• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.638-644
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• 2022

Probiotics modulate the gut microbiota, which in turn regulate immune responses to maintain balanced immune homeostasis in the host. However, it is unclear how probiotic bacteria regulate immune responses. In this study we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of heat-killed probiotics, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KC3 (LP3), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CKDB008 (LP8), and Limosilactobacillus fermentum SRK414 (LF4), via phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO), and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages. We thus found that heat-killed LP8 could promote the clearance of foreign pathogens by enhancing the phagocytosis of macrophages. Treatment with heat-killed LP8 induced the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In addition, heat-killed LP8 suppressed the production of NO and cytokines in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, suggesting that heat-killed LP8 exerts immunomodulatory effects depending on the host condition. In sum, these results indicate that heat-killed LP8 possesses the potential for immune modulation while providing a molecular basis for the development of functional probiotics prepared from inactivated bacterial cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.12-28
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• 2001

배경 : 면역 증강성 CpG 올리고 뉴클레오티드(immunostimulatory CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides, ISS CpG-ODN)는 $T_{H1}$ 형 면역 반응은 항진시키고, $T_{H2}$ 형의 반응은 감소시키는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 백서 천식 모델에서 ISS CpG-ODN으로 인한 면역 반응의 변화가 천식의 주요한 병태 생리 현상인, 기도 과민성, 호산구성 염증 및 점액 과다 분비에 미치는 효과에 대하여 고찰하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 천식 모델을 형성하지 않은 10마리의 정상 대조군과 ovalbumin(OVA)의 감작 및 유발로 천식 모델이 형성된 26마리의 백서를, 천식 대조군 11마리, 천식-CpG 치료군 15마리로 나누어 실험하였다. 천식-CpG 치료군은 연구 16일과 20일에 ISS CpG-ODN을, 천식 대조군은 생리 식염수를 투여하였다. CpG-ODN 혹은 생리 식염수 투여 후, 특이 기도 저항, 기관지 폐포 세척액(bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, BALF) 내의 $T_{H1}$ 형 사이토카인 (cytokine)인 IFN-${\gamma}$와 $T_{H2}$ 형 사이토카인인 IL-4의 농도 및 호산구의 분획, 폐조직 내 호산구의 침윤 및 배상 세포의 이형성과 MUC5AC 유전자의 발현을 고찰하였다. 결과 : ISS CpG-ODN 투여 후 천식 대조군과 비교하여, 천식-CpG 치료군에서 기관지 폐포 세척액 내에서 IFN-${\gamma}$의 농도는 유의하게 높았고, IL-4의 농도는 유의하게 낮았다. 특이 기도 저항, 기관지 폐포 세척액 내의 호산구의 분획 및 폐조직에서의 호산구의 침윤은 천식-CpG 치료군에서 천식 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 감소하였다. 그러나 점액 과다 분비의 지표인 배상 세포의 이형성 및 MUC5AC 유전자의 발현 정도는 천식 대조군과 천식-CpG 치료군간에 유의한 차이가 없었다. 결론 : 백서 천식 모델에서 면역 증강성 CpG 올리고 뉴클레오티드는 $T_{H1}$ 형 면역 반응은 항진시키고, $T_{H2}$ 형의 반응은 감소시킴으로써, 천신의 주요한 병태 생리 현상인 기도 과민성 및 호산구서 염증은 억제하나, 점액과다 분비에는 유의한 영향이 없었다.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.411-419
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• 2021

