• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2003

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is well-known soluble tumor marker frequently detectable in peripheral blood of carcinoma patients and considered as good target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. In this study, we used a replication-deficient adenovirus containing CEA to study CTL induction in vitro after adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into DC. Methods: DC were obtained from mouse bone marrow and cultured with IL-4 and GM-CSF. For measuring CTL activity, splenocytes were harvested from the mice, which were immunized with DC that had been infected AdV-CEA or pulsed with CEA peptide. Untreated DC was used as a control. Splenocytes were re-stimulated in vitro with DC pulsed with CEA peptide for 7 days and CTL activity with CEA peptide-pulsed EL-4 cells were assessed in a standard $^{51}Cr$-release assay. The frequencies of antigen-specific cytokine-secreting T cell were determined with $mIFN-{\gamma}$ELISPOT. Results: DC infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing CEA induced CEA-specific CTL responses in vivo. Splenocyte induced from mice immunized with AdV-CEA-infected DC increase in the number of $IFN-{\gamma}$ secreting T cells compared with those from mice immunized with CEA peptide-pulsed DC. Conclusion: These results suggested that DC infected with recombinant adenovirus has advantages over other forms of vaccination and could provide an alternative approach vaccination therapies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.531-538
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• 2004

Ginsan, a polysaccharide isolated from Panax ginseng, has been shown to be a potent immunomodulator, producing a variety of cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1$\beta$, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and GM-CSF, and stimulating lymphoid cells to proliferate. In the present study, we analyzed some immune functions 1$^{st}$-5$^{th}$ days after ginsan i.p. injection, including the level of non-protein thiols (NPSH) as antioxidants, heme oxygenase (HO) activity as a marker of oxidative stress, zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time and level of hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) as indices of drug metabolism system, and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and albumin level as indicators of hepatotoxicity. Ginsan in the dose of 100 mg/kg caused marked elevation (1.7-2 fold) of HO activity, decrease of total CYP450 level (by 20-34%), and prolongation of zoxazolamine-induced paralysis time (by 65-70%), and showed some differences between male and female mice. Ginsan treatment did not seem to cause hepatic injury, since serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities and levels of total bilirubin and albumin were not changed.d.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.330-335
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• 2015

Apoptosis inhibitor 5 (API5) has recently been identified as a tumor metastasis-regulating gene in cervical cancer cells.However, the precise mechanism of action for API5 is poorly understood. Here, we show that API5 increases the metastatic capacity of cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via up-regulation of MMP-9. Interestingly, API5-mediated metastasis was strongly dependent on the Erk signaling pathway. Conversely, knock-down of API5 via siRNA technology decreased the level of phospho-Erk, the activity of the MMPs, in vitro invasion, and in vivo pulmonary metastasis. Moreover, the Erk-mediated metastatic action was abolished by the mutation of leucine into arginine within the heptad leucine repeat region, which affects protein-protein interactions. Thus, API5 increases the metastatic capacity of tumor cells by up-regulating MMP levels via activation of the Erk signaling pathway. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 330-335]

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.79-94
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• 2011

Background: Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines are currently being evaluated as a novel strategy for tumor vaccination and immunotherapy. However, inducing long-term regression in established tumor-implanted mice is difficult. Here, we show that deoxypohophyllotoxin (DPT) induces maturation and activation of bone marrow-derived DCs via Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 activation of MAPK and NF-${\kappa}B$. Methods: The phenotypic and functional maturation of DPT-treated DCs was assessed by flow cytometric analysis and cytokine production, respectively. DPT-treated DCs was also used for mixed leukocyte reaction to evaluate T cell-priming capacity and for tumor regression against melanoma. Results: DPT promoted the activation of $CD8^+$ T cells and the Th1 immune response by inducing IL-12 production in DCs. In a B16F10 melanoma-implanted mouse model, we demonstrated that DPT-treated DCs (DPT-DCs) enhance immune priming and regression of an established tumor in vivo. Furthermore, migration of DPT-DCs to the draining lymph nodes was induced via CCR7 upregulation. Mice that received DPT-DCs displayed enhanced antitumor therapeutic efficacy, which was associated with increased IFN-${\gamma}$ production and induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. Conclusion: These findings strongly suggest that the adjuvant effect of DPT in DC vaccination is associated with the polarization of T effector cells toward a Th1 phenotype and provides a potential therapeutic antitumor immunity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.137-142
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• 2008

Background: CD11c, also known as integrin alpha x, is one of the optimum markers of dendritic cells. However, the regulation of the CD11c expression in mouse has not been identified yet. In this study, in order to analyze the regulation of CD11c expression, the promoter of CD11c was cloned and characterized. Methods: To identify the promoter portion, various sizes of what are considered to be CD11c promoter fragments was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using mouse genomic DNA as a template. After sequence was obtained, these fragments were transfected into various cell lines including mouse dendritic cell lines such as JAWSII and DC2.4 and L929 as control cell line.. The promoter activity of three promoter fragments was measured and compared by luciferase activity in the transfected cells. Results: Three clones with size of 1kb, 3kb and 6kb were obtained from mouse genomic DNA. Flow cytometry analysis of JAWSII cells revealed that 52% of the cells expressed CD11c, which was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. On the contrary, L929 and DC 2.4 cells did not express CD11c. The CD11c+ JAWSII cells were enriched from 52% to 90% with cell sorter. The comparative luciferase activity analyisis demonstrated that the region responsible for tissue specific expression was contained within -3 kb and the clone with size of 3 kb particularly showed higher luciferase activity than 6 kb and 1 kb clones. Conclusion: The CD11c promoter region containing the region responsible for tissue specificity was successfully cloned and -3 kb region showed the highest activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.273-281
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• 2013

