• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1127-1131
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• 2018

Cortisol, a steroid hormone, functions within metabolism, immune response, and stress. Intense or prolonged physical exercise increases cortisol levels to enhance the gluconeogenesis pathway and stabilize blood glucose level. However, cortisol also exerts a negative impact on muscle function and creates a stressful environment in skeletal muscle cells. The present study investigated the function of cortisol as a stress hormone. To examine the effect of the exercise-induced hormone cortisol on skeletal muscles, C2C12 cells were cultured and treated with cortisol at different concentrations. As a result, we found that the morphology of C2C12 changed remarkably with 5 ug/ml cortisol treatment. Western blot analysis was conducted to learn whether ER-stress and autophagy were induced. We found that the expression ratio of LC3I/LC3II decreased and BiP expression increased after cortisol treatment. In addition, immunocytochemistry analysis with IER3 antibody clearly showed that apoptosis is induced after 12-hour cortisol treatment. These results indicate that cortisol treatment could induce apoptosis, ER-stress, and autophagy in muscle cells. This study would provide valuable information in the study of the effects of exercise on skeletal muscle cells and the development of additives to reduce cortisol stress.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2006

Background: Germanium compounds are increased to use in nutrient foods and medicines in terms of antibiotics to microbes, anticancer, modulation of immune system and neutralizing heavy metal toxins. Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast, containing stable organic germanium and bound to the yeast protein was developed by Geranti Pharm. LTD. and the modulation effect in the immune system was examined in vivo and in vitro. Methods: The compound, Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast, was fed to female Balb/c mice (each group has 10 mice) for 4 weeks and the yeast powder and steamed red ginseng powder were used as control during the same feeding time points. During 4 weeks there was no symptom to be considered, and after 4 weeks feeding all mice were sacrificed to check the changes of related immune cells and subsidiary responses (i.e. cell counting, FACS, MTT, LDH, PFC assay). Results: In pre-post comparison, B cell population was increased in the group of Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast in a dose dependent manner (100 to 800 mg/kg). However, the population of T cell, dendritic cell and macrophage was not comparably changed in all doses. The ability of cytokine production and proliferation was almost same level as shown in control group. In contrast, PFC assay informed that the compound increase the antibody production ability when fed over 200 mg/kg implying that the increase of PFC number might be due to the increase of B cells. Conclusion: Over the entire study, we concluded that the compound, Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast has better potential in immune response in terms of B cell proliferation than that of positive control, red ginseng, and the compound can be one of the future candidates for a new supplementary source improving immune system activity.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2007

Background: The term "overlap syndromes" designates a group of diseases in which polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) is associated with some other disorders of connective tissues. The aim of this study was to delineate the clinical features, laboratory findings, and outcome of treatment of "overlap syndromes" Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 16 patients (PM in 10, DM in 6) with well documented "overlap syndromes" between 1997 and 2004. The diagnosis was made when the criteria for two different disorders were fulfilled. Results: All patients were female. Age of onset ranged from 14 to 52 years (mean 29.8 years) with peak incidence in the third and fourth decades. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was associated in 10, systemic sclerosis in 7, and rheumatoid arthritis in 3 patients. Four of the patients had two different connective tissue diseases simultaneously. The characteristic clinical features were muscle weakness, arthralgia, Raynaud's phenomenon, and myalgia. In laboratory tests, creatine kinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and transaminases were usually abnormal. Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF), and cryoglobulin were found in 100%, 69%, and 67% of the patients, respectively. Needle electromyography (EMG) showed abnormal findings compatible with myopathy in 15 patients. The pathology of muscle biopsy from 14 patients revealed findings compatible with inflammatory myopathy. Glucocorticoids were administered to 15 patients. The muscle strength improved in all the treated patients, which was well correlated with repeat CK level and EMG findings. Conclusions: The presence of autoantibodies such as ANA, RF, and cryoglobulin in patients with PM or DM highly suggests the possibility of an overlap syndromes. These syndromes reveal a strong female predominance. The myositis associated with them usually shows a good response to glucocorticoids treatment.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.672-681
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• 2015

