• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.228-237
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• 2022

In this study, the effects of the immune stimulator Euglena gracilis (Euglena) in cyclophosphamide (CCP)-induced immunocompromised mice were assessed. The key component β-1,3-glucan (paramylon) constitutes 50% of E. gracilis. Mice were orally administered Euglena powder (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)) or β-glucan powder (250 mg/kg B.W.) for 19 days. In a preliminary immunology experiment, ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg of CCP/kg B.W. during the final 3 consecutive days. In the main experiment, BALB/c mice were treated with CCP for the final 5 days. To evaluate the enhancing effects of Euglena on the immune system, mouse B.W., the spleen index, natural killer (NK) cell activity and mRNA expression in splenocytes lungs and livers were determined. To detect cytokine and receptor expression, splenocytes were treated with 5 ㎍/ml concanavalin A or 1 ㎍/ml lipopolysaccharide. The B.W. and spleen index were significantly increased and NK cell activity was slightly enhanced in all the experimental groups compared to the CCP-only group. In splenocytes, the gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-12 receptor were increased in the E. gracilis and β-glucan groups compared to the CCP-only group, but there was no significant difference. Treatment with 500 mg of Euglena/kg B.W. significantly upregulated dectin-1 mRNA expression in the lung and liver compared to the CCP-only group. These results suggest that Euglena may enhance the immune system by strengthening innate immunity through immunosuppression.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2020

Nickel is a nutritionally essential trace element that plays an important role in the immune system of several animal species. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nickel chloride on chemotactic activity of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and whether this effect is associated with interleukin (IL)-8 and a nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent pathway. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and PMNs were isolated by Percoll solution (Specific gravity; 1.080) and 1.5% dextran treatment, respectively. A modified Boyden chamber assay was used to measure the chemotactic activity of PMNs. The level of IL-8 in culture supernatant from PBMCs was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both of PBMCs and PMNs exhibited a low viability when cultured with concentration of greater than 1,000 μM of nickel chloride for 24 h. Thus, nickel chloride was used at concentration of 500 μM, which preserved cell viability. Treatment with nickel did not directly affect the chemotactic activity of PMNs. However, the chemotactic activity of PMNs was remarkably increased by culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with nickel chloride (500 μM) for 24 h. Recombinant porcine IL-8 polyclonal antibody (pAb) neutralized the enhancing effect on the chemotactic activity of PMNs by culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with nickel and this culture supernatant had higher IL-8 levels than the culture supernatant from untreated PBMCs. In addition, n-tosyll-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), a NF-κB inhibitor, antagonized the enhancing effect on the chemotactic activity of PMNs by the culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with nickel. These results suggested that nickel stimulates porcine PBMCs to produce IL-8, which increases the chemotaxis of PMNs via NF-κB-dependent pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.655-663
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• 2020

Background: Korean Red Ginseng is known to exhibit immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory properties. The immune-enhancing effects of the nonsaponin fraction (NSF) of Korean Red Ginseng have been studied in many reports. However, the gastroprotective effect of this fraction is not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate the activities of NSF for gastrointestinal protection and its related critical factor. Methods: The in vitro and in vivo regulatory functions of NSF on cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) messenger RNA and protein levels were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analyses. Gastroprotective effects of NSF were investigated by histological score, gastric juice pH, and myeloperoxidase activity on indomethacin-induced, cold stress-induced, and acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastritis and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in in vivo mouse models. Results: NSF did not show cytotoxicity, and it increased COX-1 messenger RNA expression and protein levels in RAW264.7 cells. This upregulation was also observed in colitis and gastritis in vivo models. In addition, NSF treatment in mice ameliorated the symptoms of gastrointestinal inflammation, including histological score, colon length, gastric juice pH, gastric wall thickness, and myeloperoxidase activity. Conclusion: These results suggest that NSF has gastroprotective effects on gastritis and colitis in in vivo mouse models through COX-1 upregulation.

