• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.421-426
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• 2009

Glucocorticoids regulate multiple physiological processes such as metabolic homeostasis and immune response. Mouse Pon2 (mPon2) acts as an antioxidant to reduce cellular oxidative stress in cells. In this present study, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of mPon2 by glucocorticoids. In the presence of glucocorticoid analogue dexamethasone, the expression of mPon2 mRNA in cells was increased, whereas the expression was inhibited by a transcription inhibitor actinomycin D. Glucocorticoid receptors bound to the putative glucocorticoid response elements located between -593 bp and -575 bp of the mPon2 promoter. Transcriptional activity was completely blocked when the putative element was mutated. Taken together, these results suggest that the expression of the mPon2 gene is directly regulated by glucocorticoid-glucocorticoid receptor complexes.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.137.2-137.2
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• 2003

Dendritic cells (DCs) are known to professional antigen presenting cell (APC). Due to the role as an effective activator of cytotoxic T Lymphocytes by expressing MHC, adhesion and co-stimulatory molecules, DCs are now widely recognized to play an important role in the immune responses to tumors.We investigated the effect of cultured DCs in murine melanoma pulmonary metastasis model. To follow the metastasis protocol, syngenic melanoma cells were inoculated intra-venously into the mouse (B16F10 into the C57BL/6)8 days prior to the first DC injection (1$\times$106 DCs/ mouse, i.p.) and the autologous tumor cell lysate pulsed-DCs were injected as a therapeutic module twice in two weeks. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated in vitro immune-enhancing and anti-obesity activity of Abelmoschus manihot roots (AMR) in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells and mouse adipocytes 3T3-L1 cells. AMR increased the production of immunostimulatory factors such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in RAW264.7 cells. The inhibition of toll like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4 blocked AMR-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway reduced AMR-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors. From these results, AMR is considered to have immune-enhancing activity through TLR2/4-mediated activation of MAPKs signaling pathway. In addition, AMR inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced the protein level such as CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), perilipin-1, adiponectin and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) associated with lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, indicating that AMR may have anti-obesity activity. Based on these results, AMR is expected to be used as a potential functional agent for immune enhancement and anti-obesity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.483-489
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• 2002

APA-01, which is an aqueous extract of five Chinese herbs, is a modified formula of Huoxiang-Zhengqi-San. The effect of new herb extract on immune response was investigated. The parameter examined to assess apparent immune response of APA-01 in mice included changes of body weight, relative weight of immune organs, cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression. The body weight and relative weight of immune organs were not significantly changed among the tested groups. In the spleen cell prolijeration assay, APA-01 increased the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression, inhibited the spleen cell proliferation (IC/sub 50/: 800㎍/㎖). However, APA-01 significantly inhibited the suppression of mouse spleen cell proliferation. Therefore, it seems that APA-01 has a reducing effect of immune suppression. Immunomodulatory effect of APA-01 was further investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in mouse spleen cells. In RT-PCR test, APA-01 enhanced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. In spite of immune suppression by MTX, COX-2 mRNA was induced by co-treatment with APA-01. These results suggest that APA-01 stimulates the proliferation of spleen cells, regulates the expression of COX-2 mRNA, and accelerates the recovery of inhibition of spleen cell proliferation induced by MTX, thus providing the immunological basis for clinical benefit of APA-01.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1208-1214
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• 1997

This study was designed to know the effect of kimchi on the hematological and immunological parameters in vivo and in vitro, respectively. To study the effects of kimchi on the hematological parameters, rats(S.D., male) were divided into 4 groups and fed diets containing of 3%, 5% and 10% kimchi or kimchi free diet(control) for 6 weeks. The results of CBC(complete blood cell) tests obtained from the bloods of rates were as follows ; In 10% kimchi group, the level of WBC(white blood cells), RBC(red blood cells), Hgb(hemoglobin), Hct(hematocrit) were increased significantly than those of control group(p<0.05). MCV(mean corpuscular volume), one of the red cell indices, was also increased significantly in the animals fed 10% kimchi(p<0.05). RDW(Red cell distritution width) and PCT(plateletcrit) was lowest in 10% kimchi group(p<0.05). To examine the effects of kimchi on immune cell growth in vitro, three types of mouse immune cells-spleen cells, bone marrow cells, thymus cells-were cultured with extracts of salted Chinese cabbage, fresh kimchi and fermented kimchi(for 1 week) for 12 or 20 days. Control was supplemented with PBS(phosphate buffer saline) excluding kimchi extract. The results of spleen cell, bone marrow cell, and thymus cell cultures showed similar tendency: control medium accelerated death of cells, extracts of salted Chinese cabbage reduced the rate of cell death, and extracts of fresh kimchi and fermented kimchi promoted cell growth. From these results, it could be suggested that kimchi possibly has an effect on the hematopoietic ability and increases immune cell development and growth in vivo.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2007

Ginger(Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has long been used as a food source in Korea, and it is widely used as a dietary condiment throughout the world. The present study focused on the immunomodulative effects of ginger extracts via in vitro experiments. To identify the immune-activation fractions of the plant, we performed the systematic fractionation of ginger with methanol, hexane, chloroform, butanol and water for separation and refining. The results showed that the chloroform fraction had the highest immune cell activation properties. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts may enhance immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation as well as the cytokine production capacity of activated macrophages.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.269-288
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• 1996

