• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.294-308
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• 2002

Background : The cell-mediated immune response plays an important role in tuberculosis. After being activated by mycobacterial antigens, T lymphocytes express a high affinity receptor (IL-2R) for interleukin-2 (IL-2) on their own surface and release a soluble fraction of the IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) from the cell membrane into the circulation. Neopterin is a metabolite of guanosine-triphosphate, which is produced by stimulated macrophages under the influence of IFN-$\gamma$ with a T lymphocyte origin. Therefore, the utility of sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and the neopterin levels as immunologic indices of the cell-mediated immune response and severity of disease in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was assessed. Methods : The serum sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and neopterin levels were measured in 39 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 6 patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis prior to treatment and 10 healthy subjects. The serum and pleural sIL-2R, neopterin and ADA levels were measured in 22 patients with tuberculous pleurisy. The patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were divided into a mild, moderate and severe group according to the severity by ATS guidelines. To compare the results from these patients with those of the pretreatment levels, the sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and neopterin levels were measured in 36 of the 39 patients(1 patient, expired; 2 patients were referred to a sanitarium) with pulmonary tuberculosis after 2 months of treatment. Results : 1) the serum sIL-2R and IFN-$\gamma$ levels were elevated in patients with tuberculosis when compared to those of healthy subjects (p>0.05). The neopterin concentration in the serum was significantly lower in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis($2967{\pm}2132.8$ pg/ml) than in healthy controls($4949{\pm}1242.1$ pg/ml)(p<0.05). 2) In the pulmonary tuberculosis group, the serum sIL-2R and IFN-$\gamma$ levels were higher in patients with severe disease than those in patients with mild and moderate disease. However, the neopterin levels declined as the pulmonary tuberculosis became more severe (p<0.01). 3) The mean serum sIL-2R and IFN-$\gamma$ levels declined from $1071{\pm}1139.4$ U/ml to $1023{\pm}1920.9$ U/ml(p>0.05), $41{\pm}52.8$ pg/ml to $22{\pm}23.9$ gm/ml(p<0.05), respectively, after 2 month of treatment. The mean serum neopterin levels increased from $3158{\pm}2272.6$ pg/ml to $3737{\pm}2307.5$ pg/ml(p>0.05) after a 2 month of treatment. These findings were remarkable in the severe group of pulmonary tuberculosis with a clinical correlation. 4) In the patients with tuberculous pleurisy, the serum sIL-2R and ADA were significantly higher than those in the pleural fluid, However, the neopterin levels in the sera and pleural effusion were similar. Conclusion : On the basis of this study, sIL-2R, IFN-$\gamma$ and neopterin measurements may not only provide an insight into the present state of the cell-mediated immune response, but also serve as parameters monitoring of the prognosis of the disease, particularly in patients with severe pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, an assay of the pleural sIL-2R levels might signal a stimulated local immunity including T cell activation in the tuberculous pleural effusion.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.spc8
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• pp.3161-3163
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• 2011

• 대한두경부종양학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1991.11a
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• pp.20.2-22
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• 1991

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2011

The study objective was to prepare biodegradable branched dextran microspheres encapsulated with His-tagged interferon-alpha (BDM-hIFN-${\alpha}$) and evaluate its activity in vitro and in vivo. The glycidyl methacrylate derivatized dextrans (Dex-GMA) as precursor was primarily synthesized by substituting hydroxyl groups of either the branched or linear type of dextran with GMA. Dex-GMA microspheres loaded with hIFN-${\alpha}$ was then prepared by the water-in-water emulsion technique. In vitro release and Western blotting experiments demonstrated the retained activity of hIFN-${\alpha}$ released from branched dextran microspheres at 24 h by inducing phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator transcription-1 (STAT-1), a down-stream effector of IFN-${\alpha}$, in HepG2 cells. Animal data further revealed a peak of plasma levels of IFN-${\alpha}$ in rats injected intravenously with BDM-hIFN-${\alpha}$ at 10 min post-injection, but a sharp decline at 2 h. High plasma levels of neopterin, a plasma protein induced by IFN-${\alpha}$, were also detected in rats injected with BDM-hIFN-${\alpha}$ at 10 min post-injection. Notably, plasma levels of neopterin remained high at 4 h, but largely declined thereafter.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.201-209
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• 1982

