• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.12
• /
• pp.1336-1341
• /
• 2008

Purpose : This study aimed to determine the frequencies of $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cells in donor graft and peripheral blood $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cells in recipients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and their association with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Methods : Seventeen children who underwent HSCT were investigated. $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cells in samples from donor grafts and recipient peripheral blood were assessed by flow cytometry at 1 and 3 months after transplantation. Results : $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cell frequencies in the grafts showed no significant difference between patients with and without acute GVHD (0.90% vs. 1.06%, P=0.62). Absolute $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cell number in grafts were lower in patients with acute GVHD than in those without acute GVHD ($6.18{\times}10^5/kg$ vs. $25.85{\times}10^5/kg$, P=0.09). Patients without acute GVHD showed a significant decrease in peripheral blood $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cell percentage at 3 months compared to those at 1 month after HSCT (2.11% vs. 1.43%, P=0.028). However, in patients with acute GVHD, $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cell percentage at 3 months was not different from the corresponding percentage at 1 month after HSCT (2.47% vs. 2.30%, P=0.5). Conclusion : The effect of frequencies of $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cells in donor grafts on acute GVHD after HSCT could not be identified, and the majority of peripheral blood $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cells in patients who underwent HSCT may be activated T cells related to acute GVHD rather than regulatory T cells. Further studies with additional markers for regulatory T cells are needed to validate our results.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.160-169
• /
• 2009

Poly-$\gamma$-glutamic acid ($\gamma$-PGA) was mixed natural flora of Bacillus subtilis, contaminated from cooked soybeans. Also, it was performed to find out the antiallergic activity by using NC/Nga mice, in vitro. The $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-HM : PGA-high molecular weight), Molecular weight 300 kDa, was decomposed and made PGA-LM (PGA-low molecular weight) which has molecular weight below 30 kDa by sonication. Therefore, it was same result between PGA-HM and PGA-LM, and reported PGA-LM as basic result. We found that PGA-LM contains antiallergic efficacy that inhibit B cells and Th2 cells activation from isolated CD4+T cells in NC/Nga atopic dermatitis model mice, and not show a cytotoxicity in the hFCs. To investigate the effects of these PGA-LM in vitro, isolation of splenic B cell and CD4+ T cells in atopic dermatitis mice were used. To elucidate the role of PGA-LM in anti-CD40+ interleukin-4 (IL-4)-mediated B-cell activation, showed that the capacity of B cells to expression IL-$1\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA down-regulated, and IL-10 mRNA up-regulation by PGA-LM treatment, but it had no effect on TGF-$\beta$ expression. In addition to CD4+IFN-$\gamma$+ and CD4+CD25+foxp3+, the functions of PGA-LM in the development of the CD4+CD25+foxp3+ and CD4+IFN-$\gamma$+cells, the phenotype and functions of PGA-LM induced CD4+CD25+foxp3+, and CD4+IFN-$\gamma$+cells in CD4+T cells. These results suggested that PGA-LM could change cytokine production and generate CD4+CD25+foxp3+ Tregs in NC/Nga mice, and may be effective for immunotherapy in patients with AD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.7
• /
• pp.702-709
• /
• 2003

