• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.354-362
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• 2011

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by abnormalities in T cell immunoregulation and hyperreactivity of B cells, leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. We investigated the effect of baicalin on aberrant immunoregulation in pristane-induced lupus mice. Mice received i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane or PBS, and approximately 3 months later, were used as a pristane-induced lupus model or healthy controls. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were randomly divided into three groups: healthy mouse group (healthy control), pristane-primed lupus control group (lupus control), and baicalin (BAC)-treated pristane-primed lupus mouse group (BAC-treated lupus). The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were administrated orally with BAC 50 mg/kg or PBS once in a day for 10 ds. These results demonstrated that levels of serum IL-6, LPS-induced production of IL-6, $PGE_2$ and NO by macrophages, $PGE_2$-stimulated production of IL-6 by macrophages and IFN-${\gamma}$ by thymocytes, and an overexpression of splenic NKT cells and CD69+CD4+ T cells were downregulated in BAC-treated lupus compared to lupus control, while reduced apoptosis of splenic CD4+ T cells were upregulated. Therefore, these findings suggest that BAC may attenuate autoimmunity and disease activity in lupus via downregulation of aberrant activation of T cells and inhibition of overproduction of IL-6 and $PGE_2$ in pristane-induced lupus mice.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.64-67
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• 2003

In order to identify the origin and nature of the spilled oil in the potential source, we analyzed the concentrations of specific fuel constituents in fuel standard and environmental samples. The ratios of pristane/phytane are virtually unaltered because these compounds have the same bolatility in environmental samples. These were useful to identify the source of the fuel oil and to assess the effect of microbial degradation and weathering of the fuel oil. We analyzed the ratios of pristane/phytane in neat white kerosene, boiler kerosene, JP-8 and diesel products from L and S gas station. The ratios of pristane/phytane in L-white kerosene and JP-8 was 3.10 $\pm$0.03 and 1.77 $\pm$ 0.01, respectively. Otherwise, the ratios of pristane/phytane in water phase after distribution of fuel oil and water was 2.97 $\pm$0.02 in case of white kerosene and 1.65 $\pm$ 0.02 in case of JP-8. It is apparent from the results that the ratios of pristane/phytane were as product-specific, especially between kerosene and JP-8, and therefore, can also be used for fuel type identification in free products and groundwater samples which were collected in monitoring wells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2006

Lupus-like syndrome is characterized by multiple organ injuries including lungs and kidneys. Endotoxin induces a transiently intent systemic inflammatory response and indirectly transient acute lung injury in normal condition. However, whether endotoxin may trigger the persistent development of lung injury in chronic, inflammatory lupus-like syndrome compared with normal condition remains unclear. We examined the pulmonary vascular permeability and production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$, which play prominent roles in the pathogenesis of lupus-like tissue injury, 6 hand 72 h after i.p. lipopolysaccharide (LPS; endotoxin) injection in pristane-primed chronic inflammation ICR mice characterized by a lupus-like syndrome. These results demonstrated that levels of serum IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were remarkably increased 6 h in LPS-exposed pristane-primed mice compared with pristane-primed controls, while pulmonary vascular permeability and levels of serum and BAL TNF-${\alpha}$ were not. And levels of BAL TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly enhanced 72 h in LPS-exposed pristane-primed mice compared with pristane-primed controls. Also, LPS significantly induced the increased in vitro production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-10 by lung cells obtained from LPS-exposed pristane-primed mice compared with LPS-exposed normal mice. Our findings indicate that LPS may trigger persistent progression of lung injury through late overproduction of BAL TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-10 in lupuslike chronic inflammation syndrome compared with normal condition.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.222-228
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• 2009

Lupus is characterized by immunoregulatory abnormalities between T- and B-cells leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. We investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) ameliorates aberrant activation of T cells and B cells and attenuate production of IL-6 in pristane-induced lupus mice. Lupus was induced by i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane in female BALB/c mice, which, later about 4 months, were used as a lupus model. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were injected i.p. with BC 5 ${\mu}l$/kg or PBS once a day for 3 weeks. These results demonstrated that BC significantly decreased levels of serum and BAL IL-6 and production of IL-6 by macrophages with/without LPS, and downregulated expression of NKT cell and CD86+ CD45R/B220+, but not CD80+CD45R/B220+ and CD69+CD4+ in the splenocytes in pristaneinduced lupus mice. Moreover, BC greatly increased Con A-stimulated production of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ by splenocytes obtained from pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, our findings suggest that BC may ameliorate lupus pathogenesis in pristane-induced lupus mice via downregulation of aberrant activation of NKT cells and B cells and inhibition of production of IL-6.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2016

