• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.131-141
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• 2010

Objective : Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is one of the most common diseased among elderly men. BPH can be treated with alpha-1 adrenergic blocker or $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor(Finasteride) that reduces serum dihydrotestosterone(DHT). Phellodendri Cortex Ex has been broad studied on its chemical components, pharmacological activity, and clinical effects on anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, anti-tumor, immunity, antibacteria and other bioactivities. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Phellodendri Cortex Ex with a BPH induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with testosterone after castration for induction of experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is similar to human benign prostatic hyperplasia in histopathological profiles. Phellodendri Cortex as an experimental specimen, and Finasteride as a positive control, were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological changes, and the expression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes. Results : While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Phellodendri Cortex Ex showed a diminished range of the tissue damage. In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes, Phellodendri Cortex inhibited the expression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Phellodendri Cortex Ex may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with the suppression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase. From these results, we suggest that Phellodendri Cortex Ex could be a useful agent for treating the benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.172-178
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• 2005

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is well-known soluble tumor marker frequently detectable in peripheral blood of carcinoma patients and considered as good target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. However, it is known that the induction of immune response to CEA is very difficult because CEA is a self-antigen expressed in fetal cells and weakly expressed in normal colorectal epithelial cells. To enhance anti-tumor immunity specific for CEA, recombinant CEA protein was modified using listeriolysin O (LLO) for endosomal lysis and trans activator of transcription (Tat) domain for transducing extracellular proteins into cytoplasm. Methods: After immunization using dendritic cells pulsed with Tat-CEA, both Tat-CEA and LLO, and both Tat-CEA and Tat-LLO, antibody titer to CEA and LLO, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and the frequency of IFN-${\gamma}$ producing T lymphocytes were measured. Results: Immunization using DC pulsed with both Tat-CEA and Tat-LLO protein showed the increasement of production of CEA-specific antibody in serum, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, the frequency of IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting T cells, compared with DC pulsed with both Tat-CEA and LLO. Furthermore the ratio of CD8+T cell to $CD4^+$ cell among CEA-specific T cells was increased in group pulsed with both Tat-CEA and Tat-LLO. Conclusion: These results suggested that DC vaccine using Tat-LLO could be used for the development of effective immunotherapy for the treatment of tumor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6233-6239
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• 2013

Diabetes represents a serious health problem. In the diabetic state, alterations in metabolism, increased susceptibility to infections and immunological changes occur. The suppression of the immune response has been identified as a relevant factor that contributes to the increase in the rate of infections in these patients. At the same time, breast cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor in women. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cancer development have revealed that immune cells functionally regulate epithelial cancer development and progression. Breastfeeding has been hypothesized to reduce the risk of breast cancer. However, early systematic reviews have not yielded consistent findings for this association. The demand for human milk is increasing due to the promotion and consumer acceptance of the health benefits of consuming a natural product rich in bioactive components. However, due to changes in glucose metabolism, the components of the milk from diabetic women are modified depending on the time of evaluation. In this literature review, we summarize important new findings revealing the paradoxical role of breastfeeding in preventing the onset of breast cancer in diabetic mothers. We hypothesized that the milk component production in diabetic mothers is affected by changes in glucose metabolism. Therefore, adequate maternal glycemic control and an adequate duration of breastfeeding for diabetic mothers are crucial to ensure that the immunity components are able to confer protection against breast cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제63권8호
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• pp.301-309
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• 2020

Human breast milk (HBM) is essential for the infant's growth and development right after birth and is an irreplaceable source of nutrition for early human survival. Various infant formulas have many similarities to HBM in many components, but there is no perfect substitute for HBM. Recently, various breast milk components and their roles have been studied according to the development of various analysis techniques. As is already well known, HBM contains about 87%-88% water, and 124-g/L solid components as macronutrients, including about 7% (60-70 g/L) carbohydrates, 1% (8-10 g/L) protein, and 3.8% (35-40 g/L) fat. The composition may vary depending on the environmental factors, including maternal diet. Colostrum is low in fat but high in protein and relatively rich in immuneprotective components. Although HBM contains enough vitamins to ensure normal growth of the infant, vitamins D and K may be insufficient, and the infant may require their supplementation. Growth factors in HBM also serve as various bioactive proteins and peptides on the intestinal tract, vasculature, nervous system, and endocrine system. In the past, HBM of a healthy mother was thought to be sterile. However, several subsequent studies have confirmed the presence of rich and diverse microbial communities in HBM. Some studies suggested that the genera Staphylococcus and Streptococcus may be universally predominant in HBM, but the origin of microbiota still remains controversial. Lastly, milk is the one of most abundant body fluid of microRNAs, which are known to play a role in various functions, such as immunoprotection and developmental programming, through delivering from HBM and absorption by intestinal epithelial cells. In conclusion, HBM is the most important source of nutrition for infants and includes microbiomes and miRNAs for growth, development, and immunity.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.829-835
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• 2014

