• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.227-232
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• 2002

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by diverse clinical manifestations and autoantibody production, which is known to be strongly influenced by genetic factors. Previous studies have revealed the associations of SLE with HLA class II alleles and antiphospholipid antibody system (anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) and anti-${\beta}_2$ glycoprotein I antibody (anti-${\beta}_2$ GPI)). Therefore, we studied the associations of HLA class II alleles with SLE and antiphospholipid antibody system. Methods: The genotyping for HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles were performed in 61 SLE patients and 100 controls by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe method. ELISA tests for aCL and anti-${\beta}_2$ GPI were performed in 39 of the 61 SLE patients. The results were evaluated statistically by Chi-square test. Results: The frequencies of the HLA-$DRB1^*15$ and $DQB1^*06$ in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in controls. HLA-$DRB1^*12$ was significantly lower in SLE patients than controls. Nine of 39 patients were positive for aCL (IgG) and three were positive for aCL (IgM). One of 39 patients were positive for anti-${\beta}_2$ GPI (IgG) and none of them positive for anti-${\beta}_2$ GPI (IgM). Association of aCL with HLA class II alleles was not observed in our study. Conclusion: According to our results, it was found that HLA-$DRB1^*15$ and $DQB1^*06$ were associated with genetic susceptiblility and $DRB1^*12$ was associated with resistance to SLE in Korean population. No Association of aCL with HLA class II alleles was observed and the positive rate for anti-${\beta}_2$ GPI was very low.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2004

Background: Anti-cardiolipin antibody (Anti-CL Ab) is one of the various antiphospholipid antibodies (Anti-PL Abs) and found in the plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), atherosclerosis, and other infectious diseases. While anti-PL Abs found in the sera of patients with infectious diseases bind directly to CL, binding of anti-PL Abs to CL circulating in the sera of patients with autoimmune diseases is mediated by $\beta_2-$glycoprotein 1 ($\beta_2-GP1$). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of <$\beta_2-GP1$ on the antigen binding assay of anti-CL Abs present in the sera of patients with atherosclerosis, which has been known as one of autoimmune diseases. Methods: ELISA was performed with sera containing anti-CL Abs from three patients with atherosclerosis in the presence or absence of $\beta_2-GP1$ or FBS. Results: Reactivity of anti-CL Abs to CL was increased in the presence of $\beta_2-GP1$ or FBS in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: <$\beta_2-GP1$ or FBS could be used as co-factor in CL ELISA with anti-CL Abs present in the sera of patients with atherosclerosis. It is suggested that anti-CL Abs found in atherosclerosis patients are similar in terms of antigen binding property to those circulating in the patients with autoimmune diseases, not to infectious diseases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.217-224
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• 2004

Previously, we reported that water-extracted Acanthopanax senticasus exhibited anti-meta-static activity by stimulating the immune system. In this study, we fractionated glycoproteins (EN-SP) from the soluble protein layer (GF-AS) of A. senticasus and determined their basic chemical properties. We also investigated the anti-tumor and immunostimulating activities of the fractionated glycoprotein, EN-SP. We found that intravenous (i.v.) administration of GF-AS dramatically inhibited metastasis of colon26-M3.1 carcinoma cells to the lung in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro analysis showed GF-AS to enhance the proliferation of splenocytes. GF-AS also stimulated peritoneal macrophage, which was followed by the production of various cytokines such as IL-1$\beta$, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-12 and IFN-${\gamma}$. Furthermore, the production of these cytokines was partially blocked when peritoneal macrophage was cultured with the polyclonal antibodies against GF-AS. The depletion of NK cells by rabbit anti-asialo GM1 serum partly abolished the inhibitory effect of GF-AS on lung metastasis of colon26-M3.1 cells. Using gel filtration, EN-SP, an active glycoprotein fraction, is isolated from GF-AS. While both GF-AS and EN-SP stimulated the proliferatation of splenocytes of normal mice, EN-SP showed higher anti-metastatic activity and more potently stimulated the proliferation of splenocytes compared to GF-AS. These results suggest the use of EN-SP, the fractionated glycoprotein from A. senticasus, can be used as a therapeutical reagent to prevent or inhibit tumor metastasis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2020

