• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2012

Recently it has been reported that immunization with heat-killed tumor cells (HK vaccine) induces anti-tumor immune responses in mice. To investigate how HKvaccine elicits anti-tumor specific adaptive immunity, we examined the effect of HK vaccination on innate immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs), which are essential for the generation of adaptive immunity. Upon stimulation with HK vaccine, DCs matured to promote not only the upregulation of co-stimulatory molecules but also secretion of cytokine IL12. Furthermore, HK vaccine-treated DCs migrated more efficiently to draining lymph nodes compared with untreated ones. Taken together, HK vaccine can be useful as an adjuvant to activate DCs for anti-tumor immune responses.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.606-618
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• 2000

Dental pulp infection is most commonly caused by extensive dental caries, and some bacterial species invade root canals; bacterial components and products are thought to be associated with the pathogenesis of periapical periodontitis. A principle driving force behind pulpal disease response appears to lie in the host immune system's to bacteria and their products. We examined the production of interleukin $1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) from human peripheral mononuclear cells, lymphocytes and monocytes stimulated by heat-killed Acitnobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (ATCC 29523), Porphyromonas gingivalis (ATCC 33277) and Prevotella intermedia (ATCC 25611), and also by their sonicated bacterial extracts (SBE), respectively. The effects of three strains of heat-killed bacteria and their SBEs on the morphology of cultured blood cell lines HL-60 (KCLB 10240) and J774A.1 (KCLB 40067) were observed under the inverted microscope. Ultrastructural changes of J774A.1 exposed to heat-killed P. intermedia and its SBE were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Production of IL-$1{\beta}$ was reduced in human peripheral mononuclear cells after stimulation by sonic bacterial extracts of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and P. intermedia. Heat-killed and sonic extract of P. gingivalis inhibited the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ in peripheral mononuclear cells. Production of TNF-${\alpha}$ was inhibited in peripheral monocytes after stimulation by sonic extracts of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and P. intermedia. HL-60 and J 774A.1 cells showed granular degeneration after treatment with heat-killed and sonic extracts of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and P. intermedia Chromatin margination and shrinkage were observed in 774A.1 treated with heat-killed P. intermedia. Cell wall structure and organelles were destroyed and vacuoles were formed in cytoplasm in J774A.1 treated with P. intermedia sonic extract. These results suggest that A actinomycetemcomitans, P gingivalis and P intermedia may have an important role in the formation and progression of pulpal diseases via both modulation of production of IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ from blood mononuclear cells and cytopathic effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.661-666
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• 2006

The present study represents the investigation of in vitro immunopotentiating activities of cellular fractions of major lactic acid bacteria found in kimchi (KLAB) and bifidobacteria. The macrophage cells, RAW264.7, were stimulated with heat-killed whole-cell, cell-wall, and cytoplasmic fractions of four strains of KLAB (Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc citreum, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus sake) and two strains of bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium lactis) each, and then the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines including tumor necrosis $factor-\alpha\;(TNF-\alpha)$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured by Griess and ELISA assays, respectively. Heat-killed wholecell and cell-wall fractions-but not the cytoplasmic fraction-from all strains of KLAB significantly increased the production of NO in RAW264.7 cells, and all fractions from bifidobacteria exerted similar effects. In the production of $TNF-\alpha$, heat-killed whole-cell and cell-wall fractions of L. plantarum showed the strongest effect, followed by L. sake and B. lactis, whereas other KLAB fractions did not exert any effect. In the production of IL-6, only whole-cell and cell-wall fractions of L. plantarum were effective. These results, taken together, indicate that L. plantarum might playa critical role in the immunopotentiating activities of kimchi.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1022-1032
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• 2019

