• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.18-27
• /
• 2016

Background: It is not clear whether ginseng affects cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced desirable immunosuppressive action. In this study, we evaluated the immunological influence of combined treatment of ginseng with CsA. Methods: Using CD4+ T cells from mouse spleens stimulated with the T cell receptor (TCR) or allogeneic antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we examined the differentiation of naïve T cells into T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and their cytokine production during treatment by Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) and/or CsA. The influence of KRGE on the allogeneic T cell response was evaluated by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). We also evaluated whether signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT5 are implicated in this regulation. Results: Under TCR stimulation, KRGE treatment did not affect the population of CD4+interferon gamma ($IFN{\gamma}$)+ and CD4+interleukin (IL)-4+ cells and their cytokine production compared with CsA alone. Under the Th17-polarizing condition, KRGE significantly reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and CD4+/phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3)+ cells, but increased the number of CD4+CD25+forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ cells and CD4+/p-STAT5+ cells compared with CsA alone. In allogeneic APCs-stimulated CD4+ T cells, KRGE significantly decreased total allogeneic T cell proliferation. Consistent with the effects of TCR stimulation, KRGE reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and increased the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells under the Th17-polarizing condition. Conclusion: KRGE has immunological benefits through the reciprocal regulation of Th17 and Treg cells during CsA-induced immunosuppression.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.287-294
• /
• 2003

Background: In kidney transplantation, donor specific transfusion may induce tolerance as a result of some immune regulatory cells against the graft. In organ transplantation, the immune state arises from a relationship between the immunocompromised graft and the immunocompetent host. However, a reverse immunological situation exists between the graft and the host in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In addition, early IL-2 injections after an allogeneic murine HSCT have been shown to prevent lethal graft versus host disease (GVHD) due to CD4+ cells. We investigated the induction of the regulatory CD4+CD25+ cells after a transfusion of irradiated recipient cells with IL-2 into a donor. Methods: The splenocytes (SP) were obtained from 6 week-old BALB/c mice ($H-2^d$) and irradiated as a single cell suspension. The donor mice (C3H/He, $H-2^k$) received $5{\times}10^6$ irradiated SP, and 5,000 IU IL-2 injected intraperitoneally on the day prior to HSCT. The CD4+CD25+ cell populations in SP treated C3H/He were analyzed. In order to determine the in vivo effect of CD4+CD25+ cells, the lethally irradiated BALB/c were transplanted with $1{\times}10^7$ donor BM and $5{\times}10^6$ CD4+CD25+ cells. The other recipient mice received either $1{\times}10^7$ donor BM with $5{\times}10^6$ CD4+ CD25- cells or the untreated SP. The survival and GVHD was assessed daily by a clinical scoring system. Results: In the MLR assay, BALB/c SP was used as a stimulator with C3H/He SP, as a responder, with or without treatment. The inhibition of proliferation was $30.0{\pm}13%$ compared to the control. In addition, the MLR with either the CD4+CD25+ or CD4+CD25- cells, which were isolated by MidiMacs, from the C3H/He SP treated with the recipient SP and IL-2 was evaluated. The donor SP treated with the recipient cells and IL-2 contained more CD4+CD25+ cells ($5.4{\pm}1.5%$) than the untreated mice SP ($1.4{\pm}0.3%$)(P<0.01). There was a profound inhibition in the CD4+CD25+ cells ($61.1{\pm}6.1%$), but a marked proliferation in the CD4+CD25- cells ($129.8{\pm}65.2%$). Mice in the CD4+CD25+ group showed low GVHD scores and a slow progression from the post-HSCT day 4 to day 9, but those in the control and CD4+CD25- groups had a high score and rapid progression (P<0.001). The probability of survival was 83.3% in the CD4+CD25+ group until post-HSC day 35 and all mice in the control and CD4+CD25- groups died on post-HSCT day 8 or 9 (P=0.0105). Conclusion: Donor graft engineering with irradiated recipient SP and IL-2 (recipient specific transfusion) can induce abundant regulatory CD4+CD25+ cells to prevent GVHD.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2004

