• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.54-64
• /
• 2003

Objective : To investigate immune enhancing effects of Boummyunyuck-dan (BMD) Methods : In this study I investigated the effect of BMD on cell proliferation and viability. In addition, I investigated production of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$), NO, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in human T-cell leukemia, MOLT-4 cells. The cells were cultured for 24h in the presence or absence of BMD. Result : BMD increased the cell viability by 15% (P<0.05) and enhanced IL-2, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production compared with media control in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01) at 24h. BMD also increased mRNA and protein expression levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ in MOLT-4 cells. In addition, I also assessed the effects of BMD on production of NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ from the peritoneal macrophages because NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ as a potent macrophage-derived immune reaction regulatory molecule has received increasing attention. However, BMD had no effect on NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in the cells. Conclusion : These data indicate that BMD has some immune-enhancing effect, and that its action may be due to the proliferation and cytokine production of T cells.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2022.09a
• /
• pp.92-92
• /
• 2022

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in immune enhancement is increasing. Although the immune-enhancing activity of plants of the genus Hibiscus has been reported, there is no study on the immune-enhancing activity of H. syriacus. Thus, in this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing activity of Hibiscus syriacus leaves (HSL) in mouse macrophages, RAW264.7 cells, and immunosuppressed mice. HSL increased the production of immunostimulatory factors such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and activated the phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. The HSL-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors was dependent on toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in RAW264.7 cells. In the immunosuppressed mouse model, HSL increased the spleen index, the levels of the cytokines, and the numbers of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. Taken together, HSL may be considered to have immune-enhancing activity and be expected to be used as a potential immune-enhancing agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.356-362
• /
• 2023

The 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) is the richest components in a human milk oligosaccharide. Several studies have reported that 2'-FL has beneficial effects in infants. However, there are few studies on its immune-enhancing effects. This research aimed to examine the immune-enhancing effect of 2'-FL on immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide (CCP) in ICR mice. Mice were orally administered distilled water or 0.5 mg/kg B.W. 2'-FL for 14 days. An immunocompromised mouse model was induced using CCP 80 mg/kg B.W. at 12-14 days. Using the CCP had effects on reducing their body weight, organ weight, spleen index, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and cytokines concentration and expression. This study also used concanavalin A-mediated T-cell proliferation to verify the immune-enhancing effects in the sample. Body weight, spleen index, organ weight, and cytokine levels were measured to estimate the immune-enhancing effects. The body weight at 14 days tended to increase, and the spleen weight and index significantly increased in the 2'-FL group compared to the CCP group. The NK cell activity increased in the 2'-FL group compared to the CCP group, but there was no significant difference. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-2 tended to recover in the 2'-FL group compared to the CCP group. The 2'-FL group showed a significant increase of IL-10 and IFN-gamma concentration compared to the CCP group. In addition, there was a trend of increased IL-10 mRNA expression compared to the CCP group. These results revealed that 2'-FL improved CCP-induced immunosuppression, suggesting that 2'-FL may have the potential to enhance the immune system.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.281-288
• /
• 2011

Lactobacillus salivarius JWS 58 (JWS 58) and Lactobacillus plantarum JWS 1354 (JWS 1354) are isolated from duck intestine and have ability to produce bacteriocin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of JWS 58 and JWS 1354. The nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$) were measured in C57BL/6 mouse peritoneal macrophages to determine immune enhancing effects of JWS 58 and JWS 1354. A Listeria (L.) monocytogenes challenge mice model was used to evaluate immune enhancement ability of JWS 58 and JWS 1354 in vivo. The results showed that JWS 58 and JWS 1354 increased the production of NO or cytokines by peritoneal macrophages and that oral administration of viable probiotic strains in mice elicited the immuno-modulatory effect upon L. monocytogenes challenge. JWS 1354 showed stronger immune enhancing effects than JWS 58. Collectively, this study demonstrated that Lactobacillus strain JWS 58 and JWS 1354 possess immune enhancing effect. Furthermore, two stains are expected to use feed supplement to prevent diseases by pathogenic bacteria through releasing bacteriocin and enhancing host immune responses in animal.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.1226-1236
• /
• 2018

Ovotransferrin (OTF) is a well-known protein of the transferrin family with strong iron chelating activity, resulting in its antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, OTF is known to have antioxidant, anticancer, and antihypertensive activities. However, there have been few studies about the immune-enhancing activity of OTF. In current study, we investigated the immune-enhancing activity of OTF using the murine macrophage cells in vitro. The effect of OTF on production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines were determined using Griess assay and quantitative real-time PCR. Using Neutral Red uptake assay, we confirmed the effect of OTF on phagocytic activity of macrophages. Ovotransferrin significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and secretion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA with no cytotoxic activity. Ovotransferrin (2 mg/mL) stimulated NO production up to $31.9{\pm}3.5{\mu}M$. Ovotransferrin significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines which are tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), and IL-6: OTF (2 mg/mL) treatment increased the secretion of mRNA for TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 by 22.20-, 37.91-, and 6.17-fold of the negative control, respectively. The phagocytic activity of macrophages was also increased by OTF treatment significantly compared with negative control. Also, OTF treatment increased phosphorylation level of MAPK signaling pathways. These results indicated that OTF has immune-enhancing activity by activating RAW 264.7 macrophages via MAPK pathways.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.436-439
• /
• 2004

