• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• 제17권6호
• /
• pp.1272-1278
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kyung Hee Allergic Disease Herbal Formula (KAHF) on atopic dermatitis (AD) and its mode of action. Our clinical study showed KAHF reduced Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) indexes and subjective symptom scores. In parallel, the decreased levels of interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ and interleukin (IL)-5 in serum, which contributed to its AD-mitigating effect was observed. To reveal the underlying mechanisms of KAHF in AD, its anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced responses in RAW 264.7 cells was examined. KAHF was found to significantly inhibit the productions of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and IL-$1{\beta}$ in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Consistently, KAHF potently inhibited protein and mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Furthermore, KAHF inhibited LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor (NF)-$\kappa}B$. Taken together, our data suggest that KAHF has a beneficial effect on several eicosanoid-related skin inflammations, such as atopic dermatitis.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• 제14권3호
• /
• pp.405-409
• /
• 2005

Cellular components of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (heat-killed whole cells, cytoplasm, and cell walls) were tested for their in vivo immunopotentiating activities. Peritoneal macrophages from mice injected intraperitoneally with cell-wall fractions exhibited significantly greater phagocytic activity than groups injected with whole cells or cytoplasm fraction. Cytotoxicity of natural-killer cells was highest in cytoplasm fractions. Production of cytokines (IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12) in spleen cells was significantly higher when cellular components were injected intraperitoneally, and tended to be higher in whole-cell and cytoplasm groups than in cell-wall group. These results demonstrate lactic acid bacteria whole cells and their cytoplasm and cell-wall tractions have immunopotentiating activities.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제50권1호
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2012

Fascioliasis is one of the public health problems in the world. Cysteine proteinases (CP) released by $Fasciola$ $gigantica$ play a key role in parasite feeding, migration through host tissues, and in immune evasion. There has been some evidence from several parasite systems that proteinases might have potential as protective antigens against parasitic infections. Cysteine proteinases were purified and tested in vaccine trials of sheep infected with the liver fluke. Multiple doses (2 mg of CP in Freund's adjuvant followed by 3 booster doses 1 mg each at 4 week intervals) were injected intramuscularly into sheep 1 week prior to infect orally with 300 $F.$ $gigantica$ metacercariae. All the sheep were humanely slaughtered 12 weeks after the first immunization. Changes in the worm burden, ova count, and humoral and cellular responses were evaluated. Significant reduction was observed in the worm burden (56.9%), bile egg count (70.7%), and fecel egg count (75.2%). Immunization with CP was also found to be associated with increases of total IgG, $IgG_1$, and $IgG_2$ ($P$<0.05). Data showed that the serum cytokine levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$, revealed significant decreases ($P$<0.05). However, the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and IL-6, showed significant increases ($P$<0.05). In conclusion, it has been found that CP released by $F.$ $gigantica$ are highly important candidates for a vaccine antigen because of their role in the fluke biology and host-parasite relationships.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 2013

Objectives : This study was to evaluate inhibitory effects of Naegwan-acupuncture($PC_6$) on acute RE(reflux esophigitis) rat induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Methods : Twenty seven SD rats were divided three groups (intact normal rat; RE control rat; RE control rat respectively stimulated by Naegwan point($PC_6$)). All rats was fasted for 18 h but free water, we induced RE by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Six hour after the operation, rats were sacrified, collected bloods in the abdominal vein, dissected a esophagus and stomach. The stomach was washed a 1 ml PBS to research gastric volume, pH, acidity and mucin release of gastric juice, esophagus was cut longitudinally and pictured a innter mucosa area to research damages in esophagus. The proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine including IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and MCP-1 were analyzed by ELISA kit. Results : 1. Significantly, death rate of $PC_6$ acupuncture rat group was decreased compared to that of RE control group. 2. Gastric Volume, gastric injury and esophageal mucosa demage were decreased significantly, too. 3. Compared with RE, all of the proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine analyzed in serum of $PC_6$ were decreased remarkably. Especially, there were significant meanings TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and MCP-1 in serum of $PC_6$ were decreased. Conclusion : The results suggest that antiinflammatory and protecting effects of PC6 could attenuate the severity of reflux esophagitis and prevent the esophageal mucosal damage, and validate its therapeutic use in esophageal reflux disease.

