• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

The primary cause of periodontitis is plaque-associated anaerobic gram-negative bacteria. As shown in the patients with defects in the number or function of neutrophils, innate immunity plays an important role in resistance to bacterial infection and periodontitis. Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) is one of the key receptors that recognize the molecular patterns of microbes and initiate innate immune response. To understand the role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, we investigated whether Asp299Gly of TLR4 mutation is associated with periodontitis in Korean population. Subjects for this study included 90 healthy subjects and 98 periodontitis patients. The Asp299Gly mutation was screened by PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism(RFLP) of genomic DNA from blood cells using a primer that creates a NcoI restriction site only in the mutant allele. The Asp299Gly mutation was not found in all subjects tested. Our results suggest that the Asp299Gly mutation of TLR4 is very rare in a Korean population. Further mutation screening may be required to determine the role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1554-1562
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• 2018

The type I interferons (IFNs) play a vital role in activation of innate immunity in response to viral infection. Accordingly, viruses have evolved to employ various survival strategies to evade innate immune responses induced by type I IFNs. For example, hepatitis E virus (HEV) encoded papain-like cysteine protease (PCP) has been shown to inhibit IFN activation signaling by suppressing K63-linked de-ubiquitination of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), thus effectively inhibiting down-stream activation of IFN signaling. In the present study, we demonstrated that HEV inhibits polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C))-induced $IFN-{\beta}$ transcriptional induction. Moreover, by using reporter assay with individual HEV-encoded gene, we showed that HEV methyltransferase (MeT), a non-structural protein, significantly decreases RIG-I-induced $IFN-{\beta}$ induction and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling activities in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, we report here that MeT, along with PCP, is responsible for the inhibition of RIG-I-induced activation of type I IFNs, expanding the list of HEV-encoded antagonists of the host innate immunity.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2013

Our aim was to determine the effects of a citrus by-product (CBP) and CBP fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum (LP-CBP), provided as dietary supplements, on the growth performance, feed utilization, innate immunity and temperature tolerance of red seabream. A diet without inclusion of CBP or LP-CBP was used as a control and four other experimental diets were formulated to replace wheat flour by 4% and 8% of either CBP or LP-CBP (designated as Con, LP-CBP4%, LP-CBP8%, CBP4% and CBP8%, respectively). Experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of 25 fish (initial body weight, 55.0 g) for 9 weeks. Growth performance and feed utilization were not significantly different among all the groups. Bone collagen content was significantly increased by supplementation with CBP and LP-CBP. Vitamin C concentration tended to be higher in livers of fish fed the supplements than in the control group. Myeloperoxidase, lysozyme and superoxide dismutase activities were higher in fish fed CBP or LP-CBP than in fish fed the control diet. When fish were exposed to low water temperature, cumulative mortalities of those fed CBP or LP-CBP supplemented diets were lower (29%, 33%, 34% and 33% mortalities for LP-CBP4%, LP-CBP8%, CBP4% and CBP8%, respectively) than in the control group (58%). Therefore, inclusion of either CBP or LP-CBP at up to 8% in red seabream diet brings benefits through enhanced innate immunity and better tolerance of low water temperature.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.367-372
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• 2015

We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of two types (powder or liquid) of propolis on innate immunity and disease resistance of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus against Edwerdsiella tarda. A total of 600 fish averaging 30 g were randomly distributed into 24 tanks in groups of 25. Three tanks were assigned to each of eight experimental diets: 0 (Control), 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 % propolis in powder form and 0.25, 0.5 and 1 % propolis in liquid form (PP0.25, PP0.5, PP0.75, PP1, LP0.25, LP0.5 and LP1, respectively). Fish were fed each experimental diet twice daily for four weeks to apparent satiation. At the end of the feeding trial, lysozyme and myeloperoxidase activities and total immunoglobulin level were significantly higher in fish fed the PP1 and LP0.5 diets compared to those fed the control diet. The PP1 diet was also associated with a significant increase in anti-protease activity compared to the control diet. After challenge with E. tarda, fish fed the LP0.5 diet showed numerically higher survival compared to the other groups. This study indicates that non-specific immune responses of olive flounder can be enhanced by dietary supplementation with powder and liquid forms of propolis, and that the optimal level would be 1% in powder form or 0.5% in liquid form. It seemed that growth performance and feed utilization are not affected by the propolis supplementation in diets for olive flounder.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.634-643
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• 2023

The effects of dietary supplementation with fermented blood meal (FBM) in two forms were evaluated on the growth performance, hematological parameters, innate immune response, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal histology of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. A commercial powder feed was used as a basal diet (Con). Six other diets were prepared by supplementing 2, 4 and 6% FBM either in powder or liquid form to the Con diet (designated as P2, P4, P6, L2, L4 and L6, respectively). In total 420 eels (initial mean body weight: 55.1±1.71 g) were distributed into 21 tanks (450L) at a density of 20 eels per tank. Three replicate groups of fish were fed one of the seven diets twice daily for 12 weeks. No significant differences were observed in the growth performance and survival among all groups. Fish fed FBM-containing diets showed significantly improved hematological parameters, innate immunity and antioxidant capacity than those in the Con group. Fish fed FBM-containing diets showed significantly enhanced digestive enzyme activity, villus length and goblet cells than those in fish fed Con diet. These results indicate that both powder and liquid FBM could be a good functional feed additive to improve innate immunity and digestion in Japanese eel.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2011

