• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.575-585
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• 2000

This study was performed to observe the influence of host immune response on the chemotherapy of mice experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica. Following immunosuppression with prednisolone or immunoenhancement with Freund's complete adjuvant(FCA), mice were experimentally infected with 3 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae and treated with closantel at 1 week post infection. In the group of mice infected with metacercariae alone, 2 mice of 10 were dead at 10 weeks post infection(20% mortality), and adult flukes were recovered from the liver and the peritoneal cavity of the remaining 8 mice(100% infectivity). In the group of mice treated with prednisolone and infected with metacercariae, 8 of 10 mice died before euthanasia with a mean time of death earlier than the control group (p<0.05). In the group of immunosuppressed mice infected with metacercariae and treated with closantel 20mg/kg, 4 of 10 mice died before sacrifice. In the group of mice infected and treated with closantel 20mg/kg, mortality and infectivity was 10% and 30%, respectively. Similar results were observed in mice infected and treated with closantel 5mg/kg which resulted in 10% and 50% mortality and infectivity, respectively. These results indicated that the efficacy of closantel treatment was decreased in immunosuppressed mice, while the pathogenicity was increased. In immunoenhanced mice infected with metacercariae, on the other hand, the efficacy of chemotherapy with both 5mg/kg or 20mg/kg closantel resulted in only 10% infectivity. The results shown in this study strongly suggest that a close interaction between chemotherapy against F hepatica with closantel and the host immune system exists. Considering that fascioliasis is a zoonosis, treatment regimen against the infection to immunosuppressed patients may require a concurrent prescription of an appro-priate immuno-enhancing adjuvant.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.247-255
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• 2006

Yeast cell wall matrix particles are composed entirely of mannoprotein and ${\beta}-glucan$. The mannoproteins of yeast cell wall can systemically enhance the immune system. We previously purified and analyzed alkali-soluble ${\beta}-glucans$ [${\beta}$-(1,3)- and ${\beta}$-(1,6)-glucans] [10]. In the present study, a wild-type strain was first mutagenized with ultraviolet light, and the cell wall mutants were then selected by treatment with 1.0 mg/ml laminarinase (endo-${\beta}$-(1,3)-D-glucanase). Mannoproteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were released by laminarinase, purified by concanavalin-A affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. The results indicated that the mutants yielded 3-fold more mannoprotein than the wild-type. The mannoprotein mass of mutant K48L3 was 2.25 mg/100 mg of yeast cell dry mass. Carbohydrate analysis revealed that they contained mannose, glucose, and N-acetylglucosamine. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall components, mannoproteins, are known to interact with macrophages through receptors, thereby inducing release of tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and nitric oxide. Mannoprotein tractions in the present study had a higher macrophage activity of secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and nitric oxide and direct phagocytosis than positive control ($1{\mu}g$ of lipopolysaccharide). In particular, F1 and F3 fractions in mannoproteins of K48L3 enhanced and upregulated the activity of nitric oxide secretion and macrophage phagocytosis by approximately two- and four-fold, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2006

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench(Sorghum, su-su) extracts on mouse immune cell activation. As ex vivo experiment, different concentrations(0, 50, 500mg/kg B.W.) of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts were orally administrated into mouse every other day for four weeks. The proliferation of mouse splenocytes, the number of plaque forming cells(PFC) and the cytokine IL-1β production by activated macrophage were used as indices for immunocompetence. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced in mouse orally administrated with 50mg/kg B.W./day concentration compared to that of control group. Especially, the highest proliferation of spleoncyte was seen in the mouse orally administrated at the concentration of 50mg/kg B.W./day. The number of plaque forming cells(PFC) to SRBC were significantly enhanced when compared with control group. Also, the mouse of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts 50mg/kg B.W./day supplementation group with LPS stimulation enhanced level of IL-1$\beta$ cytokine production. This study suggest that supplementation of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench water extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation, increasing the number of PFC and enhancing the cytokine production by activated macrophage.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1013-1021
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• 2015

