• 농업과학연구
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2022

A disrupted immune system during pregnancy is involved in pregnancy complications, such as spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, and recurrent pregnancy loss. This study examined the role of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD [c-terminal caspase recruitment domain]) in pregnancy complications using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced miscarriage mice model. Incidences of miscarriage and embryonic resorption were examined at 9.5 days of pregnancy in wild-type (WT), ASC knockout (KO), and TLR4 KO mice after injecting them with LPS. The fetuses and placenta were obtained after sacrifice at 15.5 days of pregnancy. A significantly lower frequency of fetus absorption was found in TLR4 KO mice, whereas corresponding absorption outcomes were strongly induced in the WT and ASC KO mice upon an LPS injection. As expected, TLR4 KO mice were resistant to LPS-induced abortion. A histological analysis of the miscarried placenta showed increasing levels of the eosin staining of spongiotrophoblast cells without any obvious difference between WT and ASC KO mice. These results suggest that TLR4 KO mice are resistant to LPS, which affects pregnancy persistence, whereas WT and ASC KO mice show high miscarriage rates due to LPS. Moreover, the ASC adaptor is not directly involved in LPS-induced miscarriages, and the NLRP3 inflammasome can be activated by other proteins in the absence of ASC.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.133-144
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• 2023

Ureteral obstruction can be causes of renal dysfunction and renal injury at late period of kidney pathology. The purpose of this study was to determine the protective effects of Oryeongsan (ORS), Geumgwe-sinkihwan (GSH), and Jwagwieum (JGE) in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The animal models were divided into five groups randomly at the age of 5 weeks; Control group: SD male rats (n=10), UUO group: SD male rats with UUO surgery (n=10), ORS group: SD male rats with UUO surgery + ORS 200 mg/kg/day (n=10), GSH group: SD male rats with UUO surgery + GSH 200 mg/kg/day (n=10), JGE group: SD male rats with UUO surgery + JGE 200 mg/kg/day (n=10). Treatment with ORS, GSH, and JGE significantly ameliorate creatinine clearance(Ccr). The present results also showed that ORS, GSH, and JGE improved the morphological aspects of renal tissues. These prescriptions also reduced the expression levels of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. In Kidney, UUO increased the expression levels of inflamasome markers such as NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1. However, ORS, GSH, and JGE suppressed these levele. Treatment with these prescriptions reduced kidney inflammation markers such as Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule -1 (KIM-1). Therefore, these findings suggest that ORS, GSH, and JGE has a protective effect on renal injury by alleviating renal inflammation and improving renal function in rats with UUO.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.628-635
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• 2022

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the large intestine disease that results in chronic inflammation and ulcers in the colon. Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) is known for its pharmacological activities. Persicaria tinctoria (PT) is also used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the attenuating effects of Rg3-RGE with PT on oxazolone (OXA)-induced UC in mice. Methods: A total of six groups of mice including control group, OXA (as model group, 1.5%) group, sulfasalazine (75 mg/kg) group, Rg3-RGE (20 mg/kg) group, PT (300 mg/kg) group, and Rg3-RGE (10 mg/kg) with PT (150 mg/kg) group. Data on the colon length, body weight, disease activity index (DAI), histological changes, nitric oxide (NO) assay, Real-time PCR of inflammatory factors, ELISA of inflammatory factors, Western blot, and flow cytometry analysis were obtained. Results: Overall, the combination treatment of Rg3-RGE and PT significantly improved the colon length and body weight and decreased the DAI in mice compared with the treatment with OXA. Additionally, the histological injury was also reduced by the combination treatment. Moreover, the NO production level and inflammatory mediators and cytokines were significantly downregulated in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the model group. Also, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-𝛋B) were suppressed in the combination treatment group compared with the OXA group. Furthermore, the number of immune cell subtypes of CD4⁺ T-helper cells, CD19⁺ B-cells, and CD4⁺ and CD25⁺ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) was improved in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the OXA group. Conclusion: Overall, the mixture of Rg3-RGE and PT is an effective therapeutic treatment for UC.