• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.330-335
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• 2005

We have investigated the effects of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi- ang on the differentiation of murine bone marrow cells in methylcellulose culture. GM-CSF and IL-3 supported primarily the formation of granulocyte/mac-rophage colony formation. However, the addition of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang extract yielded a significant increase in the numbers of colonies and differentiated cells in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-3. We have analyzed CD11b (Mac-1) expression of differentiated cells from bone marrow by staining with monoclonal anti-CD11b antibody. The majority of colony-forming cells were in CD11b/sup +/ population. Also Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang extract promoted the production of IL-6 and nitric oxide by macrophages. These results demonstrate that extract of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang, a prescription of traditional oriental medicine, is effective in supporting macrophage potential of the primary colonies.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2011

For effective stimulation with tDCS, spatial focality of induced electrical field(EF) and current density(CD) is one of the important factors to be considered. Recently, there have been some studies to improve the spatial focality via different types of electrodes and their new configurations: some improvements using ring electrodes were reported over the conventional pad electrodes. However, most of these studies assumed isotropic conductivities in the head. In this work, we have investigated the effect of tissue anisotropy on the spatial focality of tDCS with the 4 + 1 ring electrode configuration via a 3-D high-resolution finite element(FE) head model with anisotropic conductivities in the skull and white matter. By examining the profiles of the induced EF from the head models with isotropic and anisotropic conductivities respectively, we found that the spatial focality of the induced EF significantly drops and get diffused due to tissue anisotropy. Our analysis suggests that it is critical to incorporate tissue anisotropy in the effective stimulation of the brain via tDCS.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2002

Background: Viral antigens presented on the cell surface in association with MHC class I molecules are recognized by CD8+ T cells. MHC restricted peptides are important in eliciting cellular immune responses. As peptide antigens have a weak immunigenicity, pH-sensitive liposomes were used for peptide delivery to induce effective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. In the previous study, as the HBx peptides could induce specific CTLs in vitro, we tested whether the HLA-A2/$K^b$ transgenic mice that were immunized by HBx-derived peptides could be protected from a viral challenge. Methods: HBx-peptides encapsulated by pH-sensitive liposomes were prepared. $A2K^b$ transgenic mice were immunized i.m. on days one and seven with the indicated concentrations of liposome-encapsulated peptides. Three weeks later, mice were infected with $1{\times}10^7pfu$/head of recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV)-HBx via i.p. administration. The ovaries were extracted from the mice, and the presence of rVV-HBx in the ovaries was analyzed using human TK-143B cells. IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion by these cells was directly assessed using a peptide-pulsed target cell stimulation assay with either peptide-pulsed antigen presenting cells (APCs), concanavalin A ($2{\mu}g/ml$), or a vehicle. To generate peptide-specific CTLs, splenocytes obtained from the immunized mice were stimulated with $20{\mu}g/ml$ of each peptide and restimulated with peptide-pulsed APC four times. The cytotoxic activity of the CTLs was assessed by standard $^{51}Cr$-release assay and intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ assay. Results: Immunization of these peptides as a mixture in pH-sensitive liposomes to transgenic mice induced a good protective effect from a viral challenge by inducing the peptide-specific CD8+ T cells. Mice immunized with $50{\mu}g/head$ were much better protected against viral challenge compared to those immunized with $5{\mu}g$/head, whereas the mice immunized with empty liposomes were not protected at all. After in vitro CTL culture by peptide stimulation, however, specific cytotoxicity was much higher in the CTLs from mice immunized with $5{\mu}g/head$ than $50{\mu}g/head$ group. Increase of the number of cells that intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting cell among CD8+ T cells showed similar result. Conclusion: Mice immunized with XEPs within pH-sensitive liposome were protected against viral challenge. The protective effect depended on the amount of antigen used during immunization. XEP-3-specific CTLs could be induced by peptide stimulation in vitro from splenocytes obtained from immunized mice. The cytotoxic effect of CTLs was measured by $^{51}Cr$-release assay and the percentage of accumulated intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting cells after in vitro restimulation was measured by flow cytometric analysis. The result of $^{51}Cr$-release cytotoxicity test was well correlated with that of the flow cytometric analysis. Viral protection was effective in immunized group of $50{\mu}g/head$, while in the in vitro restimulation, it showed more spectific response in $5{\mu}g$/head group.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.853-858
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• 2014

