• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.18
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• 2021

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still threatening human health, economy, and social life worldwide. As a counteraction for this devastating disease, a number of vaccines are being developed with unprecedented speed combined with new technologies. As COVID-19 vaccines are being developed in the absence of a licensed human coronavirus vaccine, there remain further questions regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of the vaccines, as well as immunological mechanisms in depth. This review article discusses the current status of COVID-19 vaccine development, mainly focusing on antigen design, clinical trials in later stages, and immunological considerations for further study.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2005

The objective of the present study was to determine the possible immune-enhancing effects of a substance extracted from a submerged culture of Lentinus edodes with rice bran (SLRB). According to the results obtained by measuring the in vitro macrophage activity of the exo-biopolymer from SLRB, it appears to exhibit activity similar to that of LPS, and this activity seems to occur in a dose-dependent manner. According to the results obtained by measuring splenocyte proliferation, the exo-biopolymer appears to induce an increase in proliferation of approximately 1.4-fold compared to the control group. We measured the proliferation of bone marrow cells in order to evaluate gut immunity and, according to our results, proliferation was increased to 109% that of the control group, and was similar to that associated with LPS. In order to characterize the enhancement of immunological activity in vivo, we orally administered the exo-biopolymer (25, 50, 250 mg/kg bw) to C3H/He mice, and then measured the macrophage activity, determining that the activity was higher than that of the controls at concentrations of 50 and 250 mg/kg. Therefore, the exo-biopolymer from SLRB can be considered to be a useful a BRM agent, as it clearly allows some protection against immunological diseases.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1988.08a
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• pp.108-114
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• 1988

One of the major effects of Panax ginseng the best known traditional medicine in the Far East. is the enhancement of host resistance against infections. which could depend on an influence from the immune system. The studies presented have been carried out with extracts from Korean ginseng roots which were examined for immunological activity in vitro and in vivo. The results obtained in a double-blind clinical study with humans confirmed results obtained in vitro with human granulocytes and in vivo with mice. The ginseng extracts showed a significant stimulatory action on the immune response.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 1997

Chitin, a linked polysaccharide composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-$\beta$-D-glucopytanose residues, is distributed widely in nature. It has been utilized on various application field due to the development of chitin derivatives such as chitosan, partial deacetylated chitin, carboxylmethyl chitin, sulfated chitin, and so on. Chitin and chitosan have been recently interested in antitumor and antimicrobial activities, because of a powerful tumor inhibitory effect against experimental mouse tumors. Especially, the oligosaccharides obtained by partial degradation of them exhibited a remarkable antitumor effect against sarcoma 180, MM 48 and Meth Asolid tumors and antimetastatic effect against Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. This review describes on antitumor effects of chitin, chitosan and their oligosaccharides by their mechanism of action involving enhancement of immunological system.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 1992

Effects of squalene on cellular and non-specific immune responses and antitumor activity in mice were investigated. Cellular and non-specific immunological assay parameters adopted in the present study were delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and resette forming cells (RFC) for cellular immunity, activities of natural killer (NK) cells and phagocyte for non-specific immunity. Squalene resulted in marked increases of cellular and non-specific immune functions and enhancement of host resistance to tumor challenge in dose-dependent manner.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.11
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• pp.39.1-39.12
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• 2016

Background: The current study investigates the anti-stress effects of clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) extracts (0, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) on serum antioxidant biomarkers, immune response, immunological organ growth index, and expression levels of acute phase proteins (APPs); ovotransferrin (OVT), ceruloplasmin (CP), ceruloplasmin (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid-A (SAA) mRNA in the immunological organs of 63-d-old male black-meated Silkie fowls subjected to 21 d chronic heat stress at $35{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. Results: The results demonstrated that clove extract supplementation in the diet of Silkie fowls subjected to elevated temperature (ET) improve growth performance, immune responses, and suppressed the activities of glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD); reduced serum malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations when compared with fowls raised under thermoneutral condition (TC). Upon chronic heat stress and supplementation of clove extracts, the Silkie fowls showed a linear increase in GSH-Px, SOD, CAT, and TXNRD activities (P = 0.01) compared with fowls fed diets without clove extract. ET decreased (P < 0.05) the growth index of the liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus. However, the growth index of the liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus increased significantly (P < 0.05) which corresponded to an increase in clove supplemented levels. The expression of OVT, CP, AGP, CRP, and SAA mRNA in the liver, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus were elevated (P < 0.01) by ET compared with those maintained at TC. Nevertheless, clove mitigates heat stress-induced overexpression of OVT, CP, AGP, CRP and SAA mRNA in the immune organs of fowls fed 400 mg clove/kg compared to other groups. Conclusions: The results showed that clove extracts supplementation decreased oxidative stress in the heat-stressed black-meated fowls by alleviating negative effects of heat stress via improvement in growth performance, antioxidant defense mechanisms, immunity, and regulate the expression of acute phase genes in the liver and immunological organs.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2010

