• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.161-176
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• 2018

Fungal ${\beta}$-glucan, known to have immunostimulatory and antitumor activities, can be recognized by host immune cells as one of the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Although there are several reports on the diverse immunostimulatory activities of ${\beta}$-glucan, little is known about the intracellular signal transduction of ${\beta}$-glucan. Stimulation of RAW264.7 macrophage cells with ${\beta}$-glucan from Ganoderma lucidum induced the expressions of dectin-1, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, and TLR6 at the transcription stage. Treatment with ${\beta}$-glucan also induced inflammatory mediators such as macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP)-$1{\alpha}$, MIP-$1{\beta}$, MIP-$1{\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. Treatment of the cells with polymyxin B, an inhibitor of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), blocked the induction of inflammatory mediators in LPS- or ${\beta}$-glucan-stimulated systems. Pretreatment of the cells in our cell culture system with LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, or U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) kinase (MEK)1/MEK2 inhibitor, led to a reduction in the induction of inflammatory mediators in a concentration-dependent manner. These results show that stimulation of the macrophage cells by ${\beta}$-glucan induced the expressions of both dectin-1 and TLRs. We also found that the PI3K/Akt and MEK pathways were involved in the induction of inflammatory mediators in macrophage cells during intracellular signal transduction of ${\beta}$-glucan.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1805-1809
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• 2004

In order to validate the use of Radix Curcumae Aromaticae as an anti-inflammatory drug in the traditional Korean medicine, I have investigated the effect of water-soluble extract of Radix Curcumae Aromaticae (ECA) on the expression of inducible heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which ha.s anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects stimulates, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with a high dose of pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The extract protected dose-dependently HUVECs against TNF-α-induced apoptosis, as measured qualitatively by a nuclear staining method using the fluoresoence DAPI and quantitatively by a flow cytometry using fluoresce-enhanced Annexin V antibody, and significantly Increased HO-1 expression, as determined by Western blotting analysis using anti-HO-1 antibody. Biockage of HO-1 activity by a pharmacological inhibitor reversed cytoprotection afforded by the extract, and treatment with carbon monoxide, one of HO-1 metabolites, resulted in cytoprotection comparable to the extract. These results suggest that ECA may have therapeutic potential in the control of endothelial disorders caused by inflammatory cytokines.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.116-124
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• 2013

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ is thought to contribute to pulmonary hypertension. We aimed to investigate the effect of infliximab (TNF-${\alpha}$ antagonist) treatment on pathologic findings and gene expression in a monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension rat model. Methods: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to 3 groups: control (C), single subcutaneous injection of normal saline (0.1 mL/kg); monocrotaline (M), single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline (60 mg/kg); and monocrotaline + infliximab (M+I), single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline plus single subcutaneous injection of infliximab (5 mg/kg). The rats were sacrificed after 1, 5, 7, 14, or 28 days. We examined changes in pathology and gene expression levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin receptor A (ERA), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP). Results: The increase in medial wall thickness of the pulmonary arteriole in the M+I group was significantly lower than that in the M group on day 7 after infliximab treatment (P<0.05). The number of intraacinar muscular arteries in the M+I group was lower than that in the M group on days 14 and 28 (P<0.05). Expression levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, ET-1, ERA, and MMP2 were significantly lower in the M+I group than in the M group on day 5, whereas eNOS and TIMP expressions were late in the M group (day 28). Conclusion: Infliximab administration induced early changes in pathological findings and expression levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, and MMP2 in a monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension rat model.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2012