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is caused by dysregulation of colon mucosal immunity and mucosal epithelial barrier function. Recent studies have reported that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Lactobacillus plantarum K8 reduces excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokine. In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally pretreated with lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 (low dose or high dose) or live Lb. plantarum K8 prior to the induction of colitis using 4% DSS. Disease progression was monitored by assessment of disease activity index (DAI). Histological changes of colonic tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The colon mRNA expressions of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and toll like receptor-2 (TLR-2) were examined by quantitative real-time-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 suppressed colon shortening, edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of DSS-induced crypts. The groups that received lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 exhibited significantly decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 in the colon. Interestingly, colonic expression of toll like receptor-2 mRNA in the high-dose lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 group increased significantly. Our study demonstrates the protective effects of oral lysate of Lb. plantarum K8 administration on DSS-induced colitis via the modulation of pro-inflammatory mediators of the mucosal immune system.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.16-26
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• 2015

The female reproductive tract has two main functions: protection against microbial challenge and maintenance of pregnancy to term. The upper reproductive tract comprises the fallopian tubes and the uterus, including the endocervix, and the lower tract consists of the ectocervix and the vagina. Immune cells residing in the reproductive tract play contradictory roles: they maintain immunity against vaginal pathogens in the lower tract and establish immune tolerance for sperm and an embryo/fetus in the upper tract. The immune system is significantly influenced by sex steroid hormones, although leukocytes in the reproductive tract lack receptors for estrogen and progesterone. The leukocytes in the reproductive tract are distributed in either an aggregated or a dispersed form in the epithelial layer, lamina propria, and stroma. Even though immune cells are differentially distributed in each organ of the reproductive tract, the predominant immune cells are T cells, macrophages/dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and mast cells. B cells are rare in the female reproductive tract. NK cells in the endometrium significantly expand in the late secretory phase and further increase their number during early pregnancy. It is evident that NK cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells are extremely important in decidual angiogenesis, trophoblast migration, and immune tolerance during pregnancy. Dysregulation of endometrial/decidual immune cells is strongly related to infertility, miscarriage, and other obstetric complications. Understanding the immune system of the female reproductive tract will significantly contribute to women's health and to success in pregnancy.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.91-97
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• 2002

Enteroaggregative E. coil (EAEC) is an important aethiological causal agent of diarrhea in people of developed and undeveloped countries. Different in vitro and in vivo models have been proposed to study the pathdgenic and immune mechanisms of EAEC infaction. The aim of this study was to analyze whether BALB/c mice could be used as an animal model to study EAEC pathogenesis Six-week-old BALB/c mice were inoculated with EAEC strain 042 (044:H88) nalidixic acid resistant, and re-inoc-ulated ten days after. Mice feces were monitored for the presence of the EAEC strain over a period of 20 days . Bacteria were enumerated on MacConkey agar containing 100$\mu$g of nalidixic acid per ml. Results showed that 35% of the animals were colonized for 3 days, 15% for 5 and 10% for more than 7 days . After re-inoculation only 16% of the animals remained colonized for more than 3 days. During the necropsy, the intestinal fluid of same of the infected animals presented mucus and blood. Six of these fluids showed the presence of IgA antibodies againset Pet toxin and IgG natibodies raised against the toxin were also detected in the animal serum. Histopathologic evidence confirms the stimulation of mucus hypersecretion, an increased amount of goblet cells and the presence of bacterial aggregates in the apical surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells. Edema was present in the submucosa. These results suggest that BALB/c mice could be used as an animal model for in vivo study of EAEC infection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.345-349
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• 2015

Betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba Mill), has been known for a wide range of biological and medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antihelmintic, antinociceptive, and anticancer activities. In the study, we investigated the antiviral activity on influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line and C57BL/6 mice. Betulinic acid showed the anti-influenza viral activity at a concentration of $50{\mu}M$ without a significant cytotoxicity in influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 cells. Also, betulinic acid significantly attenuated pulmonary pathology including increased necrosis, numbers of inflammatory cells and pulmonary edema induced by influenza A/PR/8 virus infection compared with vehicle- or oseltamivir-treated mice in vivo model. The down-regulation of IFN-${\gamma}$ level, which is critical for innate and adaptive immunity in viral infection, after treating of betulinic acid in mouse lung. Based on the obtained results, it is suggested that betulinic acid can be the potential therapeutic agent for virus infection via anti-inflammatory activity.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.373-383
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• 2011

