• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.307-313
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• 2015

The present study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of Curcuma longa L. ethanol extracts on natural killer (NK) cells and T cells. We treated Curcuma longa L. ethanol extracts at concentrations of 20, 50, 100, and $150{\mu}g/mL$ to murine NK cells co-incubated with YAC-1 cells. Curcuma longa L. ethanol extracts resulted in increased NK cell activity compared to the control group at all concentrations. In the groups treated with Curcuma longa L. ethanol extracts, CD69 and IFN-${\gamma}$ expression levels significantly increased compared to the control group at 100 and $150{\mu}g/mL$. In addition, Curcuma longa L. ethanol extracts induced significant elevation of CD8+ T cell numbers in a dose-dependent manner. However, Curcuma longa L. ethanol extracts also led to reduction of CD4+ T cell and MHCII numbers. The findings of this study suggest that Curcuma longa L. ethanol extracts could enhance the immune response through activation of NK and cytotoxic T cells due to a proliferative shift of antigen presentation from MHCII to MHCI, presumably.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.127-145
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• 1997

This study was aimed to investigate the anti-tumor and immune response effect of Samyongtang(S1; this medicine represents for 'ENERGIZER'), Yangjeongjejeoktang(S2; this is the 'INTERMEDIATE METHOD' of S1 and S3) and Onbeakwon(S3; this is 'ATTACK' the disease of mass) on the experimental rats induced by Sarcoma-180 and Methotrexate. And to observed the differences S1, S2, and S3 treatment groups. Tumor weight(TW) in vivo, interleukin-2(IL-2), hemagglutinin titer(H.A), hemolysin titer(HL), rossete forming cell(RFC), delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH), and natural killer cell activity(NKCA) in vivo were measured in rats. The obtained results were summarized as follows. 1. Tumor weight was decreased in all treatment groups (S2>S3>S1) as compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant each treatment groups. 2. Interleukin-2 was increased in all treatment groups (S1>S2>Ss) as compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant each treatment groups. 3. Hemagglutinin titer was increased in all treatment groups (S1>S2>S3) as compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant each treatment groups. 4. Hemolysin titer was increased in all treatment groups (S1>S2>S3) as compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant each treatment groups. 5. Rossete forming cell(RFC) was increased in all treatment groups (S1>S2>S3) as compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant each treatment groups. 6. Delayed type hyperseneitivity(DTH) was increased in S1, S2 treatment groups (S1>S2) as compared with control group, but it was decreased in S3 treatment group. Therefore, S1 group was statistically significant compared with S3 groups. 7. Natural killer cell activity(NKCA) was increased in all treatment groups (S2>S3>S1) as compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant each treatment groups. Based on the above mentioned results, it is suggested that S1, S2 and S3 will have anti-tumor substances and enhance effect of immune response. But the differences were not statistically significant in each treatment groups, except for delayed type hypersensitivity.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.431-437
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• 2016

Macrophages play a pivotal role in the innate and adaptive immune systems. This study investigated the immuno-modulatory activities of polysaccharides separated from Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (CZPS) in macrophages. Polysaccharides from Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum were extracted by the ethanol precipitation method. RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line was treated with CZPS (4 to $128{\mu}g/mL$), and there was no cytotoxicity at a dose below $32{\mu}g/mL$. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-$1{\beta}$) production in the CZPS treated group ($32{\mu}g/mL$) were $6.5{\pm}0.12{\mu}m$ (NO), $1252.8{\pm}79.85$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), $305.4{\pm}29.41$ (IL-6), and $683.3{\pm}59.71$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), respectively, and they were significantly increased when compared to the control group; $2.2{\pm}0.03{\mu}m$ (NO), $452.3{\pm}38.34$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), $31.7{\pm}5.75$ (IL-6), and $184.1{\pm}11.52$ (IL-$1{\beta}$). Additionally, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and phosphorylation of MAPKs and NF-${\kappa}B$ expression were significantly increased upon CZPS treatment. Therefore, these results indicated that polysaccharides separated from Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (CZPS) may have a potential immunomodulatory activity in macrophages through MAPKs and NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling, and this information is useful for the development of immune enhancing adjuvant materials using a natural ingredient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1629-1636
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• 2015

