• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

In late December 2013, the Ebola virus emerged from West Africa. The outbreak started in Guinea and rapidly spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Initially, the virus is spread to the human population after contact with infected wildlife and then spread person-to-person through direct contact with body fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, semen, and breast milk. The Ebola virus infects endothelial cells, mononuclear phagocytes and hepatocytes. It causes massive damage to internal tissues and organs, such as blood vessels and the liver, and ultimately death. Most tests for the virus RNA rely on a technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While this method is highly sensitive, it is also expensive, requiring skilled scientists, and delicate power supplies. The strip analytical technique (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA) detects antigens or antibodies to the Ebola virus. This test is cheap and does not require electricity or refrigeration. Despite ongoing efforts directed at experimental treatments and vaccine development, current medical work on the Ebola viral disease is largely limited to supportive therapy. Thus, rapid and reliable diagnoses of the Ebola virus are critically important for patient management, infections, prevention, and control measures.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2020

The present study determined the effect of dietary cultivated microalgae (Parachlorella sp.) on the growth and immune responses of pre-starter broilers. A total of 320 one-day-old birds (Ross 308) were allocated to 4 treatments with 8 blocks in a randomized complete block design. The four experimental diets consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based control diet, and three diets contained 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% microalgae powder at the expense of cornstarch in the control diet. After feeding the experimental diets for 7 days, the body weight and feed intake of all birds were measured, and 8 birds were randomly selected from each treatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum were harvested for immune profile assessment, including cytokines and cell migration receptors. No differences in growth performance were observed among the treatments. The birds that were fed diets containing graded levels of microalga showed a linear increase in the mRNA expression of cytokine genes in PBMCs, including that of IL2, IL1β, and IL18 (P<0.05). With respect to the chemokine receptor genes in PBMCs, mRNA expression of CCR2, CCR9, and ITGA4 changed quadratically (P<0.05), but that of CCR7 increased linearly (P<0.01). Cytokine protein secretion in blood, including that of IL-1β and IL-6, increased linearly (P<0.01) with an increase in the microalgal content. Overall, the present results show that the indigenous microalgae powder used in this study could stimulate immunity with no detrimental effects on the growth performance of pre-starter broiler chickens.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.311-314
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• 2010

Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of cat scratch disease. Although cats are the main zoonotic reservoirs of Bartonella spp., unusual cases of cat scratch disease caused by a domestic dog scratch have been recently reported. For the in vivo B. henselae infection, eight dogs were inoculated intradermally with $2{\times}10^8CFU$ of B. henselae Houston-1 suspended in 1 ml of phosphate buffered saline on day 0 and subsequent injections of the same amount given intradermally on days 21, 28, 36, 58 and 64. After in vivo canine B. henselae infection was confirmed by nested PCR, the IFN-$\gamma$ levels of the culture supernatant of PBMC stimulated with B. henselae was significantly higher in the B. henselae-PCR positive group than the B. henselae-PCR negative group. Our results showed that the canine immune responses against B. henselae were different from those of cats. Th1 activation by B. henselae stimulation was characterized in dog peripheral blood mononuclear cells, whereas Th2 activation was reported in B. henselae-infected cats.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.730-735
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• 1993

BOOP is a clinopathologic entity consisting of a flu-like illness, late inspiratory crackles, and pathologically granulation tissue plugs within lumens of small airways sometimes with complete obstruction of small airways and granulation tissue extending into alveolar ducts and alveoli with a variable degree of interstitial infiltration of mononuclear cells and accumulation of foamy macrophages in alveolar spaces in a patch distribution, and preservation of background architecture of the lung. It has patch infiltrates roentgenographically, and restrictive ventilatory defect pysiologically such as decreased vital capacity. and diffusing capacity. The BOOP has been observed in the context of collagen vascular disease, and other autoimmune disease secondary to treatment with penicillamine, bleomycin, acebutolol and amiodarone, following the inhalation of toxic fumes, after several infections including measles, pertussis and influenza and idiopathic. Clinically, response to coricosteroid therapy is good and relapse dose not occur if sufficient theraphy is good. A flu-like illness occurs in one third, cough in one third, cough with dyspnea in the remaining patients. Hemoptysis are rare. The physical examination reveales dry crackles in the majority of the patients with BOOP but rarely associated with wheezing. The duration of illness is less than 2 months in 75% of patients. With a brief review of literature, we report a case of the BOOP which is good response to steroid, but frequent relapse and assoicated with wheezing.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.sup
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• pp.55-64
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• 2012

