In this study, the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum lipoteichoic acid (pLTA) on LPS-induced MAPK activation, NF-κB activation, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-1R-associated kinase M (IRAK-M) was examined. The expression of the pattern recognition receptor and the survival rate of mice were also examined. pLTA pretreatment inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 kinase. It also inhibited the degradation of IκBα and IκBβ, as well as the activation of the LPS-induced TNF-α factor in response to subsequent LPS stimulation. These changes were accompanied by the suppression of the LPS-induced expression of TLR4, NOD1, and NOD2, and the induction of IRAK-M, with a concurrent reduction of TNF-α secretion. Furthermore, the overexpression of pattern recognition receptors such as TLR4, NOD1, and NOD2 and the degradation of IRAK-M by transient transfection were found to reinstate the production of TNF-α after LPS restimulation. In addition, the i.p. injection of pLTA suppressed fatality, and decreased the level of TNF-α in the blood, in LPS-induced endotoxin shock mice. In conclusion, these data extend our understanding of the pLTA tolerance mechanism, which is related to the inhibition of LPS-induced endotoxin shock, and suggest that pLTA may have promise as a new therapeutic agent for LPS-induced septic shock.

Chronic inflammation plays an important role in atherogenesis. Experimental studies have demonstrated the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques caused by inflammation. Here, we report the inhibitory effects of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Lactobacillus plantarum (pLTA) on atherosclerotic inflammation. pLTA inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells and alleviated THP-1 cell adhesion to HUVEC by down-regulation of adhesion molecules such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-I), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. The inhibitory effect of pLTA was mediated by inhibition of NF-κB and activation of MAP kinases. Inhibition of monocyte/macrophage infiltration to the arterial lumen was shown in pLTAinjected ApoE -/-mice, which was concurrent with inhibition of MMP-9 and preservation of CD31 production. The antiinflammatory effect mediated by pLTA decreased expression of atherosclerotic markers such as COX-2, Bax, and HSP27 and also cell surface receptors such as TLR4 and CCR7. Together, these results underscore the role of pLTA in suppressing atherosclerotic plaque inflammation and will help in identifying targets with therapeutic potential against pathogen-mediated atherogenesis.

Lactobacillus plantarum is a well-documented probiotic that has been used in clinical trials for the regulation of the immune system and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of L. plantarum cell lysates on the immune regulation through the in vitro and in vivo studies. L. plantarum lysates were prepared by sonication method, and we observed that the repetition of disruption step increased indicator components within the bacterial lysates. Indicator components might affect TNF-α production. L. plantarum lysates did not induce TNF-α production, while LPS-induced TNF-α production was dramatically inhibited in a sonication-dependent manner in THP-1 cells. Oral administration of L. plantarum lysates effectively attenuated the horny layer formation and decreased epidermal thickening in NC/Nga mice skin. The damage to barrier function after the 8 weeks oral administration was reduced by L. plantarum lysates as compared to that in the atopic dermatitis (AD) mice. Further study revealed that L. plantarum lysates polarized Th1 response via induction of IL-12 and IFN-γ production and inhibition of IL-4 and IgE production in NC/Nga mice. Together, our results suggest that L. plantarum lysates are remarkable material for host homeostasis and it could be used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum re-extraction conditions of ethanol from catechin in Korean green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) using response surface methodology (RSM). The experiments were carried out according to a five level and two variable central composite design (CCD). The two independent variables were solvent ratio to sample content (1, 4, 7, 10, 13 mL/g) and extraction temperature (-20, -10, 0, 10, 20℃) on the dependent variables including yield, epigallocatechin (EGC), epicathchin (EC), epigallocatechingallate (EGCG), epicatechingallate (ECG), total catechin and caffeine. ANOVA results showed that Coefficients of determination (R 2 ) of estimated models for dependent variables were ranged from 0.9054~0.9778, while R 2 of caffeine were estimated 0.8770. The optimum ranges for the maximized extraction including yield, EGC, EC, EGCG, ECG, caffeine and total catechin were 4.5~7.5 mL/g in ratio of ethanol to sample and -8~8℃ in extraction temperature. The actual values of yield, EGC, EC, EGCG, ECG, caffeine and total catechin, respectively, at the optimized conditions were 35.02%, 13.31%, 3.978%, 19.11%, 4.29%, 5.30% and 40.68% Key words：green tea, Camella sinensis L., optimization, response surface methodology, catechin 서 론 1) 녹차는 차나무(Camella sinensis L.)에서 어린잎을 채취하 여 가공한 것으로 전 세계적으로 많이 음용되고 있는 기호 식품중의 하나로 다양한 생리활성 효과도 있는 것으로 알려 져 있다(1). 녹차의 성분은 채엽 시기(2), 품종(3), 재배환경 (4) 등에 따라 차이가 난다고 알려져 있으며 특히 녹차에 함유되어있는 카테킨 화합물의 양이나 질은 pH, 온도, 효소 처리 등의 추출조건이나 방법에 따라서 크게 좌우된다고 보고되고 있다(5). 차는 당, 유기산, 질소화합물, polyphenol,