Coicis Semen is one of the oriental medicine that has been used for the treatment of the diseases such as pulmonary abscess, periappendicular abscess and wart since ancient times. However, the mechanism of the action of the drug is not well studied. This study was done to investigate the effects of Coicis Semen on the host defence mechanism. Effects of Coicis Semen on the immune responses were analysed by measuring the contact hypersensitivity, hemagglutinin, hemolysin and rosette formation, cytotoxicity, and reactive oxygen intermidiates production. As the results, water extract of Coicis Semen administration enhanced the antibodies (hemagglutinin and hemolysin) formation and the appearance of rosette forming cells of the spleen. Also Coicis Semen increased the allogeneic immune response in the mouse, showed cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell line(K562) and decreased the contact hypersensitivity against dinitroflurobenzene. Also administration of Coicis Senlen slightly increased NK cell activity and enhanced the production of such reactive oxygen intermediates as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from the macrophages in vivo and in vitro. The above results demonstrate that Coicis Semen has enhancing effects on cellular and humoral immune responses against disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-84
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• 2008

Objective : The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Jasinwhalhyul-tang (Zishenhuoxue-tang, JWT) on MRL/MpJ-Ipr/Ipr mouse model with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods: The effect of JWT on MRL/MpJ-Ipr/Ipr mice that have autoimmune disease similar to SLE in humans was evaluated after JWT per oral in the present study. Mice were administered with Jasinwhalhyul-tang (Zishenhuoxue-tang, JWT) (80 or 400mg/kg) or distilled water for control group from experimental week 10 for 22 weeks. Results : The amount of erythematosus skin lesion and proteinuria were significantly decreased. The size and weight of cervical lymph nodes and spleen were significantly reduced. The ratio between activated $CD3^+CD69^+$ T-cells and undifferentiated $CD3^+CD4^-CD8^-$ T-cells in lymph nodes, spleen and kidney was effectively reduced. The gene expression of TGF-$\beta$ in spleen and kidney was increased. The amount of anti-dsDNA IgG in blood was decreased. The gene expression of TGF-$\beta$ in normal mouse spleen cells was increased depending on concentration by treatment of with T cell stimulating agent. In the histological examination of skin and kidney, the amount of infiltration of immune cells involved in the inflammatory response was decreased. Conclusions : According to the above results, JWT should be considered as an applicable therapeutic agent to SLE in clinical practice. Further research is required to investigate other efficacies of JWT on SLE.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.490-503
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• 2010

This study was carried out to know the effects of Gwanjul9-bang (hereinafter reffered to GJ9) on the inhibition of arthritis induced by collagen on DBA/1J mouse. For this purpose, GJ9 was orally administered to mouse with arthritis induced by collagen II. Cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, arthritis index, value of immunocyte in draining lymph node and paw joint, rheumatoid factor (IgG, IgM) in serum were measured in vivo. The cytotoxicity against hFCs was not measured in any concentration. The hepatotoxicity was low in GJ9 treated group compared with MTX group. The arthritis index was decreased significantly. In total cell counts of DLN and paw joint, the cells in DLN increased significantly while there was significantly decrease in paw joint. In lymph nodes, $CD19^+$, $CD3^+$, $CD4^+$, $CD3^+CD69^+$, $CD8^+$, $CD4^+CD25^+$, $CD3^+CD49b^+$, $CD4^+CD44^+$, $CD3^+CD8^+$ cells increased significantly, $B220^+CD23^+$cells decreased significantly. In joints, $CD3^+$, $CD4^+$, $CD4^+CD25^+$, $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$ cells decreased significantly. The levels of IgG and IgM was significantly decreased compared with control. Anti-collagen II in serum was significantly decreased compared with control. The degree of arthritis induced damage of joint of GJ9 group is slight compared with control group in histopathologic observation (Hematoxylin & Eosin, Masson's Trichrome). Comparison of the results for this study showed that GJ9 had immunomodulatory effects. So we expect that GJ9 should be used as a effective drugs for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also another auto-immune disease. Therefore we have to survey continuously in looking for the effective substance and mechanism in the future.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 2003

In order to study the clinical usefulness of crude polysaccharides fractionated from Eleutherococcus senticosus, EN-3, in eliminating tumors, we have investigated the effect of combination therapy on the murine tumor metastasis and growth models. In experimental metastasis of colon26-M3.1 cells, prophylactic intravenous (i.v.) administration of EN-3 (0.5, 5, and 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse) inhibited tumor metastasis compared with tumor control group in 33.6, 66.8, and 81.8％ respectively. The administration of EN-3 (50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse) also exhibited a 66.1％ therapeutic effect on lung tumor metastasis. Although EN-3 induced no toxic effect on both tumor cell and normal splenocyte in the concentration below 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mι in in vitro, it induced significant proliferating activity on normal splenocyte in the concentration-dependent manner. In an analysis of NK-cell activity, i.v. administration of EN-3 (4∼100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse) significantly augmented NK cytotoxicity to YAC-1 tumor cells. The combination treatments of cisplatin (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$) and EN-3 (5 $\mu\textrm{g}$) induced synergistic effect on the inhibition of tumor metastasis in experimental tumor metastasis model produced by colon26-M3.1 cells. In addition, the combination treatments also exhibited prolongation of lifespan in S∼180 tumor bearing mouse for over the 60 days. Even though cisplatin (2.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mι) exhibited cytotoxicity to tumor cells and inhibited tumor growth over 95％ in in vitro, combination treatment with EN-3 (20 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mι) was induced splenocyte proliferation and produced cytokines, such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1 and IL-12, from the macrophages. These results suggested that EN-3 stimulate immune system non-specifically and apply to the biological response modifiers (BRM) in chemo-immunotherapy for tumor prevention.