We investigated the effect of the clay mineral fortified with complex trace elements by specific fermentation microbes on growth performance and a quality of pork in this study. For the declared experimental animal, 80 heads of crossbred with Large White and Yorkshire were randomly splitted into a control group and a test group. Each group were assigned with 4 replicates and 10 heads of each replicate. When 0.3% of the fermentation product of the clay mineral (FCM) was added into feed stuff and fed for 9 weeks of experimental feeding period, the results of the feed intake, weight gains, pH of carcass, lightness of meat color, and brightness of the muscle semimembranosus were similar to those of the control group. However, dressing percentage, reddishness of carcass, and water holding capacity were improved, respectively, as much as 2.7%, 12%, and 10%, and reduced by 6% in cooking loss. In order to investigate the immune modulatory effect of fermented clay mineral, pheripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated and Immune modulatory parameters were measured. The proliferation activity of PBMC from pigs fed the fermented clay mineral were significantly increased compared to control group pigs, and also those results were more clearly observed as activated with lipopolysaccharide and concanavaline A. The secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ of the FCM group pigs showed an increasing tendency. Therefore it was suggested that the feeding of FCM which was high in cation metathesis and the value of infrared ray, activated the immune responses, and thus the production of the environment-friendly high quality pork without the use of antibiotics would be possible.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.185-211
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• 2002

We have found many beneficial effects of the long-tenn intake of Korean red ginseng (KRG) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-I infected patients, including the maintenance of CD4+ T cell count for 10 years with KRG only and the delayed development of resistance mutation to ZDV. In this study, to investigate whether KRG-intake could affect the clinical progression and nef gene variation, we determined 200nef sequences from 70 patients. Follow-up period was $8.8{\pm}2.9$ years and annual decrease in CD4+T cell was $41{\pm}57/ul.$ Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing were perfonned with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained at times during the study period. First, there was a significant correlation between survival duration and duration of KRG-intake $(36.8{\pm}38$ months)(P=0.000). There were significant correlations between the last NefProg score and CD4+ T cell count (r= 0.208, P<0.05) and annual decrease in CD4+ T cell count (r =0.346, P<0.01) in 70 patients. In addition, there were significant correlations between KRG-intake and annual decrease (r= 0.323, P<0.01), and the CD4+ T cell count itself (r=0.229, p<0.05). Furthennore, there was also a mild significance between the NefProg score and the duration of KRG-intake in only SP and RP (n=30, r=-0.281, P=0.067). In addition, we detected various defects in 21 patients $(30.0\%),$ not including 5 premature stop codons. Ten $(12.5\%)$ patients showed repeated deletion of an amino acid. Four of 10 patients were gross deletions and they were treated with KRG for more than 20 months. The number of patients with repeated gross deletions was significantly higher in the order of slow progressors $(18\%)$, typical progressors($3\%$), and rapid progressors($0\%$) (P<0.05). We also observed that long-tenn intake of KRG might make the change from A or D to T at position 54 and decrease NefProg score. Taken together, our results show clear evidence that the long-term intake of KRG has effects on nef gene variation as well as definite clinical usefulness.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2023

Background: The existing research results on the combined toxicity of these pollutants using mammals, such as rodents, are insufficient, especially in relation to changes in the immune system. Objectives: This study aims at evaluating the cellular immune response to PE-MPs solely or when combined with Pb, which possess excellent adsorption capacity with PE-MPs and is commonly co-exposed in our daily lives. Methods: The study investigated the cellular immune function of 9-week ICR mice with 28 days exposure to PE-MPs (2 mg/mouse/day) and Pb (0.1 mM in distilled water) individually and in combination. PE-MPs were administered via gastric intubation while the lead intake was conducted via the oral drinking water route. Cellular immunity was evaluated by analyzing the production for T_H1 cytokines namely, TNF-α and IFN-𝛾 and T_H2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-6 in culture supernatants from polyclonally activated splenic mononuclear cells ex vivo. Results: Both the PE-MPs only and the PE-MPs+Pb exposure group revealed an increased T_H1 response with elevated TNF-α and IFN-𝛾 levels and downregulated T_H2 response with low IL-4, and IL-6 production levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, an increased IFN-𝛾/IL-4 ratio was found in the PE-MPs only and PE-MPs+Pb exposure groups, which indicated the skewedness to T_H1 response. Meanwhile, reduced blood hemoglobin levels and increased levels of IL-4, the dominant T_H2 cytokine in the Pb-only exposure group, were observed. Conclusions: Our current findings on the predominance of T_H1 immune response in the PE-MPs and PE-MPs+Pb groups suggest that PE-MPs could be responsible for the predominant induction of the cellular immune changes. This finding could be used as an important landmark in research related to T_H1 predominance, such as autoimmune diseases. It suggests that additional research on immune modulation using longer exposure durations or the same exposure route is required to elucidate stronger findings.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.703-712
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• 1995

