• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2019

It has been reported that various anti-oxidant substances stimulate non-specific immune responses in fishes. In this study it was examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precusor for anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH) synthesis, can modulate non-specific immune function in Far Eastern catfish Silurus asotus. Immune functions were assessed using the respiratory burst activity monitored by chemiluminescence (CL) responses in isolated leucocyte. NAC stimulated CL responses with doses of 10 or 100 mg/kg, but not with 1 mg/kg after 48 hr injection. It was observed with 10 mg/kg NAC that CL activity continued to elevate from 24 hr through 96 hr post-dosing, and returned to the near preinjection level by 10 days. To understand whether NAC can also activate CL activity in vitro, NAC was directly added to isolated catfish leucocytes. It was observed, however, that NAC can not stimulate CL at reasonable concentration ranges in vitro. As NAC is a precursor for the strong anti-oxidant glutathione (GSH), a putative immune stimulator, it was assessed whether GSH can also stimulate CL responses. Observed results show that GSH activated CL both in vivo and in vitro. The data obtained collectively support the proposition that NAC indirectly stimulates non-specific immune functions in catfish by enhancing GSH biosynthesis, but not by direct action of NAC. Such effects may have beneficial significance in aquaculture for practical utilization.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.197-202
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• 2007

Background: Immunomodulators enhancing MHC-restricted antigen presentation would affect many cellular immune reactions mediated by T cells or T cell products. However, modulation of MHC-restricted antigen presentation has received little attention as a target for therapeutic immunoregulation. Here, we report that lectins isolated from mushroom Fomitella fraxinea enhance MHC-restricted exogenous antigen presentation in professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Methods: Lectins, termed FFrL, were isolated from the carpophores of Fomitella fraxinea, and its effects on the class I and class II MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous ovalbumin (OVA) were examined in mouse dendritic cells (DCs) and mouse peritoneal macrophages. The effects of FFrL on the expression of total MHC molecules and the phagocytic activity were also examined in mouse DCs. Results: DCs cultured in the presence of FFrL overnight exhibited enhanced capacity in presenting exogenous OVA in association with class I and class II MHC molecules. FFrL increased slightly the total expression levels of both class I (H-$2K^b$) and class II (I-$A^b$) MHC molecules and the phagocytic activity of DCs. Antigen presentation-enhancing activity of FFrL was also observed in macrophages isolated from mouse peritoneum. Conclusion: Lectins isolated from the carpophores of Fomitella fraxinea increase MHC-restricted exogenous antigen presentation by enhancing intracellular processing events of phagocytosed antigens.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 2010

Acanthopanax Koreanum stem (AK) has been used in Korea as a tonic and sedative as well as a drug with ginseng like activities. The purpose of our present study was to investigate the effects of AK extract (AKE) and Eleutheroside E, major component of AKE on an exacerbated immune function through utilization of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diet by using forced swimming test (FST). The immobility time were significantly decreased in the AKE or Eleutheroside E-administrated group compared with the control group on the FST (P < 0.05). The level of blood parameters were not changed significantly. PEM-induced weight loss of mice was reduced by oral administration of 500 mg/kg AKE. AKE oral administration improved the nutritional status such as the food efficiency ratio and the adrenal gland weight. AKE treatment significantly increased the production of interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ compared with unstimulated splenocytes but not interleukin (IL)-4. Eleutheroside E also significantly increased the IFN-$\gamma$ production but not IL-2 and IL-4 in T cell line, MOLT-4 cells. These results suggest that AKE and Eleutheroside E may influence to immune-enhancing through increasing the physical endurance capacity and immune cell activation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1521-1527
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• 2012

Medicinal herbs have long been used as a remedy for diverse diseases in Asia owing to their various pharmacological effect. In this study, the immuno-enhancing activity of medicinal herbs was investigated using macrophage cell lines. Specifically, we examined the effects of extracts of twelve medicinal herbs on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells, and selected five that were highly effective (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica gigas, Platycodon grandflorum, and Actinidia polygama) for further immune related studies. The effects of extracts from five theses medicinal herbs, which were mainly composed of polysaccharides and proteins on the production of immune-related cytokines in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and the Molt-4 T cell line were investigated. The extracts of all investigated medicinal herbs increased the production of NO and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Additionally, they slightly increased the proliferation of T-cells when compared to the control. Overall, the result of this study suggests that the five medicinal herb extracts investigated herein are useful natural immune enhancing agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.666-675
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• 2019

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has been widely used as an herbal medicine to normalize and strengthen body functions. Although many researchers have focused on the biological effects of KRG, more studies on the action mechanism of red ginseng are still needed. Previously, we investigated the proteomic changes of the rat spleen while searching for molecular signatures and the action mechanism of KRG. The proteomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were involved in the increased immune response and phagocytosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological activities of KRG, especially the immune-enhancing response of KRG. Methods: Rats were divided into 4 groups: 0 (control group), 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg administration of KRG powder for 6 weeks, respectively. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation was performed with Q-Exactive LC-MS/MS to compare associated proteins between the groups. The putative DEPs were identified by a current UniProt rat protein database search and by the Gene Ontology annotations. Results: The DEPs appear to increase the innate and acquired immunity as well as immune cell movement. These results suggest that KRG can stimulate immune responses. This analysis refined our targets of interest to include the potential functions of KRG. Furthermore, we validated the potential molecular targets of the functions, representatively LCN2, CRAMP, and HLA-DQB1, by Western blotting. Conclusion: These results may provide molecular signature candidates to elucidate the mechanisms of the immune response by KRG. Here, we demonstrate a strategy of tissue proteomics for the discovery of the molecular function of KRG.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1671-1676
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• 2012

