• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2004

Objective : The present experiments were designed to study on the immune-enhancing effect of Mountain grown ginseng, Mountain cultivated ginseng, and Panax ginseng Method : In order to compare the immune-enhancing effect of moutain grown ginseng, moutain cultivated ginseng and Panax ginseng, the study was done through the forced swimming test (FST), measurement of T helper Th1, Th2 cytokines and fatigue related factors. Result : Moutain grown ginseng and panax ginseng decreased the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. Glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Total-protein (T-protein) in serum were investigated. The serum achieved from ginseng administered mouse showed higher BUN, T-protein than the control. moutain grown ginseng administered group showed lower LDH than the control group. moutain grown ginseng administered mouse showed higher glucose than the control. Creatinine was same in either experimental or control group. Ginseng-induced cytokine production in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages were compared. Moutain cultivated ginseng (10-4 dilution) and panax ginseng (10-3 dilution) were increased the interferon $IFN-{\gamma}$ production compared with media control (about 1.6-fold P<0.05) at 48 h. Moutain grown ginseng (10-4 dilution) was increased the $IFN-{\gamma}$ and interleukin IL-4 production compared with media control (about l.4-fold for $IFN-{\gamma}$ and 1.6-fold for IL-4 P<0.05) at 48 h. Moutain grown ginseng (10-3 dilution) and moutain cultivated ginseng (10-4 dilution) were increased the turmor necrosis factor $TNF-{\alpha}$ production compared with $rIFN-{\gamma}$ treated cells (about 1.9-fold for $TNF-{\alpha}$ P<0.05), respectively. Moutain cultivated ginseng (10-3 dilution) was increased the IL-12 production compared with $rIFN-{\gamma}$ treated cell (about 1.7-fold for IL-12 P<0.05). Conclusion : These data suggest that three different three kinds of ginseng act on immune responses in different aspects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.253-261
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• 2008

Allergic asthma is a worldwide public health problem and a major socioeconomic burden disease. It is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by airway eosinophilia and goblet cell hyperplasia with mucus hypersecretion. Mouse models have proven as a valuable tool for studying human asthma. In the present report we describe a comparison of mouse asthma models. The experiments were designed as follows: Group I was injected with ovalbumin (OVA, i.p.) on day 1 and challenged with 1% OVA (aerosol exposure) on days $14{\sim}21$. Group II was injected on day 1, 14 and aerosol-immunized on days $14{\sim}21$. Group III was injected on day 1, 14 and immunized by 1% OVA aerosol on days $18{\sim}21$. We assessed asthma induction by determining the total number of white blood cells (WBC) and eosinophils as well as by measuring cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, we evaluated the histopathological changes of the lungs and determined the concentration of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum. Total WBC, eosinophils, Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13) and IgE were significantly increased in group I relative to the other groups. Moreover, histopathological studies show that group I mice show an increase in the infiltration of inflammatory cell-in peribronchial and perivascular areas as well as an overall increase in the number of mucus-containing goblet cells relative to other groups. These data suggest that group I can be a useful model for the study of human asthma pathobiology and the evaluation of existing and novel therapeutic agents.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.420-427
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• 2011

The use of lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) is effective for preventing and curing immune disorders by activating the immune system in the digestive tract and the consequent immune response in the blood. In this study, LAB and mixed LABs were used in an atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model. Alleviation of AD was observed based on the change in cytokine level and immunohistochemical staining. An ex vivo test showed that immunoglobulin-E and interleukin (IL)-4 levels were significantly lower in all groups treated with LAB than in the group treated with only 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Results of an in vivo test based on the ex vivo results showed that the scratch score decreased in all groups treated with the LAB and particularly decreased in the group treated with mixed LABs. Additionally, the T helper (Th) 1 cytokines interferon-gamma and IL-12p40 were upregulated by the LAB and mixed-LABs, whereas levels of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 were downregulated in a mouse model of AD-like skin lesions. Furthermore, hematoxylin & eosin and immunohistochemical staining of the dorsal area of the mice in each group showed that AD improved in the LAB-treated groups. These results suggest that LAB and mixed LABs inhibit the development of AD in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the Th2 cell response and increasing the Th1 cell response. Our results indicate that mixed LABs are better than LAB for treating AD-like skin lesions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2005

