• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2006

Objectives : On-Bi-Tang(OB) has been prescribed Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disease such as chronic renal failure. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of OB extract in the BV2 murine microglial cells. Methods : After the water extract of OB was treated in BV2 cells, murine microglial line, the cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and $TNF-{\alpha}$ was determined based on Griess reagent and enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and $TNF-{\alpha}$ was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results : OB extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of NO and TNF-a in BV2 cells. OB extract also suppressed the mRNA expression of iNOS and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in BV2 cells activated with LPS. Conclusion : These data suggests that OB extract may have the anti-inflammatory effect through the modulation of NO production and inflammatory cytokine such as $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2015

Trichomoniasis caused by the parasitic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world. Dendritic cells are antigen presenting cells that initiate immune responses by directing the activation and differentiation of naive T cells. In this study, we analyzed the effect of Trichomonas vaginalis-derived Secretory Products on the differentiation and function of dendritic cells. Differentiation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in the presence of T. vaginalis-derived Secretory Products resulted in inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced maturation of dendritic cells, down-regulation of IL-12, and up-regulation of IL-10. The protein components of T. vaginalis-derived Secretory Products were shown to be responsible for altered function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that IL-12 expression was regulated at the chromatin level in T. vaginalis-derived Secretory Products-treated dendritic cells. Our results demonstrated that T. vaginalis- derived Secretory Products modulate the maturation and cytokine production of dendritic cells leading to immune tolerance.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

The growing market for companion animals, combined with their increasing lifespan, has generated an increased interest in companion animal immunity enhancers. Ginsenoside, a saponin component of ginseng and an essential ingredient of red ginseng marc (produced during red ginseng production), is effective in improving immunity. In this experiment, a powder mixture of red ginseng marc and steamed red ginseng extract powder (RGME) was orally administered to dogs for eight weeks. Subsequently, blood samples were collected and tested every four weeks. In addition, canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) were stimulated with or without interleukin-2 (IL-2) to evaluate their proliferation and cytokine secretion abilities. Proliferation assay suggests that the administration of RGME effectively enhanced numbers of cPBMCs under IL-2 stimulation. Furthermore, in the RGME group, a significant increase in the concentration of interferon gamma released from cPBMCs under IL-2 stimulation was observed. In conclusion, RGME might be an effective health supplement for improving immunity in dogs.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.32-41
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• 2010

Purpose : Glomerulonephropathy (GN) often manifests as proteinuria and progresses to chronic renal failure without specific therapy. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) has been tried as a therapeutic agent in experimental GN, and previous studies showed that administration of MSC concomitantly to the insult inducing GN or via intra-renal administration ameliorated proteinuria. The purpose of this study was to test the therapeutic potential of MSC administered via intravenous route at the time of clinically evident proteinuria. Methods : MSCs were administered intravenously via tail vain into the mice with adriamycin (ADR) induced nephropathy (ADR-GN), two weeks after ADR injection when massive proteinuria was evident. To test the capacity of MSC modulate the cytokine production in the inflammatory milieu, the concentrations of IFN-$\gamma$ and IL-10 were measured in the supernatant of in vitro mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) with or without additional MSC. Results : MSCs administered intravenously into the proteinuric mice with ADR-GN accelerated the recovery of this experimental GN with disappearance of proteinuria in two weeks when the saline treated (control) mice still showed significant proteinuria. The mice treated with MSC also had a tendency of better survival. Addition of MSC decreased IFN-$\gamma$ and increased IL-10 in the supernatant of MLC. Conclusion : This study showed that MSC had a therapeutic potential even when administered in a more clinically relevant setting into a proteinuric glomerulonephropathy model. Further study to verify the mechanism and long-term safety of this phenomenon is required.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.866-874
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• 2006

Atopic dermitiis(AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which requires safe and effective medicinal therapy. Over production of Th2 cytokines and chemokines as well as IgE, which are mediated by highly activated immune cells, have been considered as pathologic factors in this disease. We found that Gamipaidok-san(GPDS), which is a traditional herbal medicine clinically prescribing for atopic dermitis patients in the hospital, has suppressive effects on the development of DNC8 induced dermatitis in Nc/Nga atopic model. Oral administration of GPDS at the concentration of 250 mg/Kg for 12 weeks significantly suppressed the clinical severity of the dermatitis including pruities, edema, eczematous and dryness. Histological examination revealed that thickness of dermis and epidermis were considerably reduced, and the number of infiltrated inflammatory immune cells including mast cells, CCR3+, and CD4+ T cells were decreased in the affected skin and ear, and consistantly, the number of CD3+/CCR3+ cells in Iymph nodes were decreased. The levels of Th2 cytokines produced by activated splenocyte from atopic mice were also down-regulated by GPDS. Furthermore, the serum levels of IgE were considerably reduced, which accompanied by a decrease in the number of B220+IgE+ B cells in the Iymph nodes. Taken together, these results suggested that oral administration of GPDS, a traditional herbal medicine, has suppressive effects on atopic dermitis of Nc/Nga mouse by the modulation of the immune system, therefore GPDS has potential as a natural therapeutic for treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.150-160
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• 2015

