• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.414-422
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• 2019

There is accumulating evidence that microRNAs are emerging as pivotal regulators in the development and progression of neuropathic pain. MicroRNA-15a/16 (miR-15a/16) have been reported to play an important role in various diseases and inflammation response processes. However, whether miR-15a/16 participates in the regulation of neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain development remains unknown. In this study, we established a mouse model of neuropathic pain by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerves. Our results showed that both miR-15a and miR-16 expression was significantly upregulated in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Downregulation of the expression of miR-15a and miR-16 by intrathecal injection of a specific inhibitor significantly attenuated the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia of CCI rats. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 downregulated the expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and tumor-necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), an important regulator in neuropathic pain and inflammation, was a potential target gene of miR-15a and miR-16. Inhibition of miR-15a and miR-16 markedly increased the expression of GRK2 while downregulating the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and $NF-{\kappa}B$ in CCI rats. Notably, the silencing of GRK2 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-15a/16 inhibition in neuropathic pain. In conclusion, our results suggest that inhibition of miR-15a/16 expression alleviates neuropathic pain development by targeting GRK2. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of neuropathic pain and suggest potential therapeutic targets for preventing neuropathic pain development.

• 생약학회지
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.37-45
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• 2019

Portulaca oleracea L. (PL) has been used in traditional medicine herb for treatment of various diseases, such as diarrhea, dysentery, and skin inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the PL regulates the inflammation by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although PL might have improvement effects of intestinal function and bioactive effects, there are not enough studies to demonstrate. This study investigated the effects of KDC16-2 on the improvement of intestinal function and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro. The improvement effect of intestinal function was measured fecal amount, water content and intestinal transit rate in KDC16-2 treated ICR mice. As results, compared with the control group, the KDC16-2 group showed a significant increase in wet fecal weight, dry fecal weight and fecal water content. The intestinal transit rate of KDC16-2 group was significantly increased. Based on the results, KDC16-2 is considered to have effects on improving intestinal function. The effect of anti-inflammatory demonstrated by using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. The mice were administered 3% DSS along with KDC16-2 (100, 300 mg/kg) for 14 days. DSS-induced colitis mice were significantly ameliorated in KDC16-2 treated group, including body weight loss, colon length shortening, tight junction protein of colon and histological colon injury. The levels of inflammatory mediators (IgG2a, IgA, C-reactive protein and Myeloperoxidase) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, Interleukin (IL)-6) which are involved in inflammatory responses were increased in the DSS-treated group as compared to those in the control group, and the levels were significantly decreased in the KDC16-2 groups. In addition, we investigated the impact of KDC16-2 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in J774A.1 cells. KDC16-2 inhibited production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggested that the KDC16-2 could effectively alleviate the dysfunction of intestinal and inflammatory mediators. Thus, these KDC16-2 can be potentially used as health functional food of intestinal.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.411-419
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• 2021

본 연구에서 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)이 마우스 대식세포인 RAW264.7 세포의 활성화 유도를 통한 면역증진 활성과 마우스 지방전구세포인 3T3-L1 세포의 지질축적억제를 통한 항비만 활성을 평가하였다. 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)은 전반적으로 RAW264.7 세포에서 TLR2/TLR4의 자극을 통해 p38과 JNK를 활성화시켜 NO, iNOS, IL-1𝛽, IL-6, TNF-𝛼와 같은 면역증진 인자의 발현을 증가시키는 것으로 판단된다. 그러나 IL-6의 경우, p38과 JNK 활성화에 의존하지 않는 것으로 확인되어 TLR2/4에 의한 다른 신호전달이 관여하는 것으로 사료되어 추가적인 연구가 필요하다. 또한, 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)은 PPAR𝛾의 과대발현을 억제하여 지방전구세포의 성숙한 지방세포로의 분화를 억제하고, 성숙한 지방세포에서 CEBP𝛼, PPAR𝛾, perilipin-1, FABP4, adiponectin의 발현을 억제하여 지방세포 내 지질 형성 및 축적을 억제하는 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구를 통해 구명된 결과들은 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)이 향후 면역증진 및 항비만을 위한 보조제 또는 건강 기능성 식품과 의약품으로의 개발 및 활용이 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.433-441
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• 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ginsenoside-Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-KRGE) is known to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects on neurological disorders. However, effects of Rg3-KRGE in EAE remain unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated whether Rg3-KRGE may improve the symptoms and pathological features of myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG)_35-55 peptide - induced chronic EAE mice through improving the integrity of the BBB. Results: Rg3-KRGE decreased EAE score and spinal demyelination. Rg3-KRGE inhibited Evan's blue dye leakage in spinal cord, suppressed increases of adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, extracellular matrix proteins fibronection, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, and prevented decreases of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-3, and claudin-5 in spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE repressed increases of proinflammatory transcripts cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but enhanced expression levels of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase-1 and IL-10 in the spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE inhibited the expression of oxidative stress markers (MitoSOX and 4-hydroxynonenal), the enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOX4, and NADPH activity in the spinal cord of chronic EAE mice. Furthermore, apocynin, a NOX inhibitor, mimicked beneficial effects of Rg3-KRGE in chronic EAE mice. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Rg3-KRGE might alleviate behavioral symptoms and pathological features of MS by improving BBB integrity through modulation of NOX2/4 expression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.693-704
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• 2021

