• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.265-271
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• 2014

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a potent anti-apoptotic cytokine that enhances immune effector cell functions and is essential for lymphocyte survival. While it known to induce differentiation and proliferation in some haematological malignancies, including certain types of leukaemias and lymphomas, little is known about its role in solid tumours, including breast cancer. In the current study, we investigated whether IL-7 could enhance the in vivo antitumor activity of tumor-reactive $CD8^+$ T cells with induction of IFN-${\gamma}$ in a murine breast cancer model. Human IL-7 cDNA was constructed into the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1, and then the recombinational pcDNA3.1-IL-7 was intratumorally injected in the TM40D BALB/C mouse graft model. Serum and intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ levels were measured by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. $CD8^+$ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity was analyzed using the MTT method. Our results showed that IL-7 administration significantly inhibited tumor growth from day 15 after direct intratumoral injection of pcDNA3.1-IL-7. The anti-tumor effect correlated with a marked increase in the level of IFN-${\gamma}$ and breast cancer cells-specific CTL cytotoxicity. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that IL-7-treatment could augment cytolytic activity of $CD8^+$ T cells from tumor bearing mice, while anti-IFN-${\gamma}$ blocked the function of $CD8^+$ T cells, suggesting that IFN-${\gamma}$ mediated the cytolytic activity of $CD8^+$ T cells. Furthermore, in vivo neutralization of $CD8^+$ T lymphocytes by CD8 antibodies reversed the antitumor benefit of IL-7. Thus, we demonstrated that IL-7 exerts anti-tumor activity mainly through activating $CD8^+$ T cells and stimulating them to secrete IFN-${\gamma}$ in a murine breast tumor model. Based on these results, our study points to a potential novel way to treat breast cancer and may have important implications for clinical immunotherapy.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.1636-1648
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• 2006

There are detailed descriptions of the clinical experiences and prescriptions of asthma in traditional Korean medicine. Zedoariae rhizoma is one of the Korean herbal medicines used to treat bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis for centuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of this medication are still far from clear, In this study, a house-dust-mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [Der p])-sensitized murine model of asthma was used to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of Zedoariae rhizoma on the allergen-induced airway inflammation in asthma. Three different protocols were designed to evaluate the treatment and/or long-term prophylacitic effect of Zedoariae rhizoma in Der p-sensitized mice. Cellular infiltration and T-cell subsets in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)of allergen-challenged mice were analyzed. Intrapulmonary lymphocytes were also isolated to evaluate their response to allergen stimulation. When Zedoariae rhizoma was administered to the sensitized mice before AC (groups A and C), it suppressed airway inflammation by decreasing the number of total cells and eosinophil infiltration in the BALF, and downregulated the allergen- or mitogen-induced intrapulmonary lymphocyte response of sensitized mice as compared to those of controls. This immunomodulatory effect of Zedoariae rhizoma may be exerted through the regulation of T-cell subsets by elevation or activation of the CD8+ and double-negative T-cell population in the lung. However, the administration of Zedoariae rhizoma to sensitized mice 24 h after AC (group B) did not have the same inhibitory effect on the airway inflammation as Zedoariae rhizoma given before AC. Thus, the administration of Zedoariae rhizoma before AC has the immunomodulatory effect of reducing bronchial inflammation in the allergen-sensitized mice. On the other hand, to determine the potentiality of prophylactic and/or therapeutic approaches using a traditional herbal medicine, Zedoariae rhizoma, for the control of allergic disease, we examined the effects of oral administration of Zedoariae rhizoma on a murine model of asthma allergic responses. When oral administration of Zedoariae rhizoma was begun at the induction phase immediately after OVA sensitization, eosinophilia and Th2-type cytokine production in the airway were reduced in OVA-sensitized mice following OVA inhalation. These results suggest that the oral administration of Zedoariae rhizoma dichotomously modulates allergic inflammation in murine model for asthma, thus offering a different approach for the treatment of allergic disorders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.324-330
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• 1998

