• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.12
• /
• pp.1919-1927
• /
• 2006

Tumor cells genetically engineered to secrete cytokines are effective in tumor therapy, but various unexpected side effects are observed, which may result from the bulk activation of various bystander cells. In this study, we tested tumor vaccines expressing various membrane-bound forms of IL-2 (mbIL-2) on MethA fibrosarcoma cells to focus antitumor immune responses to CTL. Chimeric forms of IL-2 with whole CD4, deletion forms of CD4, and TNF were expressed on the tumor cell surface, respectively. Tumor clones expressing mbIL-2 or secretory form of IL-2 were able to support the cell growth of CTLL-2, an IL-2-dependent T cell line, and the proliferation of spleen cells from 2C TCR transgenic mice that are responsive to the $p2Ca/L^d$ MHC class I complex. Expression of mbIL-2 on tumor cells reduced the tumorigenicity of tumor cells, and the mice that once rejected the live IL-2/TNF tumor clone acquired systemic immunity against wild-type MethA cells. The IL-2/TNF clone was inferior to other clones in tumor formation, and superior in the stimulation of the CD8+ T cell population in vitro. These results suggest that the IL-2/TNF clone is the best tumor vaccine, and may stimulate CD8+ T cells by direct priming. Expression of IL-2/TNF on tumor cells may serve as an effective gene therapy method to ameliorate the side effects encountered in the recombinant cytokine therapy and the conventional cytokine gene therapy using the secretory form of IL-2.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2007

Yam has been recognized as healthy food due to its various biological activities, such as anti-obesity, antimicrobial, anticancer and immune-stimulation activities. In this study, antibacterial activities of 800 more natural plant extracts against yam-putrefactive psychrotrophic bacterium, Pseudomonas rhodesiae YAM-12, were evaluated to select a natural preservative, which is useful to long-term storage of yam and fresh-cut production. Finally, the clove oil was selected, and applied for the production of yam fresh-cut. The 1% of clove oil treated fresh-cut showed minor color changes during 31 days storage at $4^{\circ}C$ and the microbial growth was not detected. When the artificially contaminated fresh cut by dipping with P. rhodesiae YAM-12 suspension for 3 min was treated 1% clove oil, the microbial growth was identified to $10^4$ CFU/g from $10^3$ CFU/g with minor color changes. Whereas, treatment of sterilized water, or 100 ppm NaOCl into artificially contaminated fresh cut showed severe putrefaction $(10^8\;CFU/g)$ and color changes. Considering the previous reports that clove oil has antimicrobial, antioxidation, and antithrombosis activity, the use of clove oil into the yam fresh cut will provide market safety and consumer acceptability by prevention of microbial putrefaction and its biological activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.40 no.7
• /
• pp.624-629
• /
• 2007

Hizikia fusiforme(sea weed fusiforme) has long been used for food source in this country. This study was performed to evalute the immunomodulative effects of Hizikia fusiforme (sea weed fusiforme) in mouse, using in vivo experiments. In vivo experiment, different concentration (0, 50, 500 mg/kg B.W.) of Hizikia fusiforme water extracts were orally administrated into mouse every other day for two weeks. The proliferation of mouse splenocytes, the production of three cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha})$ secreted by activated macrophage. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced in mouse orally administrated with 50 mg/kg B.W. and 500 mg/kg B.W. concentration compared to that of control group. Especially, the highest proliferation of spleoncyte was seen from the mouse orally administrated at the concentration of 50 mg/kg B.W. Also, the mouse of Hizikia fusiforme water extracts supplementation group in the both concentrations showed enhanced levels of cytokine production by activated peritoneal macrophages compared to those in control group. The highest level of cytokine ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha})$ production was observed at 50 mg/kg B.W. supplementation group with LPS stimulation in all cases.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.268-273
• /
• 2008

