Dongsool Yim

Immunomodulatory activity of betulinic acid by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of macrophages.

Betulinic acid (BA), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated fromLycopus lucidus, has been reported to be a selective inducer of apoptosis in various human cancer and shown anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. We postulated that BA modulates the immunomodulatory properties at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interlukin-1β (IL-1β) and the tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) on the basis of the critical role of the monocytes and tissue macrophages in inflammatory and immune responses. TNF-α and IL-1β were produced by BA in a dose dependent manner at concentration of 0.625 and 10 μg/mL. The production of NO associated withiNOS was inhibited when treated with LPS at the concentration of 2.5 to 20 μg/mL of BA whereas COX-2 expression was decreased at 2.5 to 20 μg/mL. These modulations of inflammatory mediators were examined in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages. The morphology of macrophage was also examined and enhanced surface CD 40 molecule was expressed when treated BA at 0.625–5 ¼g/mL with or without LPS. Furthermore, BA (20 μg/mL) enhanced apoptosis by producing DNA ladder in the RAW 264.7 cells. Our results indicated that BA induced activation of macrophage and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This may provide a molecular basis for the ability of BA to mediate macrophage, suppress inflammation, and modulate the immune response.

Anti-inflammatory function of arctiin by inhibiting COX-2 expression via NF-κB pathways

BackgroundArctiin, isolated from Forsythia suspensa has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral effects in vitro. However, there has been a lack of studies regarding its effects on immunological activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential and possible mechanisms of arctiin in LPS-induced macrophages.MethodsWe investigated the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through RT-PCR and western blot analysis, followed by a FACS analysis for surface molecule changes.ResultsArctiin dose dependently decreased the production of NO and proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and PGE2, and it reduced the gene and protein levels as determined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 were also inhibited by arctiin. Furthermore, the activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-κB in macrophages was inhibited by arctiin.ConclusionTaken together these results provide evidence of the bioactivity of arctiin in inflammatory diseases and suggest that arctiin may exert anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory mediators through the inactivation of NF-kB.

The effect of linarin on LPS-induced cytokine production and nitric oxide inhibition in murine macrophages cell line RAW264.7.

The herb,Chrysanthemum zawadskii var,latilobum commomly known as Gu-Jul-Cho in Korea, used in traditional medicine to treat pneumonia, bronchitis, cough, common cold, pharyngitis, bladder-related disorders, gastroenteric disorders, and hypertension. Linarin is the main active compound and the biological mechanisms of its activity are unclear. It is believed that effects of this herb may be exerted through the pluripotent effectors of linarin due to its ability to treat a variety of afflictions. In this study, the effects of linarin on the mouse macrophages cell line, RAW 264.7, were investigated. It was found that linarin could activate macrophages by producing cytokines. Monocytes and tissue macrophages produce at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Recent studies have shown that TNF and IL-1 modulate the inflammatory function of endothelial cells, leukocytes, and fibroblasts. TNF-α production by macrophages treated with linarin occured in a dose dependent manner. However, IL-1 production was largely unaffected by this natural product. This study demonstrated the ability of linarin to activate macrophages both directly and indirectly. Linarin also affect both cytokine production and nitric oxide inhibition, in addition to the expression of some surface molecules. Nitric oxide (NO), derived from L-argin-ine, is produced by two forms(constitutive and inducible) of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The NO produced in large amounts by inducible NOS is known to be responsible for the vasodilation and hypotension observed in septic shock. Linarin was found to inhibit NO production in the LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Linarin may be a useful candidate as a new drug for treating endotoxemia and the inflammation accompanied by NO overproduction. The linarin-treated total lymphocytes exhibited cytotoxicity in a dose dependent manner between 20 ng/ml and 40 (üg/ml. These results suggest that linarin may function through macrophage activation.