We Previously reported that Polysaccharide Isolated from panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, stimulates murine splenocytes to proliferate and to be cytotoxic against a wide range of tumor cells in MHC non-restricted manner:) Therefore, we examined the cytokine mRNA expression induced by the ginseng polysaccharide in this paper. This study demonstrates that the ginseng polysaccharide stimulates Thl type cytosine expression such as IL-2 and IFNY, and macrophage type cytokine expression such as IL-lc and GM-CSF in a dose-dependent manner at different time: IL-2 mRNA was induced at 30 min, IL-la, GM-CSF mRNA at 3 hr, IFNY at 6 hr after the ginseng polysaccharide treatment. In contrast with these, Th2 type cytokine expression such as IL-4 and IL-5 was not induced. The generation of the ginseng polysaccharide-activated killer cells which was induced at the optimal doses of 50 pEyml was neutralized in the presence of anti-lL-2, anti-lFNy, anti-IL-l ${\alpha}$ antibodies, showing the importance of these cytokines produced by the ginseng polysaccharide. In flow cytometry analysis, the blastogenesis of IgM+ cells was induced on day 3 and the number of Thy 1.21 cells, CD4+ and CD8+ cells was increased on day 5. The ginseng polysaccharide also induced blastogenesis of T cells. In conclusion, the ginseng polysaccharide may have considerable antitumor immunotherapeutic modality by stimulating the cytokine production from Thl cells and macrophage and by proliferating lymphocytes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2000

To assess the relationship between the changes of cellular components and the production of Th 1 cytokine in the immune tissue, inbred C57BL/6 mice were orally infected with 40 cysts of 76K strain of Toxoplosma gondii. The sequential change of cell differentials and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of splenocytes were analyzed by Diff-Quik stain and RT-PCR. There were no significant proportional changes of cellular components of splenocytes until day 4 postinfection (Pl) as compared to those of day 0, and the relative percentage of macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased significantly (p<0.01) thereafter. The expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA of $CD3^{-}$ cells was observed from day 1 Pl at a low level. However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of $CD3^{+}$ cells increased significantly from day 4 Pl (p<0.01) which progressively increased thereafter. These findings provide the relative percentages of granulocytes and macrophages were increased in conjunction with increase of total number of splenocytes after oral infection with T. gondii in the susceptible murine hosts, and lymphocytes were the major cellular components and the important source of $IFN-{\gamma}$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.272-277
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• 1997

In the purification of elaiophylin from a culture of Streptomyces hygroscopicus MCY -846, mono- and di-methyl-elaiophylin were obtained through a O-methylation of the hemiketal hydroxy group of elaiophylin. All the three elaiophylins showed cytotoxicity against several human tumor cell lines and murine cell lines. Elaiophylin and monomethyl-elaiophylin also showed antimicrobial activities against gram-positive bacteria and potent inhibitory effects on the activation of B cells by lipopolysaccharide as well as on the proliferation of mouse splenic lymphocytes stimulated by mitogens but dimethyl-elaiophylin did not. This result indicates that elaiophylin and monomethyl-elaiophylin would be strong immunosuppressants. Furthermore this result revealed an interesting structure-activity relationship suggesting that the lack of symmetry and/or the free OH group at C-11 of elaiophylin might be important in conferring biological activities.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.306-312
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• 1997

We attempted to isolate and characterize the lectins from stem and leaves of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) by affinity chromatography. Lectin I was isolated only from stem. Lectin II was not isolated from Korean mistletoe, whereas lectin III was isolated from the stem and leaves. The hemagglutinating activity of lectin I was 16HU and inhibited by D-galactose, lactose, and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. The lectin I has molecular weight of 60, 000D being composed of two basic subunits with molecular weights of 32, 000D and 28, 000D which are linked by a disufide bond. The lectin III from stem has molecular weight of 66, 000D being two basic subunits which have molecular weights of 34, 000D and 29, 000D and are linked by a disufide bond. The activity of lectin I was stable at the pH range of 4.00-8.50 and at a wide range of temperature (0-42.deg. C). The lectin I showed more potent mitogenic activity to murine lymphocytes than concanavalin A.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.415-422
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• 2013

