• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.472-474
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• 2002

Till date the phenomenon of maternal transfer of photic information was reported to regulate the fetal/neonatal growth, however its influence on neonatal immune system is still an enigma. In the present study, we observed an increase in maternal plasma melatonin level under short day length (SOL) condition with a consequent decrease in TLC and LC in their respective neonates. However, a significant decrease in maternal plasma melatonin level was noted under constant darkness (DD) with an increase in TLC and LC of their neonates. The blastogenic response (BGR) to Con A of splenocytes exhibited a significant increase in neonates of SDL females and a significant decrease in the neonates of DD females. Hence, it appears that the increase in maternal plasma melatonin under SOL condition transmitted information to decrease the immune status. Continuous exposure of females to darkness (DD) negatively regulated the maternal pineal gland activity thereby decreasing their plasma melatonin level. This information was transmitted for elevation of immune status in neonates, so that they exhibit better growth and sexual maturation. Therefore, we may suggest that the maternal photic information transmitted either prenatally through placenta or postnatally via the milk regulate the hormonal profile of Melatonin to regulate the immune status of neonates in order to influence their growth and sexual maturation.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.19-25
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of heat application on the immune activities of the human body. To exam, furthermore, the immune effect from the healthy volunteer(male:15, female:15) by monitoring changes of immune substances such as various leukocytes[total white blood cell(WBC), eosinophil, neutrophil, basophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte], a comparative study with warm water immersion($40.8{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$) and infrared(250W) was carried out. The plasma analysis showed that the count of white blood cell, eosinophil, and neutrophil were elevated in warm water immersion- or infrared. stimulated group compared with control group. However, the count of basophil was decreased in both warm water immersion- and infrared-stimulated group than control group. Therefore, these results suggest that the thermostimulation improved immune activity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권11호
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• pp.777-782
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• 2016

The innate immune system has evolved to detect and destroy invading pathogens before they can establish systemic infection. To successfully eradicate pathogens, including viruses, host innate immunity is activated through diverse pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) which detect conserved viral signatures and trigger the production of type I interferon (IFN) and pro-inflammatory cytokines to mediate viral clearance. Viral persistence requires that viruses co-opt cellular pathways and activities for their benefit. In particular, due to the potent antiviral activities of IFN and cytokines, viruses have developed various strategies to meticulously modulate intracellular innate immune sensing mechanisms to facilitate efficient viral replication and persistence. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the study of viral immune evasion strategies with a specific focus on how Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) effectively targets host PRR signaling pathways.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.377-384
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• 2007

Objective : Immune potentiation including activation of T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells is known to play a key role in prevention and treatment of patients with cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (AR) on the immune system, especially on thymocytes, splenocytes, and macrophages. Methods : We investigated the effects of AR on proliferation of splenocytes in normal mice, and the effects on proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes in tumor-bearing mice. In addition, the effect of AR on NO production using macrophages was investigated. Results : Treatment with AR accelerated proliferation of splenocytes in vitro. AR also accelerated thymocyte proliferation, but did not affect splenocytes proliferation in normal mice. In contrast, AR accelerated proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes significantly in tumor bearing mice. In addition, NO production level from macrophages was elevated by treatment with AR. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that AR has anti-cancer activities and related mechanisms are involved in immune potentiation such as acceleration of immune cell proliferation and elevation of NO production level in macrophages. In addition, we also demonstrate the possibilities of AR as complementary and alternative medicine to standard anti-cancer drugs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.335-341
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• 2021

Zinc is an essential micronutrient with crucial roles in multiple facets of biological processes. Dysregulated zinc homeostasis impairs overall immune function and resultantly increases susceptibility to infection. Clinically, zinc supplementation is practiced for treatment of several infectious diseases, such as diarrhea and malaria. Recent focus on zinc as a beneficial element for immune system support has resulted in investigation of the immunomodulatory roles of zinc in a variety of immune cells. Besides its classical role as a cofactor that regulates the structural function of thousands of proteins, accumulating evidence suggests that zinc also acts, in a manner similar to calcium, as an ionic regulator of immune responses via participation as an intracellular messenger in signaling pathways. In this review, we focus on the role of zinc as a signaling molecule in major pathways such as those downstream of Toll-like receptors-, T cell receptor-, and cytokine-mediated signal transduction that regulate the activity and function of monocytes/macrophages and T cells, principal players in the innate and adaptive immune systems.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.329-343
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• 2023

Recently, acupuncture has demonstrated extraordinary clinical results in the treatment of several categories of health conditions worldwide. The mechanisms of action of acupuncture (including immune mechanisms) have been investigated by biomedical studies over the last few decades. The immune mechanisms of representative clinical conditions and their clinical effects were thoroughly assessed, with a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms of action of acupuncture (including immune responses) in this study. Conditions such as stroke, migraine, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, sepsis, and allergic diseases were meticulously examined. This in-depth analysis aims to ensure a foundational understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in acupuncture, thereby serving as an initial step toward integrating the impact of acupuncture on the immune system.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.236-251
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• 2015

