• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권8호
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• pp.1159-1166
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• 2013

Orientia tsutsugamushi, a gram-negative bacterium, causes severe acute febrile illness in humans. Despite this danger, the route of infection, infectivity, and protective mechanisms of the host's immune response to O. tsutsugamushi are unclear. Dendritic cells (DCs) are one of the most important cell types in bridging the innate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, we observed that O. tsutsugamushi infects and replicates in monocyte-derived DCs (MODCs). During infection and replication, the expressions of the cytokines IL-12 and TNF-${\alpha}$, as well as the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD83, CD86, and CD40, were increased in MODCs. When O. tsutsugamushi-treated MODCs were co-cultured with autologous $CD4^+$ T cells, they enhanced production of IFN-${\gamma}$, a major Th1 cytokine. Collectively, our results show that O. tsutsugamushi can replicate in MODCs and can simultaneously induce MODC maturation and increase proinflammatory cytokine levels in MODCs that subsequently activate $CD4^+$ T cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.217-227
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• 2020

Trichomonas vaginalis causes inflammation of the prostate and has been detected in tissues of prostate cancers (PCa), prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Obesity is a risk factor for PCa and causes a chronic subclinical inflammation. This chronic inflammation further exacerbates adipose tissue inflammation as results of migration and activation of macrophages. Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the PCa microenvironment. M2 macrophages, known as Tumor-Associated Macrophages, are involved in increasing cancer malignancy. In this study, conditioned medium (TCM) of PCa cells infected with live trichomonads contained chemokines that stimulated migration of the mouse preadipocytes (3T3-L1 cells). Conditioned medium of adipocytes incubated with TCM (ATCM) contained Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13). Macrophage migration was stimulated by ATCM. In macrophages treated with ATCM, expression of M2 markers increased, while M1 markers decreased. Therefore, it is suggested that ATCM induces polarization of M0 to M2 macrophages. In addition, conditioned medium from the macrophages incubated with ATCM stimulates the proliferation and invasiveness of PCa. Our findings suggest that interaction between inflamed PCa treated with T. vaginalis and adipocytes causes M2 macrophage polarization, so contributing to the progression of PCa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권12호
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• pp.1904-1915
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• 2019

Resistant starch (RS) is metabolized by gut microbiota and involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are related to a variety of physiological and health effects. Therefore, the availability of RS as a prebiotic is a topic of interest, and research on gut bacteria that can decompose RS is also important. The objectives in this study were 1) to isolate a human gut bacterium having strong degradation activity on non-gelatinized RS, 2) to characterize its RS-degrading characteristics, and 3) to investigate its probiotic effects, including a growth stimulation effect on other gut bacteria and an immunomodulatory effect. Bifidobacterium adolescentis P2P3 showing very strong RS granule utilization activity was isolated. It can attach to RS granules and form them into clusters. It also utilizes high-amylose corn starch granules up to 63.3%, and efficiently decomposes other various types of commercial RS without gelatinization. In a coculture experiment, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ATCC 29148, isolated from human feces, was able to grow using carbon sources generated from RS granules by B. adolescentis P2P3. In addition, B. adolescentis P2P3 demonstrated the ability to stimulate secretion of Th1 type cytokines from mouse macrophages in vitro that was not shown in other B. adolescentis. These results suggested that B. adolescentis P2P3 is a useful probiotic candidate, having immunomodulatory activity as well as the ability to feed other gut bacteria using RS as a prebiotic.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.745-750
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• 2008

Anti-inflammatory potential of the enzymatic extract prepared by Kojizyme (ECK), a component of brown seaweeds Ecklonia cava (Alariaceae, Phaeophyta) in vivo was investigated. For the application of mouse ear edema model, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) was used, a topical inducer of a long-lasting inflammatory response. Our results demonstrated that ECK inhibited ear edema when topically applied to mouse ear skin. In histological evaluation, the inhibition activity of ECK on TPA-induced inflammation is similar to that of dexamethasone, although less strong. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, IFN-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and the immunoreactivity to inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX2 expressed mainly in inflammatory cells were down-regulated by ECK. These results indicate that ECK has anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibition of Th1 cytokines and 2 inducers of inflammation in TPA-induced ear skin edema.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.304-314
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenosides are biologically active components of ginseng and have various functions. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory activity of a ginseng product generated from ginseng powder (GP) via enzymatic bioconversion. This product, General Bio compound K-10 mg solution (GBCK10S), exhibited increased levels of minor ginsenosides, including ginsenoside-F1, compound K, and compound Y. Methods: The immunomodulatory properties of GBCK10S were confirmed using mice and a human natural killer (NK) cell line. We monitored the expression of molecules involved in immune responses via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, NK cell-targeted cell destruction, quantitative reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analyses. Results: Oral administration of GBCK10S significantly increased serum immunoglobulin M levels and primed splenocytes to express pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ. Oral administration of GBCK10S also activated NK cells in mice. Furthermore, GBCK10S treatment stimulated a human NK cell line in vitro, thereby increasing granzyme B gene expression and activating STAT5. Conclusion: GBCK10S may have potent immunostimulatory properties and can activate immune responses mediated by B cells, Th1-type T cells, and NK cells.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2018

