• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2009

The immunomodulatory activities of the ethanol extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, termed hereafter as GPE, were examined in immunosuppressed mice as well as in normal mice in the present study. Oral administration of GPE into mice prevented dexamethasone (DEX)-induced immunosuppression as determined by the mitogen-induced proliferation of the splenocytes and the the cytokine production (TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$) in the whole blood culture. In addition, oral administration of GPE increased antitumor host defense in mice implanted with sarcoma-180 tumor cells. The immunoaugmenting activity of orally administered GPE was also confirmed in mice immunized with ovalbumin (OVA). Mice that were orally administered with GPE generated much more potent OVA-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses upon intravenous OVA injection compared to the untreated controls. These results demonstrate that oral administration of the ethanol extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum could be useful to increase host defense in immunocompromised situations such as stress- or tumor-induced immunosuppression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1053-1060
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• 2019

Thermal drying is a common process used in the food industry for the modification of agricultural products. However, while various studies have investigated the alteration in physiochemical properties and chemical composition after drying, research focusing on the relationship between different dehydration conditions and bioactivity is scarce. In the current study, we prepared dried ginger under nine different conditions by varying the processing time and temperature and compared their immunomodulatory effects. Interestingly, depending on the drying condition, there were significant differences in the immunestimulating activity of the dried ginger samples. Gingers processed at $50^{\circ}C$ 1h displayed the strongest activation of macrophages measured by $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 levels, whereas, freezedried or $70^{\circ}C$- and $90^{\circ}C$-dried ginger showed little effect. Similar results were recapitulated in primary bone marrow-derived macrophages, further confirming that different dehydration conditions can cause significant differences in the immune-stimulating activity of ginger. Induction of ERK, p38, and JNK signaling was found to be the major underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the immunomodulatory effect of ginger. These results highlight the potential to improve the bioactivity of functional foods by selectively controlling processing conditions.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological characteristics and immunomodulatory activity of Lactobacillus fermentum 450 isolated from raw milk. L. fermentum 450 showed optimum growth at $40^{\circ}C$ and exhibited immunomodulatory effects on $interleukin-1{\alpha}$, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and nitrous oxide at concentrations of >2,500 pg/mL, >2,000 pg/mL, and $11.55{\pm}2.95{\mu}M$, respectively. Of the 16 antibiotics tested, L. fermentum 450 exhibited the highest sensitivity to rifampicin, followed by penicillin-G, and the highest resistance to kanamycin, followed by neomycin and polymyxin B. The strain showed high acid phosphatase activity and was comparatively tolerant to bile juice and acid. Moreover, the strain displayed high resistance to Salmonella Typhimurium (63.86%). These results demonstrate that L. fermentum 450 has potential for use as a probiotic with immunomodulatory activity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.383-388
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the effect of bioprocessed polysaccharides (BPPs) from liquid culture of Lentinus edodes fungal mycelia containing rice bran (BPP-RB) on a chicken-derived macrophage cell line, HD-11, when infected with Salmonella Gallinarum, an etiological agent of fowl typhoid. Experimental results demonstrated water extract of BPP-RB did not show growth inhibitory effects on S. Gallinarum 277. Protein expression profiles were also not altered by its treatment. Nonetheless, it could (i) enhance phagocytic activity of HD-11 cells, (ii) activate transcriptional expression of Th1-type cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, iNOS, as well as an immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, and (iii) negatively regulate Th2-type cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-6. Together results suggest that BPP-RB may be applicable for preventing fowl typhoid or other Salmonella infections in poultry farms as a potential feed additive.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2017

Effects of resveratrol glucosylation on the immunomodulation properties of resveratrol and on the viability of macrophage cells have been studied by using murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) expression in macrophages in vitro were studied after treatment with different concentrations of (E)-resveratrol, (E)-resveratrol 3-O-${\beta}$-${\small{D}}$-glucoside (R-3-G), or (E)-resveratrol 4'-O-${\beta}$-${\small{D}}$-glucoside (R-4'-G). In vitro viability of RAW 264.7 cells after treatment with the aforementioned three compounds was also studied. As demonstrated by macrophage cell viability assays, two different resveratrol monoglucosides, R-3-G and R-4'-G, exhibited 50-80% reduced cytotoxicity in comparison to (E)-resveratrol in A549 and HepG2 cells. Compared to the resveratrol aglycon, both glucosylated resveratrol derivatives positively modulated NO and IL-6 production in macrophages positively via transcriptionally up-regulating IL-6 and iNOS expression. Conjugation of a glucose moiety on resveratrol was found to enhance the immunomodulating activity of resveratrol and the viability of RAW 264.7 cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.330-337
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• 2004

Based on the traditional application of Carthamus tinctorious L. (CF) as a component of Korean medicinal decoctions, in the present study, we investigated in vitro an immunomodulatory activity of water extract of CF(WECF). Water extract of CF significantly increased the in vitro proliferative responses of spleen cells (SPC). However, addition of WECF during anti-CD3 activation resulted in a significant decrease in SPC proliferation. Flow cytometric analysis showed that WECF addition chanced T and B cell frequencies in anti-CD3-activated spleen cell populations. Using purified cells, it was revealed that WECF is mitogenic to B cells but rather inhibitory to T cell Proliferation. Upon anti-CD3 stimulation, high concentration (1 mg/ml) of WECF significantly inhibited T cell proliferation until day 2 of stimulation. At day 3, anti-CD3-activated cells exposed to WECF recovered their proliferation to the level comparable to control. Although B cell proliferation was also inhibited in proliferation at day 1, it recovered sooner and then was rather augmented by WECF at day 3. These data indicate that WECF down-regulates lymphocyte proliferation at early phase of activation but T cells are more vulnerable than B cells to WECF, However, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells did not differ in WECF-mediated immunotoxicity. Data of propidium iodide (PI) staining showed that WECF accelerates activated T cell, but not B cell, apoptosis and WECF concurrently inhibited cytokine production of activated T cells. Taken together, WECF exhibits B cell mitogenic activity and differential toxicity more pronounced to T cells, suggesting a possible in vivo application of WECF for specific control of T cells without alteration of B cell activity.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 1999

The immunomodulatory effects of levamisole (LMS) were evaluated in leucocytes of eels in vitro. Proliferation of lymhocytes treated with T-cell mitogen (Con A or PHA) was markedly inhibited by LMS in a dose dependent manner. B cell mitogen (LPS), in contrast, slightly increased the proliferaion. On the other hand, production of MIF and MAF when treated with Con A was increased in a dose-dependent way. NK cell activities were somewhat increased when LMS was pretreated and this augmentation was due to an increase in binding capacity of effector-target cell, but not due to the target cell lytic activity of effector cells. Phagocytic activity, superoxide anion formation, hydrogen peroxide formation and lysozyme activity of leucocytes were enhanced by LMS in a dose related-manner. These results suggest that LMS might modulate the immmune responses by activation of cytokine production and by augmentation of leukocyte activity but not by increment of immunocompetent cell numbers.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.354-360
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• 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 Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.298-306
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• 2017

Background: Compound K (CK) is a bioactive derivative of ginsenoside Rb1 in Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng). Its biological and pharmacological activities have been studied in various disease conditions, although its immunomodulatory role in innate immunity mediated by monocytes/macrophages has been poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of CK on cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages in innate immune responses. Methods: The immunomodulatory role of CK was explored by various immunoassays including cell-cell adhesion, fibronectin adhesion, cell migration, phagocytic uptake, costimulatory molecules, reactive oxygen species production, luciferase activity, and by the measurement of mRNA levels of proinflammatory genes. Results: Compound K induced cell cluster formation through cell-cell adhesion, cell migration, and phagocytic activity, but it suppressed cell-tissue interactions in U937 and RAW264.7 cells. Compound K also upregulated the surface expression of the cell adhesion molecule cluster of differentiation (CD) 43 (CD43) and costimulatory molecules CD69, CD80, and CD86, but it downregulated the expression of monocyte differentiation marker CD82 in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, CK induced the release of reactive oxygen species and induced messenger RNA expression of proinflammatory genes, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by enhancing the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activities of nuclear factor kappa-B and activator protein-1. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CK has an immunomodulatory role in innate immune responses through regulating various cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2022

Cystatin, a cysteine protease inhibitor found in many parasites, plays important roles in immune evasion. This study analyzed the molecular characteristics of a cystatin from Fasciola hepatica (FhCystatin) and expressed recombinant FhCystatin (rFhcystatin) to investigate the immune modulatory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation, migration, cytokine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production, and apoptosis in mouse macrophages. The FhCystatin gene encoded 116 amino acids and contained a conserved cystatin-like domain. rFhCystatin significantly inhibited the activity of cathepsin B. rFhCystatin bound to the surface of mouse RAW264.7 cells, significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, rFhCystatin inhibited the expression of cellular nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and promoted the expression of transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-10. These results showed that FhCystatin played an important role in regulating the activity of mouse macrophages. Our findings provide new insights into mechanisms underlying the immune evasion and contribute to the exploration of potential targets for the development of new drug to control F. hepatica infection.