• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2015

Controlling balance between T-helper type 1 (Th1) and T-helper type 2 (Th2) plays a pivotal role in maintaining the biological rhythm of Th1/Th2 and circumventing diseases caused by Th1/Th2 imbalance. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a Th2-type cytokine and often associated with hypersensitivity-related diseases such as atopic dermatitis and allergies when overexpressed. In this study, we have tried to elucidate the function of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (EC-18) as an essential modulator of Th1/Th2 balance. EC-18 has showed an inhibitory effect on the production of IL-4 in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis has proved EC-18 affect the transcription of IL-4. By analyzing the phosphorylation status of Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), which is a transcriptional activator of IL-4 expression, we discovered that EC-18 induced the decrease of STAT6 activity in several stimulated cell lines, which was also showed in STAT6 reporter analysis. Co-treatment of EC-18 significantly weakened atopy-like phenotypes in mice treated with an allergen. Collectively, our results suggest that EC-18 is a potent Th2 modulating factor by regulating the transcription of IL-4 via STAT6 modulation, and could be developed for immune-modulatory therapeutics.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.257-265
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• 2009

Phosphatidylcholine was used to encapsulate aqueous extracts of Centella asiatica, and its biological activity was compared with another aqueous extracts. Nanoparticle of C. asiatica was made by encapsulation to w/o type spherical liposome which of aqueous extracts seized with oil phase as 78.2 nm average diameter. Cytotoxicity of the nanoparticle was measured on human skin fibroblast cells, CCD-986sk, and showed lower cytotoxicity on 1.0 mg/$m{\ell}$ of highest concentration as 28% than that of another extracts. The nanoparticle showed the highest promotion of human B and T cell growth up to 138% and 135%, respectively, compared to the control. and the NK cell growth was promoted up to 8% higher than the control in proportion to secretion of IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ from immune cell growth. Also nanoparticle showed highest inhibition activity of hyaluronidase on 1.0 mg/$m{\ell}$ of highest concentration as 60.5%. It seems that because of enhanced biological application of aqueous extracts on cell through nano-encapsulation process.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2006

The immunomodulatory effect of a new herbal preparation, HemoHIM, on the recovery from leukopenia induced by cyclophosphamide treatment was investigated. The HemoHIM was made up with an addition of the ethanol-insoluble fraction to the total water extract of Angelica Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma and Paeonia Radix. Daily oral administration of 100 mg/kg BW or 500 mg/kg BW HemoHIM accelerated the recovery from cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenia. HemoHIM increased the number of leukocytes and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood when compared with the cyclophosphamide-treated control. Moreover, the suppressed natural killer (NK) cell activity and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ secretion in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice were restored by the administration of HemoHIM. HemoHIM significantly reduced the abnormally heightened ratio of interleukin $(IL)-4/IFN-{\gamma}$ and immunoglobulin (Ig)E/IgG2a in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice. These results suggest that HemoHIM accelerates the recovery from leukopenia and alleviates the imbalanced T helper (Th)l/Th2 responses in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice. Additionally, HemoHIM was found to stimulate normal splenocytes to secrete not only Thl type cytokines such as $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-2, but also Th2 type cytokine IL-4. In conclusion, our results show that HemoHIM certainly has an influence on the balanced recovery of immune cells and the activation of their activities in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.728-733
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• 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) effectively reduce airway inflammation and regenerate the alveolus in cigarette- and elastase-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) animal models. The effects of stem cells are thought to be paracrine and immune-modulatory because very few stem cells remain in the lung one day after their systemic injection, which has been demonstrated previously. In this report, we analyzed the gene expression profiles to compare mouse lungs with chronic exposure to cigarette smoke with non-exposed lungs. Gene expression profiling was also conducted in a mouse lung tissue with chronic exposure to cigarette smoke following the systemic injection of human cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hCB-MSCs). Globally, 834 genes were differentially expressed after systemic injection of hCB-MSCs. Seven and 21 genes, respectively, were up-and downregulated on days 1, 4, and 14 after HCB-MSC injection. The Hbb and Hba, genes with oxygen transport and antioxidant functions, were increased on days 1 and 14. A serine protease inhibitor was also increased at a similar time point after injection of hCB-MSCs. Gene Ontology analysis indicated that the levels of genes related to immune responses, metabolic processes, and blood vessel development were altered, indicating host responses after hCB-MSC injection. These gene expression changes suggest that MSCs induce a regeneration mechanism against COPD induced by cigarette smoke. These analyses provide basic data for understanding the regeneration mechanisms promoted by hCB-MSCs in cigarette smoke-induced COPD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2013

Numerous studies have suggested that Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract has various immune modulatory activities both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we used a mouse model to examine the effects of orally administered KRG extract on immunity against herpes simplex virus (HSV). Balb/c mice were administered with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg oral doses of KRG extract for 10 d and then vaginally infected with HSV. We found that KRG extract rendered recipients more resistant against HSV vaginal infection and further systemic infection, including decreased clinical severity, increased survival rate, and accelerated viral clearance. Such results appeared to be mediated by increased vaginal IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion. Moreover, increased mRNA expression of IFN-${\gamma}$, granzyme B, and Fas-ligand was identified in the iliac lymph node and vaginal tracts of KRG extract treated groups (200 and 400 mg/kg). These results suggest that the activities of local natural killer cells were promoted by KRG extract consumption and that KRG may be an attractive immune stimulator for helping hosts overcome HSV infection.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2019

