• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2016

Chronic/cyclic neutropenia, leukocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome, Papillon-$Lef{\grave{e}}vre$ syndrome, and $Ch{\grave{e}}diak$-Higashi syndrome are associated with severe periodontitis, suggesting the importance of neutrophils in the maintenance of periodontal health. Various Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are known to stimulate neutrophil function, including FcR-mediated phagocytosis. In the present study, the effect of TLR2 activation on the non-opsonic phagocytosis of oral bacteria and concomitant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human neutrophils was evaluated. Neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood were incubated with Streptococcus sanguinis or Porphyromonas gingivalis in the presence of various concentrations of $Pam_3CSK_4$, a synthetic TLR2 ligand, and analyzed for phagocytosis and ROS production by flow cytometry and chemiluminescence, respectively. $Pam_3CSK_4$ significantly increased the phagocytosis of both bacterial species in a dose-dependent manner. However, the enhancing effect was greater for S. sanguinis than for P. gingivalis. $Pam_3CSK_4$ alone induced ROS production in neutrophils and also increased concomitant ROS production induced by bacteria. Interestingly, incubation with P. gingivalis and $Pam_3CSK_4$ decreased the amounts of ROS, as compared to $Pam_3CSK_4$ alone, indicating the possibility that P. gingivalis survives within neutrophils. However, neutrophils efficiently killed phagocytosed bacteria of both species despite the absence of $Pam_3CSK_4$. Although P. gingivalis is poorly phagocytosed even by the TLR2-activated neutrophils, TLR2 activation of neutrophils may help to reduce the colonization of P. gingivalis by efficiently eliminating S. sanguinis, an early colonizer, in subgingival biofilm.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.216-230
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• 2005

Although the field of study in immune enhancing compounds is relatively new, natural products from plants represent a rich and promising source of novel molecules with immunomodulating properties, Microglial cells, the main immune effector cells of the brain, usually display a ramified morphology and low expression levels of immunologically relevant antigens such as MHC class I and class II. Since any compound which participates in activation of phagocytic cells contributes to the production of potentially toxic factors, the search for convenient in vitro test-systems and study of mechanisms of action of these agents are of great interest. Human blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells and primary microglial cells isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats were used as cellular screening tests for study of phagocytosis-stimulating action of immunomodulating agents. Numbers of phagocytic activity were evaluated by the phagocyte ingestion of yeast cells and NO-synthase activity, nitrite production, and nitroblue tetrazolium test were determined after phagocyte stimulation. It was possible to demonstrate that indexes of phagocytic activity can be used as quantitative indicators for measurement immunomodulating activity. As a positive control, Zymosan A-induced phagocytosis in both PMN cells and primary microglial cells was used. $IFN-{\gamma}$ (0.1 -1 U/ml) stimulated phagocytosis in PMN cells 1.2 times after 2 - 3 h incubation, although at higher concentrations (10 - 100 U/ml) it strongly inhibited phagocytosis. In a similar way, at higher concentrations, $IFN-{\gamma}$ (100 - 500 U/ml) suppressed phagocytosis in zymosan-A stimulated microglial cells. When Polypodium leucotomus, cambricum and vulgare extracts were tested alone, increased levels of phagocytosis were observed in PMN. In addition, microglial cells showed both increased phagocytosis and MHC class-II antigen expressions. Surprisingly, when PMN and microglia were treated with a combination of Polypodium and $IFN-{\gamma}$, phagocytosis was not inhibited. We did not find changes in NO-synthase activity and nitrite production in both microglia and PMN cells activated by different immunomodulating agents. These results indicate that primary microglial cell cultures as well as human PMN cells can provide reproducible quantitative results in screening phagocytic activity of different immunoactive compounds. Furthermore, both inhibitory or activation mechanisms might be studied using these in vitro experimental approaches.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.278-285
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• 2019

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is widely known for its beneficial effects on human health. To investigate the beneficial effects of polysaccharides from cherry tomato, cherry tomato polysaccharides (CTP) were prepared, the component sugars were analyzed, and the immunomodulatory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophages were assessed. CTP mainly contained arabinose (Ara) and galactose (Gal), suggesting that CTP might be enriched with an arabinogalactan (AG) moiety. The Ara and Gal present in CTP are likely components of AG-II (35.4%), namely $arabino-{\beta}-(3,6)-galactan$. To investigate the immunomodulatory activity of CTP, cytokine levels and iNOS2, COX-2, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ protein levels were analyzed, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation and phagocytosis were observed by immunofluorescence. CTP significantly increased the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$, MCP-1, and IL-6. CTP also increased iNOS2 and COX-2 expression as well as $NF-{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation in RAW 264.7 cells. CTP significantly stimulated phagocytosis activity. These results showed that CTP stimulates macrophage activity, which can boost the innate immune response. CTP with high AG-II content could be used as a prebiotic to strengthen immunity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.397-404
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• 2023

