• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.120-123
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• 2002

In order to investigate the effects of chitosan on the normal and cyclophosphamide (CY)-suppressed primary humoral immune response in mice, chitosan was orally administered alone (single dose of 62.5, 250 mg/kg) or with CY (20 mg/kg, i.p.) to female ICR mice on the 2nd day before or after immunization with SRBC-antigen. When chitosan alone was administered before antigenic challenge, splenic IgM plaque forming cells (PFC) and splenic cellularity were slightly increased and serum IgM was not changed when compared with control group. However, chitosan significantly enhanced PFC, serum IgM and splenic cellularity when administered after antigenic challenge. The PFC numbers, serum IgM and splenic cellularity were significantly decreased by the treatment of CY, whereas those values were slightly increased by the concomitant treament of CY and chitosan when compared with CY alone-administration. These results indicate that chitosan is able to increase normal humoral immunity (HI) and to slightly inhibit the suppressive effects of CY on HI.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2004

Mancozeb, a polymeric complex of zinc and manganese salts of ethylene bisthiocarbamate (EBDC), is used widely in agriculture as fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. Mancozeb can be occupationally and environmentally exposed to human and has been reported to induce estrogenic activity, therein it is considered as an endocrine disrupter, We investigated the effects of acute exposure of Mancozeb on the immune function in mice. After single oral administration of Mancozeb to female ICR mice, the immunopathological parameters (body- and organ-weight, splenic cellularity hematological parameters), mitogen (Con A, PHA+IL-2, LPS)-induced splenocyte proliferation (SP) and splenic IgM plaque forming cell (PFC). WBC and splenic cellularity were decreased, but liver-, kidney-, and spleen-weight were increased when compared with control group. Splenic IgM PFC against SRBC was slightly lowered. Mitogen-induced proliferation of spleen cells from Mancozeb-treated mice was not signifcantly changed ex vivo, however, SP in vitro were significantly lowered in concentration dependent manner. These results indicate that Mancozeb could affect the immune function in mice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 1999

Triazine herbicide has been reported to directly suppress the immune response. In the present study, the effect of simazine on the immune response was investigated. Splenic lymphocytes were treated withmitogen (lipopolysaccaride, concanavalin A) in the presence of simazine. When simazine(300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg) was administrated every day for 3 weeks or 4 weeks, respectively, the number of plaque forming cells (PFC) was decreased. Antibody production of IgM and IgG class was significantly decreased in splenic cells from simazine-treated animals. In addition, when animals were exposed to simazine, the susceptibility of virus infection as well as the growth of tumor cells was increased. These data suggest that simazine affected the immune function and humoral immunity impaired by simazine treatment contributed to pathological process.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2001

In order to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on immune system in mice we examined the various immunological parameters. After single oral administration of BPA to female ICR mice, the weights of bodies and lymphoid organs, splenic cellularity and hematological parameters were examined on day 2 and 7. Among them WBC and splenic cellularity were slightly decreased on day 2. To assess the effects of BPA on humoral immune responses, splenic IgM plaque forming cell (PFC) and serum IgM were assayed. When BPA was administered after immunization with SRBC, but not before immunization, IgM PFC against SRBC was significantly lowered in a dose dependent manner. Serum IgM level was also decreased on day 4 when high dose (2000 mg/kg) of BPA was administrated after injection of OVA-antigen. The indexes of splenocyte proliferation (SP) to concanavalin A (Con A) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were measured in vitro by MTT assay. At low concentration BPA slightly increased splenocyte proliferation but at higher concentration it showed significant inhibitory effects on cell proliferation. Mitogen-stimulated SP was also determined with spleen cells from BPA treated mice. Con A-induced SP was slightly decreased and LPS-induced SP was especially inhibited at 1000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg of BPA. These results indicate that BPA is able to acutly evoke humoral and cell mediated immune suppression in mice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.190-195
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• 1996

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been reported to directly suppress the immune responses. In the present study, the effect of AFB1 on immune functions was investigated. Splenic lymphocytes were treated with various doses of the mitogens (lipopolysaccharide, concanavalin A) in the presence of AFB1. AFB1 pretretment decreased the number of plaque forming cells (PFC) in a dose-dependent manner. Antibody production of IgM and IgG class was significantly decreased in AFB1-treated splenic cells. In addition, when animals were exposed to AFB1, the susceptibility of bacterial infection as well as the growth of tumor cells was increased. These data suggest that AFB1 affected the immune function and humoral immunity impaired by AFB1 treatment contributed to pathological process.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2003

To determine whether or not bisphenol A affects the Immune system, female ICR mice were treated bisphenol A (BPA) orally at the doses of 100, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg for 30 consecutive days. Four days before enumerating Plaque -forming cells (PFCs) mice were immunized intraperitoneally with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). The spleen cellularity and PFC/spleen were significantly reduced by 30-day exposure to BPA (1,000 mg/kg/day), but the PFC/10$\^$6/ spleen cells was slightly decreased.. When splenocytes isolated from the mice exposed to BPA for 30 days were cultured in the presence of LPS, Con A or PHA with IL-2, the lymphocyte proliferation ex vivo was not significantly suppressed by BPA. Our present results indicated that 30-day exposure of mice to BPA might have mild immunotoxic potential.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1975

