Anti-inflammatory Effects of KOTMIN13: A Mixed Herbal Medicine in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells and Mouse Edema Models

Lee, Eujin,Kim, Sun-Gun,Park, Na-Young,Park, Hyo-Hyun,Jeong, Kyu-Tae,Choi, Jongkeun,Lee, In-Hae,Lee, Hwadong,Lee, Eunkyung Medknow PublicationsMedia Pvt Ltd 2017 Pharmacognosy magazine Vol.13 No.50

<P><B>Background:</B></P><P>A Korean herbal medicine, KOTMIN13, composed of <I>Inula japonica</I> Thunberg, <I>Trichosanthes kirilowii Maximowicz</I> var. <I>japonica kitamura</I>, <I>Peucedanum praeruptorum</I> Dunn, and <I>Allium macrostemon</I> Bge, has been used for anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic treatment in oriental clinics, but its activity has not been investigated.</P><P><B>Materials and Methods:</B></P><P>To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of KOTMIN13 for <I>in vitro</I> study, LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were used to induce the production and expression of inflammatory mediators and its mechanisms. 12-<I>O</I>-Tetradecanoylphorobol-13 aceate (TPA)-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema models were also used to evaluate the effect of KOTMIN13 on acute inflammation <I>in vivo</I>.</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>KOTMIN13 reduced the release of inflammatory mediators [nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6] and the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Mechanism studies showed the attenuation of LPS-induced NF-κB activation by KOTMIN13 via IκBα degradation abrogation and a subsequent decrease in nuclear p65 levels. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK, JNK, and p38) was also suppressed. Furthermore, KOTMIN13 ameliorated the development of TPA-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema in acute inflammatory edema mouse models.</P><P><B>Conclusion:</B></P><P>Our study demonstrates that KOTMIN13 inhibits inflammatory mediators through the inhibitions of NF-κB and MAPK activities in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, as well as acute inflammation in edema models, indicating that KOTMIN13 is an effective suppressor for anti-inflammatory activities.</P><P><B>SUMMARY</B></P><P><P>KOTMIN13 decrease the production of No, PGE<SUB>2</SUB>, and proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-∝, IL-1β,IL-6).</P><P>KOTMIN13 Suppressed the degradation of NF-kβ and IKβα and the phosorylation of MAP Kinases.</P><P>Topical application of KOTMIN13 reduced mouse ear edema.</P><P>Oral administration of KOTMIN13 decreased carrageenan-induced paw edema.</P></P> >[FIG OMISSION]</BR><P><B>Abbreviations used:</B> NO: nitric oxide; PGE2: prostaglandin E2; iNOS: inducible NO synthase; COX-2: cyclooxygenase-2; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; IL: interleukin; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappaB; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinases; ERK: extracellular signal regulated kinase; JNK: c-jun N terminal kinase; TPA: 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate</P>

Mutalisk: a web-based somatic MUTation AnaLyIS toolKit for genomic, transcriptional and epigenomic signatures

Lee, Jongkeun,Lee, Andy ,Jinseok,Lee, June-Koo,Park, Jongkeun,Kwon, Youngoh,Park, Seongyeol,Chun, Hyonho,Ju, Young Seok,Hong, Dongwan Oxford University Press 2018 Nucleic acids research Vol.46 No.w1

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Somatic genome mutations occur due to combinations of various intrinsic/extrinsic mutational processes and DNA repair mechanisms. Different molecular processes frequently generate different signatures of somatic mutations in their own favored contexts. As a result, the regional somatic mutation rate is dependent on the local DNA sequence, the DNA replication/RNA transcription dynamics and epigenomic chromatin organization landscape in the genome. Here, we propose an online computational framework, termed Mutalisk, which correlates somatic mutations with various genomic, transcriptional and epigenomic features in order to understand mutational processes that contribute to the generation of the mutations. This user-friendly tool explores the presence of localized hypermutations (<I>kataegis</I>), dissects the spectrum of mutations into the maximum likelihood combination of known mutational signatures and associates the mutation density with numerous regulatory elements in the genome. As a result, global patterns of somatic mutations in any query sample can be efficiently screened, thus enabling a deeper understanding of various mutagenic factors. This tool will facilitate more effective downstream analyses of cancer genome sequences to elucidate the diversity of mutational processes underlying the development and clonal evolution of cancer cells. Mutalisk is freely available at http://mutalisk.org.</P>

