• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.21
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• 2024

The cytokine IL-7 plays critical and nonredundant roles in T cell immunity so that the abundance and availability of IL-7 act as key regulatory mechanisms in T cell immunity. Importantly, IL-7 is not produced by T cells themselves but primarily by non-lymphoid lineage stromal cells and epithelial cells that are limited in their numbers. Thus, T cells depend on cell extrinsic IL-7, and the amount of in vivo IL-7 is considered a major factor in maximizing and maintaining the number of T cells in peripheral tissues. Moreover, IL-7 provides metabolic cues and promotes the survival of both naïve and memory T cells. Thus, IL-7 is also essential for the functional fitness of T cells. In this regard, there has been an extensive effort trying to increase the protein abundance of IL-7 in vivo, with the aim to augment T cell immunity and harness T cell functions in anti-tumor responses. Such approaches started under experimental animal models, but they recently culminated into clinical studies, with striking effects in re-establishing T cell immunity in immunocompromised patients, as well as boosting anti-tumor effects. Depending on the design, glycosylation, and the structure of recombinantly engineered IL-7 proteins and their mimetics, recombinant IL-7 molecules have shown dramatic differences in their stability, efficacy, cellular effects, and overall immune functions. The current review is aimed to summarize the past and present efforts in the field that led to clinical trials, and to highlight the therapeutical significance of IL-7 biology as a master regulator of T cell immunity.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.314-328
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• 2024

The mechanism for the elimination of xenobiotics undergoes three different phases of reactions in organisms. Among these, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are classified as phase II detoxification enzymes, catalyzing the conjugation of electrophilic substrates to glutathione or reduced hydroperoxides. This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics, detoxification functions, and immune responses of GST omega (LhGSTO1) and kappa (LhGSTK1) in redlip mullet. The open reading frames of LhGSTO1 (720 bp) and LhGSTK1 (687 bp) encoded proteins of 239 and 228 amino acids, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that LhGSTO1 and LhGSTK1 possessed GSH-binding sites in their N-terminal domains. Substrate-binding sites in the C-terminal domain were exclusively identified in LhGSTO1. In the tissue-specific transcription profile analysis, both LhGSTO1 and LhGSTK1 were ubiquitously expressed in all tissues of healthy mullets. Temporal expression analysis of LhGSTO1 and LhGSTK1 in the blood showed that their expression was significantly modulated by polyinosinic:polycytidylic (poly I:C), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Lactococcus garvieae. Different chemical and cellular assays were performed to assess the detoxification and cellular protective abilities of the two proteins. A substrate specificity test using the recombinant proteins revealed that both proteins possessed specific activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). In the disk diffusion assay, the smallest clearance zones were observed for LhGSTO1 and LGSTK1 against CdCl₂. In the cell protection assay, both LhGSTO1 and LhGSTK1 showed significant Cd detoxification ability compared to the control. Collectively, these results demonstrate that GST omega and kappa are involved in host defense against immune stimulants and xenobiotics in redlip mullet.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 1986

Some of organophosphate pesticides which are the most heavily used in Korea, were examined for their effects on the murine immune system. Immunotoxicological assay parameters adaopted in this study were Arthus reaction for humoral immunity, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction for cell mediate immunity, carbon clearance for macrophage function and susceptiility to tumor challenge. Subchronic exposure of rodents to the pesticides resulted in the marked suppression of immune functions and enhancement of susceptibility to tumor challenge. Among the pesticides tested (fenitrothion, fenthion, diazinon and EPN), fenitrothion was the most suppressive in Arthus and delayed type hypersensitivity reaction.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.115-119
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• 2003

There has been continuing interest in the development of synthetic and natural compounds that modify the immune response particularly for the treatment of AIDS and cancer. During the past fifty years, numerous scientific studies have been published on ginseng. Modem human studies have investigated preventive effect of ginseng on several kinds of cancer, its long term immunological effect on HIV patients, its effect on cell mediated immune functions in healthy volunteers. Similarly non clinical studies on animal model system have studied the chemopreventive action of ginseng on cancer and immunological properties of ginseng. The precise mechanism of action of ginseng, however, not clearly understood. Considering its wide-ranging therapeutic effects, this study is being undertaken to elucidate the general mode of action of ginseng, especially to test our hypothesis that its biological action may be mediated by the immune system.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.191-196
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• 1987