Objectives : Scrophulariae Radix (SRE) is commonly used in combination with other herbs as a nutrient and health strengthening agent, and to remove 'heat' and replenish vital essence. The water-based extract of this herb can lower blood pressure in both anesthetized and concious animals, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory activity. But, there is lack of studies regarding the effects of SRE on the immunological activities in molecular levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SRE on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264.7 cells. Method : After the treatment of Scrophulariae Radix methanol extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by Immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results : Results provided evidence that SRE inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}\;(p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha})$ in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conclusion : These findings suggest that Scrophulariae Radix can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2006

Cephalexin, one of most widely prescribed cephalosporin, has been reported to cause acute renal failure as a side effect in human and experimental animals. Although numerous animal studies have been reported for the cephalosporin nephrotoxicity, the molecular and cellular nephrotoxic mechanisms of cephalexin are still unknown. This investigation evaluated the time-dependent gene expression profile of kidney in mouse during cephalexin induced nephrotoxicity. C57BL/6 female mice were administered either saline or 1,000 mg/kg cephalexin intraperitoneally. Mice were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 24 hr after administration. Blood biochemical and histopathological results indicated cephalexin induced nephrotoxicity. Microarray experiment carried out using Affymetrix $GeneChip^{(R)}$. There were 198 informative genes that were significantly expressed >5-fold versus control at 3, 6, and 24 hr (p<0.01), of which 156 and 42 were up-and down-regulated, respectively. Major classes of up-regulated genes at 3, 6 hr included those involved in MAPK/Jak-STAT signaling pathway and immune response such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and complement and coagulation cascades. At 24 hr, up-regulated genes were mainly involved in regeneration/repair and immune response; down-regulated genes were generally associated with transporters and intermediary metabolism. Among the up-regulated genes at 24 hr, several potential biomarkers on nephrotoxicity such as Kim-1, Fga, Timp1, and Slc34a2 were clustered in a same category. In addition, Tnfrsf12a and Lcn2 which were consistently up-regulated (>5 fold) were also included as potential biomarkers. These results may provide clues for elucidating the mechanism of cephalexin induced nephrotoxicity and evaluating potential biomarkers to assess nephrotoxicity.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2012

This study aims to examine the effect of Genetically Modified ${\beta}$-Carotene Biofortified Rice rice developed by simultaneous expression technology in NAAS on biological immunity. Accordingly, this study added Genetically Modified ${\beta}$-Carotene Biofortified Rice 25, 50% and general rice 50% as control group into diet and provided rats with the prescribed feeds and then measured the contents of immunoglobulin and cytokine in blood. As a result, male and female IgM, IgE, male IgG1, female IgG2a and TNF-a, IL5 and IL12 showed no significant difference; male IgG2a tended to decrease dependently on the combined concentration of Genetically Modified ${\beta}$-Carotene Biofortified Rice; female IgG1 showed significance with control group, but its association with diet was not found. The higher the dietary mixing ratio, the more the male and female IFN-a and female IL-4 contents, regardless of rice variety, and it was found that female IL6 content decreased significantly, but its association with diet was not found. The risk of beta carotene-enriched rice into environment and human body has not been reported yet. The digestion of Genetically Modified ${\beta}$-Carotene Biofortified Rice can be seen as "safe" as this test result showed no big difference between general rice and Genetically Modified ${\beta}$-Carotene Biofortified Rice, and its usability is full of suggestions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.333-340
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• 2015

