• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.64-73
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• 2009

Background: 15d-$PGJ_2$ has been known to act as an anti-inflammatory agent and has anti-hypertensive effects. As a result of these properties, we examined the effect of 15d-$PGJ_2$ on the LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 mRNA expression in VSMCs from SHR. Methods: Effect and action mechanism of 15d-$PGJ_2$ on the expression of LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 mRNA in VSMCs from SHR and WKY were examined by using real-time polymerase chain reaction, electrophoretic mobility shift assay for NF-${\kappa}B$ avtivity, Western blotting analysis for ERK and p38 phosphorylation and flow cytometry for NAD(P)H oxidase activity. Results: 15d-$PGJ_2$ decreased the expression of LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 mRNA in WKY VSMCs, but increased the expression of LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 mRNA in SHR VSMCs. The upregulatory effect of 15d-$PGJ_2$ in SHR VSMCs was mediated through PPAR${\gamma}$, and dependent on NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and ERK phosphorylation. However, inhibition of the p38 signaling pathway augmented the upregulatory effect of 15d-$PGJ_2$ on LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 mRNA. A NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor inhibited the upregulatory effect of 15d-$PGJ_2$ on LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 mRNA expression in SHR VSMCs, and an increase in NAD(P)H oxidase activity was detected in SHR VSMCs treated with 15d-$PGJ_2$/LPS. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the upregulatory effect of 15d-$PGJ_2$ on LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 expression in SHR VSMCs is mediated through the PPAR${\gamma}$ and ERK pathway, and may be related to NAD(P)H oxidase activity. However, p38 inactivation may also play an important role in 15d-$PGJ_2$/LPS-induced IL-8/CXCL8 expression in SHR VSMCs.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.412-417
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• 2008

BAY11-7082 was initially found to be an anti-inflammatory drug with NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitory property. In this study, we evaluated modulatory function of BAY11-7082 on U937 cell-cell adhesion induced by CD29 (${\beta}1$-integrins). BAY11-7082 strongly blocked functional activation of CD29 (${\beta}1$-integrins), as assessed by cell-cell adhesion assay. However, this compound did not block a simple activation of CD29, as assessed by cell-fibronectin adhesion assay. In particular, to understand molecular mechanism of BAY11-7082-mediated inhibition, the regulatory roles of CD29-induced actin cytoskeleton rearrangement under cell-cell adhesion and surface level of CD29 were examined using confocal and flow cytometic analysis. Interestingly, this compound strongly suppressed the molecular association of actin cytoskeleton with CD29 at cell-cell adhesion site. Moreover, BAY11-7082 also diminished surface levels of CD29 as well as its-associated adhesion molecule CD147, but not other adhesion molecules such as CD18 and CD43. Therefore, our data suggest that BAY11-7082 may be involved in regulating immune responses managed by CD29-mediated cell-cell adhesion.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.501-508
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• 2019

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenolic compound that exists in many medicinal species of Boraginaceae and Lamiaceae. The previous studies have revealed that RA had therapeutic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the H22-xenograft models by inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 pathway in the tumor microenvironment. However, its molecular mechanisms of immunoregulation and pro-apoptotic effect in HCC have not been fully explored. In the present study, RA at 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg was given to H22 tumor-bearing mice via gavage once a day for 10 days. The results showed that RA can effectively inhibit the tumor growth through regulating the ratio of $CD4^+/CD8^+$ and the secretion of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-${\gamma}$, inhibiting the expressions of IL-6, IL-10 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, thereby up-regulating Bax and Caspase-3 and down-regulating Bcl-2. The underlying mechanisms involved regulation of immune response and induction of HCC cell apoptosis. These results may provide a more comprehensive perspective to clarify the anti-tumor mechanism of RA in HCC.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant and intracellular anti-inflammatory efficacy of blueberry leaf extracted with hot water (BLW), 70% ethanol (BLE), and 70% acetone (BLA) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of blueberry leaf extracts, RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce the production of inflammation-related factors, which were measure by Western blotting and real-time PCR methods. i-NOS, COX-2 protein, and mRNA expression showed concentration-dependent decrease. The decreases in the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) were concentration-dependent. Further, the antioxidant effects of blueberry leaf on total polyphenol contents, electron donating ability and $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity were evaluated. The total polyphenol contents of BLW, BLE, and BLA were $217.04{\pm}2.98$, $156.72{\pm}3.90$, and $182.88{\pm}3.02mg\;TAE/g$, respectively, while the electron donating abilities at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 81.7, 79.6, and 79.3%, respectively. The $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity was fond to be concentration dependent. The nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition activities at $50{\mu}g/mL$ of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 35.1, 42.4 and 42.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory test results indicate that blueberry leaf extracts (BLW, BLE, and BLA) can be used as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.804-812
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• 2020

