• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.251-265
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• 2007

Yanhyeoljeseuptang(YHJST) is a traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of dermatitis. The aim of this study was to confirm whether or not YHJST has a preventive effect on development of atopic dermatitis in dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB)-applied Nc/Nga mouse. This study was undertaken to develop a reliable mouse model demonstrating similar immunologic phenomena as human atopic dermatitis characterized with predominance of type-2 immune response. NC/Nga mouse were sensitized with $200\;{\mu\ell}$ of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) (acetone : olive oil = 3 : 1 mixture) and challenged twice or three times with $150\;{\mu\ell}$ of 0.2% DNCB in a week for the following 4 weeks. YHJST was administered orally to Nc/Nga mouse for 8 weeks, which led to the remarkable suppression on the development of dermatitis, as determined by various immune factors related to pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis in splenocytes and DLN cells. In this study, YHJST selectively suppressed T ce11 (CD4+, CD3+/CD69+, CD4+/CD25+) activation, which may be essential for ratio of IL-4 versus INF-$\gamma$ produced in the splenic T cell culture supernatants was approximately 3-fold higher in the mouse treated with DNCB than their control mouse respectively. Immunologic studies showed down-regulated that the capacity of spleen T cells to produce IL-4, but IFN-$\gamma$ was up-regulated by means of oral intake of these YHJST. These results strongly suggest that YHJST is a promising candidate for treatment of human atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.267-280
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• 2007

Gupoongjeseuptang(GPJST) is a traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of dermatitis. The aim of this study was to confirm whether or not GPJST has a preventive effect on development of atopic dermatitis in dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB)-applied Nc/Nga mouse. This study was undertaken to develop a reliable mouse model demonstrating similar immunologic phenomena as human atopic dermatitis characterized with predominance of type-2 immune response. NC/Nga mouse were sensitized with $200\;{\mu\ell}$ of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) (acetone : olive oil = 3 : 1 mixture) and challenged twice or three times with $150\;{\mu\ell}$ of 0.2% DNCB in a week for the following 4 weeks. GPJST was administered orally to Nc/Nga mouse for 6 weeks, which led to the remarkable suppression on the development of dermatitis, as determined by various immune factors related to pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis in splenocytes and DLN cells. In this study, GPJST selectively suppressed T ce11 (CD4+, CD3+CD69+, CD4+CD25+) activation, which may be essential for ratio of IL-4 versus INF-$\gamma$ produced in the splenic T cell culture supernatants was approximately 3-fold higher in the mouse treated with DNCB than their control mouse respectively. Immunologic studies showed down-regulated that the capacity of spleen T cells to produce IL-4, but IFN-$\gamma$ was up-regulated by means of oral intake of these GPJST. These results strongly suggest that GPJST is a promising candidate for treatment of human atopic dermatitis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.130-139
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• 2017

$CXCR5^+$ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are associated with aberrant autoantibody production in patients with antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus. Follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells expressing CXCR5 and Bcl6 have been recently identified as a specialized subset of $Foxp3^+$ regulatory T (Treg) cells that control germinal center reactions. In this study, we show that retroviral transduction of CXCR5 gene in $Foxp3^+$ Treg cells induced a stable expression of functional CXCR5 on their surface. The Cxcr5-transduced Treg cells maintained the expression of Treg cell signature genes and the suppressive activity. The expression of CXCR5 as well as Foxp3 in the transduced Treg cells appeared to be stable in vivo in an adoptive transfer experiment. Moreover, Cxcr5-transduced Treg cells preferentially migrated toward the CXCL13 gradient, leading to an effective suppression of antibody production from B cells stimulated with Tfh cells. Therefore, our results demonstrate that enforced expression of CXCR5 onto Treg cells efficiently induces Tfr cell-like properties, which might be a promising cellular therapeutic approach for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.18
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• 2022