Purpose : $IFN{\gamma}$ sentitizes many tumor cells to $TNF{\alpha}$ and FASL-mediated apoptosis by enhancing the expression of TNF or FAS/CD95 receptor and modulating the activation of caspase and Bcl-2 family. It has been reported that $IFN{\gamma}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$ synergistically caused differentiation and growth inhibition of neuroblastoma cells. Even though some neuroblastoma cell express FASR/FASL on the cell surface, they could not induce apoptosis by ligation of the FAS/CD95 receptor. But the treatment of $IFN{\gamma}$ is reported to induce apoptosis in some neuroblastoma cell lines through the CD95/CD95L autocrine circuit. In this study, we examined whether $IFN{\gamma}$ could affect $TNF{\alpha}$ and agonistic FAS/CD95 antibody(CH-11)-induced apoptosis against neuroblastoma cell lines that had shown diverse drug sensitivity and resistance. Methods : CHLA-15, CHLA-90 and LA-N-2 neuroblastoma cells were cultured in IMDM and treated with recombinant $IFN{\gamma}$, $TNF{\alpha}$ and CH-11 antibody. Cell viability was measured by DIMSCAN with a fluorescent calcein-AM. Apoptosis was analyzed through flow cytometry using Annexin V-PE and 7-ADD staining and confirmed by pancaspase and caspase-8 blocking experiments. The expression of TNF RI and FAS/CD95 receptor was evaluated by flow cytometry using the corresponding antibody and PE-conjugated secondary antibody. Results : $IFN{\gamma}$ or $TNF{\alpha}$ alone had no demonstrable cytotoxic effects, whereas both cytokines in combination induced apoptosis synergistically in CHLA-15 and CHLA-90 cells. Although there was no cytotoxicity with the ligation of CH-11 alone in CHLA-90 cells, pretreatment of $IFN{\gamma}$ increased the sensitivity of CH-11-mediated apoptosis. The expression of TNFRI and FAS/CD95R were non-specifically enhanced after treatment of $IFN{\gamma}$ without relation to sensitivity to $TNF{\alpha}$ and CH-11. This finding suggest up-regulation of both receptors may contribute to sensitization of $TNF{\alpha}$ and CH-11-mediated apoptosis by $IFN{\gamma}$ in only sensitive cell lines. Conclusion : $IFN{\gamma}$ induced sensitization of $TNF{\alpha}$ and agonistic FAS/CD95 antibody-mediated apoptosis on some neuroblastoma cells through up-regulation of TNFRI and FAS/CD95 receptor.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.56-64
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Cathepsin D(CD) is a lysosomal acid proteinase that is related to malignant progression, invasion, and a poor prognosis in several tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic clinical significance of CD and p53 expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens from patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who were treated with preoperative chemoradiation. Materials and Methods: Eighty-nine patients with locally advanced rectal cancer(cT3/T4 or N+) were included in this study. Preoperative chemoradiation consisted of a dose of 50.4 Gy of pelvic radiation and two concurrent cycles of administration of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Surgery was performed six weeks after chemoradiation. CD and p53 expression in pretreatment formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy specimens were assessed by immunohistochemical staining using a CD and p53 monoclonal antibodies. The threshold value for a positive stain in tumor tissue and stromal cells was 1+ intensity in 10% of the tumors or stromal cells, respectively. Results: Positive CD expression was found in 57(64%) of the tumors and 32(35%) of the stromal cell specimens. There was no association with CD expression of the tumor or stromal cells and patient characteristics. There was a correlation between tumor CD expression with stromal cell CD expression(p=0.01). Overexpression of p53 was not a significant prognostic factor. The 5-year overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS) rates were not different between tumor CD-negative and positive patient biopsy samples(69% vs. 65%, 60% vs. 61%, respectively). The 5-year OS rates in the tumor-negative/stromal cell-negative, tumor-negative/stromal cell-positive, tumor-positive/stromal cell-negative and tumor-positive/stromal cell-positive biopsy samples were 75%, 28%, 62%, and 73%, respectively. Stromal cell staining only without positive tumor staining demonstrated the worst overall survival prognosis for patients(p=0.013). Conclusion: Overexpression of p53 in rectal biopy tissue was not associated with prognostic significance. In the pretreatment biopsy specimens, an exclusive increase in CD expression in stromal cells without tumor expression was related to poor overall survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.520-524
• /
• 2002

