• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2014

Pyunkang-hwan (Pyunkang-tang) extract (PGT) is a traditional folk medicine for controlling diverse pulmonary diseases including bronchitis, tonsiltis and pneumonitis. We investigated whether PGT significantly affects secretion, production and gene expression of airway mucin using in vivo and in vitro experimental models reflecting the hypersecretion and/or hyperproduction of mucus observed in inflammatory pulmonary diseases. For in vivo experiment, effect of PGT was checked on hypersecretion of pulmonary mucin in sulfur dioxide-induced bronchitis in rats. For in vitro experiment, confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with PGT for 30 min and then stimulated with EGF (epidermal growth factor), PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) or TNF-${\alpha}$ (tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$) for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. The results were as follows: (1) PGT inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF, PMA or TNF-${\alpha}$ from NCI-H292 cells, respectively; (2) PGT also inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by the same inducers from NCI-H292 cells, respectively; (3) PGT inhibited secretion of mucin in sulfur dioxide-induced bronchitis rat model. This result suggests that PGT can regulate secretion, production and gene expression of airway mucin.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2019

We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of Pyunkang-tang extract (PGT), a complex herbal extract based on traditional Chinese medicine that is used in Korea for controlling diverse pulmonary diseases, on cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary pathology in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The constituents of PGT were Lonicerae japonica, Liriope platyphylla, Adenophora triphilla, Xantium strumarinum, Selaginella tamariscina and Rehmannia glutinosa. Rats were exposed by inhalation to a mixture of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and sulfur dioxide for three weeks to induce COPD-like pulmonary inflammation. PGT was administered orally to rats and pathological changes to the pulmonary system were examined in each group of animals through measurement of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) at 21 days post-CSE treatment. The effect of PGT on the hypersecretion of pulmonary mucin in rats was assessed by quantification of the amount of mucus secreted and by examining histopathologic changes in tracheal epithelium. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with PGT for 30 min and then stimulated with CSE plus PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. Production of MUC5AC mucin protein was measured by ELISA. The results were as follows: (1) PGT inhibited CSE-induced pulmonary inflammation as shown by decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels in BALF; (2) PGT inhibited the hypersecretion of pulmonary mucin and normalized the increased amount of mucosubstances in goblet cells of the CSE-induced COPD rat model; (3) PGT inhibited CSE-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression in vitro in NCI-H292 cells, a human airway epithelial cell line. These results suggest that PGT might regulate the inflammatory aspects of COPD in a rat model.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.544-549
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• 2023

In this study, artesunate, an antimalarial agent, was investigated for its potential effect on the gene expression of airway MUC5AC mucin. The human pulmonary epithelial NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with artesunate for 30 min and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), for the following 24 h. The effect of artesunate on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also examined. Artesunate inhibited the glycoprotein production and mRNA expression of MUC5AC mucins, induced by PMA through the inhibition of degradation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IkBα) and NF-kB p65 nuclear translocation. These results suggest artesunate suppresses the gene expression of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human pulmonary epithelial cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.637-642
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated whether eriodictyol exerts an effect on the production and gene expression of MUC5AC mucin in human pulmonary epithelial NCI-H292 cells. The cells were pretreated with eriodictyol for 30 min and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h. The effect of eriodictyol on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway was also investigated. Eriodictyol suppressed the MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression induced by PMA via suppression of inhibitory kappa Bα degradation and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. These results suggest that eriodictyol inhibits mucin gene expression and production in human airway epithelial cells via regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.473-478
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• 2022

In this study, we examined whether engeletin exerts an effect on the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin, in human pulmonary epithelial NCI-H292 cells. The cells were pretreated with engeletin for 30 min and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), for the following 24 h. The effect of engeletin on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also investigated. Engeletin suppressed the mRNA expression and production of MUC5AC mucin, induced by PMA through the inhibition of degradation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IkBα) and NF-kB p65 nuclear translocation. These results suggest engeletin inhibits the gene expression of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human airway epithelial cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.306-311
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• 2023

The current study aimed to reveal the potential effect of meclofenamate, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on the gene expression of airway MUC5AC mucin. Human pulmonary mucoepidermoid NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with meclofenamate for 30 min and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h. Thereafter, the effect of meclofenamate on the PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was assessed. Meclofenamate inhibited glycoprotein production and mRNA expression of MUC5AC mucins induced by PMA by inhibiting the degradation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IkBα) and NF-kB p65 nuclear translocation. These results suggest meclofenamate suppresses mucin gene expression by regulating NF-kB signaling pathway in human pulmonary epithelial cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.540-545
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• 2022

