• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.776-787
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• 2009

T helper (Th) 17 cells have recently been described as a third subset of T helper cells, and have provided new insights into the mechanisms that are important in the development of autoimmune diseases and the immune responses that are essential for effective antimicrobial host defense. Both protective and harmful effects of Th17 responses during infection have been described. In general, Th17 responses are critical for mucosal and epithelial host defense against extracellular bacteria and fungi. However, recent studies have reported that Th17 responses can also contribute to viral persistence and chronic inflammation associated with parasitic infection. It has become evident that the type of microorganisms and the setting in which they trigger the Th17 response determines the outcome of the delicate balancethat exists between Th17 induced protection and immunopathogenesis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

The gut is a complex organ that has played an important role in digestion, absorption, endocrine functions, and immunity. The gut mucosal barriers consist of the immunologic barrier and nonimmunologic barrier. During critical illnesses, the gut is susceptible to injury due to the induction of intestinal hyperpermeability. Gut hyperpermeability and barrier dysfunction may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Additionally, gut microbiota are altered during critical illnesses. The etiology of such microbiome alterations in critical illnesses is multifactorial. The interaction or systemic host defense modulation between distant organs and the gut microbiome is increasingly studied in disease research. No treatment modality exists to significantly enhance the gut epithelial integrity, permeability, or mucus layer in critically ill patients. However, multiple helpful approaches including clinical and preclinical strategies exist. Enteral nutrition is associated with an increased mucosal barrier in animal and human studies. The trophic effects of enteral nutrition might help to maintain the intestinal physiology, prevent atrophy of gut villi, reduce intestinal permeability, and protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury. The microbiome approach such as the use of probiotics, fecal microbial transplantation, and selective decontamination of the digestive tract has been suggested. However, its evidence does not have a high quality. To promote rapid hypertrophy of the small bowel, various factors have been reported, including the epidermal growth factor, membrane permeant inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, mucus surrogate, pharmacologic vagus nerve agonist, immune-enhancing diet, and glucagon-like peptide-2 as preclinical strategies. However, the evidence remains unclear.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2024

Poultry coccidiosis is an intestinal infection caused by an intracellular parasitic protozoan of the genus Eimeria. Coccidia-induced gastrointestinal inflammation results in large economic losses, hence finding methods to decrease its prevalence is critical for industry participants and academic researchers. It has been demonstrated that coccidiosis can be effectively controlled and managed by employing anticoccidial chemical compounds. However, as a result of their extensive use, anticoccidial drug resistance in Eimeria species has raised concerns. Phytochemical/herbal medicines (Artemisia annua, Bidens pilosa, and garlic) seem to be a promising strategy for preventing coccidiosis, in accordance with the "anticoccidial chemical-free" standards. The impact of herbal supplements on poultry coccidiosis is based on the reduction of oocyst output by preventing the proliferation and growth of Eimeria species in chicken gastrointestinal tissues and lowering intestinal permeability via increased epithelial turnover. This review provides a thorough up-to-date assessment of the state of the art and technologies in the prevention and treatment of coccidiosis in chickens, including the most used phytochemical medications, their mode of action, and the applicable legal framework in the European Union.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2007

The stem cell research is emerging as a cutting edge topic for a new treatment for many chronic diseases. Recently, dental stem cell would be possible for regeneration of tooth itself as well as periodontal tissue. However, the study of the cell characterization is scarce. Therefore, we performed the genetic profiling and the characterization of mouse fetus/neonate derived dental tissue and cell to find the identification during dental development. We separated dental arch from mandibles of 14.5 d fetal mice and neonate 0 d under the stereoscope, and isolated dental cells primarily from the tissues. Then, we examined morphology and the gene expression profiles of the primary cells and dental tissues from fetus/neonate and adult with RT-PCR. Primary dental cells showed heterogeneous but the majority was shown as fibroblast-like morphology. The change of population doubling time levels (PDLs) showed that the primary dental cells have growth potential and could be expanded under our culture conditions without reduction of growth rate. Immunocytochemical and flow cytometric analyses were performed to characterize the primary dental cell populations from both of fetus (E14.5) and neonate. Alpha smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}-SMA$), vimentin, and von Willebrand factor showed strong expression, but desmin positive cells were not detected in the primary dental cells. Most of the markers were not uniformly expressed, but found in subsets of cells, indicating that the primary dental cell population is heterogeneous, and characteristics of the populations were changed during culture period. And mesenchymal stem cell markers were highly expressed. Gene expression profile showed Wnt family and its related signaling molecules, growth factors, transcription factors and tooth specific molecules were expressed both fetal and neonatal tissue. The tooth specific genes (enamelin, amelogenin, and DSPP) only expressed in neonate and adult stage. These expression patterns appeared same as primary fetal and neonatal cells. In this study we isolated primary cells from whole mandible of fetal and neonatal mice. And we investigated the characteristics of the primary cells and the profile of gene expressions, which are involved in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during tooth development. Taken together, the primary dental cells in early passages or fetal and neonatal mandibles could be useful stem cell resources.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1742-1750
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• 2015

