• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2010

Objective : Sinapis alba L. (SA) is a korean traditional herbal medicine that is usually used to prevent or treat inflammatory diseases, such as respiratory infection and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the effects of SA supplementation in vitro on serum antibody levels, splenocyte and peritoneal macrophage immune responses have not yet been determined. In this study, we examined the effect of SA on the production of Th1/Th2 cytokines. Methods : Splenocytes were isolated from naive C57BL/6 mice. Cells were enriched for CD4+ cell populations by first staining the cells with anti-CD4 (BD PharMingen, Calif, USA). CD4+ T cells were selected on a (CS) column, and the flow-through was collected as CD4+ T cells. Isolated cells were activated by overnight incubation on 24-well plates coated with $1{\mu}g/mL$ anti-CD3, $1{\mu}g/mL$ anti-CD28 and with SA ($100{\mu}g/mL$). Primary macrophages were collected from the peritoneal cavities of mice (8-week-old female C57BL/6). The peritoneal macrophages were washed and plated with RPMI-1640 overnight for the experiments. After 48-hours cultures, samples were centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes, and the supernatants were stored at $-80^{\circ}C$. Mouse IL-4, IFN-$\gamma$ and TNF-$\alpha$ were quantified using ELISA kits (BioSource International, Camarillo, Calif, USA) according to the manufacturer's protocols. Results : SA at 100ug/ml decreased the generation of Th1 cytokine (IFN-$\gamma$) by 0.5-fold. However, SA has no effect on Th2 (IL-4) production. Conclusions : These results suggest that SA may play an important role in the control of T-cell-mediated autoimmunity by down-regulation of Th1 cytokine (especially IFN-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$). These data may contribute to the design of new immunomodulating treatments for a group of autoimmune diseases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2015

Objective : The aim of this study was to explore the immunity in rats transplanted with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and acellular nerve (ACN) for repairing sciatic nerve defects. Methods : ADSCs were isolated from the adipose tissues of Wistar rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish a sciatic nerve defect model and then divided into four groups, according to the following methods : Group A, allogenic nerve graft; Group B, allograft with ACN; Group C, allograft ADSCs+ACN, and Group D, nerve autograft. Results : At the day before transplantation and 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after transplantation, orbital venous blood of the Sprague-Dawley rats in each group was collected to detect the proportion of $CD3^+$, $CD4^+$, and $CD8^+$ subsets using flow cytometry and to determine the serum concentration of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and $interferon-{\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At each postoperative time point, the proportion of $CD3^+$, $CD4^+$, and $CD8^+$ subsets and the serum concentration of IL-2, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in group C were all near to those in group B and group D, in which no statistically significant difference was observed. As compared with group A, the proportion of $CD3^+$, $CD4^+$, and $CD8^+$ subsets and the serum concentration of IL-2, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IFN-{\gamma}$ were significantly reduced in group C (p<0.05). Conclusion : The artificial nerve established with ADSCs and ACN has no obvious allograft rejection for repairing rat nerve defects.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2018

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been one of the most common parasitic diseases in Saudi Arabia. This study exhibits the clinical features, diagnosis, cytokine profile and treatment of CL patients in Al-Taif province. Ninety CL suspects at a tertiary care general hospital were enrolled in one-year study. Patients were interviewed, clinically-examined, and subjected to laboratory tests: skin scraping smear microscopy, OligoC-TesT commercial PCR (Coris BioConcept) and kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) PCR for Leishmania diagnosis. Interferon-gamma (RayBio; Human $IFN-{\gamma}$ ) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients' sera were evaluated before treatment with sodium stibogluconate (pentostam) with 20-day intramuscular drug regimen. Positive rates of microscopy, commercial PCR and kDNA PCR were 74.4%, 95.5% and 100%, respectively. Patients came to hospital mostly in winter (45.0%). CL was frequently exhibited in Saudi patients (78.8%), male gender (70.7%), age <20 years (50.0%), rural-dwellers (75.5%) and patients with travel history (86.6%). Lesion was mostly single ulcer (93.3%), occurred in the face (67.7%). Upon pentostam treatment, 85.1% of ulcers showed rapid healing signs. Levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and NO were significantly higher in the healing than the non-healing cases (P<0.001). The kDNA PCR proved more sensitive than microscopy and OligoC-TesT commercial PCR. Our results open perspectives for $IFN-{\gamma}$ use as a biomarker predicting treatment response.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.376-384
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• 2008

