• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.215-223
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• 2000

To understand immunopharmacologic effects on Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Morindae Officinalis Radix, Cistanches Herba, Curculginis Rhizoma, Epimedii Herba, Eucommiae Cortex, we investigated chinese experimental documents, and we could reach conclusions as follows : 1. The effects on cell-mediated immune system were as follows. 1) The effects on macrophage (1) The herbal medicines promoting to increase the number of WBC in the peripheral blood were Morindae Officinalis Radix, Epimedii Herba and that promoting to reinforce the phagocytic functions of neutrophil was Curculginis Rhizoma. (2) The herbal medicines promoting the phagocytic functions of mononuclear, macrophage were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Eucommiae Cortex. 2) The herbal medicines stimulating the activities of T lymphocytes were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Curculginis Rhizoma, Epimedii Herba, Eucommiae Cortex. 2. The effects on humoral immune system were as follows. 1) The herbal medicines increasing the activity of complement receptor were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Curculginis Rhizoma. 2) The herbal medicines reinforcing immunity of spleen cells were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Epimedii Herba. 3) The herbal medicines promoting proliferation of spleen cells that produce antibody after having been immunized by SRBC were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Epimedii Herba. 3. The herbal medicines, reinforcing immunity on delayed type hypersensitivity were Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu, Cistanches Herba, Eucommiae Cortex. As you know in the many bibliological documents, the studies on the effects of Drugs for Tonifying Yang were started along right lines. Recently the studies on those were accomplished more rapidly and applied many immune diseases. We thought that Drugs for Tonifying Yang could be important immunopotentiators. Therefore we can apply those herbal medicines not only to immune diseases but also inflammatory diseases, senile infirmity and all sorts of tumor.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.5
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• pp.187-196
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• 1996

Alcohol is a major risk factor for several diseases and especially excessive, long-term alcohol consumption are caues the damage of immunity such as the inhibiton of secretion of lymphokine and proliferation of immune component cell. This study observed that the inhibition of T lymphocytic differentiation and secretion of interleukin 2(IL-2) induced in thymus of ICR mouse by chronic alcohol administration. After 8% alcohol voluntary administered for 120 days, the thymic tissue immunohistochemically stained by following ABC method that used monoclonal antibody including L3T4(CD4), Ly-2(CD8), and IL-2 receptor(CD25R) after embedding with paraffin. The results were as follows. 1. The size of thymic medulla in test group reduced than control group. 2. The number of helper T lymphocyte, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, and IL-2 receptor were decreased in thymic medulla and cortico-medullary junction of test group and the degree of CD4, CD8, and CD25R positive reaction were soften in test group. These results indicated that the secretion of IL-2 in thymus was inhibited by chronic alcohol administration and subsequently prevent to differentiate from thymocytes to T lymphocytes. As this view, cell mediated immunity were reduced by chronic alcohol administration.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2003

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is traditionally used as appetite enhancer, improver of the digestive system, antithusive, anti-cold, antipyretic, analgesic, and antiinflammation. In vitro evaluation using human lymphocyte cultures showed almost similar indication with those in in vivo mouse study, NK cell lysing activity was improved significantly. Proliferation activity of B and T cells, and CD3$^{＋}$ and CD3$^{＋}$CD4$^{＋}$T cell subset were better observed using oleoresin or gingerol and shogaol fractions. Although there were higher activities in gingerol, the improvement was almost equal to that by oleoresin. Shogaol did not show better improvement except at higher concentration. It could be concluded that treatment with single bioactive compound, such as gingerol, did not show significant effects compared to oleoresin, the crude extract. In human study, involving healthy male adult, the improvement of NK cell lysing activity was again demonstrated and even more apparent. The mechanism involved in the protection seemed to be through the antioxidant activity of gingerol. However, other mechanism underlying the improvement of NK cell lysing activity must be involved since this improvement seemed to be specifically toward NK cell activity. Since NK cells ave specific for the elimination of virus-infected cell and mutated cells, this positive effect on the immune system are very interesting. This work has also scientifically proved that the traditional beliefs that ginger had preventive effects on common cold appeared to be reasonable.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.348-358
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• 2007

