• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2237-2240
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• 2017

In the present study, we investigated the effect of tyndallized HY7712 (tHY7712) on the expression of Th cell specific transcription factors and cytokines in whole-body ${\gamma}$-irradiated mice. Oral administration of tHY7712 strongly recovered the ${\gamma}$-irradiation-suppressed expression of helper T (Th) cell- and regulatory T cell-related transcription factors and cytokines, such as T-bet, Foxp3, IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-10, and suppressed Th2 cell-associated transcription factor and cytokine GATA3 and IL-5, respectively. Furthermore, compared with the control, tHY7712 treatment also restored ${\gamma}$-irradiation-impaired natural killer and cytotoxic T cell activities against YAC-1 tumor cells to 97.8% and 98.6%, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.205-211
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• 2016

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children is characterized by massive proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. Minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is the most common form of INS in children. The pathogenesis of MCNS still remains unclear, however, several hypotheses have been recently proposed. For several decades, MCNS has been considered a T-cell disorder, which causes the impairment of the glomerular filtration barrier with the release of different circulating factors. Increased levels of several cytokines are also suggested. Recently, a "two-hit" theory was proposed that included the induction of CD80 (B7-1) and regulatory T-cell (Treg) dysfunction, with or without impaired autoregulatory functions of the podocyte. In contrast to the well-established involvement of T cells, the role of B cells has not been clearly identified. However, B-cell biology has recently gained more attention, because rituximab (a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20-bearing cells) demonstrated a very good therapeutic response in the treatment of childhood and adult MCNS. Here, we discuss recent insights into the pathogenesis of MCNS in children.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.77-82
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• 2014

Objectives : The effects of ethanol extract of Plantago asiatica L. were investgated on adipocyte differentiation, lipopogenesis, lipolysis and apoptosis using differnentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods : Plantago asiatica L. was extracted with ethanol (CCE). We carried on MTT assay for cell proliferation, Oil Red O staining for determination of cell differentiation and intracelluar adipogenesis. TUNEL staining assay for cell apoptosis, and Western blot analysis for measurement of pAMPK and pACC, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$ protein expressions were performed. Results : The addition of CCE up to 0.2 mg/ml into cell culture media showed no cytotoxicity. Treatment of 0.2 mg/ml CCE significantly inhibited differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Lipid accumulation of the CCE treated cells was decreased compared with that of control. Induction of cell apoptosis was increased in CCE treated cells compared with that of control. AMPK and ACC levels of the cells with 0.2 mg/ml CCE were led to phosphorylation and also expressions of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, as adipogenic transcription factors, were suppressed compared with those of control. Conclusions : Taken together, these results provide evidence that CCE has a regulatory role in lipid metabolism that is related to differentiation into adipocytes, adipogenesis and apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1681-1687
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• 2014

In the present study, we investigated the effect of ethyl acetate fraction from 50% ethanol extract of fermented Curcuma longa L. (FCEE) on lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells. The safety range of FCEE was up to $300{\mu}g/mL$. Effects of FCEE on lipid accumulation and intracellular triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were examined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay. Compared to adipocytes, lipid accumulation and intracellular TG content were significantly reduced by 10.2% and 13.7%, respectively, upon FCEE treatment at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. Glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 cells was significantly reduced by 36.6% compared to adipocytes at a concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. On day 8, free glycerol release into the culture medium was significantly reduced compared to adipocytes at concentrations of 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$ of FCEE. FCEE significantly stimulated RNA expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and suppressed mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest that FCEE inhibits adipogenesis through activation of AMPK mRNA expressions and inhibition of SREBP-1c, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and $PPAR{\gamma}$ mRNA expressions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.48.1-48.11
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• 2020