Identification of Lactobacillus ruminus SPM0211 isolated from healthy Koreans and its antimicrobial activity against some pathogens

The intestinal microbiota are important to the host with regard to resistance they impart against bacterial infections and their involvement in mediating metabolic functions. Lactic acid producing bacteria such asLactobacillus play an important physiological role in these matters. The aim of the present study was to isolateLactobacillus sp. that inhibits enteric pathogens. Initially, 17 isolates from healthy Koreans were collected onLactobacillus selective medium. Resistance of the isolates to antibiotics including rifampicin, streptomycin, clindamycin and vancomycin was measured. One of the isolate was identified asLactobacillus ruminus on the basis of bacterial cell morphology, cultural characteristic and biochemical characteristics, 16S rRNA sequence analysis and PCR-RAPD. Antimicrobial activity of the bacterium against Vancomycin Intermediate ResistantStaphylococcus aureus (VISA) and Vancomycin-ResistantEnterococci (VRE) was measured. About 104 cells of VISA or VRE were mixed with 1, 5 and 9 mL ofL. ruminus SPM 0211 and the final volume was adjusted to 10 mL with brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. The cell suspension was incubated for 3, 6, 9 and 24 h, serially diluted and then plated on BHI agar plates. As numbers ofL. ruminus SPM 0211 were increased, viable cell count of VISA and VRE decreased. The strongest antimicrobial activity of SPM 0211 was observed after 9 h incubation in any mixture, almost completely inhibiting the growth of these two bacteria. The results suggest that the freshly isolatedL. ruminus SPM 0211 may be used as a pro-biotic microbe that prevents the colonization of enteric pathogens and can thereby promote good gastrointestinal health.

Activation of murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 by Korean propolis.

Monocytes and macrophages play a major role in defense mechanism of the host response to tumor, in part through the secretion of several potent products and macrophage cytokines. Monocytes and tissue macrophages produce at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TIMF). Recent studies emphasizes that TNF and IL-1 modulate the inflammatory function of endothelial cells, leukocytes, and fibroblasts. In this study, our work is directed toward studying thein vitro effects of Korean propolis on the ability to induce cellular and secretory responses in murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. It was found that Water Extract of Korean Propolis (WEP) could activate macrophages by producing cytokines. The production of the macrophage cytokines, IL-1 and TNF-α, by RAW 264.7 treated with WEP was examined from 2.5 μg/ml up to 25 μg/ml with dose dependent manner. Nitric oxide (NO) production was also increased when cells were exposed to combination of LPS and WEP from 2.5 μg/ml up to 25 μg/ml. At high dose of WEP (50 to 100 μg/ml) used to prescribe for anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated macrophage. Besides cytokine production, NO release, surface molecule expression and cell morphologic antigen expression were increased in response to the stimulation by WEP. These results suggested WEP may function through macrophage activation.

The n-Hexane, ethylacetate, and butanol fractions from Hydnocarpi Semen enhanced wound healing in a mice ulcer model

Our previous report showed that Hydnocarpi Semen (HS) extract has wound repair activity at ulcer lesion in diabetic mice. In this study, fractions of n-Hexane, ethylacetate (EtOAc), and butanol (BuOH) from HS crude extract were evaluated for their wound healing activity by using in vivo diabetic ulcer models and in vitro acute inflammation model. Although n-Hexane and EtOAc fractions promote wound healing in mice with ulcer, the BuOH fraction exhibited the most potent wound healing activity and the wound area score significantly decreased after treatment of BuOH fraction even at dose of 2 mg/kg. BuOH fraction stimulated macrophages to increase the production of nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-α. The BuOH fraction also enhanced the production of TGF-β and VEGF, which were involved in fibroblast activation and angiogenesis. The mRNA expression and activation of MMP-9 were increased by three fractions and the activity was higher in BuOH fraction-treated group compared to the other groups. The mechanism that the HS helps to promote healing of diabetic ulcer is possibly associated with the production of TNF-α, a proinflammatory cytokine, as well as the secretion of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9, which were involved in proliferation of capillaries and fibroblasts. These results suggest that HS can be a new candidate material for the treatment of wound in skin ulcer.