Metallothionein, a cysteine-rich stress response protein that is naturally induced by a variety of immunologic stressors, has been shown to suppress autoimmune disorders through mechanisms not yet fully defined. In the present study, we examined the underlying mechanisms by which metallothionein might mediate such regulation of autoimmunity. $Na\ddot{i}ve\;CD4^+$ T cells from metallothionein-deficient mice differentiated to produce significantly less IL-10, $TGF-{\gamma}$, and repressor of GATA, but more $IFN-{\gamma}$ and T-bet, when compared with those from wild-type mice. The levels of IL-4 and GATA-3 production were not different between the two groups of mice. Conversely, treatment with exogenous metallothionein during the priming phase drove $na\ddot{i}ve$ wild-type $CD4^+\;T$ cells to differentiate into cells producing more IL-10 and $TGF-{\beta}$, but less $IFN-{\gamma}$ than untreated cells. Metallothionein-primed cells were hyporesponsive to restimulation, and suppressive to T cell proliferation in an IL-10-dependent manner. Lymphocytes from metallothionein-deficient mice displayed significantly elevated levels of AP-1 and JNK activities in response to stimulation compared with those from wild-type controls. Importantly, transgenic mice overexpressing metallothionein exhibited significantly reduced susceptibility to collagen-induced arthritis and enhanced IL-10 level in the serum, relative to their nontransgenic littermates. Taken together, these data suggest that metallothionein is able to promote the generation of IL-10-and $TGF-{\beta}$-producing type 1 regulatory T-like cells by downregulating JNK-dependent AP-1 activity. Thus, metallothionein may play an important role in the regulation of Th1-dependent autoimmune arthritis, and may represent both a potential target for therapeutic manipulation and a critical element in the diagnostic assessment of disease potential.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.536-542
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• 2016

Interleukin-17A is a member of the IL-17 family, and is known as CTLA8 in the mouse. It is produced by T lymphocytes and NK cells and has proinflammatory roles, inducing cytokine and chemokine production. However, its role in tumor biology remains controversial. We investigated the effects of locally produced IL-17A by transferring the gene encoding it into CT26 colon cancer cells, either in a secretory or a membrane-bound form. Expression of the membrane-bound form on CT26 cells dramatically enhanced their proliferation in vitro. The enhanced growth was shown to be due to an increased rate of cell cycle progression: after synchronizing cells by adding and withdrawing colcemid, the rate of cell cycle progression in the cells expressing the membrane-bound form of IL-17A was much faster than that of the control cells. Both secretory and membrane-bound IL-17A induced the expression of Sca-1 in the cancer cells. When tumor clones were grafted into syngeneic BALB/c mice, the tumor clones expressing the membrane-bound form IL-17A grew rapidly; those expressing the secretory form also grew faster than the wild type CT26 cells, but slower than the clones expressing the membrane-bound form. These results indicate that IL-17A promotes tumorigenicity by enhancing cell cycle progression. This finding should be considered in treating tumors and immune-related diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oligonol, mainly found in lychee fruit, is an antioxidant polyphenolic compound which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The detailed mechanisms by which oligonol may act as an anti-aging molecule have not been determined. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the ability of oligonol to modulate sirtuin (SIRT) expression in human lung epithelial (A549) cells. Oligonol was added to A549 cells and reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial superoxide formation, and p21 protein levels were measured. Signaling pathways activated upon oligonol treatment were also determined by western blotting. Furthermore, the anti-aging effect of oligonol was evaluated ex vivo in mouse splenocytes and in vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans. RESULTS: Oligonol specifically induced the expression of SIRT1, whose activity is linked to gene expression, metabolic control, and healthy aging. In response to influenza virus infection of A549 cells, oligonol treatment significantly up-regulated SIRT1 expression and down-regulated viral hemagglutinin expression. Oligonol treatment also resulted in the activation of autophagy pathways and the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Furthermore, oligonol-treated spleen lymphocytes from old mice showed increased cell proliferation, and mRNA levels of SIRT1 in the lungs of old mice were significantly lower than those in the lungs of young mice. Additionally, in vivo lethality assay revealed that oligonol extended the lifespan of C. elegans infected with lethal Vibrio cholerae. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that oligonol may act as an anti-aging molecule by modulating SIRT1/autophagy/AMPK pathways.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 2005