Objectives: To investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines to test their efficacy in common cold treatment. Methods: For all experiments, the herbal medicines were extracted with 80% ethanol and freeze-dried. To determine the anti-oxidative properties, we tested DPPH-free radical-scavenging activity and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. To determine anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential, we investigated acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and writhing test in ICR mice. For anti-pyretic activities, an LPS-induced pyrexia study was conducted in rabbits. To evaluate the anti-histamine activity, we examined compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis in ICR mice and the release of β-hexosaminidase on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Results: Ephedrae herba, Forsythiae fructus, Cinnamomi ramulus, and Cimicifugae rhizome showed potent free-radical scavenging activities. Gentianae macrophyllae radix inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability. Schizonepetae spica and Cimicifugae rhizome inhibited acetic acid. Cinnamomi ramulus and Angelicae decursivae radix inhibited LPS-induced pyrexia. Angeliace dahuricae radix and Asari radix inhibited compound 48/80. Scutellariae radix, Cinnamomi ramulus, Ephedrae herba, and Zingiberis rhizoma crudus potently inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase. Conclusions: We examined the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines;We examined the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines Codonopsis pilosulae radix, Zingiberis rhizoma crudus, and Cinnamomi ramulus showed novel efficacy. These results suggest that some of herbal medicines may be very effective in treating common cold.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.274-287
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was aimed to figure out an agreement between the diagnosis of nasal endoscopy and a preexisting questionnaire focusing on Cold-Heat pattern. Methods: 52 patients with cough who met the criteria filled out a pattern questionnaire and the examiner looked at their nasal cavities through nasal endoscopy. According to the checked questionnaire results, the subjects were identified by 6 patterns. After examining subject's mucous membrane of oropharynx and nasal cavity through nasal endoscopy, we classified each to the Cold or Heat group. Correlation between questionnaire and nasal endoscopy results was analyzed. Results: In diagnosing Cold-Heat, there was no significant difference by McNemar test (p=0.227) between nasal endoscopy and the questionnaire, and the two methods agreed moderately (${\kappa}=0.428$). The color of mucous membrane of oropharynx and the Cold-Heat pattern on questionnaire agreed slightly (${\kappa}=0.133$). The color of mucous membrane of nasal cavity and the Cold-Heat pattern on questionnaire agreed fairly (${\kappa}=0.384$). In the patients with cough related to upper respiratory tract, they got higher diagnosis accuracy than the patients with cough related to lower respiratory tract did. Similarly, external cough patients got higher diagnosis accuracy than internal cough patients did. Conclusions: To identify Cold or Heat, examining oropharynx and nasal cavity using nasal endoscopy is a meaningful method in patients with cough, showing that two diagnosis methods which use nasal endoscopy and questionnaire agreed moderately. Especially, it is more useful diagnosing patients with cough related to the upper respiratory tract than diagnosing the patients with cough related to the lower respiratory tract.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.583-598
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• 2020

Objective: The aims of this study were to analyze deficiency-excess pattern identification and to compare the blood cytokines in patients with asthma. Methods: A total of 112 patients with asthma who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided into deficiency syndrome and excess syndrome groups. Blood was examined for eotaxin, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (QLQAKA), a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and heart rate variability (HRV) tests were administered to both groups. Results: Pattern identification divided the 112 patients into two categories: a deficiency syndrome group (N=52) and an excess syndrome group (N=60). Analysis of blood cytokines showed higher levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the deficient pattern than in the excess pattern group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the HRV revealed a significantly higher mean value for the very-low-frequency (VLF) and high-frequency (HF) bands in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group. The morbidity duration was longer in the deficiency than in the excess syndrome group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Analysis of the QLQAKA and VAS scores showed a negative correlation, whereas BMI and VAS showed a positive correlation. Conclusions: Levels of blood cytokines, including eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α, did not differ statistically between the deficiency and excess syndrome groups. The development of a more accurate asthma-specific pattern identification tool would be useful in asthma control.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.46-58
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate intestinal immune system activation and anti-metastatic effect on cancer cells by orally administered extracts of Boyanghwano-tang. Methods: To observe immunomodulating effects of Boyanghwano-tang on Peyer's patch cells, we measured cytokines GM-CSF, IL-4. In addition to observing effects of Boyanghwano-tang on hematopoiesis, we measured proliferation of bone marrow cells mediated by Peyer's patch cells in vitro. IgA induction activated in intestinal content and serum was measured to observe the effect of orally administered Boyanghwano-tang on mucosal immune system. After administering ovalbumin (OVA) with Boyanghwano-tang, Proliferation of Peyer's patch cell was measured to investigate gut immunostimulatory effect. Anti-metastatic experiments were conducted in vivo mouse model by using colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma cell. Results: The amounts of GM-CSF and IL-4 in the culture supernatant of Peyer's patch cells were significantly increased compared to the control group. The proliferation of bone marrow cell was significantly up-regualted with Boyanghwano-tang. These results indicate that oral administration of Boyanghwano-tang enhances the secretion of hematopoietic growth factors such as GM-CSF and IL-4 from Peyer's patch cells, and these cytokines also act on modulator of bone marrow cell proliferation. After orally administering OVA with Boyanghwano-tang, IgA induction and Proliferation of peyer's patch cell was up-regulated with Boyanghwano-tang. These results means orally administered Boyanghwano-tang activates intestinal immune system and has an inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis. In addition, We found that orally administered Boyanghwano-tang significantly inhibited tumor metastasis in vivo. Conclusions: Orally administered Boyanghwano-tang appears to have considerable activity on the anti-metastasis by activation of immune system.