• BMB Reports
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.178-183
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• 2015

Dendritic cells play an important role in determining whether na${\ddot{i}}$ve T cells mature into either Th1 or Th2 cells. We determined whether heat-shock protein X (HspX) purified from Mycobacterium tuberculosis regulates the Th1/Th2 immune response in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of asthma. HspX increased interferon-gamma, IL-17A, -12 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ production and T-bet gene expression but reduced IL-13 production and GATA-3 gene expression. HspX also inhibited asthmatic reactions as demonstrated by an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues, airway luminal narrowing, and airway hyper-responsiveness. Furthermore, HspX enhanced OVA-induced decrease of regulatory T cells in the mediastinal lymph nodes. This study provides evidence that HspX plays critical roles in the amelioration of asthmatic inflammation in mice. These findings provide new insights into the immunotherapeutic role of HspX with respect to its effects on a murine model of asthma.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.79-84
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• 2012

In asthma, T helper 2 (TH2)-type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 are produced by activated $CD^{4+}$ T cells. Dendritic cells played an important role in determining the fate of naive T cells into either $T_H1$ or $T_H2$ cells. We determined whether RG-II regulates the $T_H1/T_H2$ immune response by using an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma. RG-II reduced IL-4 production but increased interferon-gamma production, and inhibited GATA-3 gene expression. RG-II also inhibited asthmatic reactions including an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, an increase in inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues, airway luminal narrowing, and airway hyperresponsiveness. This study provides evidence that RG-II plays a critical role in ameliorating the pathogenic process of asthmatic inflammation in mice. These findings provide new insights into the immunotherapeutic role of RG-II in terms of its effects in a murine model of asthma.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2004

Aquaporins(AQPs)유전자는 다양한 조직의 상피세포와 내피세포에 존재하며 다량의 물 이동을 조절하는 막성 단백질로서, 세포간 또는 세포막 사이의 물 이동에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 발정기의 생쥐 자궁에서는 자궁내막세포의 증식과 함께 수화되는 특징을 보이며, 자궁내강으로 물이 이동되어 자궁내액의 점성이 낮아지는 현상이 나타난다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 생쥐의 발정주기 동안 자궁에서의 형태학적인 변화와 관련하여 AQP유전자가 물 이동의 매개체로서 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 추측하여, 생쥐 발정주기 동안에 AQP유전자의 발현 양상을 역전사 중합효소 연쇄반응을 통하여 관찰하였다. 또한, laser capture microdissection(LCf을 이용하여 자궁내 세포의 종류에 따른 AQP유전자의 발현 양상을 조사하였다. AQP-4 전령체는 발정주기의 proestrus와 estrus 시기에 발현량이 유의하게 증가하는 반면, AQP-8 전령체는 동일한 시기에 유의하게 감소하는 것으로 관찰되었다. 또한, LCM 기법을 통해서 AQP-4와 -8 전령체가 자궁기질세포보다 자궁내막세포에서 강하게 발현이 유도됨을 관찰하였다. 결과적으로, 생쥐 자궁에서 AQP-4와 -8유전자가 발정주기에 따라 발현량이 변화하는 것으로 보아 난소내 호르몬인 estrogen과 progesterone에 의해 조절될 가능성이 있으며, proestrus와 estrus 시기에 자궁내강으로 자궁내액을 수송하는데 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.119-131
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• 2004

