Today, environmental pollution has been found to be one of the causes of various diseases, including brain and nervous system diseases. In particular, neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be caused by hyperactivation of immune system cells such as microglia. Preventive and therapeutic measures are needed to suppress them. Hirudo is known as a traditional herbal medicine, based on its multiple biological activities such as anti-eczema and anti-coagulation. In the present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of hirudo extract was investigated in lipopolysccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and in mice. Hirudo extract significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine (IL-1Ra, KC, MCP-5, and RANTES) expression in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with hirudo extract suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Moreover, hirudo extract reduced LPS-stimulated microglial acitivation and improved memory impairments. The results demonstrated that hirudo extract exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that hirudo extract might have therapeutic potential with respect to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract
1. 서 론
2. 재료 및 방법
    2.1. 재료 및 시약
    2.2. 세포 배양 및 신경독성 연구
    2.3. Nitric oxide 측정
    2.4. Cytokine array 분석
    2.5. 사육과 투여
    2.6. 행동평가
    2.7. 면역염색법
    2.8. Western blot 실험법
    2.9. 통계처리
3. 결과 및 고찰
    3.1. LPS로 유도된 뇌염증 세포모델에서의 hirudo의nitric oxide 억제능
    3.2. LPS로 유도된 뇌염증 세포모델에서의 hirudo의염증사이토카인 억제능
    3.3. LPS로 유도된 뇌염증 세포모델에서의 hirudo의NF-κB 억제능
    3.4. LPS로 유도된 뇌염증 동물모델에서의 hirudo의미세아교세포 억제능 및 행동학적 평가
4. 결 론
감사의 글
REFERENCES

• 박건혁(한국한의학연구원 한약자원연구센터, 과학기술연합대학원대학교(UST) 한의융합의학전공) | Gunhyuk Park (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, University of Science & Technology(UST), Korean Convergence Medicine Major, Campus of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
• 양선규(한국한의학연구원 한약자원연구센터) | Sungyu Yang (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
• 문병철(한국한의학연구원 한약자원연구센터) | Byeong Cheol Moon (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
• 노수민(한국한의학연구원 한약자원연구센터) | Sumin Noh (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine)
• 임혜선(한국한의학연구원 한약자원연구센터) | Hye-Sun Lim (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine) Corresponding author