• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 2013

Numerous studies have suggested that Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract has various immune modulatory activities both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we used a mouse model to examine the effects of orally administered KRG extract on immunity against herpes simplex virus (HSV). Balb/c mice were administered with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg oral doses of KRG extract for 10 d and then vaginally infected with HSV. We found that KRG extract rendered recipients more resistant against HSV vaginal infection and further systemic infection, including decreased clinical severity, increased survival rate, and accelerated viral clearance. Such results appeared to be mediated by increased vaginal IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion. Moreover, increased mRNA expression of IFN-${\gamma}$, granzyme B, and Fas-ligand was identified in the iliac lymph node and vaginal tracts of KRG extract treated groups (200 and 400 mg/kg). These results suggest that the activities of local natural killer cells were promoted by KRG extract consumption and that KRG may be an attractive immune stimulator for helping hosts overcome HSV infection.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effect of a hand massage program on anxiety and immune function in patients during cataract surgery. The hand massage program, in this study, consisted of hand massage and hand-holding. The subjects were sixty-three patients, thirty for the experimental and thirty-three for the control group, who were admitted at Kang Nam St. Mary's Hospital for cataract surgery. This study was carried out from December 10, 1997 to February 26, 1998. The level of anxiety as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate were measured before, after hand massage, and after hand-holding. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, blood sugar levels, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and natural killer cell percentages also were measured before hand massage and five minutes before the end of the operation. Data were analyzed by t-tests, ANCOVA, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni multiple comparisons. The results were as follows : 1) After hand massage, psychological anxiety levels decreased significantly compared with before hand massage in the experimental group, not in the control group. After hand holding, there were significant decrease in both groups. 2) There were not significant differences on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rates in both groups. 3) The hand massage program decreased epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol significantly in the experimental group, and increased epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol in the control group. 4) There were no differences in blood sugar levels, neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages in white blood cells after the hand massage program. However, natural killer cells in lymphocytes were significantly increased in the experimental group. These findings indicate that a hand massage program could be a effective nursing intervention in decreasing the psychological and physiological anxiety levels and improving immune function in clients having cataract surgery under local anesthesia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.612-620
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• 2022

Recent studies have revealed that probiotics and their metabolites are present under various conditions; however, the role of probiotic metabolites (i.e., postbiotics in pathological states) is controversial. Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in innate and adaptive immunity. In this study, we examined NK cell activation influenced by a postbiotics mixture in response to gut microbiome modulation in stress-induced mice. In vivo activation of NK cells increased in the postbiotics mixture treatment group in accordance with Th1/Th2 expression level. Meanwhile, the Red Ginseng treatment group, a reference group, showed very little expression of NK cell activation. Moreover, the postbiotics mixture treatment group in particular changed the gut microbiome composition. Although the exact role of the postbiotics mixture in regulating the immune system of stress-induced mice remains unclear, the postbiotics mixture-induced NK cell activation might have affected gut microbiome modulation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.341-345
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• 2000