Most of the axons in the vertebrate nervous system are surrounded by a lipid-rich membrane called myelin, which promotes rapid conduction of nerve impulses and protects the axon from being damaged. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the CNS characterized by infiltration of immune cells and progressive damage to myelin and axons. One potential way to treat MS is to enhance the endogenous remyelination process, but at present there are no available treatments to promote remyelination in patients with demyelinating diseases. Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating drug that is used in rheumatology and inflammatory bowel disease. Its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties prompted us to test the ability of sulfasalazine to promote remyelination. In this study, we found that sulfasalazine promotes remyelination in the CNS of a transgenic zebrafish model of NTR/MTZ-induced demyelination. We also found that sulfasalazine treatment reduced the number of macrophages/microglia in the CNS of demyelinated zebrafish larvae, suggesting that the acceleration of remyelination is mediated by the immunomodulatory function of sulfasalazine. Our data suggest that temporal modulation of the immune response by sulfasalazine can be used to overcome MS by enhancing myelin repair and remyelination in the CNS.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.177-188
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• 2017

Background: Radiation-induced pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis are common dose-limiting complications in patients receiving radiotherapy for lung, breast, and lymphoid cancers. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of effective immune cells related to pneumonitis and fibrosis after irradiation. Materials and Methods: After anesthesia, the whole thorax of C57BL/6 mice was irradiated at 14 Gy. The lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were collected at defined time points post-irradiation for the determination of histological and immunohistochemical analysis and inflammatory cell population infiltrated into the lung. Results and Discussion: Whole thoracic irradiation increased the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), lung weight, and pleural effusions, which started to die from 4 months later. At 4 months after irradiation, the numbers of macrophages and lymphocytes as well as neutrophils were increased dramatically in the lung. Interestingly, the macrophages that were recruited into the lung after irradiation had an enlarged foamy morphology. In addition, the expressions of chemokines (CCL-2, CCL-3, CXCL-10) for the attraction of macrophages and T cells were higher in the lung of irradiated mice. The high expressions of these chemokines were sustained up to 6 months following irradiation. In thoracic irradiated mice, infiltrated macrophages into the lung had the high levels of Mac-3 antigens on their surface and upregulated the hallmarks of alternatively activated macrophages such as arginase-1 and CD206. Furthermore, the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 were higher in a BAL fluid of irradiated mice. Conclusion: All results show that thoracic irradiation induces to infiltrate various inflammation-related immune cells, especially alternatively activated macrophages, through enhancing the expression of chemokines, suggesting that alternatively activated macrophages are most likely important for leading to pulmonary fibrosis.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.115-125
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• 2021

Mushroom consumption causes changes in the immune system and gut microbiota via the actions of mushroom probiotic components. β-Glucan structure-related substances suppress secretion of inflammatory mediators, and induce macrophage activation, enhancing immunity and immune function. Substances other than directly useful components can be metabolized into short-chain fatty acids by gut microbiota. These short-chain fatty acids can then induce immunity, alleviating various diseases. Substances used to stimulate growth of health-promoting gut bacteria, thereby changing the gut microbiota community are defined to be probiotics. Probiotic altered intestinal microflora can prevent various types of bacterial infection from external sources, and can help to maintain immune system balance, thus preventing diseases. Research into beneficial components of Pleurotus eryngii, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Flammulina velutipes, Auricularia auricula-judae, and Agaricus bisporus, which are frequently consumed in Korea, changes in microbiota, changes in short-chain fatty acids, and correlations between consumption and health contribute to our understanding of the effects of dietary mushrooms on disease prevention and mitigation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2022

