• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.17
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• 2023

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical immune-response mediators. Although they largely reside in mucosal tissues, the kidney also bears substantial numbers. Nevertheless, kidney ILC biology is poorly understood. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice are known to display type-2 and type-1 skewed immune responses, respectively, but it is unclear whether this extends to ILCs. We show here that indeed, BALB/c mice have higher total ILCs in the kidney than C57BL/6 mice. This difference was particularly pronounced for ILC2s. We then showed that three factors contributed to the higher ILC2s in the BALB/c kidney. First, BALB/c mice demonstrated higher numbers of ILC precursors in the bone marrow. Second, transcriptome analysis showed that compared to C57BL/6 kidneys, the BALB/c kidneys associated with significantly higher IL-2 responses. Quantitative RT-PCR also showed that compared to C57BL/6 kidneys, the BALB/c kidneys expressed higher levels of IL-2 and other cytokines known to promote ILC2 proliferation and/or survival (IL-7, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin). Third, the BALB/c kidney ILC2s may be more sensitive to the environmental signals than C57BL/6 kidney ILC2s since they expressed their transcription factor GATA3 and the IL-2, IL-7, and IL-25 receptors at higher levels. Indeed, they also demonstrated greater responsiveness to IL-2 than C57BL/6 kidney ILC2s, as shown by their greater STAT5 phosphorylation levels after culture with IL-2. Thus, this study demonstrates previously unknown properties of kidney ILC2s. It also shows the impact of mouse strain background on ILC2 behavior, which should be considered when conducting research on immune diseases with experimental mouse models.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2006

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) is known to playa key role as a negative feedback regulator in JAK/STAT signaling cascade in innate immunity. Our laboratory has recently been interested in elucidating the interactions between Spodoptera exigua (Se) and SeNPV. This context leads us to clone and characterize SeSOCS that may have important functions in response to SeNPV infection. Using the RT-PCR and TA cloning approach, we found a partial fragment (416 bp) of SeSOCS. Blast search and multiple alignment data showed that it has a homology to various insects such as Anopheles gambiae (78%), Aedes aegypti (75%), Drosophila melanogastar (77%), Mus musculus (69%), and Homo sapiens (69%). Temporal induction patterns of SeSOCS were analysed after being immune-challenged with either NPV or laminarin. It showed that the level of SeSOCS mRNA was strongly induced in a biphasic manner in response to SeNPV and laminarin, respectively. It seems that SOCS, a negative regulator of JAK/STAT signaling system is also present in S. exigua and may playa role in innate immunity albeit its precise role should be further elucidated at the molecular and cellular level in the early phase of SeNPV infection in larvae.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1855-1866
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• 2017

The synergistic activation mediator (SAM) system can robustly activate endogenous gene expression by a single-guide RNA. This transcriptional modulation has been shown to enhance gene promoter activity and leads to epigenetic changes. Human $interferon-{\gamma}$ is a common natural glycoprotein involved in antiviral effects and inhibition of cancer cell growth. Large quantities of high-purity $interferon-{\gamma}$ are important for medical research and clinical therapy. To investigate the possibility of employing the SAM system to enhance endogenous human $interferon-{\gamma}$ with normal function in innate immunity, we designed 10 single-guide RNAs that target 200 bp upstream of the transcription start sites of the $interferon-{\gamma}$ genome, which could significantly activate the $interferon-{\gamma}$ promoter reporter. We confirmed that the system can effectively and highly activate $interferon-{\gamma}$ expression in several humanized cell lines. Moreover, we found that the $interferon-{\gamma}$ induced by the SAM system could inhibit tumorigenesis. Taken together, our results reveal that the SAM system can modulate epigenetic traits of non-immune cells through activating $interferon-{\gamma}$ expression and triggering JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Thus, this strategy could offer a novel approach to inhibit tumorigenesis without using exogenous $interferon-{\gamma}$.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.236-241
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• 2016