Despite a number of recent studies on appendix its function appears to remain unknown. The present studies were undertaken in order to extend and confirm the previous studies concerning the role of appendix in immune response. An early hemagglutinin response of mercaptoethanol sensitive antibody(IgM antibody) in rabbit injected intravenously(i.v.) with 200mcg of bovine gamma globulin(BGG) was abolished by lethal whole body irradiation(900 r), but preserved in animals whose appendix and bone marrow were shielded during irradiation. Late formation of mercaptoethanol resistant antibody(IgG antibody) and the development of memory in bone marrow shielded animals were not affected by irradiation of the appendix. Formation of either IgM or IgG antibody to sheep red blood cells(SRBC) injected i.v. as determined by direct plaque forming cell(DPFC) technique in spleen were effectively abolished by appendectomy, thymectomy, or both followed by irradiation. When bone marrow was shielded in combination with autologous appendix reconstitution, DPFC response was about 5 times greater than the sum of two. Lysed appendix cells failed to restore the response. Lethally irradiated rabbits restored with combination of autologous appendix and thymus cells showed DPFC responses which were essentially normal. Three pools of appendix were obtained by manual separation technique and were stimulated with soluble concanavalin A(Con A), phytohemagglutinin-P(PHA) and pokeweed mitogen(PWM). Rabbit appendix cells responded to Con A, PHA and PWM. Cells of thymus dependent area(TDA) of the appendix were relatively enriched in their response to T cell mitogens compared to dome and follicle cells. The PHA/Con A responsive ratio of appenix TDA subpopulation was high, indicating that Con A responsive cells have a wider distribution among appendix. This finding showed that interfollicular area of the appendix is thymus-dependent. The present studies confirmed other evidence that the rabbit appendix cells itself are unable to form antibody and T lymphocytes in appendix TDA may be heterogenous, and that the appendix cells are synergistic with either bone marrow or thymus cells in the early hemagglutinin on splenic antibody response to BGG or SRBC.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 1994

Repeated injections of low-doses of mercuric chloride in rats or mice induce polyclonal activation which includes the induction of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies and circulating immune complex and it results in nephritis. Because this disease is autoimmune mediated disease resulted from immune dysfunction, immunomodulators are used to control the symptoms or to cure the disease. Irpex lacteus Fr. is a kind of new medicinal fungus. The polysaccharide fraction extracted from submerged fermentation of Irpex lacteus Fr. decreased the serum agglutinin, serolysin and IgM plaque forming cells in normal mice. The hitherto obtained clinical results suggested that it significantly improved the oligourea, edema, and hypertension in patients who have nephritis. To elucidate the action-mechanisms of Irpex lacteus Fr., we established the experimental model of HgCl$_2$induced polyclonal activation by intraperitoneal administrations of HgCl$_2$to mice. To assess the immunomodulating effect of Irpex lacteus fraction, we Investigated its effects on the mitogen induced proliferation and IgM PFC counts of splenic lymphocytes in mice during the treatment of HgCl$_2$. The Irpex lacteus polysaccharide reduced the abnormally increased mitogen induced Iymphocyte proliferation and IgM PFCs to almost normal levels. And the Irpex lacteus polysaccharides prevented the increasement of serum immunoglobulin level induced by HgCl$_2$. These data suggested that the Irpex lacteus polysaccharides might have the immunomodulating activity to prevent and /or improve the HgCl$_2$ induced autoimmune disease.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.223-227
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• 1987

The effects of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene on the immune status in normal male were evaluated. They exhibited significant decrease in the circulating leukocyte counts. Relative spleen and thymus weights were slightly decreased, but not stratistically significant. These were, however, significant liver hypertrophies in theier exposed mice. Splenic IgM PFCs per one million cells in 1/20 LD50 BHA and BHT exposed mice were significantly reduced IgM PFCs per spleen were similar tothose of control, except in 1/20 LD50 BHA exposed mice, where they were significantly suppressed. The precise nature of the inhibition is not clear. Direct cytotoxicity is not responsible for the depressed antibody response, even following relatively high doses of them, because the changes in spleen cellularity are not significant. Both substances, however, did not show any effects on the arthus reaction and delayed hypersensitivity reaction induced by heat aggreagted bovine serum albumin, and in vivo phagocytosis of colloidal carbon. In the light of the present results, in vivo antibody response as well as in vitro, may be sensitive to BHA of the present results, in vivo antibody response as well as in vitro, amy be sensitie to BHA and BHT. Further elucidation of the precise nature of antibody suppression in their exposed mice, is warranted.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.301-306
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• 2008

To investigate the effects of carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) on the cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunotoxicity, hemagglutinin titer (HA-titer), splenic IgM plaque forming cells (PFC) and contact-delayed type hypersensitivity (CDTH) were assessed in mice. Ge-132 was orally administered alone (single dose of 300, 600, 900 mg/kg b.w.) or with CY (10 or 50 mg/kg, i.p.) to mice on the 2nd day before, simultaneously with, the 2nd day after immunization. Within Ge-132 alone-treated groups, HA-titer and PFC to SRBC were significantly and dose-dependently enhanced when compared with control group. HA-titer and PFC numbers suppressed by the treatment of CY alone were significantly restored by the concomitant treatment of CY and Ge-132. Also, Ge-132 significantly decreased DNFB-induced CDTH and inhibited the CY-enhanced CDTH. These results indicate that Ge-132 may be able to increase humoral immunity and inhibit the immunotoxicity by CY.