• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.39-66
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Sesamum indicum extracted (SEI) on atopic dermatitis in an in-vitro and in-vivo experiment using a MC/9 murine mast cells and a NC/Nga mouse. Methods In-vitro experiment, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-${\alpha}$ and GM-CSF mRNA expression were evaluated by Real-time PCR, IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ production by ELISA and manifestations of NFAT-1, NFAT-2, c-jun, c-fos, NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 transcription factors by western blotting. In-vivo experiment, we measured WBC, Eosinophil, Neutrophil, and serum IL-5, IL-13 in NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4 in the spleenocyte culture supernatant by ELISA, the absolute cell numbers of CD4+, CD8+, +Gr-1+CD11b, B220+CD23+ in the axillary lymph node (ALN), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and dorsal skin tissue, IL-5, IL-13 by Real-time PCR, the distribution of tissue inflammation and cellular infiltration by H&E and toluidine blue. Results SEI decreased IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, GM-CSF, TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expression, IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ production and the expression of transcription factors including NFAT-1, c-jun, NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 in MC/9 murine mast cells. SEI orally administration decreased cell number of WBC, Eosinophil, the level of serum IgE, total cell number of ALN and dorsal skin tissue, absolute cell number of CD4+, CD8+, B220+CD23+ in the ALN. SEI orally administration also increased absolute cell number of CD8+/CD3+ and decreased Gr-1+/CD11b+ in PBMCs, decreased CD4+ in dorsal skin tissue, inhibited IL-5, IL-13 mRNA expression. Infiltration levels of inflammatory immune cells, mast cells and thickness of epidermis decreased in dorsal skin tissue. Conclusions SEI can regulate allergic inflammatory response suppressed the gene expression and production of cytokines that mediate allergic reactions, and will be able to be effectively utilized in the treatment of atopic dermatitis future.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2005

Background: DNA vaccination represents an anticipated approach for the control of numerous infectious diseases. Used alone, however, DNA vaccine is weak immunogen inferior to viral vectors. In recent, heterologous prime-boost vaccination leads DNA vaccines to practical reality. Methods: We assessed prime-boost immunization strategies with a DNA vaccine (minigene, $gB_{498-505}$ DNA) and recombinant vaccinia virus $(vvgB_{498-505})$ expressing epitope $gB_{498-505}$ (SSIEF ARL) of CD8+ T cells specific for glycoprotein B (gB) of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Animals were immunized primarily with $gB_{498-505}$ epitope-expressing DNA vaccine/recombinant vaccinia virus and boosted with alternative vaccine type expressing entire Ag. Results: In prime-boost protocols using vvgBw (recombinant vaccinia virus expressing entire Ag) and $vvgB_{498-505}$, CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity was induced maximally at both acute and memory stages if primed with vvgBw and boosted with $vvgB_{498-505}$ as evaluated by CTL activity, intracellular IFN-staining, and MHC class I tetramer staining. Similarly $gB_{498-505}$ DNA prime-gBw DNA (DNA vaccine expressing entire Ag) boost immunization elicited the strongest CD8+ T cell responses in protocols based on DNA vaccine. However, the level of CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity induced with prime-boost vaccination using DNA vaccine expressing epitope or entire Ag was inferior to those based on vvgBw and $vvgB_{498-505}$. Of particular interest CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity was optimally induced when $vvgB_{498-505}$ was used to prime and gB DNA was used as alternative boost. Especially CD7+ T cell responses induced by such protocol was longer lasted than other protocols. Conclusion: These facts direct to search for the effective strategy to induce optimal CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity against cancer and viral infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.182-190
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• 2015

This present study demonstrates the immunological synergistic effects of herbal preparation (HemoHIM) and red ginseng powder granule in various immune cell models (bone marrow-derived macrophages, dendritic cells, and mouse splenocytes) from mice. Both herbal preparation and red ginseng extracts were treated to bone-marrow derived macrophages, dendritic cells, and mouse splenocytes, and there was no cytotoxicity at a dose below $200{\mu}g/mL$. Cell proliferation and cytokine [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12] production tested in bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells significantly increased upon combined treatment. Cell surface marker (CD 80/86, MHC class I/II)-mediated immune cell activation was highly elevated by combined treatment. For cytokine production in splenocytes, combined treatment significantly increased production of Th 1 type cytokines [IL-2 and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$] but not Th 2 type cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Therefore, combined treatment with HemoHIM and red ginseng extracts is an effective method to establish powerful immunological synergy in immune cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.444-450
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• 2018