Aging is a complex and progressive process characterized by physiological and functional decline with time that increases susceptibility to diseases. Aged-related functional change is accompanied by a low-grade, unresolved chronic inflammation as a major underlying mechanism. In order to explain aging in the context of chronic inflammation, a new integrative concept on age-related chronic inflammation is necessary that encompasses much broader and wider characteristics of cells, tissues, organs, systems, and interactions between immune and non-immune cells, metabolic and non-metabolic organs. We have previously proposed a novel concept of senescent (seno)-inflammation and provided its frameworks. This review summarizes senoinflammation concept and additionally elaborates modulation of senoinflammation by calorie restriction (CR). Based on aging and CR studies and systems-biological analysis of Omics big data, we observed that senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) primarily composed of cytokines and chemokines was notably upregulated during aging whereas CR suppressed them. This result further strengthens the novel concept of senoinflammation in aging process. Collectively, such evidence of senoinflammation and modulatory role of CR provide insights into aging mechanism and potential interventions, thereby promoting healthy longevity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2019

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammatory response and dysregulation of immune function. The severity of US has been influenced by environmental factors and food habit. The immune modulatory, anti-inflammatory and steroidal medicine have been used for the treatment of UC. However, long-term administration of those medicine is accompanied with side-effect. So, it is necessary to develop the non side-effect medicine using natural product. Prebiotics influences intestinal condition and food consumption. The heredity, immunity and environmental condition are related with occurrence of UC. In recent study, UC patients had lower level of prebiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium compared with healthy people. Also, previous study announced that imbalance of enteric flora aggravates the severity of UC. The effectiveness of probiotics might affect colon ability and viable bacteria also could promote the proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacteria. Prebiotics, such as herbal medicine, could lead to balance of intestinal bacteria or increase beneficial bacteria. So, proper choice of herbal medicine could control the intestinal condition. This study aimed to investigate the effect of mixture of probiotics and prebiotics (synbiotics) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in vivo. The synbiotics consist of Lactobacillus buchneri, Polymnia sonchifolia and Glycine max Merr. in this study. To evaluate the effect of synbiotics, 3% DSS was administered in BALB/c mice and synbiotics was daily administered for experimental days. The administration of synbiotics regulated colon length shortening, body weight change and disease activity index effectively. Also, extract of synbiotics upregulated survival ability of Lactobacillus buchneri in gut condition. These results suggest that mixture of probiotics and prebiotics, called as synbiotics, could influence intestinal condition also regulate the colon disease. Synbiotics might be a therapeutic agent for treatment of UC.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.405-410
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate anticancer activities and immuno modulatory activities in the several parts of the A. mono and A. okamotoanum. The cytotoxicity of 1 $mg/m{\ell}$ of the water extracts on normal human lung cell(HEL299) was < 19.5%. The anticancer activity of all extracts were increased in over 55% against AGS (stomach adenocarcinoma), A549 (lung adenocarcinoma), Hep3B (liver adenocarcinoma, and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) cells. The growth of human immune B and T cells was improved of A. mono and A. okamotoanum in adding 1.0 $mg/m{\ell}$ concentration. The secretion of the IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ of human immune B and T cells was increased with all extracts of A. mono and A. okamotoanum. All extracts of. A. mono and A. okamotoanum increased NK cell growth. The results showed that the barks and woods extracts of A. mono and A. okamotoanum had useful biological activities. In addition, bark of A. okamotoanuim showed the highest anticancer and immune activities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8119-8126
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• 2016

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Due to the toxic side effects of the commonly used chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide (CTX), the use of herbal medicines with fewer side effects but having potential use as inducing anti-cancer outcomes in situ has become increasingly popular. The present study sought to investigate the effects of a methanolic extract of Bauhinia tomentosa against Dalton's ascites lymphoma (DAL) induced ascites as well as solid tumors in BALB/c mice. Specifically, B. tomentosa extract was administered intraperitonealy (IP) at 10 mg/kg. BW body weight starting just after tumor cell implantation and thereafter for 10 consecutive days. In the ascites tumor model hosts, administration of extract resulted in a 52% increase in the life span. In solid tumor models, co-administration of extract and CTX significantly reduced tumor volume (relative to in untreated hosts) by 73% compared to just by 52% when the extract alone was provided. Co-administration of the extract also mitigated CTX-induced toxicity, including decreases in WBC count, and in bone marrow cellularity and ${\alpha}$-esterase activity. Extract treatment also attenuated any increases in serum levels of $TNF{\alpha}$, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, GM-CSF, and VEGF seen in tumor-bearing hosts. This study confirmed that, the potent antitumor activity of B.tomentosa extract may be associated with immune modulatory effects by regulating anti-oxidants and cytokine levels.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.735-741
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• 2015

Objectives: Lentinus edodes is an edible mushroom with a variety of beneficial effects such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory activity. This study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of Lentinus edodes extracts against oral-related bacteria. Methods: The antimicrobial activities of this extracts were investigated against S. anginosus, S. sobrinus, S. aureus, S. mutans, S. ratti, S. sanguinis, A. viscosus, A. naeslundii, and A. actinomycetemcomitans by the disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and growth inhibition. Results: Ethanol extracts had no antimicrobial activities, but acetone extracts showed antimicrobial activities against A. viscosus and A. actinomycetemcomitans and ethyl acetate extracts had effects against S. aureus, S. sanguinis, A. viscosus, and A. actinomycetemcomitans. Conclusions: The inhibitory effect of Lentinus edodes extracts was investigated on the growth of A. viscosus. Ethyl acetate and acetone extracts showed 90% and 77% inhibitory effect, respectively, against A. viscosus for 24 hrs. Ethyl acetate extracts had MIC of 25.0 mg/ml and acetone extracts showed MIC of >25.0 mg/ml.