We previously reported that 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG) accelerates hematopoiesis and has an improving effect on animal disease models such as sepsis and asthma. The effects of PLAG supplementation on immune modulation were assessed in healthy men and women. The objective was to evaluate the effects of PLAG supplementation on immune regulatory functions such as activities of immune cells and cytokine production. A randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Seventy-five participants were assigned to one of two groups; all participants had an appropriate number of white blood cells on the testing day. The PLAG group (n=27) received oral PLAG supplements and the control group (n=22) received oral soybean oil supplements. IL-4 and IL-6 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were lower (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) with PLAG than with soybean oil. However, the production of IL-2 and IFN-$\gamma$ by PBMC was unaltered with PLAG supplementation. The B cell proliferation decreased significantly in the PLAG group compared to the soybean oil control (p<0.05). The intake of PLAG in healthy adults for 4 weeks was deemed safe. These data suggest that PLAG has an immunomodulatory function that inhibits the excessive immune activity of immunological disorders such as atopic and autoimmune diseases. PLAG could improve the condition of these diseases safely as a health food supplement.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.288-298
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• 2011

Background: Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) has been used to treat inflammatory diseases including edema and arthritis; however, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of SM action remains unresolved. Methods: The effects of an ethanol extract of SM (ESM) on pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and NO, and on anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and IL-1Ra have been studied in an attempt to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism in murine macrophages. Results: ESM inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines via down-regulation of gene and protein expression whereas it increased the anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, ESM inhibited the expression of the chemokines, RANTES and CX3CL1, as well as of inflammatory mediators such as TLR-4 and $11{\beta}$-HSD1. Conclusion: These results indicated that the regulatory effects of ESM may be mediated though the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, we speculate that ESM has therapeutic potential for inflammation-associated disorders.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.638-644
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• 2022

Probiotics modulate the gut microbiota, which in turn regulate immune responses to maintain balanced immune homeostasis in the host. However, it is unclear how probiotic bacteria regulate immune responses. In this study we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of heat-killed probiotics, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KC3 (LP3), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CKDB008 (LP8), and Limosilactobacillus fermentum SRK414 (LF4), via phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO), and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages. We thus found that heat-killed LP8 could promote the clearance of foreign pathogens by enhancing the phagocytosis of macrophages. Treatment with heat-killed LP8 induced the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In addition, heat-killed LP8 suppressed the production of NO and cytokines in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, suggesting that heat-killed LP8 exerts immunomodulatory effects depending on the host condition. In sum, these results indicate that heat-killed LP8 possesses the potential for immune modulation while providing a molecular basis for the development of functional probiotics prepared from inactivated bacterial cells.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2008

We previously examined extracts, isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), chemical mediators, and IgE by mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes in rats. The present study was to evaluate the effects of extracts of SB on the MLN lymphocytes function of mice given orally by 20 mg/kg for 2 weeks with dextran sulfate sodium (DS)-induced colitis. Results show that IgE levels in MLN lymphocytes was low, while IgA was high, in mice given SB compared to that fed water. Concentrations of $Inteferon-{\gamma}$ and interleukin (IL)-2 of T cells by concanavalin A treatment was significantly higher in the SB fed group than the normal group. Activation-induced IL-4 and IL-10 secretion was lower in SB fed mice compared control mice after DS-induced colitis. These results suggested that SB suppresses the inflammation in DS-induced colitis through the modulation of Th1/Th2 balance to down-regulate $Th_2$ response in MLN lymphocytes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Armillaria mellea extract (AME) on immune modulation focused on anti-cancer activity. Methods : To prove the effects of AME, we performed NO assay, NK cytotoxicity assay and RT-PCR of cytokine related with macrophage and NK cell activity. Results : AME increased NO production produced by macrophages in part. AME also enhanced the NK cell activities in destroying target cells (YAC-1 cells). AME up-regulated gene expression of IL-l, iNOS, TNF-a in RAW 264.7 cells and IL-l, IL-2, IFN-(equation omitted), TNF-a in splenocytes, respectively. Conclusion : From the above results, we assumed that AME is a potential drug for anti-cancer by activation of the macrophages and NK cells.