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known to induce apoptosis of host immune cells and impair phagocytic clearance, thereby being pivotal in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) exert therapeutic effects against inflammatory and immune diseases. In the present study, we investigated whether systemic administration of ASCs restores the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and decolonizes cutaneous S. aureus under AD conditions. AD was induced by injecting capsaicin into neonatal rat pups. ASCs were extracted from the subcutaneous adipose tissues of naïve rats and administered to AD rats once a week for a month. Systemic administration of ASCs ameliorated AD-like symptoms, such as dermatitis scores, serum IgE, IFN-γ⁺/IL-4⁺ cell ratio, and skin colonization by S. aureus in AD rats. Increased FasL mRNA and annexin V⁺/7-AAD⁺ cells in the PBMCs obtained from AD rats were drastically reversed when co-cultured with ASCs. In contrast, both PBMCs and CD163⁺ cells bearing fluorescent zymosan particles significantly increased in AD rats treated with ASCs. Additionally, the administration of ASCs led to an increase in the mRNA levels of antimicrobial peptides, such as cathelicidin and β-defensin, in the skin of AD rats. Our results demonstrate that systemic administration of ASCs led to decolonization of S. aureus by attenuating apoptosis of immune cells in addition to restoring phagocytic activity. This contributes to the improvement of skin conditions in AD rats. Therefore, administration of ASCs may be helpful in the treatment of patients with intractable AD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2022

Panax polysaccharides are biopolymers that are isolated and purified from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Panax L. plants, which have attracted considerable attention because of their immunomodulatory activities. In this paper, the composition and structural characteristics of purified polysaccharides are reviewed. Moreover, the immunomodulatory activities of polysaccharides are described both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, Panax polysaccharides exert immunomodulatory functions mainly by activating macrophages, dendritic cells, and the complement system. In vivo, Panax polysaccharides can increase the immune organ indices and stimulate lymphocytes. In addition, this paper also discusses the membrane receptors and various signalling pathways of immune cells. Panax polysaccharides have many beneficial therapeutic effects, including enhancing or activating the immune response, and may be helpful in treating cancer, sepsis, osteoporosis, and other conditions. Panax polysaccharides have the potential for use in the development of novel therapeutic agents or adjuvants with beneficial immunomodulatory properties.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2023

Autophagy contributes to enhancing the immune system (innate and adaptive immune system) against foreign pathogens. Autophagy of macrophages is used as a major indicator for developing vaccine adjuvants to increase the adaptive immune response. In this study, water extracts from Rosa acicularis leaves (RAL) increased the production of immunostimulatory mediators and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. RAL increased p62/SQSTM1 expression. Inhibition of TLR4, JNK, and PI3K/AKT blocked RAL-mediated increase of p62/SQSTM1. RAL activated JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling. RAL-mediated activations of JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling were reversed by TLR4 inhibition. Taken together, it is believed that RAL-mediated autophagy may be dependent on activating via TLR4-dependent activation of JNK and PI3K/AKT signaling in macrophages.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1632-1646
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary betaine (BT) supplementation on the hepatic transcriptome profiles in broiler chickens raised under heat stress (HS) conditions. Methods: A total of 180 (21-d-old) Ross 308 male broiler chicks were allotted to 1 of 3 treatment groups with 6 replicated cages in a completely randomized design. One group was kept under thermoneutral conditions at all times and was fed a basal diet (PC). Other 2 groups were exposed to a cyclic heat stress condition. One of the 2 groups under heat stress conditions was fed the basal diet as a negative control (NC), whereas the other group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.2% BT. All chickens were provided with diets and water ad libitum for 21 d. Following the experiment, the liver samples were collected for RNA sequencing analysis. Results: Broiler chickens in NC and BT group had decreased (p<0.05) growth performance. In the transcriptome analysis, the number of differentially expressed genes were identified in the liver by HS conditions and dietary BT supplementation. In the comparison between NC and PC treatments, genes related to energy and nucleic acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and immune system were altered by HS, which support the reason why heat-stressed poultry had decreased growth performance. In the comparison between NC and BT treatments, genes related to lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and immune system were differently expressed under HS conditions. Conclusion: HS negatively impacts various physiological processes, including DNA replication, metabolism of amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, and cell cycle progression in broiler chickens. Dietary BT supplementation, however, offers potential counteractive effects by modulating liver function, facilitating gluconeogenesis, and enhancing immune systems. These findings provide a basis for understanding molecular responses by HS and the possible benefits of dietary BT supplementation in broiler chickens exposed to HS.