The edible mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill is known to have many physiological functions, including antitumor, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. Aqueous extracts were obtained by extracting A. blazei in water at $90^{\circ}C$ for 15 h, followed by spray-drying with dextran at a 70:30 ratio. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory effect of A. blazei Murill water extract (ABM) in BALB/c mice. Mice were administered orally with 4, 20, and 100 mg/kg of ABM for 21 days. ABM-treated mice did not show significant differences in body and organ weights compare to saline-treated control mice. Splenocytes isolated from ABM-administered mice revealed similar levels of cellularity and proliferation compared to control mice, whereas they showed increased natural killer (NK) cell activity and decreased IL-4 and IL-12 production. Different from in vivo results, splenocytes isolated from normal mice showed increased proliferation and $INF-{\gamma}$ production following ABM treatment in vitro. In addition, ABM treatment enhanced macrophage proliferation and nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner. However, ABM had no effect on LPS-induced NO production. These results suggest that A. blazei modulates immune function by increasing NK cell activity and macrophage function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1621-1628
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• 2015

The immune system plays an important role in maintaining and protecting human health. In the present study, comparison of immuno-modulatory activities between polysaccharides (SFP) and ethanol (SFE) extracts separated from Sargassum fulvellum in macrophages and murine splenocytes were investigated. Immuno-modulatory activities of macrophages were estimated based on cell proliferation, nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cytokine production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and lipopolysaccharide was used as a positive control. SFP and SFE treatment did not affect cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and SFP treatment significantly increased NO and cytokine production ($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$), whereas SFE did not contribute to the increase in NO and cytokine production. In the case of splenocytes, SFP treatment increased splenocyte proliferation and also highly increased production of Th-1 type cytokines (IL-2 and $IFN-{\gamma}$) than those of SFE. Through this study, we confirmed that immuno-modulatory activities of Sargassum fulvellum may be due to polysaccharide extracts and this can be a potential nutraceutical.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2018

Background: Asthma is a disease of chronic airway inflammation with heterogeneous features. Neutrophilic asthma is corticosteroid-insensitive asthma related to absence or suppression of $T_H2$ process and increased $T_H1$ and/or $T_H17$ process. Macrolides are immunomodulatory drug that reduce airway inflammation, but their role in asthma is not fully known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of macrolides in neutrophilic asthma and compare their effects with those of corticosteroids. Methods: C57BL/6 female mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Clarithromycin (CAM) and/or dexamethasone (DXM) were administered at days 14, 15, 21, 22, and 23. At day 24, the mice were sacrificed. Results: Airway resistance in the OVA+LPS exposed mice was elevated but was more attenuated after treatment with CAM+DXM compared with the monotherapy group (p<0.05 and p<0.01). In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid study, total cells and neutrophil counts in OVA+LPS mice were elevated but decreased after CAM+DXM treatment. In hematoxylin and eosin stain, the CAM+DXM-treated group showed less inflammation additively than the monotherapy group. There was less total protein, interleukin 17 (IL-17), interferon ${\gamma}$, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ in the CAM+DXM group than in the monotherapy group (p<0.001, p<0.05, and p<0.001). More histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) activity was recovered in the DXM and CAM+DXM challenged groups than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Decreased IL-17 and recovered relative HDAC2 activity correlated with airway resistance and inflammation in a neutrophilic asthma mouse model. This result suggests macrolides as a potential corticosteroid-sparing agent in neutrophilic asthma.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.47-51
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• 2003