The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is traditionally used as a marker for astrocytes of the brain, and more recently for the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) of the liver. Several GFAP splice variants have been previously reported in the astrocytes of the CNS and in the non-myelinating Schwann cells of the PNS. In this study, we investigate whether GFAP splice variants are present in the HSCs and their expression as a function of HSCs activation. Furthermore, the regulation of these transcripts upon treatment with interferon gamma ($IFN-{\gamma}$) will be explored. Using semi-quan-titative RT-PCR and real-time PCR, we examine the expression and regulation of GFAP splice variants in HSCs as well as their respective half-life. We discover that most of the GFAP splice variants ($GFAP{\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\delta}$, ${\varepsilon}$ and $\kappa$) found in the neural system are also expressed in quiescent and culture-activated primary HSCs. Interestingly, $GFAP{\alpha}$ is the predominant form in quiescent and culture-activated primary HSCs, while $GFAP{\beta}$, predominates in the SV40-immortalized activated HSC-T6. $GFAP{\delta}$, ${\varepsilon}$ and ${\kappa}$ have similar half-lives of 10 hours, while $GFAP{\beta}$ has a half-life of 17 hours. Treatment of HSC-T6 with $IFN-{\gamma}$ results in a significant 1.29-fold up-regulation of $GFAP{\alpha}$ whereas the level of the other transcripts remains unchanged. In summary, $GFAP{\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\delta}$, ${\varepsilon}$ and $\kappa$ are present in HSCs. They are differentially regulated on the transcription level, implying a role of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1605-1612
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• 2006

Interleukin (IL)-18, a member of the family of IL-l cytokine, is one of the principal inducers of $interferon-{\gamma}(IFN-{\gamma})$ in T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of IL-18 on the expression of chemokine IP-10 (CXCL-10) mRNA in mouse peritoneal macrophages. IL-18 had very weak direct effect or synergistic effect with IL-12 on the expression of IP-10 mRNA in C57BL/6 mouse peritoneal macrophages. However, IL-18 pretreatment was found to playa cooperative role in the expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IP-10 mRNA. For the expression of LPS-induced IP-10 mRNA, the synergistic effect was detected after 16 h of IL-18 pretreatment prior to LPS stimulation. The expression level of CD14 in cells stimulated with LPS was not changed by IL-18 pretreatment, and the level of $IFN-{\gamma}$ production during IL-18 pretreatment plus LPS stimulation was barely discernible ($0.36{\pm}0.31pg/ml$). Namely, the synergistic effect of IL-18 pretreatment was not related to a change of LPS receptor, CD14 expression, and the production of $IFN-{\gamma}$ by the interaction between IL-18 and LPS. The synergistic effect of IL-18 pretreatment on the expression of LPS-induced IP-10 was related to not NF-kB but AP-1 activation, and associated with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, one of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. These results provide useful information that may elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effect of IL-18 on the expression of IP-10 mRNA.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.579-589
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• 2019