성 호르몬과 유사한 기능을 하는 것으로 알려진 내분비교란물질은 흰쥐 흉선세포에 세포자연사를 일으켜 흉선의 기능을 감소시키는 것으로 보고되고 있으나, 그 작용 기전에 대해서는 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 내분비 교란물질 중 하나인 Tributyltin(TBT)를 흰쥐에 투여한 후 흉선의 상피세포가 지방세포로 분화되는지를 조사하고, 이로 인한 T 세포의 세포자연사와 연관성을 조사함으로써 TBT가 흉선기능에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 3주령 된 암컷 흰쥐에 각각 TBT 1, 10, 25 mg/kg/day를 1주일 동안 경구 투여한 후, 흉선을 획득하여 무게와 세포 수를 측정하였고, 파라핀 절편으로 H&E 염색, TUNEL 분석을 수행하였다. 또한 real-time PCR 방법으로 상피세포 표지 유전자들, 지방세포유도 유전자들과 세포자연사 관련 유전자들을 비교 분석하였으며, 유세포 분석기를 통해 세포자연사 정도를 조사하였다. 흉선의 무게와 세포 수는 대조군과 비교하여 TBT의 농도가 높을수록 유의하게 감소하였다. H&E 염색 결과, TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 흉선의 크기가 감소하고 피질과 수질의 경계가 흐려짐을 관찰하였다. TUNEL 염색 결과에서는 대조군에 비해 TBT를 투여한 군에서 세포자연사가 증가하였으며, 유세포 분석결과에서도 TBT 농도 의존적으로 세포자연사가 증가하였다. Real-time PCR 결과, 상피세포 표지 유전자인 EVA, IL-7, AIRE, KGF는 TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 발현양이 유의하게 감소한 반면, 지방세포 유도와 관련된 유전자인 $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, PEPCK, CD36은 TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 발현양이 유의하게 증가하였다. 세포자연사와 관련된 유전자인 $TNF{\alpha}$, TNFR1도 TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 발현양이 유의하게 증가하였다. 위의 결과를 종합하여 볼 때, 내분비교란물질인 TBT는 흉선 상피세포에 직접적으로 작용하여 지방세포로 분화 유도시킴으로써 흉선의 기능을 상실케 만들면서 T 세포의 발달에 영향을 미치는 것으로 보인다. 이러한 결과는 지속적으로 노출되는 TBT가 흉선의 기능을 떨어뜨림으로써 면역력 저하를 유발시킬 수 있음을 제시하고 있다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권9호
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• pp.478-483
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• 2020

Kudoa septempunctata is a myxozoan parasite that causes food poisoning in individuals consuming olive flounder. The present study aimed to investigate the currently insufficiently elucidated early molecular mechanisms of inflammatory responses in the intestine owing to parasite ingestion. After Kudoa spores were isolated from olive flounder, HT29 cells were exposed to spores identified to be alive using SYTO-9 and propidium iodide staining or to antigens of Kudoa spores (KsAg). IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and NFKB1 expression and NF-κB activation were assessed using real-time PCR, cytokine array and western blotting. The immunofluorescence of FITC-conjugated lectins, results of ligand binding assays using Mincle-Fc and IgG-Fc, CLEC4E expressions in response to KsAg stimulation, and Mincle-dependent NF-κB activation were assessed to clarify the early immune-triggering mechanism. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, GM-CSF and TNF-α), chemokines (IL-8, CCL2, CCL5 and CXCL1) and NF-κB activation (pNF-κB/NF-κB) in HT29 cells increased following stimulation by KsAg. The immunofluorescence results of spores and lectins (concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin) suggested the importance of Mincle in molecular recognition between Kudoa spores and intestinal cells. Practically, data for Mincle-Fc and KsAg binding affinity, CLEC4E mRNA expression, Mincle immunofluorescence staining and hMincle-dependent NF-κB activation demonstrated the involvement of Mincle in the early immune-triggering mechanism. The present study newly elucidated that the molecular recognition and immune-triggering mechanism of K. septempunctata are associated with Mincle on human intestinal epithelial cells.