• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2010

Objectives: Various cytokines induced by inhalation of coal dust may mediate inflammation and lead to tissue damage or fibrosis, such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). Methods: To investigate the relevance of serum cytokines in CWP, the levels of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) as CWP biomarkers in 110 retired coal miners (22 controls and 88 CWP subjects) were related to cross sectional findings and 1-year progressive changes of the pneumoconiosis. Progressive changes of CWP were evaluated by paired comparison of chest radiographs. Analysis by a receiver operating characteristic curve assessed the biomarker potential of each cytokine. Results: The mean serum IL-8 level was significantly higher in CWP compared to controls and IL-8 levels correlated with the degree of CWP. The median serum TNF-${\alpha}$ level was significantly higher in subjects with progressive CWP compared to subjects without CWP progression. The area under the ROC curve for IL-8 (0.70) and TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.72) for CWP identification and progression, respectively, indicated the biomarker potential of the two cytokines. Serum cutoff values of IL-8 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were 11.63 pg/mL(sensitivity, 69%; specificity, 64%) and 4.52 pg/mL (sensitivity, 67%; specificity, 79%), respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that high levels of serum IL-8 are associated with the presence of CWP and those of serum TNF-${\alpha}$ are associated with the progression of CWP.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.497-506
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• 2021

Besides using for hair removal, depilatory agents have been considered to be used as a penetration enhancer for transepidermal drug delivery. To examine the effect in hair follicles (HFs), two commercially available depilatory creams were tested on the dorsal skin of mice to monitor the effect deep into the skin structure. Fifteen male BALB/c mice were used in this study. Depilatory creams were applied to the dorsal skin of the same animal using shaved and untouched treatments as controls to minimize individual differences. Skin samples were collected at three days, one week and two weeks (n = 5 for each) after the treatment, and subjected for hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunohistochemical analysis for proinflammatory cytokines. The morphological examination showed an increase in the thickness of epidermal layer of the depilatory cream-treated skin at early time points and in the subcutis at two weeks. Depilatory cream promoted entry of anagen phase and increased the number of hair follicles in the subcutis at one and two weeks. Immunohistochemistry showed elevated percentages of dermal fibroblasts expressing interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and tumor necrosis factor-β. Shaving process increased the thickness of epidermis and dermis as depilatory creams did, but did neither induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the dermal fibroblasts nor the number of HFs. The results suggested that the commercially available depilatory creams caused a transient minor inflammatory response of the skin and increased the levels of cytokines that might subsequently affect hair growth.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1103-1110
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Several epidemiological studies have validated the association of interleukin gene polymorphisms with acute pancreatitis (AP) in different populations. However, there have been few studies in Asian ethnic groups. We aimed to investigate the relationships between inflammatory cytokine polymorphisms and AP as pilot research in a Korean ethnic group. Methods: Patients who had been diagnosed with AP were prospectively enrolled. DNA was extracted from whole blood, and DNA sequencing was subsequently performed. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the interleukin $1{\beta}$ (IL1B), interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN), and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNFA) genes of patients with AP were compared to those of normal controls. Results: Between January 2011 and January 2013, a total of 65 subjects were enrolled (40 patients with AP vs. 25 healthy controls). One intronic SNP (IL1RN -1129T>C, rs4251961) was significantly associated with the risk of AP (odds ratio, 0.304; 95% confidence interval, 0.095 to 0.967; p = 0.043). However, in our study, AP was not found to be associated with polymorphisms in the promoter regions of inflammatory cytokine genes, including IL1B (-118C>T, c47+242C>T, +3954C/T, and -598T>C) and TNFA (-1211T>C, -1043C>A, -1037C>T, -488G>A, and -418G>A). Conclusions: IL1RN -1129T>C (rs4251961) genotypes might be associated with a significant increase of AP risk in a Korean ethnic group.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 2019

