• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.29-45
• /
• 2000

In order to investigate the antitumor effect by Dangguihwalhyultang after B-l6 cells were transplanted in C57BL/6 mice, and the immune responses in mice induced by methotrexate, the extract of Dangguihwalhyultang was orally administered to the ICR mice. Experimental studies were performed for measurance of metastasis, cell cytotoxicity in vitro, life extention, weight of cancer, natural killer cell activity. productivity of interleukin-2. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Mean survival time in Dangguihwalhyultang-treated group was prolonged, as compared with control group(14.63%) significantly(P<0.05). 2. Inhibition of metastasis in Dangguihwalhyultang-treated group was higher than control group with significance on 14th day(P<0.05). 3. On the weight of solid tumor. Dangguihwalhyultang-treated group was less than control group with significance(P<0.05). 4. On the MTT assay. Dangguihwalhyultang concentration inhibited cell viability was $368.8{\mu}g/well$. 5. Natural killer cell activity in Dangguihwalhyultang-treated group was significantly increased on 100:1, 50:1 E/T(effect cell/target cell) ratio(P<0.05). 6. Production of interleukin-2 in Dangguihwalhyultang-treated group was significantly increased(P<0.05).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.883-892
• /
• 2018

Probiotics, including Enterococcus faecium, confer a health benefit on the host. An Enterococcus strain was isolated from healthy chicken cecum, identified as E. faecium by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, and designated as E. faecium L11. To evaluate the potential of E. faecium L11 as a probiotic, the gastrointestinal tolerance, immunomodulatory activity, and lifespan extension properties of the strain were assayed. E. faecium L11 showed >66% and >62% survival in artificial gastric juice (0.3% pepsin, pH 2.5) and simulated small intestinal juice (0.5% bile salt and 0.1% pancreatin), respectively. Heat-killed E. faecium L11 significantly (p < 0.05) increased immune cell proliferation compared with controls, and stimulated the production of cytokines (IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) by activated macrophages obtained from ICR mice. In addition, E. faecium L11 showed a protective effect against Salmonella Typhimurium infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition, feeding E. faecium L11 significantly (p < 0.05) extended the lifespan of C. elegans compared with the control. Furthermore, genes related to aging and host defense were upregulated in E. faecium L11-fed worms. In conclusion, E. faecium L11, which prolongs the lifespan of C. elegans, may be a potent probiotic supplement for livestock.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.144-151
• /
• 2016

Background: Immunoregulatory elements have emerged as useful immunotherapeutic agents against cancer. In traditional medicine, Mori folium, the leaf of Morus alba L. (Moraceae), has been used for various medicinal purposes; however, the immunomodulatory effects have not been fully identified. We evaluated the immunoenhancing potential of water extract of Mori folium (WEMF) in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. Methods: RAW264.7 cells were treated with WEMF for 24 hours and cell viability was detected by an MTT method. Nitric oxide (NO) levels in the culture supernatants were assayed using Griess reagent. The productions of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and immune-related cytokines was measured using ELISA detection kits. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Inducible NO synthase, COX-2, and cytokines were assayed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The effect of WEMF on phagocytic activity was measured using a Phagocytosis Assay Kit. Results: WEMF significantly stimulated the production of NO and $PGE_2$ as immune response parameters at noncytotoxic concentrations, which was associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase and COX-2. The release and expression of cytokines, such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10, were also significantly increased in response to treatment with WEMF. Moreover, WEMF promoted the macrophagic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells and the resulting phagocytosis activity. Conclusions: WEMF has the potential to modulate the immune function by regulating immunological parameters. Further studies are needed to identify the active compounds and to support the use of WEMF as an immune stimulant.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.340-348
• /
• 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of red doraji (Platycodon grandiflorum, RD) prepared by repeated steaming and drying process in the immune-suppressed mice induced by pre (RD-A) or post-treatment (RD-B) with cyclophosphamide. The immune-stimulating effects of ethanol RD extract in in vivo at 150 (RD-1) and 300 mg/kg body weight (RD-2) for RD-A and RD-B groups were measured and compared to the NC group supplied with distilled water only or positive control group. After 14 days of oral supplement, serum IgA, IgG, and cytokine levels, splenocytes proliferation rate, NK cell activity, and gene expression of cytokines were measured as immune related biomarkers. Serum IgA, IgG, IL-1β, and IL-12 levels increased in both RD-A and RD-B groups while serum TNF-α level decreased in RD-A group compared to the NC group. Splenocytes proliferation rate, NK cell activity, and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ) expression levels were also improved by RD supplement in the both groups. The RD showed more significant immunomodulatory effects at higher dose (RD-2) rather than the lower dose (RD-1). Thus, RD has an immune efficacy in a dose dependent manner and can be used as an immune stimulating source to improve immunity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.100-106
• /
• 2017

To elucidate new biological ingredients in cold-brew coffee extracted with cold water, crude polysaccharide (CCP-0) was isolated by ethanol precipitation, and its immune-stimulating activities were assayed. CCP-0 mainly comprised galactose (53.6%), mannose (15.7%), arabinose (11.9%), and uronic acid (12.4%), suggesting that it might exist as a mixture of galactomannan and arabinogalactan. CCP-0 significantly increased cell proliferation on both murine peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes in a dose dependent manner. CCP-0 also significantly augmented nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production by murine peritoneal macrophages. In addition, macrophages stimulated by CCP-0 enhanced production of various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12. In an in vitro assay for intestinal immune-modulating activity, CCP-0 showed higher bone-marrow cell-proliferation activity through Peyer's patch cells at $100{\mu}g/mL$ than the negative control. These results suggest that CCP-0 may potentially enhance macrophage functions and the intestinal immune system.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.430-438
• /
• 2019

