• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.597-603
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• 2008

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that induces changes in various inflammatory skin cells. The prevalence of AD is as high as 18% in some regions of the world, and is steadily rising. However, the pathophysiology of AD is poorly understood. To identify the proteins involved in AD pathogenesis, a comparative proteomic analysis of protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from AD patients and healthy donors was conducted. Significant changes were observed in the expressions of fourteen proteins, including the vinculin, PITPNB, and Filamin A proteins. Among the proteins, $\alpha$-SNAP and FLNA decreased significantly, and PITPNB increased significantly in AD patients compared with control subjects; these findings were further confirmed by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The comparative proteome data may provide a valuable clue to further understand AD pathogenesis, and several differentially regulated proteins may be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and as target proteins for the development of novel drugs.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-59
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• 2023

Purpose: The development and study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine candidates' individualized responses are of great importance. Here we report on an HCV DNA vaccine candidate based on selected envelope (E1/E2) epitopes. Besides, we assessed its expression and processing in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in vivo cellular response in mice. Materials and Methods: HCV E1/E2 DNA construct (EC) was designed. The antigen expression of EC was assayed in PBMCs of five HCV-uninfected donors via a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum samples from 20 HCV antibody-positive patients were used to detect each individual PBMCs expressed antigens via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two groups, five Swiss albino mice each, were immunized with the EC or a control construct. The absolute count of lymph nodes' CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes was assessed. Results: Donors' PBMCs showed different levels of EC expression, ranging between 0.83-2.61-fold in four donors, while donor-3 showed 34.53-fold expression. The antigens expressed in PBMCs were significantly reactive to the 20 HCV antibody repertoire (all p=0.0001). All showed comparable reactivity except for donor-3 showing the lowest reactivity level. The absolute count % of the CD4⁺ T-cell significantly increased in four of the five EC-immunized mice compared to the control group (p=0.03). No significant difference in CD8⁺ T-cells % was observed (p=0.89). Conclusion: The inter-individual variation in antigen expression and processing dominance was evident, showing independence in individuals' antigen expression and reactivity levels to antibodies. The described vaccine candidate might result in a promising natural immune response with a possibility of CD4⁺ T-cell early priming.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 1999

The immunostimulating effects of egg white derivatives (EWD) on the phagocytic response of feline peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) as well as mono- nuclear cells (MNC) were examined. The phagocytic activity was analyzed by a flow cytometry system. The EWD showed directly an enhanced effect on the phagocytic response of MNC but not PMN. The phagocytic activity of MNC was enhanced by culture supernatant from MNC and PMN treated with EWD, respectively. Similarly, the phagocytic activity of PMN was enhanced by culture supernatant from MNC but not PMN treated with EWD. It was, therefore, indicated that the enhanced phagocytic activity of feline PMN could be mainly mediated by humoral factor(s) released from MNC treated with EWD. These results suggested that EWD could enhance the phagocytosis of feline peripheral blood phagocytes.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2002

In order to assay the efficacy of newly synthesized antiviral compounds, in vitro studies of their active intracellular phosphorylated metabolites were established as compared with Zidovudine (ZDV). Antiviral base analogs require intracellular phosphorylation prior to the inhibition of HIV replication. Therefore, antiviral drugs concentrations in plasma have not reflected any direct relationship with activity or toxicity. A method has been developed to measure the concentration of total phosphorylated metabolites inside peripheral blood mononuclear cells using modified commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA). ZDV 5'-monophosphate was synthesized and used as a procedural control for RIA modification. PBMCs were isolated from whole blood and incubated with ZDV for 20 h to allow metabolic phosphorylation. Viable cells were extracted overnight with 60% methanol. After evaporation, the extract was reconstituted in Tris buffer. Samples were split into two fractions, one of which was treated with alkaline phosphatase (AP) to liberate phosphate groups. Concentrations of phosphorylated metabolites were determined by subtracting thε concentration of non-AP-treated fraction from that of the treated fraction. Recovery of phosphorylated ZDV from cell extracts was approximately 90%, and reproducibility was acceptable (coefficients of variation <15% for concentrations${\geq}$0.25 ng/mL). Intracellular concentrations $(0.135{\sim}5.019\;nmole/10^6\;cells)$ followed a nonlinear dose-response relationship over the range $0.015{\sim}2.996mM$ extracellular ZDV, with concentration-dependant saturation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2004

1,2-benzopyrone has been shown to affect on the activation and stimulation of macrophage. To examine the immunostimulating effect of 1,2-benzopyrone on the phagocytic response of canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), the phagocytic activity of phagocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry system using FITC-labelled latex. The 1,2-benzopyrone did not show any direct effect on phagocytic response of PBMC and PMN. But it showed an enhanced effect on the phagocytic response of monocyte-rich cells fractioned by cell size from dot plot profile in flowcytometric cytography of PBMC. The phagocytic activity of these cells was also enhanced by addition of culture supernatant from PBMC treated with 1,2-benzopyrone. Similarly, the phagocytic activity of PMN but not PBMC in the same procedures was enhanced by culture supernatant from PBMC treated with 1,2-benzopyrone. However, the culture supernatant from PMN treated with 1.2-benzopyrone did not show the enhancing effect on phagocytic activity for monocyte-rich cells and PMN. These results, therefore, suggested that enhanced phagocytic activity of canine peripheral blood PMN and monocytes may be mainly mediated by humoral factor(S) released from PBMC treated with 1,2-benzopyrone.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2008

