• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2001

Some of endocrine disruptors with sexual hormone-like effects have been increasingly reported to be immunotoxic in many species in recent several years. Phthalate esters have possible effects on the endocrine system. Prenatal exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) has been reported to impair the androgen-dependent development of the male reproductive tract in rat. Therefore, the immunomodulatory effect of DBP was investigated in the developing immune system of fetal and neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Timed-bred pregnant SD rats were given to the doses of 0, 250, 500, and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$ body weight /day by gavage once a day from gestational day (GD) 5 to 18. On GD19 or GD22/postnatal day one (PD1), the dams were euthanized, and the changes in organ weights and thymus phenotypes were examined for their offsprings. At 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day in maternal exposure group, GD19 fetuses showed decreases in body weight. The spleen/body weight ratios were reduced in GD 19 fetuses from the dams exposed to 500 and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day. There were no significant changes in thymus and spleen cellularities though these cellularities showed a tendency to decrease in a dose dependent way. In the DBP-exsposed GD22/PD1 offsprings, the body weights, the relative organ weights and the cellularities did not exhibit alteration. Additionally, the percentages of CD3$^{+}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) and CD3$^{-}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) thymocyte subsets were not changed in any DBP-treated group. The proliferative responses of splenic T cells to Con A and B cells to LPS were decreased in all DBP-exposed GD22/PD1 offsprings.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.926-935
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• 2015

The efficiency of genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) depends on power of detection for quantitative trait loci (QTL) and precision for QTL mapping. In this study, three different strategies for GWAS were applied to detect QTL for carcass quality traits in the Korean cattle, Hanwoo; a linkage disequilibrium single locus regression method (LDRM), a combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis (LDLA) and a $BayesC{\pi}$ approach. The phenotypes of 486 steers were collected for weaning weight (WWT), yearling weight (YWT), carcass weight (CWT), backfat thickness (BFT), longissimus dorsi muscle area, and marbling score (Marb). Also the genotype data for the steers and their sires were scored with the Illumina bovine 50K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips. For the two former GWAS methods, threshold values were set at false discovery rate <0.01 on a chromosome-wide level, while a cut-off threshold value was set in the latter model, such that the top five windows, each of which comprised 10 adjacent SNPs, were chosen with significant variation for the phenotype. Four major additive QTL from these three methods had high concordance found in 64.1 to 64.9Mb for Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 7 for WWT, 24.3 to 25.4Mb for BTA14 for CWT, 0.5 to 1.5Mb for BTA6 for BFT and 26.3 to 33.4Mb for BTA29 for BFT. Several candidate genes (i.e. glutamate receptor, ionotropic, ampa 1 [GRIA1], family with sequence similarity 110, member B [FAM110B], and thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box [TOX]) may be identified close to these QTL. Our result suggests that the use of different linkage disequilibrium mapping approaches can provide more reliable chromosome regions to further pinpoint DNA makers or causative genes in these regions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 1997

It is becoming increasingly clear that the inflammatory reaction can be ascribed to a complex array of mediators generated and released from activated phagocytes. In this study, the effect of PAF on interleukin-1(IL-1) activity by rat alveolar macrophages(AM) was examined using thymocyte proliferation assay in the supernate of sample obtained after 24 hr culture. When AM were cultured with PAF alone, no change in IL-1 activity was observed. However, the combined addition of PAF and muramyl dipeptide(MDP) or lipopolysaccharide(LPS) to AM cultures markedly enhanced IL-1 activity by 2-3 fold compared with AM cultures with the stimulant alone in a concentration dependent fashion. The peack effect was found at $10^{-8}$ M PAF with MDP and $10^{-14}$ M PAF with LPS. the effect of PAF was also tested in silica, toxic respirable dust, -added AM cultures as well as in the cultures containing bacterial compounds. Although silica did not stimulate the IL-1 activity, PAF could enhance IL-1 activity by 2 fold above the value of the silica-treated AM cultures with the peak response at $10^{-12}$ M PAF. Optimal enhancement of IL-1 activity occured when MDP and PAF were present together at the initiation of the 24 hr AM cultures. Additionaly, the biologically inactive precursor/metabolite of PAF, lyso-PAF failed to induce enhancement of IL-1 activity. When the specific, but structurally different PAF receptor antagonists, BN 52021($10^{-5}$ M) and CV 3988($10^{-5}$ M) was treated 15 min before addition of PAF($10^{-8}$ M) and MDP$(10\;{\mu}g/ml)$ to the AM cultures, it markedly inhibited the enhancement of IL-1 activity induced by PAF. The effects of these PAF antagonists were also observed in LPS$(10\;{\mu}g/ml)$-stimulated cells. Collectively, these data suggest that PAF enhances IL-1 activity by interaction with a specific receptor.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1994

