• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.397-405
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• 2023

Although glutathione (GSH) has been shown to play an important role in the prevention of oxidative damage as an antioxidant, studies on immune regulation by it have not been properly conducted. In this study, we investigated whether luthione^®, a reduced GSH, has an immune enhancing effect in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The results of flow cytometry and immunofluorescence experiments indicated that luthione increased phagocytic activity, a representative function of macrophages, compared to the control cells. According to the results of the cytokine array, the expression of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-1β, and IL-27 was significantly increased in the luthione-treated cells. Luthione also enhanced the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β through increased expression of their proteins, and increased release of the immune mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ was associated with increased expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, the expression of cluster of differentiation 86, an M1 macrophage marker, was dramatically enhanced in RAW 264.7 cells treated with luthione. Furthermore, as a result of heat map analysis, we found that cytokine signaling 1/3-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription/Janus tyrosine kinase signaling pathway was involved in the immunomodulatory effect by luthione. In conclusion, our data suggested that luthione could act as a molecular regulator in M1 macrophage polarization and enhance immune capacity by promoting macrophage phagocytic function.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.739-745
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• 2010

The objective of the current study was to compare the abilities of undigested and enzymatically digested bifidobacteria to induce nitric oxide and cytokine release in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Nine different Bifidobacterium strains derived from herbivorous animals were digested with pepsin and then pancreatin, and the precipitates and supernatants were acquired via centrifugation. The RAW 264.7 cells were incubated with whole cells, the precipitate, or the supernatant, and the macrophage culture supernatants were analyzed with respect to the induction of nitric oxide and cytokines. Pronounced increases in the production of nitric oxide, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) were observed when cultured with whole cells and the precipitates. It is noteworthy that the precipitates in most of the Bifidobacterium strains evidenced a trend toward superior IL-12 release compared with whole cells. The results showed that both whole cells and digested Bifidobacterium sp. are effective at stimulating RAW 264.7 cells to induce the production of nitric oxide and cytokines. The pepsin-pancreatin system used in the current study may be useful in unraveling the mechanism by which ingested lactic acid bacteria modulate the induction of macrophage mediators at the cellular level.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2011

We demonstrate that glycoprotein isolated from Dioscorea batatas (GDB) activates macrophage function. Analysis of the infiltration of macrophages into peritoneal cavity showed GDB treatment significantly increased the recruitment of macrophages into the peritoneal cavity. In order to further confirm and investigate the mechanism of GDB on macrophage activation, we analyzed the effects of GDB on the cytokine expression including IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-6 in mouse peritoneal macrophages. GDB increased the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-6. Cytokine induction by GDB was further confirmed by RT-PCR and ELISA in mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 cells. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with GDB produced strong induction of NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding and MAPK phosphorylation, markers for macrophage activation and important factors for cytokine gene expression. Collectively, this series of experiments indicates that GDB stimulates macrophage activation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2013

Thirteen phenolic compounds, 1,4-dimethoxybenzene (1), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (2), (2E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylaldehyde (3), 3,7-dihydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one (4), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propan-1-one (5), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (6), 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid (7), methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (8), 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (9), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (10), 3-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-one (11), 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde (12) and benzene-1,2,4-triol (13) were isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan. Their anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated against LPS-induced NO production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Among them, compounds 3 and 8 showed strong inhibitory activities toward the LPS-induced NO production in macrophage RAW264.7 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 14.5 and 21.5 ${\mu}M$, respectively.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.1 s.32
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• pp.1-15
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• 2007

Objectives : RVC has long been used for a useful natural agent ameliorating inflammation related symptoms in the folk medicine recipe. This study was performed to investigate effects of RVC on the inflammation and oxidation in RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : The RVC was extracted with 80% ethanol and sequentially partitioned with solvents in order to increase polarity. With the various fractions, we determined the activities on the inflammation and oxidation in RAW 264.7 cells. Results : 1. Among the various solvent extracts of RVC, the butanol fraction showed the most powerful inhibitory ability against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells without affecting cell viability. 2. Butanol fraction showed a oxidation inhibition effect by decreasing the DPPH and OH radicals. 3. Butanol fraction exhibited the inhibitory avilities against iNOS and COX-2. 4. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Westem blotting analysis revealed that the BuOH fraction provided a primary inhibitor of the iNOS protein and mRNA expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Among the up-regulater molecules of iNOS and COX-2, the BuOh fraction of RVC was shown the inhibitory activity of phoshporylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1/2 and threonine protein kinase (AKT), the one of the MAPKs pathway. Conclusion : Thus, the present study suggests that the response of a component of the BuOH fraction to NO generation via iNOS expression provide a important clue to elucidate anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation mechanism of RVC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.94.2-94.2
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• 2007