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of Stachys Sieboldii MIQ as a new natural antitumor agent or immunomodulator. To obtain the above objectives, Stachys sieboldii MIQ was extracted with ethanol. Stachys sieboldii MIQ accelerated mouse spleen cell growth, but inhibited FM3A/S°-cell growth. However, no significant difference was found for CD4+ / CD8+ cells. The growth rates of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were accelerated more than those normal mouse group. Stachys sieboldii MIQ fed mice showed a significant enhancement of IL-2 receptor expression, increased numbers of CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells. Stachys sieboldii MIQ also stimulated the production of NO by peritoneal macrophages and the production of NO by and the growth of mouse spleen cells. On the other hand, lung localization of Bl6Fl0 melanoma cells was inhibited by ethanol extract of Stachys sieboldii MIQ. These results show that Stachys sieboldii MIQ is a useful new functional antitumor agent or immunomodulator.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.733-737
• /
• 2018

Cucurbitacin-I, a natural triterpenoid derived from Cucurbitaceae family plants, exhibits a number of potentially useful pharmacological and biological activities. Indeed, the previous study demonstrated that cucurbitacin-I reduced the proliferation of colon cancer cells by enhancing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. CD44, a type I transmembrane protein with the function of adhering to cells, mediates between the extracellular matrix and other cells through hyaluronic acid. Recent studies have demonstrated that an overexpression of the CD44 membrane receptor results in tumor initiation and growth, specific behaviors of cancer stem cells, the development of drug resistance, and metastasis. The aim was to examine the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression human ovarian cancer cells because the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression has not been reported. The expressions of CD44 mRNA and protein were detected using a quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and a Western blot analysis, respectively. Treatment with cucurbitacin-I inhibited the expression of CD44 mRNA and protein. A subsequent analysis revealed that cucurbitacin-I blocked the phosphorylation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), which are key regulators of CD44 expression. Taken together, the data demonstrate that cucurbitacin-I regulates the AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways, leading to decreased CD44 expression.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.1492-1496
• /
• 2007

In vitro IgE class switching could be induced through co-culture of CD40L-expressing KU812 cells and CD40-expressing B cells in the presence of IL-4 or IL-13. It has been generated several B cell lines, which produce rice allergen (RA)-specific IgM antibody by in witγo immunization (IVI) using peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL). In this study, induction of RA-specific IgE antibody by KU812 cells was attempted. Before co-culture, we determined the CD40 expression in RA-specific B cell lines, RA9G11 and the CD40 ligand (CD40L) expression in activated KU812 cells by treatments with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin for 6 hrs. Flow cytometric analysis shown that RA9G11 and activated KU812 cells expressed high level of CD40 and CD40L, respectively. RA9G11 cells were cultured with activated KU812 cells for 12 days in the presence of IL-4 for IgE class switching. Mature $C{\varepsilon}$ mRNA level and RA-specific IgE spot forming cells (SFC) were observed in all culture condition, and especially, high level of RA-specific IgE synthesis was determined the same ratio of RA9G11 and activated KU812 cells in the presence of 50U IL-4. Therefore, induction of RA-specific IgE synthesis by activated KU812 cells can be contributed in the application for allergic therapy and prevention.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.330-336
• /
• 2009

