• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.687-699
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the antifungal activity and house dust mite repellent effect of cotton and silk fabrics dyed with Juniperus chinensis heartwood extracts by hot-water and methanol. The chemical composition of Juniperus chinensis heartwood extracts by hot-water and methanol was analyzed by GC-MS. In the case of antifungal activity, dyed fabrics with hot water extract had no effect against chaetomium globosum fungus. But showing no growth in fabrics dyed with methanol extract, dyed fabrics with methanol extract showed very excellent antifungal activity. Silk fabric dyed with methanol extract showed excellent house dust mite repellent effect of 94.3%~96.0% against dermatophagodes farinae. The composition of Juniperus chinensis heartwood extracts from hot-water and methanol was different. There were no terpene and its analogue peaks in hot-water extract. However there were terpene and its analogue peaks in methanol extract. From these GC-MS results, terpene was identified in methanol extract of Juniperus chinensis heartwood. Efficient ingredient of antifungal activity and house dust mite repellent effect was assumed terpene.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 1998

It has been reported that 50~70% of child asthma, bronchial asthma in adult, and allergic rhinitis are caused by house dust mite. The antigen extracted from house dust mite has been used for effective treatment against allergic diseases and for clinical test. This house dust mite antigen has been entirely imported from abroad. However, the composition and content of all the antigen imported vary from a brand to other brand. Thus, we need to standardize the composition and content of the antigen by developing it domestically. We proceeded pre-clinically general pharmacological test and toxicological test that are required for the eventual human use by utilizing the house dust mite cultured in Korea. In order to obtain information on general pharmacological tests such as its toxic signs in tissues or organs which are mainly affected, we examined the effect of house dust mite on the tensions of the isolated tissues and heart rates of cardiac muscle by recording with force displacement transducer of polygragh (Glass Model 7). We determined lethality of antigen extracted from house dust mite in mice and guinea pigs. We examined acute and subacute toxicity by administrating house dust mite extract of 500, 100, 20 times of the expected clinical dose. In male and female mice and guinea pigs, given a sigle intraperitoneal dose of antigen, $LD_{50}$ values were over 5.0 $\textrm{m}{\ell}$/kg, respectively. In animals administrated with house dust mite, there were no significant change of clinical symptom, body weight, food consumption, water consumption, eye examinations, urinalysis, blood biochemistry, and histopathological examinations in any animals tested. We found no toxic effect of this house dust mite. These results show that the house dust mite cultured by us could be used in the development of medicine against allergic diseases caused by the antigen of house dust mite.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2010

In the present study, we investigated whether Houttuynia cordata Thumb (Saururaceae; HC) extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in human monocytic THP-1 cells and human eosinophilic EoL-1 cells. The dried and powdered whole plants of HC were extracted with 80% EtOH. The combined extract (HC-1) was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with water, and then successively partitioned with n-hexane, EtOAc, and BuOH to produce the n-hexane (HC-2), EtOAc (HC-3), BuOH (HC-4), and the water-soluble fractions (HC-5), respectively. HC extracts have no cytotoxicity on THP-1 cells and EoL-1 cells at a high concentration of $10\;{\mu}g/ml$ for 24 h, except HC-2 extract ($10\;{\mu}g/ml$). Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8 and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in THP-1 cells were increased after the treatment with the extract from house dust mite or LPS. The increase of cytokine production was strongly suppressed by HC-3 extract, in comparision with other extracts. HC-3 also had inhibitory effect on Interleukin-6 production increased by mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. However, HC-3 extract increased Interleukin-8 production induced by mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. These results suggest that HC extracts may be used as useful agents for treating allergic disorders such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2013

Atopic dermatitis is a recurrent or chronic eczematous skin disease with severe pruritus and has annually increased in Korea. In this study, we investigated whether Duchesnea chrysantha (Dc) extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in human monocytic THP-1 cells and human eosinophilic EoL-1 cells. The dried and powdered whole plants of Dc were extracted with 80% EtOH (Dc-1). The residue was diluted with water, and then successively partitioned with n-hexane, EtOAc, and BuOH to produce the n-hexane (Dc-2), EtOAc (Dc-3), BuOH (Dc-4), and the water-soluble fractions (Dc-5), respectively. The mite extract and LPS increased the production of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 in THP-1 cells and the increase was strongly suppressed by Dc-3 extract, as compare with other extracts. Dc-3 also inhibited the release of IL-6 increased by mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. However, Dc-3 extract increased IL-8 production induced by the mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. These results suggest that Dc extract may be used as anti-inflammatory agents in treating allergic disorders such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2015

