• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.246-251
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to evaluate an efficacy about activation on macrophage, using model that measured cell viability, nitric oxide (NO), iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) expression and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) on Raw 264.7 cells following treatment of Germanium-fortified Yeast in 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ and the same concentration of dried yeast without germanium. Cell viability (%) and NO produced in activated-macrophage were dose-dependant, a significant increase of the cell viability (132.5%) and NO in $10\;{\mu}g/ml$ (p < 0.05). Increase in iNOS level was in $10\;{\mu}g/ml$. $TNF-{\alpha}$ was produced dose-dependant, e.g. in activated-macrophage with a significant increase of the $TNF-{\alpha}$ in 5 and $10\;{\mu}g/ml$ (p < 0.05). Therefore, Germanium-fortified Yeast had an efficacy of NO mediated iNOS and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production by activated macrophage. This result showed that Germanium-fortified Yeast induced activation of cellular immunity, returned to normalcy on injured immune system and procured anticancer system by activation of macrophage, which was important in immune and anticancer function.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2016

Phenoloxidase (PO) is an oxidizing enzyme and plays crucial roles in insect immunity and cuticle sclerotization. High oxidizing activity of chlorine dioxide gives effective control activities against microbes and insect pests. These allowed us to assess any inhibitory activity of chlorine dioxide against PO with respect to insect immunity. PO activities of the Indeanmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, was detected in both hemocytes and plasma. Upon bacterial challenge, PO activity was significantly increased especially in plasma. However, the immune challenge coupled with chlorine dioxide treatment did not enhance PO activity. When different chlorine dioxide concentrations were incubated with activated PO by immune challenge, they did not inhibit the activated PO. These results indicate that chlorine dioxide suppresses PO activity by inhibiting PO activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.1513-1517
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• 2013

This study examined the immunomodulatory activities of apple seed extracts (ASE). The immunomodulatory effects were estimated through nitric oxide production, cytokine induction, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the phosphylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and inhibitory kappa $B{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$) in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. In the cytotoxicity asay, ASE (31 to $250{\mu}g/mL$) did not induce cytotoxicity; thus, the optimal concentration of ASE was confirmed to be less than $250{\mu}g/mL$. Nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6) production significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the protein expression of iNOS and the phosphorylation of MAPKs and $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ were also increased by ASE treatment. Overall, our results suggest that extracts from apple seeds potentially have immunomodulatory activities on macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.356-364
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• 2024

Lymph nodes (LNs) are crucial sites where immune responses are initiated to combat invading pathogens in the body. LNs are organized into distinctive compartments by stromal cells. Stromal cell subsets constitute special niches supporting the trafficking, activation, differentiation, and crosstalk of immune cells in LNs. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) are a type of stromal cell that form the three-dimensional structure networks of the T cell-rich zones in LNs, providing guidance paths for immigrating T lymphocytes. FRCs imprint immune responses by supporting LN architecture, recruiting immune cells, coordinating immune cell crosstalk, and presenting antigens. During inflammation, FRCs exert both spatial and molecular regulation on immune cells through their topological and secretory responses, thereby steering immune responses. Here, we propose a model in which FRCs regulate immune responses through a three-part scheme: setting up, supporting, or suppressing immune responses. FRCs engage in bidirectional interactions that enhance T cell biological efficiency. In addition, FRCs have profound effects on the innate immune response through phagocytosis. Thus, FRCs in LNs act as gatekeepers of immune responses. Overall, this study aims to highlight the emerging roles of FRCs in controlling both innate and adaptive immunity. This collaborative feedback loop mediated by FRCs may help maintain tissue function during inflammatory responses.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.266-275
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• 1990

c-raf protein kinase, a kind of oncogene, is a cytopiasmic serine / threonine-specific protein and is activated by mitogenic or oncogenic signals. The strncture and functions of c-raf protein kinase are considered very similar to those of protein kinase C. Using immunocytochemical approach, the time course of singal transduction of c-raf protein kinase in EC-4 cell was examined with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) as tumor promotor and plateletderived growth factor (PDGF) as mitogenic factor. Immunoreactive c-raf was initially bound to the perinuclear membrane and then moved into the nucleus. The effect of the long-term treatment with TPA or PDGF was taken place down regulation at different time point. These results indicate that TPA and PDGF give rise to the translocation of c-raf protein kinase through the two different pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.828-836
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• 2012

