• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.573-581
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• 2005

Flavonoids, a group of low molecular weight phenylbenzopyrones, have various pharmacological properties including antioxidant activity, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects. In the present study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/phytohemagglutinin (PMA/PHA) were used as stimulants for RAW 264.7 macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (hPBMC), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-2 productions were measured. In addition, flavonoids were examined for their effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results showed that all compounds were not strongly cytotoxic at the tested concentrations on hPBMC and RAW 264.7 macrophages. On immunomodulatory properties, catechin, epigallocatechin (EGC), naringenin, and fisetin repressed NO production and TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion. Furthermore, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin (EC), luteolin, chrysin, quercetin, and galangin increased IL-2 secretion while EGC, apigenin, and fisetin inhibited the secretion. These results indicated that flavonoids have the capacity to modulate the immune response and have a potential anti-inflammatory activity. There was no obvious structure-activity relationship regard to the chemical composition of the flavonoids and their cell biological effects.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 2010

Volatile organic compounds are commonly off gassed from various building materials and can induce sick building syndrome. Volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene are known as toxic agents in immune cells. Human leukocytes, particularly, neutrophils and eosinophils play important roles in the regulation of immune responses. In this study, we investigated the toxic effects of formaldehyde, ortho-xylene (o-xylene), para-xylene (p-xylene) and toluene on the apoptosis of neutrophils and eosinophils isolated from the blood of healthy donors. Formaldehyde increased the constitutive apoptosis of neutrophils and eosinophils. o-xylene, p-xylene and toluene increased the spontaneous apoptosis of eosinophils, but not that of neutrophils. Formaldehyde increased the protein level of IL-8 in neutrophils and eosinophils, and suppressed the MCP-1 expression in neutrophils. The release of IL-6 from neutrophils was diminished by volatile organic compounds used in this study. In conclusion, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene elevate the apoptosis of neutrophils and eosinophils, and regulate the release of cytokine and chemokine in neutrophils and eosinophils. These results indicate that formaldehyde, xylene and toluene have a cytotoxicity in human neutrophils and eosinophils and may damage the modulation of immune responses.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.511-520
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• 2008

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders manifested by abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood. Mounting evidence demonstrates that diabetes is a risk factor for gingivitis and periodontitis. The circulating mononuclear phagocytes in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia are chronically exposed to high level of serum glucose. Thus, this study attempted to determine the effect of pre-exposure of monocytes and macrophages to high concentration of glucose on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Material and Methods: For this purpose, cells were cultured in medium containing normal (5 mM) or high glucose (25 mM) for 4-5 weeks before treatment for 24 h with LPS. LPS was highly purified from Porphyromonas gingivalis or Prevotella intermedia by phenol extraction. Result: Results showed that prolonged pre-exposure of cells to high glucose markedly increased LPS-stimulated NO secretion when compared to normal glucose. In addition to NO, high glucose also augmented LPS-stimulated IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-$\alpha$ secretion after cells were exposed to high glucose for 4 weeks. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that pre-exposure of mononuclear phagocytes with high glucose augments LPS-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory mediators. These findings may explain why periodontal tissue destruction in diabetic patients is more severe than that in non-diabetic individuals.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.433-438
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• 2011

These studies were conducted to investigate the alcohol degradation effects of the extract of herbal composition (DTS20) containing Viscum album L., Lycium chinense L., Inonotus obliquus and Acanthopanax senticosus H., on the alcohol administered mice. To investigate anti-hangover effect, alcohol and alcohol dehydrogensae (ADH) concentration of blood were measured after oral administration of ethanol. The administration of DTS20 (200-500 mg/kg) had beneficial actions toward alcohol degradation in acute alcohol treated mice model. The oral administration of DTS20 showed decreased gastric mucous membrane damage produced in ethanol treated mice. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of DTS20 showed anti-inflammatory effects in inhibition tests of vascular permeability produced by acetic acid. DTS20 also reduced the concentration of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ in macrophages that were activated by LPS. These results demonstrate that DTS20 possesses potential to stimulate the alcohol degradation and inhibit the inflammatory effects in mice.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.617-628
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• 2006

This experiment was performed to determine the effects of Kamibangpungtongsungsan on hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rats fed a hyperlipidemic diet (H-SHR). The results are summarized as follows : 1. Kamibangpungtongsungsan significantly decreased the blood pressure and pulse of rats in H-SHR. 2. Kamibangpungtongsungsan significantly decreased the levels of Aldosterone in H-SHR. 3. Kamibangpungtongsungsan significantly decreased the levels of dopamine and epinephrine in H-SHR, but did not significantly reduce the levels of norepinephrine, in H-SHR. 4. Kamibangpungtongsungsan did not significantly reduce the levels of electrolytes in H-SHR. 5. Kamibangpungtongsungsan significantly decreased the TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 levels in H-SHR but the IL-10 level increase no significant. These results suggest that the Kamibangpungtongsungsan might be usefully applied for the treatment of hypertension with hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

