• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.135-143
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• 2010

Background: Cordyceps militarys water extract (CME) has been reported to exert antitumor and immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. However, the therapeutic mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of CME on the antigen presenting function of antigen presenting cells (APCs). Methods: Dendritic cells (DCs) were cultured in the presence of CME, and then allowed to phagocytose microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA). After washing and fixing the efficacy of OVA, peptide presentation by DCs were evaluated using CD8 and CD4 T cells. Also, we confirmed the protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through western blot analysis. Results: CME enhanced both MHC class I and class II-restricted presentation of OVA in DCs. In addition, the expression of both MHC class I and II molecules was enhanced, but there was no changes in the phagocytic activity of exogenous OVA. Furthermore, CME induced the protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, proinflammatory cytokines, and nuclear p65 in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by western blot. Conclusion: These results provide an understanding of the mechanism of the immuno-enhancing activity of CME on the induction of MHC-restricted antigen presentation in relation to their actions on APCs.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2001

Methanol extracts form four kinds of kimchi, which were differently prepared in kinds and levels of sub-ingredients, were given to Balb/c mice for 3 weeks (0.5 mg/kg/day). Peritoneal macrophages isolated from mice treated with kimchi extracts and saline were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). K3 and K4 kimchis, containing more red pepper powder, garlic, Chinese pepper powder, mustard leaf and organically cultivated Korean cabbage, significantly increased NO production by the activated macrophages (p<0.05). K1, K2, K3 and K4 kimchi extracts (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$) significantly reduced the increased TGF-$\beta$1 production of H.pylori lysate (0.01 $\mu\textrm{g}$)-activated human epithelial RPMI 2650 cells (5$\times$10$^{4}$ cells/mL) at 24 and 48 hrs of treatment (p<0.01). However, the decreased TGF-$\beta$1 $\alpha$ production of RPMI 2650 cells by H. pylori lysate increased by treatment with kimchi extract for 72 hrs. Especially, K4 kimchi (containing organically cultivated Korean cabbage and more ingredients, modulated TGF-$\beta$1 production of H. pylori lysate-activated RPMI 2650 cells to the normal level (control) by treatment for 48 hrs. The treatment of K1 and K4 kimchi enhanced the LPS (0.01 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL)-induced IL-6 production of splenocytes. The results suggest that kimchi might have an beneficial effect on cancer prevention due in part to the function enhancing NO production of activated macrophages. Our data suggest that kimchi could modulate TGF-$\beta$1 production by cancer cells and IL-6 production of splenocytes, thereby possibly contributing to control carcinogenesis and the immune system.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 1997

General pharmacological effects of SB-31$^{R}$, the extracts of Pulsatilla koreana, were investigated in mice, rats and guinea-pigs. Intravenous injection of SB-31 (3 and 6 ml/kg) produced almost no effect on central nervous system no effects on the general symptom and behaviors of mice, spontaneous locomotor activity, pentobarbital- induced sleeping time , rotared performance , electroshock and pentylenetertrazole -induced seizures, acetic acid-induced writhing and normal body temperature in mice. SB-31 showed little effects on the spontaneous movement of the isolated ileum and contraction induced by agonists in isolated ileum, suggesting no influence on autonomic nervous system. Administration of SB-31 also did not show any effect on blood pressure in conscious rats. However, a slight decrease in heart rate was observed at high doses (6 and 10 ml/kg) of SB-31 in conscious rats. Similarly, a slight increase in respiratory rate was observed at 6 m1/kg of SB-31 in anesthetized rats. SB-31 did not produce any effect at the dose of 3 ml/kg, but showed a tendency to increase the urinary volume at 6 ml/kg, and produced a decrease in urinary excretions of N $a_{+}$and $K_{+}$at 6 ml/kg. However, transport capacity within the gastrointestinal tract and the secretion of the gastric juice were not influenced by 6 ml/kg of SB-31. In conclusion, these results suggest that SB-31 did not pro-duce any acute effects on the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, respiratory and circulatory systems, digestive system and kidney function at the dose of below 3 ml/kg.ml/kg.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2011