The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of the extracts isolated from the fruit body of Flammulina velutipes cultivated with oriental herbal plants on mouse splenocytes, B cells, and macrophages in vitro. The ethanol extracts B (EEB) directly induced the proliferation of spleen cells in a dose-dependent manner and increased IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$ synthesis. The EEB also increased the proliferation of B cells in a dose-dependent manner. The production of immunoglobulin M, G1, G2a, G2b, and IgG3 in the presence of the EEB increased progressively in the culture supernatant. When the EEB were used in macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) stimulation, there was a marked induction of NO synthesis in a dose-dependent manner and an increased IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and GM-CSF synthesis. Intraperitoneal injection with EBB showed life prolongation effect of 16.1% in mice previously inoculated with sarcoma-180, respectively. These results suggest that the capacity of the EEB isolated from the fruit body of Flammulina velutipes cultivated with oriental herbal plants seems to act as a potent immunomodulator causing augmentation of immune cell activity, and with the absence of notable side-effects, Flammulina velutipes EEB could be used as a biological response modifier having possible therapeutic effects against immunological disorders. This study also showed that functional components of Flammulina velutipes were possibly improved by incorporating oriental herbal plants in a growth medium.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1356-1363
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• 2014

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid orexigenic peptide hormone that is secreted predominantly by tX/A cells in the stomach, and it plays a major role in energy homeostasis. Activated ghrelin has an n-octanoyl group covalently linked to the hydroxyl group of the Ser3 residue, which is critical for its binding to the G-protein coupled growth hormone secretagogue receptor-1a (GHS-R1a). According to recent reports, both ghrelin and its receptor, GHS-R1a, are expressed by a variety of immune cells, including T- and B-lymphocytes, monocytes, and dendritic cells, and ghrelin stimulation of leukocytes provides a potent immunomodulatory signal controlling systemic and age-associated inflammation and thymic involution. Here, we report that ghrelin protected murine thymocytes from dexamethasone (DEX)-induced cell death both in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, we explored the molecular mechanisms of the antiapoptotic effect of ghrelin. According to our experiments, ghrelin inhibited the expression of proapoptotic proteins via the regulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) phosphorylation. As a result, ghrelin inhibited the proapoptotic activation of proteins, such as Caspase-3, PARP, and Bim. These data suggest that ghrelin, through GHS-R, inhibits the pathway to apoptosis by regulation of the proapoptotic protein activation signal pathway. They provide evidence that blocking apoptosis is an essential function of ghrelin during the development of thymocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.805-813
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• 2005

In our previous study, a novel herb mixture (HIM-I) of Angelim gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix was developed to protect the intestinal and immune systems and promote its recovery against radiation damage. In this study, a new herbal preparation (HemoHIM) with the high immune modulating activity was developed from HIM-I. HIM-I was fractionated into ethanol fraction (HIM-I-E) and polysaccharide fraction (HIM-I-P). And HemoHIM was prepared by adding HIM-I-P to HIM-I. The protective activities against $\gamma$ -irradiation were compared among HemoHIM, HIM-I and the fractions. HemoHIM and HIM-I significantly decreased the radiation-induced DNA damage in vitro, and scavenged hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. HemoHIM showed similar activity to HIM-I. In vitro proliferation assay with mouse lymphocytes and bone marrow cells showed that HIM-I-P was remarkably higher than HIM-I and HIM-I-E in cell proliferating activity. HemoHIM showed higher activity than HIM-I and this might be associated with the higher polysaccharide content. The in vivo protective effects of HemoHIM and HIM-I were investigated in $\gamma$-irradiated mice. HemoHIM increased the surviving intestinal crypts to a similar extent compared with HIM-I. In contrast, HemoHIM appeared to be more effective than HIM-I in endogenous spleen colony formation assay. The recovery of white blood cells and lymphocytes in irradiated mice were significantly enhanced by the administration of HemoHIM. Also HemoHIM administration prolonged the survival of irradiated mice. These results showed that the novel herbal preparation, HemoHIM, effectively protected the self-renewal tissues and immune system, and promoted the survival of irradiated mice. Moreover, in comparison with HIM-I, HemoHIM maintained similar activity in the reduction of oxidative damage of self-renewal tissue but exhibited the higher activity in protection and proliferation of immune and hematopoietic cells. These results suggested that HemoHIM might be more effective than HIM-I in immune modulation as well as radioprotection.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2016

The root bark of Ulmus macrocarpa has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as edema, infection and inflammation. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effects remain unclear. In this study, as part of our ongoing screening program to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of new compounds from traditional medicinal resources, we investigated the effects of U. macrocarpa water extract (UME) on immune modulation in a murine RAW 264.7 macrophage model. As immune response parameters, the productions of as nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines such tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 were evaluated. Although the release of IL-1β remained unchanged in UME-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, the productions of NO, TNF-α and IL-10 were significantly increased, along with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase, TNF-α and IL-10 expression at concentrations with no cytotoxicity. UME treatment also induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) indicating that UME activated macrophages through the activation of NF-κB, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and MAPKs signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, pre-treatment with UME significantly attenuated the production of NO, but not TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells suggesting that UME may be useful in preventing inflammatory diseases mediated by excessive production of NO. These findings suggest that the beneficial therapeutic effects of UME may be attributed partly to its ability to modulate immune functions in macrophages.

