• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1388-1396
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• 2013

This study used an S-180 cell-injected mouse model to evaluate the antitumor effects of the acute and subacute toxicity of Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract intravenously administrated in ICR mice. When administered intravenously (31.3-250 mg/kg body weight), Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract significantly inhibited the growth of the solid tumor cell. The antitumor activity of Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract increased in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose (250 mg/kg body weight) was highly effective, reducing tumor formation by 42.7% compared with the control group. In the acute toxicity test, $LD_{50}$ of the Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract showed 632.84 mg/kg (♂) and 814.48 mg/kg (♀) after intravenous administration. In addition, liver and spleen weight were increased in a dose-dependent manner. In the subacute toxicity test, the mice were intravenously administered over the course of 28 days. The $LD_{50}$ of the Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract showed 355.41 mg/kg (♂) and 383.53 mg/kg (♀) after intravenous administration. The liver and spleen weight also increased in a dose-dependent manner. In the case of the group that received more than 125 mg/kg of intravenous administration, exercise capacity, such as jumping ability and agility, were significantly increased. These results suggest that Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract can be regarded as a potent enhancer of the innate immune response, and it can be considered as a new natural product with low toxicity that may be used as a candidate for antitumor action.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.9-19
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• 2022

Objectives : Angelicae Gigantis Radix (AG) is a plant of the Ranunculus family. AG have been reported to have various pharmacological effects on human health which include uterine growth promotion, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immune enhancement. However, research on dermatitis disease is insufficient. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AG on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulated HaCaT cell. Methods : To investigate the effect of AG on HaCaT cell, HaCaT cells were pre-treated with AG for 1 hour and then stimulated with TNF-α/IFN-γ. After 24 hours, media and cells were harvested to analyze the inflammatory mediators. Concentration of human interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and TNF-α in the media were assessed by ELISA. mRNA expression of human thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), IL-6, and IL-8 were analyzed by RT-PCR. Additionally, the mechanisms of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway were investigated by Western blot. Results : The treatment of AG inhibited gene expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TARC and protein expression levels of IL-1β, MCP-1, and GM-CSF. Also, AG significantly reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and NF-κB translocation in TNF-α/IFN-γ stimulated HaCaT cell. Conclusions : Taken together, these results demonstrate that AG can alleviate inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Also, it suggest that AG may a promising candidate drug for the treatment of inflammatory disease such as atopic dermatitis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2023

Objective: Muscle acetylcholine receptors have five alpha subunits (α, β, δ, ε, or γ), and cholinergic receptor nicotinic gamma subunit (CHRNG) is the γ subunit. It may also play an essential role in biological processes, including cell differentiation, growth, and survival, while the role of CHRNG has not been studied in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of CHRNG on the proliferation and differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. Methods: We constructed a CHRNG overexpression adenovirus vector and successfully overexpressed it on bovine preadipocytes. The effects of CHRNG on bovine preadipocyte proliferation were detected by Edu assay, cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot and other techniques. We also performed oil red O, RT-qPCR, Western blot to explore its effect on the differentiation of preadipocytes. Results: The results of Edu proliferation experiments showed that the number of EDU-positive cells in the overexpression group was significantly less. CCK-8 experiments found that the optical density values of the cells in the overexpression group were lower than those of the control group, the mRNA levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A2 (CCNA2), cyclin B1 (CCNB1), cyclin D2 (CCND2) decreased significantly after CHRNG gene overexpression, the mRNA levels of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) increased significantly, and the protein levels of PCNA, CCNB1, CCND2 decreased significantly. Overexpression of CHRNG inhibited the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. The results of oil red O and triglyceride determination showed that the size and speed of lipid droplets accumulation in the overexpression group were significantly lower. The mRNA and protein levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR class="checkNonKBPoint">γ), CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPα), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid synthase (FASN) decreased significantly. Conclusion: Overexpression of CHRNG in bovine preadipocytes inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of bovine preadipocytes.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.681-692
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• 2017

