• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5883-5890
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• 2013

Previously, we demonstrated overexpression of semaphorin4D (SEMA4D, CD100) to be closely related to tumor angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs). However, the function and expression of SEMA4D in the EOC microenvironment has yet to be clarified in detail. In this study, we confirmed that overexpression of SEMA4D in primary tumors and ascites was related to low differentiation, platinum resistance and a refractory status (P<0.05), while high M2 macrophage count and percentage were evident in EOC patients with advanced FIGO stage and platinum resistance (P<0.05), using immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), respectively. The data showed correlations of SEMA4D expression and M2 macrophage counts in primary tumors and M2 macrophage percentage in ascites (r=0.281 and 0.355, each P<0.05). In the Cox proportional hazard mode, SEMA4D expression was an independent indicator of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for EOC patients. Furthermore, higher expression of SEMA4D in ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, A2780, and SW626) and their supernatants were found than that in a human primary cultured ovarian cell and its supernatant by reversed transcript PCR (RT-PCR), Western blotting and ELISA, respectively. Interestingly, peripheral blood monocytes (MOs) tended towards the M2-polarized macrophage phenotype ($CD163^{high}$) in vitro after human recombined soluble SEMA4D protein stimulation. These findings suggest that SEMA4D might possibly serve as a reliable tool for early and accurate prediction of EOC poor prognosis and could playan important role in promoting tumor dissemination and metastasis in the EOC microenvironment. Thus SEMA4D and its role in macrophage polarization in EOC warrants further study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.1079-1083
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• 2015

Activating macrophage cells play an important role in the host immune defense system. In this paper, immuno-modulatory activities of polysaccharides separated from Jubak (JPS) in macrophage cells were investigated. Immuno-modulatory activities were estimated based on cell proliferation, nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production, degree of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ phosphorylation in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. JPS (62.5 to $250{\mu}g/mL$) did not induce a cytotoxic event. Additionally, NO and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6) production significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, phosphorylation of MAPKs and NF-${\kappa}B$ increased upon JPS treatment. Therefore, our results suggest that polysaccharides separated from Jubak can induce macrophage activation through MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling and induction of Th1 polarization.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2006

Objectives : Coptidis Rhizoma has been known traditional medicine with antimicrobial activities. We investigated inhibitory effects of Coptidis Rhizoma extract on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nitric oxide production from mouse macrophages. Methods : After Coptidis Rhizoma extract was pretreated in BV2, mouse brain macrophages and RAW264.7 mouse macrophages, cells were activated with LPS. To investigate cytotoxicity Coptidis Rhizoma extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The production of nitric oxide(NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) was determined in each culture supernatant and mRNA by Griess reaction and RT-PCR. The production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ from cells was measured by ELISA. Results : Coptidis Rhizoma extract significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production in BV2 and RAW264.7 cells. Coptidis Rhizoma extract also greatly suppressed mRNA expression of iNOS in BV2 and RAW264.7 cells activated by LPS. Conclusion : These data suggests that Coptidis Rhizoma extract may have an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of NO production.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2014

Macrophage death plays a role in several physiological and inflammatory pathologies such as sepsis and arthritis. In our previous work, we showed that simvastatin triggers cell death in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells through both caspase-dependent and independent apoptotic pathways. Here, we show that the nuclear orphan receptor NR4A1 is involved in a caspase-independent apoptotic process induced by LPS and simvastatin. Simvastatin-induced NR4A1 expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages and ectopic expression of a dominant-negative mutant form of NR4A1 effectively suppressed both DNA fragmentation and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) during LPS- and simvastatin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, apoptosis was accompanied by Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) translocation to the mitochondria. Our findings suggest that NR4A1 expression and mitochondrial translocation of Bax are related to simvastatin-induced apoptosis in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of extract from Pulsatilla koreana $N_{AKAI}$ (PK) on the peritoneal macrophage. Methods : To evaluate of anti-inflammatory of PK, we examined cytokines and NO production in lipopolysacchride (LPS)-induced macrophages. Furthermore, we examined molecular mechanism using western blot. Results : 1.Extract from PK reduced LPS-induced NO, tumor necrosis factor-a ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-12 production in peritoneal macrophages. 2.Extract from PK itself does not have any cytotoxic effect. PK inhibited the activation of extracelluar signal-regulated kinase(ERK 1/2) but not another mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) such as p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and the degradation of inhibitory kappa B a ($I_{k}B_{a}$) does not any effect in the LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. Conclusion : PK down-regulated LPS-induced NO and cytokines production, which may be provide a clinical basis for anti-inflammatory properties of PK.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.3 s.126
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• pp.181-188
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• 2001