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID), a chronic allergic condition characterized by dense infiltration of eosinophils in the digestive tract, is classified into two types, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which features dense infiltration of eosinophils in the esophageal epithelial layer, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), in which the entire digestive tract including the esophagus may be involved. Patients with EoE only have esophageal symptoms, since the other parts of the digestive tract are not involved. On the other hand, 80% of EGE patients have lesions in the small intestine. The esophageal epithelial layer in healthy individuals has no or negligible infiltration by eosinophils, while the small intestinal mucosal layer, especially the distal small intestinal mucosa, can show dense eosinophil infiltration even in the absence of disease. Therefore, histological changes observed in cases of EGE are not qualitative but rather quantitative, as compared to EoE, which has qualitative histopathological changes, indicating important pathogenetic differences between the types. Comparisons of clinical, laboratory, and morphological characteristics between EoE and EGE have revealed several interesting differences. Both EoE and EGE patients are frequently affected by atopic diseases, such as bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, and elevated plasma levels of Th2 type cytokines and chemokines are also similarly seen in both. On the other hand, age at diagnosis differs, as the former is generally found in individuals from 30 to 50 years old, while the latter appears in all age groups. Additionally, 80% of patients with EoE are male as compared to only 50% of those with EGE. Furthermore, approximately 60% of patients with EoE respond favorably to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration, whereas EGE patients rarely show a response to PPIs. Nevertheless, both diseases show a similarly favorable response to a six foods elimination diet and glucocorticoid administration. These similarities and differences of EoE and EGE provide important clues for understanding the pathogenesis of these EGID types.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.115-120
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• 2014

In this study, we show that Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis MAP1305 induces the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), a representative antigen presenting cell (APC). MAP1305 protein induces DC maturation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$) through Toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4) signaling by directly binding with TLR4. MAP1305 activates the phosphorylation of MAPKs, such as ERK, p38MAPK, and JNK, which is essential for DC maturation. Furthermore, MAP1305-treated DCs transform naive T cells to polarized $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T cells, thus indicating a key role for this protein in the Th1 polarization of the resulting immune response. Taken together, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis MAP1305 is important for the regulation of innate immune response through DC-mediated proliferation of $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T cells.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.153-160
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• 2009

목적 : 장점막 손상은 IgA 신증의 병리기전중의 하나로 알려져 있다. 구강항원은 보통 Th2 세포와 비반세포를 활성화 시킨다. 이러한 세포들은 IL-4, IL-5 TGF-${\beta}$와 같은 싸이토카인들을 분비하여 IgA 생성을 증가시킨다. 케토티펜(benzpxycloheptathiophene)은 H1항체이자 비반세포의 막안정제로 IL-4, IL-5, PGE2, LTB4 등의 생산을 억제하고, 질산화산소합성제의 활성화를 감소시켜 위장관막을 보호한다. 저자들은 구강항원으로 인한 IgA 신증의 발병을 케토티펜이 예방할 수 있는지 관찰하였다. 방법 : ICR 생쥐를 이용하여 구강 폴리오백신(백신군)을 투여하면서, 다른 군에서는 케토티펜(케토티펜군)을 백신과 동시에 투여하였다. 결과 : 메산지움의 IgA 침착은 백신군에서 18마리중 11마리에서 발생하였으나, 케토티펜군에서는 9마리 중 3마리에서 볼 수 있었다. 메산지움의 조직 변화는 백신군에서 18마리 중 16마리, 케토티펜 군에서는 9마리 중 5마리에서 볼 수 있었다. 혈청 IL-4, IL-5치는 케토티펜 군에서 백신군과 비교해 다소 낮기는 하지만 의미있는 감소는 하지 않았다. 결론 : 케토티펜은 IgA 신증의 사구체 변화를 감소시키는데 유효한 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.31-38
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• 2000

Background : Nowadays asthma is considered to be the inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia, and mediated by Th lymphocytes expressing the Th2 cytokine pattern. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the effect of Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix on the transcriptional activities of cytokine IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 involved in asthma model. Materials and Methods : RBL-2H3 cell lines were used. Cells were stimulated with calcium inophore for maximal gene expression. After 24 hours of Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix-treatment, total cellular RNAs were collected using Trizol solution method. Then transcriptional activities of IL-4, IL-S and IL-6 were measured by RT-PCR with electrophoresis. Results : In IL-4 study, Armeniacae Arnarum Semen treated group showed 48.4% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 45.4% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In IL-5 study, Armeniacae Arnarum Semen treated group showed 52.7%of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 60.2% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In IL-6 study, Armeniacae Amarum Semen treated group showed 42.3% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 69.1% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix have the inhibitory effect on the transcription of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 gene expression in RBL-2H3 cell lines. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in asthma model.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.776-784
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• 2014

Tuna cooking juice concentrate (TCJC) is by-produced during the canning processing of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis and it is well known that TCJC contains various nutritional components. Therefore, the immuno-stimulating activity of TCJC was investigated using macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line and the spleen cell isolated from BALB/c mice. The TCJC increased the production of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control in RAW 264.7 cells without any toxicity. In particular, the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ was increased over 300-fold. The production of both Th1 cytokine (such as IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-2, and IL-12) and Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) was also increased by TCJC treatment in splenocytes. Moreover, the TCJC increased the splenocyte proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner compared to control. These results indicate that TCJC may enhance immune function by promoting various cytokine production.