• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.10-17
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• 2011

Objective: To evaluate the immune-stimulatory potential of extracts of Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold (BK) on specific cellular and humoral immune responses in ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized mice. Material and Methods: C57BL/6 mice were immunized intraperitoneally with OVA/alum ($100{\mu}g/200{\mu}g$) on days 1, 8, and 15. BK (100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg) was given to mice orally for 21 days (from day 1 to day 21). At day 22, OVA-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated splenocyte proliferation and OVA-specific and total antibodies were measured in plasma. Further, the effects of BK on expression of cytokine mRNA in OVA-immunized mice splenocytes were evaluated by RT-PCR analysis. Results: BK significantly enhanced OVA-, LPS-, and Con A-induced splenocyte proliferation in OVA-immunized mice (p<0.01). BK also significantly enhanced total IgM and OVA-specific IgG1 levels in plasma compared with the OVA control group. Moreover, BK up-regulated significantly the expression of mRNA level of IL-2 and IFN-${\gamma}$ in splenocytes. Conclusions: BK has immune-stimulating activity in an OVA-immunized mouse model system, enhancing the Th1 immune response. BK showed no cytotoxicity in this system, suggesting that BK may be a safe and effective adjuvant in humans.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.68-73
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• 2006

This study was aimed at investigating hepatic toxicity and immunomodulating effects of defatted methanol extracts of two kinds of medicinal plants, Rubus coreanus Miq. and Atractylodes japonica Koidz. in mice. Defatted methanol extracts of fruits of Rubus coreanus Miq. and rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. were added at the level of 0.5% or 5%(w/w) to cholesterol-supplemented AIN-76 diet. Each diet was fed to 8 ICR male mice for 30 days. Weight gain and food efficiency ratio of the mice fed 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. were significantly lower than those of the mice fed 0.5% extract Relative liver weight and activity of plasma alanine aminotransfernse were significantly increased only in the mice fed 5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with the others. Splenocyte proliferation was not significantly different between the groups fed 0.5% or 5.0% extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. However, splenocyte proliferation was significantly decreased in the mice fed 5.0% extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. compared with that in the mice fed 0.5% Production of interleukin-2 by splenocytes from the mice fed 0.5% extract of Atractylodes japonica Miq. was significantly higher than the control value and it became lower with 5.0% dietary level. Secretion of $interferon-\gamma$ was not significantly different among groups. In conclusion, the defatted methanol extract of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. was likely to exert immunomodulating effect at the level of 0.5% but it may exert adverse effects on immune and liver functions at the level of 5.0%.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2014

In order to determine the functional benefits of Cordyceps militaris in the immune system, we examined the immunomodulatory activities of C. militaris using an immunocompromised C57BL/6 mice, mouse spleen cells, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and A549 lung carcinoma cells. Mice were injected intraperitioneally with an immunosuppressive drug, cyclophosphamide, and then administered orally with 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg of 50% ethanol extract of C. militaris (CME 30, CME 100 and CME 300) for 14 days. CME increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity compared to 3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-treated control mice. CME also increased the production of Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in spleen cells isolated from CME-injected mice and in vitro, which suggested the enhanced cellular immunity in response to CME. CME also increased splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activity, and IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production compared to 1 ${\mu}M$ methotrexate-treated spleen cells in vitro. We examined whether C. militaris regulates the production of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. CME inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression in a dose dependent manner, while COX-2 expression was remained unchanged. In addition, CME also has free radical scavenging activity, indicating its antioxidant activity. These results indicate that C. militaris enhances immune activity by promoting immune cell proliferation and cytokine production.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.169-173
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• 2011

This study investigated the effect of gamma irradiation on immune enhancing activity of Chaga mushroom extract (CME). CME was prepared by hot water extraction at $70^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours and lyophilized. Lyophilized CME powder was dissolved with deionized water at $10mg\;ml^{-1}$ and then irradiated at the doses of 10, 30 and 50 kGy by cobalt 60 gamma irradiator. The gamma-irradiated and non-irradiated CME were treated into the splenocyte separated from mouse. Cell proliferation and cytokine production of the immune cells were increased by gamma-irradiated CME and these increases were more prominent when CME was irradiated at higher doses. Therefore, it is considered that gamma irradiation can be an effective method for improvement of the immunomodulating activity Chaga mushroom extract.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.367-373
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• 2004

