• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.181-188
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• 2012

Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR) has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and is reported to have anti-diabetes and anti-tumor activities. To identify a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of DR (EDR), we determined the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and performed a FACS analysis for measuring surface molecules. EDR dose-dependently decreased the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $PGE_2$, as well as mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 was also reduced by EDR. Furthermore, activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$, but not that of IL-4 and IL-10, in macrophages was inhibited by EDR. These results show that EDR decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory protein level, suggesting that EDR could be a useful immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.896-901
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• 2006

Zingiberis rhizoma(ZB) has been used to treat a various condition and disease in traditional oriental medicine. The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of aqueous-extracted ZB(ZBE) on methotrexate (MTX)-induced immune suppression in mouse spleen cells. In spleen cell proliferation assay, ZBE enhanced mitogenic activity in mouse spleen cells. In RT-PCR, ZBE induced IL-2, IFNr and IL-6 cytokine gene expression in mouse spleen cells. In spite of MTX treatment, IL-2, IFNr and IL-6 gene expressions sustained in MTX treated spleen cells. CD45R/B220, pan B marker was slightly increased in ZBE treated mouse spleen cells. IL-6, B cell tropical cytokine, production was induced by ZBE-treated mouse spleen cells and IL-6 production was sustained on MTX-ZBE co-cultured cells. ZBE administration enhanced suNival of S-180 bearing mouse. These data indicate that ZBE has a protective effect of immune suppression caused by MTX, and ZBE may be enhance cellular and humoral function by regulate cytokine gene expression as well as the mitogenic effect on spleen cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1941-1945
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• 2005

To raises the possibility of designing effective inhibitors, 3D-QSAR for the inhibition of calcineurin-NFAT signaling by new N-(4-oxo-1(4H)-naphthalenylidene benzenesulfonamide derivatives as inhibitors of intracellular protein-protein interactions were studied using CoMFA and CoMSIA methodology. The three templates, N-(4-oxo-1(4H)-naphthalenylidene)benzenesulfonamide (A), benzenesulfonamide (B) and 4-oxo-1(4H)-naphthalenylidene (C) were selected to improve the statistic of the present 3D-QSAR models. The best models with combination of standard field in CoMFA, and steric field and electrostatic field in CoMSIA derived from the template, B and C, because most of the compounds tend not to be aligned in template A. From the based on the CoMFA and CoMSIA contour maps, the $R_1$ and $R_2$ groups on 4-oxo-1(4H) naphthalenylidene ring are steric favor. The ortho position on the benzenesulfonyl ring is steric disfavor and the meta position is steric favor. In addition, the oxygene atom of carbonyl group will have better inhibition activities as it has a negative charge favor. From these findings, we can conclude that the analyses of the contour maps provided insight into possible modification of molecules for effective inhibitiors.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.230-238
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• 2010

Background: The MK1 strain, a novel bacterial isolate from soft-rotten tissue of the Neungee mushroom, produces copious amounts of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in a dextrose minimal medium. This study examined the molecular characteristics and immunomodulatory activity of MK1 EPS. Methods: The EPS in the culture supernatant was purified by cold ethanol precipitation, and characterized by SDS- PAGE/silver staining and Bio-HPLC. The immunomodulatory activities of the EPS were examined using the mouse monocytic cell line, RAW 264.7 cells. Results: The molecular weights of the purified EPS were rather heterogeneous, ranging from 10.6 to 55 kDa. The EPS was composed of glucose, rhamnose, mannose, galactose, and glucosamine at an approximate molar ratio of 1.00 : 0.8 : 0.71 : 0.29 : 0.21. EPS activated the RAW cells to produce cytokines, such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, and nitric oxide (NO). EPS also induced the expression of co-stimulatory molecules, such as B7-1, B7-2 and ICAM-1, and increased the phagocytic activity. The macrophage-activating activity of EPS was not due to endotoxin contamination because the treatment of EPS with polymyin B did not reduce the macrophage-activating activity. Conclusion: The EPS produced from the MK1 strain exerts macrophage-activating activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.340-348
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• 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of red doraji (Platycodon grandiflorum, RD) prepared by repeated steaming and drying process in the immune-suppressed mice induced by pre (RD-A) or post-treatment (RD-B) with cyclophosphamide. The immune-stimulating effects of ethanol RD extract in in vivo at 150 (RD-1) and 300 mg/kg body weight (RD-2) for RD-A and RD-B groups were measured and compared to the NC group supplied with distilled water only or positive control group. After 14 days of oral supplement, serum IgA, IgG, and cytokine levels, splenocytes proliferation rate, NK cell activity, and gene expression of cytokines were measured as immune related biomarkers. Serum IgA, IgG, IL-1β, and IL-12 levels increased in both RD-A and RD-B groups while serum TNF-α level decreased in RD-A group compared to the NC group. Splenocytes proliferation rate, NK cell activity, and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ) expression levels were also improved by RD supplement in the both groups. The RD showed more significant immunomodulatory effects at higher dose (RD-2) rather than the lower dose (RD-1). Thus, RD has an immune efficacy in a dose dependent manner and can be used as an immune stimulating source to improve immunity.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.169-174
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• 2004

