• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.15-27
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Ulmus davidiana Planch herbal acupuncture(UA) to inhibit nuclear $factor(NF)-{\kappa}B$ activation on type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Methods : Using an in vitro test, the synoviocytes picked out from the experimental CIA mice were subcultured. The synoviocyte cells were treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate(PMA) for 1 hour prior to the addition of indicated concentrations($0.4\;-\;1.0mg/m{\ell}$) of UA, and the cells were further incubated for 24 hours. The in vivo test, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), vascular cell adhesion molecule(VCAM)-1 production and apoptosis was observed by immunohistochemical staining. Results : The PMA-induced $I{\kappa}B$ kinase(IKK), iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression were dose-dependently decreased in UA treated synoviocytes. Using the in vivo test, the number of eosinophils in mice treated with UA noticeably decreased in the the CIA group(P<0.05 using student t test). In mice treated with UA, there was less cartilage erosion. less bone destruction, mild synovial hyperplasia, mild fibrosis, and mild angiogenesis with less MIP-2 production. By immunohistochemical staining, suppression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, iNOS production, inhibition of COX-2 production, inhibition of VCAM-1 production and inducing apoptosis were observed. Conclusions : These results suggest that UA might be applicable to the therapy of RA to suppress $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.303-307
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• 2006

Effect of Oenanthe javanica ethanol extract (OJE) on nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$)-mediated inflammatory reaction in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells was investigated. The OJE dose-dependently inhibited secretions of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and prostaglandins $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and blocked LPS-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2. To clarify mechanistic basis for its inhibitions of NF-${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activations, effects of OJE on activations of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 genes by luciferase reporter activity were examined. The LPS-stimulated activations of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 were significantly blocked by 400 and $600\;{\mu$}g/mL of OJE, implicating that OJE might regulate gene expression through more than one signaling pathway. Cytosolic degradation of I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ was inhibited by OJE dose-dependently, indicating that the nuclear translocation of p65 was inhibited by OJE. These findings suggest that the inhibition of LPS-stimulated COX-2 expression by OJE is due to its inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation by blocking I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, which may be mechanistic basis of anti-inflammatory effects of OJE.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.95-103
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• 2008

Mushrooms are regarded as one of the well-known foods and biopharmaceutical materials with a great deal of interest. Polysaccharide ${\beta}$-glucan is the major component of mushrooms that displays various biological activities such as antidiabetic, anticancer, and antihyperlipidemic effects. In this study, we compared the immunostimulatory potency of polysaccharide fractions, prepared from liquid culture of pine-mushroom Tricholoma matsutake, with a potent immunogen lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and their molecular mechanisms on the functional activation of macrophages. We found that fraction II (TMF-II) was able to comparably upregulate or highly enhance the phenotypic functions of macrophages such NO production and cytokine (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-${\alpha}$) expression, to LPS. TMF-II triggered the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, a critical step for NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and translocation. Of the upstream signaling enzymes tested, Src and Akt were thought to be the responsible upstream signaling components in induction of NO production, although TMF-II strongly upregulated the phosphorylation of all MAPK pathways. Therefore, our data suggest that T. matsutake-derived ${\beta}$-glucan may exert its immunostimulating activities with similar potency to LPS via activation of multiple signaling pathways linked to NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.431-437
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• 2011

Aberrant activation of microglia has been reported to cause neuronal damages by releasing a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Besides where microglia become active, damages have been also observed in remote places, which is considered due to the migration of activated microglia. Therefore, an agent that could suppress abnormal activation of microglia and their subsequent migration might be valuable in activated microglia-related brain pathologies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of betulinic acid on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Pretreatment of betulinic acid significantly attenuated LPS-induced NO production and protein expression of iNOS. Betulinic acid also significantly suppressed LPS-induced release and expression of cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. Furthermore, betulinic acid significantly uppressed LPS-induced MMP-9 expression, which has been suggested to play an important role in the migration of activated microglia. In order to understand the possible mechanism by which betulinic acid suppresses LPS-induced cytokine production and migration of microglia, the role of NF-kB, a major pro-inflammatory transcription factor, was examined. Betulinic acid significantly suppressed LPS-induced degradation of IKB, which retains NF-kB in the cytoplasm. Therefore, nuclear translocation of NF-kB upon LPS stimulation was significantly suppressed with betulinic acid. Taken together, the present study for the first time demonstrates that betulinic acid possesses anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of nuclear translocation of NF-kB in BV2 microglial cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.121-126
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• 2013

Tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF{\alpha}$) is a multifunctional inflammatory cytokine that regulates various cellular and biological processes. Increased levels of $TNF{\alpha}$ have been implicated in a number of human diseases including diabetes and arthritis. Sympathetic nervous system stimulation via the beta2-adrenergic receptor (${\beta}2AR$) in osteoblasts suppresses osteogenic activity. We previously reported that $TNF{\alpha}$ upregulates ${\beta}2AR$ expression in murine osteoblastic cells and that this modulation is associated with $TNF{\alpha}$ inhibition of osteoblast differentiation. In our present study, we explored whether $TNF{\alpha}$ induces ${\beta}2AR$ expression in human osteoblasts and then identified the downstream signaling pathway. Our results indicated that ${\beta}2AR$ expression was increased in Saos-2 and C2C12 cells by $TNF{\alpha}$ treatment, and that this increase was blocked by the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assay results indicated that NF-${\kappa}B$ directly binds to its cognate elements on the ${\beta}2AR$ promoter and thereby stimulates ${\beta}2AR$ expression. These findings suggest that the activation of $TNF{\alpha}$ signaling in osteoblastic cells leads to an upregulation of ${\beta}2AR$ and also that $TNF{\alpha}$ induces ${\beta}2AR$ expression in an NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent manner.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.135-140
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• 2006

Nucler factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) 프로모터는 염증성 질환을 유도하는 호염증성 시토카인의 발현에 중요한 역할을 수행하는 전사인자 중의 하나이다. 본 실험에서는 200 여종의 식물추출물들로부터 항염효능이 있는 추출물을 선발하기 위해 NF-kappaB 리포터 실험을 수행하였다. NF-kappaB 리포터 실험결과, 12종의 식물추출물, 즉 개나리, 고추잎, 박하, 뱀딸기, 뽕나무, 삼백초, 솔잎, 양애줄기, 약쑥, 어성초, 왕벚꽃가지, 조릿대 등이 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)에 의해 유도된 NF-kappaB 프로모터 활성을 농도의존적으로 억제하는 것을 확인하였다. 이들 12종의 식물추출물이 호염증성 시토카인 발현에도 동일한 효과를 나타내는지 알아보기 위해 tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha)와 인터루킨-8에 대한 ELISA실험을 실시하였다. ELISA실험 결과, NF-kappaB 리포터 실험결과와 동일하게, TNF-alpha와 인터루킨-8 생산이 12종 식물추출물 모두에서 감소됨을 관찰하였다. 이러한 실험결과는, 12종의 식물 추출물에서 보여지는 호염증성 시토카인 억제효과가 NF-kappaB 프로모터 활성억제를 통해 이루어지고 있음을 시사한다. 또한, 이들 12종 식물은 diphenyl-p-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay를 통해 살펴본 결과 높은 항산화 활성도 있음을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과로부터, 12종의 식물 추출물은 염증성 피부질환 전용 화장품 제형에서 항염 및 자극완화 소재로 응용될 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.1251-1256
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• 2003