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells that play a pivotal role in modulating both innate and adaptive immunity. This study examined the immunomodulatory activities of hot-water extracts of bee pollen (BPW) in bone-marrow derived DCs (BMDC) and mice splenocytes. BMDCs isolated from mice were treated with 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$ BPW for 24 h. BPW, up to $500{\mu}g/mL$, did not display any cellular toxicity against BMDCs. In fact, it functionally induced BMDC activation via augmentation of CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I/II expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor; $TNF-{\alpha}$, interleukin; IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$) production. Interestingly, BPW treatment significantly increased the production of interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ in splenocytes, suggesting its possible contribution to Th1 polarization in immune response. Taken together, these findings suggest that BPW may regulate innate and adaptive immunity via DC activation and Th1 polarization in immune responses.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.829-834
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• 2006

LP-BM5 murine leukemia retrovirus induces the immune dysfunction by imbalanced secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the murine AIDS model. In the present study, it was investigated whether pycnogenol (Pyc) administration could deactivate $NF-{\kappa}B$ to regulate the gene expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in C57BL/6 mice with murine AIDS. Treatment with Pyc for 12 weeks significantly inhibited the loss of body weight and enlargement of spleen and lymph node usually seen with AIDS. Moreover, Pyc increased the plasma level of Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and $IFN-{\gamma}$, while reducing the plasma level of Th2 cytokines, IL-6, IL-10, and $TNF-{\alpha}$. In primary culture of splenocytes, mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines was suppressed, but that of Th1 cytokines was not affected. The LP-BM5 retrovirus infection stimulated the cytoplasmic activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and nuclear translocation of $I-{\kappa}B$, whereas Pyc administration significantly reduced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and $I-{\kappa}B$ degradation. These results suggested that the inhibitory effect of Pyc on Th2 cytokines in mice with murine AIDS was dependent on suppression of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway and was not dependent on $INF-{\gamma}$ level, which regulates Th2 cytokines.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.1 s.8
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• pp.135-151
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• 2002

Objective: This study was eanied out to investigate the effects of Raphani Semen on immuno-response in the mouse model of allergic asthma. Methods: In this study, BALB/C mice were divided into 6 groups: Normal (Non-treated group), Control (Group with not treated after allergic sensitization and induction by ovalbumin), Treat I (Group with the oral administration of saline after allergic sensitization and induction by ovalbumin), Treat n (Allergic asthma group treated with acupuncture (BL 13)), Treat III (Allergic asthma group treated with the oral administration of Raphani Semen) and Treat lV (Allergic asthma group treated with the herbal-acupuncture of Raphani Semen (BL 13)). The effect on cytokine was assessed by measuring cytokine (lL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-r) in bronchoalveoar lavage fluid(ELISA). ResuJts : The results obtained as follows: 1. The production of Interleukin-2 was decreased significantly in Treat I group, Treat n group and Treat IV group as compared with Control group. 2. The production of Interleukin-4 was decreased significantly in Treat I group, Treat II group and Treat IV group as compared with Control group. Among them. the production of Interleukin-4 was decreased remarkably in Treat IV group as compared with other groups. 3. The production of Interleukin-5 was decreased significantly in Treat I group and Treat IV group as compared with Control group. 4. The production of Interleukin-10 was decreased significantly in Treat I group and Treat III group as compared with Control group. 5. The production of Interleukin-12 was all decreased significantly in Treat I group, Treat n group, Treat m group and Treat IV group as compared with Control group. 6. The production of Intelferon- showed no significant changes in Treat I group, Treat n group. Treat m group and Treat Ⅳ group as compared with Control group. Conclusion: These results show that the production of Interleukin-4, 5 was decreased significantly in aJlergic asthma group treated with the herbal-acupuncture of Raph Semen (BL 13), It is known that inactivity of Th2 cell constrained the revelation and controlled hypersenstive action. As to this mechanism, it is suggested that the herbal-acupuncture of Raphani Semen(BL 13) constrained the revelation of allergic asthma.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2017