This study is to investigate increase immunomodulatory activity of Chungkukjang added with Dendropanax morbifera extract. There are four groups divided that Control, Dendropanax morbifera extract group, Chungkookjang group and Chungkukjang added to Dendropanax morbifera extract group which of five mouses each group. Their immunological characteristics were compared with either general Chungkukjang or non treated group in the tested male ICR mice. There were no significant difference in body weight and organ weight. In the plaque forming cell assay, Dendropanax morbifera extract 250 and 500 mg/kg groups measured significant increase over the control group. The values of lymphocytes were significantly increased in the Dendropanax morbifera extract 500 mg/kg group campared with the control group. In the general Chungkukjang 400 mg/kg added with Dendropanax morbifera extract 500 mg/kg group, total serum immunoglobulin G concentration was significantly higher than the control group and their spleen tissues observed proliferation of white puls. These results demonstrated that Chungkukjang Added with Dendropanax morbifera extract was provided enhance of immunomodulatory activity and suggest that it can be used as various functional foods, based on foods promote immune system health.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.2094-2103
• /
• 2017

Aging is associated with distinct changes in immune cells and a decline in immune function, leading to increased susceptibility to infection and reduced responses to vaccination. Certain strains of lactic acid bacteria exert beneficial effects on the immune system. Previously, we reported that Weissella cibaria JW15 isolated from kimchi possesses immune stimulatory activity in vitro. In the present study, we further investigated whether oral administration of JW15 improves immune function in aged mice. Eighteen-month-old female mice were administered JW15 daily at low (JW15-L; $1{\times}10^8CFU/mouse$) or high dosage (JW15-H; $1{\times}10^9CFU/mouse$), or with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) using oral gavage. Two-month-old female mice were included as healthy young mice. After 4 weeks, the mice were euthanized and immune profiles were analyzed using whole blood and spleen. In complete blood count analysis, the numbers of white and red blood cells were significantly increased in the JW15-L group compared with those in the old mouse (OM) control group. In addition, administration of either JW15 of LGG resulted in higher numbers of splenocytes in comparison with the OM group. Furthermore, proliferative potentials were higher in all probiotic groups than OM. Cytokines such as IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-6 were secreted at higher levels in splenocytes isolated from JW15-fed mice than in OM control mice. Similarly, mRNA expression of various cytokines was altered in the JW15 groups. Collectively, these results suggest that JW15 supplementation induces immunomodulatory effects in aged mice and indicate JW15 as a potential probiotic strain to improve immune function in aged animals.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2012

Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR) has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and is reported to have anti-diabetes and anti-tumor activities. To identify a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of DR (EDR), we determined the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and performed a FACS analysis for measuring surface molecules. EDR dose-dependently decreased the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $PGE_2$, as well as mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 was also reduced by EDR. Furthermore, activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$, but not that of IL-4 and IL-10, in macrophages was inhibited by EDR. These results show that EDR decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory protein level, suggesting that EDR could be a useful immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.485-490
• /
• 2007

Zingiberis rhizoma(ZB) has been used to treat a various condition and disease in many traditional preparation. The present study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulatory effect on cyclophosphamide(CY)-induced immunotoxicity of aqueous-extracted ZB(ZBE) using in vitro and in vivo experiment. In vitro experiment, the mouse spleen cells proliferation and nitric oxide(NO) production in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells were investigated. ZBE enhanced mitogenic activity in mouse spleen cells. The suppression of CY-induced mouse speen cell proliferation was significantly restored by ZBE treatment. ZBE inhibited NO production, iNOS mRNA and protein levels in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo experiment, ZBE was orally administrated(single dose of 150mg/kg for 12 days) and CY i.p(150mg/kg) injected to SD rats. In CY alone injected group, body weights and spleen weights, and a various hematological parameters were reduced when compared with control group, whereas those values were increased by concomitant treatment of CY and ZBE when compared with CY alone injected group. These results indicated that ZBE can modulate CY-induced immune suppression through immune cell proliferation, the regulation of NO production and the inhibition of CY-induced immunotoxicity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.1087-1095
• /
• 2003

Betulinic acid (BA), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Lycopus lucidus, has been reported to be a selective inducer of apoptosis in various human cancer and shown anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. We postulated that BA modulates the immunomodulatory properties at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interlukin-1$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) and the tumor necrosis factor- $\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) on the basis of the critical role of the monocytes and tissue macrophages in inflammatory and immune responses. TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$ were produced by BA in a dose dependent manner at concentration of 0.625 and 10 $\mu$g/mL. The production of NO associated with iNOS was inhibited when treated with LPS at the concentration of 2.5 to 20 $\mu$g/mL of BA whereas COX-2 expression was decreased at 2.5 to 20 $\mu$g/mL. These modulations of inflammatory mediators were examined in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages. The morphology of macrophage was also examined and enhanced surface CD 40 molecule was expressed when treated BA at 0.625∼5 $\mu$g/mL with or without LPS. Furthermore, BA (20 $\mu$g/mL) enhanced apoptosis by producing DNA ladder in the RAW 264.7 cells. Our results indicated that BA induced activation of macrophage and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This may provide a molecular basis for the ability of BA to mediate macrophage, suppress inflammation, and modulate the immune response.