Euchrestaflavanone A (EFA) is a flavonoid found in the root bark of Cudrania tricuspidata. C. tricuspidata extract, widely used throughout Asia in traditional medicine, has been investigated phytochemically and biologically and is known to have anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. It has been reported that C. tricuspidata extract also possesses anti-platelet effects; however, the mechanism of its anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic activities is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of EFA on the modulation of platelet function using collagen-induced human platelets. Our results showed that EFA markedly inhibited platelet aggregation. Furthermore, it downregulated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (αIIb/β3)-mediated signaling events, including platelet adhesion, granule secretion, thromboxane A2 production, and clot retraction, but upregulated the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent pathway. Taken together, EFA possesses strong anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic properties and is a potential therapeutic drug candidate to prevent platelet-related thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.28-32
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• 2003

In order to search for the anti-HIV agents from natural products, eighty MeOH extracts of medicinal plants were applied to a syncytia formation inhibition assay which is based on the interaction between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120/gp41 and the cellular membrane protein CD4 of T lymphocytes. Among them, Ailanthus altissima showed a potent virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity. Repeated column chromatoghaphy of the methylene chloride fraction of A. altissima afforded compounds 1$({\beta}-sitosterol-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside)$, 2(tetramethoxycoumarin), and 3(ocotillone). Virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity of compound 3(ocotillone) was $70.76{\pm}4.09%$ at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.156-162
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• 2006

The halophilic enterobacteria, Enterobacteria cancerogenus, was isolated from the intestines of the fusiform fish (Trachurus japonicus) to yield a protein-like material termed PLM-f74. PLM-f74 was characterized by strong inhibition ratios to angiogenesis (82.8% at the concentration of $18.5{\mu}g/mL$) and elevated antioxidative capacities with low toxicity. The PLM-f74 is a glycoprotein comprised of saccharides and amino acids. PLM-f74 inhibited non-activated U937 monocytic cell adhesion to HUVECs activated with IL-$1{\beta}$ by 78.0%, and the adherence of U937 cells treated with the PLM-f74 and stimulated with IL-$1{\beta}$ to unstimulated HUVECs decreased by 102%. When both cell types were pretreated with PLM-f74, the adhesion of U937 cells to IL-$1{\beta}$ stimulated HUVECs was completely suppressed by 121% at a concentration of 18.5 ug/mL. PLM-f74 blocked signal pathways from VEGFR2, PI3K, ${\beta}$-catenin and VE-cadherin to NF-kB based on western bolt analysis. And also inhibited IL-1-stimulated HUVEC expression of the adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 by 40%, VCAM-1 by 60%, and E-selectin by 70% at the same concentration noted above. New anti-angiogenic and anti-cell adhesion materials showing elevated antioxidative capacities and non-toxicity may be expected from these results.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1544-1553
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• 2006

The halophilic enterobacteria, Enterobacteria cancerogenus, was isolated from the intestines of the fusiform fish (Trachurus japonicus) to yield a protein-like material termed PLM-f74. PLM-f74 was characterized by strong inhibition ratios to angiogenesis (82.8% at the concentration of $18.5{\mu}g/ml$) and elevated antioxidative capacities with low toxicity. The PLM-f74 is a glycoprotein comprised of saccharides and amino acids. PLM-f74 inhibited cell adhesion that non-activated U937 monocytic cell adhesion to HUVECs activated with $IL-1{\beta}$ by 78.0%, and the adherence of U937 cells treated with the PLM-f74 and stimulated with $IL-1{\beta}$ to unstimulated HUVECs decreased by 102%. When both cell types were pretreated with PLM-f74, the adhesion of U937 cells to $IL-1{\beta}$-stimulated HUVECs was completely suppressed by 121% at a concentration of $18.5{\mu}g/ml$. PLM-f74 blocked signal pathways from VEGFR2, PI3K, ${\beta}$-catenin, and VE-cadherin to NF-kB, based on western bolt analysis. It also inhibited IL-l-stimulated HUVEC expression of the adhesion molecules, ICAM-l by 40%, VCAM-l by 60%, and E-selectin by 70% at the same concentration noted above. New anti-angiogenic and anti-cell adhesion materials showing elevated antioxidative capacities, and non-toxicity may be expected from these results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.107-113
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• 1995