본 연구에서 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)이 마우스 대식세포인 RAW264.7 세포의 활성화 유도를 통한 면역증진 활성과 마우스 지방전구세포인 3T3-L1 세포의 지질축적억제를 통한 항비만 활성을 평가하였다. 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)은 전반적으로 RAW264.7 세포에서 TLR2/TLR4의 자극을 통해 p38과 JNK를 활성화시켜 NO, iNOS, IL-1𝛽, IL-6, TNF-𝛼와 같은 면역증진 인자의 발현을 증가시키는 것으로 판단된다. 그러나 IL-6의 경우, p38과 JNK 활성화에 의존하지 않는 것으로 확인되어 TLR2/4에 의한 다른 신호전달이 관여하는 것으로 사료되어 추가적인 연구가 필요하다. 또한, 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)은 PPAR𝛾의 과대발현을 억제하여 지방전구세포의 성숙한 지방세포로의 분화를 억제하고, 성숙한 지방세포에서 CEBP𝛼, PPAR𝛾, perilipin-1, FABP4, adiponectin의 발현을 억제하여 지방세포 내 지질 형성 및 축적을 억제하는 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구를 통해 구명된 결과들은 금화규 뿌리 추출물(AMR)이 향후 면역증진 및 항비만을 위한 보조제 또는 건강 기능성 식품과 의약품으로의 개발 및 활용이 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.193-197
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• 2009

We report an evaluation of the immunostimulatory effect of propolis volatiles from a stingless honeybee. We studied 34 elderly residents at a special nursing home. Twenty-one subjects were treated with propolis, 8 with $Binch\hat{o}$ charcoal and 5 subjects acted as controls. Subjects treated with either propolis or Bincho charcoal were housed in rooms separated from the other non-study residents in the nursing home. The effects of each treatment on natural killer (NK) cell activity and lymphocyte levels were examined after 2 months and then for a longer period. The results indicated that NK cell activity was significantly improved to that within the normal range only after propolis treatment.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.29-33
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• 2005

A DNA vaccine methodology using eukaryote expression vectors to produce immunizing proteins in the vaccinated hosts is a novel approach to the development of vaccine and immuno-therapeutics, and it has achieved considerable success over several infectious diseases and various cancers. To further enhance its efficiency, attempts were made to develop novel plasmid vectors containing multiple immunostimulatory CpG motifs, for rapid and strong immune response. First, a 2.9 kb compact plasmid vector (pVAC), containing CMV promoter, polycloning site, BGH poly(A) terminator, ampicillin resistance gene and pBR322 origin was constructed. A pVAC-hEPO was also constructed, which contained a human erythropoietin gene, for evaluating the transfection efficiency of naked plasmid DNA both in vitro and in vivo. To examine the adjuvant effect of multi-CpG motifs on naked plasmid DNA, 22 and 44 enriched and unmethylated CpG motifs were introduced into pVAC to generate pVAC-ISS1 and pVAC-ISS2, respectively. $100{\mu}g$ of pSecTagB, pVAC, pVAC-ISS1 or pVAC-ISS2 were each injected intramuscularly into the tibilias anterior muscle of Balb/c mice. The level of interleukin-6 induced in the mice injected with pVAC-ISS1 and pVAC-ISS2 were significantly elevated after 12 hours, which were almost 2 and 2.5 times higher than that in the mice injected with pSecTagB, respectively. These results suggest that DNA vaccine plasmids with enriched CpG motifs can induce rapid secretion of interleukin-6 by lymphocytes. In conclusion, these vectors can contribute to the development of adjuvant-free DNA vaccinations against infectious diseases and various cancers.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.501-505
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• 2005

Immu-Forte composed of chitosan, ${\beta}-glucan$, manno-oligosaccharide and pangamic acid was evaluated for its effectiveness as a nonspecific immunostimulator in mice. The effects of Immu-Forte were determined by analysis of cytokines using ELISA and phenotype of leukocyte subpopulations using monoclonal antibodies specific to mouse leukocyte differentiation antigens and flow cytometry. All T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in Immu-Forte A-treated group increased in 1 months posttreatment and were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of control at 1 months posttreatment. All T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages and IL-2 in Immu-Forte EX-treated low and middle dose groups increased in 1 months posttreatment and were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of control at 1 months posttreatment. In the Immu-Forte soybean-treated group, NK cells and IL-4 were significantly higher in middle dose-treated group, and IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-r were significantly higher in low dose-treated group. In the Immu-Forte F-treated group, all T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, NK cells, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in high dose-treated group and all T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in middle dose-treated group and NK cells, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in low dose-treated group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of control at 1 months posttreatment. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that Immu-Forte had an immunostimulatory effect on mice through proliferation and activation of mouse immune cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.43-46
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• 2009

