• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2016

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a natural fungus that has been valued as a health food and used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. The fungus is parasitic and colonizes insect larva. Naturally occurring O. sinensis thrives at high altitude in cold and grassy alpine meadows on the Himalayan mountain ranges. Wild Ophiocordyceps is becoming increasingly rare in its natural habitat, and its price limits its use in clinical practice. Therefore, the development of a standardized alternative is a great focus of research to allow the use of Ophiocordyceps as a medicine. To develop an alternative for wild Ophiocordyceps, a refined standardized extract, CBG-CS-2, was produced by artificial fermentation and extraction of the mycelial strain Paecilomyces hepiali CBG-CS-1, which originated from wild O. sinensis. In this study, we analyzed the in vitro immune-modulating effect of CBG-CS-2 on natural killer cells and B and T lymphocytes. CBG-CS-2 stimulated splenocyte proliferation and enhanced Th1-type cytokine expression in the mouse splenocytes. Importantly, in vitro CBG-CS-2 treatment enhanced the killing activity of the NK-92MI natural killer cell line. These results indicate that the mycelial culture extract prepared from Ophiocordyceps exhibits immune-modulating activity, as was observed in vivo and this suggests its possible use in the treatment of diseases caused by abnormal immune function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2014

Curcuma longa L. (CL) is a well known traditional medicinal plant that is also used in curries and mustards as a coloring and flavoring agent. However, CL is not usually used as a food source due to its bitter taste. We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of CL fermented by Aspergillus oryzae (FCL) on RAW 264.7 cells. FCL was extracted with cold water (CW), hot water (HW), 20% ethanol (20% EtOH) and 80% ethanol (80% EtOH), after which its effects on phagocytic activity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), nitric oxide (NO) production, natural killer (NK) cell activity and mRNA expression of LP-BM5 eco were investigated. Phagocytic activity was increased in HW and 20% EtOH when compared to the control. The secretion of nitric oxide (NO) from RAW 264.7 cells did not change significantly relative to the control. However, TNF-${\alpha}$ was significantly increased by the addition of FCL extracts. Moreover, FCL 20% ethanol extract showed a four fold increase in NK cell cytotoxity relative to the control group. Finally, we observed suppressed mRNA expression of LP-BM5 eco in FCL extracts, especially in the 20% ethanol extracts group. These results indicate that the FCL extracts can be used as a functional material due to their effective immunomodulating activities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.515-528
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the immunological activity and optimized the mixture conditions of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) extracts in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: S. horneri was extracted using three different methods: hot water extraction (HWE), 50% ethanol extraction (EE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ) were measured using a WST-1 assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of nitric oxide and T cell activation production were measured using a Griess assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined using an EZ-LDH kit. Results: Among the three different types of extracts, HWE showed the highest levels of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. In the animal model, three different types of extracts were administrated for 14 days (once/day) at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. HWE and SFE showed a high level of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in the with and without mitogen-treated groups, whereas EE administration did not induce the splenocyte activation. When RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with different mixtures (HWE with 5, 10, 15, 20% of SFE) to determine the optimal mixture ratio of HWE and SFE, the levels of nitric oxide and cytokine production increased strongly in the HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE containing group. In the animal model, HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE mixture administration increased the levels of splenocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and activated CD4⁺ cell population significantly, with the highest level observed in the HWE with 5% of SFE group. Moreover, the NK cell activity was increased significantly in the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture-treated group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The optimal mixture condition of S. horneri with immune-enhancing activity is the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture. These results confirmed that the extracts of S. horneri and its mixtures are potential candidate materials for immune enhancement.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.439-447
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• 2020

We investigated the immune restoration activity of Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan-rich extract in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice. C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide (CP) and orally administered with either drinking water (DW), red ginseng extract (RG), or one of three different doses of Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan-rich extract (DSU02 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg). After 14 days, liver, spleen, and whole blood were isolated from each animal. The frequencies of NK and CD³⁺, CD⁴⁺, and CD⁸⁺ T cells were significantly increased in splenocytes isolated from the DSU02 100 mg/kg and DSU02 150 mg/kg groups (NK1.1+, 5.4% or 4.9% vs 3.8%; CD³⁺, 39.3% or 37.9% vs 32.3%; CD4+, 22% or 20.2% vs 17.4%; CD8+, 12.7% or 11.6% vs 10.1%). NK cytotoxicity was enhanced in the DSU02-fed groups at all doses (CP-treated DW, 93.4%; RG, 107.2%; DSU02 50, 107.3%; DSU02 100, 107.3%; DSU02 150, 107.1%), and the proliferation of T cells (CD³⁺, CD⁴⁺, and CD⁸⁺) was also greater in the DSU02 100 mg/kg and DSU02 150 mg/kg administered groups compared with the unfed group. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IgM, and total IgG from the DSU02 150 mg/kg group were also significantly higher compared with the other groups (TNF-α: CP-treated DW - 21.5 pg/ml, DSU02 150 - 47.1 pg/ml; IgM: CP-treated DW - 82.9 ng/ml, DSU02 150 - 110.8 ng/ml; total IgG: CP-treated DW - 114.4 ng/ml, DSU02 150 - 162.7 ng/ml). We suggest that Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan-rich extract could be a promising candidate for a marine natural immune stimulator.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.252-252
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• 1996