• Proceedings of the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition Conference
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• 1997.06b
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• pp.15-17
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• 1997

암 발생의 원인 중 80% 이상이 식사습관과 환경오염에 있는 것으로 인정되고 있다. 음식물, 담배, 술, 대기오염, 스트레스, 자외선이 그 대표적인 원인물질로 꼽을 수 있으며 그 중에서도 매일 섭취하는 음식물이 가장 중요한 발암요인으로 지적되고 있다. 대장암과 유방암의 발생에 대한 Wynder 등의 역학조사에서도 식사습관이 암 발생에 중요함을 시사 하고 있다. 동물성 단백질과 지방의 다량 섭취가 대장암과 유방암의 발생을 증가 시키고 섬유질이 풍부한 곡류와 야채의 섭취는 대장암 발생을 억제한다는 상관관계가 밝혀졌다. 그러나 우리가 늘 섭취하는 음식물 자체는 대장암과 유방암을 유발하는 기능이 거의 없다. 섭취된 음식물이 암을 일으키려면 장내 부패 미생물의 분해작용에 의하여 발암물질로 변환되는 과정이 필요하다. 그 발암물질들이 장관으로 흡수 자극함으로써 암을 유발할 수 있다. 반대로 일부장내 미생물들은 장내 발암물질들을 무독화 하거나 숙주의 면역기능을 증강 시킴으로써 암 발생을 억제할 수도 있다는 사실을 간과해서는 안 될 것이다. Mitsuoka는 장내 미생물이 암을 유발하는 중요한 요인이라고 강조하였다. Veer 등은 유산균 발효유를 많이 섭취하면 유방암 발생이 억제됨을, 국제암연구위원회는 섬유질을 많이 섭취하고 있는 핀란드 쿠피오의 거주자들에게는 덴마크의 코펜하겐에 거주하는 사람들에 비하여 대장암 발생율이 1/4에 불과하고 분변내 유산간균수는 100배 높은 사실을 역학조사에서 밝혔다. 이 외에 유산균과 발효유제품의 항암효과에 대한 실험결과들이 많이 발표되었다. 여기에서는 유산균의 항암효과에 대한 지금까지의 관련 자료들을 요약, 정리하여 고찰하고자 한다.높은 당 함량을 나타냈으며, T-AS는 70.3%의 당과 7.8%의 단백질로 구성 되었다. GLG 대부분의 분획들은 60~93%의 glucose로 구성된 다당류 이었으며, 주로 $\beta$-glucose로 구성된 다당류 이었다. 아미노산은 Asp 및 Glu의 산성 아미노산과 Ala, Leu 등의 함량이 높게 나타났으며, 비알칼리 추출물에서 Ser과 Thr의 함량이 높게 나타났다. 다당류 T-AS는 평균 분자량이 2,000 kD와 12kD에서 주 peak를 나타냈으며, 수용성 분획의 평균 분자량은 12kD이고 비수용성 분획은 36~2,000 kD의 평균 분자량 분포를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. IR과 NMR 분석 결과 890 cm-1에서 흡수 peak를 나타내어 $\beta$-(1,3)0glucan과 $\beta$-(1,6)-glucan의 구조를 갖는 다당류로 확인 되었다. T-AS 분획은 C:H:O:N의 함량비가 38.9:5.7:49.6:1.84%이며, 이 물질의 융점은 163 $^{\circ}C$로 연한 갈색을 나타낸다. 분리된 GLG의 항암활성 기전 규명을 위해, in vivo 항암실험, 항보체 활성능, 항체 생성능, serum protein 분비능, 대식세포의 탐식능과 활성능 및 세포간 물질 분비 등의 상관관계를 조사하였다. 다당류 GLG 분획물들 가운데 항보체의 활성이 높았던 분획은 sarcome 180에 대한 항암 활성이 높게 나타났다. 다당류 T-AS의 보체 활성화 기작은 classical과 alternative complement pathway의 양 경로를 통해 활성화 되었다.