• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.80 no.1
• /
• pp.60-68
• /
• 2017

Background: Mucus hypersecretion from airway epithelium is a characteristic feature of airway inflammatory diseases. Tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) regulates mucin synthesis. Glucocorticoids including mometasone fuorate (MF) have been used to attenuate airway inflammation. However, effects of MF on mucin production have not been reported. Methods: Effects of MF and budesonide (BUD) on the phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induction of mucin and TNF-${\alpha}$ in human airway epithelial cells (NCI-H292) were investigated in the present study. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with PMA (200 nM) for 2 hours. Subsequently, the cells were stimulated with MF (1-500 ng/mL) or BUD (21.5 ng/mL) for 8 hours. Dexamethasone ($1{\mu}g/mL$) was used as the positive control. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine MUC2 and MUC5AC mRNA levels. The level of total mucin, MUC2, MUC5AC, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in culture supernatants were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: MF and BUD significantly suppressed MUC2 and MUC5AC gene expression in PMA-stimulated NCI-H292 cells. The inhibitory effects of the two steroid drugs were also observed in the production of total mucin, MUC2 and MUC5AC proteins, and TNF-${\alpha}$. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that MF and BUD attenuated mucin and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in PMA-induced human airway epithelial cells.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.88-98
• /
• 2014

Total spleen lymphocytes, lymphocyte proliferation, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in spleen lymphocyte culture were studied in malnourished Wistar rats fed with goat milk yoghurt. Malnourished rats were created by using standard feed restriction as much as 50% of normal rats for 21 d. Goat milk yoghurt containing three types of microorganism e.g., Lactobacillus acidophilus, Sterptococcus thermophilus and Bifidobacterium longum derived from Lacto-B culture in powder form. After 21 d, the rats continued to receive restricted feeding and supplemented with goat milk yoghurt for 7 d. Total splenocytes were counted by hemocytometer. Splenocytes proliferation was expressed as stimulation index, whereas the TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10 of spleen lymphocyte culture were measured by ELISA technique. The total number of splenocytes and stimulation index of splenocytes in moderate malnourished and normal rats supplemented with goat milk yoghurt was not significantly different. The level of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the rat supplemented with goat milk yoghurt was lower (p<0.05) than the control group, whereas the level of IL-10 in the rat supplemented with goat milk yoghurt was higher (p<0.05) than the control group. In conclusion, goat milk yoghurt supplementation in malnourished rats could decrease TNF-${\alpha}$ as a representation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, while it increases IL-10 as a representation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2010

$\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), the active principle of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in different animal models. In this study, the effects of GA on the production of inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-6, nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E (pGE)-2 were examined in RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. Furthermore, to elucidate a possible mechanism for the inhibitory effect of GA on the production of TNF-$\alpha$, it was investigated whether the treatment of GA affects the I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation and subsequent nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$. Various inflammatory responses were induced in the culture system by treating with a lipopolysaccharide (LPS). GA showed anti-inflammatory activities in dose-dependant manner with $IC_{50}$ of $5.4{\mu}M$ by inhibiting the production of TNF-$\alpha$ in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, the treatment of GA blocked both I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation and the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus. However, it did not affect the production of IL-6, NO, and PGE-2, implying the direct blocking of the production of TNF-$\alpha$ resulting from both the I-${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation and the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$. This finding might provide the underlying mechanism to explain the reported anti-inflammatory activities of GA in animal models.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.213-220
• /
• 2012

Background: It has been demonstrated that the expression of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and apoptotic cell death in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) following spinal nerve constriction injury play a role in the initiation and continuation of hyperalgesia and allodynia. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on mechanical and cold allodynia, TNF-${\alpha}$ expression, and apoptosis in DRG after spinal nerve ligation injury. Methods: Rats were divided into 3 groups: control, pre-EP, and post-EP. EP (50 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 30 minutes before (pre-EP) or after (post-EP) surgery. Behavioral tests to determine mechanical and cold allodynia were conducted before surgery and 4 and 7 days after surgery. Seven days after surgery, TNF-${\alpha}$ protein levels in DRG were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and DRG apoptosis was determined by immunohistochemical detection of activated caspase-3. Results: Treatment with EP significantly reduced mechanical and cold allodynia following spinal nerve ligation injury. TNF-${\alpha}$ protein levels in the pre-EP ($4.7{\pm}1.2$ pg/200 ${\mu}g$; P < 0.001) and post-EP ($6.4{\pm}1.8$ pg/200 ${\mu}g$; P < 0.001) groups were 2-3 times lower than the control group ($14.4{\pm}1.2$ pg/200 ${\mu}g$). The percentages of neurons and satellite cells that co-localized with caspase-3 were also significantly lower in the pre-EP and post-EP groups than the control group. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that EP has a strong anti-allodynic effect that acts through the inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ expression and apoptosis in DRG after spinal nerve ligation injury.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.79-82
• /
• 2000