The anti-metastatic activity of water extract of Samguikoeuitang (WSGKE) consisting of Ginseng Radix, Angelicae Radix, Sophora flavescens and Coicis Semenwas examined. Ethanol extract of Samguikoeuitang (ESGKE) showed significant cytotoxicity against colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma cells, while WSGEK did not. However, WSGKE significantly increased the production of IL-6 and IL-12 in thioglycollate-induced macrophages from Balb/c mice, whereas ESGKE did not. WSGKE significantly increased natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity against effecter YAC-1 cells in an Effecter cells/Target ratio dependent manner. Also, WSGKE significantly suppressed lung metastasis after i.v. injection of colon26-M3.1 carcinoma cells. Inhibitory effect of WSGKE on lung metastasis totally abolished in NK cells-deficient mice by treatment with anti-asialo GM1 serum. In addition, the combination treatment of cisplatin and WSGKE (100 ${\mu}g$/mouse) prolonged the lifespan of mice inoculated by colon26-M3.1 cell. These findings suggest that WSGKE can inhibit lung metastasis and prolong life span via immunological enhancement as a Biological Response Modifier.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.117-121
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• 2006

Ability of pectic polysaccharides isolated from Eleutherococcus senticosus EN-3 to inhibit tumor metastasis and induce antigen-specific immune response after oral administration in mice was assessed. Consecutive oral administration of EN-3 before tumor inoculation dramatically inhibited tumor metastasis produced by colon26-M3.1 and B16-BL6 cells. When Peyer's patch cells isolated from mouse intestine were co-cultured with EN-3, proliferation of Peyer's patch cells was induced. Mice co-administered with EN-3 and ovalbumin (OVA) showed significantly higher production of OVA-specific IgA in intestinal washing as well as IgG in serum than those administered with OVA alone. Payer's patch cells of mice immunized with OVA plus EN-3 showed much higher proliferating activity than those of mice immunized with OVA alone. Proliferating activity increased dose-dependently, indicating EN-3 specifically enhanced mucosal immune response to OVA. These results suggested EN-3 could significantly stimulate Peyer's patch cells either non-specifically or antigen-specifically, possibly playing important role in enhancement of mucosal and systemic immune systems.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 1989

Natural killer (NK) cells are a heteroguneous subpopulation of lymphocytes that spontaneously exhibit cytotoxic activity against various virus-Infected and neoplastic target cells without prior exposure to a specific antigen. It was thought that NK calls play an important role in immunosurvrillanre against viral agents and tumors, and in prevention of metastasis. Recently, several reports have indicated evidence that ginseng extracts show a significant stimulatory effect on the humoral and cellular immune responses. This evidence gives support to the suggestion that the anticarcinogenic effect of ginseng may be due to the effect of ginseng on the immunological system. Treatment with total, diol, and triol saponin resulted in an increase in NK cytotoxic activity, but no enhancement of the lytic activity due to the natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Therefore, these results suggest that the augmentation of NK activity by ginseng saponin fractions may not be due to the activation of NKCF lytic activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2013

Transcutaneous immunization refers to the topical application of antigens onto the epidermis. Transcutaneous immunization targeting the Langerhans cells of the skin has received much attention due to its safe, needle-free, and noninvasive antigen delivery. The skin has important immunological functions with unique roles for antigen-presenting cells such as epidermal Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells. In recent years, novel vaccine delivery strategies have continually been developed; however, transcutaneous immunization has not yet been fully exploited due to the penetration barrier represented by the stratum corneum, which inhibits the transport of antigens and adjuvants. Herein we review recent achievements in transcutaneous immunization, focusing on the various strategies for the enhancement of antigen delivery and vaccination efficacy.