The aim of the study is to evaluate immune-enhancing effects of Yeonsan Ogye. Various extract of Yeonsan Ogye (200 and 400 mg/kg/daily) was treated orally to Balb/c mice for 1 week, before acute inflammation was induced by LPS. After cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and immune cells (white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte) level by serum and blood were counted. As a result, Oral treatment of Yeonsan Ogye extract to the Balb/c mice were significantly decreased cytokine level in serum, in comparison with control group. in addition, production of white blood cell and monocyte in blood was decreased and granulocyte was increased respectively, in comparison with control. Our results demonstrated that Yeonsan Ogye extracts seem to have significant immune-enhancing. Thus, Yeonsan ogye may be developed as a raw material for new health food and medicine to ease the symptoms related with inflammatory and immune.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.684-692
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• 2016

Acute respiratory virus infectious diseases are a growing health problem, particularly among children and the elderly. Much effort has been made to develop probiotics that prevent influenza virus infections by enhancing innate immunity in the respiratory tract until vaccines are available. Lactobacillus plantarum GB-LP2, isolated from a traditional Korean fermented vegetable, has exhibited preventive effects on influenza virus infection in mice. To identify the molecular basis of this strain, we conducted a whole-genome assembly study. The single circular DNA chromosome of 3,284,304 bp was completely assembled and 3,250 protein-encoding genes were predicted. Evolutionarily accelerated genes related to the phenotypic trait of anti-infective activities for influenza virus were identified. These genes encode three integral membrane proteins, a teichoic acid export ATP-binding protein and a glucosamine - fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase involved in host innate immunity, the nonspecific DNA-binding protein Dps, which protects bacteria from oxidative damage, and the response regulator of the three-component quorum-sensing regulatory system, which is related to the capacity of adhesion to the surface of the respiratory tract and competition with pathogens. This is the first study to identify the genetic backgrounds of the antiviral activity in L. plantarum strains. These findings provide insight into the anti-infective activities of L. plantarum and the development of preventive probiotics.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2001

Precise mechanism by which the fetus can escape from mother's immune rejection is not well understood yet over the last 50 years. The clarification of immune mechanism at the feto-maternal interface is very important, because this can be a common pathogenesis of various pathologic conditions including spontaneous abortion, habitual abortion fetal growth restriction preeclampsia, implantation failure after assisted reproductive techniques, and fetal death. In this review, current hypothetical contents were described with the priority of importance: 1) The center of this mechanism is cross-talk between the expression of HLA-C, E, G on the extravillous cytotrophoblasts and their receptors on decidual NK cell, 2) immunomodulation, 3) innate immunity is the main immunologic mechanism, 4) various mechanisms besides HLA system(eq. complement) may be associated. The overall balance of immunomodulation among these mechanisms should result in the outcome of each pregnancy. Further researches regarding the regulation of HLA system, roles of cytokines, complements should be followed in the future.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) detect microbial infection and can directly induce innate host defense responses, which are thought to play critical roles in protecting the tubotympanum from infection. However, little is known about the relationship between TLRs, which are related to innate immunity, and immunoglobulins, which are related to adaptive immunity, in recurrent otitis media with effusion (OME). We therefore investigated the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 and immunoglobulin in children with OME. Methods: The study population consisted of 72 children with OME, 31 with more than 4 episodes in 12 months or more than 3 episodes in 6 months (otitis-prone group), and 41 with fewer than 3 episodes in 12 months (non-otitis prone group). The expression in middle ear effusion of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA, as determined by Real time- -polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM, as determined by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), were compared between the two groups. Results: Expression of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA was lower in the otitis prone than in the non-otitis prone group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Between group differences in the concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM in effusion fluid were not significant (p>0.05), and there were no correlations between immunoglobulin concentration and the expression of TLR2 and TLR4. Conclusion: Although there was a trend toward lower expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the otitis-prone group, the differences, and those in immunoglobulin concentration, did not differ significantly between the otitis-prone and non-prone groups.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.20.1-20.8
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of taurine for juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) at low water temperature ($16.4{\pm}0.36^{\circ}C$). Fish meal (FM)-based diet was used as the control diet. Four other experimental diets were prepared by adding taurine to FM-based diet at 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 1. 50% (T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively). Each experimental diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (initial mean body weight, 19.5 g) for 10 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, growth performance and feed utilization, hematological parameters, non-specific immune responses, whole-body proximate composition, and liver mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were investigated. Feed conversion ratio was significantly reduced while protein efficiency ratio was significantly increased in taurine-supplemented groups. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were also significantly increased while plasma cholesterol levels were decreased in taurine-supplemented groups than those in the control group. Nitroblue-tetrazolium, myeloperoxidase and lysozyme activities, and plasma immunoglobulin level were significantly increased by taurine supplementation. These results suggest that dietary taurine supplementation is effective in improving growth performances, feed utilization, and innate immunity of olive flounder in low water temperature season.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.420-438
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• 1998

