• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.330-337
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• 2004

Based on the traditional application of Carthamus tinctorious L. (CF) as a component of Korean medicinal decoctions, in the present study, we investigated in vitro an immunomodulatory activity of water extract of CF(WECF). Water extract of CF significantly increased the in vitro proliferative responses of spleen cells (SPC). However, addition of WECF during anti-CD3 activation resulted in a significant decrease in SPC proliferation. Flow cytometric analysis showed that WECF addition chanced T and B cell frequencies in anti-CD3-activated spleen cell populations. Using purified cells, it was revealed that WECF is mitogenic to B cells but rather inhibitory to T cell Proliferation. Upon anti-CD3 stimulation, high concentration (1 mg/ml) of WECF significantly inhibited T cell proliferation until day 2 of stimulation. At day 3, anti-CD3-activated cells exposed to WECF recovered their proliferation to the level comparable to control. Although B cell proliferation was also inhibited in proliferation at day 1, it recovered sooner and then was rather augmented by WECF at day 3. These data indicate that WECF down-regulates lymphocyte proliferation at early phase of activation but T cells are more vulnerable than B cells to WECF, However, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells did not differ in WECF-mediated immunotoxicity. Data of propidium iodide (PI) staining showed that WECF accelerates activated T cell, but not B cell, apoptosis and WECF concurrently inhibited cytokine production of activated T cells. Taken together, WECF exhibits B cell mitogenic activity and differential toxicity more pronounced to T cells, suggesting a possible in vivo application of WECF for specific control of T cells without alteration of B cell activity.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.10-19
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• 2010

Methods: Intravenous administration of Platycodon grandiflorum was performed 2 days before tumor inoculation, then mice were killed 14 days after tumor inoculation, then number of tumor colonies were counted. Methanol extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum was added to colon26-M3.1 carcinoma cells, L5178Y-R lymphoma cells and Hela cells, and then cell growth was counted. To observe the immunomodulating effects of Platycodon grandiflorum, production of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-$\alpha$ were measured with ELISA assay and the cell growth of macrophage were also counted. Furthermore, antimetastatic experiment after depletion NK cells by injection of anti-asialo GM1 serum was also administered. Results: Intravenous administration of Platycodon grandiflorum significantly inhibited metastasis of colon26-M3.1 carcinoma cells. In an in vitro cytotoxicity analysis, Platycodon grandiflorum affected tumor cell growth above specific concentration. As compared with control, the production of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-$\alpha$ were incresed. And depletion NK cell completly abolished the inhibitory effect of metastasis. Conclusion: Platycodon grandiflorum appears to have considerable activity on immunomodulating effects and inhibit the metastasis of tumor. Further evaluation is needed for settling this.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.63-78
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was carried out to know the effects of Gwan-Jul-Bang-7 (hereafter referred to GJB-7) on the inhibition of arthritis induced by collagen on the mouse. Methods: To assess the effects of GJB-7 on mouse with arthritis induced by collagen II, we conducted several experiments such as analysis of cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, arthritis index, total cell number of draining lymph nodes and paw joints, value of immunocyte in PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cell), DLN (draining lymph node) and paw joint, measurement of cytokine and anti-collagen II, observation of the histological changes of joint. Results: 1. Cytotoxicity against HFC (human fibroblast cells) was not observed in any concentration and hepatotoxicity was not observed in the GJB-7 treated group. 2. The incidence of arthritis significantly decreased. 3. Total cell number of draining lymph nodes significantly increased and total cell number of paw joints significantly decreased. 4. The percentage of $CD8^+$ cells in PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cell) significantly increased. The percentage of $CD3^+/CD69^+$, and $CD3^+/CD49b^+$ cells in PBMC significantly decreased. 5. The percentage of $CD19^+,\;CD3^+$, and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cells in DLN (draining lymph nodes) significantly increased. The percentage of $B220^+/CD23^+$ cells in DLN significantly decreased. 6. The percentage of $CD3^+,\;CD4^+$, and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells in paw joints significantly decreased. 7. The production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, and MCP-1 significantly decreased. 8. Anti-collagen II in serum significantly decreased. 9. With the hematoxylin and eosin stain, inflammation of joint decreased. Under Masson's trichrome stain, the cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation and the expression of collagen fibers decreased. Conclusions: Comparison of the results for this study showed that GJB-7 had immunomodulatory effects. So we expect that GJB-7 could be used as an effective drug for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also another auto-immune diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.284-288
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• 2004

