• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.169-173
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• 2009

Ginsan, a Panax ginseng polysaccharide that contains glucopyranoside and fructofuranoside, has immunomodulatory effects. Although several biologic studies of ginsan have been performed, its effects on dendritic cells (DCs), which are antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, have not been studied. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of ginsan on DCs. Ginsan had little effect on DC viability, even when used at high concentrations. Ginsan markedly increased the levels of production by DCs of IL-12 and TNF-${\alpha}$, as measured by ELISA. To examine the maturation-inducing activity of ginsan, we measured the surface expression levels of the maturation markers MHC class II and CD86 (B7.2) on DCs. It is interesting that ginsan profoundly enhanced the expression of CD86 on DC surfaces, whereas it increased that of MHC class II only marginally. In $^3H$-thymidine incorporation assays, ginsan-treated DCs stimulated significantly higher proliferation of allogeneic $CD4^+$ T lymphocytes than did medium-treated DCs. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ginsan stimulates DCs by inducing maturation. Because DCs are critical antigen-presenting cells in immune responses, this study provides valuable information on the activities of ginsan.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.246-257
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• 1998

Endocrine cells in the thymus of duck(Anas platyrhynchos platyrhyncos, Linne) were studied immunohistochemically from 23 days of incubation to 32 weeks of age. Somatostatin-, growth hormone(GH)-, gastrin/cholecystokinin(Gas/CCK)-, polypeptide YY(PYY)-, S-100 protein(S-100 P)-, dopamine-, serotonin(5-HT)-, and bovine chromogranin (BCG)-immunoreactive cells were detected in the duck thymus by the PAP techniques. These immunoreactive cells were observed in the medulla and in the juxtacortical medulla. No immunoreactivity of calcitonin and bovine pancreatic polypeptide(BPP) antiserum were observed. The argyrophil cells by Grimelius techniques were observed from 23 days of incubation to 32 weeks of age and peaked in 5 weeks of age. In the early develpmental stage, the argyrophil cells were distributed only in the medulla, while these cells were distributed mainly in the medulla and a few cells were distributed in the corticomedullary junction from 3 weeks of age. These immunoreactive cells were generally round, oval and elliptical and occasionally spindle, polygonal and polymorphous with the long cytopslasmic processes in shape. The present study suggests that the intrathymic endocrine cells may associate with the functional maturation of T-lymphocytes on the establishment of immunity. The further study will be needed to elucidate the function of these thymic endocrine cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1681-1685
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• 2013

Background: Head and neck SCC is a common cancer related to various factors. IL-10, a pleiotropic cytokine produced by macrophages, T-helper-2 cells, and B lymphocytes, is thought to play a potential pathogenetic or therapeutic role in a number of human conditions, such as inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the relation between tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of IL-10 in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) and their correlation with clinicopathologic features. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected from 30 patients with HNSCCs and 24 healthy volunteers. IHC analysis was used to examine the tissue expression and ELISA was employed to measure serum and salivary levels. Results: Our study showed tissue expression of IL-10 to be significantily higher in patients (P: 0.001), but there was no relation between tissue expression, serum and salivary levels of the marker (P>0.05). Also except for a positive correlation between tissue expression of IL-10 and stage (P: 0.044), there was no relation between this marker and clinicopathologic features. There was no correlation between serum and salivary levels in either patients or controls. Conclusions: It seems there is no correlation between level of IL-10 in serum and saliva and this marker in saliva and serum does not reflect tissue expression.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.247-251
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• 2005

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are CD3 (-) CD14 (-) CD56 (+) lymphocytes. They play an important role in the body's innate immune response. They can induce spontaneous killing of cancer cells or virus-infected cells via the Fas/Fas ligand or the granzyme/perforin systems. The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is an important regulator for the body's stress response. It promotes proliferation and migration of various cancer cells through the CRH type 1 receptor under stress, and also inhibits NK or T cell activity. However, the relationship of CRH and NK cell migration to the target has not been confirmed. Herein, we study the effect of CRH on NK cell migration. Methods: We used the human NK cell line, NK-92MI, and tested the expression of CRH receptor type 1 on NK-92MI by RT-PCR. This was to examine the effect of CRH on tumor and NK cell migration, thus NK cells (NK-92MI) were incubated with or without CRH and then each CRH treated cell's migration ability compared to that of the CRH untreated group. Results: We confirmed that CRH receptor type 1 is expressed in NK-92MI. CRH can decrease NK cell migration in a time-/dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These data suggest CRH can inhibit NK cell migration to target cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2004

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites which cause infection by invading and replicating within cells. The immune system has mechanisms which can attack the virus in extracellular and intracellular phase of life cycle, and which involve both non-specific and specific effectors. The survival of viruses depends on the survival of their hosts, and therefore the immune system and viruses have evolved together. Immune responses to viral infection may be variable depending on the site of infection, the mechanism of cell-to-cell spread of virus, physiology of the host, host genetic variation, and environmental condition. Viral infection of cells directly stimulates the production of interferons and they induce antiviral state in the surrounding cells. Complement system is also involved in the elimination of viruses and establishes the first line of defence with other non-specific immunity. During the course of viral infection, antibody is most effective at an early stage, especially before the virus enters its target cells. The virus- specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes are the principal effector cells in clearing established viral infections. But many viruses have resistant mechanism to host immune responses in every step of viral infection to cells. Some viruses have immune evasion mechanism and establish latency or persistency indefinitely. Furthermore antibodies to some viruses can enhance the disease by the second infection. Immune responses to viral infection are very different from those to bacterial infection.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2006