Background: Peripheral blood monocytes are important immune effector cells that play a fundamental role in cellular immunity. In addition to their antigen-presenting and phagocytic activities, monocytes/macrophage produce a vast array of regulatory and chemotactic cytokines. Interleukin-8(IL-8), a potent neutrophil-activating and chemotactic peptide, is produced in large quantities by mononuclear phagocytes and may be an important mediator of local and systemic inflammation. Overexpression by IL-8 of such inflammation may be an important step of tissue injury frequently seen in inflammatory reaction. So it could be hypothesized that the agents which block the production of IL-8 can decrease the inflammatory reaction and tissue injury. To evaluate this, we described the effect of Dexamethasone, $PGE_2$, Indomethacin and Interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$) on IL-8 mRNA and protein expression from LPS-stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes(PBMC). Method: PBMC was isolated from healthy volunteers. To evaluate the effect of Dexamethasone, $PGE_2$ & Indomethacin, these drug were treated for 1 hour before and after LPS stimulation and IFN-$\gamma$ was only treated I hour before the LPS stimulation. Northern blot analysis for IL-8 mRNA and ELISA for immunoreactive IL-8 protein in culture supernatant were performed. We repeated above experiment three times for Northern blot analysis and two times for ELISA and got the same result. Results: 1) Pre- and post-treatment of Dexamethasone suppressed both the LPS stimulated IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 protein release in PBMC. 2) IFN-$\gamma$ pre-treatment suppressed the IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 protein release in unstimulated cells. 3) In LPS stimulated cells, IFN-$\gamma$ suppressed the IL-8 mRNA expression but IL-8 protein release suppression was not observed. 4) $PGE_2$ and Indomethacin exert no effect on the LPS-stimulated IL-8 mRNA and protein expression in concentration used in this experiment ($PGE_2;10^{-6}M$, Indomethacin; $10{\mu}M$). Conclusion: One of the mechanism of antiinflammatory action of Dexamethasone can be explained by the suppressing effect of IL-8 production in some extent and by this antiinflammatory effect, dexamethasone can be used to suppress local and systemic inflammation mediated by IL-8.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2009

Purpose:The aim of this study is to explore the effect of the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) expressed in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that respond to antigen to Th2 immune deviation in allergic patients. Methods:Subjects consisted of 19 allergic patients and 17 healthy volunteers. Skin prick tests and nasal provocation tests were performed for the two groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from subjects and analyzed for the Lineage Cocktail (CD3, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD56) (-), HLA-DR (+), and CD123 (+) using flow cytometry. In addition, we analyzed TLR9 mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The level of $interferon-{\alpha}$ ($IFN-{\alpha}$) of the PBMCs following stimulation with the TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN 2216 was also evaluated. Results:Analyses of CD123 (+) revealed a nearly similar distribution for the classical pDC markers in the allergic group ($0.1%{\pm}0.04%$) and in the controls ($0.25%{\pm}0.23%$). The mRNA levels of TLR9 on PBMCs were not different between the allergic group and the controls ($1.29{\pm}0.41$ vs. $1.25{\pm}0.23$, respectively). Additionally, the level of $IFN-{\alpha}$ in PBMCs exposed to stimuli of the TLR9 ligand CpG-ODN 2216 was not significantly different between the two groups ($911{\pm}829$ vs. $1,095{\pm}888pg/mL$, respectively). Conclusion:We found no evidence that TLR9-dependent immune responses in human pDCs are associated with allergic status.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2002

Purpose : X-linked agammaglobulinemia(XLA) is an immunodeficiency caused by abnormalities in Bruton's tyrosine kinase(Btk), and is characterized by a deficiency of peripheral blood B cells. We studied the cytoplasmic expression of Btk protein and analyzed the Btk gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from two siblings and one cousin with XLA, as well as additional family members. Methods : Btk protein expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. Isolation of the coding sequence of the Btk gene was performed by amplification using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) technique. Sequence alterations were screened by the single-stranded conformation polymorphism(SSCP) method and characterized by standard sequencing protocols. Results : Cytoplasmic expression of Btk protein in monocytes was not detected in three patients with XLA. In addition, Btk protein analysis clearly showed cellular mosaicism in monocytes from four obligate carriers, findings further supported by SSCP. A single base pair mutation(T to C) in Btk-exon three, which encodes the PH domain, was identified in four XLA patients. A diagnostic sequencing analysis was established to detect heterozygotic pattern in 4 carrier females. Furthermore, we found significant clinical heterogeneity in individuals with the same gene mutation. Conclusion : The implicating genetic alteration provided valuable clues to the pathogenesis of XLA in Korea and the flow cytometric analysis was suggested as a useful tool for rapid detection of XLA patients and carriers. The present study has identified a genetic mutation in the Btk coding region and demonstrated heterogeneity in clinical manifestations among patients with the same mutation. A flow cytometric analysis was found to be informative in establishing a deficiency of Btk protein in both patients and carriers and is recommended as a frontline procedure in the molecular diagnosis and work-up of XLA.