Probiotics are known to provide the host with immune-modulatory effects and are therefore of remarkable interest for therapeutic and prophylactic applications against various disorders, including inflammatory diseases. Weissella cibaria JW15 (JW15) has been reported to possess probiotic and antioxidant properties. However, the effect of JW15 on inflammatory responses has not yet been reported. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of JW15 against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The production of pro-inflammatory factors and the cellular signaling pathways following treatment with heat-killed JW15 was examined in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment with heat-killed JW15 decreased nitric oxide and prostaglandin $E_2$ production via down-regulation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, treatment with heat-killed JW15 suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. The anti-inflammatory properties of treating with heat-killed JW15 were associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway-mediated suppression of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$. These results indicated that JW15 possesses anti-inflammatory potential and provide a molecular basis regarding the development of functional probiotic products.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2016

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide; therefore there is a need to discover new therapeutic modules with improved efficacy and safety. Immune-(cell) therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of intractable cancers. The effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutics in inducing immunogenic tumor cell death thus promoting cancer eradication has been reported. Ginsenoside Rg3 is a ginseng saponin that has antitumor and immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we treated tumor cells with Rg3 to verify the significance of inducing immunogenic tumor cell death in antitumor therapy, especially in DC-based immunotherapy. Rg3 killed the both immunogenic (B16F10 melanoma cells) and non-immunogenic (LLC: Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells) tumor cells by inducing apoptosis. Surface expression of immunogenic death markers including calreticulin and heat shock proteins and the transcription of relevant genes were increased in the Rg3-dying tumor. Increased calreticulin expression was directly related to the uptake of dying tumor cells by dendritic cells (DCs): the proportion of CRT⁺CD11c⁺cells was increased in the Rg3-treated group. Interestingly, tumor cells dying by immunogenic cell death secreted IFN-γ, an effector molecule for antitumor activity in T cells. Along with the Rg3-induced suppression of pro-angiogenic (TNF-α) and immunosuppressive cytokine (TGF-β) secretion, IFN-γ production from the Rg3-treated tumor cells may also indicate Rg3 as an effective anticancer immunotherapeutic strategy. The data clearly suggests that Rg3-induced immunogenic tumor cell death due its cytotoxic effect and its ability to induce DC function. This indicates that Rg3 may be an effective immunotherapeutic strategy.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.43-49
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• 2010

Enterococcus faecalis, a gram-positive bacterium, has been implicated in endodontic infections, particularly in chronic apical periodontitis. Proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$), are involved in the pathogenesis of these apical lesions. E. faecalis has been reported to stimulate macrophages to produce TNF-$\alpha$. The present study investigated the mechanisms involved in TNF-$\alpha$ production by a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 in response to exposure to E. faecalis. Both live and heat-killed E. faecalis induced high levels of gene expression and protein release of TNF-$\alpha$. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of endocytosis, prevented the mRNA up-regulation of TNF-$\alpha$ by E. faecalis. In addition, antioxidant treatment reduced TNF-$\alpha$ production to baseline levels. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase also significantly attenuated E. faecalis-induced TNF-$\alpha$ expression by RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 in RAW 264.7 cells was also stimulated by E. faecalis. These results suggest that the phagocytic uptake of bacteria is necessary for the induction of TNF-$\alpha$ in E. faecalis-stimulated macrophages, and that the underlying intracellular signaling pathways involve reactive oxygen species, ERK, p38 MAP kinase, NF-${\kappa}B$, and AP-1.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.839-848
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• 2018

Coptis chinensis (CC) is widely used in Asian countries to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous fraction separated from CC extract and of berberine, its key bioactive component, in human keratinocytes and the possible molecular mechanisms underlying this. Treating HaCaT keratinocytic cells with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes induced nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokine (e.g., tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-8) production and their mRNA expression; these effects were suppressed by pretreatment with the aqueous fraction or berberine, which also suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 kinases and the nuclear expression of nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ p65 in P. acnes-stimulated cells. Thus, the aqueous fraction and berberine effectively exerted anti-inflammatory activities by suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinase and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways in human keratinocytes and may be used for treating P. acnes-induced inflammatory skin diseases.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11.1-11.14
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• 2023

