• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2443-2446
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• 2013

Published data have shown that the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) in plasma and pleural effusion might be usefulness for lung cancer diagnosis. Here, we performed a prospective study to investigate the utility of VEGF and sVEGFR-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for differential diagnosis of primary lung cancer. A total of 56 patients with solitary pulmonary massed by chest radiograph or CT screening were enrolled in this study. BALF and plasma samples were obtained from all patients and analyzed for VEGF and sVEGFR-1 using a commercially available sandwich ELISA kit. The results showed that the levels of VEGF in BALF were significantly higher in patients with a malignant pulmonary mass compared with patients with a benign mass (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference of sVEGFR-1 in BALF was found between malignant and non-malignant groups (P = 0.43). With a cut-off value of 214 pg/ml, VEGF showed a sensitivity and specificity of 81.8% and 84.2%, respectively, in predicting the malignant nature of a solitary pulmonary mass. Our study suggests that VEGF is significantly increased in BALF among patients with lung cancer than in benign diseases. Measurement of VEGF in BALF might be helpful for differential diagnosis of primary lung cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.699-705
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• 1997

Although it is known that neuronal cell death during development occurs by apoptosis, the mechanisms underlying excitatory amino acid-induced neuronal cell death remain poorly understood. In this study we have examined the mechanism by which L-glutamate, an excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, induces cell death in PC12 cell lines. To characterize cell death, we employed sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method for cellular DNA fragmentation, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and chromatin staining by acridine orange and ethidium bromide after treating the PC12 cells with L-glutamate. L-Glutamate caused dose-dependent cell death with a maximum at 24 hrs after the treatment. These cellular fragmentation was blocked by pretreatment of MK-801, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid(NMDA) receptor antagonist, and nerve growth factor(NGF). Analysis of DNA integrity from L-glutamate-treated cells revealed cleavage of DNA into regular sized fragments, a biochemical hallmark of apoptosis. The PC12 cells that were induced to die by L-glutamate treatment exhibited classical chromatin condensation under the light microscopy after acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining. These results suggest that apoptosis is one of the key features that are involved in L-glutamate-induced excitotoxic cell death in PC12 cells, and these cell death are mediated by NMDA receptor and depend on NGF.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 1997

We have investigated the prevalence of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection among 100 mixed-breed dogs raised in Chonnam Province (Koheung, Posung, Changheung, and Hwasoon) and 100 dogs randomly selected from visiting dogs to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University for routine physical examination. Blood samples taken from dogs were examined for the presence of Dirofilaria immitis microfilaria by the modified Knott's test, and an antigen test which was based on the sandwich ELISA(DiroCHEK(equation omitted), Synbiotics, Inc., San Diego, California, USA) was used to detect the adult heartworm-specific antigen from serum samples. The results were then compared with those of the modified Knott's test. Five(2.5%) of the 200 examined dogs were microfilaria-positive, while 8 dogs(4%) were anti-gen-positive, which suggested that the antigen test was more sensitive than the microfilarial test in detecting heartworm infection. All dogs that were microfilaria-positive were also antigen-positive. The place of origin of the heartworm-positive dogs were of Naju (4/26, 15.4%), Koheung(3/32, 9.4%), and Hwasoon (1/19, 5.3%), while none of dogs raised in Kwangju, Posung, and Changheung areas were infected with the parasite. Although not significant, more infected dogs were observed in older ages, while the difference in infection rate between male (4/98, 4.1%) and female (4/102, 3.9%) was not recognized. Our results indicated that a relatively low infection rate was observed in dogs raised in Kwangju and Chonnam area compared to the infection rate reported previously in other areas of South Korea.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2003