In recent years, large-scale construction projects such as road pavement construction and new city construction have been carried out nationwide with by the expansion of social overhead facilities and base on the economic development planning, resulting in a rapid increase in artificial slope damage. The existing vegetation-based re-installation method of the slope surface greening method reveals various problems such as lack of bonding force, drying, and lack of organic matter. In this study, research was carried out using vegetation-based material and environmentally friendly soil additives, were are used in combination with natural humus, Bark compost, coco peat, and vermiculite. Uniaxial compressive strength was measured according to the mixing ratio of soil additives and the strength was analyzed. Experiments were carried out on the characteristics of the soil material to gauge the slope protection properties by using the soil compaction test method wherein the soil and the soil additive materials are mixed in relation to the soil height, the number of compaction, the compaction method (layer) and the curing condition. As a result of the experiment, excellent strength performance was demonstrated in soil additives using gypsum cement, and it satisfied vegetation growth standards by using performance enhancer and pH regulator. It was confirmed that the strength increases with the mixing of soil and soil additive, and the stability of slope protection can be improved.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.187-194
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• 2024

In this study, we examined the effects of Rubus crataegifolius leaf on the inhibition of differentiation and adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to confirm their potential for use as an anti-obesity functional material. Rubus crataegifolius leaves water extracted using hot water were then concentrated for use, with an extract yield of 4.76%. The result of measuring the rate of 3T3-L1 cell survival of Rubus crataegifolius leaf extract (RCLE) showed growth inhibition of 13% at a concentration of 1,000 ㎍/mL. Thus, in this study, experiments were performed using RCLE treatment concentrations up to 500 ㎍/mL. Production of triglycedie in 3T3-L1 cells showed a dose-dependent decrease, and the rate of reduction was 28.7, 40.8, and 51.6% at concentrations of 100, 300, and 500 ㎍/mL, respectively, compared to the control group. In addition, the results confirmed that suppression of lipogenesis was achieved by suppressing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBP α), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and increasing the expression of p-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK). Based on these results, it is believed that Rubus crataegifolius leaf extract can be used in the effort to manage obesity by regulating factors related to adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.198-206
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• 2024

EZH2 is a methyltransferase that is a critical target for lymphoma treatment. However, it is not yet widely used in clinical settings. PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) represent a novel therapeutic strategy aimed at eliminating proteins that have been a challenging target using conventional small molecules. In our previous research, we compared the small molecules-based EZH2 inhibitor used in clinical settings with a PROTAC-based EZH2 degrader. We found that the PROTAC-based degrader was significantly more effective. Building on this, we further investigated the effects of combining the PROTAC-based EZH2 degrader (dEZH2) with a METTL3 inhibitor, both of which have demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in Burkitt's lymphoma. Using the CCK-8 assay, we found that both drugs, alone and in combination, significantly inhibited Daudi and Ramos cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. The combined treatment markedly suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, as confirmed by Annexin V/PI staining. Our results revealed G2/M phase arrest with a significant decrease in the G0/G1 phase by flow cytometry. Our study also showed increased levels of cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3, tumor protein p53 (TP53), and PUMA using the western blot technique, indicating enhanced p53-dependent apoptosis. Our findings suggest that the combination therapy of dEZH2 and iMETTL3 could be a promising approach in the treatment of Burkitt's lymphoma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2010

Baicalin, a flavonoid, was shown to have diverse effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and others. Recently, we found that the baicalin inhibits adipogenesis through the modulations of anti-adipogenic and pro-adipogenic factors of the adipogenesis pathway. In the present study, we further characterized the molecular mechanism of the anti-adipogenic effect of baicalin using microarray technology. Microarray analyses were conducted to analyze the gene expression profiles during the differentiation time course (0 day, 2 day, 4 day and 7 day) in 3T3-L1 cells with or without baicalin treatment. We identified a total of 3972 genes of which expressions were changed more than 2 fold. These 3972 genes were further analyzed using hierarchical clustering analysis, resulting in 20 clusters. Four clusters among 20 showed clearly up-regulated expression patterns (cluster 8 and cluster 10) or clearly down-regulated expression patterns (cluster 12 and cluster 14) by baicalin treatment for over-all differentiation period. The cluster 8 and cluster 10 included many genes which enhance cell proliferation or inhibit adipogenesis. On the other hand, the cluster 12 and cluster 14 included many genes which are related with proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest, cell growth suppression or adipogenesis induction. In conclusion, these data provide detailed information on the molecular mechanism of baicalin-induced inhibition of adipogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.779-788
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• 2005

