• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.533-538
• /
• 1997

This study was conduced to investigate on immune response of the hot water extract(PHE), 50% methanol extract(PME) and acetone extract(PAE) from Glycyrrhiza glabra. The experiment was carried out by phagocytosis, plaque forming cell(PFC), hemalysin titration(HY) and rosette forming cell(RFC) assay by using BALB/c mice. The results obtained from this study are as follow ; The effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts on phagocytosis was tended to be slight increase in GME and GAE groups compared to the control group, but not significant. In the experiment of PFC and HY, the results of experiment groups which was given each samples were significantly higher than the control group. The result of rosette forming cell in GME and GAE groups were significantly higher than control group.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.79-83
• /
• 1996

Gaucher's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutation at the glucocerebrosidase locus on chromosome 1q21. As a result, glucocerebroside accumulates principally in the phagocytic cells known as Gaucher cells. In our case, a five-year old girl was admitted with seven days' history of fever and abdominal distension. At physical examination the patient had hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory tests revealed a hemoglobin concentration of 2.8g/L: platelet counts of $23,000/{\mu}l$: normal range of white cell and differential counts, and negative Coombs' test. Liver enzymes were normal. For the evaluation of hepatosplenomegaly, fine needle aspiration was performed blindly against the palpable spleen. Wet-fixed hematoxylin and eosin-stained smears are made. The smears from the spleen showed predominantly macrophages with abundant cytoplasm and rather small, uniform, often eccentric nuclei with small nucleoli. The multinucleated cells were often found. The cytoplasm was pale, with more or less distinct fibrillarity. The cells had the characteristic appearance of Gaucher cells. Gaucher cells were also found in the tissue section from the liver, spleen and lymph node and the bone marrow aspirate. The diagnosis was later confirmed by determination of bela-glucosidase activity in peripheral blood leucocytes. Fine needle aspiration of the spleen is considered as a convenient procedure with a low complication rate for the diagnosis of lysosomal storage disease.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.42-47
• /
• 1998

The chemiluminescent (CL) response of phagocytes from juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, which were administered orally with levamisole was investigated. The fish intubated with doses of levamisole either at 0.5mg $kg^-$ or 1 mg $kg^-$body weight showed significant increase in CL responses at two weeks after the administration. The increased extent of CL in the fish exposed to 0.5 mg $kg^-$ body weight was considerably lower than that in the fish exposed to 1 mg $kg^-$. The fish exposed to 5 mg $kg^-$ body weight showed a steady and significant increase of CL response after the intubation. The fish intubated with 10 mg of levamisole $kg^-$ body weight, however, showed no significant differences in CL response after the administration. In the experiment of feeding experimental diet, a lower dose of levamisole induced immunostimulation of phagocytes, but higher doses of levamisole induced immunosuppression of phagocytes. At one week after marking and blood sampling, plasma glucose level was significantly increased in the control group and the group intubated 0.5 mg levamisole/kg body weight. However, the fish in another groups, which were administered higher levels of levamisole, showed no significant difference in glucose level after marking and blood sampling. The result of the present study suggests that levamisole can be used as a potent immunostimulator in rockfish by oral administration, and the immunomodulating activity of levamisole depends on the dosage used.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.169-178
• /
• 2006

Background: Adipose tissues were initially introduced as energy storages, but recently they have become famous as an endocrine organ which produces and secretes various kinds of molecules to make physiologic and metabolic changes in human body. It has been studied that these molecules are secreted in abundance as the adipose tissue becomes bigger along with obesity. Furthermore, it has been found that they are mediating systemic inflammation and generation of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. On the basis of these, we studied previous papers which have been researched about the interaction between preadipocytes and macrophages, adipose tissues and lymph nodes, and adipose tissue secreting molecules. Results: Firstly, preadipocytes and macrophages are expressing similar transcriptomes and proteins, and preadipocytes can be converted to mature macrophages which have phagocytic activity. Moreover, the monocytes, which initially located in the bone marrow, are filtrated to the adipose tissue by monocyte chemotatic protein-1 and are matured to macrophages by colony stimulating factor-1. Secondly, adipose tissues and their associated lymph nodes are interacting each other in terms of energy efficiency. Lymph nodes promote lipolysis in adipose tissues, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipocytes become energy sources for dendritic cells. Lastly, adipose tissues produce and secrete proinflammatory molecules such as leptin, adiponectin, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and acute phase proteins, which induce the inflammation and potentially generate metabolic diseases. Conclusion: According to these, we can link adipose tissues to inflammation, but we need to affirm the actual levels and roles of adipose tissue-derived proinflammatory molecules in human body.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2010