This study measured the plasma and liver concentrations of cytokines, the distribution of blood lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4 and CD8), plasma levels of nitrite (NO₃^–) and nitrate (NO₂^–), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1 (CINC-1), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and CINC-1 in order to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of the cinnamon extract in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed rats. The plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were lower in the cinnamon extract groups than in the control group at both 2 and 5 h after LPS injection. Furthermore, the liver concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were lower in the cinnamon extract groups than in the control group at 5 h after LPS injection. Plasma IL-10 concentrations were higher in the cinnamon extract groups than in the control group at both 2 and 5 h after LPS injection, and liver concentrations of IL-10 did not differ significantly among all treatment groups at 5 h after LPS injection. The distribution of CD4 tended to increase, and that of CD8 tended to decrease in the cinnamon extract groups. The CD4/CD8 ratio was increased in the cinnamon extract groups. The plasma concentrations of NO₃^–/NO₂^–, ICAM-1, CINC-1, and PGE2 and the PLF concentrations of MCP-1 and CINC-1 exhibited a tendency to decrease in the cinnamon extract groups. These results indicate that cinnamon extract can exert functional anti-inflammatory effects.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.376-381
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• 2013

It is unknown how soluble pattern-recognition receptors in blood, such as mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins, modulate mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses. We investigate how mouse MBL-A or ficolin-A regulate mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (mBMMCs)-derived inflammatory response against bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. LPS-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine productions on mBMMCs obtained from Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)-deficient mice, TLR2-defficient mice, and their wildtype, were specifically attenuated by the addition of either mouse MBL-A or ficolin-A in a dose-dependent manner. However, the inhibitory effects by mouse MBL-A or ficolin-A were restored by the addition of mannose or N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. These results suggest that mouse MBL-A and ficolin-A bind to LPS via its carbohydrate-recognition domain and fibrinogen-like domain, respectively, whereby cytokine production by LPS-mediated TLR4 in mBMMCs appears to be down-regulated, indicating that mouse MBL and ficolin may have an inhibitory function toward mouse TLR4-mediated excessive inflammation on the mast cells.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.341-351
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• 2015

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Cypress oil(CS) on anti-asthmatic activities in a mouse model of allergic asthma. Using an Ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma mouse model, 0.3% of CS was administered to experimental group using a nebulizer for 3 weeks on a basis of 3 times per week and 30min each time. The degree of airway hypersensitivity, the number of eosinophil in white blood cells, the number of immune cells and the change of cytokine in lung tissue were evaluated. The degree of airway hypersensitivity, the number of eosinophil, IL-5 and IL-13 levels in lung tissue, IgE in serum, the number of CCR3, CD3, CD4 cells were significantly decreased in experimental group treated with CS. These results suggested that CS may have a positive effects on Th2 cytokine and eosinophils which are major factors of asthma responses. Therefore CS might be of therapeutic value in treating asthma.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2000

The properties of ideal retrograde filling materials include the ability to seal the root canal system in three dimensions and well tolerated by periradicular tissues. Biocompatibility testing has been done mainly with cytotoxicity tests using cell culture. Little attention has been paid to the potential adverse influence on the inflammatory and immune reaction in the periapical tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of retrograde filling materials on human mononuclear cells in vitro. Freshly mixed and set specimens from six materials (Z100, Tetric Ceram, Fuji II, Fuji II LC, F2000, Compoglass Flow, and ZOE) were eluated with cell culture medium for 24 hours. Cytotoxic effects of these extracts were evaluated by determining cell viability and enzyme activity using MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LD). The production of inflammatoy bone resorptive cytokine, TNF-${\alpha}$ was measured from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) exposed to the extracts by means of Endogen Human TNF-${\alpha}$ ELISA kit (Wobrun, MA, U.S.A.). Eluates and diluted (1 : 10) eluates with cell culture medium from freshly mixed Fuji IT had cytotoxic effects on mononuclear cells using MTT and LD. However, eluates from set Fuji II were not cytotoxic. Eluates form set ZOE exhibited cytotoxicity with LD test. TNF-${\alpha}$ levels were high in eluates from freshly mixed Fuji II and Z100. Diluted eluates from freshly mixed Z100 and F2000 stimulated the production of TNF-${\alpha}$. However, there were no significant difference in TNF-${\alpha}$ levels compared to controls. These results indicate that some materials could possibly stimulate bone resorption in the periapical tissue by means of the production of bone resorptive cytokine.