by Western blotting. Magnolia biondii extracts were identified to have antioxidant activities in hydroxyl free radical scavenging, SOD-like activity, and XO inhibition. In testing the anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts, NO production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, in a dose-dependent manner, the Magnolia biondii extracts were able to suppress iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. From these results, Magnolia biondii showed adequate potential for application in cosmetic production and related industries as well as a functional material.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1390-1394
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• 2008

Previously, we found that the transgenic rice plants over-expressing the Arabidopsis $H^+/Ca^{2+}$ antiporter CAX 1 (accession no. U57411) gene accumulated 2.7 to 7.5-fold more calcium in the T3 rice grains as compared to those of control. To examine physiological safety of the $T_3$ rice grains, the effect of the $T_3$ brown rice on change in levels of body weight and white blood cells was compared with that of the control Ilpum brown rice by feeding trial in mice. During the feeding trial for one month, there was no significant difference between two mice groups, which were fed by the $T_3$ brown rice or Ilpum brown rice. There were no detectable differences in their effects on immune functions including plaque-forming unit, peritoneal macrophage number, and NK-cell activity. In addition, biochemical analysis of the blood failed to exhibit any difference between two mice groups. Together, these results suggested that the $T_3$ brown rice, which was produced from a genetically modified organism (GMO), might be safe and possess a potential to be applicable as calcium-fortified feed or food. Long-term safety of the $T_3$ brown rice, however, remains to be elucidated.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1282-1288
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• 2016

Artemisia, a plant widely used as traditional herbal medicine in many countries, has drawn attention of the researchers. And its extracts or compounds are known to have an efficacy of antioxidant, anti-diabete, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and neuroprotection. Sumaeyaksuk is a variant of the Artemisia argyi and major constituents are eupatilin and jaceosidin. This study was performed to investigate the effects of the sumaeyaksuk aqueous extract on inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. To examine the potential hepatoprotective properties of sumaeyaksuk extract, cell viability, as well as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels, alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities, were measured. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on HepG2 cells was measured by MTT assay. Sumaeyaksuk extract did not induce cytotoxicity at concentrations of $0{\sim}400{\mu}g/mL$. NO and ROS levels significantly decreased with increasing concentration of the extract. The secretion levels of M-CSF and IL-8 were suppressed by sumaeyaksuk extract in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ALT (75.4%) and AST (61.6%) levels significantly decreased in sumaeyaksuk extract-treated cells at $400{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggested that the sumaeyaksuk extract attenuates the LPS-induced hepatotoxicity resulting from regulation of inflammatory factors and could potentially be used as a hepatitis therapeutic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1033-1042
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• 2014

To elucidate the novel biological function of Korean traditional vinegars, crude polysaccharides were isolated from vinegars manufactured at home and abroad, and their chemical properties and immuno-stimulating activities were examined. Three kinds of polysaccharides from Korean brown rice vinegar (KBV-0), Japanese brown rice vinegar (JBV-0) and Korean persimmon vinegar (KPV-0) showed higher immuno-stimulating activity. Component sugar analysis indicated that KBV-0 and JBV-0 mainly consisted of mannan, whereas KPV-0 existed as pectic materials. Three polysaccharides did not show any cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7 cell, whereas RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with KBV-0, JBV-0 and KPV-0 showed enhanced production of various cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in dose-dependent manners. However, the activity of KPV-0 was more potent than that of KBV-0 and JBV-0. Also, only KPV-0 augmented FcR II expression related with phagocytosis of macrophages. The results suggest among the tested vinegars, that the Korean persimmon vinegar has the most potent immune-stimulating activity, and it could possibly serve as industrial applications as functional materials.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.212-223
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• 2017

To screen for potent anti-inflammatory compound-producing yeasts, we evaluated nitric oxide production inhibitory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells using cell-free extracts from 182 non-pathogenic yeasts. Rhodotorula graminis YJ36-1 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii YJ34-2 showed high inhibitory activities of 57.4% and 47.0%, respectively. The microbiological characteristics of these yeasts were investigated. Rhodotorula graminis YJ36-1 formed ascospores and pseudomycelium. This species grew well at $25^{\circ}C$ in yeast extract-peptone-dextrose (YPD) medium, vitamin-free medium, and 5% NaCl-containing YPD medium. Meyerozyma guilliermondii YJ34-2 was an asporogenous yeast and did not form pseudomycelium. This strain also grew well at $30^{\circ}C$ in YPD medium, vitamin-free medium, and 5% NaCl-containing YPD medium.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2002

