• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2023

p38 MAPK has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma as well as pro-allergic Th2 cytokines, orosomucoid-like protein isoform 3 (ORMDL3), regulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis, and regulatory T cell-derived IL-35. To elucidate the role of p38 MAPK in the pathogenesis of asthma, we examined the effect of NJK14047, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma; we administrated NJK14047 before OVA sensitization or challenge in BALB/c mice. As ORMDL3 regulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis has been implicated in childhood asthma, ORMDL3 expression and sphingolipids contents were also analyzed. NJK14047 inhibited antigen-induced degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells. NJK14047 administration both before OVA sensitization and challenge strongly inhibited the increase in eosinophil and lymphocyte counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In addition, NJK14047 administration inhibited the increase in the levels of Th2 cytokines. Moreover, NJK14047 reduced the inflammatory score and the number of periodic acid-Schiff-stained cells in the lungs. Further, OVA-induced increase in the levels of C16:0 and C24:1 ceramides was not altered by NJK14047. These results suggest that p38 MAPK plays crucial roles in activation of dendritic and mast cells during sensitization and challenge periods, but not in ORMDL3 and sphingolipid biosynthesis.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.8
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• 2023

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness, and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type. Due to inadequate diagnosis, treatment is often not administered until symptoms occur. Hence, approaches enabling earlier prediction or diagnosis of POAG are necessary. We aimed to identify novel drugs for glaucoma through bioinformatics and network analysis. Data from 36 samples, obtained from the trabecular meshwork of healthy individuals and patients with POAG, were acquired from a dataset. Next, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. In both stages, the genes were enriched by studying the critical biological processes and pathways related to POAG. Finally, a drug-gene network was constructed, and novel drugs for POAG treatment were proposed. Genes with p < 0.01 and |log fold change| > 0.3 (1,350 genes) were considered DEGs and utilized to construct a PPI network. Enrichment analysis yielded several key pathways that were upregulated or downregulated. For example, extracellular matrix organization, the immune system, neutrophil degranulation, and cytokine signaling were upregulated among immune pathways, while signal transduction, the immune system, extracellular matrix organization, and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling were downregulated. Finally, novel drugs including metformin hydrochloride, ixazomib citrate, and cisplatin warrant further analysis of their potential roles in POAG treatment. The candidate drugs identified in this computational analysis require in vitro and in vivo validation to confirm their effectiveness in POAG treatment. This may pave the way for understanding life-threatening disorders such as cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1969

The author has studied the quantitative distribution of mast cells in the skin and proventriculus of the developing chicks and changes of their cytoplasmic granules after administration of a single dose of hyaluronidase 400$\mu$/kg into the yolk sac of 10 day-old chick embryos and obtained the following conclusions. 1. The administration of hyaluronidase considerably retarded the appearance of mast cells in the skin and proventriculus of the developing chicks. 2. In 6 to 7 days after treatment of hyaluronidase the number of mast cells showed only one half of those in the control and then began to show gradual resumption and returned to an almost normal status in 7 day chicks. 3. By treatment of hyaluronidase any degranulation of the mast cells could scarcely be observed but marked decrease of their stainability by resolution of the metachromatic granules. According to this experiment it is fairly clear that hyaluronic acid may play a role in the formation of cytoplasmic granules of mast cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.611-618
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• 2023

Rhizome of Alisma orientale has been used as a traditional medicine for treating kidney diseases in East Asian countries. Its inhibitory effects on hypersensitivity responses have been reported for methanol extracts, with alisol B 23-acetate (AB23Ac) being the most active constituent among six terpenes in inhibiting the direct passive Arthus reaction. However, whether AB23Ac has efficacy against allergic asthma has not been tested to date. The in vivo efficacy of AB23Ac in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mouse model was evaluated by administrating AB23Ac before OVA sensitization or OVA challenge in BALB/c mice. AB23Ac suppressed antigen-induced degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The administration of AB23Ac both before OVA sensitization and OVA challenge greatly lowered pulmonary resistance and the increase in immune cell counts and inflammatory responses around the peribronchial and perivascular regions. In addition, the inflammatory cytokine levels of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid decreased in the AB23Ac-treated groups. AB23Ac reduced the number of PAS-stained cells in the lungs. Furthermore, a computer modeling study indicated that AB23Ac can bind tightly to spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). These results suggest that AB23Ac may ameliorate allergic asthma by suppressing immune responses in dendritic cells during sensitization and in mast cells during challenge periods.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.36.1-36.12
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• 2022

Dexamethasone (DEX) was the first drug shown to save lives of critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients suffering from respiratory distress. A hyperactivated state of neutrophils was found in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID pneumonia cases. Given the beneficial effects of DEX in COVID-19 patients, we investigated the effects of DEX and of other immunomodulatory drugs vitamin D3 (VD3) and retinoic acid (RA) on neutrophil function. DEX, but not VD3 or RA, significantly inhibited all tested aspects of neutrophil function, e.g., degranulation, intracellular ROS production, CXCL8 release and NETosis. Interestingly, RA displayed the opposite effect by significantly increasing both CXCL8 and NET release by neutrophils. Taken together, these data suggest that the lower COVID-19 mortality in DEX-treated patients may in part be due to the dampening effect of DEX on the inflammatory neutrophil response, which could prevent neutrophil plugs with NETS in the lungs and other inflamed organs of patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.460-466
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• 2024

Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation and respiratory tract remodeling. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play important roles in the pathogenesis and regulation of chronic inflammatory processes in asthma. The role of PPARγ has been studied using synthetic PPARγ agonists in patients with asthma. However, involvement of PPARα/δ has not been studied in asthma. In the present study, we investigated if elafibranor, a PPARα/δ dual agonist, can modulate ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma, which is a potential drug candidate for non-alcoholic fatty liver in obese patients. Elafibranor suppresses antigen-induced degranulation in RBL-2H3 mast cells without inducing cytotoxicity in vitro. In mice with OVA-induced allergic asthma, the administration of elafibranor suppressed OVA-induced airway hyper-responsiveness at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Elafibranor also suppressed the OVA-induced increase in immune cells and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histological studies suggested that elafibranor suppressed OVA-induced lung inflammation and mucin hyper-production in the bronchial airways. In addition, elafibranor suppressed OVA-induced increases in serum immunoglobulin E and IL-13 levels in BALF. Conversely, the present study suggests that elafibranor has the potential for use in patients with allergic asthma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.94-103
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• 2008

비만세포의 한 종류인 rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) 세포를 이용하여 교계사물탕-가감의 항알레르기 효과를 확인하고자 하였다. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)와 calcium ionophore A23187을 이용하여 RBL-2H3 세포를 자극한 후 세포의 탈과립 정도를 $\beta$-hexosaminidase assay로 확인한 결과, 전 처리한 교계사물탕-가감의 농도 의존적으로 탈과립을 억제하였다. Pro-inflammatory cytokines인 tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha와 interleukin(IL)-4의 분비량을 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)로 확인한 결과 교계사물탕-가감의 농도 의존적으로 감소하였으며, 이들 cytokines와 염증 반응에 주요한 인자인 cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 의 mRNA 발현 정도 역시 교계사물탕-가감에 의해 감소함을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 실험 결과로 보아 교계사물탕-가감은 알레르기 관련 질환의 치료에 응용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.453-460
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• 2020

Background: BIOGF1K, a fraction of Panax ginseng, has desirable antimelanogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiphotoaging properties that could be useful for treating skin conditions. Because its potential positive effects on allergic reactions in skin have not yet been described in detail, this study's main objective was to determine its efficacy in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography was used to verify the compounds in BIOGF1K, and we used the (3-4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method to determine its cytotoxicity in RBL-2H3 and HMC-1 cell lines. RBL-2H3 cells were induced using both anti-DNP-IgE/DNP-BSA and calcium ionophore (A2187) treatments, whereas HMC-1 cells were induced using A2187 alone. To measure mast cell degranulation, we performed histamine (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and β-hexosaminidase assays. To quantify interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in RBL-2H3 cells, we performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR); to quantify expression levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in HMC-1 cells, we used semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Finally, we detected the total and phosphorylated forms of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p-38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase proteins by immunoblotting. Results: BIOGF1K decreased the AD response by reducing both histamine and β-hexosaminidase release as well as reducing the secretion levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in RBL-2H3 cells and IL-4 and IL-13 in HMC-1 cells. In addition, BIOGF1K decreased MAPK pathway activation in RBL-2H3 and HMC-1 cells. Conclusions: BIOGF1K attenuated the AD response, hence supporting its use as a promising and natural approach for treating AD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2000

Shini-San has been used for treatment of allergic disease in Korea. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. The mast cell plays a pivotal role in initiating al1ergic response by secreting intracytoplasmic granular mediators such as histamine. The present report describes an inhibitory effect of Shini-San on mast cell-mediated immediate-type al1ergic reactions. Topical application of compound 48/80 can induce an ear swelling response in normal ($WBB6F_1-+/+$) mice but not in congenic mast cell-deficient $WBB6F_1-W/W^v$ mice. Shini-San inhibited concentration dependent mast cell-dependent ear swelling response induced by compound 48/80 in normal mice. Shini-San inhibited concentration-dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis induced by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) immunoglobulin E (IgE) in rats by topical application. Shini-San also inhibited in concentration-dependent fashion the histamine release from the rat peritoneal mast cells by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. Moreover, Shini-San had a significant inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic reaction. These results indicate that Shini-San inhibits immediate-type allergic reactions by inhibition of mast cell degranulation in vivo and in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.306-312
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• 2015

The measurement of histamine is to determine the degree of allergy because the allergic reaction can lead to the release of histamine. In general, the antigen-antibody reaction was quantified by measuring absorbance using a microplate reader. In this study, we compare the method using a general antigen-antibody reaction and the method using a high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS) of chemical analysis in the measurement of histamine secretion. The cell line used was RBL-2H3, an allergic reaction was induced by stimulation with C48/80 (compound 48/80). Allergy-induced cells degranulation rate was confirmed by measurement of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and cytotoxicity was performed for the validity of the experiment. The quantitative determination of histamine showed a significant difference, since the quantitative limit of the measurement by the antigen-antibody reaction was 10.257 ppm while the quantitative limit of the measurement by HPLC-MS was 0.020 ppm. Measurement of histamine in allergic activity and anti-allergy tests showed that the HPLC-MS analysis rather than the analysis of the antigen-antibody reaction is a more precise and accurate test.