• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.367-379
• /
• 2019

Although atopic dermatitis (AD) is known to be a representative skin disorder, it also affects the systemic immune response. In a recent study, myoblasts were shown to be involved in the immune regulation, but the roles of muscle cells in AD are poorly understood. We aimed to identify the relationship between mitochondria and atopy by genome-wide analysis of skeletal muscles in mice. We induced AD-like symptoms using house dust mite (HDM) extract in NC/Nga mice. The transcriptional profiles of the untreated group and HDM-induced AD-like group were analyzed and compared using microarray, differentially expressed gene and functional pathway analyses, and protein interaction network construction. Our microarray analysis demonstrated that immune response-, calcium handling-, and mitochondrial metabolism-related genes were differentially expressed. In the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology pathway analyses, immune response pathways involved in cytokine interaction, nuclear factor-kappa B, and T-cell receptor signaling, calcium handling pathways, and mitochondria metabolism pathways involved in the citrate cycle were significantly upregulated. In protein interaction network analysis, chemokine family-, muscle contraction process-, and immune response-related genes were identified as hub genes with many interactions. In addition, mitochondrial pathways involved in calcium signaling, cardiac muscle contraction, tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidation-reduction process, and calcium-mediated signaling were significantly stimulated in KEGG and Gene Ontology analyses. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the genome-wide transcriptional changes of HDM-induced AD-like symptoms and the indicated genes that could be used as AD clinical biomarkers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.420-427
• /
• 2011

The use of lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) is effective for preventing and curing immune disorders by activating the immune system in the digestive tract and the consequent immune response in the blood. In this study, LAB and mixed LABs were used in an atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model. Alleviation of AD was observed based on the change in cytokine level and immunohistochemical staining. An ex vivo test showed that immunoglobulin-E and interleukin (IL)-4 levels were significantly lower in all groups treated with LAB than in the group treated with only 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Results of an in vivo test based on the ex vivo results showed that the scratch score decreased in all groups treated with the LAB and particularly decreased in the group treated with mixed LABs. Additionally, the T helper (Th) 1 cytokines interferon-gamma and IL-12p40 were upregulated by the LAB and mixed-LABs, whereas levels of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 were downregulated in a mouse model of AD-like skin lesions. Furthermore, hematoxylin & eosin and immunohistochemical staining of the dorsal area of the mice in each group showed that AD improved in the LAB-treated groups. These results suggest that LAB and mixed LABs inhibit the development of AD in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the Th2 cell response and increasing the Th1 cell response. Our results indicate that mixed LABs are better than LAB for treating AD-like skin lesions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.413-421
• /
• 2008

It was previously found that PG102, a water-soluble extract derived from Actinidia arguta, was able to modulate Th1/Th2 pathways and suppress IgE production resulting in dramatic amelioration of atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mouse and hairless rat models. In order to evaluate the subacute toxicity of PG102, female and male SD rats were daily fed with various doses of PG102 for 4 weeks. Six week old SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and orally administrated with 100-, 300-, and 1,000- mg/kg of PG102 as well as the vehicle only. At the end of the study, no significant differences in the body and organ weights were observed between control and treated rats of both genders. Hematological and blood chemical analysis showed little differences between the animal groups. Neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were found. PG102 produced little or no subacute toxicity and could be used as a safe nutraceutical for the treatment of individuals with allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2017

Objectives Hataedock is an orally-administered herbal extract that used to treat toxic heat and help excrete meconium accumulates in the fetus from pregnancy. This study compared the effects of Hataedock using the extract of Douchi and omega-3 to control inflammation in the colonic mucosa. Methods NC/Nga mice were divided into three groups; Control group (no treatment), FGT group (given the extract of Douchi), and O3T group (given omega-3). The 3-week-old mouse from each group were given the extract of Douchi and omega-3. After 2 weeks, the colonic mucosa tissues of the mice were observed via Immunohistochemical staining for IL-4, IL-13, CD40, $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, $p-I{\kappa}B$, EGF in the intestinal mucosa. Results In both FGT and O3T group, IL-4, IL-13, STAT-6 levels and CD40-positive reactions were decreased. However, EGF-positive responses were increased. FGT group showed 35% decrease in IL-4, 45% decrease in IL-13, 48% decrease in CD40, 50% decrease in $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, 54% decrease in $p-I{\kappa}B$, 52% increase in EGF compared to the control group. O3T group also showed 14% decrease in IL-4, 23% decrease in IL-13, 22% decrease in CD40, 29% decrease in $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, 41% decrease in $p-I{\kappa}B$, 39% increase in EGF compared to the control group. Conclusions Both early administration of Douchi extract and omega-3 were effective in regulating Th2, relieving inflammation and developing colonic mucosal tissues. Hataedock with Douchi extract may be more effective in modulating immune system in colonic mucosa than omega-3.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.468-478
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Douchi Hataedock on Th2-skewed conditions to control allergic rhinitis. Methods: NC/Nga mice were divided into three groups: 10 mice were assigned to the control group (CTRL; no treatment), 10 mice to allergic rhinitis-induced (ARE) without treatment group, and 10 mice to the allergic rhinitis-induced (FGT) after Douchi Hataedock treatment group. The 3-week-old mice of the FGT group were given one 10 mg/kg dose of Douchi Hataedock extract and resensitized to allergic antigens at weeks four, five, and six. Allergic rhinitis was induced primarily in mice nasal cavities for five days after one week of final sensitization. The second induction used the same method one week after the first induction was completed. After one week, the nasal mucosal tissues of each group were observed. Immunohistochemical staining for IL-4, STAT6, CD40, $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, substance P, MMP-9, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, p-IkB, and iNOS in the nasal mucosa was also performed. Results: The FGT group had less respiratory epithelial damage and less mucin secretion in goblet cells than the ARE group and showed a 62% decrease in IL-4, 85% decrease in STAT6, 71% decrease in CD40, 69% decrease in $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$, 43% decrease in substance P, 49% decrease in MMP-9, 43% decrease in NF-kB p65, 38% decrease in p-IkB, and 73% decrease in iNOS compared to the ARE group. Conclusions: Douchi Hataedock lessens inflammation in epithelial and goblet cells and reduces inflammatory mediator secretion in a mouse allergic rhinitis model.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.145-170
• /
• 2013