Effects of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) on the thymus and peripheral lymphocytes of Nile tilapia. Oreochromis niloticus were examined. Young fish (5-7g) were injected into intraperitonial cavity with various dose of dexamethasone (DEX) or hydrocortisone (HC). Histology of thymus and thymocyte counts in treated fish were compared to normal ones. The results showed that in vivo adminstration of DEX or HC induced weight loss of thymus and reduction of thymocytes, and both of these were dose and time dependent. In vivo treatment of thymocytes with 10 mM DEX or 10 mM HC for 12hrs caused DNA fragmentation. Both drugs could split the DNA into fragments of about 180-200 base paire multiples. There was no change in granulocytes of peripheral blood due to the treatment of DEX or HC with various length of time. In contrast, treatment of DEX or HC for 2-3 days decresed number of peripheral lymphocytes. The results indicate that the thymocytes and circulating lymphocytes would respond to GCS depending on several factors, such as nature of the hormone, dose, and duration of treatment.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.386-396
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• 1995

Interieukin 1${\beta}$ is a potent bone resorptive cytokine which mediates soft tissue destruction through the stimulatidn of prostaglandin production and the induction of collagenase. This constellation of activities suggests a role of IL-1${\beta}$ in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of herbal extracts on production and activity of IL-1${\beta}$. When LPS was added to cultured human blood monocytes, the effects of herbal extracts on the production of IL-1${\beta}$ was evaluate by thymocyte stimulation assay. When rHuIL-1${\beta}$ was added to cultured human gingival fibroblasts, the effects of herbal extracts on production of $PGE_2$ was evaluated by ELISA and when it was added to cultured mouse calvaria, the effects on bone resorption was estimated by .$^{45}Ca$-release bone resorption assay. The herbal extracts that had been used in this study were as follows; Asparagi Radix, Schzandrae Fractus, Zizyphi Fractus and Rhois Galla. The following results were obtained from this study. 1. All these extracts effectively inhibited the production of IL-1${\beta}$ on cultured human blood monocytes. 2. All these extracts effectively inibited the production of $PGE_2$ on cultured human gingival fibroblasts. 3. All these extracts did not effectively inhibit the bone resorption induced by rHulL-1${\beta}$ on cultured mouse calvaria.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1202-1206
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• 2008

The present investigation demonstrates HLA-DR and PGP9.5 double positive cells accumulate thymus cortical region in normal baboon thymus and baboon lung. But, these cells disappeared in thymus and lung of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) animals. 125d GC animal model is more suitable for BPD than 140d GC animal. Anti-bombesin antibody, 2A11 treated baboon recover normal level of HLA-DR positive cells from BPD animal. In addition, thymocytes show responsiveness for bombesin. These observation suggest that blocking BLPs protects a chronic lung injury by BPD and 2A11 is possible agent for passive therapy of BPD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.518-522
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• 2007

The cortex and root of Acnthopanax sessiliflorus, a herbal medicine, have been used for several diseases including cancer in Oriental countries. In the previous study, we showed that the cortex of this plant have anti-cancer activity. But its therapeutic efficacy of CORTEX ACANTHOPANAX RADICIS (CAR) is not clarified. For these reasons, we investigated immuno-potentiating and anti-cancer properties of CAR compared with CA, in terms of body and tumor weights, proliferation of thymocytes and tumor cells, and nitric oxide production from macrophages through in vitro and in vivo studies. In our results, administration of CAR reduced tumor mass and increased body weights. CAR also inhibited proliferation of tumor cells in vivo and in vitro dose-dependently. Thymocyte proliferation was accelerated by treatment with CAR and NO production was also promoted by CAR in vivo and vitro. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CAR is useful to treat for cancer as complementary or alternative medicine to Western medication, its therapeutic efficacy is involved in direct inhibition of tumor growth and immuno-potentiating activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 1986