The objective of this study was to understand differences among three half-sib families of Betula schmidtii seedlings in the effect of three Cd levels on growth and photosynthesis. One-year-old seedlings of B. schmidtii were treated with 0, 0.4 and 0.8 mM CdSO$_4$ㆍ8/3$H_2O$ for two months. Growth and physiological responses to Cd treatment levels of three families determined using dry weight, relative height growth rate(RHGR), apparent quantum yield and carboxylation efficiency. The B. schmidtii seedlings exposed to 0.4 and 0.8 mM Cd showed statisticall significant decrease in dry weight and RHGR relative to controls. In addition, the growth inhibition of B. schmidtii seedlings was accompanied by a significant decrease in net photosynthesis measured as $CO_2$ assimilation. Apparent quantum yield and carboxylation efficiency were also affected by Cd treatment, undergoing a significant and progressive reduction with increasing Cd concentrations in all families. We also found significant difference among three families of B. schmidtii in growth, biomass and photosynthesis when exposed to Cd stress. Therefore the present study showed that the difference in Cd tolerance among families might be attributed to genetic factor in response to Cd stress.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.427-434
• /
• 2009

Indigenous bacterium which shows a tolerance to high metal toxicity was isolated from soil concomitantly contaminated with oil and heavy metals. The characteristics of the bacterium for Pb and Cd biosorption was investigated under the various experimental conditions such as bacterial growth phase, the initial metal concentration, the input biomass amount, temperature and pH. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm modeling was described to know the capacity and intensity of biosorption. The low initial concentration of heavy metals and high biomass has a maximum heavy metal removal efficiency, but biosorption capacity of Pb and Cd has different values. Biosorption efficiency was highest in the end of the microbial growth stage and under pH 5~9 condition, but was less affected by temperature variation of 25~$35^{\circ}C$. The maximum biosorption capacity for Pb and Cd was 62.11 and 192.31 mg/g, respectively and each $R^2$ was calculated as 0.71 and 0.98 by applying Langmuir isothermal adsorption equation. Biosorption for Cd was considered as monomolecular adsorption to single layer on the surface of cells, whereas biosorption for Pb was considered as accumulation process into the cell by the microbial metabolism and precipitation reaction with anion of bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.593-600
• /
• 1999

The survival rates of Littorina brevicula exposed to experimental concentration regimes of TBTCl, HB and Cd on the large and the small size individuals during 80 days were $80\%$ at 0,9ppb TBTCl, 40 and $25\%$, respectively at 200ppb Hg, and 75 and $45\%$, respectively at 100ppb Cd. The growth rates of the experimental animals exposed to each concentration for 80 days was 0.023mm/day at control, 0.019mm/day at 0.1ppb and 0.014mm/day at 0.9ppb TBTCl, 0.022 mm/day at 5ppb, 0.008 mm/day at 200ppb Hg, and 0.017 mm/day at 5ppb, 0.008mm/day at 100ppb Cd. The respiration rates and excretion rates of the experimental animals exposed to chronic concentration of TBTCl, Hg and Cd were decreased until approximatively 40 days and increased after, Toxic effect of pollutants on L. brevicula was highest at TBTCl. The histological injury of L. brevicula exposed to TBTCl, Hg and Cd was shown at gill, digestive organ and muscle, respectively.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.303-310
• /
• 2002