연구 목적: 난소에서 분비되는 스테로이드 호르몬인 에스트로젠과 프로게스테론은 포유동물의 생식기관 발달과 정상적인 생식 기능, 수정과 배아의 착상에 중요한 역할을 한다. 특히 에스트로젠은 자궁내액을 내강으로 분비하여 자궁부종 기작에 중요한 역할을 한다. 자궁내액은 정자의 수정능력 획득과 착상전 배아의 발달에 매우 중요하다. Aquaporin (AQP)은 막관통 물수송 단백질로서 여러 조직에 넓게 분포되어 있으며, 세포간 또는 상피세포간 물의 이동에 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐 자궁에서 스테로이드 호르몬에 의해 조절되는 자궁내액의 이동에 AQP 유전자가 관여하는지를 알아보았다. 연구 재료 및 방법: 난소 절제술을 시행한 생쥐에 스테로이드 호르몬을 피하주사하고 6, 12, 24시간 간격으로 자궁조직을 적출하였다. 대조군은 sesame oil만을 주사한 후 6시간째에 수획한 자궁조직을 사용하였으며, 실험군은 시간대별과 스테로이드 처리별로 채취한 자궁조직에서 역전사중합효소반응을 수행하였다. 역전사중합효소반응을 통해 막관통 단백질인 AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA의 발현양상을 살펴보았다. 또한 mRNA의 위치를 살펴보기 위해 laser microdissection을 이용하여 RT-PCR을 수행하였다. 마지막으로 자궁조직내에서의 단백질 발현 부위를 관찰하기 위해 면역조직화학염색을 실시하였다. 결 과: AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA은 프로게스테론을 처리한 군보다 에스트로젠을 처리한 군에서 많이 발현되었으며, 에스트로젠을 주사한 지 6시간째 발현정도를 대조군과 비교할 때 AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA가 각각 7.9배, 2.8배, 3.8배로 나타났다. AQP-4, -5, -8 mRNA는 간충조직보다 자궁내 상피조직에서 스테로이드 호르몬의 영향을 받아 발현양상의 차이가 나타났으며, 주로 에스트로젠의 영향을 받아 발현이 증가하였다. AQP-4 단백질은 에스트로젠을 24시간 처리한 후 프로게스테론을 처리한 군의 자궁내 상피조직에서 많이 발현되었으며, AQP-5와 -8 단백질은 에스트로젠을 처리한 군의 자궁내 상피조직에서 발현이 증가하였다. 결 론: 이상의 결과를 통해 AQP-4, -5, -8은 주로 에스트로젠에 의해 자궁내 상피세포에서 발현이 증가되는 것으로 보아 에스트로젠의 영향하에 일어나는 자궁내액의 이동으로 인한 자궁부종기작에 이동통로로서 관여하는 것으로 사료된다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.874-885
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• 2012

In the present study, the possibility of whether the pharmacological effects of Scutellariae Radix Aqueous Extracts(SR) were favorably changed by report that lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced rat acute lung injury was treated with Red-Koji(Monascus purpureus 12002) fermentation. Three different dosages of Red-Koji fermented SR extract(fSR), 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 28 days before LPS(Escherichia coli 0111:B4) treatments, and then 5 hours after LPS treatment(500 ${\mu}g$/head, intra trachea instillation), all rats were sacrificed. Changes in the body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters(pH, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) protein, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$) contents, total cell numbers, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), proinflammatory cytokine TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents were observed with histopathology of the lung, changes on luminal surface of alveolus(LSA), thickness of alveolar septum, number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs). As results of LPS-injection, dramatical increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit increases in $PaCO_2$, decreases in pH of arterial blood and $PaO_2$, increases of BALF protein, LDH, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung MDA, MPO, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents increases were detected with decreases in LSA and increases of alveolar septum and PMNs numbers, respectively as compared with intact control. Especially fSR 125 mg/kg showed quite similar favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injuries as compared with 60 mg/kg of ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid and 250 mg/kg of SR. The results suggest that over 125 mg/kg of fSR extracts showed favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injury mediated by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, increases of the pharmacological effects of SR on LPS-induced acute lung injury were observed by Red-Koji fermentation in this study, at least 2-fold higher.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.229-246
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• 1997