A hot water extract(HWE-P4) was separated from the fruit bodies of PMO-P4, and its antitumor and immunomodulatory activities against sarcoma-180 in ICR mice were investigated. The internal transcribed spacer(ITS) regions from PMO-P4 were amplified using polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and sequenced. The results revealed that PMO-P4 was belong to the Phellinus baumii. When oral administration at the dose of 160mg/kg/day in the mice until the end of the experiment with 2 week's pre-feeding of the HWE-P4, the survival rate of the mice was 152% for 50days after the inoculation of sarcoma-180 and the suppression rate of the tumor growth was 35.3%(p<0.05) for 28 days after inoculation of sarcoma-180. The HWE-P4 increased 71.4% of the CD4/CD8 ratio and 5-fold of the expression of CD25(IL-2 receptor chain) compared with the control. From these results, the antitumor activity of HWE-P4 is exerted through its immunomodulating activity on the host's immune system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.494-500
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• 2012

In order to determine the functional benefits of $Cordyceps$ $militaris$ in the immune system, we examined the immunomodulatory activities of $Cordyceps$ $militaris$ in an immunocompromised C57BL/6 mice model. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with an immunosuppressive drug, cyclophosphamide, and then administered orally with 3% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg of 50% ethanol extract of $Cordyceps$ $militaris$ (CM 30, CM 100, and CM 300, respectively) for 12 days. Mice treated with CM displayed significantly increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity compared to immunosuppressed control mice (p<0.05). The spleen cells isolated from mice treated with CM also displayed increased production of Th1 cytokines, including IL-2, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, suggesting enhanced cellular immunity in response to CM. However, CM had no significant effect on the production of IL-4 and IL-10. These results indicate that $Cordyceps$ $militaris$ enhances immune function by promoting immune cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine production.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.1117-1131
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• 2022

Previous studies reported that Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis HY8002 (HY8002) improved intestinal integrity and had immunomodulatory effects. Lactobacillus plantarum HY7717 (HY7717) was screened in vitro from among 21 other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and demonstrated nitric oxide (NO) production. The aims of this study were to investigate the individual and combined ex vivo and in vivo effects of LAB strains HY8002 and HY7717 at immunostimulating mice that have been challenged with an immunosuppressant drug. The combination of HY8002 and HY7717 increased the secretion of cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in splenocytes. In a cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression model, administration of the foregoing LAB combination improved the splenic and hematological indices, activated natural killer (NK) cells, and up-regulated plasma immunoglobulins and cytokines. Moreover, this combination treatment increased Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) expression. The ability of the combination treatment to upregulate IFN-γ and TNF-α in the splenocytes was inhibited by anti-TLR2 antibody. Hence, the immune responses stimulated by the combination of HY8002 and HY7717 are associated with TLR2 activation. The preceding findings suggest that the combination of the HY8002 and HY7717 LAB strains could prove to be a beneficial and efficacious immunostimulant probiotic supplement. The combination of the two probiotic strains will be applied on the dairy foods including yogurt and cheese.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2009

The comparative immunomodulatory effects of ${\beta}$-glucans isolated from mushroom fungi (Coriolus versicol), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and bacteria (Agrobacterium) on the major functions of macrophages were evaluated. As parameters of macrophage functions, we examined tumoricidal activity, phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO) production, and the induction of inducible NO synthetase (iNOS) in RAW264.7 cells, following treatments with ${\beta}$-glucans from the three different sources. The results indicated that all ${\beta}$-glucan treatments significantly induced tumoricidal activity in the RAW264.7 cells, with a remarkable effect shown by the beta-glucan from Agrobacterium at a concentration of $10{\mu}g/mL$. There was also a significant increase in iNOS-NO system activity in macrophages treated with ${\beta}$-glucans extracted from yeast; however, iNOS-NO system activity was not markedly changed by the treatment of ${\beta}$-glucans from C. versicolor mushroom fungi or Agrobacterium. Furthermore, the ${\beta}$-glucans from C. versicolor had a significant phagocytotic effect at concentrations of 1, 10, and $100{\mu}g/mL$. Taken together, the present data suggest that these ${\beta}$-glucans, isolated from three different sources, have different effects on macrophage function, and therefore, may have different clinical uses in different for various types of diseases.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2007

Silybin is known to be a major active flavonoid component isolated from Silybum marianum, a hepatoprotective medicinal plant. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory role of silybin on T cell and macrophage-mediated immune responses. To do this, the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes and CD8+ CTLL-2 cells under mitogenic stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavalin (Con) A and interleukin (IL)-2 and the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and NO from LPS- and $IFN-{\gamma}$-activated macrophages was evaluated under silybin treatment. The mitogenic proliferation of splenic lymphocytes induced by LPS and Con A was strongly diminished by silybin in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the proliferation of CD8+ CTLL-2 cells was also negatively modulated by the compound. In contrast, silybin did not strongly suppress the proliferation of normal splenocytes and T cell line Sup-T1 cells, indicating that the inhibitory effect of silybin may be due to blocking only mitogenic responses of splenic lymphocytes. In addition, silybin inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Effect of silybin however was distinct, according to NO-inducing stimuli. Thus, silybin only blocked NO production induced by $IFN-{\gamma}$ but not LPS and the inhibition was increased when PMA was co-treated with $IFN-{\gamma}$. Unlike NO inhibition, however, this compound protected the cytotoxic damage of RAW264.7 cells induced by both LPS and $IFN-{\gamma}$. Therefore, our data suggest that silybin may participate in host immune responses mediated by T cells and macrophages via regulating mitogenic proliferation, and the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and NO, depending on cellular stimuli.