• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.608-615
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• 2002

Background : ADA is an enzyme found in most cells, and is involved in purine metabolism, but its chief role concerns the proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes, especially T-lymphocytes. For that reason ADA has been looked on as a marker of cell-mediate immunity, which is the key mechanism of the tuberculous pleural effusion. Thus, the pleural fluid ADA activity is increased in the tuberculous pleural effusion. Age associated immune decline is characterized by decreases in both B and T-lymphocyte function and the former may be largely a result of the latter. Therefore, the pleural fluid ADA activity would be lower in old rather than in young, patients with tuberculous pleural effusion. We studied the relationship between age, and pleural fluid ADA activity, in patients with tuberculous pleural effusion. Materials and Methods : In the 46 patients with tuberculous pleural effusion enroll in this study, the pleural fluid ADA activities were measured by means of an automated kinetic method. Results : The mean age of the patients was $53.0{\pm}22.0$ years, with a male to female ratio of 30:16. The patients were divided into two groups, young patients, regarded as < 65 and old regarded as ${\geq}65$ years with 28 and 18 patients, respectively. The pleural fluid ADA activity in both groups show significant differences : $99.4{\pm}22.6$ IU/L(young patients) Vs. $75.8{\pm}30.9$ IU/L(old patients)(p<0.05), but a negative correlation with age (r=-0.311, p<0.05). Conclusion : Although pleural fluid ADA activity was not adequately increased, tuberculous pleural effusion, in older patients, would have to be considered clinically suspicious tuberculous pleural effusion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.497-509
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• 2002

Background : The mechanisms through which cellular activation results in intracellular mycobacterial killing is only partially understood. However, in vitro studies of human immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been largely modeled on the work reported by Crowle, which is complicated by several factors. The whole blood culture is simple and allows the simultaneous analysis of the relationship between bacterial killing and the effect of effector cells and humoral factors. In this study, we attempted to determine the extent to which M. tuberculosis is killed in a human whole blood culture and to explore the role of the host and microbial factor in this process. Methods : The PPD positive subject were compared to the umbilical cord blood and patients with tuberculosis, diabetes and lung cancer. The culture is performed using heparinized whole blood diluted with a culture medium and infected with a low number of M. avium or M. tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra$ for 4 days by rotating the culture in a $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. In some experiments, methlprednisolone- or pentoxifyline were used to inhibit the immune response. To assess the role of the T-cell subsets, CD4+, CD8+ T-cells or both were removed from the blood using magnetic beads. The ${\Delta}$ log killing ratio was defined using a CFU assay as the difference in the log number of viable organisms in the completed culture compared to the inoculum. Results : 1. A trend was noted toward the improved killing of mycobacteria in PPD+ subjects comparing to the umbilical cord blood but there was no specific difference in the patients with tuberculosis, diabetes and lung cancer. 2. Methylprednisolone and pentoxifyline adversely affected the killing in the PPD+ subjects umbilical cord blood and patients with tuberculosis. 3. The deletion of CD4+ or CD8+ T-lymphocytes adversely affected the killing of M. avium and M. tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra$ by PPD+ subjects. Deletion of both cell types had an additive effect, particularly in M. tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra$. 4. A significantly improved mycobacterial killing was noted after chemotherapy in patients with tuberculosis and the ${\Delta}$ logKR continuously decreased in a 3 and 4 days of whole blood culture. Conclusion : The in vitro bactericidal assay by human whole blood culture model was settled using a CFU assay. However, the host immunity to M. tuberculosis was not apparent in the human whole blood culture bactericidal assay, and patients with tuberculosis showed markedly improved bacterial killing after anti-tuberculous chemotherapy compared to before. The simplicity of a whole blood culture facilitates its inclusion in a clinical trial and it may have a potential role as a surrogate marker in a TB vaccine trial.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2016