The immunomodulatory effect of a new herbal preparation, HemoHIM, on the recovery from leukopenia induced by cyclophosphamide treatment was investigated. The HemoHIM was made up with an addition of the ethanol-insoluble fraction to the total water extract of Angelica Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma and Paeonia Radix. Daily oral administration of 100 mg/kg BW or 500 mg/kg BW HemoHIM accelerated the recovery from cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenia. HemoHIM increased the number of leukocytes and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood when compared with the cyclophosphamide-treated control. Moreover, the suppressed natural killer (NK) cell activity and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ secretion in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice were restored by the administration of HemoHIM. HemoHIM significantly reduced the abnormally heightened ratio of interleukin $(IL)-4/IFN-{\gamma}$ and immunoglobulin (Ig)E/IgG2a in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice. These results suggest that HemoHIM accelerates the recovery from leukopenia and alleviates the imbalanced T helper (Th)l/Th2 responses in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice. Additionally, HemoHIM was found to stimulate normal splenocytes to secrete not only Thl type cytokines such as $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-2, but also Th2 type cytokine IL-4. In conclusion, our results show that HemoHIM certainly has an influence on the balanced recovery of immune cells and the activation of their activities in the cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3703-3708
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• 2015

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with colorectal, lung, gastric cancer, pancreatic and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We here evaluated whether preoperative NLR is an independent prognostic factor for non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: Data from 327 patients who underwent curative or palliative nephrectomy were evaluated retrospectively. In preoperative blood routine examination, neutrophils and lymphocytes were obtained. The predictive value of NLR for non-metastatic RCC was analyzed. Results: The NLR of 327 patients was $2.72{\pm}2.25$. NLR <1.7 and NLR ${\geq}1.7$ were classified as low and high NLR groups, respectively. Chi-square test showed that the preoperative NLR was significantly correlated with the tumor size (P=0.025), but not with the histological subtype (P=0.095)and the pT stage (P=0.283). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Effects of NLR on OS (P=0.007) and DFS (P=0.011) were significant. To evaluate the independent prognostic significance of NLR, multivariate COX regression models were applied and identified increased NLR as an independent prognostic factor for OS (P=0.015), and DFS (P=0.019). Conclusions: Regarding patient survival, an increased NLR represented an independent risk factor, which might reflect a higher risk for severe cardiovascular and other comorbidities. An elevated blood NLR may be a biomarker of poor OS and DFS in patients with non-metastatic RCC.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.865-877
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• 1999

Hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes are lymphoid organs which share morphologic and functional characteristics of lymph nodes and spleens. Hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes are normally present in Korean native goats. Hemal nodes bad extensive subcapsular and deep sinuses distended by a great number of erythrocytes, and no typical cortex and medulla were observed. Blood vessels commonly occurred, but lymph vessel was not observed in the hemal node. Hemolymph nodes had distinct cortex and medulla, and also had afferent and efferent lymph vessels. The aim of the present study was to obtain new information on the distinct morphological structures of hemal nodes and hemolymph nodes according to ages, and have the basic data for their functions. Goats are divided into 5 groups, consisting of 3 animals aged 1, 3, 6, 10, and 12 months. The morphological studies of the organs were carried out by gross anatomy, light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. During aging, there was an increase in the size of the organs, while there were no significant changes of their numbers, locations and colors. As the goat got older, the lymphatic nodules of hemal nodes were more developed, and the number of macrophage containing phagocytosed erythrocytes was more increased. As the goat was younger, the lymphatic tissues of hemolymph nodes were less developed. There was no difference in distribution of T- and B- lymphocytes according to ages.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3681-3686
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• 2014

In this study, we demonstrated selenium (Se) accumulation in Bifidobacterium longum strain (B. longum) and evaluated the effect of Se-enriched B. longum (Se-B. longum) on tumor growth and immune function in tumor-bearing mice. Analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) revealed that more than 99% of Se in Se-B. longum was organic, the main component of which was selenomethionine (SeMet). In the in vivo experiments, tumor-bearing mice (n=8) were orally administrated with different doses of Se-B. longum alone or combined with cyclophosphamide (CTX). The results showed that the middle and high dose of Se-B. longum significantly inhibited tumor growth. When Se-B. longum and CTX were combined, the antitumor effect was significantly enhanced and the survival time of tumor-bearing mice (n=12) was prolonged. Furthermore, compared with CTX alone, the combination of Se-B. longum and CTX stimulated the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and T lymphocytes, increasing the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and the leukocyte count of H22 tumor-bearing mice (n=12).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3601-3604
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• 2016

Background: The monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) is a potent chemoattractant for natural killer cells, monocytes, and memory T lymphocytes. However, any role in the genesis of salivary gland tumors (SGT) is unknown. To assess the diagnostic relevance of chemokines in SGT, MCP-1 levels in the serum of patients were investigated in association with tumor progression and clinical aggressiveness. Materials and Methods: Using an ELISA kit, we assessed and compared the circulating levels of MCP-1 in blood serum of 70 SGT patients with 44 healthy control samples. Results: The results of this study showed that the concentration of MCP-1 was significantly lower in patients with benign ($463.8{\pm}158.5pg/ml$, P=0.033) and malignant ($454.8{\pm}190.4pg/ml$, P=0.007) SGT than in healthy subjects ($645.7{\pm}338.9$). No significant difference in mean serum levels of MCP-1 was observed between the benign and malignant group (p=0.9). While MCP-1 levels were lower in patients with an advanced clinical stage, advanced tumor size, higher tumor grade, or lymph node involvement, but the mean MCP-1 level between groups showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusions: MCP-1 levels in the serum of patients with SGT were decreased, indicating that this might a good marker for discriminating patients with SGT from healthy people. However, no clear-cut relationship was detected between MCP-1 levels and clinicopathologic factors, and MCP-1 is not a good marker for evaluating tumor dissemination.