During the screening for inhibitors of nitric oxide production in LPS-activated macrophage, RAW 264.7 cells, two coumarins were isolated from chloroform extract of the root of Polygonum cuspidatum. They were identified as decursin (1) and decursinol angelate (2) on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The $IC_{50}$ values of these compounds on NO production were $0.76\;{\mu}M$ (1) and $2.6\;{\mu}M$ (2), respectively. However, the iNOS activity was not inhibited by treatment with these compounds. Their inhibitory effect on NO production seems to result from the suppression of iNOS induction through the suppression of NF-kB activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1340-1347
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• 2024

Ehretia asperula is a medicinal plant of the Ehretiaceae family used to treat inflammatory disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. The anti-inflammatory potential was determined based on enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition, which showed that the 95% ethanol extract (95ECH) was most effective with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 34.09 ㎍/mL. The effects of 95ECH on phagocytosis, NO production, gene, and protein expression of the cyclooxygenase 2/prostaglandin E2 (COX-2/PGE2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase/ nitric oxide (iNOS/NO) pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells were examined using the neutral red uptake and Griess assays, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results showed that 95ECH suppressed phagocytosis and the NO production in activated macrophage cells (p < 0.01). Conversely, 95ECH regulated the expression levels of mRNAs for cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) as well as the corresponding proteins. In addition, PGE2 production was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by 95ECH, and the expression of iNOS and COX-2 mRNAs was decreased in activated macrophage cells, as expected. Therefore, 95ECH from E. asperula leaves contains potentially valuable compounds for use in inflammation management.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2024

Blueberry (BB), fruit of Vacciniumi, has been hailed as an antioxidant superfood. BB is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, phenolic acids and known to have a variety of pharmacological actions. The purpose of this work is to clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanism of BB in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophage. We explored the effects of BB on the production of inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophage. Moreover, to investigate the molecular mechanisms by BB, we evaluated whether BB modulate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF)-kB pathway and caspase- 1 activation. The findings of this work demonstrated that BB alleviated the LPS-enhanced inflammatory cytokines and PGE₂, as well as COX-2 levels. Additionally, we demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of BB occurs due to the attenuation of IκB-α degradation, NF-kB translocation and caspase-1 activation. Conclusively, these findings provide evidence that BB may be useful agents in the treatment of inflammation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 1990

This study was aimed to observe the direct and Iymphokine-activated cell mediated cytotoxic effects against Trichomenas waginalis by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Cytotoxicity was measured as release of 3H-thymidine from prelabeled protozoa, and tested in U-bottom microtiter plates. A 0.1 ml suspension of labeled protozoa (2{\times}10^5/ml$) was placed in each well, followed by 0.1 ml of a suspension containing increasing numbers of peritoneal cells. After a 24 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, 0.1ml of the supernatant was collected and counted in liquid scintillation counter. Mouse peritoneal macrophages had appreciable level of spontaneous cytotoxicity against T. maginalis at the effector to target cell ratios from 5 : 1 to 50 : 1, Treatment of macrophages with Iymphokine, produced by PHA-stimulated spleen cells, increased the cytotoxicity in comparison with resident macrophages against T. vaginalis. The degree of macrophage activation for the killing was not dependent upon the Iymphokine concentration. Peritoneal cells adherent to plastic displayed significant levels of cytotoxicity against T. vaginalis. This study indicates that mouse peritoneal macrophages are spontaneously cytotoxic for T. waginalis and Iymphokine increases the cytotoxicity by activating macrophages to kill T. vaginalis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2011

Melatonin, which is the main product of the pineal gland, has well documented antioxidant and immune-modulatory effects. Macrophages produce molecules that are known to play roles in inflammatory responses. We conducted microarray analysis to evaluate the global gene expression profiles in response to treatment with melatonin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, eight genes were subjected to real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to confirm the results of the microarray. The cells were treated with LPS or melatonin plus LPS for 24 hr. LPS induced the up-regulation of 1073 genes and the down-regulation of 1144 genes when compared to the control group. Melatonin pretreatment of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells resulted in the down regulation of 241 genes and up regulation of 164 genes. Interestingly, among genes related to macrophage-mediated immunity, LPS increased the expression of seven genes (Adora2b, Fcgr2b, Cish, Cxcl10, Clec4n, Il1a, and Il1b) and decreased the expression of one gene (Clec4a3). These changes in expression were attenuated by melatonin. Furthermore, the results of real-time PCR were similar to those of the microarray. Taken together, these results suggest that melatonin may have a suppressive effect on LPS-induced expression of genes involved in the regulation of immunity and defense in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Moreover, these results may explain beneficial effects of melatonin in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions.