• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the hypothesis that a highly pure linear ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan produced by Agrobacterium sp. R259 enhances human natural killer (NK) cell activity and suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In an eight-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 83 healthy adults with white blood cell counts of $4,000-8,000cells/{\mu}L$ were participated and randomly assigned to take two capsules per day containing either 350 mg ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan or placebo. Six participants withdrew their study consent or were excluded due to NK cell activity levels outside the normal range. NK cell activity and serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were measured. RESULTS: NK cell activity and the serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher from baseline to week 8 in the ${\beta}$-glucan group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.048, P = 0.029). Consumption of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan also significantly increased NK cell activity compared with placebo after adjusting for smoking and stress status (P = 0.009). In particular, the effect of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants with severe stress than in those experiencing mild stress. However, the administration ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan did not significantly modulate the levels of IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IgG compared with the placebo. CONCLUSION: The results showed that supplementation with bacterial ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan significantly increased NK cell activity without causing any adverse effects. Additionally, the beneficial effect of ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan on NK cell activity was greater in participants experiencing severe stress.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2018

This study examined the immunomodulatory effects of milk fermented with based on the synbiotic interaction between Cudrania tricuspidata leaf extract (CT) and Lactobacillus gasseri 505. Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with milk (Control), milk supplemented with 0.2% CT (CT-milk), or CT-milk fermented with L. gasseri 505 (FCT). FCT-treated cells showed higher NO production than the other groups. ELISA revealed that FCT produced the highest enhancement of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-2, IL-12, and IL-10. Furthermore, FCT also increased the gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as iNOS and COX-2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Collectively, these results indicate that the synbiotic interaction between CT and L. gasseri 505 might enhance their immunomodulatory effects of fermented milk.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.216-222
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• 2006

This study was carried out to select the lactic acid bacteria producing ${\beta}-galactosidase$ (lactase) and investigate the properties of the ${\beta}-galactosidase$. About 100 strains of lactic acid bacteria showing blue colony on the MRS agar medium containing X-gal were isolated from several kinds of Kimchi. Among them, 2 strains were selected as potential ${\beta}-galactosidase$ producers. The selected strains, ET-1 and LA-12, were identified as Lactobacillus fermentum and L. acidophilus, respectively by the analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. They showed relatively high ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity and cellular viability. Their ${\beta}-galactosidase$ showed the highest activity at $55^{\circ}C$. And the optimum pHs of the enzymes produced by ET-1 and LA-12 were pH 5.5 and pH 7.0, respectively. They were also highly resistant to artificial gastric juice and bile. Two selected strains showed little change of viable cell number for 3 hr incubation in artificial gastric juice, and maintained the viable cell number at $10^8CFU/ml$ for 24 hr in 0.3% oxgall after incubation for 2 hours in artificial gastric juice. Based on these results, ET-1 and LA-12 are expected to be applied in dairy industry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1031-1040
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• 2013

Candida albicans is a dimorphic fungus that commensally colonizes human mucosal surfaces. The aim of this study was to assess the role of different C. albicans morphologies in inducing pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cytokines in macrophages. Macrophages may respond to pathogen-associated molecular patterns via TLR2 and TLR4 by expressing cytokines. The hyphal transition of C. albicans was induced by 20% serum (S), RPMI-1640 (R), or $39^{\circ}C$ culture (H). Macrophages were then challenged with either yeast (Y) or different hyphae cultures of C. albicans, followed by RT-PCR and FACS analysis of PRRs expression. In addition, macrophages were stimulated with either yeast or different hyphae cultures of C. albicans used by RT-PCR and Bio-Plex analysis of cytokines production. Macrophages expressed high levels of TLR4 and dectin-1 after stimulation with Y cells. In contrast, stimulation with H or R cells strongly increased the expression of TLR2 and dectin-2. Stimulation with Y cells significantly enhanced the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ and weakly increased the expression of IL-6 and IL-12. Stimulation with hyphal cells (S, R, and H) strongly increased IL-10 expression, but weakly reduced IL-$1{\beta}$ expression. The phagocytosis activity and NO production of macrophages were decreased upon treatment with hyphal cells compared with yeast, and depended on the length of hyphae. In summary, the yeast and hyphae forms of C. albicans resulted in an induction of different PRRs, with accompanying differences in immune cell cytokine profiles.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2008

An Organometallic compound, $C_{12}H_{20}B_{10}S_2Co_2$, was synthesized from o-carborane, $Cp^*Co(S_2B_2B_{10}H_{10})$ and $BH_3{\cdot}THF$. The molecular structure of this complex has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data: monoclinic, space group Cc, a=15.981(4) ${\AA}$, b=15.478(17) ${\AA}$, c=12.0562(17) ${\AA}$, ${\beta}=115.063(16)^{\circ}$, Z=4, V=9683(4) ${\AA}^3$. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix leat-squares methods to give a model with a reliability factor R = 0.0630 for 9948 reflections.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.81-100
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• 2014

Objectives: The object of this study was to observe the in vitro anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of six single aqueous herbal extracts-Quisqualis Fructus (QuF), Meliae Cortex (MeC), Arecae Semen (ArS), Crassirhizomae Rhizoma (CrR), Ulmi Pasta Semen(UlS), Torreyae Semen(ToS)- against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-activated Raw 264.7 cells. Methods: Anti-bacterial activities against S. aureus of aqueous extracts of QuF, MeC, ArS, CrR, UlS and ToS were detected using standard agar microdilution methods. In addition, the effects on the cell viability, prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 productions of LPS activated Raw 264.7 cells were detected. The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects were respectively compared with lincomycin and piroxicam. Results: Minimal Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of aqueous extracts of QuF, MeC, ArS, CrR, UlS and ToS against S. aureus was respectively detected $5.625{\pm}4.075$ (3.125~12.500), $0.332{\pm}0.273$ (0.098~0.782), $1.094{\pm}0.428$ (0.782~1.563), $2.969{\pm}2.096$ (0.782~6.250), $9.375{\pm}4.419$ (3.125~12.500)>25 mg/ml. MIC of lincomycin was detected as $0.469{\pm}0.297$ (0.195~0.782) ${\mu}g/ml$ at same conditions. In addition, $ED_{50}$ against LPS-induced cell viabilities and cytokine releases of QuF, MeC, ArS, CrR, UlS and ToS was as follows - Cell viability: 66.370, 2.908, 1.747, 259.553, 18.150 and 34.160 mg/ml; NO production: 389.486, 0.294, 0.138, 523.060, 45.363 and 49.327 mg/ml; $PGE_2$ production: 114.271, 0.223, 0.046, 243.078, 8.829 and 28.947 mg/ml; TNF-${\alpha}$ production: 406.288, 0.343, 0.123, 9404.227, 125.406 and 140.775 mg/ml; IL-$1{\beta}$ production: 117.178, 0.135, 0.019, 237.451, 7.923 and 19.418 mg/ml; IL-6 production: 31.261, 0.105, 0.055, 128.434, 2.290 and 3.745 mg/ml. ED50 of piroxicam against LPS-induced cell viabilities, NO, $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were detected as 35.179, 6.552, 1.162, 7.273, 7.101 and $5.044{\mu}g/ml$, respectively at same conditions. Conclusions: All six single aqueous herbal extracts showed anti-bacterial effects against S. aureus, in the order of MeC, ArS, CrR, QuF and UlS aqueous extracts except for ToS; they did not showed any anti-bacterial effects (MIC>25 mg/ml). They also showed anti-inflammatory effects against LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells in the order of ArS, MeC, UlS, ToS, QuF and CrR aqueous extracts. It means that the ArS and MeC will be showed favorable potent anti-bacterial and related anti-inflammatory effects.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2008