Basement membrane laminin is a multidomain glycoprotein that interacts with itself, heparin and cells. The distal long arm plays major cell and heparin interactive roles. The long arm consists of three subunits (A, B1, B2) joined in a coiled-coil rod attached to a terminal A chain globule (G). The globule is in turn subdivided into five subdomains (Gl-5). In order to analyze the functions of this region, recombinant G domains (rG, rAiG, rG5, rGΔ2980-3028) were expressed in Sf9 insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector. A hybrid molecule (B-rAiG), consisting of recombinant A chain(rAiG) and the authentic B chains (E8-B)was assembled in vitro. The intercalation of rAiG into E8-B chains suppressed a heparin binding activity identified in subdomain Gl-2. By the peptide napping and ligand blotting, the relative affinity of each subeomain to heparin was assigned as Gl> G2= G4> G5> G3, such that G1 bound strongly and G3 not at all. The active heparin binding site of G domain in intact laminin appears to be located in G4 and proximal G5. Cell binding was examined using fibrosarcoma Cells. Cells adhered to E8, B-rAiG, rAiG and rG, did not bind on denatured substrates, poorly bound to the mixture of E8-B and rG. Anti-${\alpha}$6 and anti-${\beta}$1 integrin subunit separately blocked cell adhesion on E8 and B-rAiG, but not on rAiG. Heparin inhibited cell adhesion on rAiG, partially on B-rAiG, and not on E8. In conclusion, 1) There are active and cryptic cell and heparin binding activities in G domain. 2) Triple-helix assembly inactivates cell and heparin binding activities and restores u6131 dependent cell binding activities.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.437-446
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• 2018

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein which is present in colostrum, milk, and other body secretions. Lactoferrin activities are associated with inflammatory and immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lactoferrin hydrolysates (LH) on the production of immunomodulatory factors such as inflammatory related cytokines (tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and interleukin (IL)-13) in Raw264.7 cells, which originated from murine macrophages. The results show that the Raw264.7 cells cultured in 3 types (whole, and above and below 10 kDa) of lactoferrin hydrolysates (LH) did not show any cytotoxicity in the cells. $TNF-{\alpha}$ decreased dose-dependently to 1,500 - 2,000 ng/mL by treatment with the 3 types of LH at 1, 50, $100{\mu}g/mL$, whereas the positive control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and negative control produced 2,450 and 1,000 ng/mL of $TNF-{\alpha}$, respectively, in the Raw264.7 cells. The treatment with the 3 types of LH (whole and above and below 10 kDa) at $50{\mu}g/mL$ produced about 20 - 28 ng/mL of $IL-1{\beta}$ at 3, 6, and 9 h, respectively, while the negative control produced 7 ng/mL, and LPS as the positive control produced 48 - 60 ng/mL. $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 expression was decreased dose-dependently by the 3 types of LH. The mRNA levels of IL-13 were slightly increased dose-dependently by the whole and above 10 kDa LH, but decreased dose-dependently by the below 10 kDa LH in the Raw264.7 cells. The results show that LH had immunomodulating effects on cytokine production in anti- and pro-inflammatory reactions as well as anti-allergic reactions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.433-441
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• 2021

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ginsenoside-Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-KRGE) is known to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects on neurological disorders. However, effects of Rg3-KRGE in EAE remain unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated whether Rg3-KRGE may improve the symptoms and pathological features of myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG)_35-55 peptide - induced chronic EAE mice through improving the integrity of the BBB. Results: Rg3-KRGE decreased EAE score and spinal demyelination. Rg3-KRGE inhibited Evan's blue dye leakage in spinal cord, suppressed increases of adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, extracellular matrix proteins fibronection, and matrix metallopeptidase-9, and prevented decreases of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-3, and claudin-5 in spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE repressed increases of proinflammatory transcripts cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but enhanced expression levels of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase-1 and IL-10 in the spinal cord following EAE induction. Rg3-KRGE inhibited the expression of oxidative stress markers (MitoSOX and 4-hydroxynonenal), the enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) and NOX4, and NADPH activity in the spinal cord of chronic EAE mice. Furthermore, apocynin, a NOX inhibitor, mimicked beneficial effects of Rg3-KRGE in chronic EAE mice. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Rg3-KRGE might alleviate behavioral symptoms and pathological features of MS by improving BBB integrity through modulation of NOX2/4 expression.