• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.116-125
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• 2001

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) production has been described as a double-edged sword eliciting both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in different immune reactions. This work was undertaken to investigate the immunoregulatory role of NO in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and experimental allergic uveitis (EAU). Method: We examined whether molsidomine (MSDM), a NO donor, administration to the myelin basic protein (MBP)- or interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP)-immunized rats could suppress EAE development by shifting toward the Th2 cytokine response. In the EAE experiments, the rats were treated orally with MSDM (10 mg/kg/day) at the early stage (-1~4 days) or throughout the experimental period (-1~15 days). Results: This resulted in significant amelioration of the disease and mild clinical symptoms, while MBP-immunization without MSDM administration showed severe EAE development. A marked reduction in inflammation was also observed in the spinal cord, indicating the crucial role of NO in the pathogenesis of EAE in in vivo. In the EAU experiments, a 24 h pre-treatment with MSDM prior to IRBP immunization resulted in significant inhibition of the disease. Furthermore, MSDM administration for 2 1 days completely reduced the incidence and severity of EAU. To investigate whether MSDM could modulate cytokine switching from Th 1 to Th2, culture supernatants of MBP- or IRBP-stimulated inguinal lymphocytes were analyzed. MSDM treatment enhanced IL-10 secretion but decreased IFN-${\gamma}$. IL-4 was undetectable in all groups. In contrast, the MBP-or IRBP-immunized rats without MSDM secreted high concentrations of IFN-${\gamma}$, but low concentrations of IL-10. Conclusion: In conclusion, NO administation suppresses EAE and EAU by modulating the Th1/Th2 balance during inflammatory immune responses. This work further suggests that NO may be useful in the therapeutic control of autoimmune disease.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.343-352
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• 2008

Frankincense, the gum resin derived from Boswellia species, is complex mixtures composed of about $5{\sim}9%$ highly aromatic essential oil, $65{\sim}85%$ alcohol-soluble resins, and the remaining water-soluble gums. The anti-inflammatory properties of frankincense, alcohole-soluble resins, are well-recognized, but the question of whether aromatic essential oil also plays a role in the allergic asthma remains unanswered. This study was performed to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of Boswellia sacra essential oil (BSEO) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. BALB/c mice after intraperitoneal OVA sensitization were challenged with intratracheal OVA. One experimental group was inhaled with 0.3% BSEO for the later 8 weeks. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA and developed airway eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness. In contrast, the BSEO treated mice had reduced a number of eosinophils among BALF cells, goblet cell hyperplasia, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Cytokine analysis of BALF revealed that BSEO caused an increase in Th1 cytokine (interferon-$\gamma$ (IFN-$\gamma$)) and a decrease in Th2 cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13) levels. In addition, the OVA-specific serum IgE and eotaxin levels were also reduced. In mice inhaled BSEO, $CD4^+$, $CD3^+/CCR3^+$, and $B220^+/CD23^+$ mediastinal lymph nodes cells were also decreased. These results suggest that inhaled BSEO as a immunomodulator in Th1/Th2 mediated asthma may have therapeutic potential for the treatment in allergic airway inflammation by a simple, cost-effective way.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.111-124
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• 2002

A line of study reported that electroacupuncture(EA) modulate natural killer cell(NK Cell) activities. One report suggested that EA enhanced splenic interferon-gamma($IFN-{\gamma}$), interleukin-2(IL-2), and NK cell activity in Sprague-Dawley rats. Another study suggested that $IFN-{\gamma}$ mediates the up-regulation of NK cell activity, and endogenous ${\beta}$-endorphin secretion also play a role in the up-regulation of NK cell activity induced by EA stimulation. In order to better understand the molecular regulation underlying the activation of NK cell induced by EA, we have utilized cDNA microarray to elucidate how EA alters program of gene expression of spleen in rats. First, we divided three groups, group I was EA group treated with EA in restriction holder, group II was sham group with only holder stress, and last group III was control group with no treatment. We measured NK cell activity after EA stimulation three times for 2 days using $^{51}Cr$ release assay. Second, Biotin-labeled cDNA probes synthesized from EA group and sham group, were competitively hybridized to the microarray that contained variable genes. Such high-throughput screening has identified a number of EA-responsive gene candidates. Of these, we found that EA induced a subset of genes of genes that functionally could modulatory effects on NK cell activity. Genes(vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, protein-tyrosine kinase, CD94 mRNA) related to boost NK cell activity, were increased by EA And, genes(protein-tyrosine-phospatase mRNA, protein-tyrosine phosphatase(SHP-1) mRNA) related to inhibit NK cell activity, were decreased by EA. These EA-responsive genes may provide key insights from which to understand mechanisms of activation of NK cell induced by EA.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.382-392
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• 2012