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• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 2020

Recently, as a natural substance has been emphasized interest in research to enhance the immune function. Green lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a popular vegetable used fresh and it contains various phytochemicals and antioxidant compounds, and has been reported to have various physiological activities such as antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor and anti-mutagenic. However, only a few studies have investigated on the mechanism of action of immune-enhancing activity of lettuce. Therefore, in this study, the immunomodulatory activities and potential mechanism of action of Green lettuce extracts (GLE) were evaluated in the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. GLE significantly increased NO levels by RAW264.7 cells, as well as expressions of immunomodulators such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and MCP-1. Although GLE activated ERK1/2, p38, JNK and NF-κB, GLE-mediated expressions of immunomodulators was dependent on p38, JNK and NF-κB. In addition, TLR4 inhibition blocked GLE-mediated expressions of immunomodulators and activation of p38, JNK and NF-κB. Taken together, these results demonstrated that TLR4-MAPK/NF-κB signalling pathways participated in GLE-induced macrophage activation and GLE could be developed as a potential immunomodulating functional food.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.273-277
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• 2006

Recently, Rhei Rhizoma extracts (RRE) have begun to receive more attention as potential biological response modifiers. In the present study, we studied the antiproliferative effect of RRE on tumor cells and the effect of RRE on macrophage function. A variety of tumor cells and macrophages were treated with RRE at various concentrations. The effect of RRE on cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and the effect of RRE on the production of nitric oxide (NO) was determined in the macrophage-like cell lines Raw264.7, C6 and peritoneal macrophages (pMQ). RRE inhibited the growth of tumor cells (e.g., B16, HOS). However, the effects of RRE on the production of NO varied with macrophage types. RRE had no effect on C6 cell growth and slightly increased the growth of Raw264.7 cells. In addition, treatment of normal pMQ with RRE enhanced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas RRE suppressed NO production at $50\;{\mu}g/mL$ in both Raw264.7 and C6 cells. However, RRE suppressed NO production in LPS/IFN-$\gamma$-stimulated C6 cells. Overall, these results suggest that RRE elicits an antiproliferative property and differentially modulates NO production in various macrophages, and have a potential for therapeutic application.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.23-28
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• 2023

Since the global shock caused by COVID-19, interest in immune-enhancing materials is rapidly increasing, therefore, the development of novel materials is necessary from the industrial and health perspectives. In this study, we selected Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner Seed Extract (NSE) and evaluated immune enhancement effect by using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. NSE significantly up-regulated production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species without affecting cell viability in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, NSE exhibited an increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in RAW 264.7 cells. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that NSE-treatment significantly enhanced production of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, we observed that NSE significantly up-regulated phosphorylation of p65, I kappa B kinase α/β, and I kappa B (IκB) α as well as down-regulation of IκB α expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Our findings indicate that NSE could be the potential health-functional food material with capacity of improving immunity via Nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the intracellular hydrogen peroxide productions of mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 are modulated by Red Ginseng-Ejung-tang water extract (ER) and White Ginseng-Ejung-tang water extract (EG). Red Ginseng-Ejung-tang were composed of Red Ginseng, Atractylodes rhizome white, Zingiberis Rhizoma Siccus, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. White Ginseng-Ejung-tang were composed of White Ginseng, Atractylodes rhizome white, Zingiberis Rhizoma Siccus, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. The intracellular hydrogen peroxide productions were measured by dihydrorhodamine 123 assay with spectrofluorometer (excitation 485 nm; emission 535 nm). For 4, 20, 24, 44, 48, 68, and 72 h incubation, ER significantly increased hydrogen peroxide productions of RAW 264.7 at the concentration of 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ (P <0.05). EG for 4, 20, 24, 44, and 48 h incubation significantly increased hydrogen peroxide productions of RAW 264.7 at the concentration of 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ (P <0.05). For 68 and 72 h incubation, EG at the concentration of 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ significantly increased hydrogen peroxide productions in RAW 264.7 (P <0.05). These results suggest that ER and EG have the immune-enhancing properties related with their increasing effects on the intracellular hydrogen peroxide production of macrophage.