Betulin is a triterpenoid natural product contained in several medicinal plants including Betulae Cortex. These medicinal plants have been used for controlling diverse inflammatory diseases in folk medicine and betulin showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer activities. In this study, we tried to examine whether betulin exerts a regulative effect on the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin under the status simulating a pulmonary inflammation, in human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with betulin for 30 min and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h or the indicated periods. The MUC5AC mucin mRNA expression and mucin glycoprotein production were measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. To elucidate the action mechanism of betulin, effect of betulin on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also investigated by western blot analysis. The results were as follows: 1) Betulin significantly suppressed the production of MUC5AC mucin glycoprotein and down-regulated MUC5AC mRNA expression induced by PMA in NCI-H292 cells. 2) Betulin inhibited NF-κB activation stimulated by PMA. Suppression of inhibitory kappa B kinase (IKK) by betulin led to the inhibition of the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα), and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. This, in turn, led to the down-regulation of MUC5AC glycoprotein production in NCI-H292 cells. These results suggest betulin inhibits the gene expression of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human airway epithelial cells.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.26-36
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• 2015

Objectives In this study, effect of Geumsuyukgunjeon (GYJ) on the increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances of rats with acute bronchitis and EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production from human airway epithelial cells were investigated. Materials and Methods Hypersecretion of airway mucus was induced by exposure of rats to SO2 during 3 weeks. Effect of orally-administered GYJ during 2 weeks on increase in airway epithelial mucosubstances from tracheal goblet cells of rats was assesed using histopathological analysis after staining the epithelial tissue with PAS-alcian blue. Possible cytotoxicity of GYJ was assessed by examining the potential damage of kidney and liver functions by measuring serum GOT/GPT activities and serum BUN and creatinine concentrations of rats and the body weight gain during experiment, after administering GYJ orally. Effect of GYJ on EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production from human airway epithelial cells (A549) was investigated. Confluent A549 cells were pretreated for 30 min in the presence of GYJ and treated with EGF (25 ng/ml) for 24 hrs, to assess the effect of GYJ on EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results (1) GYJ decreased the amount of intraepithelial mucosubstances of trachea of rats. (2) GYJ did not show kidney and liver toxicities and did not affect body weight gain of rats during experiment. (3) GYJ significantly inhibited EGF-induced MUC5AC mucin production from A549 cells. Conclusions The result from the present study suggests that GYJ might control both the mucus hypersecretion in vivo and do not show in vivo toxicity to liver and kidney functions after oral administration and the production of pulmonary mucin.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.76-87
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• 2008

Objectives: In this study, the author investigated whether Haengso-tang (HST) and Chwiyeon-tang (CHT) affect both in vitro mucin secretion and MUC5AC gene expression in airway epithelial cells and in vivo mucin secretion from animal model for airway mucus hypersecretion. Materials and Methods: Confluent HTSE cells (non-labeled) were chased for 30 min in the presence of HST and CHT to assess the effects of the agents on mucin secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with removal of oriental herbal medicine extract from each agent-treated sample by centrifuge microfilter. Also, the effects of the agents on TNF- or EGF-induced MUC5AC gene expression in human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated. The author also induced hypersecretion of airway mucus by exposure of rats to SO2 for 3 weeks. Effects of orally-administered HST and CHT during 1 week on in vivo mucin secretion from tracheal goblet cells of rats were assessed using ELISA. Results: (1) HST significantly decreased in vitro mucin secretion from cultured HTSE cells. However, CHT did not affect in vitro mucin secretion from HTSE cells; (2) CHT significantly inhibited the expression levels of EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells. However, HST did not affect the expression levels of EGF- or TNF-alpha-induced MUC5AC gene in NCI-H292 cells; (3) CHT significantly inhibited hypersecretion of in vivo mucin. However, HST did not affect hypersecretion of in vivo mucin. Conclusion: These results suggest that CHT can not only affect the secretion of mucin but also the expression of the mucin gene and could be helpful for treating pulmonary disease caused by secretion of mucin.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2017

Angelica decursiva has been utilised as remedy for controlling the airway inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. We investigated whether nodakenin, columbianadin, and umbelliferone isolated from the roots of Angelica decursiva inhibit the gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin from human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with nodakenin, columbianadin or umbelliferone for 30 min and then stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression was measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Production of MUC5AC mucin protein was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were as follows: (1) Nodakenin did not affect the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$. Columbianadin inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF or PMA. However, umbelliferone inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$; (2) Nodakenin also did not affect the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$. Columbianadin inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by PMA. However, umbelliferone inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF, PMA or $TNF-{\alpha}$. These results suggest that, among the three compounds investigated, umbelliferone only inhibits the gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin stimulated by various inducers, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells, and the results might explain the traditional use of Angelica decursiva as remedy for diverse inflammatory pulmonary diseases.