Erythrosine used as a colouring agent in drugs, cosmetics and foods in Korea, was examined for its effects on murine immune system and methemoglobin formation. As immunotoxicologic assay parameters, we adopted circulating leukocytes and immunoorgan weights for pathotoxicology, IgM plaque forming cells and arthus reaction for humoral immunity, delayed hypersensitivity reaction of cell mediated immunity and carbon clearacnce for macrophage function. Erythrosine's effects were observed as follows; 1. Ery throsine showed no significant effects on circulating leulocyte counts and relative immunoorgan weight. 2. Erythrosine diminished IgM plaque forming cells. 3. Erythrosine decreased arthus reaction, in the dose dependent manner. 4. Erythrosine had no significant effect on delayed hypersensitivity. 5. Phagocytic and corrected phagocytic index were not affected. 6. Methemoglobin content was similar in the test and control groups.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.128-150
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• 2005

Invertebrate animals, which lack adaptive immune systems, have developed other systems of biological host defense, so called innate immunity, that respond to common antigens on the cell surfaces of potential pathogens. During the past two decades, the molecular structures and functions of various defense components that participated in innate immune systems have been established in Arthropoda, such as, insects, the horseshoe crab, freshwater crayfish, and the protochordata ascidian. These defense molecules include phenoloxidases, clotting factors, complement factors, lectins, protease inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides, Toll receptors, and other humoral factors found mainly in hemolymph plasma and hemocytes. These components, which together compose the innate immune system, defend invertebrate from invading bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. This review describes the present status of our knowledge concerning such defensive molecules in invertebrates.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.230-239
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• 2012

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is an enzyme that is predominantly expressed in germinal center B cells and plays a pivotal role in immunoglobulin class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation for antibody (Ab) maturation. These two genetic processes endow Abs with protective functions against a multitude of antigens (pathogens) during humoral immune responses. In B cells, AID expression is regulated at the level of either transcriptional activation on AID gene loci or post-transcriptional suppression of AID mRNA. Furthermore, AID stabilization and targeting are determined by post-translational modifications and interactions with other cellular/nuclear factors. On the other hand, aberrant expression of AID causes B cell leukemias and lymphomas, including Burkitt's lymphoma caused by c-myc/IgH translocation. AID is also ectopically expressed in T cells and non-immune cells, and triggers point mutations in relevant DNA loci, resulting in tumorigenesis. Here, I review the recent literatures on the function of AID, regulation of AID expression, stability and targeting in B cells, and AID-related tumor formation.

• 한국유가공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.39-50
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• 2008

The immune system of mammals includes a complex array of cells and molecules, which interact to provide protection from pathogenic microorganisms. The beneficial role played by lactic acid bacteria and milk-derived peptide in the humans, including the effects on the immune system, has been extensively reported. They are present in dairy products and are frequently used as nutraceuticals to some improve some biological functions in the host. The activation of the systemic and secretory immune response by lactic acid bacteria and milk-derived peptide requires many complex interactions among th different constituents of the intestinal ecosystem. The aim of this review was to make the point about the immunological potential of lactic acid bacteria and milk-derived peptide.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.190-195
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• 1996

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been reported to directly suppress the immune responses. In the present study, the effect of AFB1 on immune functions was investigated. Splenic lymphocytes were treated with various doses of the mitogens (lipopolysaccharide, concanavalin A) in the presence of AFB1. AFB1 pretretment decreased the number of plaque forming cells (PFC) in a dose-dependent manner. Antibody production of IgM and IgG class was significantly decreased in AFB1-treated splenic cells. In addition, when animals were exposed to AFB1, the susceptibility of bacterial infection as well as the growth of tumor cells was increased. These data suggest that AFB1 affected the immune function and humoral immunity impaired by AFB1 treatment contributed to pathological process.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2020

The Runt-related transcription factors (RUNX) transcription factors have been known for their critical roles in numerous developmental processes and diseases such as autoimmune disorders and cancer. Especially, RUNX proteins are best known for their roles in hematopoiesis, particularly during the development of T cells. As scientists discover more types of new immune cells, the functional diversity of RUNX proteins also has been increased over time. Furthermore, recent research has revealed complicated transcriptional networks involving RUNX proteins by the current technical advances. Databases established by next generation sequencing data analysis has identified ever increasing numbers of potential targets for RUNX proteins and other transcription factors. Here, we summarize diverse functions of RUNX proteins mainly on lymphoid lineage cells by incorporating recent discoveries.