• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2005

Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin $(IL-1)-{\beta}$, play a key role in causing inflammatory diseases, which are rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and sepsis. Accumulating evidences suggest that low level laser irradiation (LLLI) may have an anti-inflammatory action. However, there are few data regarding down regulation of Th1 immune response by using the diod typed laser emitting device for human patients. As a fundamental step in order to address this issue, we investigated immunological impact of the low level laser irradiation (10 mw laser diode with a wavelength of 630 nm) on expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in murine immunocytes (splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages) in vitro. The LLLI on lipopolysaccharide (LPS 100 ng/ml)-stimulated murine splenocytes and macrophages, clearly down regulated mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-12 in dose-dependent manner. In addition, LLLI significantly inhibits the NO production in the LPS-stimulated murine macrophages. This data suggests that LLLI (wavelength of 630 nm) may exert an anti-inflammatory action via modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine and NO production pathway.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.194-196
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• 2002

While ultraviolet radiation alters various cutaneous cell functions, little is known about photo-immunological and photobiological effects of infrared radiation (IR) on the skin except its local thermal effects. The fIrst part of this study demonstrated that single exposure of mouse skin to near IR (0.7 - 1.3 $\mu$m) reversibly suppressed the proliferating activity of the epidermis, the density of Langerhans cells, and the ability of skin to induce contact hypersensitivity reaction. The second part demonstrated that the rate of wound closure was significantly accelerated by repeated exposures in animal models. The production of transforming growth factor-$\beta$l and matrix metalloproteinase-2, which are responsible for the wound healing processes, was significantly upregulated by irradiation, as shown by enzyme immunoassay, zymography, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Thermal controls were negative. The results suggest that near-IR irradiation can modulate the epidermal proliferation and part of the skin immune system, and stimulate the wound healing processes, presumably by non-thermal effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.179-185
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• 2011

The ultimate function of the endometrium is to allow the implantation of a blastocyst and to support pregnancy. Cycles of tissue remodeling ensure that the endometrium is in a receptive state during the putative 'implantation window', the few days of each menstrual cycle when an appropriately developed blastocyst may be available to implant in the uterus. A successful pregnancy requires strict temporal regulation of maternal immune function to accommodate a semi-allogeneic embryo. To preparing immunological tolerance at the onset of implantation, tight temporal regulations are required between the immune and endocrine networks. This review will discuss about the action of steroid hormones on the human endometrium and particularly their role in regulating the inflammatory processes associated with endometrial receptivity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.16-25
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• 2000

Objective : Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli have long been used to cure human diseases. However, the exact physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved remain undiscovered. Thus, many attempts have been made to show the scientific mechanisms involved. The effects of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture, which was known to date, as follow; effective circulation of body blood system and proliferation of leucocytes. Methods : In this study, we have applied acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli to mouse on Sinsuhyul, a stimulative point of oriental medicine, to see effects on the expression of cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$. Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) for inflammation induction and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using each primer set were performed to trace the amounts of mRNA. Results : 1. $IL-1{\beta}$ was not expressed in LPS-nontreated mice at 15 to 60 min after acupuncture-stimuli. However, expression occurred after 3hrs. 2. $IL-1{\beta}$ was specifically expressed in LPS-treated mice at 30 min after acupuncture-stimuli. 3. $IL-1{\beta}$ was expressed in LPS-nontreated mice at 30 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli, however, not expressed at 60, 180 min. 4. $IL-1{\beta}$ was gradually expressed in LPS-treated mice at 15 to 180 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli. Conclusions : $IL-1{\beta}$ in LPS-treated mice was more effective than that of LPS-nontreated mice. We are now in the process of elucidating the immunological action mechanism of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli. And cytokine $IL-1{\beta}$ can be used not only as a basis of the effects of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture but also as a diagnosis guide through the immunological actions of those.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2004

Medicinal plants are of great importance in providing healthcare to a large portion of the population in Korea. A number of plants are described in Dong-Ui-Bo-Gam for use in the treatment of allergic disorders, namely psoriasis, eczema, bronchial asthma, etc. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AllerQ, which is multi-complexes of various plants extracts such like Mori folium, Scutellaria baicallensis, Glycyrrhiza uralnsis, Mentha sacharinensis and Poncirus trifoliata on compound 48/80 induced anaphylactic shock, ovalbumin induced asthma in vivo and anti-IgE antibody induced hypersensitivity in vitro. We found antianaphylactic or antiallergic properties of AllerQ when given orally. AllerQ for prophylactic treatment for anaphylactic shocks have produced good results. AllerQ may modulate various aspects of immune function and allergic inflammation. In the present study, we analyse the effects of AllerQ on mast cell degranulation, mortality, cAMP/cGMP, O₂, H₂O₂ level, cyokine production and on the elicitation of IgE-mediated mast cell-dependent allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro. We have established that AllerQ inhibited histamine release, cAMP/cGMP, O₂, H₂O₂ level, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and IL-6 production without having any significant physical change. These effects have been observed in mast cell(in vitro) and serum(in vivo) derived from three different origins that were activated by either immunological or non-immunological stimuli. These results suggest that the antianaphylactic and antiasthma tic action of AllerQ may be associated with an increase in the intracellular inhibition of the cAMP phosphodiesterase. Furthermore, AllerQ identified as potent inhibitors on O₂, H₂O₂ and cytokine activity. these data suggest that AllerQ may have an inhibitory role in mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation, and thus might be considered as an useful functional food.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2016