Hyperprogressive disease (HPD) is a distinct pattern of progression characterized by acceleration of tumor growth after treatment with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Abs. However, the immunological characteristics have not been fully elucidated in patients with HPD. We prospectively recruited patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Abs between April 2015 and April 2018, and collected peripheral blood before treatment and 7-days post-treatment. HPD was defined as ≥2-fold increase in both tumor growth kinetics and tumor growth rate between pre-treatment and post-treatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by multi-color flow cytometry to phenotype the immune cells. Of 115 patients, 19 (16.5%) developed HPD, 52 experienced durable clinical benefit (DCB; partial response or stable disease ≥6 months), and 44 experienced non-hyperprogressive progression (NHPD). Patients with HPD had significantly lower progression-free survival (p<0.001) and overall survival (p<0.001). When peripheral blood immune cells were examined, the pre-treatment frequency of CD39⁺ cells among CD8⁺ T cells was significantly higher in patients with HPD compared to those with NHPD, although it showed borderline significance to predict HPD. Other parameters regarding regulatory T cells or myeloid derived suppressor cells did not significantly differ among patient groups. Our findings suggest high pre-treatment frequency of CD39⁺CD8⁺ T cells might be a characteristic of HPD. Further investigations in a larger cohort are needed to confirm our results and better delineate the immune landscape of HPD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.815-822
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• 2020

Background: Recently, beneficial roles of ginsenoside F2 (GF2), a minor constituent of Panax ginseng, have been demonstrated in diverse inflammatory diseases. However, its roles in alcoholic liver inflammation and injury have not been clearly understood. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanism by which GF2 ameliorated alcoholic liver injury. Methods: To induce alcoholic liver injury, C57BL/6J wild type (WT) or interleukin (IL)-10 knockout (KO) mice were orally administered with ethanol (3 g/kg) or ethanol-containing GF2 (50 mg/kg) for 2 wk. Liver injury and infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils were evaluated by serum biochemistry and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The changes of hepatic immune cells were assessed by flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction analysis. In vitro differentiation of naïve T cells was performed. Results: GF2 treatment significantly attenuated alcoholic liver injury, in which infiltrations of inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils were decreased. Moreover, the frequencies of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) increased but IL-17-producing T (Th17) cells decreased in GF2-treated mice compared to controls. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of IL-10 and Foxp3 was significantly increased, whereas IL-17 mRNA expression was suppressed in GF2-treated mice. However, these beneficial roles of GF2 were not observed in GF2-treated IL-10 KO mice, suggesting a critical role of IL-10. Similarly, GF2 treatment suppressed differentiation of naïve T cells into Th17 cells by inhibiting RORgt expression and stimulating Foxp3 expression. Conclusion: The present study suggests that GF2 treatment attenuates alcoholic liver injury by increasing IL-10 expression and Tregs and decreasing IL-17 expression and Th17 cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2005

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of the polyglutamine tract in the SCA1 gene product, ataxin-1. Using d2EGFP, a short-lived enhanced green fluorescent protein, we investigated whether polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1 affects the function of the proteasome, a cellular multicatalytic protease that degrades most misfolded proteins and regulatory proteins. In Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence experiments, d2EGFP was less degraded in HEK 293T cells transfected with ataxin-1(82Q) than in cells transfected with lacZ or empty vector controls. To test whether the stability of the d2EGFP protein was due to aggregation of ataxin-1, we constructed a plasmid carrying $ataxin-1-{\Delta}114$, lacking the self-association region (SAR), and examined degradation of the d2EGFP. Both the level of $ataxin-1-{\Delta}114$ aggregates and the amount of d2EGFP were drastically reduced in cells containing $ataxin-1-{\Delta}114$. Furthermore, d2EGFP localization experiments showed that polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1 inhibited the general function of the proteasome activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1 decreases the activity of the proteasome, implying that a disturbance in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is directly involved in the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type1.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.176-182
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• 2016

