• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.251-261
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• 2019

Allergic asthma, is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airway presenting with airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodelling. T helper cells-derived cytokines are critically associated with asthma pathogenesis. Janus kinase-signal transduction and activation of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling is found to be involved in asthma. Magnolol is a plant-derived bioactive compound with several pharmacological effects. The study aimed to assess the effects of magnolol in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic model. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA. Magnolol (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg body weight) was administered to separate groups of animals. Dexamethasone was used as the positive control. Cellular infiltration into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were reduced on magnolol treatment. The levels of Th2 and Th17 cytokines were reduced with noticeably raised levels of interferon gamma. Lung function was improved effectively along with restoration of bronchial tissue architecture. OVA-specific immunoglobulin E levels in serum and BALF were decreased by magnolol. Magnolol reduced Th17 cell population and effectively modulated the JAK-STAT and Notch 1 signaling. The results suggest the promising use of magnolol in therapy for allergic asthma.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.420-427
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• 2011

The use of lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) is effective for preventing and curing immune disorders by activating the immune system in the digestive tract and the consequent immune response in the blood. In this study, LAB and mixed LABs were used in an atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model. Alleviation of AD was observed based on the change in cytokine level and immunohistochemical staining. An ex vivo test showed that immunoglobulin-E and interleukin (IL)-4 levels were significantly lower in all groups treated with LAB than in the group treated with only 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Results of an in vivo test based on the ex vivo results showed that the scratch score decreased in all groups treated with the LAB and particularly decreased in the group treated with mixed LABs. Additionally, the T helper (Th) 1 cytokines interferon-gamma and IL-12p40 were upregulated by the LAB and mixed-LABs, whereas levels of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 were downregulated in a mouse model of AD-like skin lesions. Furthermore, hematoxylin & eosin and immunohistochemical staining of the dorsal area of the mice in each group showed that AD improved in the LAB-treated groups. These results suggest that LAB and mixed LABs inhibit the development of AD in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the Th2 cell response and increasing the Th1 cell response. Our results indicate that mixed LABs are better than LAB for treating AD-like skin lesions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.229-239
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• 2022

The high percentage of Vermamoeba was found in tap water in Korea. This study investigated whether Vermamoeba induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. We selected 2 free-living amoebas (FLAs) isolated from tap water, which included Korean FLA 5 (KFA5; Vermamoeba vermiformis) and 21 (an homolog of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2). We axenically cultured KFA5 and KFA21. We applied approximately 1×10⁶ to mice's nasal passages 6 times and investigated their pathogenicity. The airway resistance value was significantly increased after KFA5 and KFA21 treatments. The eosinophil recruitment and goblet cell hyperplasia were concomitantly observed in bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue in mice infected with KFA5 and KFA21. These infections also activated the Th2-related interleukin 25, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokines gene expression in mouse lung epithelial cells. The CD4⁺ interleukin 4⁺ cell population was increased in the lung, and the secretion of Th2-, Th17-, and Th1-associated cytokines were upregulated during KFA5 and KFA21 infection in the spleen, lung-draining lymph nodes, and BAL fluid. The pathogenicity (allergenicity) of KFA5 and KFA21 might not have drastically changed during the long-term in vitro culture. Our results suggested that Vermamoeba could elicit allergic airway inflammation and may be an airway allergen.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.469-476
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• 2016

