• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 2006

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), otherwise known as interferon-gamma-inducing factor (IGIF), is one of several well characterized and important cytokines that contribute to host defenses. The complementary DNA (cDNA) of mature human interleukin-18 gene (hIL-18) was fused with the signal peptide of the rice amylase 1A gene (Ramy1A) and introduced into the plant expression vector under the control of a duplicated CaMV 35S promoter. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Havana) using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. The integration of the hlL-18 gene into the genome of transgenic tobacco plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and its expression was observed in the suspension cells that were derived from the transgenic plant callus by using Northern blot analysis. The hlL-18 protein was detected in the extracts of the transgenic callus and in the medium of the transgenic tobacco suspension culture by using immunoblot analysis. Based upon enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) results, the expression level of the hlL-18 protein approximated $166{\mu}g/L$ in the suspension culture medium. Bioassay results from the induction of $interferon-{\gamma}$ from a KG-1 cell line indicated that the hlL-18 secreted into the suspension culture medium was bioactive.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2017

Objectives: The major objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among employees at a workers' compensation hospital. Methods: Among the 394 employees at Incheon Hospital, 362 were enrolled in the study. An interferon-gamma release assay(IGRA) for diagnosis of LTBI was performed using QuantiFERON$^{(R)}$ TB Gold In-Tube(QFT-IT). Risk factors for LTBI were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of LTBI was 32.0%(116/362). The non-medical departments have a significantly high prevalence compared to medical departments(39.7% vs 23.2%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, experience working in the pneumoconiosis hospital(OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-10.3) was associated with development of LTBI. Conclusions: Korean guidelines for the management of tuberculosis recommend annual regular health examinations for TB and LTBI for health care workers(HCWs). Considering the high prevalence of and risk factors for LTBI among non-HCWs, it suggests a need for annual regular health examinations for TB and LTBI for all employees at workers' compensation hospitals, including pneumoconiosis hospitals.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.143-152
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• 1999

Dansam, the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge, (Labiatae), has a bitter taste and a slightly 'cold' property, and is nontoxic. In the present study, effect of Dansam on nitric oxide (NO) generation from peritoneal macrophags was examined. Dansam had no effect on NO generation by itself, whereas recombinant interferon-${\gamma}\;(rIFN-{\gamma})$ alone had modest activity. When Dansam was used in combination with $rIFN-{\gamma}$, there was a marked cooperative induction of NO generation in a dose-dependent manner, The optimal effect of Dansam on NO generation was shown at 6 hr after treatment with $rIFN-{\gamma}$. Furthermore, the effect of Dansam was mainly dependent on Dansam-induced tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$ secretion. These results suggest that Dansam induces NO generation from macrophages by the result of Dansam-induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.244-249
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• 1999

In order to find less toxic antiviral agents from Basidiomycetes, EA, the water soluble substance, was prepared from the carpophores of Elfvingia applanata(Pers.) Karst. Antiviral activity of EA against vesicular stomatitis virus [Indiana serotype, VSV(IND)] was examined in Vero cells using plaque reduction assay in vitro. And the combined antiviral effects of EA with interferon (IFN) alpha or gamma were examined on the multiplication of VSV(IND). EA caused a concentration-dependent reduction in the plaque formation of VSV(IND) with 50% effective concentration $(EC_{50})$ of $104.02\;{\mu}g/ml$. The results of combination assay were evaluated by the combination index (CI) that was analysed by the multiple drug effect analysis. All cases of the combination of EA with IFN alpha or IFN gamma showed potent synergism with CI values of $0.38{\sim}0.52$ for $50{\sim}90%$ effective levels.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.225-232
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• 1984

Panax ginseng extract is capable of enhancing antibody plaque forming cell response and circulating antibody titre against sheep erythrocytes, cell mediated immunity against Semliki forest virus antigen and natural killer cell activity in mice. It also enhanced production of interferon of both the pH stable and labile types induced by an interferon inducer of fungal origin.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1992