For evaluation of immune stimulation effect of lacquer tree extracts, lymphocytes were counted by labeling of FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibody in the pheripheral blood of pigs that fed with a fodder supplemented by lacquer tree extracts. Populations of MHC-II+, CD4+, and CD8+T lymphocytes were increased more than 2% level after 1 week feed supply of the lacquer tree extracts. The increase of those T cells reached at maximum level after 2 weeks in the tested group. B lympyocytes with surface IgM were increased 5% after 1 week feed supply of the lacquer tree extracts, and their numbers reached maximum after 2 weeks in the tested group. For the assessment of cytotoxicity of the lacquer tree extracts, morphological changes were examined on the epithelial cells of small intestine from pigs fed with a fodder supplemented by 0.1 % lacquer tree extracts for 6 weeks (the tested group). Thin-sectioned tissue of small intestine was fixed with glutaraldehyde, then coated with gold particles, and the specimen was examined under scanning electron microscope. The villi on the mucus membrane of jejunum and ileum from the tested pigswere enlarged on the tip and were linked each other.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.113-128
• /
• 2001

Objective : To investigate the effect of BUM aqua-acupuncture in treating the RA, the immunosis to logical analysis of LPS induced arthritis in mice to study this. For 14th day after the injection of LPS & BUM injection, the distribution of fibroblast, collagen, CD54(ICAM-1), CD106(VCAM-1), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2 receptor, CDl lb(macrophage) were examined on synovial capsule of mice knee joint. For 14th day after the injection of LPS & BUM injection, the distribucion of CD4(TH cell), CD8(TC cell), CD40(B cell) were examined on common iliac lymph node in mice. Methods : The experimental model of arthritis was induced by injection of 300${\mu}g$/kg LPS in BALB/c mice weighing 30g. The 100${\mu}l$ BUM aqua-acupuncture which compounded calculus bovis, fel ursi and moschus was injected into GB34 of mice every other day for 12 days. For 3rd, 7th, 14th day after the injection of LPS, the neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocytc counts in WBC were measured using hemacytometer. Results : The obstain results are summarized as follows ; 1. In sample group, the neutrophils counts were increased and the lympnocytes counts were decreased compared with control group. 2. The distribution of fibrosis & fibroblast on synovial membrane were decreased compared with control group. 3. The distribution of collagen fiber on synovial membrane were decreased compared' with control group. 4. The distribution of CD54(ICAM-1) & CD106(VCAM-1) on synovial membrane were decreased compared with control group. 5. The distribution of IL-$1{\beta}$ & IL-2 receptor on synovial membrane were decreased compared with control group. 6. The distribution of CDb(macrophage) on synovial membrane were decreased compared with control group. 7. The distribution of CD4(TH cell), CD8(TC cell) and CD40(B cell) in common iliac lymph nodes were decreased compared with control group. Conclusions : BUM aqua-acupuncture stimulation decreased inflammatory responses LPS induced arthritis in mice.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.8 s.88
• /
• pp.1141-1146
• /
• 2007

This study investigated the effects on the biological activities of germinated brown rice soaked in mycelial culture broth of Phellinus linteus. The level of free amino acid was higher in the GBRP extract than those of BR and GBR. The major free amino acids were alanine, valine, isoleucine and methionine in both extracts. The level of ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was also increased significantly in the GBR and GBRP. Antioxidant activities of methanol extract of BR, GBR and GBRP were measured by using DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activity. Antioxidant activities showed the highest level of 83% and 76% when 100 mg/ml GBR and GBRP, respectively. Stimulation of the macrophages RAW264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in increased production of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium. However, the methanol extract of GBR and GBRP showed marked inhibition of NO synthesis in a does-dependant manner. These results showed that GBR and GBRP were significant role for activation of immune system in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.99-108
• /
• 2013

