• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.235-240
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• 2005

Pollen has been used for prevention or treatment of certain diseases such as diabetes arthritis or cancer in traditional medicine. Among various pollens, pine tree pollen is known to relieve hypertension, suppress fatty liver progression, and facilitate the digestion, but its immunological activities are less known. To evaluate immunological reactivities and immunotoxicities of pine tree pollen, BALB/c mice were administered to the poller through oral route. Pine tree pollen suspended in distilled water or extracted with methanol has been administered at the concentration of 0, 10, or 100 mg/kg five days per week for four weeks. Polyclonal activation of splenic T cells with phytohemagglutinins did not induce a significant difference in IL-4 and $IFN_{\gamma}$ production between the pollen-administered mice groups and the control mice. Furthermore, polyclonal activation of splenic B cells with lipopolysaccharides did not result a significant difference in IgG1 and IgG2a production among the groups. These findings imply that the intake of pine tree pollen does not bring any humoral and cellular immune-dysrequlation. Whereas, viability of Listeria monocytogenes was suppressed in the mice administered with 100 mg/kg bw methanol extract, indicating the potential ability of pine tree pollen to enhance cell-mediated immunity mediated by type-1 helper T cells. In addition, aberrant upregulation of plasma IgG1 level was observed in the pollen-administered mice, which suggests a possibility of allergic response induction through the pine tree pollen uptake. Overall, pine tree pollen-mediated modulation of humoral or cellular immunity is worthy of further systematic investigation.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.48-55
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• 2019

Current studies have been reported that fruits such as berries may contain both antioxidant and antitumor polyphenols that may be important in this regard. We investigated the immunostimulatory effect of fermented blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in animal model. Rats were administered blueberry yeast fermented powder (BYFP) at doses 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg for 4 weeks after cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatment, respectively. The immunomodulatory effect of BYFP were measured both in vitro and in vivo, and the changes of blood components were also analyzed. We found that BYFP recovered immunosuppression-mediated decreased liver, spleen, and thymus weights as well as up regulation of white blood cell, lymphocyte, and neutrophil in blood. Moreover, BYFP up-regulated IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$ pro-inflammatory cytokine production compared to immune suppressed control group, respectively. According to histological studies, BYFP regenerated significantly on Cy-mediated injured spleen at the high doses (BYFP 300) comparison with Cy-treated groups (immunosuppression). Collectively, these findings suggest that BYFP may have the potential as a dietary immunostimulatory agent.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.78-88
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• 2005

Background: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice is animal model of autoimmune disease known as rheumatic arthritis in human. We investigated CII-specific CD4+ T cell receptor usage in CIA mice. Methods: In CIA model, draining lymph node (dLN) CD4+ T cells and splenocytes at $3^{rd},\;5^{th},\;8^{th}$ week, we investigated CII-specific T cell proliferation, production of IL-17, IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-10. And we also performed anti-CII IgG Ab measurements in serum level, TCRV ${\beta}$ usage and T cell clonality with RT-PCR-SSCP analysis. Also, we performed proliferative response against CII when CII-specific T cell subset is deleted. Results: CIA mice showed more increase in the serum level of anti-CII IgG than normal mice after induction of arthritis. And the level of anti-CII IgG2a in CIA mice was increased after $3^{rd}$ week after primary immunization, while anti-CII IgG1 was decreased. Draining LN CD4+ T cells have proliferated against CII stimulation at $3^{rd}$ week after $1^{st}$immunization. CD4+T cells derived from dLN of CIA mice produced proinflammatory cytokine IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-17 etc. Draining LN CD4 T cells of CIA presented higher proportion of CD4+V ${\beta}3$+subset compared to those of normal mice at $3^{rd}$ week after $1^{st}$ immunization, and they were increased in proportion by CII stimulation. Draining LN CD4+ T cells without TCRV ${\beta}3+/V{\beta}8.1/8.2+/V{\beta}$10b+cells were not responsive against CII stimulation. But, CII-reactive response of TCRV ${\beta}3-/V{\beta}8.1/8.2-/V{\beta}$10b- T cells was recovered when $V{\beta}3+$ T cells were added in culture. Conclusion: Our results indicate that CD4+$V{\beta}3+$ T cells are selectively expanded in dLN of CIA mice, and their recovery upon CII re-stimulation in vitro, as well as the production Th1-type cytokines, may play pivotal role in CIA pathogenesis.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.121-128
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• 2005