The Role of the Ethylacetate Fraction from Hydnocarpi Semen in Acute Inflammation In Vitro Model

We previously reported that Hydnocarpi Semen (HS) has a wound healing effect on diabetic foot ulcer lesion in mice. In this study, ethylacetate (EtOAc) fraction from HS extract were evaluated for their wound healing activity by using in vitro acute inflammation model. GC and GC/MS analysis shows that the main constituents in EtOAc fraction are chaulmoogric acid, hydnocarpic acid, and gorlic acid. EtOAc fraction activated macrophages to increase the production of TNF-α. The fraction also increased the production of TGF-β and VEGF, which induced fibroblast activation and angiogenesis. These results suggest that the mechanism that the fraction helps to enhance healing of skin wound is possibly associated with the production of TNF-α, as well as secretion of VEGF, TGF-β and HS may have a new bioactive material for the treatment of skin wound.

Polyacetylene Compound from Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense Inhibited Caspase-1-mediated IL-1β Expression

Our previous report showed that polyacetylene compound, 1-Heptadecene-11, 13-diyne-8, 9, 10-triol (PA) from the root of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense has anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we investigated the role of the PA as inhibitor of caspase-1, which converts prointerleukin-1β (proIL-1β) to active IL-1β and is activated by inflammasome involved in the inflammatory process. We tested the effect of PA on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β in murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. PA inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-1β production by macrophages at a dose dependent manner. PA also suppressed the activation of caspase-1. The mRNA level of ASC (apoptosis-associated spec-like protein containing a CARD), an important adaptor protein of inflammasome, was decreased in the PA treated group. Therefore our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of PA is due to inhibit the caspase-1 activation.

Abstract 4645: Decursin, a coumarin compound, inhibits the growth of human hepatoma cells involving cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Although recent advances have been made for the treatment of liver cancer, it still remains the sixth most diagnosed cancer worldwide and second most cause of mortality related to cancer. Decursin, a naturally occurring coumarin compound isolated from Angelica gigas Nakai is known for its hepatoprotective activity. For the first time we show that decursin has strong cytotoxic and growth inhibitory effects against liver cancer cells. Decursin (1-25 μM) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of Hep3B cell proliferation by upto 65-85% (p<0.005-0.001) in 24-48 h. Similarly in HepG2 cells, decursin (25-100 μM) decreased cell number by upto 61-74% (p<0.005-0.001) at 24-48 h. Growth inhibition was not due to the cell death in HepG2 cells, whereas, Hep3B cells showed an increased cell death (9-45%; p<0.001). Decursin enhanced sub-G1 population of cells in Hep3B but not in HepG2. Further, decursin induced G1 arrest at lower doses, however, at the higher doses cell death prevailed over cell cycle arrest. A consistent G2/M phase arrest in HepG2 cells at all the time points, however, at 100 μM, there was an induction of S-phase arrest. Decursin strongly decreased the colony forming efficiency of Hep3B cells. Decursin induced both apoptotic and autophagic cell death. In flow cytometry analyses, an increase in the acidic vesicular organelle development was observed at 24 and 48 h in Hep3B cells. Interestingly, in decursin treated HepG2 cells, autophagic induction occurred much later (48 h). This was further validated by MDC staining. Mechanistic studies for cell cycle regulators showed that decursin mediated G1 arrest could be via an increase in p21/cip1. Concomitantly, we observed reduced levels of Cyclin A and B1 and their respective kinases. PCNA, a marker of proliferation showed decreased in expression. Decursin mediated induction of apoptosis involved cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP and reduction in survivin level. This was accompanied by an enhanced Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Additionally, a potent decrease in the phosphorylation of IGF-IR and its downstream effector Akt, was observed. Decursin increased Erk1/2 phosphorylation, however, it was not associated with cell growth or survival. Collectively, these findings suggest that decursin strongly inhibits liver cancer growth and proliferation involving induction of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy and could be further explored and developed as novel treatment option for the hepatic malignancies. Citation Format: Praveen K. Kujur, Dongsool Yim, Rana P. Singh. Decursin, a coumarin compound, inhibits the growth of human hepatoma cells involving cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4645. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4645