Leaching Characteristics of Heavy Metals from Plant Biomass from Phytoextraction Site during Anaerobic Digestion

( Jongkeun Lee ),( Jae Young Kim ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2015 한국폐기물자원순환학회 3RINCs초록집 Vol.2015 No.-

If biomass contains heavy metals, heavy metals may be released from biomass during biodegradation and inhibit the anaerobic digestion process. The objective of this study is to examine the leaching characteristics of heavy metals from biomass for prediction of heavy metal amounts in anaerobic digester. In this study, sunflower (i.e., Helianthus annuus) grown in heavy metal-contaminated soils was used as a substrate for anaerobic digestion. The released heavy metals in anaerobic digester can be classified as decomposition of biomass with microorganism activity and leaching themselves without microorganism activity. Lab-scale anaerobic batch digesters containing anaerobic sludge and autoclaved distilled water were set up to investigate the amount of heavy metals leached from biomass with and without microorganism activity. About 70% by wt. of Cu and Zn were leached from biomass with microorganism activity while about 50% by wt. of biomass was degraded for 28 days, whereas Cd, Pb, and Ni were barely leached. Only 14.3% by wt. of Cu and 21.6% by wt. of Zn were also partially leached from the biomass without microorganism activity while leaching of Cd, Pb, and Ni were hardly observed.

Anaerobic digestion as an alternative disposal for phytoremediated biomass from heavy metal contaminated sites

Lee, Jongkeun,Park, Ki Young,Cho, Jinwoo,Kwon, Eilhann E.,Kim, Jae Young Elsevier 2018 Environmental pollution Vol.243 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>It is desirable to establish an environmentally benign platform for disposing biomass from the phytoremediation process while recovering energy is of importance. To this end, the biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests were conducted using four different biomass samples (<I>i.e.,</I> sunflower: <I>Helianthus annuus</I>) that were obtained from the different remediation sites. In particular, this study laid great emphasis on evaluating the inhibition for the anaerobic digestion (AD) process induced by endogenous heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) content in biomass. Despite the high levels of heavy metal contents (Cd: 58.4, Cu: 23.0, Ni: 2.01, Pb: 9.88, and Zn: 146 mg kg<SUP>−1</SUP>) in the substrate for the AD process, the overall performance was comparable relative to the case of the references. Therefore, this study signified that the inhibition derived from heavy metals was nearly negligible, which suggested that biomass from the phytoremediation site could be used as a substrate for the AD process.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> AD of phytoremediated biomass may attractive in terms of energy recovery potential. </LI> <LI> Endogenous contaminant effects onto AD performance should be considered. </LI> <LI> BMP tests were conducted to evaluate AD performance for phytoremediated biomass. </LI> <LI> A green process, AD for heavy metal phytoremediated biomass, seems to be feasible. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Electrochemical nitrate reduction using a cell divided by ion-exchange membrane

Lee, Jongkeun,Cha, Ho Young,Min, Kyung Jin,Cho, Jinwoo,Park, Ki Young Techno-Press 2018 Membrane Water Treatment Vol.9 No.3

Electrochemical reduction of nitrate was studied using Zn, Cu and (Ir+Ru)-Ti cathodes and Pt/Ti anode in a cell divided by an ion exchange membrane. During electrolysis, effects of the different cathode types on operating parameters (i.e., voltage, temperature and pH), nitrate removal efficiency and by-products (i.e., nitrite and ammonia) formation were investigated. Ammonia oxidation rate in the presence of NaCl was also determined using the different ratios of hypochlorous acid to ammonia. The operating parameter values were similar for all types of cathode materials and were maintained relatively constant. Nitrate was well reduced and converted mostly to ammonia using Zn and Cu cathodes. Ammonia, produced as a by-product of nitrate reduction, was oxidized in the presence of NaCl in the electrochemical process and the oxidation performance was enhanced upon increasing the hypochlorous acid-to-ammonia ratio to 1.09:1. Zn and Cu cathodes promoted the nitrate reduction to ammonia and the produced ammonia was finally removed from solution by reacting with hypochlorite ions. Using Zn or Cu cathodes, instead of noble metal cathodes, in the electrochemical process can be an alternative technology for nitrate-containing wastewater treatment.

