• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1995

Several studies showed that the immunological factors such as CD4+ cell number, CD4%, CD8+ cell number and CD4/CD8 ratio and the serological factors such as, ${\beta}^2$-microglobulin(${\beta}^2$-MG), neopterin, soluble CD4, and soluble CD8 are related to the risk of development of AIDS. Especially, the CD4+ cell counts have been used to monitor progresson of HIV disease, to stratify, and to follow patients in clinical trials. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCP) in USA has made the CD4+ cell count as a part of the classification of HIV disease. It is composed of 3 categories such as 1, 2, and 3 which asr $\geq$ 500/$mm^3$, 200/$mm^{3} $\geq$ and < 500/$mm^3$, and < 200/$mm^3$, respectively. In this study, to estimate the differences of immunological factors between HIV-infected and normal human groups in Korea, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, and the CD4/CD8 ratio were measured in 185 HIV-infected subjects and 140 healthy adult subjects. The lymphocyte subsets such as CD4+ T and CD8+ T were analysed by flow cytometer(FACStar) with two-color immunofluorescent stain using monoclonal antibodies such as anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies. The absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of HIV infected persons were $462\pm{277}/mm^3$, $18.2\pm7.7%$, $1,170\pm{534}/mm^3$, $47.0\pm10.6%$ and $0,43\pm0.26 whereas those of uninfected persons were $886\pm{299}mm^3$, $32.9\pm{7.0%}, 730{\pm}259/mm^3$, $26.8\pm6.4%$ and $1.31\pm0.46$(P<0.01). In addition, estimating the reference values of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of Korean, the absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of 140 healthy adults persons were measured and compared with those of foreigners. The reference ranges of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4％, CD8%, and the CD4/CD8 ratio and 1.31$\pm$0.46, respectively. The significant differences were not observed when compared with those of foreigners. However a little difference was observed in the percentages of CD4+ T and the absolute numbers of CD8+ T between the normal values of Korean and those of foreigners were $43.6\pm8.9%$, $560\pm{230}/mm^3$. This result can also be useful as a basic data for the treatment and surveillance of HIV-infected patients in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7965-7970
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• 2014

One of the goals of tumor immunotherapy is to generate immune cells with potent anti-tumor activity through in vitro techniques using peripheral blood collected from patients. However, cancer patients generally have poor immunological function. Thus using patient T cells, which have reduced in vitro proliferative capabilities and less tumor cell killing activity to generate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, fails to achieve optimal clinical efficacy. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a potent activating cytokine for both T cells and natural killer cells. Thus, this study aimed to identify optimal donors for allogeneic LAK cell immunotherapy based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the IL-2 and IL-2R genes. IL-2 and IL-2R SNPs were analyzed using HRM-PCR. LAK cells were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by culturing with IL-2. The frequency and tumor-killing activity of LAK cells in each group were analyzed by flow cytometry and tumor cell killing assays, respectively. Regarding polymorphisms at IL-2-330 (rs2069762) T/G, LAK cells from GG donors had significantly greater proliferation, tumor-killing activity, and IFN-${\gamma}$ production than LAK cells from TT donors (P<0.05). Regarding polymorphisms at IL-2R rs2104286 A/G, LAK cell proliferation and tumor cell killing were significantly greater in LAK cells from AA donors than GG donors (P<0.05). These data suggest that either IL-2-330(rs2069762)T/G GG donors or IL-2R rs2104286 A/G AA donors are excellent candidates for allogeneic LAK cell immunotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2002

