• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.347-354
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• 1999

Objective: This paper examines the possible toxicity to immune system in farmers chronically exposed to pesticides. Methods : We compared 43 male farmers exposed to pesticides with 29 male residents who had neither past nor current pesticides exposure. The selected variables for studying immunotoxicity were WBC, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56, IgG, IgA, IgM, and IL-2. As part of the baseline questionnaires for the immunotoxicity, subjects were asked about kinds of farming, posticides exposure and medical history. Results : None of the variables for studying immunotoxicity showed statistically significant difference between the two groups. Although the results were not statistically significant, CD4 and the CD4/CD8 ratio decreased and CD8 increased. These effects showed a dose response change with exposure level. In the exposed group, the values of CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 and CD19 decreased and those of the CD8 and CD56 increased compared to the non-exposed group. Also there was higher prevalence of self-reported disease in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. Conclusions: Although statistically significant differences in indices of immunotoxicity in farmers exposed to pesticides were not shown, the results suggest that pesticides may decrease immune function. More advanced test methods for immunotoxicity need to be developed and tested in larger population to detect immunotoxic effects of pesticides.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2016

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex etiology that encompasses immunologic responses. AD is frequently associated with elevated immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels, and common environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis. Several recent studies have documented the role of specific lactic acid bacteria in the treatment and prevention of AD in humans and mice. In this study, the efficacy of Duolac ATP, a probiotic preparation, was determined in a mouse model with AD-like skin lesions. Alterations in the cytokine levels and histological staining suggested the alleviation of AD. The in vivo test showed that T helper (Th)2 cytokines, IgE, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5, were significantly downregulated, whereas Th1 cytokines, IL-12p40 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, were upregulated in all groups of mice treated with Duolac ATP compared to that observed in the group of mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) alone. Moreover, the scratch score decreased in all mice treated with Duolac ATP. Staining of the dorsal area of the mice in each group with hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue further confirmed the alleviation of AD in mice orally treated with Duolac ATP. These results suggest that Duolac ATP inhibits the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the Th2 cell response and increasing the Th1 cell response. Thus, Duolac ATP is beneficial and effective for the treatment of AD-like skin lesions.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2018

Laboratory animal models have been developed to investigate preventive or therapeutic effect of medicinal products, or occurrence or progression mechanism of atopic dermatitis (AD), a pruritic and persistent inflammatory skin disease. The murine model with immunologic phenomena resembling human AD was introduced, which demonstrated skewedness toward predominance of type-2 helper T cell reactivity and pathophysiological changes similar as human AD following 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization and challenge. Molecular mechanism on the DNCB-mediated AD was further evaluated. Skin tissues were collected from mice treated with DNCB, and each tissue was equally divided into two sections; one for protein and the other for mRNA analysis. Expression of filaggrin, an important protein for keratinocyte integrity, was evaluated through SDS-PAGE. Level of mRNA expression for cytokines was determined through semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Expression of filaggrin protein was significantly enhanced in the mice treated with DNCB compared with the vehicle (acetone : olive oil = 4 : 1 mixture) treatment group or the normal group without any treatment. Level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-18 mRNA expression, cytokines involved in activity of type-1 helper T ($T_H1$) cell, was significantly downregulated in the AD group compared with other control groups. These results suggest that suppression of $T_H1$ cell-mediated immune response could be reflected into the skin tissue of mice treated with DNCB for AD induction, and disturbance of keratinocyte integrity might evoke a compensatory mechanism.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.306-312
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• 2002

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) is a autoimmune disease characterized by combined symtoms of malar rash, discoid rash, neuropsychiatric disorder, renal disorder, hematologic disorder, photosensitivity immunologic disorder, oral ulcer, anti-nuclear antibody, arthritis, pleuritis and pericarditis, etc. Multiple genetic or environmental causes are supposed to facilitate antiboby production to autoantigen such as ds-DNA, histone, phospholipid, red blood cell, platelet, etc. And defective complementary system fail to remove autoantigen-antibody complex, which deposit in multiple organs and result in inflammatory damages. SLE does not correctly correspond to any specific category of oriental medicine. But, accoring to previous reports, it can be controlled by herb medications used differently patients-to-patients. So we are to report this one SLE case being successfully controlled by classic corticosteroids with herb medications based on oriental diffrential diagnosis of symptoms and signs.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.257-279
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• 2000

Allergic contact dermatitis is a common skin disease resulting from specific immunologic to topically applied various allergen. After Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) secondary sensitization, the ICR mice administered Rhemanniae radix extract (RRE) was observed to ascerstain the effect of RRE on allergic contact dermatitis. Purpose of this study was to investigate contact hypersensitivity assay, abdominal skin morphologic changes. Including mast cells and cell-surface glycoconjugates. The change of interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor (CD25R). ICAM in abdominal skin, lymph node of inguinal region, and electro microscope-morphologic changes of abdominal skin. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The contact hypersensitivity assay, the ear swelling in the RRE had lesser probability than in the ACD Group. 2. In the general morphologic change of skin, hyperplasia of keratinocytes, distribution of vasculogenesis and epidermal lymphocytes infiltration were decreased in the RRE group compared with the ACD group. In epidermal basal layer and prickle layer, cell damage was decreased in the RRE group compared with the group painted with ACD. 3. MasT-cell in dermis was decreased in the RRE group compared with the group painted with DNCB. 4. Distribution of interlukin-2 Receptior positive cell and ICAM positive cell in dermis was decreased in the RRE Group compared with the ACD group. 5. Distribution of helper T-lymphocyte and cytotoxic T-lymphocite in inguinal nodes was decreased in the RRE group, and was observed well in paracortical area and cortical cord. 6. Distribution of apoptotic cell was appeared in the RRE group compared with the ACD group, in skin, dermis. in inguinal nodes, paracortical area observed well. With above results, the restarint of immunosuppression occuring in Allergic contact dermatitis is resulted in the slow progress the effect of Allergic contact dermatitis, and it is thought that ithis fact has a series of relation with apoptosis.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2011