Objective : Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been regarded as one of the standard treatments for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion. Despite the wide use of stent retrievers for MT, arterial intimal damage caused when deployed stent is pulled has been a certain disadvantage. We hypothesized that statin could protect and stabilize vessel damage after endovascular MT using a stent retriever. In this animal study, we observed the protective effects of the statins towards MT-induced vessel wall injury. Methods : Twenty-eight carotid arteries of fourteen rabbits were used in the experiments with MT using stent retriever. We divided the rabbits into four groups as follows : group 1, negative control; group 2, positive control; group 3, statin before MT; and group 4, statin after MT. After MT procedures, we harvested the carotid arteries and performed histomorphological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results : In histomorphological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stain, significant intimal thickening (p<0.05) was observed in the positive control (group 2), compared to in the negative control (group 1). Intimal thickening was improved in the statin-administered groups (groups 3 and 4 vs. group 2, p<0.05). We also observed that statin administration after MT (group 4) resulted in a more effective decrease in intimal thickness than statin administration before MT (group 3) (p<0.05). We performed immunohistochemical analysis with the antibodies for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cluster of differentiation (CD)11b, and CD163. In contrast to the negative control (group 1), the stained percentage areas of all immunological markers were markedly increased in the positive control (group 2) (p<0.05). Based on statin administration, the percentage area of TNF-α staining was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in group 3, compared to the positive control group (group 2). However, significant differences were not observed for CD11b and CD163 staining. In group 4, no significant differences were observed for TNF-α, CD11b, and CD163 staining (p≥0.05). The differences in the percentage areas of the different markers between the statin-administered groups (groups 3 and 4) were also not revealed. Conclusion : We presented that statin administration before and after MT exerted protective effects towards vessel wall injury. The efficacy of statins was greater post-administration than pre-administration. Thus, statin administration in routine prescriptions in the peri-procedural period is strongly advised.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.155-162
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• 2022