Edwardsiellosis has become a serious diseases problem in cultured eels for many years. This study was performed to investigate possibility of vaccination against edwardsiellosis caused by Edwardsiella tarda. We conducted a immersion and/or oral vaccination using formalin-killed E. tarda in eel Anguilla japonica. Three groups of fish ($26.8{\pm}1.2g$, $7.1{\pm}0.7g$ and $2.2{\pm}0.4g$) were used in this study. The protection (relative percentage survival, RPS) and serum antibody response (agglutination titer) were evaluated in the vaccinated fish. No correlation between agglutination titer and survival rate was observed in vaccinated fish. However, there was a satisfactory protective (RPS>50%) in vaccinated fish. Immersion (10 mg/mL, 1 hr) and immersion (10 mg/mL, 1 hr) plus oral (10 mg/g, 10 days) of $26.8{\pm}1.2g$, immersion (10 mg/mL, 1 hr) plus oral (10 mg/g, 10 days) of $7.1{\pm}0.7g$ showed RPS of 62.6%, 52.2% and 56.8%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.273-278
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• 2006

Effects of dietary fat and tomato on immune functions were investigated using BALB/c mice. Sixty male BALB/c mice weighing 16-17g were divided into two dietary groups. Control group was fed experimental chow (AIN-76 purified diet) supplemented with saturated fat (beef tallow) and unsaturated fat (safflower oil) at 5% level (weight basis), while treatment group was fed chow added with 0.5% (dry matter basis) of tomato (moisture content 95%) for 10 weeks. Organ weights, delayed-type hypersensitivity test, plaque-forming cell test, agglutination test, differential white cell count, and histological examination were performed at 4th, 7th, and 10th week after dietary treatment. Weight of spleen and spleen index of tomato group increased with increasing experimental period. Thymus index of tomato group was significantly higher than that of control group at 7 and 10 weeks (p<0.05). In delayed hypersensitivity test at 4th, 7th, and 10th week after dietary treatment, tomato group showed more significant increase in footpad swelling reaction 24 hr after challenge than control group (p<0.05). In plaque-forming cell test, tomato group fed 7 weeks increased more significantly than control group, while no significant difference was found between two groups at 10 weeks. Agglutination test decreased with increasing experimental period; tomato group at 10 weeks was higher than control group in antibody response to SRBC. In tomato group, Iympocyte percentage was slightly higher than that of control group, and spleen tissue showed active immune reaction caused by severe proliferation of white pulp.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 1990

The immune responses of commercial layer chickens against Newcastle disease (ND) were compared among different administration methods and times of vaccination during 4 weeks of age. A total of 372 day-old chickens were devided into 4 groups of 93 birds each. Each of 3 groups was received a commercially available B$_1$ live vaccine via drinking water, eye instillation or spray method at one, 14 and 28 days of age. One group was used as an unvaccinated control. At two and 4 weeks after each time of vaccination, 15 birds from each group were challenged with virulent ND virus at the dose of 10$^{5}$ EID$_{50}$ per bird to examine the pretection rate. Ten to 15 birds from each group were bled at two weeks intervals from day old to 8 weeks of age to determine hemagglutination inhibition antibody titer. The protection rate was generally low regardless of the times of vaccination although two or more times vaccination gave higher protection than once vaccination. The low protection was considered due to low titer of the vaccine used since the vaccine titer was less than 10$^{2.5}$ EID$_{50}$ per bird. Spray method gave better protection compared to eye instillation of drinking water method which resulted in lowest response. When birds were challenged majority showed clinical signs on ND between 3 and 6 days after challenge. Death occured one or two days after onset of symptoms. Major clinical signs observed were depression (96%), drowsy(90%), anorexia (84%), diarrhoea (29%), difficult breath (15%) and torticollis (10%). Hemorrhagic lesions on post mortem were seen in duodenum (51%), trachea(36%), illeum (13%), ceacal tonsil (11%), proventriculus (10%) and some other organs. When birds were challenged majority showed clinical signs on ND between 3 and 6 days after challenge. Death occured one or two days after onset of symptoms. Major clinical signs observed were depression (96%), drowsy(90%), anorexia (84%), diarrhoea (29%), difficult breath (15%) and torticollis (10%). Hemorrhagic lesions on post mortem were seen in duodenum (51%), trachea(35%), illeum (13%), ceacal tonsil (11%), proventriculus (10%) and some other organs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1998