This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of dead nano-sized Lactobacillus plantarum (nLp) in RAW 264.7 cells and murine primary splenocytes. nLp is a dead, shrunken, processed form of L. plantarum nF1 isolated from kimchi (a traditional Korean fermented cabbage) and is less than 1 μm in size. It was found that nLp treatment stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production more in RAW 264.7 macrophages than pure live L. plantarum (pLp), and that the stimulatory properties were probably largely derived from its cell wall. In addition, nLp induced murine splenocyte proliferation more so than pLp; in particular, a high dose of nLp (1.0 × 10¹¹ CFU/ml) stimulated proliferation as much as lipopolysaccharide at 2 μg/ml. Moreover, according to our cytokine profile results in splenocytes, nLp treatment promoted Th1 (TNF-α, IL-12 p70) responses rather than Th2 (IL-4, IL-5) responses and also increased Th17 (IL-6, IL-17A) responses. Thus, nLp stimulated NO release in RAW 264.7 cells and induced splenocyte proliferation more so than pLp and stimulated Th1 and Th17 cytokine production. These findings suggested that dead nLp has potential use as a functional food ingredient to improve the immune response, and especially as a means of inducing Th1/Th17 immune responses.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.1-15
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• 1993

The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of Woogyuyem on serum reaction and hepatic tissue in Cyclosporin A treated rats. In this study, the experimental rats divided two group(Control group and Sample group). Under the same condition, both control group and sample group were injected to abdomen with Cyclosporin A for 7days. And then, control group were administered water, sample group were administered Woogy-uyeum for 300days. The change of transaminase and bile acid and SOD activity in blood serum, hepatic tissue were measured at 3rd, 7th, 15th, 30th day. The obtained results are summarised as follows : 1. In the change of SGOT contents, as compared with control group, sample group was significantly decreased at 7th and 15th day. 2. In the. change of SGPT contents, as compared with control group, sample group was significantly decreased at 15th day. 3. In the change of serum bile acid contents, as compared with control group, sample group was significantly decreased at 7th and 15th day. 4. In the change of serum SOD activity, as compared with control group, sample group was significantly increased at 15th and 30th day. 5. In the change of hepatic tissue, as compared with control group, the vacuolation of hepatocytes in the sample group was reduced, the liver plates were reconstructed, and the epitheriai cell wasn't destructed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.583-588
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• 2013

To determine alteration of immune responses during visceral larva migrans (VLM) caused by Toxascaris leonina at several time points, we experimentally infected mice with embryonated eggs of T. leonina and measured T-helper (Th) cell-related serial cytokine production after infection. At day 5 post infection (PI), most larvae were detected from the lungs, spleen, intestine, and muscle. Expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and CCL11 (eotaxin) showed a significant increase in most infected organs, except the intestine. However, expression of the CXCL1 (Gro-${\alpha}$) gene was most highly enhanced in the intestine at day 14 PI. Th1-related cytokine secretion of splenocytes showed increases at day 28 PI, and the level showed a decrease at day 42 PI. Th2-related cytokine secretion of splenocytes also showed an increase after infection; in particular, IL-5 level showed a significant increase at day 14 PI, and the level showed a decrease at day 28 PI. However, levels of Th17-related cytokines, IL-6 and IL-17A, showed gradual increases until day 42 PI. In conclusion, Th1, Th2, and Th17-related cytokine production might be important in immune responses against T. leonina VLM in experimental mice.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.102-116
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• 1990

To investigate the ultrastructural features of rat back skin tumor induced by 7, 12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene(DMBA), morphological changes during carcinogenesis were undertaken by the light and the electron microscopes. On the light microscopic levels, dysplasia was observed at the 6th week of treatment with 0.5% DMBA, hyperplasia at the 8th week, and carcinoma in sitv or invasive carcinoma at the 12th week. In addition to those characteristics, papillomatosis was observed at the 18th week. Under the electron microscopy, intercellular spaces were enlarged in the early phase. Nucleolar enlargement, the increase of free ribosomes, the condensation of tonofibrils, and the irregular arrangement of desmosomes appeared at the 6th week of application. Thereafter, the degradation of desmosomes and the discontinuity of basal lamina were characterized. And then, epidermal cell processes were protruded toward the connective tissue at the site of discontinuity of basal lamina at the 12th week. At the 14th to 18th week, DMBA-induced fibrosarcomas or papillomas were observed.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.215-224
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• 2009