Saponins, the major component of ginseng root, mediate the pharmacological action of the ginseng. It has been reported that ginseng roots have protective effect against various toxins. In this study, the effects of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) production induced by bacterial toxin was investigated. TNF-$\alpha$ level in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-activated serum was remarkably reduced by intraperitoneal administration (50 mg/kg)of ginseng total saponin (GTS) into mice. The inhibitory effect against TNF-$\alpha$ production was not significant when GTS was given after the LPS injection, and by oral administration. These results suggested that ginseng root may have protective activity against liver damage accompanying the overproduction of TNF-$\alpha$ and GTS is the active component of ginseng.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.650-656
• /
• 2013

Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays a pivotal role in augmenting Protein C activation through the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. EPCR activity is markedly changed by ectodomain cleavage and released as the soluble protein (sEPCR). EPCR shedding is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ converting enzyme (TACE). Lycopene found in tomatoes and tomato products has anti-oxidant, anti- cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known about the effects of lycopene on EPCR shedding. We investigated this issue by monitoring the effects of lycopene on the phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and on the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-mediated EPCR shedding. Data showed that lycopene potently inhibited the PMA, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and CLP-induced EPCR shedding by suppressing TACE expression. Furthermore, lycopene reduced PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of p38, extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Given these results, lycopene should be viewed as a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of various severe vascular inflammatory diseases via inhibition of the EPCR shedding.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.140-146
• /
• 1999

When murine fibrosarcoma L929 cells, a TNF-sensitive cell line, were treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (rhTNF-$\alpha$), the activities of glycolytic regulatory enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase increased up to 100-150% compared to the control L929 cells after TNF treatment. By using various metabolic inhibitors and activators, it was found that cAMP-dependent protein kinase is responsible for the increase of activities of the glycolytic enzymes. The activities of glycolytic regulatory enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase of TNF-resistant A549 cells, a human lung carcinoma cell line, did not increase significantly compared to TNF-sensitive L929 cells upon TNF treatment. In contrast, the pyruvate carboxylase activities of A549 cells, but not L929 cells, increased up to 30~40% after TNF treatment. The data suggest that pyruvate carboxylase activity may contribute to the compensation of energy loss mediated by TNF treatment in TNF-resistant A549 cells.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.336-341
• /
• 2014

Endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) plays important roles in blood coagulation and inflammation. EPCR activity is markedly changed by ectodomain cleavage and release as the soluble EPCR. EPCR can be shed from the cell surface, which is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ converting enzyme (TACE). Oroxylin A (OroA), a major component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is known to exhibit anti-angiogenic, antiinflammation, and anti-invasive activities. However, little is known about the effects of OroA on EPCR shedding. Data showed that OroA induced potent inhibition of phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced EPCR shedding through suppression of TACE expression and activity. In addition, treatment with OroA resulted in reduced PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of p38, extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). These results demonstrate the potential of OroA as an anti-sEPCR shedding reagent against PMA and CLP-mediated EPCR shedding.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.94-99
• /
• 2007

The immunostimulating activities of mucilage fraction from yam were investigated. The proliferation of BSA-primed lymph node cells was enhanced between 4.1- to 10.9-fold compare to control, when cultured with 1 to $25{\mu}g/mL$ of yam-mucilage fraction. It showed strong immunostimulating activity than ginseng extract and as remarkable as Bifidobacterium adolescentis M101-4 known as a positive immunostimulator. Mitogenicity to lymph node cells was fully induced by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. The proliferation of splenocytes and Peyer's patch cells was enhanced between 5.0- to 14.1-fold and 2.4- to 6.4-fold, respectively, when cultured with 1 to $25{\mu}g/mL$ of yam-mucilage fraction. It enhanced the production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in the culture of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the culture of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, production of cytokines was as similar as compared to controls. In unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells, both tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production were enhanced between 15.6- to 60.1-fold and 2.3- to 9.1-fold, respectively. Mucilage fraction from yam is expected to be a safe immunopotentiator to maintain the host immunity and develop a physiologically functional food.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.142-148
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this research was to investigate effects of Samultang water extract (SMT) on cytokine production from immune cells during the late stage of pregnancy in BALB/c mice. SMT(500 mg/kg) was administered p.o. once a day for 7 days, and then thymocytes and peritoneal macrophages were separated. At the late stage of pregnant mice, the proliferation of thymocytes and the production of ${\gamma}-interferon$ in thymocytes were decreased as compared with normal group, but the production of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 was increased. The production of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, nitric oxide and phagocytic activity in peritoneal macrophage was increased as compared with normal group. At the late stage of pregnant mice administered with SMT, the production of interleukin-2 in thymocytes was decreased as compared with a pregnant group, but the proliferation of thymocytes, the production of ${\gamma}-interferon$ and interleukin-4 was increased. The production of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and nitric oxide in peritoneal macrophages were decreased as compared with a pregnant group, but phagocytic activity were increased. These results suggest that SMT has the regulative action on immune function of thymocytes and peritoneal macrophages at the late stage of pregnant mice.