In this study, the effects of fermented goat milk (F-GM) on immunological activity and physical strength were examined. Splenocytes obtained from mice administered with F-GM showed increased responsinveness to mitogens, concanavalin-A (ConA), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treatment with F-GM also significantly augmented production of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, but not IL-4 or IL-10 from ConA-stimulated splenocytes. The activity of F-GM administration to enhance production of IL-2 and IFN-${\gamma}$ was confirmed based on mRNA expression of these cytokines by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. After immunization with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH, 20 mg/mouse), mice administered F-GM showed significantly higher antibody titers against KLH than those of phosphate-buffered saline-treated mice, and showed the highest titer 5 weeks after KLH immunization. Analysis for determining isotypes of antibodies revealed that administration of F-GM elicited KLH-specific antibody titers of IgG1, IgG2a, and IgM. In a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) test carried out 7 weeks after the primary immunization, F-GM-treated mice showed a higher DTH reaction than the control mice. Furthermore, the swimming test found that administration of F-GM significantly increased swimming time. These results suggest that administration of F-GM enhances not only immune responses against antigens but also physical strength.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.686-697
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• 2021

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees, which they use to protect their hives. Honeybees produce propolis by mixing exudates from the various trees and plants with saliva and beeswax. It has been used since around 300 B.C. as a folk medicine to cure wounds. Propolis contains many physiologically active components, such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and beeswax. Because of its functional components, propolis has a wide spectrum of biological applications. The compounds in propolis and its biological activity can vary according to the location of nectar source and extraction method. Propolis is most commonly known for its anti-microorganism activity against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Artepillin C and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) have been identified as regulatory compounds that reduce inflammation and exert immunosuppressive reactions on T lymphocytes. Through its anti-inflammatory activity, propolis exhibits anti-tumor activity, including the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, the blocking of tumor signaling cascades, and antiangiogenesis. However, for the more apply of propolis its analysis of nectar source, identifying of propolis compound, the molecular mechanism of propolis and the investigation of compounds synergistic effects are essential. In this study, we described the physiological activity of propolis isolated from honeybees.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

To examine the new practical utilization of mucilages in Opuntia humifusa, the Korean pear cactus, the polysaccharides were isolated from O. humifusa, and immuno-stimulating activities were assayed. The main polysaccharide, CNC-E, was prepared by a commercial enzyme treatment, water extraction, and ethanol precipitation. The molecular mass of CNC-E was estimated to be about 700 kDa, and it consisted mainly of arabinose, galactose and xylose in addition to two minor sugars such as rhamnose and fucose. On the other hand, CNC-E showed considerably high splenocyte proliferation activity in a dose-dependent manner. Peritoneal macrophages stimulated with CNC-E produced cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, and TNF-${\alpha}$. The intravenous administration of CNC-E significantly augmented the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells against Yac-1 tumor cells. Especially, NK cells obtained from the mice treated with $100{\mu}g$ of CNC-E showed threefold higher cytolytic activity than those of untreated mice. CNC-E also showed potent anti-complementary activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Identification of C3 activation products by the crossed immunoelectrophoresis using anti-human C3 and the anti-complementary activity of CNC-E in a $Ca^{2+}$-free condition suggested complement activations by CNC-E that occur via both alternative and classical pathways. These results indicate that Korean pear cactus contains selected polysaccharides that provide immuno-stimulating activities beneficial to human health.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2015

${\beta}$-Glucan is a polysaccharide that is widely used as an adductive in fish feed to facilitate immune stimulation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ${\beta}$-glucan on immune responses in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum. For this purpose, three groups of R. philippinarum were exposed to 0%, 0.1%, or 1% ${\beta}$-glucan in sea water for 1 hr/day for 2 weeks using an immersion method. Thereafter, two immune parameters-phagocytic rate and antibacterial activity-were measured. R. philippinarum exposed to 1% ${\beta}$-glucan showed an approximate 30% significant increase in phagocytic rate. In addition, ${\beta}$-glucan significantly limited the growth of the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio tapetis, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. ordalii. Moreover, the mortality rates of ${\beta}$-glucan-treated clams decreased during a 17-day experiment. Our study suggests that treatment with ${\beta}$-glucan significantly increases the immune responses in R. philippinarum, and that immersion is a simple and effective method for immune stimulation in this species.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.268-274
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immuno-stimulatory activity of the high-molecular-weight fraction (HMWF) of Cynanchum wilfordii (CW) extracts obtained by ultrafiltration in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and to assess its immuno-stimulatory effect in mice. Ultrafiltration was performed with polyethersulfone membranes (30 kDa cutoff) in a cross-flow filtration system to obtain the HMWF of CW. The results showed that the HMWF increased the production of various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide in dose-ependent manners. In addition, HMWF treatment increased the relative spleen weight as well as splenocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A or bacterial lipopolysaccharide in mice. Natural killer (NK) cell activity in the HMWF-treated group was significantly increased compared to that in the control group. These results suggest that the HMWF of CW can support the immune system through secretion of macrophage cytokines, thereby enhancing NK cell activity and murine splenocyte proliferation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.168-180
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• 1987