This study was conducted to develop a method for direct determination of phagocytic activities in human circulatic systems and to measure the phagocytic activities in human leukocytes from the alcoholics, since phagocytic activity was considered to be very important in human immune mechanism at early stage for the health care of the alcoholics. The subjects for this study were 130 among which 95 males and 3 females were diagnosed as alcoholism and 32 was healthy blood donors. A thin layer of heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I was placed on a plastic dish and reacted with whole blood to measure the phagocytic plaque formation by human leukocytes. In order to determine the health conditions of the subjects, some clinical laboratory tests, such as white blood cell counts, hemoglobin contents (Hgb), mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells(MCV), serum electrophoresis, B and T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocyte subtypes and phytohemagglutination test were also implemented. Compared to the non-alcoholism, new and old alcoholic inpatients showed statistically significant differences on levels of Hgb and MCV (p<0.05), but showed that T and B-lymphocyte numbers decreased and Helper T cell/Suppressor T cell ratio ($1.6{\pm}0.8$%) increased. Compared to non-alcoholism, phagocytic plaque activities of leukocytes from alcoholic patients decreased significantly and an unusual pattern in phagocytic plaque was observed, showing a strange body and chain shaped phagocytosis. Based upon these results, it is concluded that a phagocytic-plaques of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I by leukocytes was very simple and useful method for the early immunological determination of phagocytic activities in alcoholic patients without requiring any special equipments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.505-513
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• 2017

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate whether ambient temperature and dietary glycerol addition affect growth performance, and blood metabolic and immunological parameters, in beef cattle. Methods: Twenty Korean cattle steers ($405.1{\pm}7.11kg$ of body weight [BW], $14.2{\pm}0.15$ months of age) were divided into a conventional control diet group (n = 10) and a 2% glycerol- added group (n = 10). Steers were fed 1.6% BW of a concentrate diet and 0.75% BW of a timothy hay diet for 8 weeks (4 weeks from July 28th to August 26th and 4 weeks from August 27th to September 26th). Blood was collected four times on July 28th, August 11th, August 27th, and September 26th. Results: The maximum indoor ambient temperature-humidity index in August (75.8) was higher (p<0.001) than that in September (70.0), and in August was within the mild heat stress (HS) category range previously reported for dairy cattle. The average daily gain (ADG; p = 0.03) and feed efficiency (p<0.001) were higher in hotter August than in September. Glycerol addition did not affect ADG and feed efficiency. Neither month nor glycerol addition affected blood concentrations of cortisol, triglyceride, or non-esterified fatty acid. Blood concentrations of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, glucose, and albumin were lower (p<0.05) on August 27th than on September 26 th, and blood phosphorus, calcium and magnesium concentrations were also lower on August 27th than on September 27th. Glycerol addition did not affect these blood parameters. Percentages of $CD4^+$ T cells and $CD8^+$ T cells were higher (p<0.05) on July 28th than on August 27th and September 26th. The blood $CD8^+$ T cell population was lower in the glycerol supplemented-group compared to the control group on July 28th and August 27th. Conclusion: Korean cattle may not be significantly affected by mild HS, considering that growth performance of cattle was better in hotter conditions, although some changes in blood metabolic and mineral parameters were observed.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.399-404
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• 2020

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is associated with a variety of therapeutic effects, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxative, antiallergic, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. Accordingly, the use of ginseng has reached an all-time high among members of the general public. However, the safety and efficacy of ginseng in transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressant drugs have still not been elucidated. Transplantation is the most challenging and complex of surgical procedures and may require causation for the use of ginseng. In this regard, we have previously examined the safety, immunological benefits, and protective mechanisms of ginseng with respect to calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression, which is the most widely used regimen in organ transplantation. Using an experimental model of calcineurin inhibitor-induced organ injury, we found that ginseng does not affect drug levels in the peripheral blood and tissue, favorably regulates immune response, and protects against calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity and pancreatic islet injury. On the basis of our experimental studies and a review of the related literature, we propose that ginseng may provide benefits in organ transplant recipients administered calcineurin inhibitors. Through the present review, we aimed to briefly discuss our current understanding of the therapeutic benefits of ginseng related to transplant patient survival.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 1998

Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimuli have long been used to cure human diseases. However, it still remains to be unkown on its action mechanism, physiolosical and biochemical aspects. Thus, many attempts were made to show the scientific background covering the above mentioned mechanisms. Most recent studies show that these tests improve blood circulatory system and increase leucocyte counts. In this study, we have applied the acupuncture stimuli to mouse Sinsu(BL-23), which is a stimulative point of oriental medicine, to see if cytokine such as IL-6 can be detected. Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) for inflammation induction, and then reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using each primer set was performed to trace the amounts of mRNA. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. IL-6 was not temporarily expressed in normal mice 15 min after the acupuncture was pulled out. But, it started to show a feeble expression at 30 min after the removal of acupuncture and it started to reduce at 1h. after the acupuncture was pulled out 2. IL-6 was specifically expressed in LPS-treated mouse 30 min after the acupuncture was pulled out. The transcriptional expressions of LPS-treated mice were more effective than those of normal mice at 30 min after the removal of acupuncture 3. IL-6 was not temporarily expressed in normal mice 15 min after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture. But it expressed most highly at 30 min, and the transcriptional expressions of IL-6 was continued to 3 h. 4. IL-6 was not expressed in all the time after Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture in LPS-treated mice. Therefore, a follow-up of cytokine IL-6 can be used not only a basis of the effect of acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture but a diagnosis giude through the immunological action of thats. And, it is suggested that cytokine's expression by Acupuncture and Radix Astragali aqua-acupuncture stimulation should be continuously elucidated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2013

Objectives: Endotoxins in dust generated in occupational settings is known to contribute to the occurrence of respiratory illness among workers. The relationship between the level of endotoxins in total dust or respirable particulates collected from swine farms and immunological markers related with respiratory allergy was evaluated among swine husbandry workers. Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from ten workers at ten swine farms at Gyeonggi province, Korea. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin for 48 hours. The levels of various cytokines produced at culture supernatants were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. The concentration of particulate matter($PM_{10}$) in the indoor air of the swine farms was evaluated using a PVC membrane filter and mini volume air sampler, and endotoxin levels in the dust were measured by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Kinetic QCL method. Results: Levels of endotoxins in the total dust were categorized into high(geometric mean: $109.35EU/m^3$) and low concentrations (geometric mean: $0.95EU/m^3$) for five swine farms. Interleukin-4 levels were higher in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group, while interferon-${\gamma}$ levels were lower in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. The ratio (interferon-${\gamma}$ to interleukin-4), indicating immunologic skewedness against allergic reactivities, was lower in the high endotoxin group($1.15{\pm}0.60$) than the low endotoxin group($3.09{\pm}2.38$). In addition, the level of interleukin-13, another cytokine contributing to the occurrence of allergic responses, was significantly higher in the at the high endotoxin group($1.12{\pm}0.37ng/m{\ell}$) than in the low endotoxin group($0.37{\pm}0.04ng/m{\ell}$). Hematologic assessment showed significantly lower cellularity in the number of total leukocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils in the high endotoxin group than in the low endotoxin group. Conclusions: Even though a sufficient number of swine workers and farms were not investigated, this study generlly suggests that the immunological function of swine farm workers exposed to high levels of endotoxin could be modulated toward allergic reactivities.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.81-114
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Jeseupwiryeongtang-gagam(JWTG) on atopic dermatitis by in vivo experiment using NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse, which has histological and clinical similarities to the atopic dermatitis of human. Methods : To investigate the effect of JWTG on AD, we evaluated atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by clinical skin index and analyzed immunological parameters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs), splenocytes, draining lymph node(DLN) and performed skin histology in ears and dorsal skin of atopic dermatitis-like skin NC/Nga mouse in vivo. Results and Conclusions : In vivo, clinical skin severity score were significantly lower in JWTG group than control group. IgE, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IgM, IgG2a and IgG2b levels in serum were decreased remarkably in JWTG group than control group and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production, secreted in Th1 cell were increased by JWTG. After experiment ended, we analyzed immunological cells ($CD3^+$, $CD19^+$, $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $CD3^+$$CD69^+$, $CD4^+$$CD25^+$ and $CD49b^+$) by flow cytometry. It resulted that total absolute number of $CD3^+$, $CD19^+$, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ cells were recovered as normal and $CD3^+$$CD69^+$ were decreased significantly compared with control group in isolated DLN and PBMCs from NC/Nga mouse and total absolute number of $Gr-1^+$, $CD11b^+$ and $CD3^+$ in dorsal skin of NC/Nga mouse were decreased by JWTG. We analyzed ear, DLN, and neck-back skin after biopsy and dyeing by hematoxyline/eosin(H&E) and toluidine staining (mast cells marker) and obtained results that JWTG were effective to histological symptoms (dermal and epidermal thickening, hyperkeratosis and inflammatory cell infiltration). Ear thickness was decreased significantly than the control group and the size of inflammatory lymphocytes cells(ILC) and plasma cells(PC) in DLN were also decreased.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.69-93
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• 2008

