• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2006

This study was aimed at investigating hepatic toxicity and immunomodulating effects of defatted methanol extracts of two kinds of medicinal plants, Rubus coreanus Miq. and Atractylodes japonica Koidz. in mice. Defatted methanol extracts of fruits of Rubus coreanus Miq. and rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. were added at the level of 0.5% or 5%(w/w) to cholesterol-supplemented AIN-76 diet. Each diet was fed to 8 ICR male mice for 30 days. Weight gain and food efficiency ratio of the mice fed 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. were significantly lower than those of the mice fed 0.5% extract Relative liver weight and activity of plasma alanine aminotransfernse were significantly increased only in the mice fed 5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with the others. Splenocyte proliferation was not significantly different between the groups fed 0.5% or 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. However, splenocyte proliferation was significantly decreased in the mice fed 5.0% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with that in the mice fed 0.5% Production of interleukin-2 by splenocytes from the mice fed 0.5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Miq. was significantly higher than the control value and it became lower with 5.0% dietary level. Secretion of $interferon-\gamma$ was not significantly different among groups. In conclusion, the defatted methanol extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. was likely to exert immunomodulating effect at the level of 0.5% but it may exert adverse effects on immune and liver functions at the level of 5.0%.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2015

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide uncontrolled parasitic disease due to the lack of effective drug and vaccine. To speed up effective drug development, we need powerful methods to rapidly assess drug effectiveness against the intracellular form of Leishmania in high throughput assays. Reporter gene technology has proven to be an excellent tool for drug screening in vitro. The effects of reporter proteins on parasite infectivity should be identified both in vitro and in vivo. In this research, we initially compared the infectivity rate of recombinant Leishmania major expressing stably enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) alone or EGFP-luciferase (EGFP-LUC) with the wild-type strain. Next, we evaluated the sensitivity of these parasites to amphotericin B (AmB) as a standard drug in 2 parasitic phases, promastigote and amastigote. This comparison was made by MTT and nitric oxide (NO) assay and by quantifying the specific signals derived from reporter genes like EGFP intensity and luciferase activity. To study the amastigote form, both B10R and THP-1 macrophage cell lines were infected in the stationary phase and were exposed to AmB at different time points. Our results clearly revealed that the 3 parasite lines had similar in vitro infectivity rates with comparable parasite-induced levels of NO following interferon-${\gamma}$/lipopolysaccharide induction. Based on our results we proposed the more reporter gene, the faster and more sensitive evaluation of the drug efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 2016

The Ecklonia cava Kjellman by-product (ECBP) as a feed additive was evaluated in improvement of productivity and immune enhancement against Salmonella Gallinarum (SG). Lohmann Brown chickens proved SG-free were randomly divided into 3 groups of 8 chickens each. Chickens were fed with the experimental diet treatment: T0, Non treatment-commercial feed; T1, commercial feed with 0.5% ECBP; T2, commercial feed with 0.1% Lactobacillus plantarum. In this study, we evaluated the effect of T1 and T2 groups on the body weight and protective efficacy against SG in chickens. The results demonstrated that treatment of T1 group as a feed additive affected significantly body weight gaining in chickens. In addition, T1 group showed a significant different colonization of SG when compared to T2 and T0 groups. We also studied that serum IgG and $interferon-{\gamma}$ levels were significantly different compared with other treatment groups. Therefore, we suggest that ECBP can be used as a good candidate of feed additives in chicken industry.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.349-357
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• 2013