The gingival epithelium of the oral cavity is constantly exposed to exogenous stimuli such as bacterial toxins, allergens, and thermal changes. These exogenous stimuli are resisted by innate host defense in gingival epithelial cells. However, it is unclear exactly how the exogenous stimuli affect detrimentally on the human gingival epithelial cells. Here, we investigated whether the allergen, such as house dust mite (HDM) extract, is linked to $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and proinflammatory cytokine expression in primary cultured human gingival epithelial cells. HDM extract induced an increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in a dose-dependent manner. Extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ depletion did not affected on the HDM extract-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. The HDM extract-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was abolished by the treatment with U73122 and 2-APB, which are inhibitors of phospholipase C (PLC) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ($IP_3$) receptor. Moreover, HDM extract induced the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-8. These results suggest that HDM extract triggers $PLC/IP_3$-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and IL-8 mRNA expression in primary cultured human gingival epithelial cells.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.454-463
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to check the antimicrobial activity of terpene, a natural product-derived extract against bedding bacteria, and compare the number of bacteria detected. To this end, the number of mites and microbiological surveys were conducted on the pillows used at home to identify the presence of pathogenic strains that could cause the disease. Also, after two weeks test using pillow with terpene, a natural origin extract, the rate of reduction of fungi before and after the use of the substance and the effect of eradicating mites were evaluated. The antimicrobial activity of the terpene was observed by using the Pour plate method. The anti-mite effect was detected as weak positive (less than 100) in 2 of 4 pillows in the first test without the use of terpene. In the second experiment using a terpene, all were confirmed to be reduced to negative less than 20. The best anti-mite efficacy of terpene was found to be 20%. The purpose of this study is to suggest the possibility of developing antibacterial and anti-mite spray products for bedding using terpene.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2014.06a
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• pp.327-328
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• 2014

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2002

Background: In order to characterize human antibodies with specificity for mite allergens at the molecular level, a scFv phage display library was constructed using peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes from an asthma patient allergic to mite as Ig gene sources. Methods: Immunoglobulin $V_H$ and V gene fragments were obtained by polymerase chain reaction, and randomly combined in pCANTAB-5E vector. The resulting human scFv phage display library had $3{\times}10^4$ independent clones, and biopanning was performed with house dust mite extracts. Results: Four scFv clones specific for house dust mite extract were isolated. Immunoblot assay showed that our clones reacted to 25 kDa and 50~60 kDa proteins with unknown identity in mite extracts. Sequence analysis indicated that two clones (b7 and c15) are identical, and all clones belong to human $V_H3$ subgroup. On the other hand, light chain usage was different in that two clones (a2 and b7 / c15) belonging to V ${\kappa}4$ subgroup, but a4 used V ${\kappa}1$ light chain gene. Conclusion: Our approach should facilitate provision of useful information on the antibody responses against allergens at the molecular level in humans.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.211-214
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• 2016

House dust mite is an essential allergen in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Abnormal regulation of neutrophil apoptosis is an important pathogenic process in allergic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of house dust mites on spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils and its associated mechanisms. Extract of Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (DP) inhibited neutrophil apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Cycloheximide (CHX), an inhibitor of translation, increased apoptosis of DP-treated neutrophils as well as control cells. The pro-apoptotic effect of CHX was blocked by DP in neutrophils. In addition, DP increased the phosphorylation of Bad in a time-dependent manner, indicating that it exerted an inhibitory effect on the function of Bad. These results suggest that DP has anti-apoptotic effects of neutrophils and may regulate protein synthesis and activation of Bad. Moreover, these findings may shed light on elucidation of allergy pathogenesis due to house dust mites.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.435-437
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• 2012

House dust mite (HDM) is important in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases including asthma and atopic dermatitis. Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (Dp) is one of major HDM allergens. In this study, we investigated that Dp extract (DpE) affects on the chemotactic activity of monocytes isolated from the peripheral blood. DpE inhibited the migration of human monocytes in response to CC chemokines such as MIP-$1{\alpha}$, RANTES, HCC-4, MCP-1, and TARC. DpE did not alter the expression of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) such as CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, and CCR5. These results indicate that DpE blocks the chemotaxis of human monocytes and its mechanism is not involved in alteration of CCR expression. Better understanding of the effect of DpE on monocytes will enable elucidation of the role of Dp in the development of allergic diseases.