We have recently reported that red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP), isolated from Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), showed immunomodulatory antitumor activities, mainly mediated by nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophage. In this study, we examined the effect of RGAP on anticancer activity using lung carcinoma 3LL, sarcoma 180 and adenocarcinoma JC tumor cells transplanted into mice as well as antimetastatic activity using B16-F10 melanoma. When RGAP (300 mg/kg) were treated to mice implanted with one of the three kinds of tumor cells, the tumor weight significantly decreased compared with control mice. Tumor inhibition ratios of RGAP (300 mg/kg) in mice transplanted with lung carcinoma 3LL, sarcoma 180 and adenocarcinoma JC cells were 26.8%, 29.3% and 31.6%, respectively. Hundred mg/kg of RGAP did not cause a significant decrease in tumor weight compared with control group. When RGAP was administered i.p. with the dose of 100 and 300 mg/kg in B16-F10 melanoma-bearing mice, lung metastasis were reduced significantly in mice. Corrected phagocytic index was also remarkably increased by RGAP. These results suggest that stimulation of phagocytic activity of macrophages may be a mechanism for in vivo anticancer and antimetastasis activities of RGAP.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2001

Some of endocrine disruptors with sexual hormone-like effects have been increasingly reported to be immunotoxic in many species in recent several years. Phthalate esters have possible effects on the endocrine system. Prenatal exposure to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) has been reported to impair the androgen-dependent development of the male reproductive tract in rat. Therefore, the immunomodulatory effect of DBP was investigated in the developing immune system of fetal and neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Timed-bred pregnant SD rats were given to the doses of 0, 250, 500, and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$ body weight /day by gavage once a day from gestational day (GD) 5 to 18. On GD19 or GD22/postnatal day one (PD1), the dams were euthanized, and the changes in organ weights and thymus phenotypes were examined for their offsprings. At 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day in maternal exposure group, GD19 fetuses showed decreases in body weight. The spleen/body weight ratios were reduced in GD 19 fetuses from the dams exposed to 500 and 750 mg DBP/kg$\cdot$b.w./day. There were no significant changes in thymus and spleen cellularities though these cellularities showed a tendency to decrease in a dose dependent way. In the DBP-exsposed GD22/PD1 offsprings, the body weights, the relative organ weights and the cellularities did not exhibit alteration. Additionally, the percentages of CD3$^{+}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) and CD3$^{-}$(CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{+}$, CD4$^{+}$CD8$^{-}$, CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{+}$, and CD4$^{-}$CD8$^{-}$) thymocyte subsets were not changed in any DBP-treated group. The proliferative responses of splenic T cells to Con A and B cells to LPS were decreased in all DBP-exposed GD22/PD1 offsprings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.817-820
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• 2003

Purpose : Intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) has been used as an immunomodulatory treatment for several immune-mediated diseases. The early effect of high-dose IVIG on biochemical profiles including lipids and proteins was evaluated in patients with Kawasaki disease(KD). Methods : Twelve children with KD(nine boys) were treated with IVIG of 2 g/kg over 12 hours. Serial sera were collected from the patients four times : before IVIG treatment and two hours, 24 hours and seven days after IVIG treatment. The samples were frozen at $-20^{\circ}C$ before biochemical analysis. Results : A significant decrease in albumin concentration was found two hours h and 24 hours after IVIG treatment, but this recovered to the pretreatment level after seven days. Total cholesterol and triglyceride increased slightly after seven day. A significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol and C-reactive protein was seen two hours and 24 hours after IVIG treatment. Conclusion : High-dose IVIG affects immediate changes in protein profiles and HDL-cholesterol in KD. Changes in HDL-cholesterol induced by IVIG may be the result of changes in systemic protein metabolism.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2405-2425
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• 2014

Radiation exposure leads to several pathophysiological conditions, including oxidative damage, inflammation and fibrosis, thereby affecting the survival of organisms. This review explores the radiation countermeasure properties of fourteen (14) plant extracts or plant-derived compounds against these cellular manifestations. It was aimed at evaluating the possible role of plants or its constituents in radiation countermeasure strategy. All the 14 plant extracts or compounds derived from it and considered in this review have shown some radioprotection in different in vivo, ex-vivo and or in vitro models of radiological injury. However, few have demonstrated advantages over the others. C. majus possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects appears to be promising in radioprotection. Its crude extracts as well as various alkaloids and flavonoids derived from it, have shown to enhance survival rate in irradiated mice. Similarly, curcumin with its antioxidant and the ability to ameliorate late effect of radiation exposure, combined with improvement in survival in experimental animal following irradiation, makes it another probable candidate against radiological injury. Furthermore, the extracts of P. hexandrum and P. kurroa in combine treatment regime, M. piperita, E. officinalis, A. sinensis, nutmeg, genistein and ginsan warrants further studies on their radioprotective potentials. However, one that has received a lot of attention is the dietary flaxseed. The scavenging ability against radiation-induced free radicals, prevention of radiation-induced lipid peroxidation, reduction in radiation cachexia, level of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis, are some of the remarkable characteristics of flaxseed in animal models of radiation injury. While countering the harmful effects of radiation exposure, it has shown its ability to enhance survival rate in experimental animals. Further, flaxseed has been tested and found to be equally effective when administered before or after irradiation, and against low doses (${\leq}5Gy$) to the whole body or high doses (12-13.5 Gy) to the whole thorax. This is particularly relevant since apart from the possibility of using it in pre-conditioning regime in radiotherapy, it could also be used during nuclear plant leakage/accidents and radiological terrorism, which are not pre-determined scenarios. However, considering the infancy of the field of plant-based radioprotectors, all the above-mentioned plant extracts/plant-derived compounds deserves further stringent study in different models of radiation injury.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.469-476
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• 2016