Background: Although interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is now available alternatives to tuberculin skin test (TST) for detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), the cost of IGRA test is much higher than TST. So economic analysis of LTBI screening strategies have been done in many countries, but there are few reports in Korea. This study examined cost analysis of LTBI screening strategies in Korea. Methods: The economic outcomes were evaluated by five strategies. These were 1) TST alone, 2) IGRA alone, 3) combination of TST and IGRA (TST followed by IGRA) and 4) no testing no prevention, 5) no testing all prevention. Last two strategies were added to compare with three main LTBI screening strategies. Decision analysis model were used to perform economic analysis. A cohort study of Korean Institute of Tuberculosis and the data of published literatures were used to estimate the cost analysis. Results: In a base-case scenario which was assumed that TST specificity was 80%, TST alone was the least expensive strategy. In a alternative scenario which was assumed that TST specificity was 97%, the combination of TST and IGRA was the least expensive strategy. Sensitivity analysis shows that patients adherent rate to LTBI treatment, TST sensitivity, IGRA sensitivity and IGRA specificity did not have a significant impact on the outcomes. Conclusion: In Korea, for the diagnosis of LTBI at the time of child and adolescent, TST alone reduces medical costs compared with IGRA alone or combination of TST and IGRA.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2017

Objectives : Recently the case of lactobacillus mixture culture fluid appliment was reported. In this study, anti-inflamation effects and anti-allergy effects were studied by stimulus of lactobacillus mixture culture fluid extracts in HaCaT cells. Methods : The atopic dermatitis were induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ and interferon-${\gamma}$ in HaCaT cells. TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, RANTES/CCL5 and ROS production were investigated to explain anti-inflamation and allergy effects of lactobacillus mixture culture fluid with cell-enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay in 450 nm, 485 nm, 535 nm with spectro-fluorometer. Results : The extracts of lactobacillus mixture culture fluid were decreased TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, RANTES/CCL5 expressions and ROS production with a concentration dependent manner. Conclusions : The effects mechanism of Lactobacillus mixed culture fluid for atopic dermatitis symptoms were considered to be explain anti-inflamation and allergy effects via control of cytokine, chemokine and ROS production, and the fluid could be applied in skin cells directly. But classified AD symptom degrees reported in clinical case before as Reaction Period, Reduction Period, Effect Period, Reproduction Period and Rebound Period could not be explained. Further study will be expected.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2012

Mycobacterial cell-wall skeleton (CWS) is an immunoactive and biodegradable particulate adjuvant and has been tried to use for immunotherapy. The CWS of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG-CWS) was studied as an universal vaccine vehicle for antigen conjugation, to develop potentially effective and safe vaccine. Although a variety of biological activities of BCG-CWS have been studied, the effects of BCG-CWS on spleen cells are not fully elucidated. Using MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion test, we found that BCG-CWS significantly enhanced the viability and proliferation of cells. Multiple clusters, indicating proliferation, were observed in BCG-CWS-treated spleen cells and surface marker staining assay revealed that BCG-CWS promoted the proliferation of $CD19^+$ B lymphocyte rather than $CD4^+$ or $CD8^+$ T lymphocyte. In addition, BCG-CWS up-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic molecules such as bcl-2, bcl-xL. BCG-CWS increased the surface expression of CD25 and CD69 as well as IL-2 production of spleen cells, suggesting increased activation. Furthermore, BCG-CWS enhanced the antigen-specific cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production of spleen cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate the immunostimulatory effects of BCG-CWS on spleen cells via multiple mechanisms, providing valuable information to broaden the use of BCG-CWS in clinical and research settings.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1316-1321
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• 2009

Multiple beneficial properties of Opuntia ficus indica (OPF) are well established. In the present study, we have investigated the immunological role of OPF extract (OPFE) on murine splenocytes. OPFE dose- and time-dependently enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes without cytotoxicity. Our results also showed that the number of $CD4^+$ helper T cells and CD45R/$B220^+$ pan B cells increased markedly, but not $CD8^+$ cytotoxic T cells or $CD11b^+$ granulocytes/macrophages. In addition, OPFE significantly decreased the production levels of T helper (Th) 1 type cytokines, interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, although had no significantly differences in those of interleukin (IL)-4, a Th2 type cytokine in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated blastogenic cells. Furthermore, OPFE alone strongly increased IL-4 production and decreased TNF-$\alpha$ production even in the absence of Con A. On the basis of these results, this study suggests that OPFE enhances immunity by regulating the pro- and anti-inflammatory response, indicating that this extract exerts a marked immunomodulatory effect, confirming its usefulness as therapy for immune-related diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.252-257
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• 2018