We Investigated the peripheral excitatory effect of capsaicin and KR-25018, a newly synthesized capsaicin derivative which was demonstrated to have a potent analgesic activity. KR-25018 and capsaicin were found to be both potent efficacious contractors of isolated guinea pig bronchial smooth muscle. KR-25018 was equipotent with capsaicin and [Sar$\^$9/,Met(O$_2$)$\^$11/]-substance P, 10-fold more potent than histamine and 10-fold less potent than (${\beta}$ -Ala$\^$8/)-neurokinin A(4-10), and their -log(M)EC$\_$50/ values were 6.94${\pm}$0.08, 6.86${\pm}$0.05, 6.96${\pm}$0.07, 5.64${\pm}$0.04, 7.96${\pm}$0.02, respectively. Contractile responses to KR-25018 and capsaicin were potentiated by phosphoramidon (1 ${\mu}$M), an inhibitor of neuropeptide-inactivating endopeptidase, but completely abolished in a calcium-free medium. These responses to KR-25018 and capsaicin were unaffected by the NK-1 antagonist CP96345 (1${\mu}$M), partially inhibited by the NK-2 antagonist SR48968 (1 ${\mu}$M) but almost completely abolished by a combination of the antagonists. A vanilloid receptor antagonist capsazepine competitively antagonized the responses to both KR-25018 and capsaicin (pA$_2$: aganst KR-25018, 5.98${\pm}$0.47; against capsaicin, 5.80${\pm}$0.31), and a capsaicin-sensitive cation channel antagonist ruthenium red caused significant reduction in the maximum responses to KR-25018 and capsaicin (pD'$_2$: against KR-25018, 4.61${\pm}$0.33; against capsaicin 4.96${\pm}$0.21). In conclusion, the present results suggest that KR-25018 and cpasaicin act on the same vanilloid receptor inducing the influx of calcium through ruthenium red-sensitive cation channel and produce contractile responses via the release of tachykinins that act on both NK-1 and NK-2 receptor subtypes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3901-3905
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• 2015

Objective: Our aim was to investigation the roles of MHC class I chain-related gene A(MICA) and natural killer cell group 2D(NKG2D) in human renal cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The expression of membrane MICA (mMICA) on renal cells and NKG2D on NK cells were detected by flow cytometry (FCM); the content of sMICA were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the distribution of mMICA on renal tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry; the interaction between MICA and NKG2D was observed by antibody closed method. Results: Our results showed that the expression of mMICA in renal cancer tissues was significantly higher than in controls, where the soluble MICA was not expressed. Cytotoxic activity of NK cells was significantly reduced after exposure to NKG2D and MICA antibodies (P<0.05), and serum containing sMICA can obviously lower the function of NKG2D (P<0.05). Conclusions: The interaction of mMICA and NKG2D play important roles in mediation of cytotoxicity of NK cells in RCC. On the other hand, sMICA may mediate tumor immune escape through down- regulated NKG2D expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2010

Human tumors, including those of the hepatobiliary system, express a number of specific antigens that can be recognized by T cells, and may provide potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are rare leucocytes that are uniquely potent in their ability to capture, process and present antigens to T cells. The ability to culture sufficient numbers of DCs from human bone marrow or blood progenitors has attracted a great deal of interest in their potential utilization in human tumor vaccination. $CD34^+$ peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were obtained from a patient with a hepatocellular carcinoma. The PBSCs were cultured in the X-VIVO 20 medium supplemented with the Flt-3 Ligand (FL), GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-$\alpha$ for 12 days. The morphology and functions of the cells were examined. The generated cells had the typical morphology of DCs. When the DCs were reinjected into the same patient, an augmentation of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was observed. Concomitantly, an increase in the natural killer (NK) cell activity was also detected in the patient. These results suggest that DCs-based cancer immunotherapy may become an important treatment option for cancer patients in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 1992

