• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.760-764
• /
• 2007

We investigated that the immunomodulating activity of BL18 (Ganshu) acupuncture on the experimental liver metastasis model of mice. NA (non-acupoint)- and BL18-treatment enhanced the mitogenic activity of BALB/c whole splenocytes induced by various mitogenic stimuli. Acupuncture treatment tended to increase splenocytes differentiation even though did not show significance. Acupuncture treatment caused a marked increase of production of Th1 cytokine (IFN-${\gamma}$) and Th2 cytokine (IL-4) by splenocytes and IL-12 and IFN-Y by macrophages. The increase of cytokine production on BL18-treated group was more pronounced compared to NA-treated group. The liver weight of NA- and BL18-treated group decreased compared to tumor group, but did not showed significant differences.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.99-104
• /
• 2014

Platycodon grandiflorum have been used as a traditional remedy and food source. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulating effects of Platycodon grandiflorum in mouse, using ex vivo experiments. Six to seven-week old mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and water extract of Platycodon grandiflorum was orally administrated at two different concentractions (50 and 500 mg/kg B.W./day) every other day for four weeks. In ex vivo experiments, the highest proliferation of splenocytes and levels of cytokine (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) production were observed in 500 mg/kg BW/day supplementation group for all three cytokines stimulated by LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that Platycodon grandiflorum extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocytes proliferation and cytokine production capacity by activating macrophages in mice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.52-52
• /
• 2000

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.354-360
• /
• 2011

In order to screen new allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture (allo-MLR) inhibitor which is expected to be immunomodulating drug lead, we have investigated allo-MLR inhibitory activity on the marine-derived symbiotic microorganisms (1,895 strains) from the marine algae. The potent inhibitory activities (over 45% inhibition of proliferation at 10 and 2 ${\mu}g/ml$) without cytotoxicity were observed in the extracts of 46 strains. While, the significant stimulating activities (over 100% proliferation at 10 and 2 ${\mu}g/ml$) without cytotoxicity were observed in the extracts of 5 strains. In the second assay using 46 bioactive strains, 14 strains exhibited again significant allo-MLR inhibitory activity. Finally, 11 strains among the 14 strains inhibited proliferation and IFN-${\gamma}$ production of CD4+ T cells during the stimulation with specific antigen in the third assay. On the basis of above results, the marine algae is nice source for isolation of immunomodulating microorganism, and the marine algae-associated microorganism is also nice target for development of the new immunomodulating drug lead.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.1431-1438
• /
• 2008

Immunomodulating activities of water-soluble exopolysaccharides (LL-EX) obtained from submerged mycelial culture of Lentinus lepideus were studied and their effectiveness was compared with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The influence of the LL-EX on macrophage cellular lysosomal enzyme activity was to stimulate up to 267%, 392%, and 464% at the level of 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. When the LL-EX was further fractionated into LL-Fr.I and Fr.II by Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography, the cellular lysosomal enzyme activity of LL-Fr.II (2.1-fold) was higher than Fr.I (1.2-fold). Moreover, both LL-Fr.I and Fr.II stimulated the cytokines IL-1$\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$, and IL-6 in macrophages. In mixed lymphocyte reaction, LL-Fr.I and Fr.II enhanced the splenocyte proliferation up to 1.2-fold and 1.4-fold ($50{\mu}g/ml$), respectively, stimulating only T lymphocytes. The fractions of LL-EX not show any direct toxicity against human gastric adenocarcinoma cell (AGS). The molecular masses of LL-Fr.I and Fr.II were estimated to be about 1,986 kDa and 21 kDa, respectively. The total sugar and protein contents of the two fractions were 84.97% and 69.88%, and 15.03% and 30.12%, respectively. The sugar and amino acid compositions of the LL-Fr.I and Fr.II were also analyzed in detail.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the antimetastatic and immunomodulating effects of extracts of Ulmus davidiana extracts(U. D. Ex.). Methods: Antimetastatic experiments were conducted in vitro and in vivo by using colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma, L5178Y-R lymphoma cell and Hela cell. To observe the immunomodulating effects of U. D. Ex., we measured IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-$\alpha$ from peritoneal macrophages. And we evaluated the activation of NK cell by using anti-asialo-GM1 serum. Results: We found that the administration of U. D. Ex. significantly inhibited tumor metastasis in vivo. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis, cell growth are closer to 100% in case of Colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma, L5178Y-R lymphoma cell and Hela cell at low concentration. In case of macrophage, cell proliferation is closer to 100% less than $250{\mu}g/ml$ of U. D. Ex.. The level of cytokine such as IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 which stimulates U. D. Ex. was increased in dose-dependent manner compared to the control group. In case of TNF-$\alpha$, the level was increased at concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/ml$. The depletion of NK cells by anti-asialo GM1 serum partly abolished the inhibitory effect of U. D. Ex. on tumor metastasis. Conclusion: Ulmus davidiana appears to have considerable activity on the anti-metastasis by activation the immune system.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.68-73
• /
• 2006

