• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2014

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory, relapsing, chronic skin disease and lesions in AD are frequently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Activation of T cells and IgE production by staphylococcal enterotoxins B (SEB) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is a nonpathogenic bacterium and produces the probiotic products that have been shown to have inhibitory effects on inflammatory responses. In present study, we carried out to assess the anti-inflammatory role of lyzed E. faecalis against the damaging effects of SEB on AD related immune responses. Furthermore, we attempted to determine whether the co-cultured lyzed E. faecalis can influence the colonization of S. aureus. As a result, we identified the effect of E. faecalis lysate as a potent therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis (AD). E. faecalis lysate reduces the productions of total IgE and cytokines of AD-related immune cells in response to SEB stimulation. The proliferation of S. aureus was also inhibited by E. faecalis lysate. In conclusions, E. faecalis lysate may improve the skin-defense system disturbed by atopic condition, and may prevent subsequent secondary infection of S. aureus and development of AD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1122-1126
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• 2002

We have examined whether Soamsan 1 (SA 1) augment the inhibitory effect of oral administration of Soamsan (SA) on lung metastasis of mouse 816 melanoma cells. The inhibitory effect was slightly enhanced by increase in administration dosage of SA 1. SA 1 as well as SA inhibited effectively the lung metastasis regardless of the pretreatment with anti-mouseNK monoclonal antibody. However, in the case of 2-chloroadenosine-pretreated mice, the inhibitory effects of SA and SA 1 were decreased by 18 and 23%, respectively. In vitro stimulation of the mouse splenocytes with mitogens showed that SA or SA 1 significantly augmented the proliferation of mouse splenocytes. Especially, the activity was more prominent in the presence of a B cell mitogen. LPS than a T cell mitogen, Con A. These results suggest that oral administration of SA 1 or SA inhibited lung metastasis of B16 melanoma cells, possibly through a mechanism mediated by the activation of macrophages and B lymphocytes in the host immune system. However, SA 1 did not showed more significant augment of the activation of immune system than SA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2 s.32
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• pp.227-236
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• 1996

The effect of Ligustrum Lucidum(LL) on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide by murine peritoneal macrophages were investigated. Stimulation of the cells with LL in the presence or absence of interferon-r(IFN-r) resulted in the increased accumulation of nitrite in the medium. To further examine the mechanism of LL induced. NO Synthesis, we evaluated the secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$ by LL in murine macrophages. Treatment of LL increased the secretion of bioactive $TNF-{\alpha}$ in cultured medium. In addition, LL induced NO production was decreased by the treatment of anti-murine $TNF-{\alpha}$. neutralizing antibodies, indicating that LL induced superoxide production was decreased by the treatment of anti-murine $TNF-{\alpha}$ neutralizing antibodies. These data suggested that LL induced superoxide production was related to $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion. In conclusion, our results indicates that LL may enhance innate immune response and be applied as a immunoregulating drug improving phagocytosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 1988

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary zinc on immune response in mice. Weanling male mice was placed individually in stainless steel cages and fed a zinc dificient diet and control diet. All mice were given deionized water ad libitum. The introduction of extraneous zinc was minimized in all cage by washing feed jars and water bottles sequentially with 4mM EDTA and conc-nitiric acid followed by deionized water. After 4 and 5 weeks of the diets, mice were immunized with lx 106 Naegleria fowleri intraperitoneally. Mice were weighed once a week. The results from this study are summarized as followed ; 1) Mice fed the zinc dificient diet showed growth retardation. After 3 weeks of diets, mean body weight of zinc deficient mice was 21.4g and that of control was 25.0g. This difference is singnificant statistically (p<0.01). The more time passed, the more remarkable difference was found. 2) The weigth of organs were measured on liver, kidney, spleen, thymus, heart, lung, brain. Difference in weight were observed only in liver and spleen. 3) Proliferative response of spleen cells of zinc deficient mice to con A was lower than that of control mice after one week on immunization(p<0.005). 4) Stimulation index was lower in zinc deficient mice to phytohemagglutinin after two weeks on immunization (p<0.05). 5) Blastogenesis of speen cells of zinc deficient mice to Naegleria fowleric lysate was lower after 10 days on immunization (p<0.05). 6) Immunoglobulin G antribody titers of zinc deficient mice sera by ELISA was lowered to control mice after 5 weeks on immunization (p<0.005).