Probiotics have many effects such as antihypertensive, prevention of cancer, antioxidation, reduction of dermatitis symptoms, improvement of mineral absorption, reduction of allergic symptoms, and decrease of cholesterol, However, the main role of probiotics is that they balance intestinal microbials proportion. L. acidophilus is one of probiotics and microflora in intestine. It has an acidification activity, aroma production, texture formation and probiotics properties. We studied on the roles of L. acidophilus in mice. In this study, body weights of mice were decreased when administration of L. acidophilus ($1{\times}10^{10}$ CFU) and swimming ability has been raised than a normal group after feeding on L. acidophilus ($1{\times}10^{10}$ CFU). After taking L. acidophilus ($1{\times}10^{10}$ CFU), total white cells were increased than a normal group; hemoglobin and thrombocytes were increased. The level of cholesterol and triglyceride were decreased in blood analysis. We knew L. acidophilus is related to innate immune system. We found out the secretion of cationic peptide was increased in the Lysoplate assays as a result of L. acidophilus ($1{\times}10^{10}$ CFU) administration. Appearance rate of lysozyme was also increased than the normal group on an immunohistochemistry stain. We confirmed L. acidophilus contributes to host health through innate immune system stimulation. L. acidophilus more than $1{\times}10^{10}$ CFU are thought to be beneficial for the host health and prevention of intestinal diseases in field condition.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2006

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) is known to be as a negative feedback regulator in Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling. Highly conserved SOCS box domain was cloned from a Korean malaria vector, Anopheles sinensis. Sequence analysis indicates that it has identity to Anopheles gambiae (96%), Aedes aegypti (94%), Drosophila melanogaster (78%), Mus musculus (72%) and Homo sapiens (72%), respectively. Tissue specificity RT-PCR demonstrated that the expression level of AsSOCS transcript was high at abdomen, midgut, and ovary, whereas developmental expression patterns showed that the level of AsSOCS was high at egg, early pupae, and adult female. On the other hand, RT-PCR analysis after bacterial challenge showed that SOCS mRNA was strongly induced in larvae. In addition, it was also induced by various immune elicitors such as lipoteicoic acid, CpG-DNA, and laminarin. It seems that AsSOCS, repressor of JAK-STAT pathway, is highly conserved in mosquito, and may play an important role in mosquito innate immune response.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2011

Two feeding trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with Hizikia fusiformis or Ecklonia cava on the non-specific immune responses of parrot fish Oplegnathus fasciatus. Fish were fed experimental diets to which H. fusiformis or E. cava powder were added to final concentrations of 0, 2, 4 and 6%, respectively. After feeding for two weeks, phagocytic activity was significantly higher in fish fed diets containing H. fusiformis, but not E. cava, than in fish fed the basal diet. Lysozyme activity was significantly increased in the fish fed diets containing 6% H. fusiformis and E. cava. Myeloperoxidase activity was also significantly higher in fish fed diets containing 2 and 4% H. fusiformis, as compared to the basal diet, but not in those fish fed E. cava. These two studies indicate that dietary supplementation with H. fusiformis or E. cava could enhance the innate immune responses of parrot fish during their growth stage.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.89-95
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• 2012

Immune cells express toll-like receptors (TLRs) and respond to molecular patterns of various pathogens. CpG motif in bacterial DNA activates innate and acquired immune systems through binding to TLR9 of immune cells. Several studies reported that CpG can directly regulate B cell activation, differentiation, and Ig production. However, the role of CpG in B cell growth and Ig production is not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the effect of CpG on the kinetics of mouse B cell viability, proliferation, and Igs production. Overall, CpG enhanced mouse B cell growth and production of Igs in a dose-dependent manner. Unlike LPS, 100 nM CpG (high dose) did not support TGF-${\beta}1$-induced IgA and IgG2b production. Moreover, 100 nM CpG treatment abrogated either LPS-induced IgM or LPS/TGF-${\beta}1$-induced IgA and IgG2b production, although B cell growth was enhanced by CpG under the same culture conditions. We subsequently found that 10 nM CpG (low dose) is sufficient for B cell growth. Again, 10 nM CpG did not support TGF-${\beta}1$-induced IgA production but, interestingly enough, supported RA-induced IgA production. Further, 10 nM CpG, unlike 100 nM, neither abrogated the LPS/TGF-${\beta}1$- nor the LPS/RA-induced IgA production. Taken together, these results suggest that dose of CpG is critical in B cell growth and Igs production and the optimal dose of CpG cooperates with LPS in B cell activation and differentiation toward Igs production.