title: Stimulative Effects of Hominis Placental Pharmacopuncture Solution Combined with Zinc-oxide Nanoparticles on RAW 264.7 Cells: ZnO HPPS more easily stimulates RAW 264.7 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to examine whether Hominis Placental pharmacopuncture solution (HPPS) combined with zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) activates RAW 264.7 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We soaked ZnO nanoparticles in the Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture solution, thereby making a combined form (ZnO NP HPPS). The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was measured by 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on NF-κ B was measured by using a luciferase assay. The effect of ZnO NP HPPS on the cytokine expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cellular uptake of ZnO NP HPPS was measured by using a flow cytometric analysis, and cellular structural alterations were analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither the HPPS nor the ZnO NPs induced intracellular ROS production in RAW 264.7 cells. Neither of the materials activated NF-κ B or it's dependent genes, such as TNF-α, IL-1, and MCP-1. However, ZnO NP HPPS, the combined form of ZnO NPs and HPPS, did induce the intracellular ROS production, as well as prominently activating NF-κ B and it's dependent genes. Also, compared to ZnO NPs, it effectively increased the uptake by RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, cellular structural alterations were observed in groups treated with ZnO NP HPPS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither ZnO NP nor HPPS activated RAW 264.7 cells, which is likely due to a low cellular uptake. The ZnO NP HPPS, however, significantly activated NF-κ B and up-regulated its dependent genes such as TNF-α, IL-1, and MCP-1. ZnO NP HPPS was also more easily taken into the RAW 264.7 cells than either ZnO NP or HPPS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Keun
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeehye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Juyoun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myungsoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Fusion Technology, Chonbuk National University School of Semiconductor and Chemical Engineering, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Bong
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Medicine, Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Sol
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeong
keywords: Hominis Placenta; RAW 264.7 cells; pharmacopuncture; zinc oxide