• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.768-773
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• 2002

Behcets disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder. The etiology and pathogenesis of Behcets disease has yet been fully elucidated but might involve immune dysfunction. Cytokines involved in the regulation of inflammatory reactions and immune responses may play a role in the pathogenesis of Behcets disease (BD). Onchungeum is an Oriental herbal medication, which has been successfully used in Korea for the treatment of BD. This report describes modulation effects of Onchungeum on cytokine production from phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Behcets patients by ELISA. Onchungeum significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. TNF-α and IL-1β, compared to absence of Onchungeum (by 52.3 1.4 % inhibition for TNF-α and 113.5 3.3 % for IL-1β, p < 0.001). Onchungeum also inhibited the production of IFN-γ, immunoregulatory Th1 cytokine, by 89.4 0.8 % (p < 0.001). The inhibitory effects of Onchungeum on cytokine production showed dose-dependent manner, and the pre-treatment of 1 mg/ml Onchungeum had better effects than immunosuppressive drug for treatment of BD, cyclosporin A. Our results suggest that Onchungeum treatment for Behcets disease patients may have pharmacologic activities and abilities of regulation of immune and inflammatory responses by cytokine modulation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2011

It is already known that high concentration of vitamin C induces apoptosis on tumor cells. However, there is no report regarding the function of vitamin C on the modulation of immune susceptibility of cancer. Therefore, we investigated whether vitamin C can modulate immune susceptibility of tumor cells, especially on the induction of Fas-mediated apoptosis. First, the optimal concentration of vitamin C, which cannot induce damages on tumor cells for 36 hrs. We found that 2 mM of vitamin C did not show harmful effect. In addition, the optimal concentration of agonistic anti-Fas Abs for 18 hrs was examined. As a result, 400 ng/ml of agonistic anti-Fas Abs did not induce apoptosis on tumor cells. Next, we tried to find the effect of 2 mM of vitamin C on the modulation of the susceptibility to agonistic anti-Fas Abs. When tumor cells were cultured with 400 ng/ml of agonistic anti-Fas Abs for 18 hrs, after pre-treatment with 2 mM of vitamin C for 24 hrs, viability of cells was decreased. Interestingly, we found that the expression of Fas (CD95) and MHC class I was increased by the treatment of vitamin C. Taken together, vitamin C increases the susceptibility of tumor cells to anti-Fas Abs and the expression of Fas (CD95) and MHC class I on tumor cells.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.771-779
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into several cell types. In addition, many studies have shown that MSCs modulate the immune response. However, little information is currently available regarding the maintenance of immunomodulatory characteristics of MSCs through passages. Therefore, we investigated and compared cytokine and gene expression levels from adipose (AD) and bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs relevant to immune modulation from early to late passages. METHODS: MSC immunophenotype, growth characteristics, cytokine expressions, and gene expressions were analyzed. RESULTS: AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs had similar cell morphologies and surface marker expressions from passage 4 to passage 10. Cytokines secreted by AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs were similar from early to late passages. AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs showed similar immunomodulatory properties in terms of cytokine secretion levels. However, the gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene (TSG)-6 and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G were decreased and gene expressions of galectin-1 and -3 were increased in both AD- and BM-MSCs with repeated passages. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the immunophenotype and expression of immunomodulation-related cytokines of AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs immunomodulation through the passages were not significantly different, even though the gene expressions of both MSCs were different.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1042-1048
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• 2006

Plasmid DNA vaccines encoding the hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface and hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope antigens, respectively, were constructed, and attempt were made to find the possibility of a divalent vaccine against HBV and HCV. The expression of each plasmid in Cos-1 cells was confirmed using immunocytochemistry. To measure the induced immune response by these plasmids in vivo, female BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with $100\;{\mu}g$ of either both or just one of the plasmids. Anti-HBV and HCV-specific antibodies and related cytokines were evaluated to investigate the generation of both humoral and cellular immune responses. As a result, specific anti-HBV and anti-HCV serum antibodies from mice immunized with these plasmids were observed using immunoblot. The levels of IL-2 and RANTES showing a $Th_{1}$ immune response were significantly increased, but there was no change in the level of IL-4 ($Th_{1}$ immune response) in any of the immunized groups. Compared with each plasmid DNA vaccine, the combined vaccine elicited similar immune responses in both humoral and cell-mediated immunities. These results suggest that the combined DNA vaccine can induce not only comparable immunity experimentally without antigenic interference, but also humoral and $Th_{1}$ dominant cellular immune responses. Therefore, they could serve as candidates for a simultaneous bivalent vaccine against HBV and HCV infections.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.463-468
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• 2012

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by dysregulation of the immune system in the pancreatic islets, which eventually leads to insulin-producing pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell death and destabilization of glucose homeostasis. One of the major characteristics of T1D pathogenesis is the production of inflammatory mediators by macrophages that result in destruction or damage of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells. In this study the inflammatory microenvironment of T1D was simulated with RAW264.7 cells and MIN6 cells, acting as macrophages and pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells respectably. In this setting, peroxiredoxin-1, an anti-oxidant enzyme was knocked down to observe its functions in the pathogenesis of T1D. RAW264.7 cells were primed with lipopolysaccharide and co-cultured with MIN6 cells while PRX-1 was knocked down in one or both cell types. Our results suggest that hindrance of PRX-1 activity or the deficiency of this enzyme in inflammatory conditions negatively affects pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell survival. The observed decrease in viability of MIN6 cells seems to be caused by nitric oxide production. Additionally, it seems that PRX-1 affects previously reported protective activity of IL-6 in pancreatic ${\beta}$ cells as well. These results signify new, undiscovered roles for PRX-1 in inflammatory conditions and may contribute toward our understanding of autoimmunity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2005