Economic animal husbandry workers exposed to organic dust can be suffered from immunologic disorders. Our study was to determine immunological parameters related with occurrence of respiratory allergic diseases to animal husbandry workers in Korea for the first time. Peripheral blood were obtained from twenty-five pig barn workers, forty-nine chicken farming workers and fifty-one non-agricultural control workers. Significantly upregulated plasma IgE level was observed with pig-barn workers than that of chicken farming workers or healthy community control subjects. Furthermore, level of histamine, a hallmark of allergy induction, was upregulated in the pig and chicken farming workers in comparison with that of the control subjects. Downregulation of $IFN_\gamma$ and $TNF_{\alpha}$ production from T cells was apparent in the animal husbandry workers compared with the control subjects. Meanwhile, T cells collected from the pig barn workers demonstrated significantly higher production of IL-4 and IL-10 than the other groups. There were also alterations in IgG subclass distribution. In conclusion, immunological modulation probably leading to occupational allergic diseases can be occurred in the economic animal husbandry workers and the pig barn workers could be the most risky group to the work-related allergic disease.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.159-164
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• 2012

Allergic skin inflammation such as atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by edema and infiltration with various inflammatory cells such as mast cells, basophils, eosinophils and T cells. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is produced mainly by epidermal keratinocytes, as well as dermal fibroblasts and mast cells in the skin lesions of AD. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil can reduce inflammation in allergic patients. Fermentation has a tremendous capacity to transform chemical structures. The antiinflammatory effects of fish oil have been described in many diseases, but the beneficial effects by which fermented olive flounder oil (FOF) modulates the allergic response is poorly understood. In this study, we produced FOF and tested its ability to suppress the various allergic inflammatory responses. The ability of FOF to modulate the immune system was investigated using a mouse model of AD. The FOF-treated group showed significantly decreased immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine in serum. Also, the increased TSLP expression was significantly inhibited in the FOF group; the FOF-treated group was not appreciably different from the hydrocort cream treatment group. In addition, FOF treatment resulted in a smaller spleen size with reduced the thickness and length compared to the induction group. Splenocytes from mice treated with FOF produced significantly less IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, T-box transcription factor (T-bet) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) expression compared with the induction group. These results suggest that FOF may be effective in treating the allergic symptoms of AD. 5.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.66-71
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• 2013

Broussonetia papyrifera and Lonicera japonica have long been used in the treatment of inflammatory disorders in Chinese medicine, especially respiratory inflammation. Previously, a new phytoformula (BL) containing B. papyrifera and L. japonica was found to exert strong anti-inflammatory activity against several animal models of inflammation, especially against an animal model of acute bronchitis. In the present investigation, the effects of BL on animal models of septic inflammation and chronic bronchitis are examined. Against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic inflammation in mice, BL (200-400 mg/kg) reduced the induction of some important proinflammatory cytokines. At 1 h after LPS treatment, BL was found to considerably inhibit TNF-${\alpha}$ production when measured by cytokine array. At 3 h after LPS treatment, BL inhibited the induction of several proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, although dexamethasone, which was used as a reference, showed a higher inhibitory action on these biomarkers. Against chronic bronchitis induced by LPS/elastase instillation in rats for 4 weeks, BL (200-400 mg/kg/day) significantly inhibited cell recruitment in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Furthermore, BL considerably reduced lung injury, as revealed by histological observation. Taken together, these results indicate that BL may have a potential to treat systemic septic inflammation as well as chronic bronchitis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.119-124
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• 2009