As a novel approach for disease control and prevention, nutritional modulation of the intestinal health has been proved. However, It is still unknown whether branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) is needed to maintain intestinal immune-related function. The objective of this study was to determine whether BCAA supplementation in protein restricted diet affects growth performance, intestinal barrier function and modulates post-weaning gut disorders. One hundred and eight weaned piglets ($7.96{\pm}0.26kg$) were randomly fed one of the three diets including a control diet (21% crude protein [CP], CON), a protein restricted diet (17% CP, PR) and a BCAA diet (BCAA supplementation in the PR diet) for 14 d. The growth performance, plasma amino acid concentrations, small intestinal morphology and intestinal immunoglobulins were tested. First, average daily gain (ADG) (p<0.05) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p<0.05) of weaned pigs in PR group were lower, while gain:feed ratio was lower than the CON group (p<0.05). Compared with PR group, BCAA group improved ADG (p<0.05), ADFI (p<0.05) and feed:gain ratio (p<0.05) of piglets. The growth performance data between CON and BCAA groups was not different (p>0.05). The PR and BCAA treatments had a higher (p<0.05) plasma concentration of methionine and threonine than the CON treatment. The level of some essential and functional amino acids (such as arginine, phenylalanine, histidine, glutamine etc.) in plasma of the PR group was lower (p<0.05) than that of the CON group. Compared with CON group, BCAA supplementation significantly increased BCAA concentrations (p<0.01) and decreased urea concentration (p<0.01) in pig plasma indicating that the efficiency of dietary nitrogen utilization was increased. Compared with CON group, the small intestine of piglets fed PR diet showed villous atrophy, increasing of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IELs) number (p<0.05) and declining of the immunoglobulin concentration, including jejunal immunoglobulin A (IgA) (p = 0.04), secreted IgA (sIgA) (p = 0.03) and immunoglobulin M (p = 0.08), and ileal IgA (p = 0.01) and immunoglobulin G (p = 0.08). The BCAA supplementation increased villous height in the duodenum (p<0.01), reversed the trend of an increasing IELs number. Notably, BCAA supplementation increased levels of jejunal and ileal immunoglobulin mentioned above. In conclusion, BCAA supplementation to protein restricted diet improved intestinal immune defense function by protecting villous morphology and by increasing levels of intestinal immunoglobulins in weaned piglets. Our finding has the important implication that BCAA may be used to reduce the negative effects of a protein restricted diet on growth performance and intestinal immunity in weaned piglets.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.198-203
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• 2022

As negative regulators of cytokine signaling pathways, suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins have been reported to possess both pro-tumor and anti-tumor functions. Our recent studies have demonstrated suppressive effects of SOCS1 on epithelial to mesenchymal signaling in colorectal cancer cells in response to fractionated ionizing radiation or oxidative stress. The objective of the present study was to determine the radiosensitizing action of SOCS1 as an anti-tumor mechanism in colorectal cancer cell model. In HCT116 cells exposed to ionizing radiation, SOCS1 over-expression shifted cell cycle arrest from G2/M to G1 and promoted radiation-induced apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner with down-regulation of cyclin B and up-regulation of p21. On the other hand, SOCS1 knock-down resulted in a reduced apoptosis with a decrease in G1 arrest. The regulatory action of SOCS1 on the radiation response was mediated by inhibition of radiation-induced Jak3/STAT3 and Erk activities, thereby blocking G1 to S transition. Radiation-induced early ROS signal was responsible for the activation of Jak3/Erk/STAT3 that led to cell survival response. Our data collectively indicate that SOCS1 can promote radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells by counteracting ROS-mediated survival signal, thereby blocking cell cycle progression from G1 to S. The resulting increase in G1 arrest with p53 activation then contributes to the promotion of apoptotic response upon radiation. Thus, induction of SOCS1 expression may increase therapeutic efficacy of radiation in tumors with low SOCS1 levels.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 1997