Cell-cell adhesion managed by various adhesion molecules is known to be one of important phenomena found in numerous immunological responses or diseases such as immunostimulation, rheumatoid arthritis and allergic diseases. In this study, we examined the regulatory role of ginsenosides (G)-Rb1, reported to display immunostimulatory and anticancer effects, on cell adhesion, the up-regulation of surface adhesion molecules and morphological changes using monocytic U937 and macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. G-Rb1 significantly up-regulated U937 cell-cell adhesion mediated by both CD29 and CD43. It also enhanced U937 cell-fibronectin adhesion, while CD29 blocking antibody P5D2 strongly suppressed it. In agreement, this compound also significantly increased the surface level of CD29 as well as CD43. Furthermore, this compound differentially modulated CD82 up-regulation and morphological changes triggered by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Therefore, these results suggest that G-Rb1 may have differential modulatory function on cell adhesion events, surface molecule expression and morphological changes responsible for immune responses.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.199-207
• /
• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the decidual NK cell populations between increased pre-conceptional peripheral NK cell population and normal pre-conceptional peripheral NK cell population in women with a history of recurrent abortion. Methods: Fourteen women with history of recurrent abortion and elevated pre-conceptional peripheral NK cell, above 15% of peripheral lymphocyte population were included in this study. As a control, twelve women with history of recurrent abortion and their peripheral NK cell percentage showed below 15% were included. Distribution of $CD56^+$ and $CD16^+$ NK cells in paraffin embedded decidual tissues including implantation sites were examined by immunohistochemical staining using anti-CD56, 16 monoclonal antibodies. After immuohistochemical staining, the numbers of decidual NK cells were counted and compared these results between study and control groups. Results: There was significant difference in decidual $CD56^+$ NK cell count ($170.1{\pm}132.1$ vs. $68.3{\pm}66.1$, p=0.02) between increased peripheral $CD56^+$ NK cell group and control group. But, there showed no statistically significant correlation between decidual $CD56^+$ NK cell count and peripheral $CD56^+$ NK cell percentage (r=0.229, p=0.261). Also there was no statistically difference decidual $CD16^+$ NK cell count between study and control group ($25.70{\pm}11.72$ vs. $31.17{\pm}22.67$), and no correlation between decidual $CD16^+$ NK cell and peripheral $CD16^+$ NK cell percentage (r=-1.40, p=0.535). Conclusions: This study shows that decidual $CD56^+$ NK cell are significantly increased in decidua of women exhibiting a history of recurrent abortion with increased $CD56^+$ peripheral NK cell. This study suggests that the percentage of peripheral NK cell reflect the expression of decidual NK cell. Consequently, pre-conceptional peripheral blood NK cell population can be the useful marker for detecting the risk of subsequent miscarriage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.1 s.258
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2006

Background: CD44 is a glycoprotein on the cell surface which is involved in the cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interaction. The standard form, CD44s and multiple isoforms are determined by alternative splicing of 10 exons. Recent studies have suggested that CD44 may help invasion and metastasis of various epithelial tumors as well as activation of Iymphocytes and monocytes. The expression pattern of CD44 can be different according to tumor types. The author studied the expression pattern of CD44s and one of its variants, CD44v6 in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) to find their implications on clinicopathologic aspects, including the survival of the patients. Material and Method: A total of 89 primary NSCLSs (48 squamous cell carcinomas, 33 adenocarcinomas, and 8 undifferentiated large cell carcinomas) were retrieved during the years between 1985 to 1994. The immunohisto chemistry was done by using monoclonal antibodies and the CD44 expression for angiogenesis was evaluated by counting the number of tumor microvessels. Result: Seventy-one (79.8$\%$) and 64 (71 .9$\%$) among 89 NSCLSs revealed the expression of CD44s and CD44v6, respectively. The expression of CD44s was well correlated with that of CD44v6 (r=0.710, p < 0.0001). The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 was associated with the histopathologic type of the NSCLCs, and squamous cell carcinoma was the type that showed the highest expression of CD44s and CD44v6 (p < 0.0001). Microvessel count was the highest in adenocarcinomas (113.6$\pm$69.7 on 200-fold magnification and 54.8$\pm$41.1 on 400-fold magnification) and correlated with the tumor size of TNM system (r=0.217, p=0.043) and CD44s expression (r=0.218, p=0.040). In adenocarcinoma, the patients with higher CD44s expression survived shorter than those with lower CD44s expression (p=0.0194) but there was no statistical significance on multivariate analysis(p=0.3298). Conclusion: The expression of both CD44s and CD44v6 may be associated with the squamous differentiation in non-small cell lung carcinomas. The relationship of CD44s expression with micro-vessel density of the tumor suggests an involvement of CD44s in tumor angiogenesis, which in turn would help tumor growth.