Acanthamoeba species are free-living amoebae those are widely distributed in the environment. They feed on various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and algae. Although majority of the microbes phagocytosed by Acanthamoeba spp. are digested, some pathogenic bacteria thrive within them. Here, we identified the roles of 3 phagocytosis-associated genes (ACA1_077100, ACA1_175060, and AFD36229.1) in A. castellanii. These 3 genes were upregulated after the ingestion of Escherichia coli. However, after the ingestion of Legionella pneumophila, the expression of these 3 genes was not altered after the consumption of L. pneumophila. Furthermore, A. castellanii transfected with small interfering RNS (siRNA) targeting the 3 phagocytosis-associated genes failed to digest phagocytized E. coli. Silencing of ACA1_077100 disabled phagosome formation in the E. coli-ingesting A. castellanii. Alternatively, silencing of ACA1_175060 enabled phagosome formation; however, phagolysosome formation was inhibited. Moreover, suppression of AFD36229.1 expression prevented E. coli digestion and consequently led to the rupturing of A. castellanii. Our results demonstrated that the ACA1_077100, ACA1_175060, and AFD36229.1 genes of Acanthamoeba played crucial roles not only in the formation of phagosome and phagolysosome but also in the digestion of E. coli.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2015

Recently, we demonstrated that human serum amyloid P component (SAP) specifically recognizes exposed bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN) of wall teichoic acid (WTA)-deficient Staphylococcus aureus ${\Delta}$tagO mutant cells and then induces complement-independent phagocytosis. In our preliminary experiments, we found the existence of human serum immunoglobulins that recognize S. aureus PGN (anti-PGNIgGs), which may be involved in complement-dependent opsonophagocytosis against infected S. aureus cells. We assumed that purified serum anti-PGN-IgGs and S. aureus ${\Delta}$tagO mutant cells are good tools to study the molecular mechanism of anti-PGN-IgG-mediated phagocytosis. Therefore, we tried to identify the intracellular molecule(s) that is involved in the anti-PGN-IgG-mediated phagocytosis using purified human serum anti-PGN-IgGs and different S. aureus mutant cells. Here, we show that anti-PGN-IgG-mediated phagocytosis in phorbol myristate acetate-treated U937 cells is mediated by $Ca^{2+}$ release from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores and anti-PGN-IgGdependent $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization is controlled via a phospholipase C${\gamma}$-2-mediated pathway.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.391-395
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• 1998

The phagocytic activity of murine peritoneal macrophages was determined by lucigenin chemiluminescence with luminometer and engulfment of fluorescein-conjugated E. coli particles. 70% MeOH extract of Lithospermi Radix was fractionated successively with hexane, methylene chloride, n-BuOH and water. The water fraction (m.w. 500 to 1,000) enhanced the lucigenin chemiluminescence and the engulfment of fluorescein-conjugated E. coli particles in murine peritoneal macrophages. The water fraction suppressed the production of nitric oxide in the macrophages. These results suggest that an active fraction of phagocytosis in Lithos-permi Radix is the water fraction and the molecular weight is 500 to 1,000.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.363-367
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• 1999

Palmultang(PMT) consists of Ginseng Radix Alba, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Hoelen, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Paeoniae Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. PMT enhanced the lucigenin chemiluminescence and the engulfment of fluorescein-conjugated E. coli particles and inhibited the production of nitric oxide in murine peritoneal macrophage. PMT enhanced the production of ${\gamma}-interferon$, interleukin-2 and the cell viability in murine thymocyte, but did not affect the production of interleukin-4. These results indicate that PMT enhances the phagocytosis of macrophage via the stimulation of ${\gamma}-interferon$ production in $T_H1$ cells and the reduction of nitric oxide production in peritoneal macrophage.

• CELLMED
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.2
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• 2017

The efficient removal of dead cells is an evolutionarily conserved process essential for homeostasis in multicellular organisms. The phagocytosis involves a series of steps that ultimately leads the detection of apoptotic cell by the phagocytes and the subsequent engulfment and degradation of corpse. The uptake of apoptotic cells by phagocytes not only removes debris from tissues but also generates an anti-inflammatory signal that blocks tissue inflammation. Conversely, impaired clearance of dead cells can cause loss of immune tolerance and the development of various inflammation-associated diseases such as autoimmunity, but can also affect cancer development. This review will discuss current understanding of the molecular mechanism of apoptotic cell phagocytosis and how they may be related to human diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2002

Objectives : This study was to examine the efficacy of GCT on the hepatoprotective effect in the liver function and immune octivity. Methods : The experiment to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of GCT on the liver damage was conducted with D-galactosamine. The experiments to verify the effects of GCT on the immune activity were conducted by carbon clearance assay, plaque-forming cell SRBC assay of IgM, lymphoproliferation assay of T and B cells, and adherence and phagocytosis of mocrophages. Results: In the damage of liver induced by D-galactosamine, GCT carried hepatoprotective effect on AST. In carbon clearance assay GCT showed significant effect on phagocytosis of Kuffer cells. In the plaque-forming cell assay, GCT improved the formation of IgM. In the lymphoproliferation assay, GCT activated the formation of T and B lymphocytes. In macrophages, GCT activated adherence and phagocytosis. Conclusion : Though further study is needed, our findings suggest that GCT could be recommended as hepatoprotector and immune modulator for liver disease.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.567-571
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• 1998

The phagocytic activity of murine peritoneal macrophage, was determined by lucigenin chemiluminescence and engulfment of fluorescein-conjugated E. coli particle. The acti vity-guided fractionation upon the methylenechloride fraction of Aurantii immaturi pericarpium led to the isolation of a flavonoid, isosinensetin, as a suppressive component of phagocytosis. Isosinensetin suppressed the lucigenin chemiluminescence and the engulfment of fluorescein-conjugated E. coli particles and enhanced the production of nitric oxide in murine peritoneal macrophage.