Mancozeb, a polymeric complex of zinc and manganese salts of ethylene bisthiocarbamate (EBDC), is used widely in agriculture as fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. Mancozeb can be occupationally and environmentally exposed to human and has been reported to induce estrogenic activity, therein it is considered as an endocrine disrupter. After female ICR mice were treated Mancozeb orally at the doses of 250, 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg/day for consecutive 30 day, we investigated the effects of Mancozeb on the immunopathological parameters (body-, thymus-, spleen-, liver- and kidny-weight, splenic cellularity, hematological parameters) and mitogen (Con A, LPS)-induced splenocyte proliferation (SP). Liver- and kidney- weight were increased, but body- and thymus-weight, number of splenocytes and WBC were decreased, when compared with control group. When splenocytes isolated from the mice exposed to Mancozeb for 30 days were cultured in presence of mitogens, the SP against Con A was significantly and dose-dependently decreased and the SP against LPS was also slightly decreased. Our present results indicate that subacute exposure of Mancozeb to mice might show immunotoxic effect.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.261-277
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• 1998

The purpose of this research was to investigate cytotoxicity of DangkwiYonghoe-Hwan(DYH) and the constitutive crude drugs on several cancer cell-lines, thymocytes, splenocytes and 3T3 cells. The DYH consists of Coptidis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Phellodendri Cortex, Gardeniae Fructus, Gentianae scabrae Radix, Indigo pulverata Levis, Aloe, Rhei Rhizoma, Moschus, Saussureae Radix and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. The cytotoxicity was determined by MTT method. The DYH inhibited the proliferation of MOLT-4, K562, HL-60, Jurkat, L1210, P815, S180 and Yac-1, thymocyte, splenocyte and 3T3 cells. The cytotoxicity of Coptidis Rhizoma on the cancer cell-lines was the most potent in the constitutive crude drugs. The proliferation of cancer cell-lines was partly inhibition and partly increase by the treatment of Scutellariae Radix, Gardeniae Fructus, Gentianae scabrae Radix, Indigo pulverata Levis, Aloe, Rhei Rhizoma, Moschus and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. Phellodendri Cortex and Saussureae Radix had a poor cytotoxicity on cancer cell-lines. Coptidis Rhizoma and Phellodendri Cortex inhibited the proliferation of thymocyte, splenocyte and 3T3 cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1188-1194
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate effects of fructans (chicory inulin, fructooligosaccharide and chicory inulin oligosaccharide) on blood glucose, activities of disaccharidases in small bowel and kidneys, and splenocyte proliferation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Sixty ICR male mice were divided into one normal group and four diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced by injecting streptozotocin after 2 weeks of experimental diets feeding. Experimental diets based on AIN93G diet were control diet, 6$ \%$ fructooligosaccharide (FOS) diet, 6$\%$ chicory inulin oligosaccharide (CIOS) diet, 6$\%$ chicory inulin (Cl) diet, and given for 25 days after streptozotocin injection. Plasma glucose was lower in Diabetic-Cl group as compared to Diabetic-control group. Plasma insulin level was not different among diabetic groups. Specific activities of jejunal maltase and sucrase in diabetic groups were about double as that of Normal group. Jejunal maltase activity and plasma glucose were positively correlated (r=0.643). However, specific activity of renal maltase in diabetic groups was not significantly different as compared to Normal group. Stimulation index of splenocyte proliferation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was significantly increased in Diabetic-CIOS as compared to Diabetic-control. Stimulation index of splenocyte proliferation by Concanavalin A (ConA) tended to be higher in Diabetic-CIOS group. Concentrations of interleukin-2 and interferon- $\gamma$ secreted from splenocytes induced by ConA were not significantly different among all groups. In conclusion, fructans may be effective for lowering plasma glucose, possibly by lowering disaccharidase activity and for increasing immune responses in diabetic con-ditions, where their effects can be different depending on degree of polymerization.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.253-257
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• 2015