We propose a fabrication method for polydiacetylene (PDA)-embedded hydrogel microfibers on a microfluidic chip. These fibers can be applied to the detection of cyclodextrines (CDs), which are a family of sugar and aluminum ions. PDA, a family of conjugated polymers, has unique characteristics when used for a sensor, because it undergoes a blue-to-red color transition and nonfluorescence-to-fluorescence transition in response to environmental stimulation. PDAs have different sensing characteristics depending on the head group of PCDA. By taking advantage of ionic crosslinking-induced hydrogel formation and the 3D hydrodynamic focusing effect on a microfluidic chip, PCDA-EDEA-derived diacetylene (DA) monomer-embedded microfibers were successfully fabricated. UV irradiation of the fibers afforded blue-colored PDA, and the resulting blue PDA fibers underwent a phase transition to red and emitted red fluorescence upon exposure to CDs and aluminum ions. Their fluorescence intensity varied depending on the CDs and aluminum ion concentrations. This phase transition was also observed when the fibers were dried.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2003

Purpose : Hyper IgM syndrome(HIGM) is characterized by severe recurrent bacterial infections with decreased serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgE but elevated IgM levels. Recently, it has been classified into three groups; HIGM1, HIGM2 and a rare form of HIGM. HIGM1 is a X-linked form of HIGM and has now been identified as a T-cell deficiency in which mutations occur in the gene that encodes the CD40 ligand molecule. HIGM2 is an autosomal recessive form of HIGM. Molecular studies have shown that the mutation of HIGM2 is in the gene that encodes activation-induced cytidine deaminase(AID). Recently, another rare form of X-linked HIGM syndrome associated with hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia has been identified. We encountered a patient with a varient form of HIGM2. To clarify the cause of this form of HIGM, we evaluated the peripheral B cells of this patient. Methods : The lymphocytes of the patient were prepared from peripheral blood. B cells were immortalized with the infection of EBV. Cell cycle analysis was done with the immortalized B cells of the patient. Peripheral mononuclear cells were stained with monoclonal anti-CD40L antibody. Total RNA was extracted from the peripheral mononuclear cells. After RT-PCR, direct sequencing for CD40L gene and HuAID gene were done. Immunostainings of a lymph node for CD3, CD23, CD40, Fas-L, bcl-2, BAX were done. Results : The peripheral B cells of this patient showed normal expression of CD40L molecule and normal sequencing of CD40L gene, and also normal sequencing of AID gene. Interestingly, the peripheral B cells of this patient showed a decreased population of G2/mitosis phase in cell cycles which recovered to normal with the stimulation of IL-4. Conclusion : We suspect that the cause of increased serum IgM in this patient may be from a decrease of G2/mitosis phase of the peripheral B cells, which may be from the decreased production or secretion of IL-4. Therefore, this may be a new form of HIGM.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 2011

T cells play a key role in viral infection. However, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HCV-specific T cells are dysfunctional and impaired in the liver, which is the primary site for HCV replication. There are multiple potential mechanisms for HCV-specific T cell dysfunction including induction of immune inhibitory pathways (program death-1; PD-1, cytotoxic t lymphocyte associated antigen-4; CTLA-4) and immune tolerance induced specific for the liver. However, the interaction between hepatocytes and HCV-specific CD8 T cells has not clearly established. In this study, we confirmed huh (human hepatoma) 7.5 cells expressing HLA (human leukocyte antigen) A2 presented antigen to activate HCV-specific CD8 T cells in HLA A2-restricted manner and expression of PD-L (program death ligand) 1 on huh7.5 cells reduced HCV-specific CD8 T cell activation, suggesting an immune modulatory activity. Loss of HCV-specific tetramer responses following antigenic stimulation correlated with increased caspase-3 activity. In addition, PD-L1 on huh7.5 cells rescued HCV-specific CD8 T cells from apoptosis. Our results suggest that the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1 can recover the function of HCV-specific CD8 T cells in the liver, which could be applied in therapy of HCV chronic infection.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.159-170
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• 2020