The experiment was performed to study the morphological responses of the thymus of the mice, to antitumour agents (5-Fluorouracil or mitomycin C). Healthy adult mice weighing 25 gm each were divided into normal and experimental groups. 5-Fluorouracil (60 mg/kg) or Mitomycin-C $(400{\mu}g/kg)$ were injected subcutaneously to the animals every other day. Animals were sacrificed at 4 days and 7 days following the first injection. Pieces of the tissue taken from the thymus were prefixed with 2.5% paraformaldehyde-l.5% glutaraldehyde, followed by post-fixation with 1% osmium tetroxide. Ultrathin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with a JEM 100 CX-II electron microscope. The observed results were as follow: 1. Apoptoses of T-lymphocytes were observed more frequently in the thymus of the experimental groups than in those of a normal group. 2. In the experimental group, the plasma cells with distended cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and the eosinophile leukocytes were observed frequently. 3. In the experimental group, newly forming Hassall's corpurscles were observed frequently. 4. In the mitomycin-treated group, the epithelial reticular cells containing distended perinuclear cisternae, distended the granular endoplasmic reticula and pyknotic nuclei were observed in the cortico-medullary junctional area. 5. In the mitomycin-treated group, nuclear bodies with medium electron dense materials were often observed in the T lymphocyte. 6. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated groups, fused and dissolved tonofilament bundles and apoptotic bodies were observed in the some epithelial reticular cells in the medullary area. 7. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated groups, some elongated and bar-shaped lysosomes with electron lucent gap were often observed in the macrophages. 8. In the 5-fluorouracil-treated group, membrane complex of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were ofen observed in the macrophage. From the above results, it was suggested that 5-fluorouracil or mitomycin could induce rapid involution of the thymus, and disturb maturation and differentiation of T lymphocytes, and, in turn, supress immunity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2002

Granular gland regeneration in the toad after dorsal skin wound histologically was examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. After cutaneous wounds were induced by excision, animals were maintained in special cages for up to 20 days. In transmission electron microscopy (TEM), newly formed granular gland, though poorly developed, was seen on 4 day after injury. Epithelial cells moved toward apical region of newly formed gland. The cells had smooth surface and were not connected to other cells by desmosomes. Mitochondria rich cell (MRC) possessing long cytoplasmic processes formed a gland cavity and hemidesmosomes were found under the cell processes. Basal cavity of newly formed gland consisted of MRC, pro-granular producing cells (pGPC), and granular producing cell (GPC). Moreover it was observed that xanthophores moved to the base of the epithelial tissue on 10 day after the injury. These cells contained numerous pterinosomes and carotenoid vesicles. Immature pterinosomes were large and carotenoid vesicles were moderately electron dense. On 13 day after the injury, xanthophores contained abundant carotinoid vesicles and lammelated pterinosomes. Iridophores were also observed adjacent the developing xanthophores on 16 day post-injury. These observations indicated that regeneration of granular gland from glandular precursor cells during wound healing and subsequent expansion of the glandular cells might be dependent on maturation and proliferation of these newly formed cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1515-1521
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• 2016

Anethole and garlic have an immune modulatory effects on avian coccidiosis, and these effects are correlated with gene expression changes in intestinal epithelial lymphocytes (IELs). In this study, we integrated gene expression datasets from two independent experiments and investigated gene expression profile changes by anethole and garlic respectively, and identified gene expression signatures, which are common targets of these herbs as they might be used for the evaluation of the effect of plant herbs on immunity toward avian coccidiosis. We identified 4,382 and 371 genes, which were differentially expressed in IELs of chickens supplemented with garlic and anethole respectively. The gene ontology (GO) term of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from garlic treatment resulted in the biological processes (BPs) related to proteolysis, e.g., "modification-dependent protein catabolic process", "proteolysis involved in cellular protein catabolic process", "cellular protein catabolic process", "protein catabolic process", and "ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process". In GO analysis, one BP term, "Proteolysis", was obtained. Among DEGs, 300 genes were differentially regulated in response to both garlic and anethole, and 234 and 59 genes were either up- or down-regulated in supplementation with both herbs. Pathway analysis resulted in enrichment of the pathways related to digestion such as "Starch and sucrose metabolism" and "Insulin signaling pathway". Taken together, the results obtained in the present study could contribute to the effective development of evaluation system of plant herbs based on molecular signatures related with their immunological functions in chicken IELs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1075-1082
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• 2016

Modern livestock production became highly intensive and large scaled to increase production efficiency. This production environment could add stressors affecting the health and growth of animals. Major stressors can include environment (air quality and temperature), nutrition, and infection. These stressors can reduce growth performance and alter immune systems at systemic and local levels including the gastrointestinal tract. Heat stress increases the permeability, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses in the gut. Nutritional stress from fasting, antinutritional compounds, and toxins induces the leakage and destruction of the tight junction proteins in the gut. Fasting is shown to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas deoxynivalenol increases the recruitment of intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines and the level of lymphocytes in the gut. Pathogenic and viral infections such as Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus can lead to loosening the intestinal epithelial barrier. On the other hand, supplementation of Lactobacillus or Saccharaomyces reduced infectious stress by ETEC. It was noted that major stressors altered the permeability of intestinal barriers and profiles of genes and proteins of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in mucosal system in pigs. However, it is not sufficient to fully explain the mechanism of the gut immune system in pigs under stress conditions. Correlation and interaction of gut and systemic immune system under major stressors should be better defined to overcome aforementioned obstacles.