An enzyme, named GTP cyclohydorlase, that catalizes the hydrolytic removal of carbon No.S of GTP has been partially purified from extracts of Pseudomonas putida (IAM 1506). The enzyme exists in two molecuar weight forms : a high molecular weight form (150,000) and a low molecular weight from (40,000). The high molecular weight form has been purified 25-fold. Some of the properties of the enzyme are as follows : It functions optimally at pH8.0, and at $52^{\circ}C$. The Km value for GTP is $20{\mu}M$. Divalent cations $(Cd^{2+}\;and\;Hg^{2+})$ 2+/) at a concentration of 5mM inhibit completely the enzyme activity. No metal ion including $Mg^{2+}$ is needed for the catalysis. The enzyme is heat labile ; its half at $57^{\circ}C$ is 1.5 min. Of a number of nucleotides tested, only GDP was used to any extent as substrbte in place of GTP. One of the products of the enzyme is determined to be a dihydro-neopterin compound.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.150-155
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• 1994

In order to evaluate the effect of the extracts of eidble and medicinalplant son the activation of immune cells, measurements were made by ELISA and radioimmunoassay on the degree of release for the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and neopterin by the edible and medicinal plants in peripheral blood cells. The results of measurements of TNF in the supernatant cultured liquid showed nothing in t도 control which does not have any edible and medicinal plants. However, measurements of TNF 9pg/ml) in the samples are given as follows : 716.7 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS 1 g/ml), 465.2 Rheum plamatum L.m302.7 Sanguisorba offciinalis L. 818.2 Rubus coreanus M, 328.3 Terminalia chebula R., 426.6 AReca catechu L. 227.0 Eugenia caryophiliata T., 272.9 Ephedra sinica S., 30.1 Caesalpinia sappan L., 474.0 Chaenomeles japonica L., 396.0 Cornus officinalis S.in edible and medicinalplants. ENopterin (n mole/L) value showed below the check point in the control group, however, the values are 11.0 in LPS, and edible and medicinal plants, 5.3 Rheum palmatum L., 11.6 Eugenia caryophiliata T., 5.5 Ephedra sinica S., 4.5 Caesalpinia sappan L., 4.3 Chaenomelees japonica L.3.7 Cornus officinalis S. In order to find m RNA levels of Cytokines increased by edible and medicinal plants, total RNA was separated from mononuclear cells treated 5 hrs with Rubus coreanus M. and then administrated for RT-PCR. The considerable increases of the m RNA of TNF, IL-1 $\alpha$ and IL-6 were observed.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1995

Several studies showed that the immunological factors such as CD4+ cell number, CD4%, CD8+ cell number and CD4/CD8 ratio and the serological factors such as, ${\beta}^2$-microglobulin(${\beta}^2$-MG), neopterin, soluble CD4, and soluble CD8 are related to the risk of development of AIDS. Especially, the CD4+ cell counts have been used to monitor progresson of HIV disease, to stratify, and to follow patients in clinical trials. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCP) in USA has made the CD4+ cell count as a part of the classification of HIV disease. It is composed of 3 categories such as 1, 2, and 3 which asr $\geq$ 500/$mm^3$, 200/$mm^{3} $\geq$ and < 500/$mm^3$, and < 200/$mm^3$, respectively. In this study, to estimate the differences of immunological factors between HIV-infected and normal human groups in Korea, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, and the CD4/CD8 ratio were measured in 185 HIV-infected subjects and 140 healthy adult subjects. The lymphocyte subsets such as CD4+ T and CD8+ T were analysed by flow cytometer(FACStar) with two-color immunofluorescent stain using monoclonal antibodies such as anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies. The absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of HIV infected persons were $462\pm{277}/mm^3$, $18.2\pm7.7%$, $1,170\pm{534}/mm^3$, $47.0\pm10.6%$ and $0,43\pm0.26 whereas those of uninfected persons were $886\pm{299}mm^3$, $32.9\pm{7.0%}, 730{\pm}259/mm^3$, $26.8\pm6.4%$ and $1.31\pm0.46$(P<0.01). In addition, estimating the reference values of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of Korean, the absolute numbers and percentages of CD4+ T and CD8+ T and the CD4/CD8 ratio of 140 healthy adults persons were measured and compared with those of foreigners. The reference ranges of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4％, CD8%, and the CD4/CD8 ratio and 1.31$\pm$0.46, respectively. The significant differences were not observed when compared with those of foreigners. However a little difference was observed in the percentages of CD4+ T and the absolute numbers of CD8+ T between the normal values of Korean and those of foreigners were $43.6\pm8.9%$, $560\pm{230}/mm^3$. This result can also be useful as a basic data for the treatment and surveillance of HIV-infected patients in Korea.