Due to the ban on the use of antibiotics, interest has been increasing for the development of therapeutic agents to treat various diseases using natural resources. Osthole, a natural coumarin compound used in traditional Chinese medicines, exerts an anti-inflammatory effect, but its effects in cows remain unknown. In this study, the effect of osthole on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or concanavalin-A (Con-A)- stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was assessed. Jugular venous blood was collected from Korean calves, and PBMCs were isolated. They were then used to study the immune response of PBMCs to treatment with osthole and LPS or Con-A for 72 h by measuring inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$). Osthole significantly inhibited the mRNA secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, osthole inhibited LPS- or Con-A- induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ and Con-A-induced $IFN-{\gamma}$ production significantly in dose-dependent manner. These results clearly suggest that osthole inhibited the LPS- or Con-A- stimulated upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner, without causing obvious cytotoxic effects. Osthole could also protect cows from LPS- or Con-A- induced endotoxin shock, possibly by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which suggests that osthole might be a novel therapeutic agent for the prevention of inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2008

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by chronic relapsing inflammation and is associated with hyper-production of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Recent studies have suggested that one of the treatments to alleviate symptoms of AD could be a supplementation of probiotics, Lactobacillus, Rhamnosus, Bifidus, etc. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics on immune parameters in NC/Nga mice treated with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene (DNCB). To induce atopic dermatitis, DNCB was treated to the back of mice for 2 weeks. Then, NC/Nga mice were divided into the four experimental groups randomly. Probiotics fragment, probiotics with other complex (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12LbL, L. plantarum K8, L. plantarum K8 fragment, ${\gamma}$-linolenic acid), antihistamine, and distilled water were administrated orally to the NC/Nga mouse for 4 weeks of experimental period. The groups were probiotics fragment group (DPF), probiotics with other complex group (DPOC), antihistamine group (DAH) and distilled water group (DDW) as a control group. The levels of serum IgE, interlukin-4 (IL-4), interlukin-5 (IL-5), interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) and spleenocyte IgE were measured. The levels of serum IgE were significantly different among the four experimental groups. Before the treatment, there was no differences among the groups. However, from the first through the third week of the treatments, the levels of serum IgE in the probiotics (DPF, DPOC) and antihistamine (DAH) groups were lower than those of control group (p < 0.05). The levels of serum IL-4 of DPOC group was significantly lower than that of control group (p < 0.05) and serum IL-5 levels of DPF, DPOC, and DAH groups were significantly lower than that of control group. The levels of serum IFN-${\gamma}$ were not different among the four experimental groups. The levels of serum IgE in supernatant of spleen lymphocytes were not significantly different among the groups. These results suggest that probiotics supplementation showed partial effectiveness in the DNCB treated NC/Nga mice via modulation of IgE level and IL-4, IL-5 production. Based on these findings, probiotics exhibited the inhibitory effect via IL-4 production thereby inhibited the production of IgE in atopic animal model NC/Nga mice.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.116-122
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• 2013

This study was conducted to determine whether CD4 T cell responses to citrullinated fibrinogen occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially in HLA-DR4-positive subjects. Whole peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of RA patients and control subjects were stimulated with citrullinated fibrinogen peptides, and T-cell production of proliferation and proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-${\gamma}$(IFN-${\gamma}$) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A), were measured. In addition, CD4 T cells from RA patients were stimulated with the citrullinated fibrinogen peptide, $Fib-{\alpha}$ R84Cit, identified as a DRB1*0401-restricted T cell epitope in HLA-DR4 transgenic mice, and the degree of T cell activation was examined similarly. No proliferative responses to the citrullinated fibrinogen peptides were observed in whole PBMCs or CD4 T cells from RA patients. Furthermore, no increased production of IFN-${\gamma}$ or IL-17A was found in whole PBMCs or CD4 T cells stimulated with the citrullinated fibrinogen peptides, although these cells responded to recall antigen, a mixture of tetanus toxoid, purified protein derivative (PPD) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Candida albicans. The results of this study indicate that anti-citrulline immunity in RA patients may be mediated by fibrinogen because there is no evidence of CD4 T cell-mediated immune responses to citrullinated fibrinogen peptides.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2007

