• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.98-105
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• 2008

Background: Allergic inflammation was induced by activated Th2 lymphocytes, leading to IgE production and eosinophil activation. A Th2 disproportion was shown in atopic children soon after birth. During specific allergen stimulation, an increase of Th2 cells was observed in most cases. In this study, we prepared new screening "whole blood" system for searching the anti-atopic materials. Cytokine production and IgE secretion from whole blood system were assessed and we confirmed the results by using animal system. Methods: Pathological features in NC/Nga mice are similar to those observed in human atopic dermatitis. Whole blood from NC/Nga mouse was stimulated by using TNCB (Th2 activator) or candidate materials of anti-atopic dermatitis, and the production of cytokines (IL-4, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$) were measured by ELISA. In order to confirm the results of whole blood system, in vivo test was done by using NC/Nga mice. Results: In whole blood system, LPS and extracts of green tea, hardy orange and onion induced the production of IL-12 and IFN-${\gamma}$ while they reduced the production of IL-4. Also, LPS and extracts of onion reduced IgE production. Though atopic dermatitis was observed from a mouse stimulated with TNCB, it was not when a mouse was co-stimulated in LPS or extracts of onion. The results are same as those observed in whole blood system. Conclusion: Whole blood system was simple and speedy methods for searching a materials compared with the conventional high-cost animal system. And the results using whole blood system was proved to be reliable in our experiments for screening anti-atopic material. We expect that the system can be applied to other experiments for searching similar materials.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2010

The seeds of Raphanus sativus L. (RSL) and Phaseolus calcaratus Roxburgh (PHCR), the root of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), and the flower of Lonicera japonica (LJ) have been traditionally used as herbal medicines for anti-inflammation. Unlike the SB and LJ, little information is available for the scientific bases that show the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of RSL and PHCR. In this study, we prepared boiled water extracts from the medicines and determined their potentials in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-6 secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The effects of the medicines on serum IgE levels in ovalbumin (OVA)-administrated mice were also studied. The medicines inhibited production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6, and COX-2 expression in LPSstimulated macrophages. Especially, PHCR water extract showed more potent inhibition on TNF-$\alpha$ production than SB and LJ extracts, but RSL extract did not exert these effects. Similar to the cases of SB and LJ, PHCR extract prevented the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and c-Jun, and the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA binding. Further, oral supplementation of PHCR extract attenuated significantly serum levels of total and OVA-specific IgE in OVAtreated animals. These results suggest a possibility that PHCR water extract can be used for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.52-59
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• 2000

Objectives: The root and stem of Sinomenium acutum has been used for treatment of arthritis and neuralgia in oriental medicine. To find new substances of the anti-anaphylactic drugs, we studied Sinomenium acutum. Methods: To investigate the effect of this plant, the effect on anaphylactic reaction, plasma histamine level, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}-(TNF-{\alpha})$ production were measured after the aqueous extract of Sinomenium acutum stem (SSAE) was administrated to mice and rats. Results: The SSAE (0.1 to 1000 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited systemic anaphylactic reaction induced by compound 48/80 in mice. Especially, SSAE reduced compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic reaction with 50% at the dose of 1000 mg/kg. SSAE (100 to 1000 mg/kg) also significantly inhibited local anaphylactic reaction activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE. When mice were pretreated with SSAE at a concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1000 mg/kg, the plasma histamine levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. SSAE (1 to 1000 g/ml) dose-dependently inhibited histamine release from the rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. The level of cAMP in RPMCs, when SSAE was added, increased compared with that of a normal control. In addition, SSAE (0.1 g/ml) had a significant inhibitory effect on anti-DNP IgE-induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ production. Conclusions: These results indicate that SSAE inhibits mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from mast cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1005-1009
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• 2017

Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy can cause congenital defects. Available data for CMV infection during pregnancy in north China are inadequate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of maternal CMV infection and explore the incidence of congenital infection. In this prospective study, serum CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were measured in 2,887 pregnant women using ELISA, and the IgG avidity test was performed on all IgM-positive subjects. The seroprevalence of anti-CMV IgG was 94.70%, and of anti-CMV IgM was 1.28%. CMV IgG prevalence increased significantly with age (p < 0.01). Women living in downtown areas showed higher IgG prevalence than those residing in urban areas (p = 0.023). CMV-IgM seroprevalence was highest in autumn (p = 0.021). There was no difference in IgM seroprevalence by age, socioeconomic status, geographical area, or gravida. The rate of primary CMV infection was 0.45% (13/2,887) at the first trimester. The seroconversion rate during pregnancy was 0.76% (22/2,887). One woman underwent seroconversion during pregnancy and gave birth to an infant with asymptomatic CMV infection. Congenital CMV infection was diagnosed in five of the 14 infants from 14 mothers with active infection, for a vertical transmission rate of 35.71% (5/14). Three infants were asymptomatic, whereas two infants presented symptomatic infection with hearing deficits. Although CMV IgG prevalence is relatively high in north China, significant attention to primary CMV infection during pregnancy is still needed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2018

We developed a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit for detecting IgG/IgM antibodies against Zika virus (ZIKV) using monoclonal antibodies to the envelope (E) and non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of ZIKV. These proteins were produced using baculovirus expression vector with Sf9 cells. Monoclonal antibodies J2G7 to NS1 and J5E1 to E protein were selected and conjugated with colloidal gold to produce the Zika IgG/IgM RDT kit (Zika RDT). Comparisons with ELISA, plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), and PCR were done to investigate the analytical sensitivity of Zika RDT, which resulted in 100% identical results. Sensitivity and specificity of Zika RDT in a field test was determined using positive and negative samples from Brazil and Korea. The diagnostic accuracy of Zika RDT was fairly high; sensitivity and specificity for IgG was 99.0 and 99.3%, respectively, while for IgM it was 96.7 and 98.7%, respectively. Cross reaction with dengue virus was evaluated using anti-Dengue Mixed Titer Performance Panel (PVD201), in which the Zika RDT showed cross-reactions with DENV in 16.7% and 5.6% in IgG and IgM, respectively. Cross reactions were not observed with West Nile, yellow fever, and hepatitis C virus infected sera. Zika RDT kit is very simple to use, rapid to assay, and very sensitive, and highly specific. Therefore, it would serve as a choice of method for point-of-care diagnosis and large scale surveys of ZIKV infection under clinical or field conditions worldwide in endemic areas.

• Journal of Web Engineering
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• v.14 no.14
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• pp.2853-2869
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• 2022

Allergy is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated process, and its incidence and prevalence have increased worldwide in recent years. Therapeutic agents for allergic diseases are continuously being developed, but side effects follow when used for a long-term use. Therefore, treatments based on natural products that are safe for the body are urgently required. Sword bean (Canavalia gladiata) pod (SBP) has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory diseases, but there is still no scientific basis for its anti-allergic effect. Accordingly, this study investigates the anti-allergic effect and its mechanism of SBP in vitro and in vivo. SBP reduced the nitric oxide production and decreased mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory mediates (inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)), and inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a major signaling molecule in the inflammatory response. Additionally, SBP extract treatment inhibited phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/mTOR) signaling activity to further inhibit degranulation and allergy mediator generation and control the balance of Th1/Th2 cells, which can induce an allergic reaction when disrupted. Furthermore, the SBP extract exhibited anti-allergic effects in anti-dinitrophenyl IgE-induced RBL-2H3 cells and ovalbumin-treated mice. These findings have potential clinical implications for the treatment as well as prevention of allergic diseases.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 2012