Anti cancer agent 5-FU (Fluoro Uracil) is a prodrug that can be metabolized and then activated to interfere with RNA and DNA homeostasis. However, the majority of administered 5-FU is known to be catabolized in vivo in the liver where Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is abundantly expressed to degrade 5-FU. The biological factors that correlate with the response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy have been proposed to include uridine phosphorylase (UPP), thymidine phosphorylase (TPP), p53 and microsatellite instability. Among these, the expression of UPP is known to be controlled by cytokines such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL1 and $IFN-{\gamma}$. Our preliminary study using a DNA microarray technique showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) markedly induced the expression of UPP1 at the transcription level. In the present study, we investigated whether bFGF could modulate the expression of UPP1 in osteo-lineage cells and examined the sensitivity of these cells to 5-FU mediated apoptosis.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.225-241
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• 2002

The inhibitory effects of Injinseulki including extracts of melanian snail plus phytomedicinal plants on $CCl_4$-induced fibrosis, $IFN-{\gamma}$ plus LPS-induced production of NO, PMA-stimulated production $O_2$, and tacrine-induced hepatic injury were investigated in rats, RAW 264.7 or HepG2 cells. The ethanol extracts of melanian snail significantly inhibited tarcrine-induced inury of HepG2 cells. Injinseulki inhibited the production of NO and $O_2$ in a dose-dependent manner in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Injinseulki significantly inhibited chemical-induced fibrosis in Rats. These results show that Injinseulki including extracts of melanian snail plus phytomedicinal plants may explain some known biological activities of Injinseulki including their anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effect, and is of considerable benefit in the treatment for live diseases.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.53-61
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigative the effects of Gagambojungikgi-tang (GBT), a Korean herbal medicine, on the immune mediators, T cell proliferation and wound healing in the recombinant Sj26 (rSj26) antigen induced atopic dermatitis(AD) model mice. Methods : GBT is the water extracts prepared from mixture of Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Angelicae gigantis Radix, Atractylodes Rhizoma alba, Aurantii nobilis Pericarpium, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Artemisia iwayomogi Herba, Scutellaria Radix, Lonicera japonica Flos. This is a modified prescription of Bojungikgi-tang, which has been used for the treatment of indigestion, and immunological disease in east-asian countries. GBT was orally administered or externally applied at difference doses. The levels of immune mediators [(IgE, IgG1, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Th1/Th2 cytokines], T cell proliferation, and wound healing in the rSj26 or chemical antigen induced AD model BALB/c were investigated. Results : GBT dose-dependently suppressed the release of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ (Th1 cytokines), IL-4, IL-10 (Th2 cytokines), PGE2 (inflammatory mediators) and T cell proliferation. But GBT increased the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ (Th1 cytokine). Furthermore, A wound healing effect of GBT was similar to external application of dexamethasone. Conclusions : These results suggest that GBT suppresses the inflammatory mediators and regulates the Thl/Th2 cytokines, and promotes the wound healing. Therefore, these properties may contribute to the strong anti-AD effect of GBT.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.47-62
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• 2009

Atopic dermatitis induced NC/Nga mice were used to investigate the efficacy of HYT on the recovery of dermatitic symptoms by how HYT influenced the immune related factors. The results are as below: 1. Compared to the control, HYT treated group showed recovery of atopic dermatitis by the naked eye observation, and significant reduction of dermatits index was observed after 14 weeks. 2. HYT treated group showed significant decrease of the ratio of CCR3+, B220+/IgE+, and Gr-1+/CD11b+ immune cells in dorsal skin by 40.5%, 34.2%, and 48.1%, respectively. 3. HYT treated group showed increase in the ratio of CD19+ immune cells within PBMC by 10.8%, as well as decrease in CD3+, CD3+/CD69+, NKT+ ratios by 5.3%, 35.2%, and 44.9%, respectively. 4. HYT treated group showed increase in the expression of IFN-$\gamma$ in serum by 589.3%, whereas the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-$\alpha$, MCP-1 and RANTES were decreased by 31.4%, 82.1%, 97.1%, 39.5%, 83.7%, 26.1%, 48.6%, respectively. A 47.2% decrease in IgE expression was also observed. The results above strongly supported the improvement of atopic dermatitis by HYT treatment through immune modulation. Further studies on the synergistic effect of each ingredients of HYT and therapeutic effects according to the dosage of each ingredient should be followed for clinical applications. This work was (partly) supported by the RIC program of MKE(Ministry of Knowledge Economy) in Daejeon University.