• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2014

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimycobacterial effects of hop plant, Humulus japonicus. Methanol extract of H. japonicus (MeOH extract) showed strong direct bactericidal effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. Furthermore, the MeOH extract significantly inhibited M. tuberculosis growth in human macrophages. When five fractions obtained from MeOH extract were examined using the same methods, the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions showed bactericidal effects against M. tuberculosis in vitro, whereas the butanol and water fractions inhibited M. tuberculosis growth in macrophages. Because H. japonicus extract exhibited antimycobacterial activity against both free M. tuberculosis in culture medium and intracellular M. tuberculosis in human macrophages, this plant might be a good candidate for development of a new anti-tuberculosis drug.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.573-573
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• 2007

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.264-272
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• 2022

Background: The current conventional drug susceptibility test (DST) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) takes several weeks of incubation to obtain results. As a rapid method, molecular DST requires only a few days to get the results but does not fully cover the phenotypic resistance. A new rapid method based on the ability of viable Mtb bacilli to hydrolyze fluorescein diacetate to free fluorescein with detection of fluorescent mycobacteria by flow cytometric analysis, was recently developed. Methods: To evaluate this cytometric method, we tested 39 clinical isolates which were susceptible or resistant to isoniazid (INH) or rifampin (RIF), or ethambutol (EMB) by phenotypic or molecular DST methods and compared the results. Results: The susceptibility was determined by measuring the viability rate of Mtb and all the isolates which were tested with INH, RIF, and EMB showed susceptibility results concordant with those by the phenotypic solid and liquid media methods. The isolates having no mutations in the molecular DST but resistance in the conventional phenotypic DST were also resistant in this cytometric method. These results suggest that the flow cytometric DST method is faster than conventional agar phenotypic DST and may complement the results of molecular DST. Conclusion: In conclusion, the cytometric method could provide quick and more accurate information that would help clinicians to choose more effective drugs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.257-257
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• 2009

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.101-115
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• 2019

The pathogenesis of cerebral malaria is biologically complex and involves multi-factorial mechanisms such as microvascular congestion, immunopathology by the pro-inflammatory cytokine and endothelial dysfunction. Recent data have suggested that a pleiotropic T-cell immunomodulatory protein (TIP) could effectively mediate inflammatory cytokines of mammalian immune response against acute graft-versus-host disease in animal models. In this study, we identified a conserved homologue of TIP in Plasmodium berghei (PbTIP) as a membrane protein in Plasmodium asexual stage. Compared with PBS control group, the pathology of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) in rPbTIP intravenous injection (i.v.) group was alleviated by the downregulation of pro-inflammatory responses, and rPbTIP i.v. group elicited an expansion of regulatory T-cell response. Therefore, rPbTIP i.v. group displayed less severe brain pathology and feverish mice in rPbTIP i.v. group died from ECM. This study suggested that PbTIP may be a novel promising target to alleviate the severity of ECM.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.20
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• 2022

Recently, there have been impressive advancements in understanding of the immune mechanisms underlying cutaneous inflammatory diseases. To understand these diseases on a deeper level and clarify the therapeutic targets more precisely, numerous studies including in vitro experiments, animal models, and clinical trials have been conducted. This has resulted in a paradigm shift from non-specific suppression of the immune system to selective, targeted immunotherapies. These approaches target the molecular pathways and cytokines responsible for generating inflammatory conditions and reinforcing feedback mechanisms to aggravate inflammation. Among the numerous types of skin inflammation, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are common chronic cutaneous inflammatory diseases. Psoriasis is a IL-17-mediated disease driven by IL-23, while AD is predominantly mediated by Th2 immunity. Autoimmune bullous diseases are autoantibody-mediated blistering disorders, including pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. Alopecia areata is an organ-specific autoimmune disease mediated by CD8⁺ T-cells that targets hair follicles. This review will give an updated, comprehensive summary of the pathophysiology and immune mechanisms of inflammatory skin diseases. Moreover, the therapeutic potential of current and upcoming immunotherapies will be discussed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Interleukin-24 (IL-24) belongs to the IL-10 family of cytokines and is well known for its tumor suppressor activity. This cytokine is released by both immune and nonimmune cells and acts on non-hematopoietic tissues such as skin, lung and reproductive tissues. Apart from its ubiquitous tumor suppressor function, IL-24 is also known to be involved in the immunopathology of autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although the cellular sources and functions of IL-24 are being increasingly investigated, the molecular mechanisms of IL-24 gene expression at the levels of signal transduction, epigenetics and transcription factor binding are still unclear. Understanding the specific molecular events that regulate the production of IL-24 will help to answer the remaining questions that are important for the design of new strategies of immune intervention involving IL-24. Herein, we briefly review the signaling pathways and transcription factors that facilitate, induce, or repress production of this cytokine along with the cellular sources and functions of IL-24.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2001

Objectives: This experimental study was carried out to prove the effect of Saenghyuldan(SHD; shengxiedan) on bone marrow failure induced by cyclophosphamide(CY) and irradiation in mice. Methods: The following were performed; immunopathology, histopathlogical findings of bone marrow and in the smear of myelocyte. hematopoietic cytokine(IL-3, GM-CSF, TPO), hematopoietic stem cell colony assay, humoral immunity(LPS mitogen response), cell-mediated immunity (Con A mitogen response) and nonspecific immunity(macrophage adherence & phagocytosis) in vitro or vivo. Results: SHD showed a protective effect on bone marrow failure induced by cyclophosphamide(CY) and irradiation in mice. SHD increased lymphoproliferative responses to LPS and Con A, and activated macrophage adherence and phagocytosis to SRBC. Conclusions: We expect that SHD can be used to treat bone marrow failure and immune suppression induced by the chemotherapy or radiation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2001

Objectives: This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of PSM(polysaccharide of mushroom) on the immune activity. Methods: The following were performed; Immunotoxicity testing for immunopathology, IgO production & LPS mitogen response for humoral immunity, DTH, ConA mitogen response for cell-mediated immunity, and macrophage adherence & phagocytosis for nonspecific immunity in vitro or in vivo. Results: PSM showed a protective effect on cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenia, increased IgG production and lymphoproliferative responses to LPS; inhanced DTH and lymphoproliferative response Con A; and activated macrophage adherence and phagocytosis to SRBC. Conclusions: It is suggested that PSM can be used for cancer patients with immunosuppression and adapted to many other diseases.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2004

Mancozeb, a polymeric complex of zinc and manganese salts of ethylene bisthiocarbamate (EBDC), is used widely in agriculture as fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. Mancozeb can be occupationally and environmentally exposed to human and has been reported to induce estrogenic activity, therein it is considered as an endocrine disrupter, We investigated the effects of acute exposure of Mancozeb on the immune function in mice. After single oral administration of Mancozeb to female ICR mice, the immunopathological parameters (body- and organ-weight, splenic cellularity hematological parameters), mitogen (Con A, PHA+IL-2, LPS)-induced splenocyte proliferation (SP) and splenic IgM plaque forming cell (PFC). WBC and splenic cellularity were decreased, but liver-, kidney-, and spleen-weight were increased when compared with control group. Splenic IgM PFC against SRBC was slightly lowered. Mitogen-induced proliferation of spleen cells from Mancozeb-treated mice was not signifcantly changed ex vivo, however, SP in vitro were significantly lowered in concentration dependent manner. These results indicate that Mancozeb could affect the immune function in mice.