Synergistic anticancer activities of red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAS) showing immunomodulatory activity were evaluated by combined treatment with anticancer agents such as Cyclophosphamide (CY) or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in experimental tumor models. The combined treatment of RGAP (100 mg/kg) and CY (3 mg/kg) exhibited 71% of survival rate in lift span of sarcoma 180-bearing mice, while single treatment of RGAP (100 mg/kg) and CY (3 or 10 mg/kg) exhibited 43, 14 and 43% of survival rates, respectively. In addition, when RGAP (100 mg/kg) was administered in combination with 5-FU (2.5 mg/kg) to sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mice, higher survival rate was found when compared with RGAP or 5-FU treatment alone. Moreover, tumor weights in LL/2 lung carcinoma-bearing mice treated combined with RGAP (100 mg/kg) and 5-FU (5 or 10 mg/kg) was obviously decreased when compared with 5-FU alone. These results suggest that clinical trials of RGAP as an adjuvant in cancer chemotheraphy can be higly feasible.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.745-754
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• 2021

Deterioration of the immune function weakens the body's resistance to various infections, leading to a series of diseases. Immunomodulatory biomaterials have been used to reduce the side effects of immunosuppressants or to enhance immunity. Agarwood is the aromatic resinous portion of Aquilaria trees that has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases. Although previous studies have shown that agarwood can improve the body's immunity, evidence for this claim is still lacking. In this study, the immune-enhancing effects of the agarwood methanol extracts of Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk were evaluated in a RAW 264.7 macrophage model. Based on the results, the agarwood extracts markedly enhanced phagocytosis in the absence of cytotoxicity. The agarwood extract-treated RAW 264.7 cells exhibited the typical morphology of activated macrophages, which are spindle-shaped with elongated filopodia. Agarwood extract also significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase. Moreover, the secretion and expression levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, were increased by agarwood treatment. Notably, these are also associated with a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings provide scientific evidence that agarwood has potential immune-enhancing effects in vitro.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.48.1-48.21
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• 2023

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) possess immunoregulatory properties and their regulatory functions represent a potential therapy for acute lung injury (ALI). However, uncertainties remain with respect to defining MSCs-derived immunomodulatory pathways. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of human recombinant bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) primed ES-MSCs (MSC^BMP2) in promoting Tregs in ALI mice. MSC were preconditioned with 100 ng/ml rhBMP-2 for 24 h, and then administrated to mice by intravenous injection after intratracheal injection of 1 mg/kg LPS. Treating MSCs with rhBMP-2 significantly increased cellular proliferation and migration, and cytokines array reveled that cytokines release by MSC^BMP2 were associated with migration and growth. MSC^BMP2 ameliorated LPS induced lung injury and reduced myeloperoxidase activity and permeability in mice exposed to LPS. Levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase were decreased while levels of total glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity were further increased via inhibition of phosphorylated STAT1 in ALI mice treated with MSC^BMP2. MSC^BMP2 treatment increased the protein level of IDO1, indicating an increase in Treg cells, and Foxp3⁺CD25⁺ Treg of CD4⁺ cells were further increased in ALI mice treated with MSC^BMP2. In co-culture assays with MSCs and RAW264.7 cells, the protein level of IDO1 was further induced in MSC^BMP2. Additionally, cytokine release of IL-10 was enhanced while both IL-6 and TNF-α were further inhibited. In conclusion, these findings suggest that MSC^BMP2 has therapeutic potential to reduce massive inflammation of respiratory diseases by promoting Treg cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1431-1437
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• 2016

Sorghum bicolor L. is one of the important minor cereals in Asia, Africa, and the central United States, and it is considered a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. However, there is a lack of data on the anti-cancer activity of Sorghum in prostate cancer cells and immune activity in macrophages. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of an ethanol extract of S. bicolor L. (SE) on inducing apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells and immunomodulatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. SE significantly inhibited the viability of RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with SE was shrunken and involved the formation of an apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. In addition, SE markedly activated caspase-8, -9, and -3; increased the protein levels of Bax, p53, cleaved PARP, and cytosolic cytochrome c; and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspases in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells with z-VAD-fmk attenuated SE-induced cell growth inhibition. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was also elevated by SE treatment, as revealed by immune response parameters. These results suggest that SE inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in primary human prostate cancer cells in a caspase-dependent manner, and it modulates the immune functions in macrophages. Therefore, Sorghum bicolor L. may be used as a functional food to prevent prostate cancer and enhance immune activity.