Objectives: The rate of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women diagnosed as they age is one of the main concerns of health cares. Recently new strategies used to prevent progressions of MetS toward the diagnosis of diabetes have focused on plant flavonoids. This study was aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of flavonoids fraction of Mespilus germanica leaves (MGL) on MetS in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods: Twenty-four adult female Wistar rats, weighing 200 to 250 g, were divided into 3 groups: Sham surgery, OVX + Salin, or OVX + Flavonoid. Three weeks after ovariectomy, animals displayed MetS criteria received flavonoid injection (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for 21 days. Then the body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, visceral fat, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid profiles and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were measured. Results: Treatment with flavonoids fraction of MGL significantly decreased serum level of insulin (P = 0.011), glucose (P = 0.024), $TNF-{\alpha}$ (P = 0.010), also MetS Z score (P = 0.020) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P = 0.007). Lipid profiles and visceral fat showed insignificant reduction. Conclusions: Flavonoids of MGL attenuates some of the MetS components possibly via reduction in $TNF-{\alpha}$ inflammatory cytokine.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2019

The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD) includes a test that checks allergen-mediated skin reactions and a method of measuring the total IgE and allergen-specific IgE in blood. However, these test methods are performed directly on the patient, which cause some pain or discomfort. In addition, the skin response test or IgE may result in false negative in about 20% of patients. In the present study, to identify specific biomarkers, HaCaT cells were used as a human keratinocyte that make up the skin, were treated IL-4 and IL-13 for 24 hours to induce a situation similar to keratinocytes in AD patients. In the HaCaT cells, pro-inflammatory cytokine such as IL-5, IL-6, and MCP-1 were increased by IL-4 and IL-13 and skin barrier proteins was reduced by IL-4 and L-13. This results showed that a situation similar to the stratum corneum of an actual patient is induced in HaCaT cells. And then the secretions of Kallikrein (KLK) 5 and KLK7 protease were checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It was specifically increased by IL-4 and IL-13. This showed that AD-related protease can be detected at the protein level using keratinocytes that can be taken in a non-invasive manner and suggested the possibility of applying it to AD diagnosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2021

Background: This study sought to determine whether the antioxidant effects of astaxanthin (AST) could have an anti-inflammatory effect to reduce inflammation caused by atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: Using a mouse model of AD induced by phtalic acid (PA), the levels of inflammation, inflammatory agents, and evidence of antioxidant activity were examined in PA treated mice (n = 3), PA-AST treated mice (n = 3), and a control group of mice (n = 3). This included measurements of ear thickness, levels of mast cells, IgE, inflammatory cytokine, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide, HO-1, and GPx-1. Results: AST treatment significantly prevented inflammation as measured by ear thickness (p < 0.05), mast cell count (p < 0.001), and IgE concentration in the blood (p < 0.001). Levels of TNF-α (p < 0.001), IL-1β (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and MDA (p < 0.05) were also significantly lower. In addition, GSH levels increased significantly (p < 0.001), and the level of hydrogen peroxide significantly reduced (p < 0.01). The expression of HO-1, GPx-1 increased. Conclusion: In this small experimental study, AST acted on inflammatory mechanisms that induced AD, through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, and is a candidate of interest in the clinical treatment of AD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.356-381
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• 2023

Although immunotherapy has been broadly successful in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and a subset of solid tumors, its clinical outcomes for glioblastoma are still inadequate. The results could be due to neuroanatomical structures such as the blood-brain-barrier, antigenic heterogeneity, and the highly immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioblastomas. The antitumor efficacy of endogenously activated effector cells induced by peptide or dendritic cell vaccines in particular has been insufficient to control tumors. Effector cells, such as T cells and natural killer (NK) cells can be expanded rapidly ex vivo and transferred to patients. The identification of neoantigens derived from tumor-specific mutations is expanding the list of tumor-specific antigens for glioblastoma. Moreover, recent advances in gene-editing technologies enable the effector cells to not only have multiple biological functionalities, such as cytokine production, multiple antigen recognition, and increased cell trafficking, but also relieve the immunosuppressive nature of the glioblastoma microenvironment by blocking immune inhibitory molecules, which together improve their cytotoxicity, persistence, and safety. Allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells edited to reduce graft-versus-host disease and allorejection, or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NK cells expressing CARs that use NK-specific signaling domain can be a good candidate for off-the-shelf products of glioblastoma immunotherapy. We here discuss current progress and future directions for T cell and NK cell therapy in glioblastoma.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mitigating insulin resistance and hyperglycemia is associated with a decreased risk of diabetic complications. The effect of Daraesoon (shoot of hardy kiwi, Actinidia arguta) on hyperglycemia was investigated using a type 2 diabetes animal model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Seven-week-old db/db mice were fed either an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 0.4% of a 70% ethanol extract of Daraesoon, whereas db/+ mice were fed the AIN-93G diet for 7 weeks. RESULTS: Consumption of Daraesoon significantly reduced serum glucose and blood glycated hemoglobin levels, along with homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance in db/db mice. Conversely, Daraesoon elevated the serum adiponectin levels compared to the db/db control group. Furthermore, Daraesoon significantly decreased both serum and hepatic triglyceride levels, as well as serum total cholesterol levels. Additionally, consumption of Daraesoon resulted in decreased hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hypoglycemic effect of Daraesoon is mediated through the improvement of insulin resistance and the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in db/db mice.