IL-22, a pleiotropic cytokine, is known to have a profound effect on the regeneration of damaged intestinal barriers. The tissue-protective properties of IL-22 are expected to be potentially exploited in the attenuation and treatment of colitis. However, because of the disease-promoting role of IL-22 in chronic inflammation, a comprehensive evaluation is required to translate IL-22 into the clinical domain. Here, we present the effective production of soluble human IL-22 in bacteria to prove whether recombinant IL-22 has the ability to ameliorate colitis and inflammation. IL-22 was expressed in the form of a biologically active monomer and non-functional oligomers. Monomeric IL-22 (mIL-22) was highly purified through a series of 3 separate chromatographic methods and an enzymatic reaction. We reveal that the resulting mIL-22 is correctly folded and is able to phosphorylate STAT3 in HT-29 cells. Subsequently, we demonstrate that mIL-22 enables the attenuation of dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis in mice, as well as the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Collectively, our results suggest that the recombinant mIL-22 is suitable to study the biological roles of endogenous IL-22 in immune responses and can be developed as a biological agent associated with inflammatory disorders.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2016

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide; therefore there is a need to discover new therapeutic modules with improved efficacy and safety. Immune-(cell) therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of intractable cancers. The effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutics in inducing immunogenic tumor cell death thus promoting cancer eradication has been reported. Ginsenoside Rg3 is a ginseng saponin that has antitumor and immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we treated tumor cells with Rg3 to verify the significance of inducing immunogenic tumor cell death in antitumor therapy, especially in DC-based immunotherapy. Rg3 killed the both immunogenic (B16F10 melanoma cells) and non-immunogenic (LLC: Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells) tumor cells by inducing apoptosis. Surface expression of immunogenic death markers including calreticulin and heat shock proteins and the transcription of relevant genes were increased in the Rg3-dying tumor. Increased calreticulin expression was directly related to the uptake of dying tumor cells by dendritic cells (DCs): the proportion of CRT⁺CD11c⁺cells was increased in the Rg3-treated group. Interestingly, tumor cells dying by immunogenic cell death secreted IFN-γ, an effector molecule for antitumor activity in T cells. Along with the Rg3-induced suppression of pro-angiogenic (TNF-α) and immunosuppressive cytokine (TGF-β) secretion, IFN-γ production from the Rg3-treated tumor cells may also indicate Rg3 as an effective anticancer immunotherapeutic strategy. The data clearly suggests that Rg3-induced immunogenic tumor cell death due its cytotoxic effect and its ability to induce DC function. This indicates that Rg3 may be an effective immunotherapeutic strategy.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.346-357
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• 2024

This study was carried out to screen the antifungal activity against Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum dematium, and Colletotrichum coccodes. Bacterial isolate GP-P8 from pepper soil was found to be effective against the tested pathogens with an average inhibition rate of 70.7% in in vitro dual culture assays. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis result showed that the effective bacterial isolate as Bacillus siamensis. Biochemical characterization of GP-P8 was also performed. According to the results, protease and cellulose, siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, starch hydrolysis, and indole-3-acetic acid production were shown by the GP-P8. Using specific primers, genes involved in the production of antibiotics, such as iturin, fengycin, difficidin, bacilysin, bacillibactin, surfactin, macrolactin, and bacillaene were also detected in B. siamensis GP-P8. Identification and analysis of volatile organic compounds through solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) revealed that acetoin and 2,3-butanediol were produced by isolate GP-P8. In vivo tests showed that GP-P8 significantly reduced the anthracnose disease caused by C. acutatum, and enhanced the growth of pepper plant. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of pepper fruits revealed that GP-P8 treated pepper plants showed increased expression of immune genes such as CaPR1, CaPR4, CaNPR1, CaMAPK4, CaJA2, and CaERF53. These results strongly suggest that GP-P8 could be a promising biocontrol agent against pepper anthracnose disease and possibly a pepper plant growth-promoting agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2023