Purpose : Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) and beta 2-microglobulin(B2M) is considered to be a marker of tubulointerstitial injury. The aim of this study was to examine the urinary levels of NAG and B2M in children with various renal diseases. Methods : We studied 21 children(8.9$\pm$4.5 years, Male:Female=14:7) and they were divided into three groups: group I(steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome-4 patients), group II(various kinds of glomerulonephritis-4 patients), and group III(normal urinalysis or non-glomerular renal diseases-13 patients). Results : Urinary NAG levels in groups I and II were significantly higher than those in group III(19.4$\pm$11.5 and 30.0$\pm$30.1 vs. 4.7$\pm$3.9, P=0.01), while urinary B2M levels did not differ among the 3 groups, although urinary NAG levels were positively correlated with urinary B2M levels(r=0.49, P=0.03). Urinary NAG and B2M levels were all correlated with proteinuria(r=0.79, P<0.001 and r=0.68, respectively, P=0.001) serum albumin(r=-0.72, P<0.001 and r=-0.57, respectively, P=0.01) and cholesterol(r=0.58, P=0.006 and r=0.56, respectively, P=0.013) levels. Conclusions : Urinary excretions of NAG and B2M are increased in children with steroidsensitive nephrotic syndrome and various kinds of glomerulonephritis, suggesting tubular dysfunction might be present in these diseases.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 1999

Bioequivalence of two cefixime capsules, test drug ($Cepirin^R$ capsule: Cheiljedang Corp.) and reference drug ($Suprax^R$ capsule: Dong A Pharm. Com.), was evaluated according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Sixteen healthy volunteers were divided randomly into two groups and administered the drug orally at the dose of 400 mg as cefixime in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. There was a 1-week washout period between the administrations. Blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals for 12 hour and the plasma concentration of cefixime was determined with a HPLC method. $AUC_{0-12hr}$ (area under the plasma concentration-time curve form time zero to 12 hour), $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$) were estimated from the plasma drug concentrationtime data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no difference in $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ between the formulations. The apparent differences of these parameters between the formulations were less than 20% (i.e., 8.62, 11.10 and 0.00% for $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$,respectively). The powers $(1-{\beta})$ for $AUC_{0-12hr}$ $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were over 0.9. Minimal detectable difference $({\Delta})$ at ${\alpha}=0.05$, $1-{\beta}=0.8$ were less than 20% (i.e., 12.84, 11.05 and 17.99% for $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals $({\delta})$ for these parameters were also within ${\pm}20%$ (i.e., $-0.53{\le}{\delta}{\le}17.76$, $3.23{\le}{\delta}{\le}18.97$ and $-12.81{\le}{\delta}{\le}12.81$ for $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). These results satisfied the criteria of KFDA guideline for bioequivalence, indicating the two formulations of cefixime were bioequivlent.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.18 no.1_2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

An Organometallic compound, $C_{16}H_{35}B_{10}IrS_2Si$, was synthesized from o-carborane, $Cp^*Ir(S_2C_2B{10}H_{10})$, and $Me_3SiCHN_2$. The molecular structure of this complex has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data : monoclinic, space group $P2_1/n$, $a=10.1986(12)\;{\AA}$, $b=14.834(5)\;{\AA}$, $c=17.139\;{\AA}$, ${\beta}=92.24(2)^{\circ}$, Z=4, $V=2591.0(14)\;{\AA}^3$. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix leat-squares methods to give a model with a reliability factor R=0.053 for 5080 reflections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.493-499
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• 2023

In this study we evaluated the immune-enhancing effects of β-glucan, the main component of Euglena gracilis (Euglena), and Euglena on inflammatory factor expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and ICR mice with cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression. Macrophages were treated with β-glucan or Euglena for 48 h. The β-glucan and Euglena groups exhibited higher levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α than the control (vehicle alone) group. Animals were fed saline and β-glucan (400 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)) or Euglena (400 or 800 mg/kg B.W.) for 19 days, and on days 17-19, cyclophosphamide (CCP, 80 mg/kg B.W.) was administered to induce immunosuppression in the ICR mouse model. CCP reduced the body weight, spleen index, and cytokine expression of the mice. To measure cytokine and receptor expression, splenocytes were treated with concanavalin A (ConA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a mitogen for 24 h. In vivo, ConA stimulation significantly upregulated the expression of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 receptor β1, IL-1β, and IL-2 in splenocytes from the β-glucan- or Euglena-treated groups compared with those in the splenocytes from the CCP-treated group; LPS stimulation increased the levels of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in splenocytes from the β-glucan- or Euglena- treated groups compared with those from the CCP-treated group, but most of these differences were not significant. These results demonstrate the effect of Euglena in ameliorating macrophages and immunosuppression in CCP-treated mice. Thus, Euglena has the potential to enhance macrophage- and splenocyte- mediated immune-stimulating responses.