This study was performed to observe histopathological changes and serological reactions in chronic anisakiasis of rabbits. Each rabbit was infected per os with 30 larvae of Anisakis type I. Their sera were collected chronologically and the rabbits were killed for histopathological examination, 3, 13, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 150 days after the infection. The results were summarized as below. 1. Most of the larvae were recovered from the stomach, but a few from the omentum, intestine, mesentery and abdominal wall. The recovery rates and distribution of worms by organ were not differed by duration of infection. 2. Histologically the lesion was abscess type on 13 days, i.e., the dead worms were surrounded by fibrinous exudate, histiocytes and thick zone of numerous inflammatory cells. After 30 days, histiocytes were found to invade the worms and the lesion was changing into abscessgranulomatous type. Also a calcified worm was found on the 30th day. After then the worms were observed to be dissolved slowly until 90 days. On 150 day, only one calcified worm was observed. 3. The levels of serum IgG antibody by ELISA reached their maximum 30 days after the infection. After then, it decreased slowly until 150 days after the infection. Above serological and histopathological findings indicated that antigenic stimulation from degenerating Anisakis larvae was the greatest during the first 30 days after infection. This period was corresponding with the beginning of worm resolution or calcification. Serologic test by ELISA would be a valuable tool for confirming chronic anisakiasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.261-270
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• 1989

The present study is intended to observe the chronologic changes of experimental sparganosis by histopathological observation and detection of circulating anti-sparganum IgG antibody using ELISA. Each of 25 mice was infected with aye spargana, and they were examined after 1, 2, 4, 10 weeks or 6 months from infection. The followings are summarized results. - 1. The plerocercoids were detected in the subcutaneous tissue of the trunk, neck or axilla, but a few often extended into the skeletal muscle. The recovery rates were 72% at the first week, 80% at the second week, 95% at the fourth week, 92% at the tenth week and 100% at .the sixth month. The larvae grew slowly in both length and weight until 6 months. 2. Histopathologically, most of the larvae were observed alive in the soft tissue or skeletal muscle. Numerous eosinophils, neutrophils, Iymphocytes and plasma cells were infiltrated focally around the worms by the second week, but they surrounded the worms to form a layer of inflammatory reaction after 4 weeks of infection. Also histiocytes and fibroblasts began to appear around the inflammatory cells at 4 weeks. After 10 weeks, the worms encircled by a thin fibrous layer were found. After 6 months, the worms were surrounded by either fibrous tissue or active inflammatory cells. The inflammation looked more severe in the tracks left by the worms, rather than around the worms. 3, The level of anti-sparganum IgG antibody in the serum showed an increase by the fourth week, and a rapid and continuous increase was observed thereafter by the tenth week after infection. The high level of the IgG antibody was maintained up to 6 months forming a plateau curve. The present results suggest that the tissue reaction and antibody production in subcutaneous sparganosis become distinctive by the fourth week after infection.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2009

Purpose: Increased FDG uptake in the bone marrow has been reported in patients taking erythropoietin or granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between F-18 FDG uptake in the bone marrow and bone marrow finding, hematological parameters. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients who had diffuse FOG uptake at the bone marrow and received hematological examinations, bone marrow biopsy within 10 days before or after PET/CT were enrolled in this study. Among them, 11 patients were excluded; 4 patients received G-CSF or erythropoietin before PET/CT. Seven patients showed definite pathology in a bone marrow biopsy. The parameters included the measurement of WBC, hemoglobin, platelet and cellularity of the bone marrow. Results: Bone marrow FDG uptake was correlated with a low hemoglobin but not WBC, platelet. Histopathologic findings in marrow biopsies were various: normal finding (n=3), hyperplasia of granulocytic cells (n=2), eosinophilic hyperplasia (n=1), reactive lymphoid nodules (n=1), hypercelluar marrow (n=1), hypocelluar marrow (n=1). All patients except two, showed normal marrow celluarity. Conclusion: FOG uptake by bone marrow correlated with anemia but not WBC, platelet, bone marrow cellularity.