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by typically distributed eczematous skin lesion with pruritus, lichenification and dry skin. In this study, we performed to assess the therapeutic effects of co-treatment of Chenilyeomgamibang (CGB) and Chenggihaedok-san (CHS, C&C) on the TNCB(trinitrochlorobenzene)-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice, characterized by the onset of atopic dermatitis along with an increase the number of inflammatory cells and dysregulation of Th2 cytokines. Methods : Defined amount of CGB was sprayed on mice skin and CHS was simultaneously orally administrated to TNCB treated NC/Nga mice for 5 weeks. The immune cell types were caracterized by flow cytometry using each specific antibody. The amount of Th2 cytokines in serum and splenocytes culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. Results : Administration of C&C significantly reduced clinical dermatitis severity including pruritus, edema, eczematous and erythema. Histological findings indicated that the thickening of epidermis/dermis and dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells were dramatically reduced. Flow cytometry analysis showed that infiltrated immune cell numbers of CCR3+, B220+/IgE+, Gr-1+/CD11b+, and CD117+ were significantly reduced in C&C-treated dorsal skin lesion. Furthermore, T cell composition rate in PBMC was also dramatically decreased by the treatment. C&C greatly down-regulated production of Th2 cytokines including IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the serum. The down- regulatory effects of C&C on these Th2 cytokines production were also detected in CD3/ CD28 activated splenocytes. Conclusions : These results indicated that C&C is a plausible therapeutic agent for treatment of atopic dermatitis through regulating the Th2 skewed immune system.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2003

The effects of additions/deletions in glycosylated residues of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) produced in CHO-K1 on their secretion were examined. hEPO cDNA was amplified from human liver mRNA and cloned into the pCR2.1 TOPO. Using overlapping-extension site-directed mutagenesis method, glycosylation sites at 24th, 38th, 83rd, and 126th were respectively or accumulatively removed by substituting its asparagine (or serine) with glutamine. To add novel glycosylation sites, 69 and 105th leucine was mutated to asparagine. Mutant and wild type rhEPO constructs were cloned into the pcDNA3 expression vector with CMV promoter and transfected into CHO cell line, CHO-K1, to produce mutant rhEPO mutant rhEPO proteins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and Western analysis with monoclonal anti-EPO antibody were performed using supernatants of the cultures showing transient and stable expressions respectively. Addition of novel glycosylation reduced rhEPO secretion dramatically while deletion mutants had little effect except some double deletion mutants ($\Delta$24/83 and $\Delta$38/83) and triple mutant ($\Delta$24/38/83). This fact suggests that not single but combination of changes in glycosyl groups affect secretion of rhEPO in cell culture, possibly via changes in their conformations.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.324-331
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• 2012

The domestic pine was used to investigate the change of specific gravity, moisture contents, color and anatomical structure by accelerated weathering test (AWT). According to visual inspection, a few knot separation and looseness as well as considerable surface discoloration was found out. However, the crack and split of surface texture have been never occurred till the last step of AWT. On the whole, as the time of accelerated weathering test has increased, the specific gravity has decreased. Finally, after the 9th week of AWT, the specific gravity was 0.38 that reached to 82% compared to the control specimen. In case of moisture content (MC), it showed rising trend in its early stages, however, after 3th week of AWT it have displayed steady state. A deterioration of cell-wall components was not remarkably observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), however the ray fractures of AWT specimen were observed more than those of control specimen. The full fracture of epithelial cell around resin canal was observed by optical microscope. The fracture of ray of 2th cycle AWT specimen was first, followed by 1th week and control group. A distortion of tracheid for early spring wood and fracture of epithelial cell were generally observed by a similar level, regardless of duration time of AWT. Therefore, it is obvious that increasing duration time of AWT does not affect the deterioration of micro-structure for wood members from this study. Although a considerable change of anatomical properties was not found, there is a need of further research to understand how will the changes of specific gravity and MC on the physical properties of wood member.