Jae-Hee Cho

Epicutaneously administered chemical antigens like 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), evoke an atopic dermatitis (AD)-like dermatitis reaction in NC/Nga mice under specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. Astragalus membranaceus (AM), is a popular herbal medicine used to treat allergic diseases in East Asia. In the present study, we examined whether AM suppress AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice treated with DNFB under SPF conditions. Oral administration of AM to DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice was foun

Consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction contributes to the cytoprotective effects of EPA in endothelial cells threatened with oxidative damage. In this study, we investigated the effect of EPA on the induction of HO-1 by NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in human umbilical v

Statin, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, has an anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Lovastatin (statin) on the cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK)-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. In statin treated group, the pancreas weight/body weight (pw/bw) ratio in CCK-induced acute pancreatitis was significantly lower than DMSO-treated group. Statin also increased the pancreatic level of HSP 60. Additionally, the secretions o

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a persistent environmental contaminant and is present in tobacco smoke. BaP is considered a major contributor of cardiovascular disease. While the activation of endothelial cells by stimuli including tobacco smoke and air pollution contributes importantly to cardiovascular disease, the nature of BaP’s mechanism is unclear. In this study, gene expression profiles were investigated in BaPtreated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Various atherosclerosis relate

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that function as potent negative regulators of gene expression. They play a critical role in the regulation of genes involved in the cellular and molecular responses to toxicants. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is an environmental contaminant found in cigarette smoke and is one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). BaP is considered a major contributor of vascular disease. In this study, we investigated whether miRNAs play a role in regulatio

Eriodictyol, a flavonoid commonly found in citrus fruits, shows neurotrophic, antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects under diverse pathophysiological conditions such as vascular diseases. In this study, we evaluated whether eriodictyol modulates miRNA and mRNA expression. Using microarray analysis, we examined miRNA and mRNA expression in human endothelial cells treated with 10 μM of eriodictyol for 24 h. Using numerous bioinformatic systems, we evaluated the signatures of the

Pulmonary fibroblasts are essential for the integrity of alveolar structures and to restore lung tissue after injury. They are also important for inflammatory responses through their ability to attract leukocytes. Cigarette smoke has many harmful components, and causes various pulmonary and lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Acrolein (ACR), one of the compounds in cigarette smoke, induces inflammatory cytokines and the generat

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4), a STAT family member, mediates interleukin 12 (IL12) signal transduction. IL12 is known to be related to calorie-restricted status. In the central nervous system, IL12 also enhances the production of nitric oxide (NO), which regulates food intake. In this study, the expression of neuronal NO synthase (Nos1), which is also related to food intake, was investigated in the hypothalamic areas of Stat4 knockout (KO) mice using nicotinamide ad

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in various biological processes including cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Several studies have examined the expression profiles of miRNAs in response to different drugs and chemicals and suggested that expression patterns were associated with the effects of drugs and chemicals. Fisetin, a polyphenol found in a wide range of plants, has been reported to exhibit numerous biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,