• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.620-631
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• 2024

Bone marrow toxicity is a side effect of chemotherapy with anticancer drugs or the exposure to chemicals, such as benzene. When myelotoxicity occurs, the number of white blood cells decreases, which reduces immune functioning and increases the risk of infection or the development of tumors. Angelica gigas Nakai extract (AGNEX) and green coffee bean extract (GCBE) have many effects, such as anti-cancer and antioxidant effects, as well as effects on the immune functioning. In this experiment, the preventive effect of AGNEX and GCBE against benzene-induced bone marrow toxicity was confirmed in Sprague Dawley rats (SD rats) in vivo. Benzene (1 ml/kg mixed with corn oil 1:1) was intraperitoneally administered to SD rats (six weeks, N = 9/group) once a day, and AGNEX (12 mg/kg) and GCBE (6, 12, and 24 mg/kg) were administered orally daily for five weeks. To determine the preventive effect, AGNEX (12 mg/kg) and GCBE (6, 12, and 24 mg/kg) were administered orally before the administration of benzene. Consequently, AGNEX 12 mg/kg and GCBE 12 mg/kg were effective at reducing leukocytes and lymphocytes, specifically granulocyte. Additionally, the treatment also showed protective effects specifically on spleen and liver weight changes and spleen damage. Through this protective effect, AGNEX and GCBE were confirmed to prevent bone marrow toxicity by enhancing the functioning of the immune system.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.282-288
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• 2003

It is known that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection, which causes AIDS after some latent period, is a dynamic process that can be modeled mathematically. Effects of available anti-viral drugs, which prevent HIV from infecting healthy cells, can also be included in the model. In this paper we illustrate control theory can be applied to a model of HIV infection. In particular, the drug dose is regarded as control input and the goal is to excite an immune response so that the symptom of infected patient should not be developed into AIDS. Finite horizon optimal control is employed to obtain the optimal schedule of drug dose since the model is highly nonlinear and we want maximum performance for enhancing the immune response. From the simulation studies, we found that gradual reduction of drug dose is important for the optimality. We also demonstrate the obtained open-loop optimal control is vulnerable to parameter variation of the model and measurement noise. To overcome this difficulty, we finally present nonlinear receding horizon control to incorporate feedback in the drug treatment.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1951-1956
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• 2003

It is known that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection, which causes AIDS after some latent period, is a dynamic process that can be modeled mathematically. Effects of available anti-viral drugs, which prevent HIV from infecting healthy cells, can also be included in the model. In this paper we illustrate control theory can be applied to a model of HIV infection. In particular, the drug dose is regarded as control input and the goal is to excite an immune response so that the symptom of infected patient should not be developed into AIDS. Finite horizon optimal control is employed to obtain the optimal schedule of drug dose since the model is highly nonlinear and we want maximum performance for enhancing the immune response. From the simulation studies, we find that gradual reduction of drug dose is important for the optimality. We also demonstrate the obtained open-loop optimal control is vulnerable to parameter variation of the model and measurement noise. To overcome this difficulty, we finally present nonlinear receding horizon control to incorporate feedback in the drug treatment.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.47-47
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• 2023

Paeonia lactiflora roots (PLR) are a medicinal plant widely used for treating inflammatory diseases. However, PLR has been recently reported to increase the production of proinflammatory mediators and activates phagocytosis in macrophages. Thus, in this study, we tried to verify the macrophage activation of PLR and elucidate its mechanism of action. PLR upregulated the production of proinflammatory mediators and activated phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. However, these effects were reversed by inhibition of TLR2/4. In addition, the inhibition of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 reduced the PLR-mediated production of proinflammatory mediators, and the PLR-mediated activation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 was blocked by the TLR4 inhibition. These findings indicate that PLR may activate macrophages through TLR4-dependent activation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2. These indicate that PLR has immunostimulatory activity. Thus, it is believed that PLR can be used as a functional food agent that enhances the immune system.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated the immunological properties of six strains of Acetobacter pasteurianus through nuclear factor-kappa B/activator protein-1 (NF-κB/AP-1) transcription factor activation and nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production in macrophages. We found that the six A. pasteurianus strains had no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of RAW-Blue^TM cells at the concentration of (25, 50, 100 CFU/macrophage). The production of NO and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) showed different abilities of immune activation for each strain, and it was 0.7 to 0.9 times higher than that of the LPS (100 ng/mL, v/v) positive control and 7 to 8 times superior to that of the negative control group. To explore the underlying mechanism, we evaluated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Consequently, we found that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression including genes expression of cytokines were elevated by the six A. pasteurianus treatment. These results suggested that the six strains of A. pasteurianus have an excellent industrial application value as a functional material for the purpose of enhancing immune function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.447-454
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• 2022