Background: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are commonly used to assess in vitro immune responses. However, PBMC isolation is a time-consuming procedure, introduces technical variability, and requires a relatively large volume of blood. By contrast, whole blood assay (WBA) is faster, cheaper, maintains more physiological conditions, and requires less sample volume, laboratory training, and equipment. Objectives: Herein, this study aimed to develop a porcine WBA for in vitro evaluation of immune responses. Methods: Heparinized whole blood (WB) was diluted (non-diluted, 1/2, 1/8, and 1/16) in RPMI-1640 media, followed by phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin. After 24 h, cells were stained for interferon (IFN)-γ secreting T-cells followed by flow cytometry, and the supernatant was analyzed for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In addition, diluted WB was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), reference strain KCTC3557 (RS), field isolate (FI), of heat-killed (HK) Streptococcus suis, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Results: The frequency of IFN-γ⁺CD3⁺ T-cells and concentration of TNF-α in the supernatant of WB increased with increasing dilution factor and were optimal at 1/8. WB TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-10 cytokine levels increased significantly following stimulation with LPS or poly I:C. Further, FI and RS induced IL-10 production in WB. Additionally, PRRSV strains increased the frequency of IFN-γ⁺ CD4^-CD8⁺ cells, and IFN-γ was non-significantly induced in the supernatant of re-stimulated samples. Conclusions: We propose that the WBA is a rapid, reliable, and simple method to evaluate immune responses and WB should be diluted to trigger immune cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 1999

Intestinal bacteria comprise one-third of the contents of the large intestine in humans. Their interactions with the gastrointestinal immune system induce characteristic immunological responses which stimulate or suppress the host's defense system. RAW 264.7 murine cell line was used as a macrophage model to assess the effects of the exposure to the isolated human intestinal bacteria, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, Streptococcus, and E. coli, on NO (nitric oxide), $H_2O_2$(hydrogen peroxide), and cytokines IL (interleukin)-6 and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-a production. RAW 264.7 cells were cultured in the presence of heat-killed bacteria for 24 h at concentrations of 0-$50\mu$g/ml. Our results showed that Bacteroides and E. coli stimulated IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, NO, and $H_2O_2$production at high levels even at $1\mu$g/ml, whereas Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, and Streptococcus showed a low level of stimulation at $1\mu$g/ml, and a gradual increase as the cell concentration increased up to $50\mu$g/ml. This result suggests that gram-negative Bacteroides and E. coli are better able to stimulate macrophage than gram-positive Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Eubacterium. The in vitro approaches employed here should be useful in further characterization of the effects of intestinal bacteria on gastrointestinal and systemic immunity.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2004

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) plays an important role in the disease pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, a disorder of pilosebaceous follicles, seen primarily in the adolescent age group. In the present study, the presence of antibodies against P. acnes (MTCC1951) were detected in acne patient (n=50) and disease free controls (n=25) using dot-ELISA and Western blot assay. The ability of P. acnes to induce pro-inflammatory cytokines by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), obtained from acne patients and healthy subjects, were also analysed. The patients (n=26) who were culture positive for skin swab culture, were found to have a more advanced disease and higher antibody titres (1:4000 to >1:16000) compared to the P. acnes negative patients (n=24) and normal controls (n=25). An analysis of patients' sera by western blot assay recognized a number of antigenic components of P. acnes, rang-ing from 29 to 205 kDa. The major reactive component was an approximately 96 kDa polypeptide, which was recognised in 92％ (24 of 26) of the patients sera. Further, the P. acnes culture supernatant, crude cell lysate and heat killed P. acnes whole cells, obtained from 72-h incubation culture, were observed to be able to induce significant amounts of IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) by the PBMCs in both the healthy subjects and patients, as analysed by cytokine-ELISA. The levels of cytokines were significantly higher in the patients than the healthy subjects. A major 96 kDa polypep-tide reactant was eluted from the gel and was found to cause dose dependent stimulation of the pro-ductions of IL-8 and TNF-${\alpha}$. Thus, the above results suggest that both humoral and pro-inflammatory responses play major roles in the pathogenesis of acne.