• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2002

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovial hyperplasia and joint destruction. The synovial fibroblasts express cell adhesion molecules and have a role in adhesive interation with inflammatory cells in synovial tissue. It has been suggested that hypoxic conditioins are thought to exist in arthritic joints, and several studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in hypoxic condition can initiate events that lead to pro-adhesive changes via increased expression of adhesion molecules. So, this study wsa designed to examine whether antioxidant can inhibit hypoxia-induced expression of ICAM-1 in cultured human synovial fibroblasts. Methods: Synovial fibroblasts were isolated from synovial tissue in patients with RA and cultured at hypoxic condition. Antioxidant, PDTC (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) were pre-treated for an hour before the hypoxic culture and synovial fibroblasts were harvested at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours time points. Cell surface ICAM-1 expression in synovial fibroblasts was examined by the flow cytometric analysis. To analyse the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed. The levels of cytokines in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA, and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ was analysed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The adhesive reaction between synovial fibroblasts and lymphocytes was assayed by measurement of fluorescent intensity of BCECF-AM in lymphocytes. Results: Hypoxic stimuli up-regulated the ICAM-1 expression as well as the adhesive interaction of human synvial fibroblasts to lymphocytes in a time-dependent manner, and PDTC inhibited hpyoxia-induced ICAM-1 expression and cell-cell interaction. PDTC also inhibited the hypoxia-induced activation of intracellular transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$. PDTC decreased the amount of hypoxia-induced production of IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. Conclusion: These studies demonstrate that PDTC inhibit the hypoxia-induced expression of the adhesion molecule, ICAM-1 and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in cultured human synovial fibroblasts.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.67-76
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the effect of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on the immune inflammatory responses of athritis and function. Methodes : To analyse immunomodulatory effects of CS, cytotoxicity and inhibition of proliferation against of synovial cells, gene expression of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ and IL-6, DNA-binding activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and AP-1 were measured in vitro. Results : CS didn't show cytotoxicity against human synovial cells and inhibited proliferation of human synovial cells in a dose-dependent manner in combination with rIL-6. CS reduced the gene expression of IL-6 and IL-1$\beta$ in a dose- dependent manner but didn't reduced that of TNF-$\alpha$ in human synovial cells. CS reduced the binding-activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and also reduced that of AP-1 remarkably. Conclusion: We found out that Cordyceps sinensis has immunomodulatory effect of suppressing synovial cells. And Cordyceps sinensis will be used as a stable remedium in the auto-immune disease in the future.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2005

To observe the morphological changes and the expression of tenascin in synovium of human knee joint, between normal condition and degenerative arthritis, were processed by immunoelectron microscopic method. The results were summarized as follows. 1. In degenerative arthritis, the hyperplasia of synovial membrane was characterized by the increase of cell number in secretory synovial cells. 2. In normal condition, there was no marking of the immuno-gold for tenascin in synovial membrane. 3. In degenerative arthritis, the immuno-gold for tenascin were observed in endoplasmic reticulum of secretory synovial cells and extracellular matrix of synovial layer. On the basis of above findings, the hyperplasia of synovial membrane and the pathologic processes may be concerned with the increase of number of secretory synovial cells and of expression of tenascin, in degenerative arthritis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-175
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• 1996

The development of flexor digital tendon of the hand was studied by electron microscopy in human fetuses ranging from 9 mm to 260 mm crown rump length. The primordium of tendons was first identified as discrete collection of mesenchymal cells at 25 mm fetus. Synovial sheath formation had commenced by 40 mm fetus and was complete by 70 mm fetus. Cell junction or adhesion sites at all ages were noted between the tendon cells. When dilatation of the synovial cavity occurred, two types of synovial cells were observed. A-type cells had numerous vesicles and large vacuoles. In contrast, B-type cells were characterized by abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and well-developed Golgi complex. By $150mm{\sim}260mm$ fetuses, a mojority of the synovial cells were type B. The most remarkable difference between the synovial cells of full-term fetus and adult was the larger amount of collagen fibers in the latter. The vascular buds were first observed between the individual fibril bundles in the interfascicular space at 150 mm fetus. At 25 mm fetus, collagen fibrils were first noted within narrow cytoplasmic recesses which were continued with the extracellular space. Collagen fibrils were filled in almost entire extracellular space at 150 mm fetus. Besides collagen fibrils in the extracellular space small elastic fibers were also identified and followed in their development.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.86-101
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• 1994

The development of synovial membrane from knee joint was studied by electron microscope in human fetuses ranging from 20mm to 260mm crown rump length (40days to 30weeks of gestational age). At 40mm fetus, developing synovial tissue was observed in homogenous interzone as a vascular mesenchyme around the periphery. The primitive joint space was appeared after the intermediate layer of the interzone in direct contact with chondrogenic layer at 60mm fetus. Differentiation of the synovial membrane coincided with clarification of the joint cauity. When dilatation of the synovial cavity occurred, the two types of synovial cells were well endowed with rough endoplasmic reticulum. At 100mm fetus, type A cells with a markedly attenuated cytoplasm were found as well as those cells which contained pinocytotic vesicles and vacuoles. By 150-200mm fetuses a majority of the intimal cells were type B. These cells were characterized by abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and well developed Golgi complex. In contrast, A-type cell had numerous filopodia, pinocytotic vesicles lysosomes, and large vacuoles containing amorphous material. At 260mm fetus, the intimal cells were well developed and plentiful. The most marked difference between the synovial membrane of full-term fetus and adult was the large amount of collagen in the latter. During fetal period, the B-cells were most numerous cell type in the intimal cells. The B-cells were clearly distinguishable from the A-cells by their content of extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum and well developed Golgi complex.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2000