Background: It is not clear whether ginseng affects cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced desirable immunosuppressive action. In this study, we evaluated the immunological influence of combined treatment of ginseng with CsA. Methods: Using CD4+ T cells from mouse spleens stimulated with the T cell receptor (TCR) or allogeneic antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we examined the differentiation of naïve T cells into T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and their cytokine production during treatment by Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) and/or CsA. The influence of KRGE on the allogeneic T cell response was evaluated by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). We also evaluated whether signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT5 are implicated in this regulation. Results: Under TCR stimulation, KRGE treatment did not affect the population of CD4+interferon gamma ($IFN{\gamma}$)+ and CD4+interleukin (IL)-4+ cells and their cytokine production compared with CsA alone. Under the Th17-polarizing condition, KRGE significantly reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and CD4+/phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3)+ cells, but increased the number of CD4+CD25+forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ cells and CD4+/p-STAT5+ cells compared with CsA alone. In allogeneic APCs-stimulated CD4+ T cells, KRGE significantly decreased total allogeneic T cell proliferation. Consistent with the effects of TCR stimulation, KRGE reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and increased the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells under the Th17-polarizing condition. Conclusion: KRGE has immunological benefits through the reciprocal regulation of Th17 and Treg cells during CsA-induced immunosuppression.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2012

After spermatogenesis, spermatozoa come in contact with fluids in the epididymis where they mature. During ejaculation, spermatozoa are mixed with secretions from prostate gland, vesicular glands, and bulbourethral glands. During natural mating, seminal plasma is deposited in the female reproductive tract eliciting various physiological and immunological responses. With the advances in proteomics, the components of seminal plasma have been identified and the information may be valuable in identifying markers for fertility. Components of seminal plasma that affect fertility have been discovered and the mechanism of action of these factors has been determined. The objective of this study was to determine the specific seminal plasma proteins from Korean native cattle, Hanwoo, and Korean native brindle cattle (KNBC) with the long term goal of improving fertilization rate. After SDS-PAGE and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, proteins were identified by Q-ToF analysis. They include plasma serine protease inhibitor precursor and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase after SDS-PAGE. Number and density of the spots in 2-dimensional gels were higher in KNBC than Hanwoo. Proteins identified from the paired spots of both breeds include chain A, bull seminal plasma PDC-109 Fibronectin Type II module, BSP-30 kDa precursor, and Spermadhesin Z13 or its precursor. Interestingly, some proteins were identified from multiple spots. The functional differences of these diverse forms of the proteins may require further studies. With their previously reported roles in sperm capacitation by these proteins, the studies on the mechanism of action, ligand interaction and the variation in the genome may help improving fertility in cattle.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 1986

For the inactivation of venoms, the chemical methods are generally applied. In the chemical method many works have been carried out with the chemical reagents and immunological antiserums. However, all inhibitory effect of these chemicals acting on snake venomes may well be due not to the specific, but to the nonspecific inhibitory action. Therefore, it is necessary to separate venom into its compositional active proteins and develop specific inhibitor which acts on the each protein. Until now, there have not been any reports about the substance which acts on snake venom as a specific inhibitor. Recently in 1979, we had actually isolated a specific venom inhibitor(ISV) which has a strong inhibitory activity against the proteinase of snake venom of Colubridae. In our experiments described here, a strain of Aspergillus sp., isolated from soil, was able to produce a biological active substance. The partial crystallized substance had a strong inhibitory activity against hemorrhagic action of snake venom of Colubridae. For the inhibitory action of the sample on the lethality of venom, the substance prevented completely the lethal action of the hemorrhagic factor when they were treated with enough amount of the substance. The edema factor of whole venom of Agristrodon bromohoffi brevicaudus was completely inhibited, but those of HR-I and HR-II of Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom were inhibited about 50%, when they were treated with the substance of half amount of venom. On the other hand, from the result of subcutaneous hemorrhage in a rabbit, it was concluded that two kinds of antihemorrhagic substance might be produced by the strain used in this work.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

After examining and analysing the medicinal herbs of fifty-three experimental papers, we studied their effects on immediate tumors in specific cancers. We did not study the influence on the life span of general cancerous cells. We looked to see if the combined usage of medicinal herbs and anticancer agents inhibited the tumor cell's growth. The serum test and blood cell count test showed if the medicinal herbs inhibited the side effects of the anticancer agent. The test showed that more than 80 percent of used medicinal herbs, brought anticancer activities. However, anticancer experimental studies using medicinal herbs have draw-backs. First, it is difficult to choose a prescription using the standards of Oriental Medicine because we are testing a mouse not a man. Second, because we only observed the indirect effect on the whole physiological regulation caused by the synergic effects of the complex prescription, we are not able to understand the detailed mechanism of the herbs. Therefore; if the anticancer effect of the herbs is proved by the experiment, we need to research the concrete medical action of medicinal herbs and the immunological analysis of herbal medicines on the body.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.341-358
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• 1997

Clusterin is a highly glycosylated protein composed of two disulfide linked subunits. Although its biolobical action is not clearly defined, clusterin seems to be involved not only in remodeling of damaged tissue, but also in production of halitosis, the present study was designated to elucidate the expression of clusterin in the salivary gland of diabetic rats. For this study, 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the experiment and divided into 2groups: control and experimental. The experimental group was composed of 18 rats and the control goup was 6 rats. After nduction of diabetes by STZ injection, the animals were sacrificed at 1,3,5,7,10,14 days. The parotid and submamndibular glands were observed histologically and the transcriptional expression of clusterin in the glands by Northern blot. The finding were as follows : 1. In experimental group, the salivary glands were observed at day 3 and then a seven destructive pattern was found in the glands at day 5. Howere, regeneration of gland tissue occured at day 14. 2. In experimental goup, destructive change was examined in the septal connective tissue after 7 days, and gradually more serious. 3. In experimental group, clusterin was expressed in the submandibular glands after 5 days, but in parotid glands to a lesser extent after 10 days. These results suggest that clusterin seems to be closely associated with histologic changes in the mucous glands rather serous glands.