Background: Fibroblast functions both as a structural element and as a vital immunoregulatory cell. Fibroblasts regulate inflammation through governing of chemokine expression. In order to elucidate the mechanisms by which the expressions of chemokines were regulated, the co-stimulatory effects of Th1 and proinflammatory cytokines were compared using nasal mucosal fibroblasts. Methods: Human nasal mucosa was obtained from surgery for septal deviation and the growth of fibroblasts was established. Fibroblasts from 4th to 6th passage were stimulated with various combinations of cytokines. To inhibit selected signaling pathways, fibroblasts were pretreated with cyclosporin A, wortmannin, staurosporine, and dexamethasone prior to the stimulation with cytokines. The supernatants were collected and chemokines were detected with a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}$-induced production of RANTES was inhibited by all inhibitors used. MCP-1 was produced constitutively and $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced or $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}$-induced production of MCP-1 was not inhibited by cyclosporin A or wortmannin, but by stauroporine or dexamethasone. All inhibitors used in this experiment inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}$-induced or $IL-1{\beta}/IFN-{\gamma}$-induced production of MCP-2 in nasal mucosal fibroblasts. Although staurosporine or dexamethasone showed strong inhibitory effects, cyclosporin A or wortmannin did not inhibit the production of MCP-3 by $IL-1{\beta}/IFN-{\gamma}$ treatment. Conclusion: Chemokines were strongly induced by stimulation of cytokines in combination and showed different pattern of inhibition by the inhibitors. Therefore, it was assumed that cytokines acted on multiple pathways or on unknown pathways which converged to gene-specific transcription factors.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.278-283
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• 2014

In this study, we propose an immunosensor using zinc oxide nanorods (NRs) inside PDMS channel for detecting the influenza A virus subtype H7N9. ZnO with high isoelectric point (IEP, ~9.5) makes it suitable for immobilizing proteins with low IEP. In this proposed H7N9 immunosensor structure ZnO NRs were grown on the PDMS channel inner surface to immobilize H7N9 capture antibody. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method with was used 3,3',5,5' tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for detecting H7N9 influenza virus. The immunosensor was evaluated by amperometry at various H7N9 influenza antigen concentrations (1 pg/ml - 1 ng/ml). The redox peak voltage and current were measured by amperometry with ZnO NWs and without ZnO NWs inside PDMS channel. The measurement results of the H7N9 immunosensor showed that oxidation peak current of TMB at 0.25 V logarithmically increased from 2.3 to 3.8 uA as the H7N9 influenza antigen concentration changed from 1 pg/ml to 1 ng/ml. And then we demonstrated that ZnO NRs inside PDMS channel can improve the sensitivity of immunosensor to compare non-ZnO NRs inside PDMS channel.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1092-1096
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• 2008

Commercial food products from major cities of Coahuila, Mexico were screened to identify residues of transgenic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and/or proteins. After performed, an inventory on all products that contained a soybean-based ingredient in a commercial grocery store in the city of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, 245 food products were identified and grouped in 15 classes according to the soybean ingredient as well as the manufacturing process used for their elaboration. Similar sampling was made for the different food classes in the cities of Monclova, Piedras Negras, and Torreon. A total of 88 samples were analyzed and DNA was extracted by the hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) technique with slight modification to obtain better DNA quality (1). In addition, segments of the transgenic genes one that codifies for 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (epsps), cry 1A, and the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The transgenic proteins 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (CP4 EPSPS) and insecticidal crystal protein (Cry 1Ab/Ac) were identified using double antibody sandwich-enzymatic linked immunoassay analysis (DAS-ELISA). Presence of transgenic genes and/or proteins was identified in 35.3% of the commercial products samples.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.208-220
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• 2006

Objective: Eosinophils are typically characterized by a bilobar nucleus with highly condensed chromatin and cytoplasm containing two major types of granules, specific and primary granules, and lipid bodies. The role of inflammation in asthma and other allergic diseases of the airways is widely appreciated, and airway inflammation is now included as a defining feature of asthma. The importance of the presence of eosinophils in the airways of patients with fetal asthma has long been recognized, but the mechanism by which these cells are recruited and retained in the lungs are only now being elucidated. Eotaxin is a potent and specific eosinophil chemoattractant that is mobilized in the respiratory epithelium after allergic stimulation. Methods : Water extracts of Armeniacae Amarum Semen(AAS) and pulmonary epithelial cell lines A549(alveolar typeII epithelial cells) and human eosinophils were used. Cytotoxic effects of AAS and MIS assay were estimated, as well as the effects of AAS on chemokines from prestimulated A549 cells by sandwich ELISA and RI-PCR. Chemotaxis assay was conducted on prestimulated eosinophils treated with AAS. Results : In this study it is demonstrated that $TGF-{\alpha}$, IL-4 and $IL-1{\beta}$ induced the accumulation of chemokine mRNAs in the alveolar epithelial cell lines A549 in dose-dependent manner. Eotaxin and IL-8 were inhibited by AAS in dose-dependent manner(p<0.05). Eosinophil migration was inhibited at high concentrations of AAS(p<0.05). Conculusions : These findings are indicative of suppression of eotaxin and IL-8, and suggest that this is accomplished through AAS treatment. This raises the possibility that AAS is of therapeutic value in diseases such as asthma.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2002