The natural killer cell activity of splenocytes and TBC, active NK cells, recycling capacity of natural killer cells were observed by means of both the 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay and single cell cytotoxicity assay against YAC-1. CSH/HeJ mice were infected intranasally with $1{\times}10^4{\;}or{\;}1{\times}10^5$ trophosoites of pathogenic Acanthamoeba culbertsoni. The infected mice showed mortality rate of 34% in $1{\times}10^4$ group and 65% in 1{\times}10^5 group, and mean survival time was $16.40{\pm}3.50$ {\;}and{\;}3.20{\pm}4.09$ days respectively. The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells of the 2 groups was significantly higher than that of non-infected mice from the 12th hour to the 2nd day after infection, showing the highest on the first day. On the l0th day after infection, the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells was significantly suppressed as compared with that of the control. There was no significant difference in NK cell cytotoxicity between two infected groups. The targetbinding capacity and active NK cells of natural killer cells in $1{\times}10^5$ trophosoite infected mice was significantly increased on the 12th hour and the first day after infection as compared with the control group. Maximal recycling capacity (MRC) was not changed during the observation period. The present results indicated that the elevation of natural killer cell activity in the mice infected with A. culbertsoni was due to elevation of target.binding capacity and increased active NK cells of natural killer cells, and not due to the maximal recycling capacity of the individual NK cell, and there was no difference between two experimental dose groups.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.57-73
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• 1996

These studies were consist of two sub-experiment. In order to study the effect of Banhahubaktang on the Cell-cytotoxicity In vitro. We had put through MTT Assay. In order to investigate the effects of Banhahubaktang on the ICR mice which had Abdominal tumor induced by Sarcoma-180 cell line, C57BL/6 mice which had pulmonary melanoma induced by B16 cell line. After Sarcoma-180 cell line and B16 cell line were transplanted, the extract of Banhahubaktang was orally administered to the mice to observe the extension of survival time of the mice, inhibition of solid tumor, inhibition of pulmonary melanoma metastasis. productivity of Interleukin-2, NK-Activity. The results were summarized as follows: 1. On the MTT assay, in case of $100{\mu}g/ml$ and $10{\mu}g/ml$ of Banhahubaktang concentration were inhibited cell viability significantly. But $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Banhahubaktang was tended to inhibit cell viability with no significance. 2. In the effect of life extension, Banhahubaktang treated group appeared to survive longer than the control group, but which were not significant. 3. In the effect of inhibit solid tumor, Banhahubaktang treated group appeared to decrease than the control group, but which were not significant. 4. In the effect of inhibit melanoma pulmonary metastasis. Banhahubaktang treated group appeared to inhibit than the control group significantly. 5. In the productivity of Interleukin-2, on 7 and 14 day, Banhahubaktang treated group increased than control group, which were significant. But on 21 day, test group and control group were much in common. 6. In the NK-Activity, Banhahubaktang treated group and control group were much in common.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-42
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• 1996

In order to study the effect of Sikbuntang on the in vitro Cell-cytotoxicity, this study had put through MTT Assay. And to investigate the effects of Sikbuntang on the ICR mice which had Abdominal tumor induced by Sarcoma-180 cell line, C57Bl/6 mice which had pulmonary melanoma induced by B16 cell line. After Sarcoma-180 cell line and B16 cell line were transplanted, the extract of Sikbuntang was orally administered to the mice to observe the extension of survival time of the mice, inhibition of solid tumor, inhibition of pulmonary melanoma metastasis, productivity of Interleukin-2, NK-Activity. The results were summarized as follows : 1. On the MTT assay, in case of $100{\mu}g/ml$ and $10{\mu}g/ml$ of Sikbuntang concentration were inhibited cell viability significantly. But $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Sikbuntang concentration just had tend to inhibit cell viability. 2. In the effect of life extension, Sikbuntang treated group appeared to survive longer than the control group, but which were not significant. 3. In the effect of inhibition solid tumor, Sikbuntang treated group appeared to decrease than the control group, but which were not significant. 4. In the effect of inhibition melanoma pulmonary metastasis, Sikbuntang treated group appeared to inhibit than the control group significantly. 5. In the productivity of Interleukin-2, on 7 and 14 day, Sikbuntang treated group increased than control group significantly. But on 21 day, Sikbuntang treated group had tend to increase with no significance. 6. In the NK-Activity, the ratio of effector cell and target cell. In case which the ratio was 50:1, Sikbuntang treated group showed increase than control group significantly. But in another cases, they showed increase with no significance.