Purpose : Echinacea, a traditional plant medicine has been used as immune-stimulant. Recent studies have revealed that extract of Echinacea has immunostimulatory effects on human blood mononuclear cells. This study was designed for the purpose of screening the genes associated with immunologic effects of Echinacea on monocytes and dendritic cells using a cDNA microarray chip. Methods : $CD14^+$ monocyte cells were cultured for one day with Echinacea extract(final concentration : $50{\mu}g/mL$) in experiment 1, but were cultured without Echinacea in experiment 2. The gene expression of these cultured monocytes was analyzed using the cDNA microarray chip. Dendritic cells produced from $CD14^+$ monocyte were cultured for five days with GM-CSF and IL-4, and then cultured for one day with Echinacea in experiment 3, but were done without Echinacea in experiment 4. Results : In experiments 1 and 2, there were 17 significantly expressed genes with average expression ratios above 2.5, including interferon gamma-inducible protein 30(IFI 30), CDC(cell-division-cylcle)-like kinase 2(CLK 2), syndecan binding protein(syntenin), superoxide dismutase 2, etc. In experiments 3 and 4, there were 24 gene, with significantly expressed genes were 24 genes, which were insulin-like growth factor 2(somatomedin A), methyl-CpG binding domain protein 3, IFI 30, small inducible cytokine subfamily A, member 22, etc. The genes encoding CD44, IFI 30, mannose receptor C type 1(MRC 1), chemokine receptor 7(CCR 7), CLK 2, syntenin and cytochrome C oxidase subunit VIII were significantly expressed in both monocytes and dendritic cells cultured with Echinacea. Conclusion : This study employed a cDNA microarray chip to elicit the immune-associated gene profile; the expression was enhanced by Echinacea in CD14+ monocytes and dendritic cells. Thus we laid the basis for the quantitative and functional analysis of genes induced by Echinacea in monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.158-168
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• 2023

Natural products have been used to mitigate the effects of cancer and infectious diseases, as they feature diverse bioactivities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Here, we chose 10 natural products that are well-known as pulmonary enhancers and investigated their bactericidal effects on Streptococcus pneumoniae. In the disk diffusion assay, the growth of S. pneumoniae was significantly regulated by G. fructus treatment regardless of extraction method used. We first adopted spraying as a novel delivery method for G. fructus. Interestingly, mice exposed to G. fructus three times a day for 2 weeks were resistant to S. pneumoniae intranasal infection (shown both through body weight loss and survival rates compared to the control group). Moreover, we confirmed that exposure to G. fructus regulated the colonization of the bacteria despite the sustained inflammation in the lung after exposure to S. pneumoniae, indicating that migrated inflammatory immune cells may involve a host defense mechanism against pulmonary infectious diseases. While a similar number of granulocytes (CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G⁺), neutrophils (CD11b⁺Ly6C^intLy6G⁺), and monocytes (CD11b⁺Ly6C^intLy6G^-) were found between groups, a significantly increased number of alveolar macrophages (CD11b⁺CD11c^hiF4/80⁺) was detected in BAL fluids of mice pre-exposed to G. fructus at 5 days after S. pneumonia infection. Taken together, our data suggest that this usage of G. fructus can induce protective immunity against bacterial infection, indicating that facial spray may be helpful in enhancing the defense mechanism against pulmonary inflammation and in evaluating the efficacy of natural products as immune enhancers against respiratory diseases.