Central diabetes insipidus (DI) is a syndrome characterized by thirst, polydipsia and polyuria. Langerhans cell histiocytosis is one of the etiologies of DI. Recently we experienced a central DI associated with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The 44 years old female patient complained right hip pain, polydipsia and polyuria. We carried out water deprivation test. After vasopressin injection, urine osmotic pressure was increased from 109 mOsmol/kg to 327 mOsmol/kg (300%). Brain MRI showed a thickened pituitary stalk and air bubble like lesions sized with 5cm, 7cm was shown on fifth L-spine and right hip bone at hip bone CT. CT guided biopsy revealed abnormal histiocytes proliferation and abundant lymphocytes. The final diagnosis was central DI associated with systemic Langerhans cell histiocytosis invading hip bone, L-spine and pituitary stalk. Desmopressin and etoposide chemotherapy were performed to the patient.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.91 no.1
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• pp.88-91
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• 2016

Influenza infection may be complicated by various infectious or non-infectious diseases. Among them, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon hyperinflammatory syndrome caused by uncontrolled proliferation and activation of macrophages and lymphocytes, and it is often life threatening. A previously healthy male patient was suspected to have HLH after influenza B infection. The diagnosis was established based on clinical diagnostic criteria suggested in the HLH-2004 trial. Despite prompt antiviral therapy, the patient expired on day 19 of hospitalization. Influenza can thus be complicated by HLH. Due to the non-specific manifestations of HLH, clinical suspicion and early diagnosis are important.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.533-538
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• 1997

Biflavonoid is one of unique classes of naturally-occurring bioflavonoid. Previously, certain biflavonoids were found to possess the inhibitory effects on phospholipase $A_2$ activity and lymphocytes $ proliferation^1$ suggesting their anti-inflammatory/immunoregulatory potential. In this study, effects of several biflavonoids on arachidonic acid release from rat peritoneal macrophages were investigated, because arachidonic acid released from the activated macrophages is one of the indices of inflammatory conditions. When resident peritoneal macrophages labeled with $[^{3}H]$arachidonic acid were activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) or calcium ionophore, A23187, radioactivity released in the medium was increased approximately 4.1-7.3 fold after 120 min incubation compared to the spontaneous release in the control incubation. In this condition, biflavonoids (10 uM) such as ochnaflavone, ginkgetin and isoginkgetin, showed inhibition of arachidonate release from macrophages activated by PMA (32.5-40.0% inhibition) or A23187 (21.7-41.7% inhibition). Amentoflavone showed protection only against PMA-induced arachidonate release, while apigenin, a monomer of these biflavonoids, did not show the significant inhibition up to 10 uM. Staurosporin (1 uM), a protein kinase C inhibitor, showed an inhibitory effect only against PMA-induced arachidonate release (96.8% inhibition). Inhibition of arachidonate release from the activated macrophages may contribute to an anti-inflammatory potential of biflavonoids in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.79 no.6
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• pp.348-353
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• 2018

Hepatic pseudolymphoma is a rare benign liver mass that is characterized by proliferation of non-neoplastic lymphocytes extranodally. To the best of our knowledge, only 46 cases have been reported in the English literature. We described the case of a 75-year-old woman with hepatic pseudolymphoma mimicking a hypervascular tumor. After the histological confirmation of the rectal neuroendocrine tumor, CT scan revealed a 1.0 cm-sized, poorly-defined and low-density nodule in the liver. On MRI, the hepatic nodule showed an arterial enhancement and a low-signal intensity on the hepatobiliary phase. On diffusion-weighted imaging, the hepatic nodule showed a high signal intensity on a high b-value. On fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, it revealed a high standardized uptake value nodule. The US showed the hypoechoic nodule and the US-guided biopsy confirmed the hepatic pseudolymphoma.