Mubigangjang-Ju (MGJ) is a traditional wine, fermented extract of Cynanchum wilfordii, Angelicae gigantis and Epimedium koreanum etc. In the present study, we comparatively investigated the immune-enhancing effect of fermented extract (MGJ) and water extract (WE). Forced swimming test (FST) was performed as a model of activity test in mice and measured blood urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose (Glc) and total protein (TP) in the serum. Each extracts were orally administered into mice, 10 ㎖/kg, once per day for 7 days using a feeding atraumatic needle. After 3 days, on FST, the immobility time was decreased in the MGJ-fed group (133.7±18.6 s) in comparison with the saline-fed group (155.8±16.6 s). After 7 days, the immobility time was significantly decreased in the MGJ-fed group (105.3±12.7 s) in comparison with the saline-fed group (171.3±8.1 s). In addition, the content of AST was significantly decreased and the contents of BUN, ALT and LDH in the blood serum was also decreased. Whereas, the content of Glc tend to increase and TP level was not changed. However, WE had no effect on all experiments. The present results suggest that fermented extract was more effective than water extract and it may be useful for the immune-enhancing agent.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 2006

Ji-Jang-Soo (JJS) is known to have a detoxification effect. However, it is still unclear how JJS has these effects in experimental models. In this study, we investigated the effect of JJS on the viability of cells and production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells, and human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. The MOLT-4 cells were cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of JJS. As the result, JJS (1/100 dilution) significantly increased the cell viability about 78% (P < 0.05) and also increased the interleukin (IL)-2, and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ production compared with media control at 24 h. But had no effect on IL-4 production. Hypoxia mimic compound, desferroxamine (DFX) decreased the immune cell viability. Cell viability decreased by DFX was increased by JJS. In conclusion, these data indicate that JJS may have an immune-enhancing effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1762-1768
• /
• 2004

The Korean formula medicine, Gami-Yukmi-Jihwang-Tang (GYJT) has been used for growing slowly, short of stature, incomplete development, fatigue, weak child, growing pain of child. However, it is still unclear how GYJT has an effect on experimental models. In the present study, the author investigated the immune-enhancing effect of GYJT. Forced swimming test (FST) was performed as a model of activity test in mice and measured blood urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose (Glc) and total protein (TP) in the serum. GYJT (1, 0.1 and 0.01 g/㎏) were orally administered to mice, once per day for 7 days using a feeding atraumatic needle. After 3 days, on FST, the immobility time was significantly decreased in the GYJT (0.01g/㎏/day)-fed group (120.75±5.71s) in comparison with the saline-fed group (153.80±10.74s). After 7 days, the immobility time was significantly decreased in the GYJT (0.1 and 0.01g/㎏/day)-fed group (125.67±5.36s and 107.67±3.71s) in comparison with the saline-fed group (167.67±12.99s). In addition, the contents of BUN and Glc in the blood serum were significantly decreased and the contents of AST, ALT and LDH were also decreased in the GYJT (1g/㎏/day)-fed group. However, the content of TP was not changed. The present results suggest that GYJT may be useful for the anti-fatigue and immune-enhancing agent. Also, the author investigated the effect of GYJT on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. However, GYJT has not affected the production of IFN­γ, IL-2, IL-4. These results suggest that GYJT has immune-enhancing effect but does not affect T cell-mediated production of cytokines in the immune function improvement.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2022

Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larva is well-known as an edible insect. The present study aimed to explore the immune-enhancing effect of 30% ethanol extract of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae (PBE) in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. PBE were not cytotoxic to RAW264.7 cells and nitric oxide production increased on PBE treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, PBE significantly promoted the expression of immune-related mediators (Inos and COX-2) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and the phosphorylation of MAPKs (ERK, p38, and JNK). Taken together, the immune-enhancing effects of 30% ethanol extract of PBE in vitro were identified. These findings can be used as data for the development of edible insect-based functional foods that improve immune function.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.1361-1368
• /
• 2019

Codium fragile is an edible seaweed in Asian countries that has been used as a thrombolytic, anticoagulant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulatory agent. Ginseng has also been known to maintain immune homeostasis and to regulate the immune system via enhancing resistance to diseases and microorganisms. In this study, anionic macromolecules extracted from C. fragile (CFAM) were orally administered with red ginseng extract (100 mg/kg body weight) to cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed male BALB/c mice to investigate the immune-enhancing cooperative effect of Codium fragile and red ginseng. Our results showed that supplementing CFAM with red ginseng extract significantly increased spleen index, T- and B-cell proliferation, NK cell activity, and splenic lymphocyte immune-associated gene expression compared to those with red ginseng alone, even though a high concentration of CFAM with red ginseng decreased immune biomarkers. These results suggest that CFAM can be used as a co-stimulant to enhance health and immunity in immunosuppressed conditions.