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to relieve pain, reduce fever and inhibit inflammation. NSAIDs function mainly through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX). Growing evidence suggests that NSAIDs also have immunomodulatory effects on T and B cells. Here we examined the effects of NSAIDs on the antigen presenting function of dendritic cells (DCs). Methods: DCs were cultured in the presence of aspirin or ibuprofen, and then allowed to phagocytose biodegradable microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA). After washing and fixing, the efficacy of OVA peptide presentation by DCs was evaluated using OVA-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells. Results: Aspirin and ibuprofen at high concentrations inhibited both MHC class I and class II-restricted presentation of OVA in DCs. In addition, the DCs generated in the presence of low concentrations of the drugs exhibit a profoundly suppressed capability to present MHC-restricted antigens. Aspirin and ibuprofen did not inhibit the phagocytic activity of DCs, the expression level of total MHC molecules and co-stimulatory molecules on DCs. Ibuprofen rather increased the expression level of total MHC molecules and co-stimulatory molecules on DCs. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that aspirin and ibuprofen inhibit the intracellular processing event of the phagocytosed antigen, and further suggest that prolonged administration of NSAIDs in high doses may impair the capability of DCs to present antigens in asiociation with MHC molecules.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.25-25
• /
• 1995

The antitumor activities of the cell bound polysaccharide(CBP), water soluble polysaccharide(WSP) and sulfated polysaccharide(SP) of Zoogloea sp. were observe. The results obtained were as follows : 1) The CBP, WSP, and SP showed cytotoxic effect on the Meth A cells in vitro, however, the effect of CBP and WSP was more ten-fold greater than that pf SP. 2) When CBP, WSP, and SP was inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of the Meth A cells transplanted mice, the average survival days tended to prolonged slightly as compared with the control. 3) When Meth A cells were transplanted subcutaneously into the back side of mice, and then CBP, WSP, and Sp was inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of mice, the tumor growth inhibition ratio was 46.9% for WSP, 40.4% for CBP, and 16.2% for SP. 4) The phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages elicited with CBP, WSP, and SP was significantly increased than that of control. 5) The production of nitric oxide in the peritoneal macrophages stimulated with CBP, WSP, SP, and LPS aloneo was not increased than that of control. The production of nitric oxide in the peritoneal macrophages stimulated with IFN-r and CBP, IFN-r and WSP and IFN-r and SP was significantly increased than that of control, but in the case of stimulated with IFN-r and WSP was increased 50% for CBP and SP. These results suggest that the CBP, WSP and SP of Zoogloea sp. showed direct cytotoxic effect and tumor growth inhibition on Meth A cells in vitro and in vivo, and induced nitric oxide production of activated macrophages.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.722-729
• /
• 2006

Recently, we have reported that 3-hydrogenkwadaphnin (3-HK), a diterpene ester isolated from Dendrostellera lessertii (Thymealeaceae), is very effective against leukemia cell lines without any detectable effects on normal cells (Moosavi et al., 2005b). In this study, we report that 3-HK induces $G_1$ cell-cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis in APL NB4 cell line. Indeed, the drug between 24 to 96 h induced 7-65% growth inhibition of NB4 cells. Cell viability was also decreased by 2-55% between 24 to 96 h treatments with the drug, respectively. These effects of the drug were also dose-dependent. According to flow cytomtry results, 3-HK (15 nM) induced a significant G1-arrest up to 24 h which was consequently followed with appearance of sub-$G_1$ peak at 72 to 96 h. Hoechst 33258 staining and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis among the treated cells. On the other hand, NBT reducing assay, Wright-Giemsa staining, phagocytic activity and expression of cell surface markers (CD11b and CD14) confirmed that the inhibition of proliferation is associated with differentiation especially toward macrophage-like morphology. Interestingly, 3-HK at 5 and 10 nM enhanced the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in NB4 cells. Based on these results, 3-HK might become an ideal candidate for treatment of APL patients pending full exploration of its biological functions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.346-351
• /
• 1998