• 사상체질의학회지
• /
• 제24권4호
• /
• pp.62-74
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of oral administration of Yongyukjowi-tang(YJT) on the immune activity in aged Sprague-Dawley rat(SD rat). Methods : SD rats were divided into three groups: Yongyukjowi-tang groups(YJT groups), distilled water groups(control groups) and Vitamin C groups(positive control groups) which were administered an oral dose(1ml/1day) to 6, 48 and 68 weeks old SD rats for four weeks. After four weeks, the number of total leukocyte, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and the level of cytokine (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-${\gamma}$) were measured in spleen tissue of each SD rats. Results and Conclusions : 1) The number of total leukocyte significantly increased in 52 weeks old YJT group and 72 weeks old YJT group in comparison with those of the control group. 2) The number of CD3+ cell significantly increased in 72 weeks old YJT group in comparison with those of the control group and the positive control group. 3) The number of CD8+ cell significantly increased in 52 weeks old YJT group in comparison with those of the control group. 4) The level of IL-2 significantly increased in 72 weeks old YJT group in comparison with those of the control group and the positive control group. 5) The level of IL-4 significantly increased in 52 weeks old YJT group in comparison with those of the positive control group. These results suggest that oral administration of YJT has an effect on increase of immune activity in aged rat.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제11권5호
• /
• pp.268-280
• /
• 2011

Background: Dengue virus, which belongs to the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, causes fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) with infection risk of 2.5 billion people worldwide. However, approved vaccines are still not available. Here, we explored the immune responses induced by alternating prime-boost vaccination using DNA vaccine, adenovirus, and vaccinia virus expressing E protein of dengue virus type 2 (DenV2). Methods: Following immunization with DNA vaccine (pDE), adenovirus (rAd-E), and/or vaccinia virus (VV-E) expressing E protein, E protein-specific IgG and its isotypes were determined by conventional ELISA. Intracellular CD154 and cytokine staining was used for enumerating CD4+ T cells specific for E protein. E protein-specific CD8+ T cell responses were evaluated by in vivo CTL killing activity and intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ staining. Results: Among three constructs, VV-E induced the most potent IgG responses, Th1-type cytokine production by stimulated CD4+ T cells, and the CD8+ T cell response. Furthermore, when the three constructs were used for alternating prime-boost vaccination, the results revealed a different pattern of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. i) Priming with VV-E induced higher E-specific IgG level but it was decreased rapidly. ii) Strong CD8+ T cell responses specific for E protein were induced when VV-E was used for the priming step, and such CD8+ T cell responses were significantly boosted with pDE. iii) Priming with rAd-E induced stronger CD4+ T cell responses which subsequently boosted with pDE to a greater extent than VV-E and rAd-E. Conclusion: These results indicate that priming with live viral vector vaccines could induce different patterns of E protein-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses which were significantly enhanced by booster vaccination with the DNA vaccine. Therefore, our observation will provide valuable information for the establishment of optimal prime-boost vaccination against DenV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제24권12호
• /
• pp.1629-1635
• /
• 2014