Purpose: Eupatilin is an antioxidative flavone and a phytopharmaceutical derived from Artemisia asiatica. It has been reported to possess anti-tumor activity in some types of cancer including gastric cancer. Eupatilin may modulate the angiogenesis pathway which is part of anti-inflammatory effect demonstrated in gastric mucosal injury models. Here we investigated the anti-tumor effects of eupatilin on gastric cancer cells and elucidated the potential underlying mechanism whereby eupatilin suppresses angiogenesis and tumor growth. Materials and Methods: The impact of eupatilin on the expression of angiogenesis pathway proteins was assessed using western blots in MKN45 cells. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we tested whether eupatilin affects the recruitment of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) and hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) to the human VEGF promoter. To investigate the effect of eupatilin on vasculogenesis, tube formation assays were conducted using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The effect of eupatilin on tumor suppression in mouse xenografts was assessed. Results: Eupatilin significantly reduced VEGF, ARNT and STAT3 expression prominently under hypoxic conditions. The recruitment of STAT3, ARNT and HIF-$1{\alpha}$ to the VEGF promoter was inhibited by eupatilin treatment. HUVECs produced much foreshortened and severely broken tubes with eupatilin treatment. In addition, eupatilin effectively reduced tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Conclusions: Our results indicate that eupatilin inhibits angiogenesis in gastric cancer cells by blocking STAT3 and VEGF expression, suggesting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of gastric cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.546-551
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• 1994

Gold therapy of rheumatoid arthritis is effective, but adverse reactions are also common. There are some cutaneous, hematologic, renal, and pulmonary side effects which have been associated with immunologic abnormalities. Also, hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by gold therapy was rarely reported in literature. But, the mechanism for the induction of the pulmonary disease is not known. We report a case of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis presented as gold induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis which was confirmed by the peripheral blood lymphocyte stimulation test with gold.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2015

Objectives : Allergic disease has been well known as an IgE-dependent immunologic response. Recently, interest about the late inflammatory reaction has grown up as well as early allergic reaction characterized by IgE and mast cell. The purpose of this study was to find the anti-inflammatory effect of Gamiyunjo-tang(GMYJT) in allergic reaction. Methods : The experiment was performed using Raw 264.7 cells pretreated with GMYJT extracts. In this study, we observed the toxicity of cells by MTT analysis and measured the production of LPS-induced NO, $PGE_2$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ at a concentration of 50, 100, 200 and $400{\mu}g/ml$. Results : No toxicity of GMYJT (50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/ml$) on RAW 264.7 cells was found after 24 hours incubation. LPS-induced NO production was reduced after treatment with GMYJT (100, 200, $400{\mu}g/ml$)(P<0.05). $PGE_2$ was reduced after treatment with GMYJT (100, 200, $400{\mu}g/ml$)(P<0.05). IL-$1{\beta}$ did not decrease at any dose. IL-6 decreased at 200, $400{\mu}g/ml$(P<0.05). TNF-${\alpha}$ production decreased only at $400{\mu}g/ml$(P<0.05). Conclusions : These data suggest that GMYJT has anti-inflammatory effects in late allergic reaction.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 1995

Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a newly described high-grade lymphoma and is defined by histopathological and immunologic criteria. We experienced a case of systemically involving Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma in a 44 year-old female which initially manifested as pleural effusion. Abdominopelvic CT scan showed the evidence of marked lymphadenopathy in retroperitoneal and both external and inguinal lymph nodes. On cytologic examination of pleural fluid, tumor cells revealed pleomorphic large isolated cells with prominent nucleoli and abundant cytoplasms. The nuclei were large with irregular profiles including some deep invaginations. Also, occasional multilobed/multinucleated and binucleated nuclei were seen. Immunohistochemical examination was performed to differentiate from the undifferentiated adenocarcinoma, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and malignant histiocytosis. The neoplastic cells were positive for leukocyte common antigen, CD3, CD30(Ki-1) but negative for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, and CD15. A histologic diagnosis of Ki-1 positive anaplastic lymphoma was made by biopsies of the inguinal lymph node, polypoid lesions of the stomach and cecum.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.90-97
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• 2008

Background: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) comprises a group of lung diseases resulting from repeated inhalation of various antigens such as Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (SR). HP is categorized as a Th1 disease. Therefore, it has been suggested that IL-4, Th2 type cytokine, plays a protective role in the development of HP. However, the functional role of IL-4 in HP has not been extensively investigated in vivo. Therefore, we investigated the functional role of IL-4 in HP using IL-4 knockout (KO) mice. Methods: HP was induced by repeated exposure to SR in C57BL/6 (B6) and IL-4 KO (C57BL/6 background) mice. Results: IL-4 KO mice aggravated HP in terms of histological alteration, SR-specific immune responses, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs compared with B6 mice. IL-4 KO mice produced high levels of IFN-${\gamma}$, TGF-${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the lungs, whereas B6 mice showed the enhanced production of IL-4. Moreover, chemokines such as MIP-1${\alpha}$, MCP-1, and RANTES were highly expressed in IL-4 KO mice. IFN-${\gamma}$-secreting CD4, CD8 T cells, and neutrophils were enhanced in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of IL-4 KO mice than those of B6 mice. The administration of recombinant(r) IL-4 restored these immunologic parameters in IL-4 KO mice. Conclusion: These results indicate that IL-4 plays a suppressive role in SR-induced HP by attenuating Th1-dominant immune responses.