As an antitumor agents cyclophosphamide (CPA) is frequently used in animal clinic. Important adverse effects of its administration are leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. We investigated the effects of chicken egg white derivatives (EWD and EF-203) on the changes of blood cells and the neutrophil phagocytosis of rats administered with CPA. Rats were administered CPA peritoneally at dose of 50 mgag once a day far 3 days plus either EWD or EF-203 orally at dose of 200 mg/kg once a day far 3 days. Thereafterl the changes of blood cells by automatic blood cell counter and the phagocytosis of neutrophils by flow cytometry were examined far 7 days. There was no change in RBC values regardless of administration of either EWD or EF-203 throughout experimental period. But rats receiving CPA plus either EWD or EF-203 showed a significant higher PCV values than those of CPA alone (p<0.01). The numbers of peripheral blood platelets and WBC and the differential count of neutrophils in the ra% receiving CPA plus either EWD or EF-203 were significantly higher (p<0.05 to 0.01) than those of CPA alone. Moreover, these rats showed significanly enhanced phagocytoses of neutrophils when compared to rats with CPA alone (p<0.01). These result suggested that chicken egg white derivatives including EWD and EF-2% have immunomodulatory effects in regard to the increase of platelets, WBC, differential count of neutrophils, PCV, and the enhancement of phagocytic activity of neutrophils in immunosuppressed rats by CPA. Thus, co-adminstration of chicken egg white derivatives will be able to reduce the side effects in the animals treated with antitumor agents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.407-413
• /
• 2015

Paraquat dichloride (N,N-dimethyl-4-4'-bipiridinium, PQ) is an extremely toxic chemical that is widely used in herbicides. PQ generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and causes multiple organ failure. In particular, PQ has been reported to be an immunotoxic agrochemical compound. PQ was shown to decrease the number of macrophages in rats and suppress monocyte phagocytic activity in mice. However, the effect of PQ on macrophage cell viability remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of PQ on the mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 and its possible mechanism of action. RAW264.7 cells were treated with PQ (0, 75, and $150{\mu}M$), and cellular apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and intracellular ROS levels were determined. Morphological changes to the cell nucleus and cellular apoptosis were also evaluated by DAPI and Annexin V staining, respectively. In this study, PQ induced apoptotic cell death by dose-dependently decreasing MMP. Additionally, PQ increased the cleaved form of caspase-3, an apoptotic marker. In conclusion, PQ induces apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway. Thus, our study improves our knowledge of PQ-induced toxicity, and may give us a greater understanding of how PQ affects the immune system.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.217-221
• /
• 2008

Free-living Naegleria fowleri leads to a fatal infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis in humans. Previously, the target cell death could be induced by phagocytic activity of N. fowleri as a contact-dependent mechanism. However, in this study we investigated the target cell death under a non-contact system using a tissue-culture insert. The human microglial cells, U87MG cells, co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites for 30 min in a non-contact system showed morphological changes such as the cell membrane destruction and a reduction in the number. By fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, U87MG cells co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites in a non-contact system showed a significant increase of apoptotic cells (16%) in comparison with that of the control or N. fowleri lysate. When U87MG cells were co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites in a non-contact system for 30 min, 2 hr, and 4 hr, the cytotoxicity of amebae against target cells was 40.5, 44.2, and 45.6%, respectively. By contrast, the cytotoxicity of non-pathogenic N. gruberi trophozoites was 10.2, 12.4, and 13.2%, respectively. These results suggest that the molecules released from N. fowleri in a contact-independent manner as well as phagocytosis in a contact-dependent manner may induce the host cell death.