In this study, we confirmed the effect of HK shiitake mushroom mycelium (HKSMM) on immune enhancement in Balb/c mice. Experimental animals were divided into five groups: negative control (NC), positive control (PC; 1,000 mg/100 g; AHCC), T1 (500 mg/100 g; HKSMM), T2 (1,000 mg/100 g; HKSMM), and T3 (2,000 mg/100 g; HKSMM), and dissection was performed at four and six weeks. COX-2 and iNOS concentrations were significantly lower in the six-week experimental group than in the control group, and the NO results were also similar. Results of the confirmation of the factors related to the NF-κB (p-p65 and p-IκBα) and MAPK (pERK, pJNK, and p38) signaling pathways revealed that the HKSMM-fed experimental group significantly decreased compared with the control group. A comparative analysis of the number and size of white pulp in the spleen tissue showed that those of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that HKSMM has both immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects in Balb/c mice, indicating that it can be used as a health functional food ingredient.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory function of Pyropia yezoensis hydrothermal (water) extract (PYWE) in comparison to the group treated only with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells. LPS is known to be an inflammatory mediator that activates macrophages, leading to the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as defense responses. Through enzyme-linked immunoassay and western blot analyses, it was observed that PYWE increased the expression levels of NO, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, although to a lesser extent compared with the group treated with LPS alone. In addition, the study examined the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway, which regulates various cellular activities, including gene expression, mitosis, cell differentiation, transformation, survival, and death. The western blot analysis confirmed that PYWE also regulated the MAPKs pathway. Furthermore, the expression levels of immunomodulatory-related factors increased in the group treated with PYWE compared with the control group. Even though the effects of PYWE were usually less strong than those of LPS, the effects of PYWE increased with increasing doses compared to the control group. This suggests that PYWE could be used to control the immune system.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1244-1255
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the stimulatory effects of herbal medicines extracts on cytokines release of immune response in immune cells, RAW 264.7 and TK-1 cell. Methods: In a total of 18 extracts, 9 water extracts and 9 ethanol extracts, of herbal medicines, the quantities of polyphenolic compounds were measured and anti-oxidation activities were determined by colorimetric assay. The herbal medicine extracts were treated on RAW 264.7 and TK-1, respectively, and then the releasing changes of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 from both immune cells were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The polyphenol contents were measured to be 1.56~0.64 mg/g of solids in the two types of extracts with 9 kinds of herbal medicines, while antioxidant activities were found to be 95.62~31.46% as compared with ascorbic acid control. In RAW 264.7 cells treated with herbal medicines extracts, the secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ increased to 1.31~1.18 fold, and the amounts of IL-6 were 68.4~97.9% compared with the control group treated with LPS alone. In particular, the secretion amount of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was suppressed by treatment using herbal medicine extracts. In the case of TK-1 cells, $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion was suppressed according to the concentrations of herbal extract. The released amounts of IL-10 were shown at 10~40 pg/ml, and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Herbal medicines extracts act on macrophages inducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokine, thereby enhancing the activity of innate immunity. When acting on T cells involved in adaptive immunity, the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokine is increased to induce the inhibition of the innate immune response.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.396-412
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and the efficacy and safety of Korean medicine treatment. Methods: This study was conducted on 15 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome who visited the outpatient Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 10, 2021 to April 10, 2022. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 15 patients and collected clinical characteristics, Korean medicine treatments, outcome variables (Numeral Rating Scale (NRS), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (QOL-VAS), The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS)), adverse events, etc. Results: Of the 15 patients, seven (46.7%) were men, and the average age of all patients was 49.7±13 years. The most common symptom was cough (n=9, 60%), and it was followed by dyspnea or increased respiratory effort, fatigue, insomnia, anosmia, etc. The herbal medicine was prescribed for all 15 patients, and Saengmaek-san (n=8, 53.5%) was the most prescribed. Additionally, acupuncture and cupping were performed in four patients (26.7%) each, and electroacupuncture was applied to one patient (6.7%). As a result of Korean medicine treatment, NRS, mMRC, LCQ, QOL-VAS, and PCFS showed improvement, and adverse events were mild. Conclusions: This study presented the clinical features of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and suggested that Korean medicine treatment may be effective in alleviating related symptoms and enhancing quality of life.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

Fucoidan is a physiologically functional ingredient extracted from seaweed brown algae, which is a sulfated polysaccharide containing fucose as a main molecule backbone. Fucoidan has a variety of immune-modulating or -stimulating effects, including promoting antigen uptake and enhancing anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-tumor effects. In addition, recent studies have suggested the possibility of use of fucoidan as a vaccine adjuvant in the field of human vaccine. Use of fucoidan as supplementary feeds have already been studied, but the development of fucoidan as an adjuvant of fish vaccine is still premature. However, the intracellular uptake of fucoidan differs depending on the molecular weight of fucoidan, and there is a limit to the study on specific immune response including the production of antibodies to fish caused by an artificial infection of pathogen. Although the safety of fucoidan has been demonstrated in animal cells, there is a need to confirm the safety of fucoidan in fish. Therefore, active research in this field is needed to use fucoidan as a vaccine adjuvant. This study discussed the effects of fucoidan on immune stimulation, humoraland cellular- immunity including humans and animals. The prospect of fucoidan as a vaccine adjuvant in fisheries also reviewed.