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of KKHS on atopic dermatitis in an in-vivo experiment using an NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse, which has histological and clinical similarities to this condition in humans. Methods To investigate the effect of KKHS on atopic dermatitis (AD), we evaluated atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by clinical skin index and analyzed immunological parameters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs), splenocytes, draining lymph node(DLN) and performed skin histology in ears and dorsal skin of atopic dermatitis of NC/Nga mouse in vivo. Results In vivo, clinical skin severity score was significantly lower in the KKHS group than in the control group. IgE, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, IgM, IgG2a and IgG2b levels in serum decreased remarkably in the KKHS group than in the control group, and the level of IFN-${\gamma}$ production which is secreted from Th1 cell was increased by KKHS. After this experiment we analyzed immunological cells ($CD3^+$, $CD19^+$, $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $CD3^+CD69^+$, $CD4^+CD25^+$ and $CD49b^+$) by flow cytometry. It results that the total absolute number of $CD3^+$, $CD19^+$, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ cells were recovered as much as normal state, and the level of $CD3^+CD69^+$ in isolated DLN and PBMCs were significantly decreased, and total absolute number of $Gr-1^+$, $CD11b^+$ and $CD3^+$ in dorsal skin of NC/Nga mouse were decreased by KKHS. We analyzed ear, DLN, and neck-back skin after biopsy and dyeing by hematoxyline/eosin(H&E), toluidine staining (mast cells marker). KKHS were very effective to the histological symptoms which are in dermal and epidermal thickening, hyperkeratosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Ear thickness was significantly decreased compared with the control group and the size of inflammatory lymphocytes cells (ILC) and plasma cells (PC) in DLN were also decreased. Conclusions KKHS on atopic dermatitis in an in-vivo experiment using an NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse was very effectiveness to the atopy dermatitis treatment.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2022

Background: Occupational hazards in crop farms vary diversely based on different field operations as soil management, harvesting processes, pesticide, or fertilizer application. We aimed at evaluating the immunological status of crop farmers, as limited systematic investigations on immune alteration involved with crop farming have been reported yet. Methods: Immunological parameters including plasma immunoglobulin level, major peripheral immune cells distribution, and level of cytokine production from activated T cell were conducted. Nineteen grape orchard, 48 onion open-field, and 21 rose greenhouse farmers were participated. Results: Significantly low proportion of natural killer (NK) cell, a core cell for innate immunity, was revealed in the grape farmers (19.8±3.3%) in comparison to the onion farmers (26.4±3.1%) and the rose farmers (26.9±2.5%), whereas cytotoxic T lymphocyte proportion was lower in the grape and the onion farmers than the rose farmers. The proportion of NKT cell, an immune cell implicated with allergic response, was significantly higher in the grape (2.3±0.3%) and the onion (1.6±0.8%) farmers compared with the rose farmers (1.0±0.4%). A significantly decreased interferon-gamma:interleukin-13 ratio was observed from ex vivo stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of grape farmers compared with the other two groups. The grape farmers revealed the lowest levels of plasma IgG1 and IgG4, and their plasma IgE level was not significantly different from that of the onion or the rose farmers. Conclusion: Our finding suggests the high vulnerability of workplace-mediated allergic immunity in grape orchard farmers followed by open-field onion farmers and then the rose greenhouse farmers.