• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.61-76
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• 2004

Objective : To demonstrate of regulatory effect of atopic allergic regulation by Chungsangbangpoong-Tang(CBT), This experiment was studied. Methods : The author investigated a possible effect of CBT on cytokines production using human T cell line (MOLT-4) or human mast cell line (HMC-1). In addition, the author investigated whether CBT has inhitory effects on compound 48/80- induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) and compound 48/80-induced ear swelling in ICR mice. Results : CBT (0.01 mg/ml)-containing medium in stimulated culture supernatants significantly increased IL-2 secretion compared with untreated MOLT-4, whereas CBT (0.01-1.0 mg/ml)-containing medium in stimulated culture supernatants significantly decreased IL-4 secretion compared with untreated MOLT-4. Significant reduced levels of IL -6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were observed in the HMC-l with CBT (P<0.05). CBT did not inhibit the histamine release from the RPMC but inhibit ear swelling response. Conclusion : These results suggest that CBT contributes to the treatment of atopic allergic reactions, such as atopic dermatitis and that its action may be due to regulation of cytokine production.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.129-138
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• 2012

Allergic disorders such as atopic dermatitis and asthma are common hyper-immune disorders in industrialized countries. Along with genetic association, environmental factors and gut microbiota have been suggested as major triggering factors for the development of atopic dermatitis. Numerous studies support the association of hygiene hypothesis in allergic immune disorders that a lack of early childhood exposure to diverse microorganism increases susceptibility to allergic diseases. Among the symbiotic microorganisms (e.g. gut flora or probiotics), probiotics confer health benefits through multiple action mechanisms including modification of immune response in gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Although many human clinical trials and mouse studies demonstrated the beneficial effects of probiotics in diverse immune disorders, this effect is strain specific and needs to apply specific probiotics for specific allergic diseases. Herein, we briefly review the diverse functions and regulation mechanisms of probiotics in diverse disorders.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2005

Atopy is a highly prevalent and serious health problem. The prevalence and severity of asthma and allergic diseases have increased over recent decades, particularly in industrialized nations. Early life infections may protect against the development of atopy and allergic diseases like asthma. The inverse relationship between the incidence of atopy and childhood infections has led to the 'hygiene hypothesis', which suggests that diminished exposure to childhood infections in modern society has led to decreased Th1-type responses. Th1 and Th2 responses are counter-regulatory. Reduced Th1 may lead to enhanced Th2-type inflammation, which is important in promoting asthma and allergic disease via up-regulation of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. It is now widely accepted that altered regulation of Th2 responses(and possibly the balance between Th1 and Th2 responses) is an important factor in the development of atopy. CpG DNA represent a novel class of drugs with substantial immunomodulatory properties. CpG DNA contain unmethylated motifs centered on the CpG dinucleotides, like bacterial DNA. These CpG DNA promote Th1 and regulatory type immune responses and suppress Th2 responses. In murine studies, CpG DNA are effective in prevention and treatment of asthma and allergic diseases. CpG DNA are just beginning to be tested in human asthma. While its precise mechanisms continue to be fully studied, CpG DNA offers considerable promise as a novel treatment for atopic inflammation. It may prove to be an important disease modifying therapy, or even curative therapeutic agent for asthma and allergic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2009

Atopic dermatitis, caused by immune hyper-responsiveness, is wide spread in humans as well as in the dogs, especially in industrialized condition. Pet dogs are generally exposed to the same environment as their owners, and a significant portion of these animals are also known to suffer from this allergic disease. However, diagnosis and treatment methods of atopic dermatitis in animals have not been well established. We explored the possibility of using recently developed PG102 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in the canine population. PG102 is a water soluble extract prepared from Actinidia arguta, and has been shown to produce significant therapeutic effect in variable allergy animal models. After oral administration of PG102 at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks, severity of disease was greatly improved. IgE is one of representative members used to diagnose allergic diseases in humans. However, it is not well established whether there is any correlation between the serum level of IgE and atopic dermatitis. Our data indicated that dogs diagnosed to have atopic dermatitis contained higher level of serum IgE than the normal dogs and that treatment of dogs with PG102 significantly lowered the serum level of IgE. Taken together, this study demonstrated that PG102 treatment yielded significant amelioration of canine atopic dermatitis and down-regulation of serum IgE and that the serum level of IgE can be used as a convenient member for diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in dogs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic disorder characterized by skin inflammation. It is well known that the activation of various inflammatory cells and the generation of inflammatory molecules are closely linked to the development of AD. There is accumulating evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of herbal extracts (HEs) on the regulation of inflammatory response in both in vitro and in vivo studies of AD. This review summarizes the anti-atopic effects of HEs and its associated underlying mechanisms, with a brief introduction of in vitro and in vivo experiment models of AD based on previous and recent studies. Thus, this review confirms the utility of HEs for AD therapy.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.244-249
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• 2014