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and helper T (Th) cytokine-dependent autoantibody production. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of baicalin on the dysregulatory production of proinflammatory cytokines and Th cytokines in pristane-induced lupus mice. Mice were received i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane, and then, later about 3 months, were used as a pristane-induced lupus model. The pristane-induced lupus mice were administrated orally with baicalin 50 mg/kg once in a day for 10 days. Immune cells obtained from the pristane-primed lupus control group (lupus control) and baicalin-treated pristaneprimed lupus mouse group (BAC lupus) were cultured for 24 h or 36 h with/without mitogens. These results demonstrated that LPS-induced production of macrophage and splenic TNF-${\alpha}$ and Con A-induced production of thymic IFN-${\gamma}$ were attenuated in BAC lupus compared to lupus control, while LPS-stimulated production of macrophage IL-10, Con A-stimulated production of splenic IL-10 and, $PGE_2$-reduced production of splenic IFN-${\gamma}$ enhanced. Therefore, these findings suggest that baicalin may protect from autoimmunity and disease activity in lupus via modulatory effect of proinflammatory cytokine overproduction and Th cytokine imbalance.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2010

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by systemic inflammation through production of inflammatory mediators and signaling abnormalities between T- and B- cells, leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. This study was investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) attenuates development of lupus systemic inflammation in the early stage in pristane-induced lupus mice. The pristane-induced lupus mice were administrated with BC 0.5 ml/kg or PBS and healthy mice with PBS orally once a day for 14 days. Our results showed that BC remarkably attenuated levels of serum TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$, $PGE_2$, and VEGF, production of macrophages IL-6 and $PGE_2$ and expression of macrophages IL-6 and COX-2 mRNA in the presence or absence of LPS in pristane-induced lupus mice. Also, BC remarkably reduced expression of CD40L on the splenic T cells and CD80 on the splenic B cells and upregulated the reduced apoptosis of splenic T cells and CD4+ T cells in pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, these findings suggest that BC may attenuate early development of lupus systemic inflammation via downregulation of inflammatory mediators and amelioration of abnormal signaling between T cells and B cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2010

Pulmonary pathogenesis in lupus is characterized by interstitial inflammation and vasculitis in lungs. We investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) attenuates pulmonary inflammation and lung injury in pristane-induced lupus mice. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were administrated with BC 0.5 ml/kg or PBS orally once a day for 14 days. Our results demonstrated that BC significantly attenuated levels of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) IL-6, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$, $PGE_2$ and VEGF, and pulmonary vascular permeability in pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, these findings suggest that BC may inhibit development of pulmonary inflammation and lung injury in lupus.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2007

Scutellaria baicalensis is known as a herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, effect of Scutellaria baicalensis on lupus pathogenesis that is characterized by overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and abnormalities in regulation, function, and interaction of immune cells remains unclear. We investigated effects of Scutellariae radix methanol extract (SBMeOH) on the production of proinflammatory cytokines and abnormal activation of T cells in vitro in pristane-induced lupus BALB/c mice. These results demonstrated that SBMeOH significantly decreased the LPS-stimulated production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-10 by splenic and peritoneal macrophages and IL-6 and IL-10 by splenocytes from pristane-induced lupus mice. SBMeOH significantly downregulated the Con A-stimulated overproduction of IL-6, IL-10, and $IFN-{\gamma}$ by splenocytes from pristane-induced lupus mice. Also, SBMeOH significantly attenuated the Con A-induced expression of CD4+ T cells and CD69+CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells in pristane-induced lupus mice. Our findings indicate that SBMeOH may ameliorate lupus pathogenic inflammation and autoimmunity via downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine production and abnormal activation of T cells.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.95-104
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• 1999

Comparative biodegradation studies of liquid and solid alkanes and of two different solid alkanes were conducted by an isolated Acinetobacter sp., which degraded crude oil alkanes simultaneously. for the determination of degradation mechanism of hydrophobic crude oil constituents. Also a model oil experimental system composed of a solid alkane. heneicosane, as a substrate and a non-degradable non-aqueous phase liquid. pristane, as an oil matrix was established and studied. It was proposed that the Acinefobacter sp. utilized hydrophobic substrates directly on the surface of them with no difference in the degradation rates between the liquid and solid alkanes. On the basis of the results from the heneicosane/pristane system which imitates crude oil matrix containing solid constituents. the crude oil matrix was considered to reduce the bioavailability of contained substrates by reducing the specific surface area of substrates to contact with microorganisms.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.322-327
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• 2007

Fresh Rehmanniae radix is known as a traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, whether Rehmanniae radix attenuates autoimmune inflammation in lupus models characterized by T cell-dependent autoimmune disease including overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, loss of T cell tolerance, and B cell hyperactivity remains unclear. We investigated the effect of fresh Rehmanniae radix methanol extracts (RGMeOH) on the in vitro overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines by immune cells from pristaneinduced lupus BALB/c mice. These results showed that RGMeOH remarkably attenuated Con A-increased overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-6 and IL-10 by splenocytes from pristaneinduced lupus mice. RGMeOH greatly reduced LPS-induced production of TNF-${\alpha}$ by splenic macrophages from pristane-induced lupus mice, while significantly enhanced LPS-induced production of IL-10 but did not alter IL-6 by splenic macrophages and splenocytes. These findings suggest that RGMeOH may ameliorate lupus systemic inflammatory autoimmunity via down-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$ and T cell-dependent cytokine production.