Cell therapy applied to wound healing or tissue regeneration presents a revolutionary realm to which principles of gene engineering and delivery may be applied. One promising application is the transplantation of cells into the wounded tissue to help the tissue repair. However, when cells are transplanted from in vitro to in vivo, immune rejection occurs due to the immune response triggered by the activation of T-cell, and the transplanted cells are destroyed by the attack of activated T-cell and lose their function. Immune suppressant such as FK506 is commonly used to suppress immune rejection during transplantation. However, such kind of immune suppressants not only suppresses immune rejection in the periphery of transplanted cells but also suppresses whole immune response system against pathogenic infection. In order to solve this problem, we developed a method to protect the desired cells from immune rejection without impairing whole immune system during cell transplantation. Previously, we reported the success of constructing glomerular epithelial cells for removal of immune complex, in which complement receptor of type 1 (CR1) was over-expressed on the membrane of renal glomerular epithelial cells and could bind immune complex of DNA/anti-DNA-antibody to remove immune complex through phagocy-tosis [1]. Attempting to apply the CR1-expressing cells to cell therapy and evade immune rejection during cell transplantation, we constructed three plasmids containing genes encoding a soluble fusion protein of cytolytic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA4Ig) and an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The plasmids were transfected to the above-mentioned glomerular epithelial cells to express both genes simultaneously. Using the clone cells for cell transplantation showed that mice with autoimmune disease prolonged their life significantly as compared with the control mice, and two injections of the cells at the beginning of two weeks resulted in remarkable survivability, whereas it requires half a year and 50 administrations of proteins purified from the same amount of cells to achieve the same effect.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.428-438
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Obesity is an important cause of insulin resistance that leads to obese type 2 diabetes. Recently it has been found that obesity is associated with adipose tissue accumulation which causes systemic inflammation. In this study, we investigated effects of Inula helenium on the inflammation in high fat diet-induced insulin resistance mouse. Methods: Insulin resistance was induced in C57BL/6 male mice (19~21 g) on a 60% fat diet. Mice were divided into 3 groups (n=6) of normal, control and Inula helenium. After 12 weeks, body weight, FBS, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), serum level of insulin, epididymal fat pad, liver weight and the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-10 and cluster of differentiation (CD) 68 were measured. Also, adipose tissue macrophage was analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Results: Inula helenium significantly reduces oral glucose tolerance levels, insulin serum level and adipose tissue macrophage. Also Inula helenium increased IL-10 gene expression and decreased CD68 gene expression. Conclusions: These results show that Inula helenium has anti-insulin resistance and anti-inflammatory effects on a high fat diet-induced insulin resistance mouse model.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.939-952
• /
• 1998

Rubber dampers are widely used to damp out vibrations generated in many mechanical elements because of the excellent damping characteristics of rubber. The damping characteristics of rubber is much dependent on temperature and frequency, which, in some cases, limit the effectiveness of rubber dampers. In this study, in order to increase the damping properties and axial and cross stiffnesses of rubber vibration dampers which are used in recording and regenerating devices, solid cores were inserted with interference tolerance in the rubber dampers. The damping characteristics of the rubber dampers with cores were investigated by experimentally and numerically using finite element method with respect to the interference tolerance, the core roughness, the materials of the core and the environmental temperature. From the experimental and theoretical investigations, it was found that the core in the rubber increased both the damping and stiffness of the damper. Also, it was found that the damping and stiffness of the rubber damper were much dependent on the temperature and frequency. Using the results of the experimental and theoretical investigations, the optimum design method for the cored rubber damper for recording and regenerating devices was developed.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.33-44
• /
• 1998

Mine tailings, soils, stream sediments, and ground water around Imcheon disused mine were analyzed in order to investigate their pollution levels of heavy metals and cyanide. The average contents of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, and CN￣ in mine tailings were 366, 28.8, 202, 15.2, 1.97$\times$$10^3$, 3.85$\times$$10^3$, 90.6mg/kg respectively, The pollution indices that calculated by the tolerance level of Kloke were 8~19 and the pH values were acidic in mine tailngs. In the field and paddy soils of Imcheon disused mine area except for soils nearby mine tailngs, concentraitons of the heavy metals were less than standards of soil pollution of agricultral area in the environmental protection law. The nitrate contents In the ground water for drink were more than tolerance level of the drinking water of Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.817-821
• /
• 2012

Soil samples collected from abounded mines of Boryeong area in South Korea were used in isolating bacterial strains and their capacity to solubilize inorganic phosphates and heavy metal tolerance were assessed in vitro. Three different inorganic phosphate sources (Ca phosphate, Fe phosphate, and Al phosphate) and four different heavy metals (Co, Cd, Pb and Zn) each with three concentrations ($100{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, $200{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$, and $400{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) were used. The bacterial isolates PSB-1, PSB-2, PSB-3, and PSB-4 solubilized significantly higher amount of Ca phosphate during the first five days of incubation though subsequent drop in soluble phosphorus level in the medium was observed at the later stage (after 5 days) of the incubation. Solubilization of Ca phosphate and Fe phosphate was concomitant with the acidification of the culture medium compared to the control where it remained constant. Isolated strains could solubilize Fe phosphate to certain extent ($25-45{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$) though solubilization of Al phosphate was found negligible. All the isolates were tolerant to heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) up to the concentration of $400{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ except PSB-1 and PSB-8, which were shown to be vulnerable to Co even at $100{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$. Heavy metal tolerant strains should be further evaluated for plant growth promoting activities also under field conditions in order to assess their agricultural and environmental significance.