Arazyme is a metalloprotease secreted by Aranicola proteolyticus that was previously shown to suppress cytokine expression of keratinocytes and endothelial cells and inhibit histopathological features in an atopic dermatitis-like animal model. However, the regulatory effects of arazyme in other allergic diseases have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether arazyme is effective against neutrophil apoptosis in allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Arazyme inhibited neutrophil apoptosis of normal subjects in a dose-dependent manner. However, the antiapoptotic effect of arazyme was reversed by LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, AKTi, an inhibitor of Akt, PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, and BAY-11-7085, an inhibitor of NF-${\kappa}B$. Arazyme induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ via PI3K/Akt/ERK pathway. The anti-apoptotic effect of arazyme is associated with inhibition of cleavage of caspase 3 and caspase 9. Arazyme inhibited constitutive apoptosis of neutrophil in a dose-dependent manner in allergic subjects, and its mechanism was shown to be associated with PI3K/Akt/ERK/NF-${\kappa}B$. The results presented here improve our understanding of neutrophil apoptosis regulation and will facilitate development of drugs for treatment of allergic diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.250-254
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• 2004

Background: It is necessary for human beings to uptake vitamin C through diet or supplements. It is also well-known that vitamin C plays an important role in the prevention of scurvy, enhancement of collagen synthesis and anti-tumor immune response. In addition, there are several recent reports regarding the effective role of vitamin C on the regulation of allergic responses, such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. However, the effective therapeutic and preventive measures using vitamin C are not established yet, since vitamin C is seriously unstable in aqueous solution. Therefore, we have investigated the best way to maintain the stability of vitamin C. Methods: After we making a mixture of polyphenol (0.001, 0.01, 0.1%) and vitamin C (1 mM), the mixtures were placed at room temperature both with/without light protection. And then the concentration of ascorbic acid was measured with HPLC. To analyze the in vivo effect of vitamin C on the regulation of skin allergic reaction, polyphenol (0.1%)-vitamin C (1 mM) mixture was applied to the skin and the production of histamine from mast cell was analyzed by Evans blue dye staining. Results: We have found that the polyphenol has preventive power of oxidation of vitamin C. In addition, the production of histamine was suppressed by the polyphenol (0.1%)-vitamin C (1 mM) mixture. Conclusion: We have reached the conclusion that our study suggests the research guideline for the therapy of atopic dermatitis through vitamin C.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.137-141
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• 2007

To evaluate the antiatopic effect of Korea Red Ginseng (RG, steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Family Araliaceae), its inhibitory effect on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction and itching in mice was measured. RG and its ingredient saponin fraction (SF) potently inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction and scratching behaviors. RG at a dose of 100 mg/kg and SF at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the scratching frequency by 32% and 38%, respectively. RG and SF also inhibited the degranulation and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-4 of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE-antign complex. However, polysaccharide fraction of RG did not inhibit it. Based on these findings, RG can improve allergic skin disorders atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis by the regulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-4 produced by mast cells and basophils and their membrane stabilization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2016

Objectives: Poncirus trifoliata Rafinesque has been known to have anti-allergic effects in skin diseases. However, anti-atopic dermatitis effects of P. trifoliata Rafinesque have not been studied yet in skin diseases. The present study evaluated the anti-atopic dermatitis effects of P. trifoliata Rafinesque (PTR) using external treatments on AD. Methods: AD lesions were induced by the repeated application of 2, 4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) on the shaved back of BALB/c mice. $100{\mu}{\ell}$ of PTR extracts was applied to the AD lesions for 11 days. Histological assessments, mast cells count and serum levels of IgE were analyzed. The anti-pruritic effects of PTR were examined by the change of scratching frequency and nerve growth factor (NGF) expression. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of PTR were examined by the expressions of Th2/Th1 cytokines and pro-inflammatory in dorsal skin. Results: Histopathological findings showed that topical application of PTR decreased the thickness of dermal and epidermal skin compared with the DNCB group. PTR also notably decreased the mast cells count and serum IgE. The scratching behavior of mice and expression of NGF were significantly reduced. In addition, PTR group significantly suppressed the IL-4, IL-6, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ cytokines compared to the DNCB group. Conclusions: These results indicated that P. trifoliata Rafinesque possess anti-pruritus and anti-atopic dermatitis properties. Therefore, P. trifoliata Rafinesque might be used for treatment of pruritus and atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.15-24
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• 2011

Background: Type I allergy is involved in allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis which are accompanied by an acute and chronic allergic inflammatory responses. Rehmannia glutinosa is a traditional medicine in the East Asian region. This study examined whether a Rehmannia Glutinosa pharmacopuncture solution (RGPS) had anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory effects in antigen-stimulated-RBL-2H3 cells. Methods: We determined the effect of RGPS on cell viability using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. We also examined the effect of RGPS on the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and the secretion of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ using ELISA. In addition, we evaluated the effect of RGPS on the mRNA expression of various cytokines; IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TNF-${\alpha}$ using RT-PCR. Furthermore, we assessed the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}$B using Western blotting after RGPS treatment. Results: We found that RGPS ($10^{-4}$ to $10^{-1}$ dilution) did not cause any cytotoxicity. We observed significant inhibition of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release and suppression of the protein secretion of IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ and mRNA expression of multiple cytokines in antigen-stimulated-RBL-2H3 cells after RGPS treatment. Additionally, RGPS suppressed not only the phosphorylation of MAPKs, but also the transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}$B in antigen-stimulated-RBL-2H3 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that RGPS inhibits degranulation and expression of cytokines including IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ via down-regulation of MAPKs and NF-${\kappa}$B activation in antigen-stimulated-RBL-2H3 cells. In conclusion, RGPS may have beneficial effects in the exerting anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory activities.