Seven monoclonal antibodies were produced by fusing splenocytes from Balb/C mouse immunized with partially purified human interferon-a (HUIFN-a) with NSO plasmacytoma cells. aery were identified as five IgG class (432.22: IgG2b/n, 460.52: IgG2b/a , 548.46: IgG2a/n , 573.10: IgG2b/h , 625.12: IgG2b/n ), one IgA class (460.50: IgA/n ) and one IsM class (465.27: IgA/n ), and all of them revealed highly sensitive to HUIFN- a IgG class monoclonal antibodies have pts ranged from 8.2 to 8.6. Ascites fluids produced from primed Balb/c mice and were purified through column chromatography. The cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay to examine neutralization of HuIFU-a by IgG class monoclonal antibodies, gave that MAbs 460.52, 548.46, 573.10 can neutralize HUIFU- a arith varying degrees except 432.22. Therefore, it is deduced that these various monoclonal antibodies may recognize the distinct epitopes on HUIFN-a.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.622-630
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• 1995

Inoculation of Friend anemia virus, which was a Kind of retro virus such as HIV, results splenomegaly, anemia, the increase of WBC counts and reverse transcriptase activity in serum. These results were due to the inhibition of the differentiation of erythroid progenitor cell by the FVA at the spleen. Using these as index of antiviral effects, we pursued the establishment of in vivo screening method for the new anti-ADS drugs. Among zidovudine, didanosine and zalcitabine, which were already approved as anti-AIDS drugs, treatment of zidovudine for 18 days in BALB/c mice inoculated with Friend anemia virus resulted the most potent inhibitory effects on the splenomegaly, the increase of WBC counts and reverse transcriptase activity, but did not recovered the anemia due to the tomcity of zidovudhie itself on the bone marrow. The antiviral effects of zidovudine was reduced in case of zidovudine treatment 7 days after Friend anemia virus inoculation. These results suggested that the sooner treatment of zidovudine would be better improved when the virus was inoculated. Human recombinant interferon itself .alpha. did not showed the antiviral activity against Friend anemia virus and did not also affected the antiviral activity of zidovudine. These results suggested that Friend anemia virus would be used as a tool in vivo screening method for the Lobster of reverse transcriptase.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.557-564
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• 2001

To determine effects of zinc on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and Iymphokines in tumor-bearing ICR mice, this study has been investigated. Zinc chloride (Zn) at doses of 1 mg/kg was administered orally 30 minutes before i.p. injection of LPS (8 mg/kg) 5 times for 7 days. LPS greatly increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-1$\beta$, in both serum and splenic supernatants compared with those in controls. However Zn strongly decreased LPS-increased production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$ in spleenic supernatants compared with those in controls and insignificantly also reduced in serum. LPS insignificantly decreased IL-2 levels in spleenic supernatants compared with those in controls but significantly increased interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ levels. Zn didn't affect IL-2 production in splenic supernatants compared to controls but significantly enhanced the LPS-decreased production of IL-2. Zn significantly increased IFN-${\gamma}$ levels in splenic supernatants compared to controls and did not affect the LPS-increased production of IFN-${\gamma}$. These findings suggest that Zn may strongly attenuate the LPS-induced pathogenesis of proinflammatory cytokines in tumor-bearing state and significantly up-regulate the LPS-induced function of T cells to produce IL-2 with maintaining normally the LPS- increased levels of IFN-${\gamma}$.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 2005

A size exclusion chromatography (SEC) process, in the presence of denaturant in the refolding buffer was developed to refold recombinant human $interferon-\gamma$ ($rhIFN-\gamma$) at a high concentration. The $rhlFN-\gamma$ was overexpressed in E. coli resulting in the formation of inactive inclusion bodies (IBs). The IBs were first solubilized in 8 M urea as the denaturant, and then the refolding process performed by decreasing the urea concentration on the SEC column to suppress protein aggregation. The effects of the urea concentration, protein loading mode and column height during the refolding step were investigated. The combination of the buffer-exchange effect of SEC and a moderate urea concentration in the refolding buffer resulted in an efficient route for producing correctly folded $rhIFN-\gamma$, with protein recovery of $67.1\%$ and specific activity up to $1.2\times10^7\;IU/mg$.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.118-123
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• 1986

Time-concentration curves of recombinant human interferon alpha$(rIFN-{\alpha}A)$ in the skin and serum of nude mice or rats were studied after topical application of IFN ointment. IFN appeared in the skin and serum in less than 30 minutes and lasted for more than 10-12 hours at high concentration level after the application to nude mice at a dose of $9.0{\times}10^5\;IU/g$ mouse. But in the rats, IFN was not detected in the serum even 7 hours after the application at a dose of $6.0{\times}10^5\;IU/g$ rat. Topical application of IFN might be useful for the topical and systemic treatment if the human skin resembles that of nude mouse in respect to transport characteristics.