Kefir is a unique fermented dairy product resulting from combined lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation of lactose in milk. Kefir is produced by the microbial activity of kefir grains. Kefir has numerous health benefits such as the reduction of cholesterol levels, stimulation of the immune system, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties, and improvements of lactose intolerance. Furthermore, kefir is excellent as both a dietetic beverage and for protection against various diseases in small babies. Therefore, kefir has recently been regarded as an important functional dairy food. To date, the majority of research on kefir has focused on the applications of functional kefir using advanced biotechnology methods. The purpose of this review article is to facilitate the recognition of kefir as a novel functional food.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.325-329
• /
• 2010

Toxoplasma gondii KI-1, a recent new isolate from Korea, shows similar pathogenicity and infectivity to mice compared to the virulent RH strain. To understand characteristics of host immunity, including immune enhancement or suppression, we investigated proliferative responses and phenotypes of spleen cells. In addition, kinetics of IFN-${\gamma}$, a Th1 cytokine, was examined in BALB/c mice up to day 6 post-infection (PI). Intraperitoneal injection of mice with $10^3$ KI-1 tachyzoites induced significant decreases (P < 0.05) in proliferative responses of spleen cells. This occurred at days 2-6 PI even when concanavalin A (con A) was added and when stimulated with KI-1 antigen, suggesting suppression of the immunity. $CD4^+$ T-cells decreased markedly at day 2 PI (P < 0.05), whereas $CD8^+$ T-cells, NK cells, and macrophages did not show significant changes, except a slight, but significant, increase of $CD8^+$ T-cells at day 6 PI. The capacity of splenocytes to produce IFN-${\gamma}$ by con A stimulation dropped significantly at days 2-6 PI. These results demonstrate that intraperitoneal injection of KI-1 tachyzoites can induce immunosuppression during the early stage of infection, as revealed by the decrease of $CD4^+$ T-cells and IFN-${\gamma}$.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.209-215
• /
• 2005

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein with many biological roles, including the protection against microbial and virus infection, stimulation of the immune system. We developed the transgenic Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) cell cultures producing the human lactoferrin (hLf) protein following Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A construct containing a targeting signal peptide from tobacco endoplasmic reticulum fused to hLf cDNA under the control of an oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter was engineered. Transgenic Siberian ginseng cultured cells to produce a recombinant hLf protein were successfully generated and confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. ELISA and western blot analysis showed that full length-hLf protein was synthesized in the transgenic cells. The production of hLf increased proportionally to cell growth and reached a maximal (up to 3% of total soluble proteins) at the stationary phase. These results suggest that the transgenic Siberian ginseng cultured cells in this study will be biotechnologically useful for the commercial production of medicinal plant cell cultures to produce hLf protein.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.12
• /
• pp.1356-1363
• /
• 2014

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid orexigenic peptide hormone that is secreted predominantly by tX/A cells in the stomach, and it plays a major role in energy homeostasis. Activated ghrelin has an n-octanoyl group covalently linked to the hydroxyl group of the Ser3 residue, which is critical for its binding to the G-protein coupled growth hormone secretagogue receptor-1a (GHS-R1a). According to recent reports, both ghrelin and its receptor, GHS-R1a, are expressed by a variety of immune cells, including T- and B-lymphocytes, monocytes, and dendritic cells, and ghrelin stimulation of leukocytes provides a potent immunomodulatory signal controlling systemic and age-associated inflammation and thymic involution. Here, we report that ghrelin protected murine thymocytes from dexamethasone (DEX)-induced cell death both in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, we explored the molecular mechanisms of the antiapoptotic effect of ghrelin. According to our experiments, ghrelin inhibited the expression of proapoptotic proteins via the regulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) phosphorylation. As a result, ghrelin inhibited the proapoptotic activation of proteins, such as Caspase-3, PARP, and Bim. These data suggest that ghrelin, through GHS-R, inhibits the pathway to apoptosis by regulation of the proapoptotic protein activation signal pathway. They provide evidence that blocking apoptosis is an essential function of ghrelin during the development of thymocytes.