Objectives: Radiation is one of the most important sources of free radical (such as reactive oxygen species) production, which plays an essential role in the etiology of over hundred diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate some immune parameters and hematological indices in healthy workers of the Radiology Department, University Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The study was performed on 50 healthy workers: 30 radiology staff as the case group and 20 laboratory workers as the control group. The radiation dose received by the radiology staff participating in the study was less than the annual maximum permissible level, 50 millisievert. Hematological parameters, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were studied in both groups. Results: Among healthy radiology workers, the hematological indices did not differ statistically; however, their proliferation indices and $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels showed significant increases in parallel with decreases in the IL-4 levels as compared to controls. The immune system of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation was found to be shifted from a Type 2 to a Type 1 response to promote cellular immunity. Conclusion: Based on our data, exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may decrease the prevalence, frequency, and recurrence of various cancers and infectious diseases because of an increase in Th1-cell-based response, thus leading to more protection of the human body against tumor cells and foreign agents and possibly increased longevity. However, due to high rate of fluoroscopy use for interventional radiology, we suggest continuing research projects on radiation protection and hazards to prevent irreversible damage. As a recommendation, in future studies, radiology staff with a weakened immunity due to high radiation exposure should be considered as good choices to be treated using acupuncture techniques because acupuncture has been demonstrated to enhance the function and the number of immune cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1762-1768
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• 2004

The Korean formula medicine, Gami-Yukmi-Jihwang-Tang (GYJT) has been used for growing slowly, short of stature, incomplete development, fatigue, weak child, growing pain of child. However, it is still unclear how GYJT has an effect on experimental models. In the present study, the author investigated the immune-enhancing effect of GYJT. Forced swimming test (FST) was performed as a model of activity test in mice and measured blood urea nitrogen (BUN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose (Glc) and total protein (TP) in the serum. GYJT (1, 0.1 and 0.01 g/㎏) were orally administered to mice, once per day for 7 days using a feeding atraumatic needle. After 3 days, on FST, the immobility time was significantly decreased in the GYJT (0.01g/㎏/day)-fed group (120.75±5.71s) in comparison with the saline-fed group (153.80±10.74s). After 7 days, the immobility time was significantly decreased in the GYJT (0.1 and 0.01g/㎏/day)-fed group (125.67±5.36s and 107.67±3.71s) in comparison with the saline-fed group (167.67±12.99s). In addition, the contents of BUN and Glc in the blood serum were significantly decreased and the contents of AST, ALT and LDH were also decreased in the GYJT (1g/㎏/day)-fed group. However, the content of TP was not changed. The present results suggest that GYJT may be useful for the anti-fatigue and immune-enhancing agent. Also, the author investigated the effect of GYJT on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. However, GYJT has not affected the production of IFN­γ, IL-2, IL-4. These results suggest that GYJT has immune-enhancing effect but does not affect T cell-mediated production of cytokines in the immune function improvement.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1041-1054
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• 2004

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to increase pain threshold, and to enhance the NK cell activity by up-regulation of IFN-γ and endogenous β-endolphin. For the purpose of understanding the molecular mechanism of EA stimulation, we analyzed the gene expression profile of rat hypothalamus, treated on Zusanli (ST36) with EA, in comparison with control group by oligonucleotide chip microarray (Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array) and real-time RT-PCR. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) male rats were stimulated at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in restriction holder. Simultaneously the control group was given only holder stress without EA stimulation. In order to prove the appropriateness of EA treatment, we measured spleen NK cell activity with standard 51Cr release assay. NK cell activity of EA group was significantly increased comparing to control group. The microarray and PCR results show that EA treatment up-regulates expression of genes associated with 1) nerve growth such as NGF induced factor A and VGF, 2) signal transduction such as 5HT3 receptor subunit, AMPA receptor binding protein and Na-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, and 3) anti-oxidation such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase. In addition, the activity of the anti-oxidative enzyme, SOD of hypothalamus, liver and RBC was enhanced compared to that of control. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the mechanism of acupuncture effects.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2011

Purpose: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the most common glomerulopathy causing pediatric renal failure. Since specific treatment targeting the etiology and pathophysiology of primary FSGS is yet elusive, the authors explored the pathophysiology of FSGS by transcriptome analysis of the disease using an animal model. Methods: FGS/kist strain, a mouse model of primary FSGS, and RFM/kist strain, as control and the parent strain of FGS/kist, were used. Kidney tissues were harvested and isolated renal cortex was used to extract mRNA, which was run on AB 1700 mouse microarray chip after reverse transcription to get the transcriptome profile. Results: Sixty two genes were differentially expressed in FGS/kist kidney tissue compared to the control. Those genes were related to cell cycle/cell death, immune reaction, and lipid metabolism/vasculopathy, and the key molecules of their networks were TNF, IL-6/4, IFN${\gamma}$, TP53, and PPAR${\gamma}$. Conclusion: This study confirmed that renal cell death, immune system activation with subsequent fibrosis, and lipid metabolism-related early vasculopathy were involved in the pathophysiology of FSGS. In addition, the relevance of methodology used in this study, namely transcriptome profiling, and Korean animal model of FGS/kist was validated. Further study would reveal novel pathophysiology of FSGS for new therapeutic targets.