• 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.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2023

Paeonia lactiflora roots (PLR) are a medicinal plant widely used for treating inflammatory diseases. However, PLR has been recently reported to increase the production of proinflammatory mediators and activates phagocytosis in macrophages. Thus, in this study, we tried to verify the macrophage activation of PLR and elucidate its mechanism of action. PLR upregulated the production of proinflammatory mediators and activated phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. However, these effects were reversed by inhibition of TLR2/4. In addition, the inhibition of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 reduced the PLR-mediated production of proinflammatory mediators, and the PLR-mediated activation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 was blocked by the TLR4 inhibition. These findings indicate that PLR may activate macrophages through TLR4-dependent activation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2. These indicate that PLR has immunostimulatory activity. Thus, it is believed that PLR can be used as a functional food agent that enhances the immune system.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.193-201
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an immune disorder that is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the world. The exact etiology of AD remains unknown, and a cure for AD is not currently available. The hypothesis that appropriate early microbial stimulation contributes to the establishment of a balanced immune system in terms of T helper type Th1, Th2, and regulatory T cell (Treg) responses has led to the use of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of AD in light of various human clinical studies and animal experiments. Meta-analysis data suggests that probiotics can alleviate the symptoms of AD in infants. The effects of balancing Th1/Th2 immunity and enhancing Treg activity via the interaction of probiotics with dendritic cells have been described in vitro and in animal models, although such an effect has not been demonstrated in human studies. In this review, we present some highlights of the immunomodulatory effects of probiotics in humans and animal studies with regard to their effects on the prevention of AD.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Job's Tears(Yul-Moo) is a grass crop long-used as a traditional medicine; it is also a nourishing food. There are reports of its anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antiallergic activity, and antispastic effects and Job's Tears has been used in China to treat rheumatism, and neuralgia although its warts, rheumanism remains unclear. Thus, the present study was performed to investigate the in vitro effect of Job's Tears extracts on immune function. Here mouse splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production$(IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ by peritoneal macrophages cultured with ethanol and water extracts of Job's Tears were examined. splenocytes proliferation increased with Job's Tears water extracts supplement at concentrations investigated The cytokine production$(IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ by ELISA using a cytokine kit And $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production increased water extracts supplementation. This in vitro study suggests that supplementation with Job's Tears water extracts may enhance immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and enhancing cytokine production of activated macrophages.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.23-27
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• 2021

[Purpose] Functional beverages are intended to support those who want to maintain optimal physical condition and improve their quality of life through the enhancement of heart health, immunity, and digestion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of top-level athletes consuming immune-strengthening conditioning nutritional drinks. [Methods] A total of 107 top-level athletes (baseball (56 players), pro volleyball (17), athletics (16), cycling (8), golf (6), and fencing (6)) participated in the experiment. They consumed an immune-enhancing functional beverage once a day for 8 weeks and responded to a survey before, during, and after drinking the beverage. [Results] Three total aspect-based subfactors were drawn from 24 questions in the factor analysis: physical, satisfaction with mental stability, and activity in performance. The physical, mental stability and performance changes of athletes significantly increased in period 2 (4 weeks after intake) and period 3 (after 8 weeks of intake). [Conclusion] We evaluated the efficacy of a new conditioned beverage containing Lactobacillus B240 and protein in improving the performance and physiological utility of top athletes. This functional drink may gain popularity among those seeking health benefits and improved exercise performance.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.10-17
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• 2011

Objective: To evaluate the immune-stimulatory potential of extracts of Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold (BK) on specific cellular and humoral immune responses in ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized mice. Material and Methods: C57BL/6 mice were immunized intraperitoneally with OVA/alum ($100{\mu}g/200{\mu}g$) on days 1, 8, and 15. BK (100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg) was given to mice orally for 21 days (from day 1 to day 21). At day 22, OVA-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and OVA-specific and total antibodies were measured in plasma. Further, the effects of BK on expression of cytokine mRNA in OVA-immunized mice splenocytes were evaluated by RT-PCR analysis. Results: BK significantly enhanced OVA-, LPS-, and Con A-induced splenocyte proliferation in OVA-immunized mice (p<0.01). BK also significantly enhanced total IgM and OVA-specific IgG1 levels in plasma compared with the OVA control group. Moreover, BK up-regulated significantly the expression of mRNA level of IL-2 and IFN-${\gamma}$ in splenocytes. Conclusions: BK has immune-stimulating activity in an OVA-immunized mouse model system, enhancing the Th1 immune response. BK showed no cytotoxicity in this system, suggesting that BK may be a safe and effective adjuvant in humans.