• Toxicological Research
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.141-146
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• 2003

A nonspecific immunostimulator $BARODON^{\circledR}$ was tested for mutagenicity using Ames Salmonella tester strains TA98, TA1 00, TA 102, TA 1535 and TA 1537 with or without metabolic activation (59 mix). None of the fresh species showed mutagenicity. In the reverse mutation test using Salmonella phimurium TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535 and TA1537 did not increase the number of revertants at all doses tested (5, 2.5 or 1.25 mg/ml). Chromosome aberration test was carried out in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell line. The cells were treated with $BARODON^{\circledR}$ (1, 0.5 or 0.25 mg/ml), while positive control group was treated with Mitomycin C (0.1 mg/ml). The results show that there is no statistically significant difference between positive control and treatment groups. In mouse micronucleus test, there was significant increase in the ratio of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte (MNPCE) in the high dose group (10% $BARODON^{\circledR}$), while there is no significance between control and low (2.5% $BARODON^{\circledR}$) or middle (5% $BARODON^{\circledR}$ dose groups. Taken together, this results suggest that below 5% $BARODON^{\circledR}$ might not have mutagenic potential in vitro and vivo systems.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.251-257
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• 1995

The objective of the present study was to test the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on rat alveolar macrophages. PAF alone did not stimulate superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF $(10^{-5}\;M)$ significantly enhanced phagocytic activator zymosan-induced superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. This enhancement of PAF plus zymosan was 30% above the sum of the separate effects of PAF and zymosan. Similarly, PAF $1.3{\times}(10^{-5}\;M)$ was not a direct stimulant of alveolar macrophages, as it had no stimulatory effect on chemiluminescence generation, but potentiated zymosan-induced activation of chemiluminescence, i.e., 162% above the separate effects of each stimulant. PAF $10^{-16}{\pm}10^{-6}\;M$ also failed to stimulate IL-1 production from alveolar macrophages. In contrast, when both PAF $10^{-10}\;M$ and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) $(1 {\mu}g/ml)$ were added together at the initiation of the culture, IL-1 production was significantly increased indicating the potentiative effects of PAF on IL-1 production by alveolar macrophages. Collectively, these data suggest that PAF alone does not activate the release of bioactive products from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF appears to act as a priming mediator that potentiates stimuli-induced macrophage activity. These novel actions of PAF prove its role as a potent mediator of inflammatory and immune responses in the lung.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.173-180
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• 2006

Microglial activation is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of many brain disorders. Therefore, understanding the response of microglia to noxious stimuli may provide insights into their role in disorders such as stroke and neurodegeneration. Many genes involved in this response have been identified individually, but not systematically. In this regards, the microarray system permitted to screen a large number of genes in biological or pathological processes. Therefore, we used microarray technology to evaluate the effect of oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and reperfusion on gene expression in microglia under ischemia-like and activating conditions. Primary microglial cultures were prepared from postnatal mice brain. The cells were exposed to 4 hrs of OGD and 1 h of reperfusion at $37^{\circ}C$. Isolated mRNA were run on GeneChips. After OGD and reperfusion, ＞2-fold increases of 90 genes and ＞2-fold decrease of 41 genes were found. Among the genes differentially increased by OGD and reperfusion in microglia were inflammatory and immune related genes such as prostaglandin E synthase, $IL-1{\beta}$, and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Microarray analysis of gene expression may be useful for elucidating novel molecular mediators of microglial reaction to reperfusion injury and provide insights into the molecular basis of brain disorders.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.94-99
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• 2007

The immunostimulating activities of mucilage fraction from yam were investigated. The proliferation of BSA-primed lymph node cells was enhanced between 4.1- to 10.9-fold compare to control, when cultured with 1 to $25{\mu}g/mL$ of yam-mucilage fraction. It showed strong immunostimulating activity than ginseng extract and as remarkable as Bifidobacterium adolescentis M101-4 known as a positive immunostimulator. Mitogenicity to lymph node cells was fully induced by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. The proliferation of splenocytes and Peyer's patch cells was enhanced between 5.0- to 14.1-fold and 2.4- to 6.4-fold, respectively, when cultured with 1 to $25{\mu}g/mL$ of yam-mucilage fraction. It enhanced the production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 in the culture of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the culture of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, production of cytokines was as similar as compared to controls. In unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells, both tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 production were enhanced between 15.6- to 60.1-fold and 2.3- to 9.1-fold, respectively. Mucilage fraction from yam is expected to be a safe immunopotentiator to maintain the host immunity and develop a physiologically functional food.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.359-364
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• 2013