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the anti inflammatory and anti allergy effects of Vitex rotundifolia Linne fil. extract(VRE). Results : 1. In vitro test, VRE was used to determine the modulation of cytokine secretion, the activation of inflammatory and allergic factor and the inhibition of gene expression. The cell survival rate of Raw 264.7 and Jurkat T cells didn't decrease and accordingly cytotoxicity wasn't observed. In anti-allergic assay, the secretion of IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were suppressed on Jurkat T cells induced by dust mites. And the gene expression of COX-2 was suppressed in HMC-1 stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187. In anti-inflammatory assay, the gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 were suppressed on LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. And the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 were suppressed on EoL-1 cells induced by dust mites. P38 and ERK activation of MAPK decreased generally. VRE showed potent inhibitory activity of NO production. 2. In vivo test, we used NC/Nga mouse induced by atopic dermatitis to observe the effects of VRE on the weight, water and feed, blood test, weight of organs, total IgE and histological change of main organs. Quantity of water and feed were not changed, therefore it didn't affect the weight directly, and no change was observed in related main organs, thus maybe there is no organ toxicity by test substances. And the symptoms were decreased significantly, and the thickness of epithelial cell layer and the number of mast cells were inhibited significantly by the difference of dosage. The number of total complete blood cells and IgE in serum were not changed significantly. Conclusion : These results suggest that VRE has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Therefore VRE could be used effectively on improvement or treatment of atopic dermatitis. However, further study is needed to prove which component of VRE indicates effective pharmacological action.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.25-42
• /
• 2017

Objectives The goal of this review was to investigate clinical, experimental and literature studies of Korean medicine on atopic dermatitis (AD) of Korean children in Korean medicine literature, seeking for the better research methods for more effective treatments. Methods Electronic investigations were practiced on AKOP (The Association of Korean Oriental Pediatrics, http://www.akop.or.kr) to collect theses which were published by J Pediatr Korean Med. The key word 'Atopy' was used for searching to ensure that every related thesis was collected. The publication date was limited from 1996 to 2016. The selected literatures were assessed mainly according to distributions of study type, publication year, scale, treatment and its efficacy. Results 55 papers were selected from 59 studies. In these collected 55 related theses, there were 29 experimental studies (52.73%), 18 clinical studies (32.73%), 8 review studies (14.55%). In the 29 experimental studies, there were 20 studies (68.97%) using NC/Nga mouse as subjects. The mite antigen was used to trigger AD by 8 studies (27.59%). The studies have been utilizing DNCB and DNFB instead of mite antigen since 2011. All the experimental studies showed that the Korean medicine was effective in AD. In total 18 clinical studies, 3 studies (16.67%) were case reports, only 1 thesis (5.56%) was conducted by case control study and the rest were case series studies. 7 studies (38.89%) of 18 studies diagnosed AD according to Hanifin and Rajka's diagnostic criteria (1980), only 1 study (5.56%) according to the Korean standard and the rest 10 studies (55.56%) didn't mention diagnostic criteria. 12 clinical studies (66.67%) showed efficacy in treating AD. There were 10 studies (55.56%) only employing internal treatments and 1 thesis (5.56%) didn't mention the exact prescription. Naesowhajungtang-kamibang, Saenghyeoryunbue-um were used 3 times (16.67%) as the internal medicine respectively. 5 theses (27.78%) were combined with acupuncture therapy. Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6) were used in 4 theses, and Taichong (LR3), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36) in 3 theses. The number of acupoints chosen from The Spleen meridian of Foot-Taiyin was the largest. There were 8 review theses. 2 were about the foreign oriental medicine, 3 were about the external medicine or external treatment methods, and 3 other studies were about severity scoring systems, the methodological study in the latest clinical study, overview for pattern and results of herbal medicine-derived AD clinical researches. Conclusions The experimental studies and clinical studies showed the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatments. However, this study still needs improving by conducting more comparative studies and using better research methods, in order to find more effective treatments to improve clinical efficacy.