• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.167-170
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• 2004

Lactic acid bacteria (LABs) have been proposed as a potential oral allergy-therapeutic means of modulating immune phenotype expression in vivo, via promoting or reducing cytokine production. This study investigated the ability of LABs to suppress allergic response via modulating cytokine production in mice splenocytes. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally primed with ovalbumin together with alum adjuvant to invoke antigen-specific Th1/Th2 cytokine-secreting cell populations in splenocytes. Spleen cells from mice fed with Lactobacillus confusus PL9001 (KCCM-10245), L. fermentum PL9005 (KCCM-10250), L. plantarum PL9011 (KCCM-10358), and Bifidobacterium infantis PL9506 (KCCM-10406) suppressed the levels of Th2 cell cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 during antigen sensitization. In addition, all mice fed with LABs induced secretion of Th1 cell cytokines such as IL-2 in splenocytes. These results suggested that LABs are anti-allergic agents, in view of their Th1/anti-Th2 immunoregulation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.503-514
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• 2015

The effects of Flavonol contents from Ginkgo biloba leaf on anti-atopy activity have not rarely been verified. This study is to investigate the effects of flavonol on Th2 cytokine production in MC/9 mast cells. For this, flavonol was analyzed by ELISA and Real-time PCR. Analysis results showed that flavonol significantly suppressed production of Th2 cytokines(IL-13, MIP-1a) in a dose dependent manner. The mRNA expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-a were effectively restrained by Flavonol at the concentration 25,50,$100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. And decrease of expression of NFAT-1, c-jun protein was confirmed by western blot analysis. These results indicate that flavonol has effects of decreasing the Th2 cytokine production in the MC/9 mast cell causing inhibition of transcription factors such as NFAT-1, c-jun. Thus, we would like to brief that flavonol may have the applicability as therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.388-394
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• 2009

The cytokines which is produced by allergen-specific T helper (Th) cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Asthma is caused by exaggerated T-helper 2 (Th2)-based immune responses. It is suggested that controlling such Th2-based response is necessary for asthma therapy. The current therapies for asthma focus primarily on control of symptoms and suppression of inflammation, without affecting the underlying cause. So, we examined that anti-asthmatic drugs might have play a certain role in Th2/Th1 balance. Splenocytes isolated from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice cultured with anti-asthmatic drugs. It is well known that Th2 and Th1 immune responses can balance one another, as Th2 mediators suppress Th1 responses and Th1 mediators similarly inhibit Th2 responses. But salmeterol inhibits both of Th1 and Th2 mediators, which salmeterol is a suppressor of immune responses not only a suppressor of Th2-based immune responses. Aminophylline is a weak suppressor of immune responses. But ipratropium and cromoglycate don't have any suppressor effect to Th2-driven responses. They only have suppressor effect to Th1 immune responses. Salmeterol, ipratropium, aminophylline, and cromoglycate augmented mRNA levels of CRTH2, EP2, and IP2 receptors in OVA-sensitized splenocytes. It is well known that the up-regulation of CRTH2 - $PGD_2$ receptor - results in restraint of eosinophil recruitment and that the increment of IP and EP2 - $PGI_2$ and $PGE_2$ receptor, respectively - may induce the accumulation of cAMP that decrease the effector function of T cells. Moreover salmeterol and cromoglycate increase the mRNA expression of $PGD_2$ synthase. These findings indicate that anti-asthma agents may alleviate the immunological responses that cause the asthmatic diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.265-268
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• 2005

To study the effect of bifidobacteria on preventing allergy response, levels of IFN-$\gamma$, IgG2a, IL-4, and IgG1 were investigated in splenocytes isolated from ovalbumin (OVA)­sensitized allergic mice and BGN4-administered allergy­suppressed mice in the presence of various bifidobacterial strains. Most of the bifidobacteria, except 2A, increased production of Th I-associated immune markers, IFN -$\gamma$ and IgG2a. In addition, most of the bifidobacteria, except 2A and 19A, decreased production of IL-4, whereas the differences in the production of IgG1 were less pronounced. These results suggest that some strains of bifidobacteria may have the potential to prevent the occurrence of allergy by switching Th1/Th2-type antibodies and/or related cytokines.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.288-298
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• 2011

Background: Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) has been used to treat inflammatory diseases including edema and arthritis; however, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of SM action remains unresolved. Methods: The effects of an ethanol extract of SM (ESM) on pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and NO, and on anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and IL-1Ra have been studied in an attempt to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism in murine macrophages. Results: ESM inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines via down-regulation of gene and protein expression whereas it increased the anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, ESM inhibited the expression of the chemokines, RANTES and CX3CL1, as well as of inflammatory mediators such as TLR-4 and $11{\beta}$-HSD1. Conclusion: These results indicated that the regulatory effects of ESM may be mediated though the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, we speculate that ESM has therapeutic potential for inflammation-associated disorders.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2013

Hesperidin (HES), a flavonone glycoside isolated from the citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, has been reported to have many biological properties including antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antiallergy activities. In this study, we focused on the action of HES modulating Th2-associated cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 expression in PMA/ionomycin (PI)-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. The production of IL-4 and IL-13 was quantified by ELISA and the mRNA expression was detected by using RT-PCR assay. In addition, western blot analysis was performed to determine the transcription factors involved in the cytokine expression. We found that HES significantly decreased PI-induced IL-4 and IL-13 productions and also decreased the level of mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, western blot analysis of the transcription factors implied that HES down-regulated the protein level of c-Jun and c-Fos, which are the activating protein 1 (AP-1) family and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) characterized as a transcription factors related to the Th2-associated cytokine expression. Taken together, our data showed that the action of HES responsible for antiallergy activities is based on suppression of Th2-associated cytokines through inhibition of AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2943-2948
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• 2012