Background : Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is one of the principal inducers of interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) in lymphocytes. Materials and Methods : The effect of IL-18 on the expression of chemokine IP-10(CXCL10) mRNA in C57BL/6 mouse peritoneal macrophages was studied by using Northern blot analysis, enzyme linked immunosobent assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results : IL-18 was determined to exert no direct effect on the expression of IP-10(CXCL10) mRNA. However, IL-18 pretreatment was determined to play a cooperative role in the synergistic induction of LPS-induced IP-10(CXCL10) mRNA expression. The effect associated with IL-18 pretreatment with regard to the synergistic induction of LPS-induced IP-10 (CXCL10) mRNA expression was detected after 16 hr of IL-18 pretreatment, administered prior to LPS stimulation. The pattern of NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity during IL-18 pretreatment with LPS stimulation was found to coincide with the expression of IP-10(CXCL10) mRNA. Conclusion : Although IL-18 alone exerts no direct effect on the expression of chemokine IP-10(CXCL10), a definite period of IL-18 pretreatment induces the synergistic expression of LPS-induced IP-10(CXCL10) mRNA. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation is a component of this synergistic effect of IL-18 pretreatment. These results provide useful information, which may facilitate the elucidation of the action mechanisms underlying IL-18 effect on the expression of IP-10(CXCL10) mRNA.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.155-164
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• 1994

치조골흡수는 만성치주질환의 전형적인 증상이다. 골흡수에 작용하는 여러 요인들 중에서도, 특히 최근에 들어서 몇몇 cytokine들에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있는데, interleukin-1(IL-1), tumor necrosis factor(TNF) 및 interleukin-6(IL-6) 등이 치주질환의 진행과정에서 중요한 치조골흡수요인으로 제안되고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 신생쥐의 골조직 배양실험을 통해서 recombinant human $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($rHuIL-1{\beta}$), recombinant human tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$($rHuTNF-{\alpha}$) 및 recombinant human interleukin-6(rHuIL-6) 의 골흡수 유도효과를 알아보고, cyclooxygenase 억제제인 indomethacin과 recombinant murine $interferon-{\gamma}$($rMurIFN-{\gamma}$)가 이들 cytokine의 골흡수 유도능력에 미치는 영향을 알아봄으로써 이들 cytokine의 작용기구에 대해서 알아보고자 하는데 있다. 생후 1-2일된 쥐에게 $1{\mu}Ci^{45}CaCl_2$를 피하주사하고 4일 후에 쥐를 희생시켜 $^{45}Ca$ 로 표지된 두개골을 얻어 24시간 전배양 후, 각 cytokine ($rHuIL-1{\beta}$, $rHuTNF-{\alpha}$ 및 rHuIL-6)과 cytokine 및 첨가약제 (indomethacin 및 $rMurIFN-{\gamma}$)가 함유된 배지로 교환하여 48시간 배양한다. 골흡수 유도효과는 두개골에서 48시간의 배양 중 유리되는 $^{45}Ca$의 방사능 정도로 평가하였다. 본 연구를 통해 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. $rHuIL-1{\beta}$ ($10^{-12}-10^{-9}M$) 및 $rHuTNF-{\alpha}$ ($10^{-10}-10^{-8}M$)는 농도변화에 따르는 골흡수 유도효과를 보였으나 , rHuIL-6 ($10^{-10}-10^{-8}M$)는 유의할 만한 효과를 보이지 않았다. 2. Indomethacin ($10^{-6}M$)은 $rHuIL-1{\beta}$ 및 $rHuTNF-{\alpha}$의 골흡수 유도작용에 유의할 만한 억제효과를 나타내지 않았다. 3. $rMurIFN-{\gamma}$ (1000 U/ml) 은 $rHuIL-1{\beta}$ 및 $rHuTNF-{\alpha}$의 골흡수 유도작용에 유의한 억제효과를 나타내었다. 본연구를 통해 치주질환 환자의 치주조직에서 검출되는 $IL-1{\beta}$ 및 $TNF-{\alpha}$가 치조골 흡수에 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 생각된다.