It is already known that high concentration of vitamin C induces apoptosis on tumor cells. However, there is no report regarding the function of vitamin C on the modulation of immune susceptibility of cancer. Therefore, we investigated whether vitamin C can modulate immune susceptibility of tumor cells, especially on the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis. First, the optimal concentration of vitamin C, which cannot induce damages on tumor cells for 36 hrs. We found that 2 mM of vitamin C did not show harmful effect. In addition, the optimal concentration of agonistic anti-Fas Abs for 18 hrs was examined. As a result, 400 ng/ml of agonistic anti-Fas Abs did not induce apoptosis on tumor cells. Next, we tried to find the effect of 2 mM of vitamin C on the modulation of the susceptibility to agonistic anti-Fas Abs. When tumor cells were cultured with 400 ng/ml of agonistic anti-Fas Abs for 18 hrs, after pre-treatment with 2 mM of vitamin C for 24 hrs, viability of cells was decreased. Interestingly, we found that the expression of Fas (CD95) and MHC class I was increased by the treatment of vitamin C. Taken together, vitamin C increases the susceptibility of tumor cells to anti-Fas Abs and the expression of Fas (CD95) and MHC class I on tumor cells.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.317-322
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• 2012

In this study we investigated the effects of supplementation with fucoidan from brown alga on the function of natural-killer (NK) cells to evaluate the possibility as an immunomodulator in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. A total of 18 female Wistar rats (six weeks) were used this study and 12 rats were OVX, and the rest of rats were sham-operated. The sham and one OVX group were fed standard diet, and the remaining OVX group received fucoidan (0.05% supplemented diet). After 12 weeks of supplementation, rats were sacrificed to assess the tumoricidal activity of the NK cells and the NO-iNOS regulation from splenocytes. The mass of body and the immune organs such as spleen and thymus were also studied. In OVX rats, body and thymus weights increased, however fucoidan supplementation did not change the body mass and organs weight compared to OVX group. Fucoidan supplementation increased NK cell activity and reduced NO-iNOS production in OVX rats. Ex vivo treatment of fucoidan increased NK cell activity in splenocytes from shame and OVX rats. Ex vivo, we confirmed that fucoidan partially reduced the NK cell activity in the presence of iNOS inhibitors in OVX-splenocytes. These results indicate fucoidan supplementation has a NK cell tumoricidal activity, which are regulated by the iNOS production in OVX rats. This suggests that fucoidan is useful for potential therapeutic strategies as a nutrient in regulating the NK cells in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 2019

Background: Ginseng is believed to have antitumor activity. Autophagy is largely a prosurvival cellular process that is activated in response to cellular stressors, including cytotoxic chemotherapy; therefore, agents that inhibit autophagy can be used as chemosensitizers in cancer treatment. We examined the ability of Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) to prevent autophagic flux and to make hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells become more sensitive to doxorubicin. Methods: The cytotoxic effects of total RGE or its saponin fraction (RGS) on HCC cells were examined by the lactate dehydrogenase assay in a dose- or time-dependent manner. The effect of RGE or RGS on autophagy was measured by analyzing microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC)3-II expression and LC3 puncta formation in HCC cells. Late-stage autophagy suppression was tested using tandem-labeled green fluorescent protein (GFP)-monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP)-LC3. Results: RGE markedly increased the amount of LC3-II, but green and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-mRFP-LC3 remained colocalized over time, indicating that RGE inhibited autophagy at a late stage. Suppression of autophagy through knockdown of key ATG genes increased doxorubicin-induced cell death, suggesting that autophagy induced by doxorubicin has a protective function in HCC. Finally, RGE and RGS markedly sensitized HCC cells, (but not normal liver cells), to doxorubicin-induced cell death. Conclusion: Our data suggest that inhibition of late-stage autophagic flux by RGE is important for its potentiation of doxorubicin-induced cancer cell death. Therapy combining RGE with doxorubicin could serve as an effective strategy in the treatment of HCC.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.89-116
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• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to ascertain what should be considered in the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Liver Cancer," by analyzing existing guidelines and clinical trials. Methods: Committee for the development of a guideline, consisting of 6 Korean medicine doctors, reviewed guidelines and clinical trials on using herbal medicine for treating liver cancer. The trials were analyzed in terms of inclusion and exclusion of participants, intervention, comparators, outcomes, and trial design. We then compared the results of our analysis with the guidelines to identify issues we must to consider when following the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Liver Cancer." Several guidelines for antitumor agents and clinical trials on herbal medicine were obtained from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety homepage, etc. The search terms were as follows: "liver neoplasms"; "herbal medicine"; "medicine, Korean traditional"; and "medicine, Chinese Traditional.". Results: Ten articles were obtained from pubmed and Embase. There was no guideline for clinical trials on using herbal medicine for treating liver cancer. All the participants in the reviewed articles had primary liver cancer, and the type of intervention varied (e.g., decoction, patches, and capsules. The comparators included placebos and conventional treatments such as chemotherapy. The outcome assessment methods were tumor response, quality of life, survival, and liver function tests. Adverse events occuring during the trial were also evaluated. Conclusion: Findings were derived by reviewing existing guidelines and comparing them with clinical trials on liver cancer and herbal medicinal products. These results will be utilized in the development of the "Guideline for Clinical Trials with Herbal Medicinal Products for Liver Cancer."