Arsenic exposure is a serious health hazard worldwide. We have previously established that it may result in immune suppression by upregulating Th2 cytokines while downregulating Th1 cytokines and causing lymphocytic death. Treatment modalities for arsenic poisoning have mainly been restricted to the use of chelating agents in the past. Only recently have combination therapies using a chelating agent in conjunction with other compounds such as anti-oxidants, micronutrients and various plant products, been introduced. In the present study, we used T11TS, a novel immune potentiating glycopeptide alone and in combination with the sulfhydryl-containing chelator, mono-iso-amyl-dimarcaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA) as a therapeutic regimen to combat arsenic toxicity in a mouse model. Results indicated that Th1 cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, $IFN{\gamma}$, IL12 and the Th2 cytokines such as IL4, IL6, IL10 which were respectively downregulated and upregulated following arsenic induction were more efficiently restored to their near normal levels by T11TS alone in comparison with the combined regimen. Similar results were obtained with the apoptotic proteins studied, FasL, BAX, BCL2 and the caspases 3, 8 and 9, where again T11TS proved more potent than in combination with MiADMSA in preventing lymphocyte death. The results thus indicate that T11TS alone is more efficient in immune re-establishment after arsenic exposureas compared to combination therapy with T11TS+MiADMSA.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.921-930
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• 2010

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common rheumatic childhood disease; its onset is before 16 years of age and it persists for at least 6 weeks. JRA encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases that is classified according to 3 major presentations: oligoarthritis, polyarthritis, and systemic onset diseases. These presentations may originate from the same or different causes that involve interaction with specific immunogenetic predispositions, and result in heterogeneous clinical manifestations. An arthritic joint exhibits cardinal signs of joint inflammation, such as swelling, pain, heat, and loss of function; any joint can be arthritic, but large joints are more frequently affected. Extra-articular manifestations include high fever, skin rash, serositis, and uveitis. The first 2 types of JRA are regarded as T helper 1 (Th1) cell-mediated inflammatory disorders, mainly based on the abundance of activated Th1 cells in the inflamed synovium and the pathogenetic role of proinflammatory cytokines that are mainly produced by Th1 cell-stimulated monocytes. In contrast, the pathogenesis of systemic onset disease differs from that of other types of JRA in several respects, including the lack of association with human leukocyte antigen type and the absence of autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells. Although the precise mechanism that leads to JRA remains unclear, proinflammatory cytokines are thought to be responsible for at least part of the clinical symptoms in all JRA types. The effectiveness of biologic therapy in blocking the action of these cytokines in JRA patients provides strong evidence that they play a fundamental role in JRA inflammation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.380-388
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• 2005

In this study, the immunological effect of a traditional Korea herbal medicine, Sochungyong-tang (SCRT) that has been widely used for the treatment of various immunological disorders including allergic asthma in Korea, was examined in vitro. In our previous study demonstrated that SCRT decreases the expression of IL-4 mRNA, that plays pivotal role in Th2 cell development, while increases $IFN-{\gamma}{\tilde{a}}expression$, which is one of the key cytokines for Th1 lineage development in Th0 condition. That study strongly implies that SCRT can correct Th2 dominant condition directly affecting to the CD4+ T cell development. Present study designated to further evaluate the SCRT on helper T cell development by monitoring Th1/Th2 specific cytokine secretion patterns in artificially induced Th1 or Th2 polarized condition. The results demonstrated that Th2 cells were dramatically under-populated in Th2 driven condition with SCRT treatment, while Th1 cells were not altered in Th1 skewed condition. Furthermore, under Th2-skewed conditions the levels of and IL-4 were considerably decreased with SCRT treatment. However, the expression of GATA-3, a transcription factor that plays pivotal role in Th2 lineage programming, was not changed with SCRT, suggesting that the suppression of Th2 cell development by SCRT was not mediated by GATA-3. Present study implies that the effect on CD4+ T cell may be the one of key pharmacological effect point for treating IgE medicated allergic asthma by SCRT. These results also suggest that SCRT might be desirable agent for the correction of Th2 dominant pathological disorders.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2017

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory and antioxidant effect of MOK, a pharmacopuncture medicine, in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated mouse splenocytes. Methods : Primary splenocytes were isolated from ICR mice. The splenocytes were treated with MOK extract (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/mL) for 30 min and then stimulated with Con A (200 ng/mL) for the indicated times. Cell viability of the splenocytes was measured using an MTT assay. The mRNA expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines ($IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, IL-10, and Foxp3) and antioxidant enzymes (HO-1 and MnSOD) was measured by RT-PCR. Results : Addition of MOK extract at 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/mL in Con A-stimulated splenocytes significantly decreased the production of $IFN-{\gamma}$ and significantly increased the expression of IL-4, IL-10, and Foxp3 mRNA. MOK extract also increased the mRNA expression of HO-1 and MnSOD in splenocytes. Conclusion : MOK extract modulated the Th1/Th2 immune response via the regulation of cytokine levels in splenocytes and exerted an antioxidant effect via the upregulation of antioxidant proteins.