It has been very difficult to develop and evaluate efficient fish vaccines because fish immune cells have not been properly characterized. In this study, we investigated the cell-mediated immunological properties of B- and T-like cells in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis nilotica). Surface immunoglobulin negative ($slg^{-}$) cell population proliferated in response to mammalian T-cell mitogens PHA and Con A, while surface immunoglobulin positive ($slg^{+}$) cells responded to the B-cell mitogen LPS. The slg$^{[-10]}$ cells from hemocyanin (HC)-immunized Tilapia, compared to the non-immunized control, reacted more to PHA than to Con A. Unexpectedly, antigen (Ag)-specific response was observed in both $slg^{-}$ and $slg^{-}$cells. Regardless of HC immunization, whole leukocytes from 8 head kidney of fish showed natural killer (NK)cell activity. Especially, NK cell activity was much higher in slg$^{[-10]}$ cells than in slg$^{+}$cells, indicating the possibility that fish NK cells were not at least associated with slg$^{+}$ cell population and not activated by Ag. Further understanding of functional fish immune cells will help to evaluate and develop effective vaccines for fishes and to monitor the course of therapy In infected fishes.hes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1075-1082
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this experiment is comparing the difference on natural killer cell activity through Korean red ginseng and Chinese red ginseng by $^{51}Cr$ release assay. Methods : Thirty rats were equally divided into a Korean red ginseng group, a Chinese red ginseng group and a control group. Korean and Chinese red ginseng were administrated to the rats at 200mg daily for a weak, while 0.9% normal saline was given to the control. Percent specific lysis (PSL) and lytic units (LU) were calculated from spleen cells by $^{51}Cr$ release assay. Results : Percent specific lysis of the Korean red ginseng group was significantly higher than that of the control in the ratio of 100:1, effector cell:target cell (p<0.05). Percent specific lysis of Korean red ginseng group was also significantly higher than that of the Chinese red ginseng group in the ratio of 25:1, effector cell:target cell (p<0.05). Chinese red ginseng showed no effect on NK cell activity. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Korean red ginseng improves immunologic function and shows superior effects than Chinese red ginseng.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1 s.29
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• pp.295-318
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• 1995

In order to investigate the effect of Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Sanggukeum on immune function, the author performed this experimental study. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and rosette forming cells(RFC) for cell-mediated immune response, hemagglutinin (HA) titers, hemolysin (HL) titers and plaque forming cells (PFC) for humoral immune response, immunoglogbulin (Ig G) titer, splenic natural Killer cell activity (NKCA) carbon clearance for phagocytic function of MPS(mononuclear phagocyte system) and change of weight were measured in ICR mice. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. DTH was increased with statistical significance in all of the treated group as compared with the control group. 2. RFC was increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb but in case of sanggukeum and gamisanggukeum valuable increase of RFC was not recognized as compared with the control group. 3. HA titers were increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb but in cases of Sanggukeum and Gamisanggukeum HA titers were not recognized as compared with the control group. 4. HL titers were increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb but in cases of Sanggukeum and Gamisanggukeum valuable increase of HL titer was not recognized as compared with the control group. 5. PFC was increased in all of the treated group but valuable increase of PFC was not recognized as compared with the controal group. 6. Ig G titers were increased in all of the treated group but valuable increase of Ig G titer was not recognized as compared with the control group. 7. NKCA was increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordate Thunb but in case of Sanggukeum and Gamisanggukeum valuable increase of NKCA was not recognized as compared with the control group. 8. Carbon clearance was increased with statistical significance in case of Sanggukeum but in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Gamisanggukeum valuable increase of carbon clearance was not recognized as compared with the control group. 9. Change of weight was increased with statistical significance in all of the treated group. Through in vivo experimental study in ICR mice, Houttuynia cordata Thunb enhances the cell-mediated immune responce, the humoral immune responce and natural killer cell activity. And Houttuynia cordata Thunb enhances immune responce as compared with that plused Sanggukeum. Sanggukeum enhances carbon clearance and enhances a little cell-mediated immune responce, the humoral immune response and natural killer cell activity. According to the above results it seems Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Sanggukeum was able to use Infection, Inflammation and Tumor.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the hypothesis that a highly pure linear ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan produced by Agrobacterium sp. R259 enhances human natural killer (NK) cell activity and suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In an eight-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 83 healthy adults with white blood cell counts of $4,000-8,000cells/{\mu}L$ were participated and randomly assigned to take two capsules per day containing either 350 mg ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan or placebo. Six participants withdrew their study consent or were excluded due to NK cell activity levels outside the normal range. NK cell activity and serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were measured. RESULTS: NK cell activity and the serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher from baseline to week 8 in the ${\beta}$-glucan group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.048, P = 0.029). Consumption of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan also significantly increased NK cell activity compared with placebo after adjusting for smoking and stress status (P = 0.009). In particular, the effect of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants with severe stress than in those experiencing mild stress. However, the administration ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan did not significantly modulate the levels of IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IgG compared with the placebo. CONCLUSION: The results showed that supplementation with bacterial ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan significantly increased NK cell activity without causing any adverse effects. Additionally, the beneficial effect of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants experiencing severe stress.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

