• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.528-533
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• 2021

The microalga, Tetrathelmis tetrathele, is used in the development of products for the aquaculture, food, and nutraceutical industries. In the present study, we investigated whether the T. tetrathele ethanolic extract (TTE), which has anti-inflammatory properties, can confer protection against alopecia and improve scalp health, influence the proliferation of human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells, and human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC), or inhibit 5α-reductase activity. We found that TTE inhibited the production of the inflammatory mediator, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) without cytotoxicity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, TTE encouraged the proliferation of HaCaT cells and HFDPC. Our results showed that TTE had anti-inflammatory activities, proliferated HaCaT cells and HFDPC, and inhibited 5α-reductase activity. Therefore, we suggest that T. tetrathele could be a potent therapeutic agent for alopecia prevention and scalp improvement.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.sup2
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• pp.395-404
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• 2008

Purpose: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a secreted glycoprotein and a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family that inhibits bone resorption by suppressing osteoclastogenesis. Gingival fibroblasts (GF) play a role in periodontal disease progression, and the purpose of this experiment was to evaluate influence of osteotropic factors on the expression of osteoprotegerin mRNA in these cells. Materials and Methods: In this experiment, the influence of osteoclastogenic factors, interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), TNF-$\alpha$, prostanglandin E2 ($PEG_2$). parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1$\alpha$, 25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ on the expression of osteoprotegerin mRNA in GF was studied by Northern blot hybridization. Results: As expected, $PEG_2$ tended to inhibit OPG levels and this was most prominent at 24 hours of culture with $10^{-7}M$ of $PEG_2$. TNF-$\alpha$ at 10ng/ml and also at 25ng/ml decreased OPG levels to almost 30% of the control at 24 hours. This contrasts with reports of increased OPG levels from osteoblast/stromal cells and gingival fibroblasts stimulated by TNF-$\alpha$. Decrease of OPG levels with $PEG_2$ and TNF-$\alpha$ suggests a pathway whereby these mediators exert their resorptive effects. However, OPG levels were increased almost 3-fold at 24 hours with IL-1$\beta$(1 to 15ng/ml) and increased 1.4 fold with 24-hour treatment of $10^{-7}M$ PTH. Conclusion: Increase of OPG levels suggests that these 'osteoclastogenic' factors act in more complex ways and may act to inhibit bone resorption in inflammatory periodontitis. This result supports the role of OPG as a negative feedback mechanism in osteoclastic activity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.175-183
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of Yongseollan(YSL) on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. YSL is tropical plant originating from Mexico. The biological activity of this plant is not yet evaluated systematically. The aim of the present work is to investigate a potential anti-inflammatory activity of YSL. The RAW264.7 cells were cultured in D MEM/F12 medium for 24 hrs. After serum starvation, cells were treated with YSL for 1 hr, followed by stimulating NO production with a LPS. We found that YSL has an inhibitory effect on the production of NO, iNOS expression and $phospho-I{\kappa}B$ expression. YSL also inhibited tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$. Moreover, YSL inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and prostanglandin E2 (PGE2). These findings showed that YSL could have some anti-inflammatory effects which might play a role in therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.