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine that affects not only the survival and growth of cancer cells but also the activity of immune cells. Although it has been generally accepted that cancer cell-derived TGF-β could promote the survival and growth of early cancer cells and have immunosuppressive roles, it has been known that TGF-β has differential effects according to the type or stage of cancer cells. Therefore, it is hard to clearly define its role in cancer progression and immune responses. This study investigated the effects of TGF-β signaling on the expression of five NKG2D ligands and the NK cell-mediated anticancer immune response in the primary colon cancer cell line KM12C and its two metastatic cell lines, KM12SM and KM12L4A. At the surface protein level, exogenous TGF-β decreased the expression of MICA, MICB, ULBP1, and ULBP2, and galunisertib increased the expression of MICA, MIAB, ULBP1, ULBP2, and ULBP3 in KM12C. However, KM12SM and KM12L4A showed no significant changes in the expression of NKG2DLs after treatment with TGF-β or galunisertib. TGF-β signaling inhibition via galunisertib improved the NK cell-mediated anticancer immune response against KM12C but did not show a significant response to KM12SM and KM12L4A. Therefore, the suppression of TGF-β signaling could improve the NK cell-mediated anticancer immune response against KM12C. However, an increase in NKG2DLs expression and an enhanced NK cell-mediated cancer immune response is hard to expect due to the alteration of TGF-β signaling in KM12SM and KM12L4A.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.325-329
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• 2010

Toxoplasma gondii KI-1, a recent new isolate from Korea, shows similar pathogenicity and infectivity to mice compared to the virulent RH strain. To understand characteristics of host immunity, including immune enhancement or suppression, we investigated proliferative responses and phenotypes of spleen cells. In addition, kinetics of IFN-${\gamma}$, a Th1 cytokine, was examined in BALB/c mice up to day 6 post-infection (PI). Intraperitoneal injection of mice with $10^3$ KI-1 tachyzoites induced significant decreases (P < 0.05) in proliferative responses of spleen cells. This occurred at days 2-6 PI even when concanavalin A (con A) was added and when stimulated with KI-1 antigen, suggesting suppression of the immunity. $CD4^+$ T-cells decreased markedly at day 2 PI (P < 0.05), whereas $CD8^+$ T-cells, NK cells, and macrophages did not show significant changes, except a slight, but significant, increase of $CD8^+$ T-cells at day 6 PI. The capacity of splenocytes to produce IFN-${\gamma}$ by con A stimulation dropped significantly at days 2-6 PI. These results demonstrate that intraperitoneal injection of KI-1 tachyzoites can induce immunosuppression during the early stage of infection, as revealed by the decrease of $CD4^+$ T-cells and IFN-${\gamma}$.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.288-298
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• 2011

Background: Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) has been used to treat inflammatory diseases including edema and arthritis; however, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of SM action remains unresolved. Methods: The effects of an ethanol extract of SM (ESM) on pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and NO, and on anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and IL-1Ra have been studied in an attempt to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism in murine macrophages. Results: ESM inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines via down-regulation of gene and protein expression whereas it increased the anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, ESM inhibited the expression of the chemokines, RANTES and CX3CL1, as well as of inflammatory mediators such as TLR-4 and $11{\beta}$-HSD1. Conclusion: These results indicated that the regulatory effects of ESM may be mediated though the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, we speculate that ESM has therapeutic potential for inflammation-associated disorders.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1378-1382
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• 2004

Zinc (Zn) is a micromineral and functions as a cofactor of many enzymes and its deficiency induces retardation of growth and dysfunction of the immune system in animals. This study was conducted to determine lipogenic activity of Zn in bovine intramuscular adipocytes. Preadipocytes were isolated from intramuscular fat depots of 26 month old Korean (Hanwoo) steers and cultured in media containing Zn. At confluence, the cells were treated with insulin, dexamethasone, and 1-methyl-3-isobutyl-xanthine to induce differentiation (accumulation of lipid droplets in cells). The sources of Zn were zinc chloride (${ZnCl}_2$) and zinc sulfate (${ZnSO}_4$), and the final concentrations of both Zn sources were 0, 5, 25, 50 and 100 ${\mu}$M. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, an index of adipocyte differentiation, was increased as the concentration of Zn in media increased showing the highest activity (25.74 ng/min/mg protein) at 25 ${\mu}$M of ${ZnSO}_4$. Supplementation of Zn during differentiation of bovine intramuscular adipocytes tended to decrease the production of nitric oxide (NO). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2(PPAR$\gamma$2) gene expression was increased 10 days after differentiation induction. The current results indicate that Zn has a strong lipogenic activity in cultured bovine intramuscular adipocytes with remarkable suppression of NO production.