• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.423-428
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• 2000

Bacteriocins are classified as proteins which are produced by heterogeneous groups of bacteria, having and antimicrobial effect of the closely related organisms. Recently, bacteriocins derived from lactic acid bacteria and other food-related organisms have been the subject of much research on potential food biopreservatives. The goal of this study was to screen and characterize the bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria from Jeot-gal(commercial fermented fish foods). All bacteriocinogenic isolates were identified as lactic acid bacteria. Isolates NK24, NK34, and SA72 were tentatively identified as Lactobacillus brevis, according to the API 50 CHL kit database. All antimicrobial substances produced from four lactic acid bacteria isolates completely lost their antibacterial activity after being treated with some proteases, indicating to their proteinaceous nature. The bacteriocin produced from isolates NK24, NK34, and SA72 showed a broad spectrum of activity when compared to those produced from isolate SA131. All bacteriocins isolated during the course of this study showed a bactericidal mode of inhibition.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.398-403
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• 2023

Natural killer (NK) cells are an essential part of the innate immune system that helps control infections and tumors. Recent studies have shown that Vorinostat, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, can cause significant changes in gene expression and signaling pathways in NK cells. Since gene expression in eukaryotic cells is closely linked to the complex three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture, an integrative analysis of the transcriptome, histone profiling, chromatin accessibility, and 3D genome organization is needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how Vorinostat impacts transcription regulation of NK cells from a chromatin-based perspective. The results demonstrate that Vorinostat treatment reprograms the enhancer landscapes of the human NK-92 NK cell line while overall 3D genome organization remains largely stable. Moreover, we identified that the Vorinostat-induced RUNX3 acetylation is linked to the increased enhancer activity, leading to elevated expression of immune response-related genes via long-range enhancer-promoter chromatin interactions. In summary, these findings have important implications in the development of new therapies for cancer and immune-related diseases by shedding light on the mechanisms underlying Vorinostat's impact on transcriptional regulation in NK cells within the context of 3D enhancer network.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 1999

The immunomodulatory effects of levamisole (LMS) were evaluated in leucocytes of eels in vitro. Proliferation of lymhocytes treated with T-cell mitogen (Con A or PHA) was markedly inhibited by LMS in a dose dependent manner. B cell mitogen (LPS), in contrast, slightly increased the proliferaion. On the other hand, production of MIF and MAF when treated with Con A was increased in a dose-dependent way. NK cell activities were somewhat increased when LMS was pretreated and this augmentation was due to an increase in binding capacity of effector-target cell, but not due to the target cell lytic activity of effector cells. Phagocytic activity, superoxide anion formation, hydrogen peroxide formation and lysozyme activity of leucocytes were enhanced by LMS in a dose related-manner. These results suggest that LMS might modulate the immmune responses by activation of cytokine production and by augmentation of leukocyte activity but not by increment of immunocompetent cell numbers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Onion, particularly onion peel, is a quercetin-rich food with, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, the effect of onion peel extract (OPE) in humans is unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate whether OPE improves natural killer (NK) cell activity and cytokine concentration in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Eighty participants aged 19-64 yrs old with a white blood cell count of 4,000-10,000 cells/µL, symptoms of upper respiratory infection at least once within the previous 12 mon, and perceived stress scale (PSS) over 14 were included. Participants were randomly assigned to take either 1,000 mg/day OPE or a placebo for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Compliance were 87.4 ± 8.6% and 86.9 ± 79.0% in OPE and placebo groups. Compared to the placebo, OPE supplementation improved "Hoarseness" (P = 0.038) of the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS)-21 symptom, and stress scores (P = 0.001; 0.021) of PSS. Supplementation of OPE had no significant effect on NK cell activity and concentrations of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-1β, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α. At baseline, the WURSS-21 symptom and PSS score (P = 0.024; 0.026) were higher in the OPE group than the placebo group. Among participants with higher than median WURSS-21 symptom score, OPE supplementation increased NK cell activity (P = 0.038). Supplementation of OPE had no significant effects on safety measurements and adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that OPE supplementation improves NK cell activity in participants with moderate upper respiratory symptoms without any significant adverse effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2001

A kerosene fungus of Cladosporium resinae NK-1 was examined for its ability to degrade individual n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and its organic solvent-tolerance was investigated by making use of the water-organic solvent suspension culture method. It grew on a wide range of solvents of varying hydrophobicities and it was found to have tolerance to various kinds of toxic organic solvents (10%, v/v) such as n-alkanes, cyclohexane, xylene, styrene, and toluene. A hydrocarbon degradation experiment indicated that NK-1 had a greater n-alkane degrading ability compared to that of the other selected strains. C. resinae NK-1, which could utilize 8-16 carbon chain-length n-alkanes of medium chain-length as a carbon source, could not assimilate the shorter chain-length n-alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons tested so far. The n-alkane degrading enzyme activity was found in the mycelial extract of the organism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.258-267
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• 2019