It is known that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have many beneficial health effects, including anti-oxidative activity and immune regulation. In this study, the immune regulatory effects of Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus plantarum, which are found in different types of kimchi, were evaluated. L. sakei and its lipoteichoic acid (LTA) have greater immune stimulating potential in IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ production as compared with L. plantarum in an in vitro condition. On the other hand, L. plantarum is assumed to repress the Th1 immune response in murine experiments. After being injected with LPS, L. plantarum-fed mice maintained a healthier state, and the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ in their blood was lower than in other bacterial strainfed mice and in the LPS-only control mice. Additionally, IL-12 production was significantly decreased and the production of IL-4 was greatly increased in the splenocytes from L. plantarum-fed mice. Further experiments revealed that the pre-injection of purified LTA from L. plantarum (pLTA), L. sakei (sLTA), and S. aureus (aLTA) decreased TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-4 production in LPS-injected mice. Mouse IL-12, however, was significantly increased by aLTA pre-injection. In conclusion, the L. sakei and L. plantarum strains have immune regulation effects, but the effects differ in cytokine production and the regulatory effects of the Th1/Th2 immune response.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제17권4호
• /
• pp.315-320
• /
• 2013

Here, we show that radicicol, a fungal antibiotic, resulted in marked inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) transcription by the pancreatic beta cell line MIN6N8a in response to cytokine mixture (CM: TNF-${\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$). Treatment of MIN6N8a cells with radicicol inhibited CM-stimulated activation of NF-${\kappa}B$/Rel, which plays a critical role in iNOS transcription, in a dose-related manner. Nitrite production in the presence of PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway, was dramatically diminished, suggesting that the ERK1/2 pathway is involved in CM-induced iNOS expression. In contrast, SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38, had no effect on nitrite generation. Collectively, this series of experiments indicates that radicicol inhibits iNOS gene expression by blocking ERK1/2 signaling. Due to the critical role that NO release plays in mediating destruction of pancreatic beta cells, the inhibitory effects of radicicol on iNOS expression suggest that radicicol may represent a useful anti-diabetic activity.

• 한국버섯학회지
• /
• 제13권3호
• /
• pp.170-174
• /
• 2015

식용버섯인 팽이버섯, 꽃송이버섯, 참송이버섯, 느타리 버섯, 녹각영지, 상황버섯, 눈꽃 동충하초, 아가리쿠스, 잎새버섯, 석이버섯, 노랑느타리버섯, 분홍느타리버섯, 편각영지버섯, 현미 동충하초, 번데기 동충하초, 표고버섯의 물 및 에탄올 추출물에 대한 피부염증완화 효능을 확인한 결과 열수추출물에서는 잎새버섯과 번데기 동충하초가 피부염증완화 효능이 탁월하였으며, 에탄올 추출물에서는 영지버섯, 표고버섯, 번데기 동충하초와 팽이버섯에서 피부염증완화 효능이 탁월하였다. 특히, 각각의 추출물에서 피부염증완화 효능이 높은 것은 번데기 동충하초 임을 확인하였다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.209-219
• /
• 2006

Toxoplasma gondii has been shown to result in life-threatening encephalitis in immunocompromised patients after reactivation of dormant parasites. In order to obtain information on immune responses related to this phenomenon, BALB/c mice were infected with 25 cysts of the 76K strain of T. gondii, then, treated orally with dexamethasone (Toxo/Dexa-treated group) in order to reactivate the chronic toxoplasmosis. None of the T. gondii-infected mice died during the experimental periods, whereas the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice evidenced a significant attenuation of survival periods. Toxoplasma-specific IgG2a, IgA and IgM titers in sera were significantly depressed in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice; however, the IgG1 sera titers were similar to those seen in the Toxoplasma-infected mice. The percentages of CD4+ and $CD8\alpha+$ T cells in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice were significantly reduced 2 weeks after dexamethasone treatment. $IFN-\gamma$ and IL-10 production levels in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice were depressed significantly, whereas IL-4 production was increased temporarily. The expression levels of the Toxoplasma-specific P30 and B1 genes were found to have been increased in the Toxo/Dexa-treated mice in comparison with the Toxoplasma-infected mice. Collectively, the findings of this study demonstrate that reactivation of murine toxoplasmosis as the result of dexamethasone treatment induced a depression in Th1 immune responses, whereas Th2 immune responses were not significantly influenced.