• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.172.1-172.1
• /
• 2001

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.126-134
• /
• 2001

Background : Paeonia japonica Miyabe is a medicinal plant which has been widely used as a component of blood-building decoctions (Chinese medicinal concept : Bu-Xie). The immunopharmacological characteristics of the extract of Paeonia japonica (PJ) were investigated. Methods : The effects of fractions of PJ extract on lymphocyte proliferation were measured by $H^3$-thymidine incorporation assay. The proliferated lymphocyte subsets were analyzed in flow cytometry. The subset cell populations of spleen cells were separated by magnetic cell separation system, and their proliferation by the extract were investigated. The effect of the extract on antibody production was determined in mice challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) using hemolytic plaque forming cell assay. Results : Spleen cells were proliferated by water extract of PJ. Polysaccharide fraction (PJ-P) of the extract was most active in the proliferation. It was found in flow cytometry that the lymphocyte subset proliferated by PJ-P was B cell population. Among the separated subset cell populations, T cell-depleted cell population and macrophage-depleted cell population were most proliferated by PJ-P. However, positively selected populations of B cells and T cells were not proliferated by PJ-P. These results indicate that B cell proliferation by PJ-P may require the assistance of macrophages or T cells. These results suggest that firstly PJ-P may stimulate macrophages or T cells, and then B cells are activated. The number of antibody-secreting cells was increased by administration of PJ-P in mice immunized with SRBC as a T-dependent antigen. Conclusion : These results suggest that macrophages and accessory cells are directly activated by PJ-P and then helper T cells and B cells are indirectly activated. As the results, immune responses might be coordinately improved. In conclusion, PJ-P, a polysaccharide of P. japonica, may be a characteristic immunostimulator, which is analogous to polysaccharides such as lentinan, PSK and ginsan.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.8.1-8.13
• /
• 2023

CD8⁺ T cells are activated by TCRs that recognize specific cognate Ags, while NK-cell activation is regulated by a balance between signals from germline-encoded activating and inhibitory NK receptors. Through these different processes of Ag recognition, CD8⁺ T cells and NK cells play distinct roles as adaptive and innate immune cells, respectively. However, some human CD8⁺ T cells have been found to express activating or inhibitory NK receptors. CD8⁺ T-cell populations expressing NK receptors straddle the innate-adaptive boundary with their innate-like features. Recent breakthrough technical advances in multi-omics analysis have enabled elucidation of the unique immunologic characteristics of these populations. However, studies have not yet fully clarified the heterogeneity and immunological characteristics of each CD8⁺ T-cell population expressing NK receptors. Here we aimed to review the current knowledge of various CD8⁺ T-cell populations expressing NK receptors, and to pave the way for delineating the landscape and identifying the various roles of these T-cell populations.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.235-249
• /
• 1995

This study was designed to identify the lymphocytes present and to examine the relation between lymphocytes population and clinical symptoms of the pulps clinically diagnosed as normal and irreversible pulpitis. We recorded the history and severity of the pain and performed several clinical tests, before extirpation of vital, irreversibly inflamed pulps in routine endodontic treatment. Then the teeth were divided into two groups. Five teeth, categorized in acute symptom group, had severe spontaneous pain, particularly at night and were extremely sensitive to cold and heat. The other 15 teeth with history of mild to moderate pain and with or without cold or heat responses were categorized as chronic symptom group. Inflamed pulps were also classified into 8 minor groups by presence or absence of signs or symptoms related to the involved teeth, including the presence of pain on percussion, pain on heat and cold stimuli and the periodontal pocket depth. All extirpated pulps were immediately immersed in ultra low-temperature freezer($-74^{\circ}C$), and they were sectioned $6{\mu}m$ in thickness. Specimens were stained using three-stage indirect immunoperoxidase techniques(DAKO, LSAB kit) and monoclonal antibodies for detecting the presence of T lymphocytes(T), B lymphocytes(B) and helper(T4) and suppressor(T8) lymphocytes. Following results were obtained; 1. All the examined normal and inflamed pull) tissues had positive staining for T lymphocytes and T helper and T suppressor cells. But B cells were observed only in inflamed pulp. 2. Statistically more T and B cells were observed in acute symptom group as compared with chronic symptom group(p<0.05). 3. Cell ratio of BIT in acute symptom group were significantly higher than that of chronic symptom group(p<0.05). 4. Only B cells were significantly increased in the percussion positive group than the number of B cells in percussion negative group(p<0.05). 5. No differences were observed in the number of different cell types among other minor groups.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.186-190
• /
• 2015

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in healthy individuals is usually asymptomatic and results in latent infection. CMV reactivation occasionally occurs in healthy individuals according to their immune status over time. T cell responses to CMV are restricted to a limited number of immunodominant epitopes, as compared to responses to other chronic or persistent viruses. This response results in progressive, prolonged expansion of CMV-specific $CD8^+$ T cells, termed 'memory inflation'. The expanded CMV-specific $CD8^+$ T cell population is extraordinarily large and is more prominent in the elderly. CMV-specific $CD8^+$ T cells possess rather similar phenotypic and functional features to those of replicative senescent T cells. In this review, we discuss the general features of CMV-specific inflationary memory T cells and the factors involved in memory inflation.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.10
• /
• pp.918-924
• /
• 2015