It is noted that Dioscorea quinqueloba is a medicinal herb that is widely used to treat cardiovascular disease and is assessed as useful to treat other various medical conditions. The immunopotentiating effects of the protein extract (DQP-1) from Dioscorea quinqueloba were thus formally investigated in vivo under incident of cold stress. In this case study, the spleen and thymus weight in mice was shown to have decreased after a measured exposure to cold stress, while the adrenal gland weight in the mice was shown to have increased. The systematic oral administration of DQP-1 significantly recovered the weight loss of the spleen and suppressed the adrenal gland hypertrophy during the association with cold stress. Additionally, the DQP-1 also restored the ascorbic acid level in the adrenal gland reduced after cold stress. The cold stress exposure lowered the percentage of $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ cells in the mouse thymus as determined by the flow cytometric analysis, as well as the levels of some serum immunological cytokines(interleukin-2, interleukin-12, and interferon-${\gamma}$) in the studied mice. The resulting identified weakened immunity caused by cold stress was also recovered by a treatment with DQP-1. The DQP-1 significantly suppressed the formation of serum enzymes of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, which were systematically elevated during the cold stress episode. These results indicate that DQP-1 can improve immunity in mice that are characteristically weakened under stress.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.593-602
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• 2020

Background: Heat stress orchestrates neurodegenerative disorders and results in the formation of reactive oxygen species that leads to cell death. Although the immunomodulatory effects of ginseng are well studied, the mechanism by which ginseng alleviates heat stress in the brain remains elusive. Methods: Rats were exposed to intermittent heat stress for 6 months, and brain samples were examined to elucidate survival and antiinflammatory effect after Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) treatment. Results: Intermittent long-term heat stress (ILTHS) upregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, increasing infiltration of inflammatory cells (hematoxylin and eosin staining) and the level of proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor α, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6], leading to cell death (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay) and elevated markers of oxidative stress damage (myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde), resulting in the downregulation of antiapoptotic markers (Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L) and expression of estrogen receptor beta and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, key factors in regulating neuronal cell survival. In contrast, KRG mitigated ILTHS-induced release of proinflammatory mediators, upregulated the mRNA level of the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10, and increased myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels. In addition, KRG significantly decreased the expression of the proapoptotic marker (Bax), did not affect caspase-3 expression, but increased the expression of antiapoptotic markers (Bcl-2 and Bcl-x_L). Furthermore, KRG significantly activated the expression of both estrogen receptor beta and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Conclusion: ILTHS induced oxidative stress responses and inflammatory molecules, which can lead to impaired neurogenesis and ultimately neuronal death, whereas, KRG, being the antioxidant, inhibited neuronal damage and increased cell viability.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2010

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) functionally expressed in salivary epithelial cells, but their roles remain elusive. Among TLRs family, TLR3 is activated by dsRNA, a byproduct of viral infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TLR3 in the inflammatory immune responses using HSG cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR and ELISA were performed to identify expression of TLRs and TLR3-mediated chemokine inductions. The chemotaxis assay of activated T lymphocytes was also performed. Treatment of HSG cells with polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) significantly increased interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interferoninducible T-cell $\alpha$ chemoattractant (I-TAC), and regulated on activation, normal T-cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) gene expressions in a concentration-dependent manner. Anti-TLR3 antibody blocked the increases of IP-10 and I-TAC genes. Poly(I:C)-induced increases of IP-10 and I-TAC were also confirmed at protein levels from cell lysates, but their release into extracellular medium was detected only in IP-10. We found that the culture media from HSG cells stimulated with poly(I:C) significantly increases T lymphocyte migration. Our results suggest that TLR3 plays an important role in chemokine induction, particularly IP-10, in salivary epithelial cells.