Alcoholic hepatitis is a leading cause of liver failure in which the increased production of tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF${\alpha}$) plays a critical role in progression of alcoholic liver disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects of cilostazol, a selective inhibitor of type III phosphodiesterase on ethanol-mediated TNF${\alpha}$ production in vitro and $in$ $vivo$, and the effect of cilostazol was compared with that of pentoxifylline, which is currently used in clinical trial. RAW264.7 murine macrophages were pretreated with ethanol in the presence or absence of cilostazol then, stimulated with lipopolysacchride (LPS). Cilostazol significantly suppressed the level of LPS-stimulated TNF${\alpha}$ mRNA and protein with a similar degree to that by pentoxifylline. Cilostazol increased the basal AMP- activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity as well as normalized the decreased AMPK by LPS. AICAR, an AMPK activator and db-cAMP also significantly decreased TNF${\alpha}$ production in RAW264.7 cells, but cilostazol did not affect the levels of intracellular cAMP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The $in$ $vivo$ effect of cilostazol was examined using ethanol binge drinking (6 g/kg) mice model. TNF${\alpha}$ mRNA and protein decreased in liver from ethanol gavaged mice compared to that from control mice. Pretreatment of mice with cilostazol or pentoxifylline further reduced the TNF${\alpha}$ production in liver. These results demonstrated that cilostazol effectively decrease the ethanol-mediated TNF${\alpha}$ production both in murine macrophage and in liver from binge drinking mice and AMPK may be responsible for the inhibition of TNF${\alpha}$ production by cilostazol.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.387-394
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• 2016

Sepsis, a serious clinical problem, is characterized by a systemic inflammatory response to infection and leads to organ failure. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is intimately implicated in hyper-inflammatory responses and tissue injury during sepsis. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective mechanisms of trichostatin A (TSA), a HDAC inhibitor, associated with TLR signaling pathway during sepsis. The anti-inflammatory properties of TSA were assayed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced in mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), a clinically relevant model of sepsis. The mice were intraperitoneally received TSA (1, 2 or 5 mg/kg) 30 min before CLP. The serum and liver samples were collected 6 and 24-h after CLP. TSA inhibited the increased production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. TSA improved sepsis-induced mortality, attenuated liver injury and decreased serum TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels. CLP increased the levels of TLR4, TLR2 and myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) protein expression and association of MyD88 with TLR4 and TLR2, which were attenuated by TSA. CLP increased nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B and decreased cytosolic inhibitor of kappa B ($I{\kappa}B$) protein expression, which were attenuated by TSA. Moreover, CLP decreased acetylation of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase (IKK) and increased association of IKK with $I{\kappa}B$ and TSA attenuated these alterations. Our findings suggest that TSA attenuates liver injury by inhibiting TLR-mediated inflammatory response during sepsis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.80-87
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• 2019

Background: This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom (BV) through the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa beta ($NF-{\kappa}B$) expression in macrophages and keratinocytes. Methods: Cell viability assays were performed to investigate the cytotoxicity of BV in activated macrophages [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] and keratinocytes [interferon-gamma/tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($IFN-{\gamma}/TNF-{\alpha}$)]. A luciferase assay was performed to investigate the cellular expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in relation to BV dose. The expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitors ($p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, and p50 and p65) were determined by Western Blot analysis, and the electromobility shift assay. A nitrite quantification assay was performed to investigate the effect of BV, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor on nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages. In addition, Western Blot analysis was performed to investigate the effect of BV on the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in activated macrophages and keratinocytes. Results: BV was not cytotoxic to activated macrophages and keratinocytes. Transcriptional activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and p50, p65, and $p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ expression was reduced by treatment with BV in activated macrophages and keratinocytes. Treatment with BV and an $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, reduced the production of NO by activated macrophages, and also reduced $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity in activated keratinocytes (compared with either BV, or $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor treatment). Furthermore, BV decreased p38, p-p38, JNK, and p-JNK expression in LPS-activated macrophages and $IFN-{\gamma}/TNF-{\alpha}$-activated keratinocytes. Conclusion: BV blocked the signaling pathway of $NF-{\kappa}B$, which plays an important role in the inflammatory response in macrophages and keratinocytes. These findings provided the possibility of BV in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.105-119
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• 2006