Implantation is a most important biological process during pregnancy whereby conceptus establishes its survival as well as maintenance of pregnancy. During the periimplantation period, both uterine endometriurn and conceptus synthesize and secrete a host of growth factors and cytokines which mediate the actions of estrogen and /or progesterone and also exert their steroid-independent actions. Growth factors expressed by the materno-conceptal unit en masse have important roles in cell migration, stimulation or inhibition of cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, maintenance of pregnancy and materno-conceptal communications in an autorcrine /paracrine manner. The present review focuses on the role of the intrauterine IGF system during periimplantation conceptus development. The IGF system comprises of IGF- I and IGF- II ligands, types I and II IGF receptors and six or more IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFs and IGFBPs are expressed and secreted by uterine endometrium with tissue, pregnancy stage and species specificities under the influence of estrogen, progesterone and other growth factor(s). Conceptus also synthesizes components of the IGF system beginning from a period between 2-cell and blastocyst stages. Maternal IGFs are utilized by both maternal and conceptal tissues; conceptus-derived growth factors are believed to be taken up primarily by conceptus. IGFs enhance the development of both maternal and conceptal compartments in a wide range of biological processes. They stimulate proliferation and differentiation of endometrial cells and placental precursor cells including decidual transformation from stromal cells, placental formation and the synthesis of some steroid and protein hormones by differentiated endometrial cells or placenta. It is also well-documented in a number of experimental settings that both IGFs stimulate preimplantation embryo development. In slight contrast to these, prenatal mice carrying a null mutation of IGF and /or IGF receptor gene do not exhibit any apparent growth retardation until after implantation. Reason (s) for this discrepancy between the knock-out result and the in vitro ones, however, is not known. IGFBPs, in general, are believed to inhibit IGF action within the materno-conceptal unit, thereby allowing endometrial stromal cell differentiation as well as dampening ex cessive placental invasion into maternal tissue. There is evidence, however, indicating that IGFBP can enhance IGF action depending on environrnental conditions perhaps by directioning IGF ligand to the target cell. There is also a third possibility that certain IGFBPs and their proteolytic fragments may have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. In addition to IGFBPs, IGFBP proteases including those found within the uterine tissue or lumen are thought to enhance IGF bioavailability by degrading their substrates without affecting their bound ligand. In this regard, preliminary results in early pregnant pigs suggest that a partially characterized IGFBP protease activity in uterine luminal fluid enhances intrauterine IGF bioavailability during conceptus morphological development. In summary, a number of in vitro results indicate that IGFs stimulates the development of the rnaterno-conceptal unit during the periimplantation period. IGFBPs appear to inhibit IGF action by sequestering their ligands, whereas IGFBP proteases are thought to enhance intrauterine bioavailability of IGFs. Much is remaining to be clarified, however, regarding the roles of the individual IGF system components. These include in vivo evidence for the role of IGFs in early conceptus development, identification of IGF-regulated genes and their functions, specific roles for individual IGFBPs, identification and characterization of IGFBP proteases. The intrauterine IGF club house thus will be paying a lot of attention to forthcoming results in above and other areas, with its door wide-open!

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.1446-1451
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• 2016

Clostridium difficile toxin A causes acute gut inflammation in animals and humans. It is known to downregulate the tight junctions between colonic epithelial cells, allowing luminal contents to access body tissues and trigger acute immune responses. However, it is not yet known whether this loss of the barrier function is a critical factor in the progression of toxin A-induced pseudomembranous colitis. We previously showed that NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) KO (knockout) mice spontaneously display weak gut inflammation and a marked loss of colonic epithelial tight junctions. Moreover, NQO1 KO mice exhibited highly increased inflammatory responses compared with NQO1 WT (wild-type) control mice when subjected to DSS-induced experimental colitis. Here, we tested whether toxin A could also trigger more severe inflammatory responses in NQO1 KO mice compared with NQO1 WT mice. Indeed, our results show that C. difficile toxin A-mediated enteritis is significantly enhanced in NQO1 KO mice compared with NQO1 WT mice. The levels of fluid secretion, villus disruption, and epithelial cell apoptosis were also higher in toxin A-treated NQO1 KO mice compared with WT mice. The previous and present results collectively show that NQO1 is involved in the formation of tight junctions in the small intestine, and that defects in NQO1 enhance C. difficile toxin A-induced acute inflammatory responses, presumably via the loss of epithelial cell tight junctions.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.49-69
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• 2011

Objective : The object of this study was to observe the effects of Lonicerae Flos (LF) aqueous extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat acute lung injury. Method : Five different dosages of LF extracts were orally administered once a day for 28 days before LPS treatments, and then all rats were sacrificed after 5 hour-treatment of LPS. Eight groups of 16 rats each were used in the present study. The following parameters caused by LPS treatment were observed ; body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters (pH, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) contents, total cell numbers, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), proinflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents. In addition, the histopathologic changes were observed in the lung in terms of luminal surface of alveolus, thickness of alveolar septum, number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Result : As results of LPS-injection, dramatical increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit increases, increases in $PaCO_2$, decreases in pH of arterial blood and $PaO_2$, increases of BALF protein, LDH, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents increases were detected with decreases in LSA and increases of alveolar septum and PMNs numbers, respectively as compared with intact control. These are means that acute lung injuries (resembling acute respiratory distress syndrome) are induced by treatment of LPS mediated by inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and related lipid peroxidation in the present study. However, these LPS-induced acute lung injuries were inhibited by 28 days continuous pretreatment of 250 and 500mg/kg of LF extracts. Because of lower three dosages of LF treated groups, 31.25 and 62.5 and 125mg/kg did not showed any favorable effects as compared with LPS control, the effective dosages of LF in LPS-induced acute lung injuries in the present study, is considered as about 125mg/kg. The effects of 250mg/kg of LF extracts showed almost similar effects with ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid 60mg/kg in preventing LPS-induced acute lung injuries. Conclusion : It seems that LF play a role in protecting the acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by LPS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.224-231
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• 2001