본 연구는 돈태반 효소 가수분해물의 면역증진 효과를 확인하고자 Cy를 이용한 면역 저하 모델에서 농도별 돈태반 효소 가수분해물을 투여한 실험군의 주간 체중과 조직 중량, 혈중 면역세포(백혈구, 과립구, 림프구, 중간구) 함량, 혈중 cytokine 및 immunoglobulin 함량, 자연살해세포 활성, 비장 조직 분석을 수행하였다. 체중은 대조군과 비교하여 돈태반 효소 가수분해물을 투여한 실험군 중 중농도 투여군(1.03 mg/kg BW, total nitrogen)과 고농도 투여군(2.07 mg/kg BW, total nitrogen)에서 다소 증가하는 경향을 보였고, 조직 중량은 돈태반 효소 가수분해물을 투여한 실험군이 Cy만을 단독 투여한 대조군에 비해 다소 높았으며, 이 중 고농도 투여군은 비장과 흉선 조직 중량 모두에서 대조군보다 유의적으로 높게 조사되었다. 각 실험군별 비장 조직을 이용한 자연살해세포 활성 분석 결과 정상군에 비해 대조군은 유의하게 감소하였으나 돈태반 효소 가수분해물을 고농도로 투여한 실험군과 양성대조군은 대조군에 비해 증가하는 경향을 보여 정상군과 유사한 수준을 보였다. 일반 혈액학적 분석(CBC analysis)에서 돈태반 효소 가수분해물을 투여한 실험군은 대조군에 비해 백혈구와 과립구, 림프구 및 중간구에서 모두 높은 함량을 보이는 것으로 나타났는데, 특히 고농도 투여군은 백혈구의 경우 양성 대조군인 HemoHIM 투여군과 유사한 수준으로, 과립구와 중간구의 경우 양성대조군보다 더 높은 함량을 보이는 것으로 조사되었다. 혈중 cytokine과 immunoglobulin의 함량을 분석한 결과 돈태반효소 가수분해물을 투여한 실험군에서 혈중 TNF-α와 IL-1β, IL-2, IL-12 및 IgG의 함량을 대조군과 비교하여 유의하게 증가시키거나 증가시키는 경향을 보였다. 또한 조직학적 분석에서 비장조직은 대조군에서 관찰되던 백색수질의 붕괴와 적색수질에서의 세포 응축현상은 돈태반 효소 가수분해물을 투여한 실험군에서 점차 호전되는 경향을 보였다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 돈태반효소 가수분해물은 Cy로 인한 세포와 조직 손상을 감소시키고 혈중 면역 관련 인자들의 함량을 증가시켜 면역력을 증진시키는데 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단되며, 추후 이를 활용한 건강 기능성 개발 및 의약품 개발에 따른 활용가치가 매우 높을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the healing effect of Cordyceps Militaris (CM) on collagen II-induced arthritis rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (normal, control, positive control, CM with low/medium/high dosage each). Type II collagen mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant (with 1:1 v/v) was injected subcutaneously, and the mixture was injected in a same manner one week after the first injection to boost arthritis. Arthritis index, paw thickness and von Frey test were conducted to observe physical changes. hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to observe knee cartilage. The levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of interleukin (IL)-1𝛽, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-𝛼) in spleen were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs on multiple joints and can lead to temporary shape change of bones or organ failure in severe cases. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of CM extract on rheumatoid arthritis by measuring paw thickness, arthritis index, conducting von Frey test and H&E staining, and evaluating the level of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, TNF-𝛼. As a result, paw thickness, arthritis index significantly decreased in low concentration group, hind leg became less sensitive in all expermental groups. Also, histological analysis showed that the damage of knee cartilage was prevented in all experimental groups. The level of mRNA of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and TNF-𝛼 in spleen was analyzed to decide the effectiveness of CM extract. IL-1𝛽 did not show significant change, but IL-6 and TNF-𝛼 showed significant decrease in at least one of the experimental groups. Conclusions CM showed protective effect on knee tissue destruction and improved the physical conditions of the leg involving arthritis. Also, it showed that CM has anti-inflammatory effect on specific cytokines inducing rheumatoid arthritis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the therapeutic potential of CM for the treatment rheumatoid arthritis, and set the foundation for the further studies.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.442-448
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• 2023

본 연구는 황칠나무(Dendropanax morbiferus, DM)의 잎과 뿌리 추출물을 함유한 발효음료인 콤부차를 제조하고, 소재의 항산화 및 세포내 활성을 분석하였다. 홍차만으로 발효한 콤부차와 발효 과정에서 DM 잎이나 뿌리 추출물을 첨가한 홍차를 사용하여 발효한 콤부차의 pH 변화, 전체 산도, 라디칼 소거능을 비교하였다. 또한 RAW 264.7 세포주를 활용하여 DM의 잎이나 뿌리 추출물을 함유한 콤부차가 세포 내 산화질소(NO) 생성 및 염증 관련 사이토카인 함량에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. DM 잎(BTKE-DML)과 뿌리(BTK-E-DMR)의 에탄올 추출물을 함유한 콤부차는 홍차만으로 제조한 콤부차(BTK-Ori)보다 발효 시작 3일 후 더 높은 라디칼 소거능을 나타내었다. RAW264.7 세포주를 이용한 in vitro 실험에서 세포독성을 고려하여 샘플을 8 mg/mL 콤부차로 처리한 결과, 지질다당류(LPS)로 유발된 NO 함량이 BTK-Ori 처리와 비교하였을 때 BTK-E-DML 및 BTK-E-DMR 처리에서 유의하게 감소하였다. 또한 LPS에 의해 자극되는 염증성 사이토카인인 인터루킨-6와 종양괴사인자-알파의 수준은 발효 15일 후 BTK-E-DML과 BTK-E-DMR을 처리한 세포에서 대조군에 비해 유의하게 감소하였다. 종합하면, 이러한 결과들은 DM의 잎 및 뿌리와 함께 발효된 콤부차는 항산화 활성이 증가되고, 세포 수준에서 염증 반응을 유의하게 조절할 수 있음을 입증하였다.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.26-36
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• 2024

