• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2002

This paper represents that auto tunings of membership functions and weights in the fuzzy neural networks are effectively performed by immune algorithm. A number of hybrid methods in fuzzy-neural networks are considered in the context of tuning of learning method, a general view is provided that they are the special cases of either the membership functions or the gain modification in the neural networks by genetic algorithms. On the other hand, since the immune network system possesses a self organizing and distributed memory, it is thus adaptive to its external environment and allows a PDP (parallel distributed processing) network to complete patterns against the environmental situation. Also, it can provide optimal solution. Simulation results reveal that immune algorithms are effective approaches to search for optimal or near optimal fuzzy rules and weights.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.sup1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put focus on the importance of a healthy immune system for recovery from infection and effective response to vaccination. Several nutrients have been under attention because their nutritional statuses showed associations with the incidence or severity of COVID-19 or because they affect several aspects of immune function. Nutritional status, immune function, and viral infection are closely interrelated. Undernutrition impairs immune function, which can lead to increased susceptibility to viral infection, while viral infection itself can result in changes in nutritional status. Here, we review the roles of vitamins A, C, D, and E, and zinc, iron, and selenium in immune function and viral infection and their relevance to COVID-19.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2014

Fish larvae are immediately exposed to microbes from hatching to maturation of their lymphoid organs, therefore effective innate mechanisms is very important for survival. However, the knowledge of the development of immune system in fish is limited and in demand now. In vertebrates, recombination-activating gene 1 (RAG-1) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) have been considered as very useful markers of the physiological maturity of the immune system. In this study, the expression of the both genes was assessed throughout the early developmental stages of olive flounder larvae (5-55 dph) and used as markers to follow the development of immune system. RAG-1 and IgM mRNA expression was detectable at 5 dph and remained so until 55 dph. These patterns of expression may suggest that the olive flounder start to develop its function around 5 dph. Tissue distribution was found that both genes mRNAs are only expressed in the immune-related organ such as spleen, kidney and gill. The early detection of IgM mRNA led to the investigation of its presence in oocytes. Both RAG-1 and IgM mRNA transcripts were detected in unfertilized oocytes, suggesting that they are maternally transferred. The biological significance of such a phenomenon remains to be investigated.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.221-246
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• 2004

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kamikwiryongtang (KKT) on the immune response and growth in a young mouse (3 weeks mice). Methods The viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in vivo and in vitro system, the population of helper T (Th) cells and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in thymocytes and increased the population of T-lymphocytes and the population of Th cells in splenocytes, the production of ${\gamma}$ -interferon, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in splenocytes was investigated. KKT (500mg/kg) was administerd p.o. once a day for 7 days. Results: KKT increased the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in vivo, but did not affect the viability of thymocytes and enhanced the viability of splenocytes in vitro system. In addition, KKT did not affect the population of helper T (Th) cells and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in thymocytes and increased the population of T -lymphocytes and the population of Th cells in splenocytes. Also, KKT increased the production of ${\gamma}$-interferon, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in splenocytes. Furthermore, KKT increased the production of nitric oxide in vivo, but did not affect the production of nitric oxide in vitro system. KKT enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in vivo, but decreased the phagocytic activity in vitro system: KKT increased the body weight of a young mouse. Conclusions: KKT stimulates the specific immune response via increase of, the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes and the non-specific immune response via increase of phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and stimulates the growth of a young mouse.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.489-499
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• 2019

Subunit vaccines are safer and more stable than live vaccines although they have the disadvantage of eliciting poor immune response. To develop a subunit vaccine, an effective delivery system targeting the key elements of the protective immune response is a prerequisite. In this study, oxidized carbon nanospheres (OCNs) were used as a subunit vaccine delivery system and tuberculosis (TB) was chosen as a model disease. TB is among the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide and an effective vaccine is urgently needed. The ability of OCNs to deliver recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) proteins, Ag85B and HspX, into bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs) was investigated. For immunization, OCNs were mixed with the two TB antigens as well as the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). The protective efficacy was analyzed in vaccinated mice by aerosol Mtb challenge with a virulent strain of Mtb and the bacterial burdens were measured. The results showed that OCNs are highly effective in delivering Mtb proteins into the cytosol of BMDMs and BMDCs. Upon immunization, this vaccine formula induced robust Th1 immune response characterized by cytokine profiles from restimulated splenocytes and specific antibody titer. More importantly, enhanced cytotoxic $CD8^+$ T cell activation was observed. However, it did not reduce the bacteria burden in the lung and spleen from the aerosol Mtb challenge. Taken together, OCNs are highly effective in delivering subunit protein vaccine and induce robust Th1 and $CD8^+$ T cell response. This vaccine delivery system is suitable for application in settings where cell-mediated immune response is needed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.837-842
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• 2011

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of 50% ethylalcohol extracts of Lespedeza cuneata G. Don (LE) on the activity of murine immune cells. LE was administered orally once a day for 7 days at the dose of 250 mg/kg. LE increased the cell viability of thymocytes, splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo system, but decreased the cell viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in the presence of concanavalin A in vivo system. Also, the administration of LE was increased the production of ${\gamma}$-interferone, but did not affect the production of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4. Furthermore, LE decreased the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo system, but enhanced the production of nitric oxide. These results suggest that LE has a immuno-regulative action via stimulation of immune cells proliferation.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.8
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• pp.1482-1488
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• 2010

Recently to increase the productivity and improve the quality in the industrial process, suppressing the residual vibration in motion control systems becomes the essential problem to solve. One of the methods to suppress the residual vibration is the input shaping technique. It is based on parameters of the system model; however, the parameters are usually difficult to obtain. This paper shows the effects of the residual vibration caused by the variation of the general velocity profile for the system with two vibration modes, and also shows the effects of the input shaping filter based on the parameters of system model. Finally, the simulation results show that the proposed input shaping filter using an artificial immune algorithm is more effective for suppressing residual vibrations than genetic algorithm.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8445-8450
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women and the most frequent cause of death in those between 35 and 55 years of age. All multicellular organisms have an innate immune system, whereas the adaptive or 'acquired' immune system is restricted to vertebrates. This study focused on the effect of conditioned medium isolated from cultured breast cancer cells on NB4 neutrophil-like cells. Materials and Methods: In the current study neutrophil-like NB4 cells were incubated with MCF-7 cell-conditioned medium. After 6 h incubation the intracellular receptor TLR2, was analyzed. Results: The results revealed that MCF-7 cell-conditioned medium elicited expression of TLR2 in NB4 cells. Conclusions: This treatment would result in the production of particular stimulants (i.e. soluble cytokines), eliciting the expression of immune system receptors. Furthermore, the flow cytometry results demonstrated that MCF-7 cell-conditioned medium elicited an effect on TLR2 intracellular receptors.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.7
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• pp.239-244
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• 2015

The complement system is part of the innate immune response and as such defends against invading pathogens, removes immune complexes and damaged self-cells, aids organ regeneration, confers neuroprotection, and engages with the adaptive immune response via T and B cells. Complement activation can either benefit or harm the host organism; thus, the complement system must maintain a balance between activation on foreign or modified self surfaces and inhibition on intact host cells. Complement regulators are essential for maintaining this balance and are classified as soluble regulators, such as factor H, and membrane-bound regulators. Defective complement regulators can damage the host cell and result in the accumulation of immunological debris. Moreover, defective regulators are associated with several autoimmune diseases such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, dense deposit disease, age-related macular degeneration, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the complement system is regulated is important for the development of novel therapies for complement-associated diseases.