Inordinate stress causes disorders of various systems in humans and activates defense mechanisms to maintain homeostasis in the body. Sleep is a vital, highly organized process regulated by complex systems of neuronal networks and neurotransmitters. Sleep is an essential biological process whose underlying regulating involves numerous anatomical structures and biochemical substances that can be compromised by stress and by the immune system. Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system, and activation of GABAA receptors is known to favor sleep. This study was conducted to evaluate the possible application of Lactobacillus brevis BJ20 fermentation to improve the functional qualities of sea tangle Saccharina japonica and oyster Crassostrea gigas. Antioxidant activity was determined by assaying levels of radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide. L. brevis BJ20 fermentation of sea tangle and oyster enhanced both antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. These results suggested that L. brevis BJ20 fermented sea tangle and oyster could be used for alleviation of stress and to promote sleep.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2
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• pp.390.3-391
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• 2002

Nuclear-kappa B(NF-$\kappa$B) plays a role in the regulation of genes responsible for inflammatory and immune responses as well as growth control of cells. A cell-based assay system for guiding NF-KB activity was developed to determine the influence of activated NF-KB in human keratinocytes. It suggested that this system could be used to determine the quantitative measurement of NF-$\kappa$B activity in the human skin and allow the monitoring of anti-inflammatory agent for dermatological means from various environmental stimuli. (omitted)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.291-295
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• 2012

We previously reported that Hydnocarpi Semen (HS) has a wound healing effect on diabetic foot ulcer lesion in mice. In this study, ethylacetate (EtOAc) fraction from HS extract were evaluated for their wound healing activity by using in vitro acute inflammation model. GC and GC/MS analysis shows that the main constituents in EtOAc fraction are chaulmoogric acid, hydnocarpic acid, and gorlic acid. EtOAc fraction activated macrophages to increase the production of TNF-${\alpha}$. The fraction also increased the production of TGF-${\beta}$ and VEGF, which induced fibroblast activation and angiogenesis. These results suggest that the mechanism that the fraction helps to enhance healing of skin wound is possibly associated with the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, as well as secretion of VEGF, TGF-${\beta}$ and HS may have a new bioactive material for the treatment of skin wound.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.153-163
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• 2010

Background: In addition to TCR and costimulatory signals, cytokine signals are required for the differentiation of activated CD8 T cells into memory T cells and their survival. Previously, we have shown that IL-12 priming during initial antigenic stimulation significantly enhanced the survival of activated CD8 T cells and increased the memory cell population. In the present study, we analyzed the mechanisms by which IL-12 priming contributes to activation and survival of CD8 T cells. Methods: We observed dramatically decreased expression of CD43 in activated CD8 T cells by IL-12 priming. We purified $CD43^{lo}$ and $CD43^{hi}$ cells after IL-12 priming and analyzed the function and survival of each population both in vivo and in vitro. Results: Compared to $CD43^{hi}$ effector cells, $CD43^{lo}$ effector CD8 T cells exhibited reduced cytolytic activity and lower granzyme B expression but showed increased survival. $CD43^{lo}$ effector CD8 T cells also showed increased in vivo expansion after adoptive transfer and antigen challenge. The enhanced survival of $CD43^{lo}$ CD8 T cells was also partly associated with CD62L expression. Conclusion: We suggest that CD43 expression regulated by IL-12 priming plays an important role in differentiation and survival of CD8 T cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.126-134
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• 2010

Background: $CD8^+$ T cells contribute to the clearance of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and an insufficient $CD8^+$ T cell response may be one of the major factors leading to chronic HBV infection. Since the HBx antigen of HBV can up-regulate cellular expression of several immunomodulatory molecules, we hypothesized that HBx expression in hepatocytes might affect $CD8^+$ T cell activity. Methods: We analyzed the activation and apoptosis of $CD8^+$ T cells co-cultured with primary hepatocytes rendered capable of expressing HBx by recombinant baculovirus infection. Results: Expression of HBx in hepatocytes induced low production of $interferon-{\gamma}$ and apoptosis of CD8+ T cells, with no effect on CD8 T cell proliferation. However, transcriptional levels of H-2K, ICAM-1 and PD-1 ligand did not correlate with HBx expression in hepatocytes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that HBx may inhibit $CD8^+$ T cell response by regulation of $interferon-{\gamma}$ production and apoptosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.107-115
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• 2014

Phellinus linteus has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries and is known to have anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activities. However, the protective effects of P. linteus against experimental asthma have not been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether P. linteus ethanol extract (PLE) suppresses inflammatory response in an OVA-induced asthma model. As expected, the oral administration of PLE significantly inhibited eosinophilic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-challenged BALB/c mice. Supporting these data, the augmentation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), eotaxin, and adhesion molecules in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after OVA inhalation was markedly attenuated by PLE. Furthermore, PLE reduced OVA-induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK in lung tissues. Therefore, our results suggest the potential of P. linteus as a therapeutic agent for asthma.