• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1494-1504
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• 2004

The present paper reports the effects of Hwaotang an atherosclerosis using a spontaneous experimental model, We have also investigated the pharmacological effect of Hwaotang on collagen- and ADP-induced blood platelet aggregation, thrombin-induced conversion of fibrinogen and fibrinolysis in in vitro experiments, and various effects on stimuli-induced superoxide generation in human neutrophils. Hwao-tang was shown to have inhibitory effect on collagen- and ADP-induced blood platelet aggregation, on thrombin-induced conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and on the activity of plasminogen or plasmin. Hwao-tang also significantly inhibited fMLP-induced superoxide generation in a concentration-dependent manner, but not that induced by arachidonic acid. Hwao-tang inhibited neutrophil functions, including degranulation, superoxide generation, and leukotriene B4 production, without any effect on 5-lipoxygenase activity. In conclusion, the protection of extracts of Hwao-tang on the ischemic infarction induced artificially might be involved to their inhibition of thrombotic action. The results also indicate that Hwao-tang exerts the effects on superoxide generation related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.543-548
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• 2001

To examine the fate of the injected peritoneal mast cells (PMCs), we injected PMCs (500 or $10^5$) derived from WBB6F1-green fluorescent protein(GFP) mice into stomach wall of $WBB6F1-W/W^v$ mice. When 500 PMCs were injected, the proportion of alcian blue $(AB)^+$ mast cells to $GFP^+$ mast cells in the muscle was 25.0% on day 1, but decreased to 0.9% on day 7. Then, it increased to 98.2% on day 35. In contrast,$GFP^+$ mast cells in the mucosa were not detectable on day 1, 3, and 7 after injection. On day 35, the proportion of $AB^+$ mast cells to $GFP^+$ mast cells in the mucosa was 97.0%. When $10^5$ PMCs were injected, the proportion of $AB^+$ mast cells to $GFP^+$ mast cells in the muscle was more than 88.2%, and that in the mucosa was more than 86.3% from day 1 through 35 after injection. These results indicated that percentage of degranulation on day 1, 3, 7, 14 after injection of 500 PMCs was significantly higher than that after injection of $10^5$ PMCs. Futhermore, when 500 PMCs were injected, protease expression phenotypes of PMCs changed from day 14 after injection. When $10^5$ PMCs were injected, protease expression phenotype of PMCs did not change after injection. Such degranulated PMCs may acquire the new phenotype and adapt the new tissue.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-allergic reaction with Glycyrrhiza uralensis. We examined cell viability, $\beta$-hexosaminidase release, IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA expression from RBL-2H3 cell after pre-treatment with 0, 100, 250, 500, 1000${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of Glycyrrhiza uralensis water extracts. Effects of Glycyrrhiza uralensis on the degranulation and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) expression were evaluated with $\beta$-hexosaminidase assay, and RT-PCR analysis. We observed that Glycyrrhiza uralensis concentrations from 100${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ to 1000${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ had no effect on cell survival. The release of $\beta$-hexosaminidase decreased significantly with all concentrations of Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts. The expression of the IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA were decreased by Glycyrrhiza uralensis in dose-dependent manner. These results that Glycyrrhiza uralensis has an anti-histamin effects and controls IL-4, IL-13 secretion on allergic reaction.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2012

Objectives Perillae Folium (PF) has been widely used in Korean herbal medicines used for treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rhinitis, asthma, and enteritis. In this study, to investigate the protective effect of PF on type 1 allergic response, we determined whether PF inhibits early or late allergic responses. Methods The effect of PF was analyzed by ELISA,. RT-PCR and Western blot in RBL-2H3 cells. Levels of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, interleukin (IL)-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). mRNA levels of cytokines and enzymes were analyzed with RT-PCR. Signal transduction was analyzed with Western blot. Results We found that PF suppressed ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 by the IgE-DNP-HSA stimulation. PF also significantly inhibited enzymes level, such as COX-1, COX-2, iNOS, and HDC2, along with reduced cytokine levels, such as IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in RBL-2H3. In addition, PF suppressed the phospholyation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2, and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Conclusions Our results indicate that PF protects against type 1 allergic response and exert an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of degranulation and expression of cytokines and enzymes via the suppression of signal transduction.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2005