In this study, the immuno-enhancing activity of seed extracts were studied on the macrophage cell lines. We examined the effect of nine seed extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells and selected four highly-effective seed candidates (Fagopyrum esculentum, Taraxacum platycarpum, Impatiens balsamina, Helianthus annuus) for further immune-related studies. The effects of the four seed extracts on the production of immune-related cytokines in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and proliferation of Molt-4 as a T cell line were investigated. The secretion of NO from the RAW 264.7 cells was increased up to 39 ${\mu}M$ by adding the seed extracts (25 ${\mu}g/mL$) compared to the control. Also, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) was also increased up to 32 times by adding the seed extracts (25 ${\mu}g/mL$). Secretion of cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) was also increased and induced the proliferation of T cells compared to the control. In conclusion, these results suggest that four seed extracts provide beneficial immuno-enhancing effects for human health.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2010

We describe the immune stimulatory effects of compounds determined by means of activity-monitored extraction and isolation techniques. As a result, 4-carboethoxy-6-methoxy-2-quinolone (1) and 4-carboethoxy-6-hydroxy-2-quinolone (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the Oryza sativa cv. Heugnambyeo bran, and were determined to exert significant inhibitory effects in macrophage cell line (murine RAW 264.7) and murine splenocytes. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, particularly the results obtained via hetero nuclear multiple-bond connectivity and high-resolution MS spectroscopy. Up to date, compound (1) was isolated as natural sources for the first time.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

Job's Tears(Yul-Moo) is a grass crop long-used as a traditional medicine; it is also a nourishing food. There are reports of its anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antiallergic activity, and antispastic effects and Job's Tears has been used in China to treat rheumatism, and neuralgia although its warts, rheumanism remains unclear. Thus, the present study was performed to investigate the in vitro effect of Job's Tears extracts on immune function. Here mouse splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production$(IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ by peritoneal macrophages cultured with ethanol and water extracts of Job's Tears were examined. splenocytes proliferation increased with Job's Tears water extracts supplement at concentrations investigated The cytokine production$(IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;TNF-{\alpha})$ by ELISA using a cytokine kit And $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production increased water extracts supplementation. This in vitro study suggests that supplementation with Job's Tears water extracts may enhance immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and enhancing cytokine production of activated macrophages.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.167-190
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• 1995

Bikiwhan is one of the oriental medicines that have been used for the treatment of tumors since ancient times. However, the mechanism of the drug action is not closely surved. This study was made to investigate the effects of Bikiwhan on the innate immunity were analysed by measuring the functions of phagocytes, and those of specific immunity were analysed by measuring T and B cells activities. The followings are the results obtained from this study : 1. Bikiwhan has direct cytotoxic effects against human lymphoma cell lines (K562) in a dose dependent manner. 2. An administration of Bikiwhan increased allogenic immune response in the mouse. 3. An administration of Bikiwhan increased the antibodies formation against SRBC. 4. An administration of Bikiwhan enhanced the apperance of rosette forming cells in the spleen. 5. An administration of Bikiwhan decreased the delayed-type hypersensitivity against dinitrofluorobenzene. 6. An administration of Bikiwhan has no effect on natural killer cells. 7. Bikiwhan increased the phagocyte activity of peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in in vivo as well. 8. Bikiwhan depressed the formation of reactive oxygen intermediated in vitro and in vivo as well. 9. Bikiwhan has the capacity to make peritoneal macrophages secrete nitric oxide. The above results demonstrate that Bikiwhan has enhancing effects of immune responses against tumors by decreasing tissue demages caused by immune responses.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.655-663
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• 2020

Background: Korean Red Ginseng is known to exhibit immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory properties. The immune-enhancing effects of the nonsaponin fraction (NSF) of Korean Red Ginseng have been studied in many reports. However, the gastroprotective effect of this fraction is not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate the activities of NSF for gastrointestinal protection and its related critical factor. Methods: The in vitro and in vivo regulatory functions of NSF on cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) messenger RNA and protein levels were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analyses. Gastroprotective effects of NSF were investigated by histological score, gastric juice pH, and myeloperoxidase activity on indomethacin-induced, cold stress-induced, and acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastritis and dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in in vivo mouse models. Results: NSF did not show cytotoxicity, and it increased COX-1 messenger RNA expression and protein levels in RAW264.7 cells. This upregulation was also observed in colitis and gastritis in vivo models. In addition, NSF treatment in mice ameliorated the symptoms of gastrointestinal inflammation, including histological score, colon length, gastric juice pH, gastric wall thickness, and myeloperoxidase activity. Conclusion: These results suggest that NSF has gastroprotective effects on gastritis and colitis in in vivo mouse models through COX-1 upregulation.