Purpose: We investigated the role of CD8⁺T cells as host immune factors in pediatric patients with Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Methods: Gastric mucosal tissue and blood samples were collected from 39 children, including 11 children with H. pylori infection and 28 children as controls. Anti-CD8 and anti-T-bet antibodies were used for immunohistochemistry of the gastric mucosa. For the cell surface and intracellular staining, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with anti-IL7Rα, anti-CX3CR1, anti-CD8, anti-T-bet, and anti-IFN-γ antibodies. Cytokines of sera such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and CX3CL1 were analyzed using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: In the immunohistochemistry of gastric mucosa, the frequency of CD8⁺ and T-bet⁺ T cells cells was higher in the H. pylori-positive group than in the control group (26.9± 7.8% vs. 16.9±3.3%, p<0.001; 5.0±2.5% vs. 2.2±0.7%, p=0.001). Between the control and H. pylori-positive groups, the frequency of IL-7Rα^lowCX3CR1⁺ CD8⁺ and T-bet⁺ INF-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T cells were not significantly different between surface and intracellular staining, respectively (40.4±24.0% vs. 38.2±17.8%, p=0.914; 40.4±24.0% vs. 38.2±17.8%, p=0.914). In the ELISA, no significant differences in TNF-α and CX3CL1 concentrations were observed between the control and H. pylori-positive groups (34.3±12.1 pg/mL vs. 47.0±22.6 pg/mL, p=0.114/0.5± 0.1 pg/mL vs. 0.5±0.1 pg/mL, p=0.188). Conclusion: CD8⁺ T and Th1 cells, which secrete IFN-γ, might play important roles in the mucosal immunity of the stomach in children with H. pylori infection.

• 한국식품저장유통학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.307-314
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• 2024

닥나무는 항산화, 항암 효과뿐 아니라 천연 미백기능성분으로 인정받아 화장품 원료로 사용되며 닥나무의 잎과 가지는 식약처에 등재된 식용이 가능한 원료이다. 닥나무는 아시아에서 종이 제조 및 한의학적 용도로 사용되었고 항당뇨 등의 효능이 있으며, 다양한 플라보노이드와 알칼로이드를 포함하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 닥나무 추출물의 피부 염증성 알러지 반응에 대한 효능을 평가하기 위하여, HaCaT 각질형성세포의 피부염증 억제와 RBL-2H3 세포의 알러지 반응 억제와 관련된 인자들에 미치는 영향에 관하여 연구하였다. HaCaT 및 RBL-2H3 세포에 대한 70% 에탄올 추출물의 세포독성은 나타나지 않았다. HaCaT 세포에서 TNF-𝛼와 IFN-𝛾의 자극으로 케모카인(TARC, MDC, RANTES) 생성이 증가하였으며, 시료처리에 따라 농도의존적으로 유의성 있게 감소하였다. 한편, IgE 처리로 활성화된 RBL-2H3 세포에서 증가하는 𝛽-hexosaminidase 방출과 염증성 사이토카인 TNF-𝛼, IL-4 생성이 시료 처리로 유의적으로 감소하는 것을 확인하였다. 따라서 닥나무 가지 추출물은 알러지 염증반응 완화 효과를 갖는 천연물 화장품 및 식품 원료로 활용이 가능할 것으로 예상된다.