Objectives Bogol-tang has clinically been used to protect joint cartilage and to treat osteoarthritis. Our objective was to study the protective effect of Bogol-tang extract (BGT) in functional impairment, behavioral disorders, cartilage loss and pathological changes in a monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced murine osteoarthritis (OA) model and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ -treated primary rat chondrocytes. Methods Mouse knee joints were injected with MIA, a chemical that inhibits glycolysis and causes joint inflammation and matrix loss. MIA-OA induced mice orally administered BGT or acetaminophen (AAP) for 18 days by daily. Primary rat chondrocytes were pretreated with BGT or dexamethasone (DEX) and followed by co-incubation with IL-$1{\beta}$ (10 ng/mL). Results In MIA-OA mice model, BGT led to delayed response on hot plate analysis, and suppressed the cartilage loss and damages in joint tissues. BGT suppressed the elevated levels of inflammatory mediators, nitrite and $PGE_2$, the gene expression of matrix degrading enzymes, and extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and c-JunN-terminal kinase phosphorylation in IL-$1{\beta}$-treated primary rat chondrocytes. Conclusions Our results suggest that BGT improve the knee joint function and delay the cartilage damages by anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and ant-catabolic effects, which indicate BGT could be a potential candidate for osteoarthritis treatment.

• Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate probiotic characteristics and immune enhancing effects of Bifidobacterium (B.) longum KBB1-26 and BIF-4, B. breve KBB5-22 isolated from human intestine for probiotic use in humans and animals. We measured acid, bile and heat tolerance, antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia (E.) coli, Salmonella (S.) Enteritidis, Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, and Listeria (L.) monocytogenes. Immune enhancing effects of B. longum and B. breve were investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO), nuclear factor ($NF-{\kappa}b$), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) in RAW 264.7 cells or RAW BLUE cells. B. longum KBB1-26 was survived at pH 2.0. B. longum KBB1-26 and BIF-4, B. breve KBB5-22 also showed tolerance to 0.3% of oxgall bile salt. B. longum KBB1-26 was able to survive at $70^{\circ}C$ and $80^{\circ}C$ for 20 min. KBB1-26 showed the antimicrobial inhibition zone to pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli (12 mm), S. Enteritidis (14 mm), S. aureus (14 mm) and L. monocytogenes (41 mm). The production of NO ($4.5{\pm}0.00{\mu}M/mL$) and $IL-1{\beta}$ ($39.7{\pm}0.55pg/mL$) of KBB1-26 significantly higher than BIF-4 and KBB5-22, respectively. In addition, KBB1-26 and KBB5-22 induce the production of high level of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in macrophages. Collectively, B. longum KBB1-26 have acid, bile, heat tolerance, antimicrobial activity and immune enhancing effects. These results suggest that KBB1-26 can be used as probiotics for humans and animals.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2019

Background: Taraxacum platycarpum has been used in traditional medicine in Korea to treat intoxication and edema and as a diuretic. According to previous reports, it has anti-cancer, anti-gastritis, and anti-inflammation effects. However, the improvement effect of T. platycarpum on rheumatoid arthritis has not been investigated. The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation effects of the aerial parts of T. platycarpum are different from those of its subterranean parts. Thus, we evaluated the effect of the water extracts of Taraxaci radix (WTR) on type II collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA) in animal models. Methods and Results: Rheumatoid arthritis was induced by type II collagen. WTR (100 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) was administered to the animal models. Methotrexate was used as the positive control. The levels of interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and type II collagen IgG in the animals were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Treatment with 500 mg/kg WTR decreased the serum levels of interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and collagen IgG in the CIA models. Moreover, treatment with WTR diminished the arthritisinduced swelling of the hind legs and monocyte infiltration in the bloodvessels of the animal models. Conclusions: These results indicate that WTR has the potential to improve rheumatoid arthritis by reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha. However, further experiments are required to elucidate the influence of WTR on signal transduction in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.635-644
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• 2019