This study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of dead nano-sized Lactobacillus plantarum (nLp) in RAW 264.7 cells and murine primary splenocytes. nLp is a dead, shrunken, processed form of L. plantarum nF1 isolated from kimchi (a traditional Korean fermented cabbage) and is less than 1 μm in size. It was found that nLp treatment stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production more in RAW 264.7 macrophages than pure live L. plantarum (pLp), and that the stimulatory properties were probably largely derived from its cell wall. In addition, nLp induced murine splenocyte proliferation more so than pLp; in particular, a high dose of nLp (1.0 × 10¹¹ CFU/ml) stimulated proliferation as much as lipopolysaccharide at 2 μg/ml. Moreover, according to our cytokine profile results in splenocytes, nLp treatment promoted Th1 (TNF-α, IL-12 p70) responses rather than Th2 (IL-4, IL-5) responses and also increased Th17 (IL-6, IL-17A) responses. Thus, nLp stimulated NO release in RAW 264.7 cells and induced splenocyte proliferation more so than pLp and stimulated Th1 and Th17 cytokine production. These findings suggested that dead nLp has potential use as a functional food ingredient to improve the immune response, and especially as a means of inducing Th1/Th17 immune responses.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-65
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• 2000

In order to investigate antitumor and immune response effect by Hyangsapyungwisan after Sarcoma-180 cells and methotrexate were treatred each other, the extract of Hyangsapyungwisan was orally administered to ICR mice for 14 days. To evaluate the effects of the Hyangsapyungwisan, 50% inhibition concentration($IC_{50}$), mean survival days, tumor weight for antitumor effects, hemagglutinin titer, hemolysin titer, rosette forming cells, natural killer cell activity and productivity of interleukin-2 for immune responses measured in ICR mice. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Mean survival time in Hyangsapyungwisan-treated group was slightly prolonged, as compared with control group(13.46%). 2. On the MTT assay, cell viability was significantly inhibited by $5{\mu}g/well,\;2.5{\mu}g/well,\;1.25{\mu}g/well,\;and\;0.625{\mu}g/well$ of Hyangsapyung-wisan concentration inhibited cell viability significantly. $IC_{50}$ for cell viability was $11.59{\mu}g/well$. 3. Tumor weight in Hyangsapyungwisan treated group was depressed, as compared with the control group(p<0.05). 4. Hemagglutinin titer in Hyangsapyungwisan-treated group was slightly increased with no significance, as compared with the control group. 5. Hemolysin titer in Hyangsapyungwisan-treated group was silightly increased, as compared with the control group(p<0.05). 6. Rosette forming cells in Hyangsapyungwisan-treated group was silightly increased, as compared with the control group(p<0.05). 7. Naural killer cell activity in Hyangsapyungwisan-treated group was significantly increased(p<0.05). 8. Production of interleukin-2 was significantly increased(p<0.05). According to the above results, Hyangsapygwisan had prominent antitumor effects, and enhance both cellular and humoral immunity in mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.462-467
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• 2011

Up-regulation of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP-9 contributes to inflammatory processes during the development of various skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. In this study, we examined the effect of a cell-permeable superoxide dismutase (Tat-SOD) on TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MMP-9 expression in human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT). When Tat-SOD was added to the culture medium of HaCaT cells, it rapidly entered the cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Tat-SOD decreased TNF-${\alpha}$-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Tat-SOD also inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity. Treatment of HaCaT cells with Tat-SOD significantly inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$-induced mRNA and protein expression of MMP-9, as measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. In addition, Tat-SOD suppressed TNF-${\alpha}$-induced gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9. Taken together, our results indicate that Tat-SOD can suppress TNF-${\alpha}$-induced MMP-9 expression via ROS-NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent mechanisms in keratinocytes, and therefore can be used as an immunomodulatory agent against inflammatory skin diseases related to oxidative stress.