Purpose: Immunization with Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein 60 (PgHSP60) may have an immunoregulatory effect on atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether nasal immunization with a PgHSP60 peptide could reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Methods: Seven-week-old male ApoE KO mice were assigned to receive a normal diet, a Western diet, a Western diet and challenge with PgHSP60-derived peptide 14 (Pep14) or peptide 19 (Pep19), or a Western diet and immunization with Pep14 or Pep19 before challenge with Pep14 or Pep19. Results: Atherosclerotic plaques were significantly smaller in mice that received a Western diet with Pep14 nasal immunization than in mice that received a Western diet and no Pep14 immunization with or without Pep14 challenge. An immunoblot profile failed to detect serum reactivity to Pep14 in any of the study groups. Stimulation by either Pep14 or Pep19 strongly promoted the induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺ forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)⁺ human regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. However, the expression of mouse splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs was lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the Pep14-challenged or Pep19-immunized mice. Levels of serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor beta were higher and levels of interleukin (IL) 10 were lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the other groups. Induction of CD25^- IL-17⁺ T helper 17 (Th17) cells was attenuated in the Pep14-immunized mice. Conclusions: Nasal immunization with Pep14 may be a mechanism for attenuating atherogenesis by promoting the secretion of IFN-γ and/or suppressing Th17-mediated immunity.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.530-533
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• 2002

We present a case of The Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS), showing a remission during a recently developed noninvasive therapy. Two weeks after an appearance of cough and fever, a 35 years old Japanese male developed diplopia, ataxia and numbness of his fingers and toes. He was diagnosed as MFS, and a fixed dose of prednisolone acetate (60mg/day) was administered for 3 months, but little improvement was observed. In addition to this administration, we tried 20 minutes of Photic Feedback (PFB) treatment daily for 40 days. The PFB system detects brain waves from the subject's forehead, and extracts alpha waves by the band-pass filter with a center frequency set at 10.0Hz. It also simultaneously modulates the augmentation of a red light-emitting diode, corresponding with the amplitudes of the extracted alpha waves. In this treatment, this adjusted photic stimulation was given to the subject's closed eyes, resulting in the effective alpha enhancement by photic driving response. The numbness increased during each of PFB treatment, but the symptoms started to improve gradually after 10 days. Other symptoms disappeared after 40 days. CD20 levels increased with this treatment. This case suggests that the PFB treatment may speed the natural remission of MFS. This treatment may be worth considering in patients who suffer polyneuropathy.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2010

Altered mRNA expression of two metallothionein isoforms (MT-IA and MT-IB) in response to acute heavy metal exposure was examined in mud loach, Misgurnus mizolepis, fry using a real-time RTPCR assay. Sublethal exposure (1 or 5 ${\mu}M$) to Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn resulted in highly variable transcriptional responses of the two MT isoforms to the heavy metal ions, including upregulation, a steady state, and downregulation. Overall, the most potent inducer of both MT isoforms was Cd (up to 6-fold). Another exposure experiment using a series of doses of Cu revealed that the stimulation patterns of the two MT isoforms differed: MT-IA transcription was soon saturated at higher concentrations (about 2-fold at 1-4 ${\mu}M$ of Cu), whereas the activation of MT-IB was more dependent on the treatment dose (increased up to 5-fold at 3 ${\mu}M$). The isoform-specific allotment of constitutive and inducible functions was not as clear in fry as in adult tissues. Coordinated interaction between the MT-IA and MT-IB isoforms was hypothesized based on the finding that MT-IA represented a primary action under 'less stressful' or 'sublethal' conditions, whereas the activation of MT-IB became important under 'more stressful' or 'lethal' circumstances in this species.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2006

Background: Memory T lymphocytes of the immune system provide long-term protection in response to bacterial or viral infections/immunization. Ag concentration has also been postulated to be important in determining whether T cell differentiation favors effector versus memory cell development. In the present study we hypothesized that naive Ag-specific $CD4^+$ T cells briefly stimulated with different Ag doses at the primary exposure could affect establishment of memory cell pool after secondary immunization. Methods: To assess this hypothesis, the response kinetics of DO11.10 TCR $CD4^+$ T cells primed with different Ag doses in vitro was measured after adoptive transfer to naive BALB/c mice. Results: Maximum expansion was shown in cells primarily stimulated with high doses of ovalbumin peptide $(OVA_{323-339})$, whereas cells in vitro stimulated with low dose were expanded slightly after in vivo secondary exposure. However, the cells primed with low $OVA_{323-339}$ peptide dose showed least contraction and established higher number of memory cells than other treated groups. When the cell division was analyzed after adoptive transfer, the high dose Ag-stimulated donor cells have undergone seven rounds of cell division at 3 days post-adoptive transfer. However, there was very few division in naive and low dose of peptide-treated group. Conclusion: These results suggest that primary stimulation with a low dose of Ag leads to better memory $CD4^+$ T cell generation after secondary immunization. Therefore, these facts imply that optimally primed $CD4^+$ T cells is necessary to support effective memory pool following administration of booster dose in prime-boost vaccination.