Purpose: There are some reports presenting that peripheral blood contain circulating hematopoietic cells as well as, in significantly smaller quantities, mesenchymal stem cells. The purposes of this study is to isolate and characterize circulating mesenchymal progenitor cells with osteogenic potential from human peripheral blood. Methods: Human buffycoat containing mononuclear cells was harvested from peripheral blood of normal persons and isolated using a density gradient centrifugation and serially subcultured in osteogenic media for 1-4 weeks. The proliferation capability, phase-contrast microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, immunophenotype FACS analysis, Alizarin red staining and RT-PCR assays for osteogenic differentiation potential were performed. Results: The phenotype of cultured cells changed from small round or cuboidal cells at passage 1 into large spindle-shaped fibroblastic morphology cells at passage 4. Surface marker expressed CD14, but did not express CD34, CD80, CD83. Strong positive staining was observed for Alizarin reds in osteogenic medium on day 14, Using RT-PCR, the mRNA levels of bone- specific genes, such as ALP, c-bfa-1 and osteocalcin were detected. Conclusion: A new subset of peripheral blood derived progenitor cells described here has the ability to proliferate and differentiate into osteogenic cell lineages in vitro, and to be candidate for regenerative therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.35-43
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• 2009

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HRHDT), a prescription composed of four herbs, has been wi dely used in Oriental Medicine for the treatment of cerebral infarction. However, the mechanisms by which the herbal formula affects on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cerebral infarction patients remain unknown yet. Methods: The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-${\beta}1$ were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients under our experimental conditions. Results: The secretory levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly increased in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients. However, pretreatment with HRHDT significantly inhibited the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory in PBMCs. Also, HRHDT induced a significant increase of transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 in PBMCs. Conclusions: These data indicate that HRHDT may be beneficial in the suppression of inflammatory processes of cerebral infarct through suppression of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10 and induction of TGF-${\beta}1$.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.248-258
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• 2022

Objective: This research investigated the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on the implantation rate and embryo attachment in mice. Methods: In this experimental study, a DNA fragment of the HCG gene was cloned into an expression vector, which was transfected into PBMCs. The concentration of the produced HCG was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Embryo attachment was investigated on the co-cultured endometrial cells and PBMCs in vitro. As an in vivo experiment, intrauterine administration of PBMCs was done in plaque-positive female mice. Studied mice were distributed into five groups: control, embryo implantation dysfunction (EID), EID with produced HCG, EID with PBMCs, and EID with HCG-producing PBMCs. Uterine horns were excised to characterize the number of implantation sites and pregnancy rate on day 7.5 post-coitum. During an implantation window, the mRNA expression of genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: DNA fragments were cloned between the BamHI and EcoRI sites in the vector. About 465 pg/mL of HCG was produced in the transfected PBMCs. The attachment rate, pregnancy rate, and the number of implantation sites were substantially higher in the HCG-producing PBMCs group than in the other groups. Significantly elevated expression of the target genes was observed in the EID with HCG-producing PBMCs group. Conclusion: Alterations in gene expression following the intrauterine injection of HCG-producing PBMCs, could be considered a possible cause of increased embryo attachment rate, pregnancy rate, and the number of implantation sites.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

This study was to investigate the effect of Danchunwhangagam(DCWGG) extract on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from Cerebral infarction(CI) patients. Methods: We examined how the inhibition rate of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin(IL)-1$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and IL-8 productions in DCWGG pretreatment PBMCs culture supernatant in the lipopolysaccaride(LPS)- or desferrioxamine(DFX)treated cells compared to unstimulated cells. Results: DCWGG inhibited the productions of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and IL-8 induced by LPS in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: DCWGG might have regulatory effects on LPS or DFX-induced cytokine production, which might explain its beneficial effect in the treatment of CI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.279-282
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• 2003

To investigate the effect of fluoxetine, one of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), on the immune system, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were treated with fluoxetine $(10^{-7}\;M)$ for 24 h, and immune-related genes were analyzed by cDNA microarray. Expression of the immunerelated genes such as CD107b (LAMP-2), CD47 receptor (thrombospondin receptor), CD5 antigen-like (scavenger receptor cysteine rich family), copine III (CPNE3), interleukin (IL)-18 (interferon-gammainducing factor), integrin alpha 4 (CD49d), integrin alpha L subunit (CD11a), IL-3 receptor alpha subunit, L apoferritin, and small inducible cytokine subfamily A (Cys-Cys) member 13 (SCYA13) was induced by fluoxetine. This result suggests that fluoxetine may affect the immune system, and provides fundamental data for the involvement of SSRIs on immunoregulation.