The purpose of this research was to investigate the production and characterization of alkaline protease from Micrococcus sp. PS-1 newly isolated from seawater. Micrococcus sp. PS-1 was grown in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium. Its optimal temperature and pH for growth were $30^{\circ}C$ and 7.0, respectively. The effect of nitrogen sources was investigated on optimal enzyme production. A high level of alkaline protease production occurred in LB broth containing 2% skimmed milk. The protease was purified in a 3-step procedure involving ultrafiltration, acetone precipitation, and dialysis. The procedure yielded a 16.43-purification fold, with a yield of 54.25%. SDS-PAGE showed that the enzyme had molecular weights of 35.0 and 37.5 kDa. Its maximum protease activity was exhibited at pH 9.0 and $37^{\circ}C$, and its activity was stable at pH 8.0-11.0 and $25-37^{\circ}C$. The protease activity was strongly inhibited by PMSF, EDTA, and EGTA. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the protease enzyme from Micrococcus sp. PS-1 probably belongs to a subclass of alkaline metallo-serine proteases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2002

Background: Aerobic training can be defined as any physical exercise that increases the heart rate and enhances the body's intake of oxygen long enough to benefit the condition of body. Running, cycling, and swimming are examples of aerobic activities. This type of exercise optimises immune functions. Recently several experimental findings suggested that the regular swimming training increase immune response, but there have been very few reports which compare warm water exercise with cold water exercise in spleen lymphocytes. Methods: This study was designed to examine the effects of regular swimming training on Index, the number of lymphocytes, proliferative activity and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by splenocytes in BALB/c mice. Thirty six mice (6 week old) were performed 10 weeks of regular swimming training and they were divided into 6 groups according to the regular swimming training (CRG: control resting group, CEG: control exercise group, WRG: warm water trained resting group, WEG: warm water trained exercise group, CORG: cold water trained resting group, COEG: cold water exercise group). Analytical items were weight change, spleen index, the number of lymphocytes, proliferative activity and production of ROS. All data were expressed as mean and standard deviation by using SPSS package program (ver. 10.0). Results: The swimming training significantly decreased body weight, and increased spleen index, the number of lymphocytes and proliferative activity in the presence or absence of Con A and LPS added conditions. For the WRG and CORG, the quantity of ROS from splenocytes was higher than CRG, whereas, ROS by spleen lymphocytes was lower following 90 min acute exercise stress. Conclusion: These results suggested that the swimming training not only increases the number of lymphocytes but also increases proliferative activity by splenocytes in vitro.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.814-819
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• 2008

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) induces a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The IL-32 transcript was reported originally in activated T cells; subsequently, it was demonstrated to be abundantly expressed in epithelial and endothelial cells upon stimulation with inflammatory cytokines. IL-32 is regulated robustly by other major proinflammatory cytokines, thereby suggesting that IL-32 is crucial to inflammation and immune responses. Recently, an IL-32$\alpha$-affinity column was employed in order to isolate an IL-32 binding protein, neutrophil proteinase 3 (PR3). Proteinase 3 processes a variety of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-8, and IL-32, thereby enhancing their biological activities. In the current study, we designed four PR3-cleaved IL-32 separate domains, identified by potential PR3 cleavage sites in the IL-32$\alpha$ and $\gamma$ polypeptides. The separate domains of the IL-32 isoforms $\alpha$ and $\gamma$ were more active than the intrinsic $\alpha$ and $\gamma$ isoforms. Interestingly, the N-terminal IL-32 isoform $\gamma$ separate domain evidenced the highest levels of biological activity among the IL-32 separate domains.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.225-232
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• 2017

This study aimed to evaluate several biological activities of Pharbitis nil and to isolate an anticancer agent from its methanol extract. Pharbitis nil seeds were extracted with methanol (PNM). Then, PNM was fractionated into solvent layers such as ethyl acetate fraction (PNE), butanol fraction (PNB), and water fraction (PNW). The biological activities of the fractions were analyzed for tyrosinase inhibition, lipase inhibition, DPPH-free radical scavenging, and cell growth inhibition. PNM showed strong growth inhibition of prostate cancer PC-3 cells. PNM was subjected to Diaion HP-20 and eluted stepwise with 50%, 80%, and 100% methanol. Then, for activity-guided fraction, each fraction was analyzed for growth inhibition of prostate cancer PC-3 cells by using an MTT assay. Because the 100% fraction showed significantly strong inhibitory activity, the fraction was further separated in the reverse phase C18, which was eluted with 80% and 90% methanol. The 90% fraction was further subjected to Sephadex LH-20 using a mobile solvent of 100% methanol. Finally, the compound PN was partially purified for HPLC analysis. PN showed cell growth inhibitory activity and induced the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of prostate cancer PC-3 cells, as measured by flow cytometry. The results together suggest that Pharbitis nil possesses various biological activities, especially the inhibitory activity for the proliferation of prostate cancer PC-3 cells, suggesting the possibility of its use as an anticancer agent.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.171-172
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• 2002

Immune responses to infectious microbes and foreign antigens are regulated by a series of interactions among T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as macrophages (M$\square$) and dendritic cells (DCs). The inverse relationship between antibody production and cell-mediated immune responses such as delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was experimentally manipulated by varying the dose, route of administration, and form of antigen used to immunize animals. (omitted)