목 적 : 저자들은 기관지 내시경 검사상 탄분 섬유화증을 보인 환자들의 임상적 특정 및 항결핵 약제 투여의 필요성 여부를 확인하기 위해 본 연구를 사행하였다. 방 법 : 기관지 내시경 검사상 기관지 협착이나 폐쇄를 동반한 기관지 점막의 탄분 침착을 갖는 환자 22명올 대상으로 하였다. 진단 당시의 증상, 흡연력, 결핵 치료력, 폐기능 검사, 기관지 내시경 검사, 방사선학적 검사 등을 후향적 방법으로 비교하였고, 결핵의 진단은 객담 및 기관지 폐포액의 도말 검사나 배양검사 그리고 조직검사를 통하여 시행하였다. 이후 결핵감염의 증거가 없는 11명을 선별하여 항결핵약제의 투여 없이 추적관찰 하였다. 결 과 : 주 증상은 기침(73%, 16/22)이었고 그뒤로 객담(41%, 7/22), 호흡곤란(32%, 7/22), 객혈(27%, 6/22)등의 증상들이 따랐다. 폐 결핵의 양성은 객담이나 기관지 폐포액의 항산균도말이나 배양검사에서 양성, 조직검사에서 건락성 육아종을 보이는 경우를 양성으로 하였고, 이들 검사를 통해 11명(50%)에서 양성을 보였고, 나머지 11명(50%)에서는 결핵의 증거를 보이지 않았다. 이중 결핵음성을 보이 11명의 환자중 단지 1명에서 16개월뒤 폐결핵 양성 조견을 보였고, 8명의 환자에서는 짧게는 8개월, 길게는 60개월의 추적관찰 기간중에 결핵의 증거를 나타나지 않았다. 결 론 : 기관지 탄분 섬유화증을 보이는 환자에서 결핵의 증거를 찾기위한 집중적인 검사를 진행해야 하며, 검사상 결핵의 증거가 있는 경우에 항 결핵약체의 투여가 필요하며, 결핵의 증거가 없는 경우의 항결핵약제투여 여부는 좀더 많은 조사와 연구가 필요하다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.735-743
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• 2009

Naringill은 레몬, 오렌지에서 발견되는 flavonoid계열에 속하는 물질로 여러 식물과 과일에 다량 함유되어 있다. 항암, 항산화 작용을 하는 것으로 알려져 있는 Naringin을 ovalbumin (OVA)으로 유도한 천식(asthma) 생쥐모델을 이용하여 치료효과를 알아 보았다. 기관지 폐포 세척액을 회수하여 백혈구의 수적 변화, 제2형 협조T세포 (Th2 cell)가 생산하는 Il-4, IL-5의 생산에 미치는 영향과 폐조직에서 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 활성을 측정하였다. 또한, 최근에 Th1/Th2 전사인자로서 GATA-3가 밝혀졌는데 이번 실험에서 Naringin이 ovalbumin (OVA)으로 유도한 천식(asthma) 생쥐모델에서 Th1, Th2 싸이토가인과 유전자 발현을 조절할 수 있는가에 대하여 알아보았다 그 결과 기관지 폐포 세척액에서 OVA로 감작하여 천식을 유도한 실험군에서는 호산구의 현저한 증가, Th2 형 싸이토가인 (IL-4, 1L-5)의 증가가 관찰되었다. 그러나 Naringin 을 투여한 그룹에서는 OVA의 감작에 의하여 증가한 각종 염증성 지표들이 감소하거나 정상화 되었다. 또한 OVA에 의하여 증가된 기도저항성이 Naringin 투여에 의하여 감소하였으며 폐조직의 염증성 소견도 뚜렷하게 감소되었다. 이와 같은 연구 결과는 Naringin이 천식의 치료에 유용하게 쓰일 수 있음을 시사해준다.