The giant mealworm beetle, Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) has been used as a protein source for small pets and mammals. Recently, it was temporarily registered in the list of the Food Code. We previously performed an in silico analysis of the Zophobas atratus transcriptome to identify putative antimicrobial peptides and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates. Among them, we assessed the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of zophobacin 1 that was selected bio-informatically based on its physicochemical properties against microorganisms and mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. Zophobacin 1 showed antimicrobial activities against microorganisms without inducing hemolysis and decreased the nitric oxide production of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. Moreover, ELISA and Western blot analysis revealed that zophobacin 1 reduced expression levels of pro-inflammatory enzymes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). We also investigated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β) production through quantitative real time-PCR and ELISA. Zophobacin 1 markedly reduced the expression level of cytokines through the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. We confirmed that zophobacin 1 bound to bacterial cell membranes via a specific interaction with lipopolysaccharides. These data suggest that zophobacin 1 could be promising molecules for development as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.886-895
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• 2020

The development of novel peptide antibiotics with potent antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammatory activity is urgently needed. In a previous work, we performed an in-silico analysis of the Papilio xuthus transcriptome to identify putative antimicrobial peptides and identified several candidates. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of papiliocin 3, which was selected bioinformatically based on its physicochemical properties against bacteria and mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. Papiliocin 3 showed antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus without inducing hemolysis and decreased the nitric oxide production of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. Moreover, ELISA and Western blot analysis revealed that papiliocin 3 reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). In addition, we examined whether papiliocin 3 could inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β) in LPS-induced Raw264.7 cells. We found that papiliocin 3 markedly reduced the expression level of cytokines through the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. We also confirmed that papiliocin 3 binds to bacterial cell membranes via a specific interaction with lipopolysaccharides. Collectively, these findings suggest that papiliocin 3 could be a promising molecule for development as a novel peptide antibiotic.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2014

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Euptelea pleiosperma ethanol extract (EPEE) were evaluated using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. EPEE possessed a more potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl than the ascorbic acid used as a positive control. EPEE effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in addition to hydrogen peroxide induced reactive oxygen species on RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, EPEE induced the expression of the anti-oxidative enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), dose and time dependently. The modulation of HO-1 and Nrf2 expression might be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase/Akt as their upstream signaling pathways. On the other hand, EPEE inhibited LPS induced nitric oxide (NO) formation without cytotoxicity. Suppression of NO formation was the result of the down regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by EPEE. Suppression of NO and iNOS by EPEE may be modulated by their upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$, and AP-1 pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into E. pleiosperma, namely that it possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating that it could be utilized as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2007

Autoimmune arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is a chronic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the joints and then results in their progressive destruction. Effector Th cells have been classified as Th1 and Th2 subsets based on their cytokine expression profiles and immune regulatory function. Another subset of T cells termed Th17 was recendy discovered and known to selectively produce IL-17. Also, Th17 was shown to be generated by TGF${\beta}$ and IL-6 and maintained by IL-23. IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine that is considered to involve the development of various inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as RA, asthma, lupus, and allograft rejection. IL-17 is present in the sera, synovial fluids and synovial biopsies of most RA patient. IL-17 activates RA synovial fibroblasts to synthesize IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF via PI3K/Akt and NF-${\kappa}B$ dependent pathway. IL-17 increases IL-6 production, collagen destruction and collagen synthesis. In addition, it not only causes bone resorption but also increases osteoclastogenesis and fetal cartilage destruction. Inhibition of the IL-17 production may contribute a novel therapeutic approach along with potent anti-inflammatory effect and with less immunosuppressive effect on host defenses.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2013

Obesity is consistently increasing in prevalence and can trigger insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Many lines of evidence have shown that macrophages play a major role in inflammation associated with obesity. This study was conducted to determine metformin, a widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, would regulate inflammation through down-regulation of scavenger receptors in macrophages from obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation, and C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet to generate obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mice. Metformin reduced the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) through down-regulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ translocation in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the protein expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were enhanced or maintained by metformin. Also, metformin suppressed secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and reduced the protein and mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in obese mice as well as in macrophages. The expression of scavenger receptors, CD36 and SR-A, were attenuated by metformin in macrophages and obese mice. These results suggest that metformin may attenuate inflammatory responses by suppressing the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the expressions of scavenger receptors.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.583-589
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• 2008

In the present study, we investigated whether rosmarinic acid, which has been suggested to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, can suppress the expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\alpha}$ ($MIP-1{\alpha}$) via the MAPK pathway in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 in media. The effects of rosmarinic acid were investigated in BMDCs with respect to the following; cytotoxicity, surface molecule expression, dextran-FITC uptake, cell migration, chemokine gene expression, and the MAPK signaling pathway. Rosmarinic acid was found to significantly inhibit the expressions of CD80, CD86, MHC class I, and MHC class II in LPS-stimulated mature BMDCs, and rosmarinic acid-treated BMDCs were found to be highly efficient with regards to antigen capture via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. In addition, rosmarinic acid reduced cell migration by inducing the expression of a specific chemokine receptor on LPS-induced mature BMDCs. Rosmarinic acid also significantly reduced the expressions of MCP-1 and $MIP-1{\alpha}$ induced by LPS in BMDCs and inhibited LPS-induced activation of MAPK and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$. These findings broaden current perspectives concerning our understanding of the immunopharmacological functions of rosmarinic acid, and have ramifications that concern the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of DC-related acute and chronic diseases.