Long-term performance of anaerobic digestion for crop residues containing heavy metals and response of microbial communities

Lee, Jongkeun,Kim, Joonrae Roger,Jeong, Seulki,Cho, Jinwoo,Kim, Jae Young Elsevier 2017 Waste management Vol.59 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In order to investigate the long-term stability on the performance of the anaerobic digestion process, a laboratory-scale continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) was operated for 1100 days with sunflower harvested in a heavy metal contaminated site. Changes of microbial communities during digestion were identified using pyrosequencing. According to the results, soluble heavy metal concentrations were lower than the reported inhibitory level and the reactor performance remained stable up to OLR of 2.0g-VS/L/day at HRT of 20days. Microbial communities commonly found in anaerobic digestion for cellulosic biomass were observed and stably established with respect to the substrate. Thus, the balance of microbial metabolism was maintained appropriately and anaerobic digestion seems to be feasible for disposal of heavy metal-containing crop residues from phytoremediation sites.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Stability of AD was evaluated for the treatment of heavy metal-containing crop residues. </LI> <LI> Changes of microbial communities during digestion were identified using pyrosequencing. </LI> <LI> AD process remained stable throughout the experimental periods without effects of heavy metals. </LI> <LI> Microbial communities did not suffer from heavy metals and conformed to the substrate. </LI> </UL> </P>

Hydrothermal carbonization of lipid extracted algae for hydrochar production and feasibility of using hydrochar as a solid fuel

Lee, Jongkeun,Lee, Kwanyong,Sohn, Donghwan,Kim, Young Mo,Park, Ki Young Elsevier 2018 ENERGY Vol.153 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, hydrothermal carbonization was conducted to convert lipid extracted algae (<I>Chlorella vulgaris</I>) from the algal biodiesel process to produce hydrochar, while evaluating its feasibility for use as a solid fuel. Hydrothermal carbonization was conducted at a relatively low temperature range, owing to the energy consumption during the process. Based on the results, the properties of lipid extracted algae as a solid fuel improved during hydrothermal carbonization, being comparable to the low-ranked coals. The hydrochars thus produced showed stable combustion characteristics at high temperature. Moreover, the sulfur and ash content in the lipid extracted algae decreased through devolatilization during hydrothermal carbonization, allowing the hydrochar (low sulfur and ash content) to be considered as a clean energy source. Thus, a sustainable integration process, combining the hydrochar production from lipid extracted algae with the algal biodiesel process, seems to be feasible for solid fuel production and disposal of waste.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The hydrothermal carbonization of lipid extracted algae was conducted. </LI> <LI> Hydrochar had appropriate characteristics for using as alternative solid fuel. </LI> <LI> Hydrochar showed stable combustion characteristics at high temperature. </LI> <LI> Hydrochar to be considered as clean energy source due to low sulfur and ash content. </LI> <LI> A green integration process, hydrochar production using LEA, seems to be feasible. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Isolation and structure Determination from the Bark of Tilia amurensis

JongKeun Son,YouJeong Lee,Gao Li,MingLu Xu,ChangSeob Seo,YeunKyung Lee,ChongSoon Lee,HyeunWook Chang 대한약학회 2004 大韓藥學會 總會 및 學術大會 Vol.2004 No.2

Application of hydrochar produced by hydrothermal carbonization of abandoned lignocellulosic biomass from phytoremediation site

Jongkeun LEE,Donghwan SOHN,Gabin KIM,Ki Young PARK 대한환경공학회 2019 대한환경공학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2019 No.-

Tracing Oncogene Rearrangements in the Mutational History of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lee, Jake June-Koo,Park, Seongyeol,Park, Hansol,Kim, Sehui,Lee, Jongkeun,Lee, Junehawk,Youk, Jeonghwan,Yi, Kijong,An, Yohan,Park, In Kyu,Kang, Chang Hyun,Chung, Doo Hyun,Kim, Tae Min,Jeon, Yoon Kyung Elsevier 2019 Cell Vol.177 No.7