This study evaluated the change in anti-allergy activity of ${\beta}-glucan$ by electron beam irradiation. ${\beta}-Glucan$ was irradiated at dose of 50 kGy and then orally pre-treated with electron beam irradiated and non irradiated ${\beta}-Glucan$ for 7 days. After pre-treatment, allergy was induced by injection of ovalbumin (OVA). Serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and OVA-specific IgE levels in the allergic mice was significantly increased but the mice pre-treated 50 kGy electron beam irradiated ${\beta}-glucan$ was significantly decreased the levels of total IgE and OVA-specific IgE, respectively. Moreover, cytokine production (interleukin-4) was also decreased in the 50 kGy electron beam irradiated ${\beta}-Glucan$ pre-treated mice. These results indicate that pre-treatment of 50 kGy electron beam irradiated ${\beta}-glucan$ may elevate the anti-allergy activity. Therefore, electron beam-irradiated ${\beta}-glucan$ could be used for nutraceutical foods in food industry.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.131-146
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• 2004

In the present study, we exarnined anti-allergic effect of SGBHB in cultured B cells. B cells were prepared from isolated murine splenocytes and activated by co-treatment of anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody and recombinant IL-4 allergens. Anti-allergic effects of SGBHB in activated B cells were determined by measuring B cell surface activated molecules (CD23+ and CD11a+), and expression levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-$\alpha$, IgE, and HRF. The major findings are summarized as follows. 1. SGBHB treatment did not produce significant cytotoxic effects on mouse lung fibroblast cells. 2. SGBHB produced significant inhibitory effect on the expression of B cell surface activated molecules (CD23+ and CD11a) in activated B cells. 3. SGBHB treatment significantly inhibited expression levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNAs in activated B cells.IL-6 protein levels were significantly decreased by $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of SGBHB treatrrient, and TNF-$\alpha$ protein levels were decreased compared to the control group, but statistically insignificant. 4. SGBHB treatment significantly increased IL-10 at both mRNA and protein levels in activated B cells. 5. SGBHB treatment significantly inhibited levels of IgE production. Thus, the present data suggest that SGBHB has an anti-allergic effect on activated B cells by controlling irnmune responses, and further implicates the possibility on clinical application as a therapeutic agent.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2014

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory, relapsing, chronic skin disease and lesions in AD are frequently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Activation of T cells and IgE production by staphylococcal enterotoxins B (SEB) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is a nonpathogenic bacterium and produces the probiotic products that have been shown to have inhibitory effects on inflammatory responses. In present study, we carried out to assess the anti-inflammatory role of lyzed E. faecalis against the damaging effects of SEB on AD related immune responses. Furthermore, we attempted to determine whether the co-cultured lyzed E. faecalis can influence the colonization of S. aureus. As a result, we identified the effect of E. faecalis lysate as a potent therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis (AD). E. faecalis lysate reduces the productions of total IgE and cytokines of AD-related immune cells in response to SEB stimulation. The proliferation of S. aureus was also inhibited by E. faecalis lysate. In conclusions, E. faecalis lysate may improve the skin-defense system disturbed by atopic condition, and may prevent subsequent secondary infection of S. aureus and development of AD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.150-157
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• 2009

This research was performed in order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Bupleuri Radix(BR) on the Immune response in vitro. Cellular proliferation and cytokine production were measured in mast cells or mouse B cells or CD4 Th cells. BR water extract inhibited the secretions of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 in PMA/A23187 stimulated HMC-1 cells. It increased proliferation but did not affect the expressions of CD69 or CD23 in rIL-4/anti-CD40 activated S cells. BR reduced surface IgE expression and secreted IgE but increased the production of IL-4, IFN-$\gamma$ and IgG1 in the same cells. BR caused an increase in proliferation in anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulated CD4 Th cells but it did not affect the differentiation of Th1 or Th2 cells. However, IL-2 was increased in BR treated Th2 cells. Considering the above-mentioned results, BR can be applied to a broad range of anti-inflammatory reactions, but our data suggest that it will not be likely to exert any effects on type 1 allergic response.