To determine the effect of Zibachunggan-tang(ZCT) on the process of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-kBp65 (NF-kBp65) activation, and LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory proteins including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in HepG2 cell. Immunoblot analysis showed that the level of nucleic NF-kBp65 was rapidly up-regulated and cytosolic inhibitory I-kBα was down-regulated by LPS challenge. While ZCT inhibited an increase of NF-kBp65 and degradation of I-kBα in HepG2 cell. Beside LPS-induced expression of a group of genes, such as TNF-α, inducible iNOS and COX-2, are repressed by ZCT. It may be concluded that ZCT attenuates the progress of LPS-induced inflammation by reduction of NF-kBp65 activation. The ZCT would be useful as a therapeutic agent for endotoxin-induced liver disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.152-159
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• 2005

연구배경 : COPD의 급성악화는 세균에 의한 감염, 바이러스성 상기도 감염, 대기오염, 기후변화 등에 의하며, COPD의 급성악화 시에 객담 내 호중구의 증가, IL-6와 IL-8 농도의 증가, 그리고 산화질소의 증가는 $NF-{\kappa}B$의 활성화와 관련된 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러므로 COPD의 병인 및 급성악화의 기전에 $NF-{\kappa}B$ 활성도와 IL-6, IL-8 및 $TNF-{\alpha}$가 관련이 있는지 연구하고자 하였다. 방 법 : 정상대조군 및 COPD로 입원하였던 환자들의 급성악화기 및 치료 후 회복기에 유도객담에서 IL-6, IL-8, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $NF-{\kappa}B$ 활성화 정도를 측정하여 비교하였다. 결 과 : 1) 유도객담내의 IL-6, IL-8 및 $TNF-{\alpha}$는 COPD 환자에서 대조군에 비해 유의하게 증가되었다(p<0.01). IL-8은 급성악화 시에 비해 회복기에 유의하게 감소되었고(p<0.05), IL-6와 $TNF-{\alpha}$는 회복기에도 차이가 없었다. 2) 유도객담 내 대식세포에서의 $NF-{\kappa}B$의 활성도는 COPD 환자에서 대조군에 비해 유의하게 증가 되었고(p<0.05), 회복기에는 악화 시에 비해 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 결 론 : COPD 환자에서 유도객담 내 IL-6, IL-8, $TNF-{\alpha}$ 및 $NF-{\kappa}B$의 활성도 등이 정상대조군에 비해 증가되었고, 회복기에 IL-8은 감소하였고, $NF-{\kappa}B$의 활성도, IL-6 및 $TNF-{\alpha}$는 감소하는 경향을 보여서, COPD의 급성악화 및 COPD의 병인에 $NF-{\kappa}B$가 일부 관여할 것으로 생각된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권11호
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• pp.758-763
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• 2009

Cancer-associated antigen (CAGE) induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) by activating Akt, which in turn interacts with inhibitory kappa kinase $\beta$ ($I{\kappa}K{\beta}$) to activate nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$). Akt and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) are necessary for CAGE-mediated induction of the AP-1 subunit JunB, whereas extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) is necessary for the induction of fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1). Induction of MMP-2 by CAGE requires activator of protein-1 (AP-1) to be bound. Specific binding of JunB to MMP-2 promoter sequences was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.441-449
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• 2015

Flavonoids are plant pigments that have been demonstrated to exert various pharmacological effects including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms in terms of exact target proteins of flavonoids are not fully elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of scutellarein (SCT), a flavonoid isolated from Erigeron breviscapus, Clerodendrum phlomidis and Oroxylum indicum Vent that have been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory diseases in China and Brazil. For this purpose, a nitric oxide (NO) assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nuclear fractionation, immunoblot analysis, a kinase assay, and an overexpression strategy were employed. Scutellarein significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SCT also dampened nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene upon transfection of a TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF) construct into Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells; similarly, NF-${\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation was inhibited by SCT. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of various upstream signaling enzymes involved in NF-${\kappa}B$ activation were decreased by SCT treatment in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Finally, SCT strongly inhibited Src kinase activity and also inhibited the autophosphorylation of overexpressed Src. Therefore, our data suggest that SCT can block the inflammatory response by directly inhibiting Src kinase activity linked to NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.