This study evaluated the effects of dietary anticoccidial drugs plus antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) on parameters of immunity in commercial broiler chickens. Day-old chicks were raised on used litter from a farm with endemic gangrenous dermatitis to simulate natural pathogen exposure and provided with diets containing decoquinate (DECX) or monensin (COBN) as anticoccidials plus bacitracin methylene disalicylate and roxarsone as AGPs. As a negative control, the chickens were fed with a non-supplemented diet. Immune parameters examined were concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated spleen cell proliferation, intestine intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) and spleen cell subpopulations, and cytokine/chemokine mRNA levels in IELs and spleen cells. ConA-induced proliferation was decreased at 14 d post-hatch in DECX-treated chickens, and increased at 25 and 43 d in COBN-treated animals, compared with untreated controls. In DECX-treated birds, increased percentages of $MHC2^+$ and $CD4^+$ IELS were detected at 14 d, but decreased percentages of these cells were seen at 43 d, compared with untreated controls, while increased $TCR2^+$ IELs were evident at the latter time. Dietary COBN was associated with decreased fractions of $MHC2^+$ and $CD4^+$ IELs and reduced percentages of $MHC2^+$, $BU1^+$, and $TCR1^+$ spleen cells compared with controls. The levels of transcripts for interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-17F, IL-13, CXCLi2, interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and transforming growth factor${\beta}$4 were elevated in IELs, and those for IL-13, IL-17D, CXCLi2, and IFN-${\gamma}$ were increased in spleen cells, of DECX- and/or COBN-treated chickens compared with untreated controls. By contrast, IL-2 and IL-12 mRNAs in IELs, and IL-4, IL-12, and IL-17F transcripts in spleen cells, were decreased in DECX- and/or COBN-treated chickens compared with controls. These results suggest that DECX or COBN, in combination with bacitracin and roxarsone, modulate the development of the chicken post-hatch immune system.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 2010

The in vivo and in vitro effects of oriental herb extracts of Cassia obtusifolia, Taraxacum platycarpum and Ulmusmacrocarpa on anti-atopic allergic reaction were evaluated in this study. A mixture of these extracts exhibited more potent anti-allergic activities in human mast cells than those from individual extracts. The herbal mixture significantly inhibited the release of compound 48/80-induced $\beta$-hexosaminidase release in the human mast cell line, HMC-1. The mixture also suppressed the production of PMA and A23187-induced inflammatory cytokines in HMC-1 cells. To further investigate the in vivo effects of the herbal mixture, a Dermatophagoides farinae (DF)-induced atopic dermatitis mouse model was utilized. Oral administration of the herbal mixture significantly decreased the ear thickness and swelling in DF treated NC/Nga mice in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, serum levels of IgE and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were significantly decreased, whereas interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) levels were increased in the mixture administrated groups when compared to the control. Taken together, our data indicate the possibility of using a mixture of the oriental herb extract to relieve symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.948-955
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• 2007

Neutrophils play a key role as a first line of defense and are known to acquire the characteristics of dendritic cells (DCs) under the appropriate conditions. The spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils was delayed by treatment with 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzensulfonylfluoride (AEBSF), a serine protease inhibitor. AEBSF inhibited both caspase-3 and serine protease activities, whereas ZVAD-fmk, a pancaspase inhibitor, inhibited only caspase-3 activity. The life span of neutrophils was prolonged up to 5 days by AEBSF in the presence or absence of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(CM-CSF). DC surface markers, such as CD80, CD83, and MHC class ll were not expressed on neutrophils treated with AEBSF alone. CM-CSF failed to prolong the survival time of neutrophils up to3 days but increased the expression levels of DC markers on neutrophils in the presence of AEBSF. Expression levels of DC markers were the highest on neutrophils treated with CM-CSF and AEBSF for 3 days. AEBSF and CM-CSF-treated neutrophils stimulated proliferation of T cells in the presence of a superantigen, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) but produced $interferon-{\gamma}$ ($IFN{\gamma}$) in the absence of SEB. These results suggest that the inhibition of serine protease activity prolonged the life span of human neutrophils and combined treatment of neukophils with CM-CSF and serine protease inhibitor induced differentiation of neutrophils into DC-like cells.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.156-167
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• 2002