A Czonorchis sinensis-specific antigen in excretory-secretory product of C. sinensis (CsE) was assessed in human clonorchiasis by immunoblot. Thirty and 7 kDa antigens of CsE2, one of four different batches of CsEs reacted strongly with infection sera from clonorchiasis patients; however, the antigens reacted weakly with 6-month post- treatment sera from praziquantel-cured cases, but were still highly detected by the sera from praziquantel∼failed patients, indicating that the 30 and 7 kDa antigens can detect antibodies during an active infection. The 30 kDa antigen showed some cross reactions with sera from patients with Pcragonimus westemani and Metcfonimw vokogcujci, while the 7 kDa antigen did not, suggesting that the 7 kDa antigen has high specificity. The 30 kDa antigen reacted with some past clonorchiasis sera, whereas the 7 kDa antigen did not, supporting that antibodies to the 7 kDa antigen are not present in sera from past clonorchiasis patients. In an endemic area, 92% (23/25) of active clonorchiasis patients and 91% (10/11) of mixed infection patients with C. sinensis and M. Wokosawai had IgG antibodies to the 7 kDa antigen, while 40% (6/15) of past clonorchiasis individuals and 43% (3/7) of metagonimiasis patients cross-reacted to the antigen. These data suggest that the 7 kDa antigen in an excretory-secretory antigen may serve as a marker of an active clonorchiasis with reliable specificities in past clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis and metagonimiasis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1165-1176
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• 2019

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), produced by Clostridium botulinum, are the most toxic substances known. However, the number of currently approved medical countermeasures for these toxins is very limited. Therefore, studies on therapeutic antitoxins are essential to prepare for toxin-related emergencies. Currently, more than 10,000 Halla horses, a crossbreed between the native Jeju and Thoroughbred horses, are being raised in Jeju Island of Korea. They can be used for equine antitoxin experiments and production of hyperimmune serum against BoNT/A1. Instead of the inactivated BoNT/A1 toxoid, Halla horse was immunized with the receptor-binding domain present in the C-terminus of heavy chain of BoNT/A1 (BoNT/A1-HCR) expressed in Escherichia coli. The anti-BoNT/A1-HCR antibody titer increased rapidly by week 4, and this level was maintained for several weeks after boosting immunization. Notably, $20{\mu}l$ of the week-24 BoNT/A1-HCR(-immunized) equine serum showed an in vitro neutralizing activity of over 8 international units (IU) of a reference equine antitoxin. Furthermore, $20{\mu}l$ of equine serum and $100{\mu}g$ of purified equine $F(ab^{\prime})_2$ showed 100% neutralization of 10,000 $LD_{50}$ in vivo. The results of this study shall contribute towards optimizing antitoxin production for BoNT/A1, which is essential for emergency preparedness and response.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

Leaves of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai are used in folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic properties. To ensure efficient utilization of S. quelpaertensis leaf, we previously reported a preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) using the leaf residue, which was produced after hot water extraction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the hypouricemic potential of S. quelpaertensis leaf PRE in potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemic mice. The administration of PRE significantly reduced serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine levels and increased urine UA and creatinine levels in the PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. It also reduced liver UA levels and xanthine oxidase (XA) activity. A histological analysis revealed that PRE administration protected against PO-induced liver damage, pointing to anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. We analyzed the transcriptome response to PRE administration in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in kidney tissues. The administration of PRE mainly enriched genes involved in mediating immune and inflammatory responses and the metabolic pathway. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the metabolic pathway, purine metabolism, and antibody biosynthesis were the major pathways altered in the PRE and PO groups. These results suggest a potential role for PRE in the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia with inflammation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.160-170
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• 2019

The lactic acid bacteria species Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) has been used extensively for vaccine delivery. Considering to the critical role of dendritic cells in stimulating host immune response, in this study, we constructed a novel CD11c-targeting L. plantarum strain with surface-displayed variable fragments of anti-CD11c, single-chain antibody (scFv-CD11c). The newly designed L. plantarum strain, named 409-aCD11c, could adhere and invade more efficiently to bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) in vitro due to the specific interaction between scFv-CD11c and CD11c located on the surface of BMDCs. After incubation with BMDCs, the 409-aCD11c strain harboring a eukaryotic vector pValac-GFP could lead to more efficient expression of GFP compared with wild-type strains shown by flow cytometry analysis, indicating the enhanced translocation of pValac-GFP from L. plantarum to BMDCs. Similar results were also observed in an in vivo study, which showed that oral administration resulted in efficient expression of GFP in both Peyer's patches (PP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) within 7 days after the last administration. In addition, the CD11c-targeting strain significantly promoted the differentiation and maturation of DCs, the differentiation of $IL-4^+$ and $IL-17A^+$ T helper (Th) cells in MLNs, as well as production of $B220^+$ $IgA^+$ B cells in the PP. In conclusion, this study developed a novel DC-targeting L. plantarum strain which could increase the ability to deliver eukaryotic expression plasmid to host cells, indicating a promising approach for vaccine study.