CCR3 is a chemokine receptor that mediates the accumulation of allergic inflammatory cells, including eosinophils and Th2 cells, at inflamed sites. The regulatory sequence of the CCR3 gene, contains two Runt-related transcription factor (RUNX) 1 sites and two PU.1 sites, in addition to a functional GATA site for transactivation of the CCR3 gene. In the present study, we examined the effects of the cis-acting elements of RUNX1 and PU.1 on transcription of the gene in EoL-1 eosinophilic cells and Jurkat T cells, both of which expressed functional surface CCR3 and these two transcription factors. Introduction of RUNX1 siRNA or PU.1 siRNA resulted in a modest decrease in CCR3 reporter activity in both cell types, compared with transfection of GATA-1 siRNA. Cotransfection of the two siRNAs led to inhibition in an additive manner. EMSA analysis showed that RUNX1, in particular, bound to its binding motifs. Mutagenesis analysis revealed that all point mutants lacking RUNX1- and PU.1-binding sites exhibited reduced reporter activities. These results suggest that RUNX1 and PU.1 participate in transcriptional regulation of the CCR3 gene.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.494-502
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Reducing the number of adipocytes by inducing apoptosis of mature adipocytes as well as suppressing differentiation of preadipocytes plays an important role in preventing obesity. This study examines the anti-adipogenic and pro-apoptotic effect of red pepper seed water extract (RPS) prepared at $4^{\circ}C$ (RPS4) in 3T3-L1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Effect of RPS4 or its fractions on lipid accumulation was determined in 3T3-L1 cells using oil red O (ORO) staining. The expressions of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and adipogenic associated proteins [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR-{\gamma}$), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP ${\alpha}$), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC)] were measured in 3T3-L1 cells treated with RPS4. Apoptosis and the expression of Akt and Bcl-2 family proteins [B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated death promoter (Bad), Bcl-2 like protein 4 (Bax), Bal-2 homologous antagonist/killer (Bak)] were measured in mature 3T3-L1 cells treated with RPS4. RESULTS: Treatment of RPS4 ($0-75{\mu}g/mL$) or its fractions ($0-50{\mu}g/mL$) for 24 h did not have an apparent cytotoxicity on pre and mature 3T3-L1 cells. RPS4 significantly suppressed differentiation and cellular lipid accumulation by increasing the phosphorylation of AMPK and reducing the expression of $PPAR-{\gamma}$, C/EBP ${\alpha}$, SREBP-1c, FAS, and ACC. In addition, all fractions except ethyl acetate fraction significantly suppressed cellular lipid accumulation. RPS4 induced the apoptosis of mature adipocytes by hypophosphorylating Akt, increasing the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bak, Bax, and Bad, and reducing the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and p-Bad. CONCLUSIONS: These finding suggest that RPS4 can reduce the numbers as well as the size of adipocytes and might useful for preventing and treating obesity.

• The Microorganisms and Industry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.2-9
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• 1999

A study was made on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in T. concretivorus grown with and without glucose. The present results show that T. concretivorus possesses high activities of pentose shunt pathway and related enzymes, glucokinase, G-6-P dehydrogenase, 6-PG dehydrogenase, and phosphoglucoisomerase, but low activities of enzymes unique to EMP(fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase). Although the synthesis of the latter enzymes remains largely unaffected by the growth enviroment, that of the former is stimulated by glucose. And the failure to detect ED pathway enzymes in cells grown in thiosulate or thiosulfate-glucose medium eliminates the ED pathway as a significant route of glucose catabolism in T.concretivorus. These results suggest that pentose shunt pathway performs an energetic role in glucose metabolism by T.concretivorus with EMP as a subway. The absence of ED pathway and the presence of pentose shunt pathway which is the major route of catabolism in T.concretivorus are similar to those of other obligately chemolitho-trophic thiobacilli. The G-6-P and 6-PG dehydrogenase are both NAD and NADP specific, but MAD predominant. However, the 3-PGAL dehydrogenase is only NAD specific. Since the specific activity of 3-PGAL generated from glucose is converted mainly into pyruvate which is channeled into the TCA cycle. All enzymes of the TCA cycle tested and NADH oxidase are detected in the cells of T.concretivorus grown in thiosulfate. The specific activities of fumarase and isocitrate dehydrogenase are high and others are low. The presence of two isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD-and NADP-linked) may have important regulatory function for this organism. The activity of NAD-oxidase, which is implicated in the energy generating metabolism, was very high in the crude cell-free extract of T.concretivorus, recording 55.11 m.mu. mole/min/mg protein. This well coincides with the fact that activities of NAD-linked G-6-P dehydrogenase, 6-PG dehydrogenase and 3-PGAL dehydrogenase were high.