This study was designed to observe the ultrastructural localization of synoviocytes, which are concerned with the function of phagocytic synovial cells (type A synoviocytes, macrophage-like synoviocytes), in the knee joint of the human for CD14 and CD105 by cryo-immune-electron microscopic technique. The synovium were dissected and fixed for two hours (in 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde mixture), and were immerged in 2.3 M sucrose and 20% PVP solution. Finally, they were cut with the cryoultramicrotome and labelled with primary antibodies (monoclonal mouse anti-human CD14, monoclonal mouse anti-human CD105 (endoglin) and secondary (donkey anti-mouse IgG) tagged with 6 nm colloidal gold particles. The tissues were observed under transmission electron microscope. This study was resulted as follows. 1. In the synovium of the human knee joint, CD14+ cells were identified. These cells showed phagocytic synovial cell's features. In the phagocytic synoviocyte, the distributions of CD14 were marked in the cytoplasm, around vacuoles, and in cytoplasmic process, but not detected inside of vacuoles. 2. In the synovium of the human knee joint, CD105+ cells were identified. These cells were recognized endothelial cells and phagocytic synovial cells. In the phagocytic synovial cells, the distributions of CD105 (endoglin) were marked in cytoplasic process, around vacuoles, and in cell membrane, but not detected inside of vacuoles. On the basis of above findings, it is obvious that phagocytic synovial cells were marked at CD 14 and CD 105, and might be play the role of activated macrophages or phagocytes in the synovial membrane.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.240-248
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• 2013

In this study, we compared the immune cell populations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fluid, which shows lymphoid tissue-like structure, with those in tonsils, which are normal secondary lymphoid tissues. Firstly, we found that $CD4^-CD11b^+$ macrophages were the major population in RA synovial fluid and that B cells were the major population in tonsils. In addition, synovial fluid from patients with osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease, contained $CD4^+CD11b^+$monocytes as the major immune cell population. Secondly, we categorized three groups based on the proportion of macrophages found in RA synovial fluid: (1) the macrophage-high group, which contained more than 80% macrophages; (2) the macrophage-intermediate group, which contained between 40% and 80% macrophages; and (3) the macrophage-low group, which contained less than 40% macrophages. In the macrophage-low group, more lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi)-like cells were detected, and the expression of OX40L and TRANCE in these cells was higher than that in the other groups. In addition, in this group, the suppressive function of regulatory T cells was downregulated. Finally, CXCL13 expression was higher in RA synovial fluid than in tonsils, but CCL21 expression was comparable in synovial fluid from all groups and in tonsils. These data demonstrate that increased lymphocyte infiltration in RA synovial fluid is correlated with an increase in LTi-like cells and the elevation of the chemokine expression.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.251-261
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• 2005

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune/inflammatory disorder with a complex genetic component. RA is characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane in the joint, which leads to the progressive destruction of articular cartilage, ligament and bone. Several cytokines such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;TNF-{\alpha}\;and\;interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been implicated in the pathological mechanisms of synovial tissue proliferation, joint destruction and programmed cell death in rheumatoid joint. Genome wide screening of subjects suffering from autoimmune diseases especially arthritis revealed linkage to inflammatory molecules like $TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappaB $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ and human leucocyte antigen/major histocompatibility complex (HLA/MHC) locus. The status of the pharmacological mechanism of herbal drugs in the light of genome wide screening results has been discussed to reinforce the therapeutic potential and the pharmacological basis of the herbal drugs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1101-1111
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• 2003

Our study shows that EC extract has inhibitory effect on pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, iNOS and COX2 in hFLSs. IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS and COX2 mRNA expression is suppressed at a low dasage (1㎍/ml) of EC extract. TNF-α was also suppressed at higher dosages (10 ㎍/ml, 100㎍/ml). EC extract also inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 production in pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulated-hFLSs. Expecially IL-1β(p<0.05) production are suppressed significantly. On the other hand, EC extract did not show any cytotoxicity. Thses data suggest that EC extract has anti-inflammatory effect mostly by inhibiting IL-1β production, and thus could be used to prevent or treat some inflammatory disease such as RA. It remains to be known what are the major components responsible for anti-inflammatory effect and what is the main mechanism.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.103-115
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• 2006

Objectives : Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a systemic & a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease . A chronic , locally destructive inflammmatory reaction in human is examplified by the synovitis present in some connective tissue disorder. The presence of a number of cytokines, $TNF-{\alpha}$, iNOS & expression of nitric oxide, NF-kB p65 activation implies an important role of cellular immune response in RA inflammatory reaction. This study was designed to evaluate on the effects of the Homnis Placenta herbal acupuncture on EX-LE201 & ST 35 reducing expression of LPS-induced arthritis model in mice. Materials and Methods : Homnis Placenta herbal acupuncture was inserted into 10 rats induced rheumatoid arthritis. The acupunctures were injected into the EX-LE201 and ST35 points. Such indexes were measured the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) expression, nitric oxide(NO) production in vitro experiment and Tumor Necrosis $Factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$ & Nuclear Factor kappa $B(NF-{\kappa}B)$ p65 activation, synovial hyperplasia, angiogenesis and fibrosis in synovial membrane of knee joint of mice in vivo experiment. Results : 1.Homnis Placenta Herbal acupuncture inhibited iNOS mRNA and NO in RAW 264.7 cell of LPS-induced rheumatoid arthritis in a dose dependent manner. 2.Homnis Placenta Herbal acupuncture also showed significant inhibition of $TNF-{\alpha}$ & $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, activation, synovial hyperplasia, angiogenesis and fibrosis in synovial membrane of knee joint of mice. Conclusion : These results suggest that Homnis Placenta Herbal acupuncture has an therapeutic effects on LPS induced-rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting $TNF-{\alpha}$ activation.