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.864-874
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• 2023

Natural killer (NK) cell dysfunctions against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a hypoxic environment. Many solid tumors are present in a hypoxic condition, which changes the effector function of various immune cells. The transcription of hypoxic-inducible factors (HIFs) in cancer cells make it possible to adapt to their hypoxic environment and to escape the immune surveillance of NK cells. Recently, the correlation between the transcription of HIF-1α and pro-inflammatory cytokines has been reported. Interleukin (IL)-6 is higher in cancers with a highly invasive ability, and is closely related to the metastasis of cancers. This study showed that the expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells was associated with the presence of IL-6 in the environment of HCC-NK cells. Blocking of IL-6 by antibody in the HCC-NK interaction changed the production of several cytokines including TGF-β, IL-1, IL-18 and IL-21. Interestingly, in a co-culture of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells, blocking of IL-6 increased the production of IL-21 in their supernatants. In addition, the absence of IL-6 significantly enhanced the cytotoxic ability and the expression of the activating receptors (NKG2D, NKp44, and NKG2C) in NK cells to HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells. These effects might be made by the decreased expression of HIF-1α in HCC cells through the inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3. In conclusion, the absence of IL-6 in the interaction of HIF-1α-expressed HCC cells and NK cells could enhance the antitumor activity of NK cells to HCC cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.238-245
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• 1999

Antioxidative effects of the water or ethanol extracts from Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) were measured by protection against hydroxyl radicals in mouse brain tissue culture. In the water extracts from RVS, cell viabilities were estimated 60.0, 66.0, 72.0, 84.0 and 90.0% at addition of 1, 2, 4, 7 and $10{\mu}L$, respectively, compared with GO (20 mU/mL) alone. The cell viability in the ethanol extracts was similarly with water extracts. In the antitumor effects, the results showed that percentages of the HeLa cell death were approximately 24% for 12 hrs, 57% for 48 hrs at addition of 10%/well ethanol extracts respectively. To know inhibition of tumor growth, in vivo, mice (BALB/c) were inoculated with 0.25 mL CT-26 $(1{\times}10^6\;cells/mL)$ subcutaneously. After the generation of tumor, the results of RVS extracts (ethanol, water) injection showed generally that the tumor size in BALB/c was reduced. For physicochemical characterization of the RVS extracts, purified substances of water or ethanol extracts were analized with SDS-PAGE and ICP spectrometer. In electrophoresis, gel showed 2 bands (210, 230 KDa). The results of ICP verified that RVS extracts contain $Cu^{2+}$ in both samples. Conclusively, this substance might be a laccase which has a biological effective function, as a natural bioactive substance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1629-1636
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• 2015

The edible mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill is known to have many physiological functions, including antitumor, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. Aqueous extracts were obtained by extracting A. blazei in water at $90^{\circ}C$ for 15 h, followed by spray-drying with dextran at a 70:30 ratio. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory effect of A. blazei Murill water extract (ABM) in BALB/c mice. Mice were administered orally with 4, 20, and 100 mg/kg of ABM for 21 days. ABM-treated mice did not show significant differences in body and organ weights compare to saline-treated control mice. Splenocytes isolated from ABM-administered mice revealed similar levels of cellularity and proliferation compared to control mice, whereas they showed increased natural killer (NK) cell activity and decreased IL-4 and IL-12 production. Different from in vivo results, splenocytes isolated from normal mice showed increased proliferation and $INF-{\gamma}$ production following ABM treatment in vitro. In addition, ABM treatment enhanced macrophage proliferation and nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner. However, ABM had no effect on LPS-induced NO production. These results suggest that A. blazei modulates immune function by increasing NK cell activity and macrophage function.