IgE-dependent histamine releasing factor (HRF), previously known as P23/P21 or translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), induces the degranulation of histamine in mast cell and basophil. Yeast two hybrid results showed that HRF interacts with the alpha subunit of Na, K-ATPase, suggesting that HRF is a regulator for governing the activity of Na, K-ATPase. In this study, we examined the interaction of HRF and Wa,K-ATPase after treatments of various PKC isotype inhibitors. Membrane fractionation, pull-down assay and immunoprecipitation results showed that PKC $\alpha,\;PKC\;\beta,\;\delta$ subunits are involved in the phosphorylation of HRF. However, these results did not correlate with the results of histamine release assay since histamine release assay results suggested that some PKC isotype inhibitors induced the histamine release in RBL-2H3 cell.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.255-259
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• 2005

IgE-dependent histamine-releasing factor (HRF) is found extracellularly to regulate the degranulation process of histamine in mast cells and basophils and known to play a predominant role in the pathogenesis of chronic allergic disease. HRF has been also identified in the intracellular region of the cell. Previously, we reported that HRF interacts with the 3rd cytoplasmic domain of the alpha subunit of Na,K-ATPase. To understand the molecular mechanism of the regulation of Na, K-ATPase activity by HRF, we investigated the interaction between HRF and TPI since TPI was obtained as HRF-interacting protein in HeLa cDNA library, using yeast two hybrid screening. Domain mapping study of the interaction between HRF and TPI revealed that the C-terminal region of the residue 156-249 of TPI is involved in the interaction with HRF. The interaction between HRF and TPI was confirmed by immunoprecipitation from HeLa cell extracts. Our results suggest that TPI is a HRF-binding protein and the interaction between HRF and TPI nay thus affect Na, K-ATPase activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-95
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• 2008

Objectives: Whitmania pigra whitman (WP) has been used in herbal medicine to treat various conditions, such as eczema, skin burns and frostbites in herbal medicine. The purpose of this study is was to investigate the effect of WP on anti-allergy mechanism. Methods: To clarify the mechanism, the effect of WP on vascular permeability of rat cutaneous tissue and histamine and cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, $TNF-{\alpha}$) released from mast cells were observed. Results: The results were 1. the pretreatment with WP significantly decreased the compound 48/80-induced degranulation and histamine release from RPMC 2. WP did not inhibit the anti-DNP IgE-induced increment of vascular permeability of rat cutaneous tissue 3. WP significantly reduced the PMA plus A23187-induced increment of expression of IL-6, IL-8, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in HMC-1 cells. Conclusions: The present study providesevidence that WP acid inhibits mast cell-derived inflammatory allergic reactions by blocking histamine release and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and suggest the mechanisms of action. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro anti-allergic effect of WP suggests a possible therapeutic application of this agent in inflammatory allergic diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.217-223
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• 2010

To evaluate the antiallergic effect of fermented Ixeris sonchifolia (IS, family Compositae), we prepared IS kimchi, isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from it, fermented IS with these LAB, and investigated their antiallergic effects. IS kimchi inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction induced by an IgE-antigen complex as well as the scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 or histamine more potently than IS. When IS was fermented with LAB isolated from IS kimchi, its antiallergic effects was also increased. Of LAB used for fermentation, Lactobacillus brevis more potently increased the antiallergic effects. Its main constituents, chlorogenic acid and luteolin, potently inhibited the PCA reaction induced by the IgE-antigen complex as well as the pruritis induced by compound 48/80 or histamine. These constituents inhibited the expression of pro inflammatory and allergic cytokines, TNF-$\alpha$. and IL-4, and transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by the IgE-antigen complex in RBL-2H3 cells, as well as the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by the IgE-antigen complex. Luteolin more potently inhibited these allergic reactions than chlorogenic acid. These findings suggest that the antiallergic effect of IS can be increased by LAB fermentation, and the fermented IS might improve allergic reactions such as pruritus, anaphylaxis, and inflammation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 2011

Objectives : Ulmus davidiana (UD) has been widely used in Korean herbal medicines used for treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rhinitis, asthma, and abscess. In this study, To investigated the protective effect of UD on type 1 allergic response, we determined whether UD inhibits early and late allergic response. Methods : The effect of UD was analyzed by ELISA and RT-PCR in RBL-2H3 cells. Levels of ${\beta}$ -hexosaminidase, interleukin (IL)-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). mRNA levels of COX-2 and T-helper type 2(Th2) cytokines were analyzed with RT-PCR. Results : We found that UD suppressed ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 not only by the PMA plus A23187 stimulation, but also by the IgE-DNP-HSA stimulation at the antigen-antibody binding stage and antibody-receptor binding stage. UD also significantly inhibited COX2 level, along with reduced Th2 cytokine levels, such as IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, GM-CSF, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in RBL-2H3. Conclusions : Our results indicate that UD protects against type 1 allergic response and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of degranulation and expression of COX2 and Th2 cytokines.