This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Kimchi intake of Cordyceps sinensis extract (CDSE) supplementation on cytokine-induction and immune response in mice. To study in experiments using male Balb/c mice fed Kimchi and Kimchi of CDSE supplementation (addition of 2% of total Kimchi weight) containing fed experimental diet during 2 weeks. Experimental mice were fed control diet or diet containing freeze-dried Kimchi at the level of 5%(w/w) or 5% freeze-dried Kimchi with 2% CDSE supplementation. The main ingredient of Kimchi was Korean cabbage and fermentation was carried out at $4^{\circ}C$ for three weeks. Freeze-dried 2% CDSE supplementation was added to Kimchi at the beginning of fennentation. In order to investigate the effect of Kimchi intake of CDSE supplementation (5%Kimchi-2%CDSE), the following was performed; body weight, food intake, hematological parameter, serum level of mouse interleukin-4 (mIL-4) and mouse $interferon-{\gamma}$ $(mIFN-{\gamma})$, and, the percentage of CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, B220+ in splenic cells. The results of final body weight, and food diet intake of two Kimchi groups were lower than those of the control group (not supplemented experimental diet). The hematology change obtained from the level of WBC (white blood cell) and platelet were not affected by feeding different dietary regiments, but the level of RBC (red blood cells) HB (hemoglobin), and spleen weight of two Kimchi groups were increased significantly than those of the control group. The serum level of IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ of two Kimchi groups were increased significantly than those of the control group, also enhanced the percentages of the CD3+/CD4+ and CD3+/CD8+ by 5% freeze-dried Kimchi, and 5%Kimchi-2%CDSE group were 43.9 and 60.1%, and 96.0 and 174% than those of the control group, respectively. From these results, it can be concluded that Kimchi itself has an immuno-stimulatory effect and Kimchi contaning 2% CDSE supplementation has the more pronounced effect in vivo system.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.664-673
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Regulatory dendritic cells (rDCs), which can be induced by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), play an important role in inducing and maintaining homeostasis of regulatory T cells and exhibit anti-inflammatory functions. In this study, we investigated whether MSCs could differentiate DCs into rDCs and compared the therapeutic effects of rDCs and MSCs on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced chronic colitis mice. Methods: Immature DCs (imDCs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mature DCs (mDCs) were co-cultured with MSCs for 48 hours, and then the profiles of surface markers and cytokines and regulatory roles of these DCs for primary splenocytes were analyzed. In addition, the therapeutic effects of MSCs and DCs co-cultured with MSCs were compared in chronic colitis mice. Results: After co-culture of imDCs (MSC-DCs) or LPS-treated mDCs (LPS+MSC-DCs) with MSCs, the expression of CD11c, CD80, CD86, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), was decreased, but that of CD11b, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) was increased. Furthermore, MSC-DCs and LPS+MSC-DCs induced the expression of CD4, CD25, and Foxp3 in primary splenocytes isolated from mice. In DSS-induced colitis mice, MSCs and MSC-DCs increased colon length, body weight, and survival rate and induced histological improvement. Moreover, in the colon tissues, the expression of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$ decreased, but that of IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and Foxp3 increased in the MSC- and MSC-DC-injected groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that MSCs differentiate DCs into rDCs, which ameliorate chronic colitis. Thus, rDCs stimulated by MSCs may be therapeutically useful for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2020

Objectives: Oxidative stress-mediated neuroinflammation has been supposed as a crucial factor that contributes to the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective activity against oxidative stress and neuroinflammation of protocatechuic acid (PA), active phenolic compound from Momordica Charantia. Methods: Protective activity of PA from oxidative stress was performed under in vitro conditions. Our study investigated the protective mechanism of PA from neuroinflammation in cellular system using C6 glial cell. To investigate the improvement the effects on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, we induced oxidative stress by H₂O₂ (100 μM) stimulation and induced neuroinflammation by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 ㎍/mL) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (10 ng/mL) in C6 glial cells. Results: PA showed strong radical scavenging effect against 1,1-dipenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxy radical (·OH) and nitric oxide (NO). Under oxidative stress treated by H₂O₂, the result showed the increased mRNA expressions of oxidative stress markers such as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS). However, the treatment of PA led to reduced mRNA expressions of NF-κB, COX-2 and iNOS. Moreover, PA attenuated the production of interleukin-6 and scavenged NO generated by both endotoxin LPS and IFN-γ together. Furthermore, it also reduced LPS and IFN-γ-induced mRNA expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Conclusions: In conclusion, our results collectively suggest that PA, phenolic compound of Momordica Charantia, could be a safe anti-oxidant and a promising anti-neuroinflammatory molecule for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.670-675
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• 2004

We have examined the effects of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), prostaglandin $E_2$ (PG $E_2$) and dibutric cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) on the methylation of interferon- ${\gamma}$ (IFN- ${\gamma}$ ) gene in human Jurkat T cells. The CpG dinucleotide which is critical for promoter function of IFN- ${\gamma}$ gene was methylated by treatment with SNAP, PG $E_2$ and dbcAMP, respectively. The DNA methylation induced by PG $E_2$ was suppressed by the addition of 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA), an inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase, but the suppression was not observed in SNAP treated cells. The NO production was not enhanced in PG $E_2$ or dbcAMP treated cells. The methylation induced by PG $E_2$ and dbcAMP was not suppressed by the addition of $N^{G}$-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), NO synthase inhibitor. In conclusion, the inhibition of INF- ${\gamma}$ gene expression by PG $E_2$ was associated with the methylation of INF- ${\gamma}$ gene by elevation of intracellular cAMP in human Jurkat T cells. However, the methylation induced by PG $E_2$ might not be mediated through the NO production.rough the NO production.