Ginseng saponin had an effect on the proliferation and viability of cultured murine thymocytes. When the thymocytes were cultured in various concentrations of ginseng saponin, the number of thymocytes increased at $10^{-5}$% ginseng saponin but decreased at $10^{-5}$%. There was little change in the number of thymocytes when cultured in IL 2(Interleukin 2), a factor known for its influence on the proliferation and maturation of thymocytes. When the thymocytes were cultured in various concentrations of IL 2 with $10^{-5}$% ginseng saponin, the number of total cells increased at 1.5% or 3% IL 2 when cultured for 9 hours, or at 6% IL 2 for 12, 24, or 48 hours. But there was little change in the number of viable cells. In vitro, ginseng saponin had an effect on the activity of ADA(Adenosine Deaminase), an enzyme known to affect the production of IL 2. There was a 25% increase in the activity of ADA in the presence of $10^{-5}$% ginseng saponin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1995

Alveolar macrophages play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of silicosis since the macrophages may release a wide variety of toxic and inflammatory mediators as well as mitogenic growth factors. In the present study, the effects of in vitro exposure to silica on release of various mediator such as reactive oxygen species, platelet activating factor(PAF), and interleukin-1 (IL-1) by alveolar macrophages were examined. First, hydrogen peroxide release from alveolar macrophages was monitored by measuring the change in fluorescence of scopoletin in the absence or presence of graded concentration of silica. Significantly enhanced release of hydrogen peroxide was observed at 0.5 mg/ml and above. A maximal enhancement of 10 fold above control was observed at 5 mg/ml silica. Similarly, in vitro exposure to silica also significantly stimulated the generation of chemiluminescence from alveolar macrophages at 0.5 mg/ml and above with n maximal enhancement of 8 fold at 5 mg/ml silica. Second, PAF release from alveolar macrophages after 30 min incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ in absence or presence of zymosan and silica was determined by measuring $^{3}H-serotonin$ release ability of the conditioned macrophage supernates from platelets. 5 mg/ml zymosan as a positive control fur the PAF assay increased PAF release by 19 % of total serotonin release. Furthermore, silica also resulted in significant enhancement of the PAF release compared with that in unstimulated (control) cells, i.e., $17.7{\pm}5.8%$ and $24.0{\pm}4.9%$ of total serotonin release at 5 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml silica, respectively, which represents the release of nanomole levels of PAF. Lastly, IL-1 production by alveolar macrophages was analysed following their stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and silica by their capacity to stimulate thymocyte proliferation. $10\;{\mu}g/ml$ LPS resulted in an 11 fold increase in IL-1 production. In comparison, $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ silica resulted in a 4 fold increase in IL-1 release. These data indicate that in vitro exposure of alveolar macrophages to silica activates the release of various bioactive mediators such as reactive oxygen species, PAF and IL-1 which thus contribute to amplification of inflammatory reactions and regulation of fibrotic responses by the lung after inhalation of silica.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.736-740
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• 2007

Acanthopanax sessiliflorus SEEM extracts(AS) have been used to treat patient with diseases including cancer in Oriental countries. Recently, AS was known to have anti-cancer and immuno-stimulating activites. For these reasons, we investigated the effects of AS following gamma-ray irradiation on cytotoxicity for solid tumor cell line (S-180) and immune-potentiating ability such as proliferation of thymocytes and splenocytes. Finally we also investigated tumor weight and survival rate in tumor bearing mice. In our results, Treatment with AS suppressed proliferation of solid tumor cells (S-180) effectively. Treatment with AS accelerated thymocyte and splenocyte proliferation in tumor bearing mice. In addition, Treatment with AS reduced tumor weight and prolonged life of tumor bearing mice. In conclusion, we demonstrate that AS following gamma-ray irradiation is useful to treat patients with cancer, and also demonstrate that AS have both direct cytotoxic ability for cancer cells and indirect immune-stimulating action for thymocytes and splenocytes.