Purpose: Upper respiratory tract infections are major causes of the common cold throughout the world. Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) is a well-known functional food for its anti-fatigue and immunomodulating activities. On the other hand, there are no reports on the protective effect against upper respiratory tract infections (URI). This study was a 12 week randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial in healthy volunteers. Methods: A total of 100 subjects 20 ~ 70 years of age with a history of at least two colds in the year were enrolled in the study. The participants were required to record any adverse events and rate any cold-related incidents in a diary during the investigation period. The efficacy end point was the symptoms and incidence of URI, and changes in cytokines, IgA and natural killer (NK) cell activity. Results: The Cordyceps militaris group over 12 weeks showed no significant impact on the incidence and symptomatology of URI compared to the placebo group. On the other hand, the experimental group showed significantly higher NK cell activity (p = 0.047) and IgA level (p = 0.035) compared to the placebo group. The NK-cell activity and IgA level were increased significantly by Cordyceps militaris over 12 weeks. Conclusion: The results suggest the possible beneficial immunomodulating effects, but the protective effects on URI could not be demonstrated under these conditions. Additional research will be needed to determine the efficacy and mechanisms of Cordyceps militaris function.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.345-351
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• 2009

The $\beta$-glucans derived from yeast cell walls have been reported for having many immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. In this study, Aureobasidium-derived soluble branched (1,3-1,6) $\beta$-glucan (Sophy $\beta$-glucan) was checked for natural killer (NK) activity and for the production of IFN-$\gamma$ and IL-4 in Leishmania amazonensis infection. The main experiment was performed with a group of female C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, orally supplemented with 5% of Sophy $\beta$-glucan and infected with promastogotes of L. amazonensis ($1\;{\times}\;10^7$) into the footpad. Increase in the footpad thickness with time was observed in BALB/c mice in spite of the oral Sophy $\beta$-glucan supplement, but it was less in C57BL/6 mice. The difference in overall mean footpad thickness between 'infection only' versus 'infection + glucan' groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). High NK activity in C57BL/6 than BALB/c mice was observed in 'glucan only' group compared to the control group and also in 'infection + glucan' group compared to 'infection only' group. The difference in the NK activity among these groups was significant (P < 0.05). The IFN-$\gamma$ level increased at weeks 7 and 8 post-infection in C57BL/6 mice and was significantly high in 'infection + glucan' group compared to the 'infection only' group (P < 0.05). IL-4 levels did not increase up to detectable levels throughout the study. The results led a conclusion that Sophy $\beta$-glucan enhances NK activity and cellular immunity in L. amazonensis-infected mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2020

Ganjang and doenjang are known as major fermented soy-based foods in Koreans. Current investigations have proved that fermented soybean foods impart anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-cancer activities of commercialized soy food, Ganjang, as a function of aging period. The test groups were classified into four time periods-short (under 5 years, S group), mid (under 10 years, M group), long (under 15 years, L group), and eternal (over 15 years, E group). The anti-cancer effects of Ganjang were determined by cell cytotoxicity assay of three types of cancer cell lines and splenocyte proliferation assay. Besides these assays, we also analyzed NK cell activity for cancer immunotherapy. The results show that the anti-cancer effect increased in the S and M period aging groups for all three cancer cell lines. Interestingly, similar to the anti-cancer result, splenocyte proliferation and NK activity showed the highest effect in the S and M groups. In contrast, Japanese ganjang-treated (JG1, JG2) groups and E group showed significantly reduced splenocyte proliferation. Collectively, these results suggest that the short and middle periods of traditional fermented Ganjang might have potential anti-cancer activities.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.190-198
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination program of meridian massage and foot reflexology on stress and natural killer (NK) cell activity in adults. Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental research usingone-group-pretest-posttest design. The subjects of the study were 42 adults in T city. Stress level was assessed with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, and serum cortisol level. The data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 17.0 program with descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The period of this study was from January 4 to July 11 of 2008. The program was performed three days per week, two hours per session. Results: The degrees of perceived stress were significantly different while objective stress levels were partially different between pre-and post-program. The NK cell activity did not show a significant difference between before and after the program. Conclusion: This study suggests that combination of meridian massage and foot reflexology may be an optional nursing intervention to reduce subjective and objective stress in adults.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2014

In the present study, we investigated anti-cancer effect of snake venom activated NK cells (NK-92MI) in lung cancer cell lines. We used snake venom ($4{\mu}g/ml$) treated NK-92MI cells to co-culture with lung cancer cells. There was a further decrease in cancer cell growth up to 65% and 70% in A549 and NCI-H460 cell lines respectively, whereas 30-40% was decreased in cancer cell growth by snake venom or NK-92MI alone treatment. We further found that the expression of various apoptotic proteins such as that Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 as well as the expression of various death receptor proteins like DR3, DR4 and Fas was also further increased. Moreover, consistent with cancer cell growth inhibition, the DNA binding activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ was also further inhibited after treatment of snake venom activated NK-92MI cells. Thus, the present data showed that activated NK cells could further inhibit lung cancer cell growth.