NLRP3 Inflammasome as Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Diseases.

Innate immunity is a first line defence system in the body which is for sensing signals of danger such as pathogenic microbes or host-derived signals of cellular stress. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR's), which present in the cell memebrane, are suspect the infection through pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), and activate innate immunity with response to promote inflammation via inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, and cytokines. Inflammasome are protein complexes which are part of innate immunity in inflammation to remove pathogens and repair damaged tissues.

Cell Autonomous Circadian Systems and Their Relation to Inflammation.

All living beings on earth have an important mechanism of 24-h periodicity, which controls their physiology, metabolism, and behavior. In humans, 24-h periodicity is regulated by the superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN) through external and environmental cues. Peripheral organs demonstrate circadian rhythms and circadian clock functions, and these are also observed in cultured cell lines.

Repositioned Drugs for Inflammatory Diseases such as Sepsis, Asthma, and Atopic Dermatitis.

The process of drug discovery and drug development consumes billions of dollars to bring a new drug to the market. Drug development is time consuming and sometimes, the failure rates are high. Thus, the pharmaceutical industry is looking for a better option for new drug discovery.

Expression of B subunit of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin in the progenies of transgenic tobacco bred by crossing nuclear- and chloroplast-transgenic lines.

The B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (LTB) is a model antigen that induces a strong immune response upon oral administration and enhances immune responses to conjugated and co-administered antigens. We previously examined high expression levels of LTB in plants by chloroplast and synthetic LTB gene expression and found substantially higher expression levels of LTB, compared to nuclear LTB expression in wild-type plants. The 2.

Rifampicin Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-Like Response and .

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder mediated by inflammatory cells, such as macrophages and mast cells. Rifampicin is mainly used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Recently, it was reported that rifampicin has anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive activities.

A novel staphylococcal enterotoxin B subunit vaccine candidate elicits protective immune response in a mouse model.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), produced by the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, is responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome, and is considered a potential bioterrorism agent. Unfortunately, still now no approved vaccines are available against SEB. In this study, we constructed a series of nontoxic SEB mutants (mSEBs) and examined whether these mSEBs provide protective immunity against SEB challenge.

Expression of Nucleotide-oligomerization Domain (NOD) and Related Genes in Mouse Tissues Infected with Mycobacterium leprae.

The nucleotide-oligomerization domain (NOD) is an important molecule involved in host defense against bacterial infection. To study the role of NODs in the host response to Mycobacterium leprae, we measured the mRNA levels of NODs and related genes in infected mouse tissues. The mRNA expression of NOD1, NOD2, caspase-1 and ASC was increased in mouse footpads.

Chitin from Cuttlebone Activates Inflammatory Cells to Enhance the Cell Migration.

Our previous report showed that the extract from cuttlebone (CB) had wound healing effect in burned lesion of rat and the extract was identified as chitin by HPLS analysis. We herein investigated the morphology in CB extract using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Chitin was used as a control.

Electrorheological response of inorganic-coated multi-wall carbon nanotubes with core-shell nanostructure.

The effect of coating thickness and sequence on the multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) surface on electrorheological (ER) activity is investigated. Silica-coated MWCNTs with different shell thicknesses and inorganic-coated MWCNTs with different shell sequences are fabricated using the sol-gel process. The morphology and elemental analyses of the core-shell structured MWCNTs were performed and the effect of coating thickness and coating materials on the MWCNT surface on ER and dielectric properties of inorganic-coated MWCNT suspensions have been analyzed from the measurement results of shear stress, viscosity, current density and permeability.

Chitin from the Extract of Cuttlebone Induces Acute Inflammation and Enhances MMP1 Expression.

We previously reported that the extract from cuttlebone (CB) has wound healing effect in burned lesion of rat. In present study, the main component of CB extract was analyzed and its wound healing activity was evaluated by using in vitro acute inflammation model. The extract of CB stimulated macrophages to increase the production of TNF-α.

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.

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.

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.

HaCaT Keratinocytes and Primary Epidermal Keratinocytes Have Different Transcriptional Profiles of Cornified Envelope-Associated Genes to T Helper Cell Cytokines.