Objectives & Methods : This present study was performed to investigate the effect of Hwadamtongrak-Tang extract (HTT) on the regulation of cerebral hemodynamics in terms of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP)] in normal and cerebral ischemic rats. Also the effects of HTT on changes in local blood flow, inhibition of LD H activity in neuronal cells, and levels of cytokine production in the serum were determined in the ischemic rat model. The major findings are summarized below. Results : 1. HTT significantly increased rCBF in a dose-dependent manner, but MABP was not changed by HTT treatment. These results suggest that HTT may increase rCBF by dilating cerebral arterial diameter. 2. HTT-induced increase in rCBF was blocked by pretreatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (IDN, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) and MABP was significantly increased by ID N. 3. Pretreatment of methylene blue $(MTB,\;10\;{\mu}g/kg,\;i.p.)$, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, significantly decreased both rCBP and MABP in HTT-treated rats. 4. HTT treatment significantly increased rCBP to a stable level during the period of cerebral reperfusion. 5. HTT significantly inhibited LD H activity in neuronal cells, suggesting a neuroprotection by HTT. 6. Serum interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ levels were significantly decreased in the femoral artery 1 hr after middle cerebral arterial occlusion in HTT-treated rats. IL-10 levels in the serum were significantly increased by HTT treatment whereas transforming growth factor $(TGF)-{\beta}$ levels were similar between HTT-treated and control groups. 7. Serum interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ levels were significantly decreased in the femoral artery 1 hr after reperfusion in HTT-treated rats. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly decreased in HTT-treated rats compared with the control group, and no significant changes in $(TGF)-{\beta}$ in the serum were observed by HTT treatment. Conclusions: The present data suggest that HTT may have an anti-ischemic effect via the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics and thus protect the brain from ischemic damage.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2004

봉독은 관절염 치료를 비롯한 여러 질환에 그 응용범위가 넓어지고 있으며 기전규명과 새로운 치료효과 개발을 위한 연구가 필요하다. 연골의 파괴는 진행된 각종 관절병증의 공통 병리기전이며 연골세포의 기능이상은 이 기전에 중요한 의미를 지닌다. 사람 연골세포의 특성을 유지하고 있는 HTB-94 연골육종세포를 배양하고 봉독을 처치했을 때의 유전자 발현양상을 microarray를 이용하여 관찰하였다. 대조군에 비해 4배 이상 발현의 차이가 있는 경우를 유의한 것으로 보았을 때 microarray의 344개 유전자중 봉독처치시 발현이 증강되는 유전자는 없었으며 발현이 억제되는 유전자는 interleukin 6 receptor, interleukin 1 alpha, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, matrix metalloproteinase 1, tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, members 4, 8 and 12, and caspases 2, 6, and 10등 35개가 관찰되었다. Microarray를 통한 유전자발현 분석을 통해 관절염에 대한 봉독치료의 기전을 시사하는 유용한 자료를 얻을 수 있었으며 앞으로 보다 넓은 범위에 대한 연구가 필요할 것이다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.195-195
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• 1998

Ginkgetin was previously reported as an inhibitor of group II phospholipase A$_2$. It also inhibited in vitro arachidonate release from the activated macrophages and lymphocyte proliferation. These previous studies suggested an anti-inflammatory nature of ginkgetin, especially on chronic inflammation. In fact, ginkgetin showed potent anti-inflammatory activity against rat adjuvant-induced arthritis, a chronic inflammatory animal model, with comparable analgesic activity. In order to investigate the action mechanisms, tumor necrosis factor and interferone release were studied from human PMMC. It was found that ginkgetin clearly inhibited release of these cytoknes from human PMMC. Ginkgetin was also found to inhibit immunoglobulin M production at 1 - 10 uM. These results may contribute to antiarthritic activity of ginkgetin in vivo.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1284-1287
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• 2009

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ is chronically elevated in adipose tissues of obese rodents and humans. Increased levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ have been implicated in both the induction of atherogenic adipokines, such as plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and the inhibition of the anti-atherogenic adipokine, adiponectin. In this study, we investigated the effects of trans-stilbene, piceatannol, rhaponticin, and piceid on the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced atherogenic changes of adipokines in 3T3-L1 cells. Exposure to TNF-${\alpha}$ for 24 hr increased PAI-1 secretion and decreased adiponectin secretion. Among stilbenoids, piceatannol significantly inhibited the increased secretion of PAI-1 induced by TNF-${\alpha}$. Adiponectin secretion decreased by TNF-${\alpha}$ was recovered after trans-stilbene and rhaponticin treatments. Our results showed that stilbenoids exerted different effects on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced changes in adipokines secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes according to their structural characteristics.