Herba Xanthii(HX), Radix Xantluii(RX) and Fructus Xanthii(FX) is one of the oriental medicine that has been used for the treatment of such infectious diseases and tumors. However, the mechanism of the drug is not investigated much. This study was done to know the effects of HX, RX and FX extract on the such innate immunities as phagocytic function and reactive radical formtions from phagocytes and the such acquired immunities as humoral and cell-mediated immunities. The followings are the results obtained from this study: 1. HX2 and FX1 groups increases the in vivo phagocytic activity of mononuclear phagocytes. 2. HXB, RXB, RXC, FXB and FXC groups increase the in vitro phagocytic activities. 3. RXB group stimulated the macrophages to produce nitric oxide in the presence of $interferon-{\gamma}$ $(IFN-{\gamma})$. 4. HX and RX whole groups increased the luminol-amplified reactive oxygen intermediate production in vivo. 5. HX whole and RX1, FX2 groups increased the lucigenin-amplified reactive oxygen intennediate production in vivo. 6. HXC group only increased the luminol-amplified reactive oxygen intermediate production in vitro. 7. HXB, FXB and FXC groups increased the lucigenin-amplified reactive oxygen intermediate production in vitro. 8. HX2, RX1 and FX whole groups increased the hemolysin formations from B cells. 9. HX, RX and FX whole groups significantly increased the rosette forming cells from the spleen. 10. HX, RX and FX whole groups significantly decreased the delayed-type hypersensitivity measured by footpad swelling. The above results demonstrate that HX, RX and FX has enhancing effects on innate immunity selectively and decreasing effects on delayed-type hypersensitivity of cell-mediated immunity according to medicinal part and diluted condition. This immunomodulating effects of HX, RX and FX might be responsible for the treatment of immune-mediated disorders.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.128-137
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• 2014

Respiratory viruses can induce acute respiratory disease. Clinical symptoms and manifestations are dependent on interactions between the virus and host immune system. Dendritic cells (DCs), along with alveolar macrophages, constitute the first line of sentinel cells in the innate immune response against respiratory viral infection. DCs play an essential role in regulating the immune response by bridging innate and adaptive immunity. In the steady state, lung DCs can be subdivided into $CD103^+$ conventional DCs (cDCs), $CD11b^+$ cDCs, and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs). In the inflammatory state, like a respiratory viral infection, monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) are recruited to the lung. In inflammatory lung, discrimination between moDCs and $CD11b^+$ DCs in the inflamed lung has been a critical challenge in understanding their role in the antiviral response. In particular, $CD103^+$ cDCs migrate from the intraepithelial base to the draining mediastinal lymph nodes to primarily induce the $CD8^+$ T cell response against the invading virus. Lymphoid $CD8{\alpha}^+$ cDCs, which have a developmental relationship with $CD103^+$ cDCs, also play an important role in viral antigen presentation. Moreover, pDCs have been reported to promote an antiviral response by inducing type I interferon production rather than adaptive immunity. However, the role of these cells in respiratory infections remains unclear. These different DC subsets have functional specialization against respiratory viral infection. Under certain viral infection, contextually controlling the balance of these specialized DC subsets is important for an effective immune response and maintenance of homeostasis.