Acanthopanax senticosus is an herb that has been used as a traditional remedy and medicine source. Its anti-inflammatory and, anti-oxidative effects have been reported in previous studies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Acanthopanax senticosus water extracts on mouse macrophage cell in vitro. Mouse splenocyte proliferation increased after application of Acanthopanax senticosus water extract supplement of 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ after 48 h pre-treatment with a mitogen (ConA or LPS). The production of cytokines secreted by LPS and non LPS stimulated macrophages was detected by ELISA assay using a cytokine kit. Cytokine production (IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$) increased after water extract supplementation. The result of this in vitro study, showed that splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production by activated peritoneal macrophages were increased after Acanthopanax senticosus water extract in the range of $500{\sim}1,000{\mu}L/mL$. Thus, it is suggested that supplementation with Acanthopanax senticosus water extracts may enhance immune function by regulating splenocyte proliferation and enhancing cytokine production by activated macrophage.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.203-210
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• 2002

Aster scaber $T_{HUNB}$ (AST ; Charm-chui), a potent herbal medicinal plant, has a long tradition of use, being harvested as a wild plant, is said to stimulate appetite, and may act as a diuretic, antifebrile agent and painkiller. This study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulative effects of AST In mice, using in vitro and in vivo experiments. The immunomodulative effects were studied in vitro by measuring the proliferation of mice splenocytes and the production of three kinds of cytokines (IL-$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$) by mice peritoneal macrophages which were cultured with sequential fractions of AST methanol extract (methanol, hexane, chlo-roform, ethylacetate, butanol and water). In an in vivo experiment using mice, different concentrations of AST water extract were orally administrated every other day for two weeks. The production of cytokines (IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, and TNF-$\alpha$) secreted by activated macrophages, and the proliferation of mice splenocytes, were used as indices for immunocompetence. In vitro supplementation using six fractions of AST in the range of 1 to 100$\mu$ g/ml enhanced splenocyte proliferation by 10.5% to 53% compared to the control. IL-1$\beta$production was significantly increased with the supplementation of butanol and water extracts of AST. Higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$production were detected with supplementation of methanol, ethylacetate, butanol or water extracts at the concentration of 100$\mu$ g/ml. In the in vivo study, the highest proliferation of splenocytes was seen in the mice orally administrated with the AST water extract at the concentration of 500mg/kg body weight. In the case of cytokine production, there were no significant differences in the production of IL-1$\beta$and IL-6 among the treated groups and the control. However, TNF-$\alpha$released by activated peritoneal macrophages were augmented by the oral administration of AST water extract. These results indicate that AST may enhance the immune functions by regulating splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production capacity in mice.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.454-460
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• 1993

Abnormalities of the T cell subsets have been detected in the immunologically mediated disease sites such as periodontal lesions which are attributable to the regulatory effect of cell differentiation and specific chemokinetic effect of various cytokines. Macrophage Inflammatory protein$(MIP)-1{\alpha}$ and gammain terferon$({\gamma}-IFN)$ serve as important immunoregulatory molecules through which growth and differentiation of specific T cell subsets are known to be negatively regulated. Murine cytolytic T cell line CTLL-2 were used to perform the [$^3H$]-thymidine incorporation test, by which we obtained more comprehensive view in regulatory actions of cytokines on the T cell subset proliferation. 1. $rMIP-{\alpha}$(200ng/ml) and $r{\gamma}-IFN$(100U/ml) appreared to suppress the proliferation rate to CTLL-2 by 74 and 86% respectively, and the suppressive action of two cytokines were synergisic. 2. Culture supernatant of anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated mouse splenocyte enhanced the proliferation rate of CTLL-2 up to 10-fold with dose-dependent manner. However, culture supernatant of unstimulated splenocyte showed only 2-fold increase in the proliferation rate. 3. CTLL-2 cell proliferation was strictly IL-2 dependent.