Gamma irradiation (${\gamma}IR$) is widely used for radiotherapy as a treatment of cancer cells although it has a risk to damage normal cells. Inflammation is regarded as one of side effects of ${\gamma}IR$ while the effect of low dose of ${\gamma}IR$ on inflammation has not been researched well. Here, we investigated the inflammatory responses of low dose of ${\gamma}IR$ on murine spleen cells. It was evaluated if ${\gamma}IR$ affected the mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, the regulation of various inflammatory cytokines (IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-17, IL-4, IL-10), and the involvement of Ikaros and MAPK/NF-${\kappa}B$ medicated mechanism. Exposure of $^{137}Cs-{\gamma}IR$ below 2 Gy decreased the lymphocytes proliferative response to mitogens (LPS, ConA) except at the lowest dose, 0.05 Gy. IL-17, IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA increased at 0.5 and 2 Gy, but not altered at 0.05 Gy. IL-10, anti-inflammatory cytokine, increased only at 0.05 Gy. In regard to intracellular signaling, p-JNK, p-p38 and p-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were not changed, whereas the activation of ERK and Ikaros increased at the lowest dose. These results suggest that exposure of ${\gamma}IR$ less than 0.5 Gy (or below 0.05 Gy) has beneficial effects as a radiation hormesis on immune function.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.39-45
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• 2008

Background: Down regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator (CIITA) has been identified as a major factor of immunosuppression in sepsis and the level of CIITA expression inversely correlates with the degree of severity. However, it has not been fully elucidated whether the lower expression of CIITA is a cause of disease process or a just associated sign. Here we determined whether the CIITA deficiency decreased survival rate using murine sepsis model. Methods: Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) deficient, CIITA deficient and wild type B6 mice were subjected to cecal ligation puncture (CLP) surgery. CIITA and recombination activation gene (RAG)-1 double deficient mice were generated to test the role of lymphocytes in CIITA-associated sepsis progression. Results: Sepsis mortality was enhanced in CIITA deficient mice, not by impaired bacterial clearance resulted from CD4 T cell depletion, but hyper-inflammatory response such as excessive release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that CIITA deficiency affects the course of sepsis via the unexpected function of CIITA, regulation of cytokine release.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.172-178
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• 2004

To investigated the effects of Kwibi-tang water extract (KBT) on the non-specific immune response in C57BL/6 mice stressed by immobilization, we evaluated the changes in the contents of serum histamine and corticosterone and the phagocytic activity of macrophages. The level of serum histamine and corticosterone was determined with spectrofluorometer. The cell viability was determined by a MTT assay method. The subpolpulation of lymphocytes was determined by a flow cytometry. The phagocytic activity was determined with luminometer. KBT decreased the serum level of histamine and corticosterone increased by immobilization stress. Also, KBT enhanced the phagocytic activity and decreased the level of nitric oxde in murine peritoneal macrophages decreased by immobilization stress. These results indicate that KBT may be useful for the prevention and treatment of stress via suppression of serum histamine and corticosterone level and enhancement of the non-specific immune response.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.343-350
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• 2005

Gamma radiation causes suppression of the immune function, and immune properties are related to cytokine production. In the present study, the polysaccharide, Ginsan, purified from an ethanol-insoluble fraction of Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Araliaceae) water extract was studied to assess its effects on the immunosuppressive activities of gamma radiation. Gin­san was found to stimulate murine normal splenocytes by inducing the mRNA expressions of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines, and also restore the mRNA expression of IFN-$/gamma$, Th1 cytokine, after its inhibition by whole-body gamma irradiation. Therefore, Ginsan was found to restore the T lymphocytes function that had been suppressed by gamma irradiation in allogenic MLR (mixed lymphocyte reactions). However, Ginsan exhibited no excessive stimulatory effects on the control group. The above results indicated that Ginsan may constitute a new noble agent for the improvement of gamma radiation-induced immunosuppression.