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2010

Acorns have been used as a traditional remed as well as food source. However, few studies on their immunomodulating effects have been reported. In this study, the combined immunomodulative effect of a water extract of acorns was tested on seven to eight weeks old mice(balb/c). The mice were fed ad libitum on a chow diet, and a water extract of the plant mixture was orally administered every other day for four weeks at two different concentrations(50 and 500 mg/kg B.W.). The production of cytokine(IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$), secreted by macrophages stimulated with LPS or not, detected by ELISA assay using cytokine kit. After 48 h of incubation with mitogen(ConA or LPS) ex vivo study showed that cytokine (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$) was detected in both of the 50 and 500 mg/kg B.W. supplementation groups with LPS stimulation. The results of this study may suggest that supplementation with acorn water extract increase immune function by regulating cytokine production capacity by activated macrophages.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.277-288
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• 2014

T cells are central players in the regulation of adaptive immunity and immune tolerance. In the periphery, T cell differentiation for maturation and effector function is regulated by a number of factors. Various factors such as antigens, co-stimulation signals, and cytokines regulate T cell differentiation into functionally specialized effector and regulatory T cells. Other factors such as nutrients, micronutrients, nuclear hormones and microbial products provide important environmental cues for T cell differentiation. A mounting body of evidence indicates that the microbial metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have profound effects on T cells and directly and indirectly regulate their differentiation. We review the current status of our understanding of SCFA functions in regulation of peripheral T cell activity and discuss their impact on tissue inflammation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.679-684
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• 2016

Clonorchiasis, caused by direct contact with Clonorchis sinensis worms and their excretory-secretory products (ESPs), is associated with chronic inflammation, malignant changes in bile ducts, and even cholangiocarcinogenesis. Our previous report revealed that intracellular free radicals enzymatically generated by C. sinensis ESPs cause NF-${\kappa}B$-mediated inflammation in human cholangiocarcinoma cells (HuCCT1). Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the role of upstream Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on the initial host innate immune responses to infection. We found that treatment of HuCCT1 cells with native ESPs induced changes in TLR mRNA levels in a time-dependent manner, concomitant with the generation of free radicals. ESP-mediated free radical generation was markedly attenuated by preincubation of the cells with TLR1-4-neutralizing antibodies, indicating that at least TLR1 through 4 participate in stimulation of the host innate immune responses. These findings indicate that free radicals triggered by ESPs are critically involved in TLR signal transduction. Continuous signaling by this pathway may function in initiating C. sinensis infection-associated inflammation cascades, a detrimental event leading to progression to more severe hepatobiliary diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.670-679
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• 2021

Vesicle-associated membrane proteins 721 and 722 (VAMP721/722) are secretory vesicle-localized arginine-conserved soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (R-SNAREs) to drive exocytosis in plants. They are involved in diverse physiological processes in plants by interacting with distinct plasma membrane (PM) syntaxins. Here, we show that synaptotagmin 5 (SYT5) is involved in plant defense against Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (Pst) DC3000 by regulating SYP132-VAMP721/722 interactions. Calcium-dependent stimulation of in vitro SYP132-VAMP722 interaction by SYT5 and reduced in vivo SYP132-VAMP721/722 interaction in syt5 plants suggest that SYT5 regulates the interaction between SYP132 and VAMP721/722. We interestingly found that disease resistance to Pst DC3000 bacterium but not to Erysiphe pisi fungus is compromised in syt5 plants. Since SYP132 plays an immune function to bacteria, elevated growth of surface-inoculated Pst DC3000 in VAMP721/722-deficient plants suggests that SYT5 contributes to plant immunity to Pst DC3000 by promoting the SYP132-VAMP721/722 immune secretory pathway.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1056-1069
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Grifola frondosa, commonly referred to as the maitake mushroom, has been studied extensively to explore its potential health benefits. However, its anti-inflammatory effects in skin disorders have not been sufficiently elucidated. This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory role of the ethanol extract of G. frondosa in atopic dermatitis (AD) using in vivo and in vitro models. MATERIALS/METHODS: We investigated its impact on skin and spleen inflammatory responses in Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DFE)/1-chloro-2,4 dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like skin lesions in a mouse model. Additionally, we determined the immunosuppressive response and mechanism of G. frondosa by inducing atopic-like immune reactions in keratinocytes through tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interferon (IFN)-γ stimulation. RESULTS: Our study revealed that G. frondosa ameliorates clinical symptoms in an AD-like mouse model. These effects contributed to the suppression of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Th22 immune responses in the skin and spleen, leading to protection against cutaneous inflammation. Furthermore, G. frondosa inhibited the production of antibodies immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG2a in the serum of AD mice. Importantly, the inhibitory effect of G. frondosa on inflammatory cytokines in TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated AD-like keratinocytes was associated with the suppression of MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) pathway activation. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of G. frondosa as a novel therapeutic agent for AD treatment and prevention.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.373-377
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• 2014

In this study, we demonstrated whether the extract of Fomes fomentarius (FFE; FF extract) could be used to stimulate macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells). All four doses of FFE (5, 10, 20, and $40{\mu}g/mL$) had no significant cytotoxicity during the entire experimental period. FFE potently increased the production of nitric oxide (NO). Consistent with these observations, inducible NO synthase levels were increased by FFE in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FFE increased the production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in the same cells. These stimulating effects of FFE were found to be caused by the stimulation of phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and MAP kinases (p38, ERK, and JNK). These results suggest that FFE may be used as new agents for wide application in the immune study of mushroom.