The immunosuppressive properties of flavonoids were examined for the first time by testing their effects on T-cell-mediated antibody production, using a classical plague-forming cell (PFC) assay in mice. Among the tested flavonoids including naringenin, chrysin, flavonol, galangin, quercetin, morin, myricetin and biochanin A, only quercetin, orally administered at 25 mg/kg, significantly inhibited the number of IgMproducing PFCs induced by sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Interestingly, biochanin A (isoflavone) increased the number of PFCs, suggesting an immunostimulatory effect. The other flavonoids tested did not inhibit or enhance PFC response significantly. Quercetin was also found to show thymus atrophy dose-dependently at 5-500 mg/kg. All these results indicate that quercetin inhibits in vivo antibody production probably by inhibiting T-cell function.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.439-452
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• 2005

Zinc is ubiquitous in all living cells. Structural and catalytic properties of cellular enzymes are zinc dependent. Zinc deficiency leads to a variety of pathological abnormalities with immune impairment. It is an established fact that nutritional status contributes to overall immune response of individuals. Outcome of zinc deficiency on immune system is so drastic that it is difficult to conceive at the first instance. Zinc supplementation has been advocated to prevent diarrheal disease in children with poor nutritional status. The bioavailability of zinc depends upon its sources. Moreover it varies between monogastrics and ruminants. Controversy still prevails between inorganic and organic sources of zinc with respect to their superiority in bioavailability. Zinc exerts immunostimulatory effects in various laboratory and farm animals. Animals having congenital zinc deficiency diseases like A46 lethal trait usually die due to impairment of the immune system unless treated with zinc. The immune mechanism of zinc and its effect on animals and man are discussed. Zinc has been considered as extremely safe at higher therapeutic doses, but does not provide any beneficial effect but rather may cause immunosuppression. More recently, zinc has been prescribed for immunodeficient hosts, to modulate the immune system so that to a certain extent it can combat against opportunistic pathogens.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.1997-2003
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• 2008

Cordyceps militaris is well known as a traditional medicinal mushroom and has been shown to exhibit immunostimulatory and anticancer activities. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis induced by an aqueous extract of C. militaris (AECM) via the activation of caspases and altered mitochondrial membrane permeability in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Exposure to AECM induced apoptosis, as demonstrated by a quantitative analysis of nuclear morphological change and a flow cytometric analysis. AECM increased hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and promoted the activation of caspases. Both the cytotoxic effect and apoptotic characteristics induced by AECM treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrates the important role of caspase-3 in the observed cytotoxic effect. AECM-induced apoptosis was associated with the inhibition of Akt activation in a time-dependent manner, and pretreatment with LY294002, a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, significantly increased AECM-induced apoptosis. The results indicated that AECM-induced apoptosis may relate to the activation of caspase-3 and mitochondria dysfunctions that correlate with the inactivation of Akt.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG(ATCC 53103) is one of the best researched probiotic strains in the world. Studies in children have shown that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG effectively prevents early atopic disease in patients with high risk. The active molecules associated with the immunostimulatory sequence and anti-allergy effects of L. rhamnosus GG have not yet been identified. Unmethylated CpG motifs in bacterial DNA have a mitogenic effect in mouse immune cells, CpG-containing ISS oligodeoxynucleotides are potent Th1 adjuvants, effective in both preventing and reversing Th2-biased immune deviation in allergy models. The genomic DNA of L. rhamnosus GG is a potent inducer of murine B cell and dendritic cell immunoactivation. In L. rhamnosus GG genomic DNA, ID35 shows high activity in ISS assays in both mice and humans. The effects of ID35 result from a unique TTTCGTT motif located at its 5'-end, and its effects are comparable with murine prototype CpG 1826. L. rhamnosus GG is known to secrete proteinaceous pili encoded by the spaCBA gene cluster. The presence of pili structures may be essential for its adhesion to human intestinal mucus, explaining the prolonged duration of intestinal residence of this bacterium, compared to that of non-piliated lactobacilli.