The present experiments were designed to study the influence of Baekgumhwan on immune function of ICR mice under stress condition. Baekgumhwan was orally administered to the mice for 15days. on the 11th day the mice subjected to electric footshock for 5days(2 session a day, 11 footshocks a 31 min-session). B/T cell populations in splenocytes were studied by FACS analysis and cytokines($IFN-{\gamma}$ rand IL-10) production of the mouse splenocytes treated with PHA were studied by sandwich ELISA assay on the 15th day. The results were as follows. 1. After electric footshock, mice became sluggish and crowded to one side of the cage. Increased B/T cell populations in splenocytes were observed. These results confirm that electric footshock caused stress inducing immunological and behavioral changes in ICR mice. 2. Baekgumhwan administration without stress increase B cell populations in splenocytes, but T cell populations and cytokines($IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-10) production of the mouse splenocytes treated with PHA maintain as similar levels as in the normal group. 3. Baekgumhwan administration with stress significantly antagonized the effect of electric footshock on behavior, increased B cell populations in splenocytes, so maintain as similar levels as in the normal group. cytokines($IFN-{\gamma}$ rand IL-10) production of the mouse splenocytes treated with PHA maintain as similar levels as in the normal group and T cell populations in splenocytes were increased as stress control.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2009

The potential antiviral effects of the culture filtrates (CF) from Serratia marcescens strain Gsm01 against yellow strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Y) were investigated. The culture filtrate of S. marcescens strain Gsm01 applied on Chenopodium amaranticolor showed high inhibitory activity, likewise no necrosis appeared when applied on the tobacco plants 2 days before CMV-Y inoculation. When plants were challenge inoculated with CMV-Y for eighteen days, the disease incidence in plants with culture filtrate of S. marcescens Gsm01 did not exceed 59%, whereas 100% of control plants were severely infected. The results of double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), dot blotting, and western blotting showed that culture filtrate treatment highly affected the accumulation of CMV-Y or its CP protein gene in the treated plant leaves. It was also observed that the culture filtrate had no RNase activity on genomic RNAs of CMV-Y, suggesting that culture filtrate may not contain ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) or proteins with RNase activity. These data shows that culture filtrate of S. marcescens strain Gsm01 seems to be a promising source of antiviral substance for the practical use.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2004

Body antioxidant status is an important factor for the prevention of many chronic diseases in the elderly. This study was done to investigate antioxidant status and its relationship to immune response by measuring plasma cytokine (IL-2 and IL-6) levels in elderly women. Subjects were 76 elderly women aged over 60 years, visiting Jangwhi Social Welfare Center of Seongbook-Gu in Seoul. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to age (< 65, 65 - 74, > 75). Dietary intakes were assessed by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SFFQ). Plasma vitamin C level was measured by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method and plasma levels of vitamin E, A and ${\beta}$-carotene were measured by HPLC. Plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were determined with a solid phase sandwich enzyme linked-immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) using commercial kits. The average intakes of antioxidant vitamins were 96.3mg (137.5% of RDA) for vitamin C and 523.3 ${\mu}$gRE (74.8% of RDA) for vitamin A in elderly women. All of the average plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins were within normal range. However the percentage of the elderly women with deficiency plus marginal values were 7.9% in vitamin C, 9.2% in vitamin A and 7.9% in vitamin E. Plasma levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were 27.1${\pm}$7.1pg/ml and 5.9${\pm}$5.3pg/ml in elderly women. Correlation data showed that plasma IL-2 level was negatively correlated with plasma vitamin C level. In addition, IL-6 level was also negatively correlated with plasma vitamin C, A and E levels, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between erythrocyte thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance(TB-ARS) level and plasma IL-2 or IL-6 levels. In addition, erythrocyte TBARS level showed a significant positive correlation with plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) level and a significant negative correlation with plasma vitamin C level. Overall results might imply that the decreased levels of antioxidant vitamins result in an increase in oxidative stress and thereby increase cytokine production such as IL-2 and IL-6. However further research is required to elucidate these relationships.