HaCaT cells are the immortalized human keratinocytes and have been extensively used to study the epidermal homeostasis and its pathophysiology. T helper cells play a role in various chronic dermatological conditions and they can affect skin barrier homeostasis. To evaluate whether HaCaT cells can be used as a model cell system to study abnormal skin barrier development in various dermatologic diseases, we analyzed the gene expression profile of epidermal differentiation markers of HaCaT cells in response to major T helper (Th) cell cytokines, such as IFNγ, IL-4, IL-17A and IL-22.

The Role of Intracellular Receptor NODs for Cytokine Production by Macrophages Infected with Mycobacterium leprae.

The nucleotide-oligomerization domain (NOD) proteins are members of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family, which are intracellular and cytoplasmic receptors. We analyzed the role of NODs for cytokine production by macrophages infected with intracellular pathogen M. leprae, the causative agent of leprosy.

Vitamin D Receptor Gene TaqI, BsmI and FokI Polymorphisms in Korean Patients with Tuberculosis.

Background: The active metabolite (1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) of vitamin D (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) leads to activation of macrophages and deficiency of vitamin D seems to be involved in the risk of tuberculosis. The effects of vitamin D are exerted by interaction with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and may be influenced by polymorphism in the VDR gene. In this study, variation in the VDR gene was investigated in Korean population with tuberculosis.

Comparison of two mice strains, A/J and C57BL/6, in caspase-1 activity and IL-1beta secretion of macrophage to Mycobacterium leprae infection.

A/J mice were found to have amino acid differences in Naip5, one of the NOD-like receptors (NLRs) involved in the cytosolic recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns and one of the adaptor proteins for caspase-1 activation. This defect was associated with a susceptibility to Legionella infection, suggesting an important role for Naip5 in the immune response also to other intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium leprae. In this study, the immune responses of macrophages from A/J mice against M.

Simulation of mechanical behavior of temperature-responsive braided stents made of shape memory polyurethanes.

Polymeric stents can be considered as an alternative to metallic stents thanks to their lessened incidence of restenosis and controlled deployment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of developing a temperature-responsive braided stent using shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) through finite element analysis. It was assumed that braided stents were manufactured using SMPU fibers.

Anti-tumor activity of oxypeucedanin from Ostericum koreanum against human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells.

Purpose: Oxypeucedanin has been reported to have various biological activities. We investigated the efficacy of a coumarin compound, oxypeucedanin, from Ostericum koreanum against the human prostate carcinoma cell line DU145.

Material And Methods: Oxypeucedanin (C(16)H(14)O(5), mw: 286) was isolated through silica gel chromatography and characterized by NMR.

An essential role for the antiviral endoribonuclease, RNase-L, in antibacterial immunity.

Type I IFNs were discovered as the primary antiviral cytokines and are now known to serve critical functions in host defense against bacterial pathogens. Accordingly, established mediators of IFN antiviral activity may mediate previously unrecognized antibacterial functions. RNase-L is the terminal component of an RNA decay pathway that is an important mediator of IFN-induced antiviral activity.

Intranasal administration of a detoxified endotoxin vaccine protects mice against heterologous Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia.

When given passively or elicited actively, antibodies induced by a detoxified Escherichia coli J5 mutant lipopolysaccharide (J5dLPS)-group B meningococcal outer membrane protein (-OMP) vaccine previously protected animals from lethal sepsis. To assess the use of this vaccine for the treatment of Gram-negative bacillary pneumonia, we vaccinated mice, with or without the adjuvant CpG, by intranasal (i.n.

Mechanical modeling of self-expandable stent fabricated using braiding technology.

The mechanical behavior of a stent is one of the important factors involved in ensuring its opening within arterial conduits. This study aimed to develop a mechanical model for designing self-expandable stents fabricated using braiding technology. For this purpose, a finite element model was constructed by developing a preprocessing program for the three-dimensional geometrical modeling of the braiding structure inside stents, and validated for various stents with different braiding structures.

Expression of sialyltransferase activity on intact human neutrophils.

Endogenous polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-associated sialidase activity enhances PMN adhesion to and migration across the endothelium through the removal of sialylated cell-surface residues. We tested the hypothesis that PMNs also express sialyltransferase (ST) activity that restores sialyl residues to the PMN surface. We developed a highly sensitive fluorometric assay to demonstrate that intact human PMNs can mediate and accept sialyl residue transfer.