Background: The anti-tumor therapeutic effect of autologous tumor cell lysate pulseddendritic cells (DCs) was studied for non-immunogenic and immune suppressive lung cancer model. To test the possibility as an adjuvant therapy, minimal residual disease model was considered in mouse in vivo experiments. Methods: Syngeneic 3LL lung cancer cells were inoculated intravenously into the C57BL/6 mouse. Autologous tumor cell (3LL) or allogeneic leukemia cell (WEHI-3) lysate pulsed-DCs were injected twice in two weeks. Intraperitoneal DC injection was started one day (MRD model) after tumor cell inoculation. Two weeks after the final DC injection, tumor formation in the lung and the tumor-specific systemic immunity were observed. Tumor-specific lymphocyte proliferation and the IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion were analyzed for the immune monitoring. Therapeutic DCs were cultured from the bone marrow myeloid lineage cells with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 7 days and pulsed with tumor cell lysate for 18 hrs. Results: Compared to the saline treated group, tumor formation was suppressed in 3LL tumor cell lysate pulsed-DC treated group, while 3LL-specific immune stimulation was minimum. WEHI-3-specific immune stimulation occurred in WEHI-3 lysate-pulsed DC treated group, which had no correlation with tumor regression. Conclusion: The data suggest the possible anti-tumor effect of cultured DCs as an adjuvant therapy for minimal residual disease state of lung cancer. The significance of immune modulation in DC therapy including the possible involvement of NK cell as well as antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell activity induction was discussed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.150-160
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• 2015

We previously reported that 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG) accelerates hematopoiesis and has an improving effect on animal disease models such as sepsis and asthma. The effects of PLAG supplementation on immune modulation were assessed in healthy men and women. The objective was to evaluate the effects of PLAG supplementation on immune regulatory functions such as activities of immune cells and cytokine production. A randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Seventy-five participants were assigned to one of two groups; all participants had an appropriate number of white blood cells on the testing day. The PLAG group (n=27) received oral PLAG supplements and the control group (n=22) received oral soybean oil supplements. IL-4 and IL-6 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were lower (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) with PLAG than with soybean oil. However, the production of IL-2 and IFN-$\gamma$ by PBMC was unaltered with PLAG supplementation. The B cell proliferation decreased significantly in the PLAG group compared to the soybean oil control (p<0.05). The intake of PLAG in healthy adults for 4 weeks was deemed safe. These data suggest that PLAG has an immunomodulatory function that inhibits the excessive immune activity of immunological disorders such as atopic and autoimmune diseases. PLAG could improve the condition of these diseases safely as a health food supplement.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

In order to study the effect of CPS in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), its role on various immune related cytokines were tested. Levels of liver and kidney function markers such as ALT, AST, BUN in NC/Nga mice were all normal indicating no toxicity in CPS treated group. Significant recovery from AD could be observed in CPS treated group through naked eye observation. Dermatitis index was significantly decreased after 11, 12, and 13 weeks of treatment. CD4+, CD8+, CD3+ /CD69+ immune cell ratio in DLN were decreased significantly by 37.2%, 49%, 20.8% in CPS treated group. CD4+ and CD11b+ /Gr-1+ immune cell ratio in dorsal skin were decreased significantly by 50.8% and 59.2% in CPS treated group. Expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in spleen were decreased by 78.8%, 97.8%, 64.7%, 73.6%, and 68.4%, respectively in CPS treated group. The results above strongly indicated the significant immune modulatory effect of CPS and thus clinical application of CPS on AD treatment.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.587-594
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• 2013

Egg consumption has been limited to avoid cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia, because the yolk contains high levels of cholesterol. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the water-soluble component of egg-yolk on the growth efficiency, immune modulation, and changes in serum lipid levels in BALB/c mice. A total 5 wk old 120 BALB/c male mice were divided into 4 groups and were fed 0, 2, 10, and 20 mg/d water-soluble egg yolk extract (WSEYE) for 5 wk. Water-soluble egg yolk extract (WSEYE) uptake resulted in a significant reduction in daily weight gain and feed efficiency rate (FER). The mouse groups treated with 2 and 20 mg/d WSEYE showed a significant increase in populations of monocytes at the third wk and B-lymphocyte activity at the fifth wk. In addition, WSEYE uptake did not influence serum immunoglobulin E levels. In serum lipid-profile studies, treatment of WSEYE did not alter total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels; however, blood triglyceride levels were significantly diminished in mice treated with 2 mg/d at the third wk (p<0.05), and the level of high-density lipoprotein was significantly increased in the mice group treated with 2 and 10 mg/d WSEYE after 5 wk (p<0.05). Taken together, the data demonstrate the beneficial effects of WSEYE in the diet on immune modulation and serum lipid profiles in mouse models; therefore, this study suggests that ingestion of water-soluble fraction of egg yolk might not be related to the increased risk of heart disease, but can be an excellent candidate for maintaining health.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.912-924
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• 2002

Disease susceptibility is linked to nutritional status for a wide range of human and animal diseases. Nutritional status can influence both resistance (ability to resist the pathogen) and resilience (ability to tolerate or ameliorate the effects of the pathogen). This review focuses on the nutritional modulation of gastro-intestinal nematode infection in domestic ruminants, primarily sheep. It highlights the duality of the adverse consequences of infection on host nutritional status and the adverse consequences of poor host nutritional status on resistance to infection. Central to both phenomena is the complex, gut-based immune response to gastrointestinal nematode infection. The potential for strategic nutritional supplementation to enhance host resistance and resilience is reviewed together with recent findings on responses to increased ME supply, and long term effects on host immunity of short term protein supplementation.