This study was aimed at investigating hepatic toxicity and immunomodulating effects of defatted methanol extracts of two kinds of medicinal plants, Rubus coreanus Miq. and Atractylodes japonica Koidz. in mice. Defatted methanol extracts of fruits of Rubus coreanus Miq. and rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. were added at the level of 0.5% or 5%(w/w) to cholesterol-supplemented AIN-76 diet. Each diet was fed to 8 ICR male mice for 30 days. Weight gain and food efficiency ratio of the mice fed 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. were significantly lower than those of the mice fed 0.5% extract Relative liver weight and activity of plasma alanine aminotransfernse were significantly increased only in the mice fed 5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with the others. Splenocyte proliferation was not significantly different between the groups fed 0.5% or 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. However, splenocyte proliferation was significantly decreased in the mice fed 5.0% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with that in the mice fed 0.5% Production of interleukin-2 by splenocytes from the mice fed 0.5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Miq. was significantly higher than the control value and it became lower with 5.0% dietary level. Secretion of $interferon-\gamma$ was not significantly different among groups. In conclusion, the defatted methanol extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. was likely to exert immunomodulating effect at the level of 0.5% but it may exert adverse effects on immune and liver functions at the level of 5.0%.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.350-354
• /
• 2010

Laminaria japonica polysaccharides (LP) were prepared from L. japonica through hot water extraction, ultrafiltration and gel chromatography. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulating activity of LP (0.25-1 mg/mL) on the mitogen/alloantigen reactive proliferation and killing activity of the Balb/c mouse splenocytes. The LP directly induced the proliferation of splenocytes that was stimulated with mitogen or alloantigen in a dose-dependent manner. The killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and lymphokine activated killer cells (LAKs) were enhanced significantly in the LP treated cells. Also, the treatment of splenocytes with LP increased production of interleukin-2 (IL-2). These results suggest that polysaccharides from L. japonica show a substantial immunomodulating activity in mouse immune cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2008

Immunomodulating effect of Salicornia herbacea extract on the mouse splenocytes was investigated. Crude S. herbacea polysaccharide extract (CSP) and other kinds of fine S. herbacea polysaccharides (SPI and SPII) were prepared from S. herbacea by hot water extraction and further ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography. In vitro experiment, the mouse splenocytes and separated T cells were treated with CSP, SPI or SPII (0.5, 1, 2, 4 mg/ml). In vivo experiment, three different S. herbacea extracts were orally administrated everyday for one week. For the basic data, body weight and physiological parameters such as organ weight and spleen index were observed. The proliferation of the cells was used as an index for immunemodulating activity and the effect of proliferation was evaluated using MTS assay. The CSP, SPI and SPII directly induced the proliferation of splenocytes and separated T cells in a dose-dependent manner. In results, the proliferation was more increased in the SPI and SPII treated cells than in the CSP treated cells. The best proliferation was shown in the splenocytes cultured with SPI at the concentration of 4 mg/ml for 24 hr. The proliferation of splenocytes and separated T-cells was higher (3.2 and 3.5 times, respectively) than the control. Moreover, when the mouse splenocytes were treated with mitogen, the efficient proliferation was shown in the splenocytes cultured with SPI. In conclusion, polysaccharides from S. herbacea showed a substantial immunomodulating activity in the mouse immune cells.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.216-230
• /
• 2005

Although the field of study in immune enhancing compounds is relatively new, natural products from plants represent a rich and promising source of novel molecules with immunomodulating properties, Microglial cells, the main immune effector cells of the brain, usually display a ramified morphology and low expression levels of immunologically relevant antigens such as MHC class I and class II. Since any compound which participates in activation of phagocytic cells contributes to the production of potentially toxic factors, the search for convenient in vitro test-systems and study of mechanisms of action of these agents are of great interest. Human blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells and primary microglial cells isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats were used as cellular screening tests for study of phagocytosis-stimulating action of immunomodulating agents. Numbers of phagocytic activity were evaluated by the phagocyte ingestion of yeast cells and NO-synthase activity, nitrite production, and nitroblue tetrazolium test were determined after phagocyte stimulation. It was possible to demonstrate that indexes of phagocytic activity can be used as quantitative indicators for measurement immunomodulating activity. As a positive control, Zymosan A-induced phagocytosis in both PMN cells and primary microglial cells was used. $IFN-{\gamma}$ (0.1 -1 U/ml) stimulated phagocytosis in PMN cells 1.2 times after 2 - 3 h incubation, although at higher concentrations (10 - 100 U/ml) it strongly inhibited phagocytosis. In a similar way, at higher concentrations, $IFN-{\gamma}$ (100 - 500 U/ml) suppressed phagocytosis in zymosan-A stimulated microglial cells. When Polypodium leucotomus, cambricum and vulgare extracts were tested alone, increased levels of phagocytosis were observed in PMN. In addition, microglial cells showed both increased phagocytosis and MHC class-II antigen expressions. Surprisingly, when PMN and microglia were treated with a combination of Polypodium and $IFN-{\gamma}$, phagocytosis was not inhibited. We did not find changes in NO-synthase activity and nitrite production in both microglia and PMN cells activated by different immunomodulating agents. These results indicate that primary microglial cell cultures as well as human PMN cells can provide reproducible quantitative results in screening phagocytic activity of different immunoactive compounds. Furthermore, both inhibitory or activation mechanisms might be studied using these in vitro experimental approaches.