During T cell activation, mitochondrial content increases to meet the high energy demand of rapid cell proliferation. With this increase, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) also increases and causes the rapid apoptotic death of activated cells, thereby facilitating T cell homeostasis. Nicotinamide (NAM) has previously been shown to enhance mitochondria quality and extend the replicative life span of human fibroblasts. In this study, we examined the effect of NAM on $CD8^+$ T cell activation. NAM treatment attenuated the increase of mitochondrial content and ROS in T cells activated by CD3/CD28 antibodies. This was accompanied by an accelerated and higher-level clonal expansion resulting from attenuated apoptotic death but not increased division of the activated cells. Attenuation of ROS-triggered pro-apoptotic events and upregulation of Bcl-2 expression appeared to be involved. Although cells activated in the presence of NAM exhibited compromised cytokine gene expression, our results suggest a means to augment the size of T cell expansion during activation without consuming their limited replicative potential.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2015

T-bet is a critical transcription factor that regulates differentiation of Th1 cells from $CD4^+$ precursor cells. Since T-bet directly binds to the promoter of the IFN-${\gamma}$ gene and activates its transcription, T-bet deficiency impairs IFN-${\gamma}$ production in Th1 cells. Interestingly, T-bet-deficient Th cells also display substantially augmented the production of IL-2, a T cell growth factor. Exogenous expression of T-bet in T-bet deficient Th cells rescued the IFN-${\gamma}$ production and suppressed IL-2 expression. IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-2 reciprocally regulate Th cell proliferation following TCR stimulation. Therefore, we examined the effect of T-bet on Th cell proliferation and found that T-bet deficiency significantly enhanced Th cell proliferation under non-skewing, Th1-skewing, and Th2-skewing conditions. By using IFN-${\gamma}$-null mice to eliminate the anti-proliferative effect of IFN-${\gamma}$, T-bet deficiency still enhanced Th cell proliferation under both Th1- and Th2-skewing conditions. Since the anti-proliferative activity of T-bet may be influenced by IL-2 suppression in Th cells, we examined whether T-bet modulates IL-2-independent cell proliferation in a non-T cell population. We demonstrated that T-bet expression induced by ecdysone treatment in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells increased IFN-${\gamma}$ promoter activity in a dose dependent manner, and sustained T-bet expression considerably decreased cell proliferation in HEK cells. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying anti-proliferative activity of T-bet remain to be elucidated, T-bet may directly suppress cell proliferation in an IFN-${\gamma}$- or an IL-2-independent manner.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.27-39
• /
• 1997

The purpose of this research was to investigate effects of Bambusae Caulis in Liquamen(BCL) on T-lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages in mice. The apoptosis and subpopulation of T-lymphocytes were tested using a flow cytometer. The phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophage was tested using a luminometer. Nitric oxide production was tested using a Griess reagents. BCL induced T-lymphocytes apoptosis. BCL increased $T_H$ cells population and decreased $T_C$ cells population of T-lymphocyte, but did not affect splenocytes subpopulation. BCL increased nitric oxide production and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophage in mice. These results suggest that BCL regulates the immune system in consequence of an increase in helper T cell population and macrophages activation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.657-662
• /
• 2006

Immunological activities of the combined-administration of Acanthopanacis Cortex and Lycii Cortex Radicis were examined in BALB/C mice. The 40% ethyl alcohol extract of Acanthopanacis Corter (AE) or the 40% ethyl alcohol extract of Acanthopanacis Coriex and Lycii Cortex Radicis (ALE) were administered p.o. once a day for 7 days, respectively. AE did not affect the viability of thymocytes, but ALE decreased the viability of thymocytes. ALE enhanced the viability of splenocytes increased by AE. Also, AE enhanced the population of cytotoxic T cell in thymocytes, and ALE enhanced the population of helper T cell compared with AE. Furthermore, AE increased the population of $Thy1^+$ cells in splenocytes, and increased the population of splenic $CD4^+$ cells. In addition, ALE enhanced the phagocytic activity which was decreased by AE ALE decreased the production of nitric oxide increased by AE in peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that ALE enhance an immune-regulative action of AE.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2002

Estimated number of adults and children newly infected with HIV-1 during 2001 alone is 5 million in total. An effective vaccine, in addition to education & public health approaches, has been believed to be the best option to stop the HIV-1 transmission, especially for developing countries. Among AIDS vaccine candidates, DNA vaccine is relatively safe and, in a certain extent, mimics some attributes of live attenuated vaccine, with regard to in vivo gene expression & the type of immunity induced. We recently demonstrated that DNA vaccines expressing SIVmac239 structural and regulatory genes, augmented with coadministration of IL-12 mutant induced the strongest T cell responses, resulting in low to undetectable setpoint viral loads, stable $CD4^+$ T cell counts, and no evidence of clinical diseases or mortality by day 420 after challenge. This finding is the second demonstration, following the protective result of live attenuated SIV vaccine in SIVmac-rhesus monkey model, which was known to have safety problem. So, our DNA vaccines could give a significant impact on HIV-1 epidemic by slowing or stopping the spread of HIV-1, leading to eventual eradication of HIV-1 and AIDS in the population.