for 4 h, tumoricidal activity was significantly increased. However, NSRG had effects on tumoricidal activity of macrophages at low concentration (1 ug/ml), which was not related to the production of nitric oxide. The mitogen response of lymphocytes to LPS and ConA in the spleen did not show significant differences between the control and NSRG-treated cells, whereas LPS-induced blastogenesis was slightly increased at 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ (p < 0.05). These results suggest that NSRG has differential effects on innate immune response and could be useful as immunotherapy for cancer treatment.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.30.1-30.16
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• 2024

Pregnancy represents an immunological paradox where the maternal immune system must tolerate the semi-allogeneic fetus expressing paternally-derived Ags. Accumulating evidence over decades has revealed that successful pregnancy requires the active development of robust immune tolerance mechanisms. This review outlines the multi-layered processes that establish fetomaternal tolerance, including the physical barrier of the placenta, restricted chemokine-mediated leukocyte trafficking, lack of sufficient alloantigen presentation, the presence of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and tolerogenic decidual natural killer cells, expression of immune checkpoint molecules, specific glycosylation patterns conferring immune evasion, and unique metabolic/hormonal modulations. Interestingly, many of the strategies that enable fetal tolerance parallel those employed by cancer cells to promote angiogenesis, invasion, and immune escape. As such, further elucidating the mechanistic underpinnings of fetal-maternal tolerance may reciprocally provide insights into developing novel cancer immunotherapies as well as understanding the pathogenesis of gestational complications linked to dysregulated tolerance processes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.221-246
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• 1998

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of Chungsimbohyeltang through investigation about viability of tumor cell by MTT assay, survival period of mice transplanted with L-1210 cells, growth inhibition on the tumor cell, body weight variation in mice transplanted with sarcoma-180 cells and its immunomodulatory effects through the investigation on delayed type hyper-sensitivity, the hemagglutinin and hemolysin titers for humoral immune response, the appearance of rosette forming cells for cell-mediated immune response, the natural killer cell activity, the transformation of lymphocyte, the productivity of Interleukin-2 and phagocytic index K was performed in immune-depressed ICR mice induced by methotrexate treatments. The results were as follows ; 1. $IC_{50}$ of Chungsimbohyeltang treated group was 5.85mg/ml in SNU-C4 cell, 1.38mg/ml in SNU-396 cell, 0.21mg/ml in SNU-1 cell, so it had low anti-tumor activity. 2. The both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract 10mg/kg and Chungsimbohyeltang extract 20mg/kg had no toxicity and the group of Chungsimbohyeltang 20mg/kg which was shown 120% in ILS had the effect of life prolongation in mice transplanted with L-1210 cells. 3. In the growth inhibition on the tumor cells, only the group of Chungsimbohyeltang extract 20mg/kg was noted and in the weight variation in mice transplanted with sarcoma-180 cells, both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract had a significant effect. 4. In the delayed type hypersensitivity and appearance of rosette forming cells, both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract didn't have any significant effect. 5. The hemagglutinin titers was slightly increased with no significance, and the hemolysin titers was significantly increased in the only group of Chungsimbohyeltang extract 20mg/kg. 6. The natural killer cell activity of the Chungsimbohyeltang extract groups was significantly increased in the ratio of 100:1 of effector and target cells, but it was not significantly increased in the ratio of 50:1, 10:1. 7. The transformation of lymphocyte and the productivity of Interleukin-2 were increased significantly and in dose-dependent manner in both group of Chungsimbohyeltang extract. 8. The phagocytic effect of macropage was significantly increased in both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract. Considering the results above, we could conclude that Chungsimbohyeltang have an indirect anti-tumor effect through the modulation of immunme response, although it had not toxicity on the tumor cell it self.