Background: To increase the pharmacological effects of red ginseng (RG, the steamed root of Panax ginseng Meyer), RG products modified by heat process or fermentation have been developed. However, the antiallergic effects of RG and modified/fermented RG have not been simultaneously examined. Therefore, we examined the allergic rhinitis (AR)-inhibitory effects of water-extracted RG (wRG), 50% ethanol-extracted RG (eRG), and bifidobacteria-fermented eRG (fRG) in vivo. Methods: RBL-2H3 cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate/A23187. Mice with AR were prepared by treatment with ovalbumin. Allergic markers IgE, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5 were assayed in the blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, nasal mucosa, and colon using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mast cells, eosinophils, and Th2 cell populations were assayed using a flow cytometer. Results: RG products potently inhibited IL-4 expression in phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate/A23187-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. Of tested RG products, fRG most potently inhibited IL-4 expression. RG products also alleviated ovalbumin-induced AR in mice. Of these, fRG most potently reduced nasal allergy symptoms and blood IgE levels. fRG treatment also reduced IL-4 and IL-5 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, nasal mucosa, and reduced mast cells, eosinophils, and Th2 cell populations. Furthermore, treatment with fRG reduced IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in the colon and restored ovalbumin-suppressed Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria populations and ovalbumin-induced Firmicutes population in gut microbiota. Treatment with ginsenoside Rd significantly alleviated ovalbumin-induced AR in mice. Conclusion: fRG and ginsenoside Rd may alleviate AR by suppressing IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 expression and restoring the composition of gut microbiota.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1109-1114
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• 2021

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a type of pathogenic gram-negative bacteria that causes various respiratory tract infections including asthma. Chlamydia species infect humans and cause respiratory infection by rupturing the lining of the respiratory which includes the throat, lungs and windpipe. Meanwhile, the function of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in Ch. pneumoniae respiratory infection and its association with the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in adulthood and causing allergic airway disease (AAD) are not understood properly. We therefore investigated the role of IL-4 in respiratory infection and allergy caused by early life Chlamydia infection. In this study, Ch. pneumonia strain was propagated and cultured in HEp-2 cells according to standard protocol and infant C57BL/6 mice around 3-4 weeks old were infected to study the role of IL-4 in respiratory infection and allergy caused by early life Chlamydia infection. We observed that IL-4 is linked with Chlamydia respiratory infection and its absence lowers respiratory infection. IL-4R α2 is also responsible for controlling the IL-4 signaling pathway and averts the progression of infection and inflammation. Furthermore, the IL-4 signaling pathway also influences infection-induced AHR and aids in increasing AAD severity. STAT6 also promotes respiratory infection caused by Ch. pneumoniae and further enhanced its downstream process. Our study concluded that IL-4 is a potential target for preventing infection-induced AHR and severe asthma.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.34-47
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was designed to examine anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium water extract (CRE). Methods: Cell cytotoxicity was tested with RAW 264.7 cells. To investigate anti-inflammatory effect of CRE in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cell, we measured nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). In addition, mitrogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were examined by western blotting in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell with treated CRE. Results: In cytotoxicity analysis, CRE does not affect cell cytotoxicity. As compared with the control group, the expression of NO, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-6 were significantly decreased, and IL-10 was significantly increased in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell with treated CRE. As a result of Western blotting, there was concentration-dependent inhibition of pp38, pERK in MAPK pathway and significant reduction of pp65 in the NF-κB pathway. Conclusions: CRE might have anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-induced macrophages by promoting the production of IL-10.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.12
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• pp.893-899
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• 2021

BLT2 is a low-affinity receptor for leukotriene B₄, a potent lipid mediator of inflammation generated from arachidonic acid via the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BLT2 plays any role in sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection. A murine model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis was used to evaluate the role of BLT2 in septic inflammation. In the present study, we observed that the levels of ligands for BLT2 (LTB₄ [leukotriene B₄] and 12(S)-HETE [12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid]) were significantly increased in the peritoneal lavage fluid and serum from mice with CLP-induced sepsis. We also observed that the levels of BLT2 as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and 12-LO, which are synthesizing enzymes for LTB₄ and 12(S)-HETE, were significantly increased in lung and liver tissues in the CLP mouse model. Blockade of BLT2 markedly suppressed the production of sepsis-associated cytokines (IL-6 [interleukin-6], TNF-α [tumor necrosis factor alpha], and IL-1β [interleukin-β] as well as IL-17 [interleukin-17]) and alleviated lung inflammation in the CLP group. Taken together, our results suggest that BLT2 cascade contributes to lung inflammation in CLP-induced sepsis by mediating the production of inflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that BLT2 may be a potential therapeutic target for sepsis patients.