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the inducible from of the rate-limiting enzyme of heme degradation; it regulates the cellular contents of heme. HO-1 is up-regulated by various stimuli including oxidative stress so that it is thought to participate in general cellular defense mechanisms against oxidative stress in mammalian cells. To investigate the role of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway on nitrogen oxidative stress-induced HO-1 gene expression, RAW 264.7 cell cultures were treated with sodium nitroprusside (SNP). SNP increased the expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein, time- and concentration-dependently. Treatment with H89, PKA inhibitor, but not LY83583, guanylate cyclase inhibitor, significantly diminished the HO-1 expression by SNP, indicating that cAMP plays a crucial role in the induction of HO-1. Incubation with cAMP-elevating agents, such as forskolin or isoproterenol resulted in up-regulation of the expression of HO-1. Forskolin-induced expression of HO-1 was inhibited by H89. Furthermore, propranolol, $\beta$-adrenoceptor blocker, inhibited the isoproterenol-induced HO-1 expression, supporting the importance of cAMP in the induction of HO-1 expression. Higenamine-S, but not higenamineR, enhanced the HO-1 expression induced by SNP. Furthermore, cellular toxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide was attenuated by the presence of SNP, which was further increased by the presence of ZnPPIX, HO-1 inhibitor. Collectively, these results strongly suggest that up-regulation of HO-1 expression in RAW 264.7 cells involves PKA signal pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1179-1185
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• 2008

The immune-stimulating activities of Bordetella bronchiseptica antigens containing dermonecrotoxin (BBD) loaded in chitosan microspheres (CMs) have already been reported in vitro and in vivo with a mouse alveolar macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) and mice. Therefore, this study attempted to demonstrate the successful induction of mucosal immune responses after the intranasal administration of BBD loaded in CMs (BBD-CMs) in colostrum-deprived pigs. The BBD was introduced to the CMs using an ionic gelation process involving tripolyphosphate (TPP). Colostrum-deprived pigs were then directly immunized through intranasal administration of the BBD-CMs. A challenge with a field isolate of B. bronchiseptica was performed ten days following the final immunization. The BBD-specific IgG and IgA titers, evident in the nasal wash and serum from the vaccinated pigs, increased with time (p<0.05). Following the challenge, the clinical signs of infection were about 6-fold lower in the vaccinated pigs compared with the nonvaccinated pigs. The grades for gross morphological changes in the turbinate bones from the vaccinated pigs were also significantly lower than the grades recorded for the nonvaccinated pigs (p<0.001). Therefore, the mucosal and systemic immune responses induced in the current study would seem to indicate that the intranasal administration of BBD-CMs may be an effective vaccine against atrophic rhinitis in pigs.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.382-387
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to identify binding properties of germanium (Ge) in Germanium-fortified Yeast using optimum manufacturing process. The ratio of yeast cell and germanium solution was 1 : 0.5 (50%), and pH 6.5, $35^{\circ}C$ and 20 h during fermentation, and Germanium-fortified Yeast produced. In results of the XRD, NMR and FT-IR analysis, it was different adding inorganic Ge $(GeO_2)$ during fermentation process from transformed into germanium in Germanium-fortified Yeast. And germanium concentration was not shown any difference before and after in the dialysis test with SGF (simulated gastric fluids). Therefore, Germanium-fortified Yeast of Geranti made by using biosynthetic technology was considered that transformed into organic properties during fermentation process. And, this result showed that Germanium-fortified Yeast was not dissociated under SGF (simulated gastric fluids) condition because of its structural binding safety. Thus, Germanium-fortified Yeast was transformed into organic germanium during biosynthetic cultivation. It is expected that this Germanium-fortified Yeast can be applied as a new dietary functional materials for cellular immunity, recovery of injured cells and immune system, and possible anticancer activities by activation immune cells like macrophage.