• Applied Microscopy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2014

In the present study, we investigated the effects of Polygonum tinctoria Niram (PTN) on atopic dermatitis (AD) in BALB/c mice induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). They were divided into four groups; Control, DNCB, DNCB+1%PTN (1% PTN extract) and DNCB+5%PTN (5% PTN extract), for evaluating the change of appearance of skin surface, skin hydration, thickness of epidermis and mast cell numbers during 4 weeks. PTN suppressed symptoms of AD in appearance of skin and increased skin hydration for DNCB+1%PTN and DNCB+5%PTN. Treatment with PTN significantly decreased the levels of eosinophils. In histopathological examination, DNCB+1%PTN and DNCB+5%PTN significantly reduced the thickness of epidermis and number of mast cell in dermis. These results suggested that the PTN improved symptoms of AD in BALB/c mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.578-585
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• 1993

This study was performed to investigate effects of low fat diet and saturated fat supplementation on the function of the immune system. Forty male BALB/c mice average-weighing 15g were divided into two dietary groups: 0.7% safflower oil group and 4.3% beef tallow & 0.7% safflower oil group. Results are as follows; 1) Food intake, body weight, organ weight, agglutination test, differential white cell count and histological examination of spleen were not different in two dietary groups during the experimental period. 2) Delayed-type hypersensitive test of the mice fed 4.3% beef tallow & 0.7% safflower oil was significantly higher than that of the mice fed 0.7% safflower oil ($\alpha$=0.05). 3) Plaque forming cell was significantly reduced at 10th week compared to 7th week in both groups($\alpha$=0.05). Although there was no significant difference between two groups. 0.7% safflower oil groups showed slightly higher plaque forming cell than 4.3% beef tallow & 0.7% safflower oil group.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2023

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite which can infect most warm-blooded animals and humans. Among the different mouse models, C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible to T. gondii infection compared to BALB/c mice, and this increased susceptibility has been attributed to various factors, including T-cell responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most prominent type of antigen-presenting cells and regulate the host immune response, including the response of T-cells. However, differences in the DC responses of these mouse strains to T. gondii infection have yet to be characterized. In this study, we cultured bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. These cells were infected with T. gondii. The activation of the BMDCs was assessed based on the expression of cell surface markers and cytokines. In the BMDCs of both mouse strains, we detected significant increases in the expression of cell surface T-cell co-stimulatory molecules (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, CD40, CD80, and CD86) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-1β, and IL-10) from 3 h post-T. gondii infection. The expression of MHC II, CD40, CD80, CD86, IFN-γ, IL-12p40, and IL-1β was significantly higher in the T. gondii-infected BMDCs obtained from the C57BL/6 mice than in those from the BALB/c mice. These findings indicate that differences in the activation status of the BMDCs in the BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice may account for their differential susceptibility to T. gondii.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.15.1-15.17
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• 2023

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical immune-response mediators. Although they largely reside in mucosal tissues, the kidney also bears substantial numbers. Nevertheless, kidney ILC biology is poorly understood. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice are known to display type-2 and type-1 skewed immune responses, respectively, but it is unclear whether this extends to ILCs. We show here that indeed, BALB/c mice have higher total ILCs in the kidney than C57BL/6 mice. This difference was particularly pronounced for ILC2s. We then showed that three factors contributed to the higher ILC2s in the BALB/c kidney. First, BALB/c mice demonstrated higher numbers of ILC precursors in the bone marrow. Second, transcriptome analysis showed that compared to C57BL/6 kidneys, the BALB/c kidneys associated with significantly higher IL-2 responses. Quantitative RT-PCR also showed that compared to C57BL/6 kidneys, the BALB/c kidneys expressed higher levels of IL-2 and other cytokines known to promote ILC2 proliferation and/or survival (IL-7, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin). Third, the BALB/c kidney ILC2s may be more sensitive to the environmental signals than C57BL/6 kidney ILC2s since they expressed their transcription factor GATA3 and the IL-2, IL-7, and IL-25 receptors at higher levels. Indeed, they also demonstrated greater responsiveness to IL-2 than C57BL/6 kidney ILC2s, as shown by their greater STAT5 phosphorylation levels after culture with IL-2. Thus, this study demonstrates previously unknown properties of kidney ILC2s. It also shows the impact of mouse strain background on ILC2 behavior, which should be considered when conducting research on immune diseases with experimental mouse models.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2019

Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, which actually does not exist a vaccine for control or prevention. Thus, the identification of new and potent immunogens in T. vaginalis, which can contribute to the development of a vaccine against this parasite, is necessary. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of a recombinant Transient Receptor Potential-like channel of T. vaginalis (TvTRPV), as a promising immunogen in BALB/c mice. First, TvTRPV was cloned and expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli BL21 cells and purified by nickel affinity. Next, BALB/c mice were immunized and the antibody levels in mice serum and cytokines from the supernatant of macrophages and from co-culture systems were evaluated. Recombinant TvTRPV triggered high levels of specific total IgG in sera from the immunized mice. Also, a statistically significant increase of cytokines: $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ after stimulation with the corresponding antigens in vitro, was identified. Moreover, co-cultures using $CD4^+$ T cells from immunized mice were able to identify higher levels of IL-10 and $IFN-{\gamma}$. These results were useful to validate the immunogenicity of TvTRPV in BALB/c mice, where IL-10-$IFN-{\gamma}$-secreting cells could play a role in infection control, supporting the potential of TvTRPV as a promising target for vaccine against T. vaginalis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of preceding the development of allergic disorders. The incidence of AD is increasing and it causes problems with administrative costs. Therefore, no side effects, easyto- use development of AD treatment is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether PBMCAT, a functional extract from herbal complex was effective to treat the AD mice. AD was induced by patching ovoalbumin on the backside in BALB/ c mouse and then mice were topically treated with PBMCAT. Elidel $cream^{(R)}$ (pimecrolimus, PL) was used as a control. Scratching counts (SC) and clinical skin severity (CSS) were measured, and total serum IgE level was also measured. After inducing AD, SC and CSS were increased. The total serum IgE level was also increased in AD-induced mice. Treatment with PBMCAT significantly decreased SC, CSS, and serum IgE concentration in mice. Especially, treatment of PBMCAT 0.1% in BALB/c mice more effected than PL. These results suggest that the ointment of PBMCAT may enhance the process of AD healing by influencing phase of allergic reacting.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2004

This experiment was performed to examine the in vitro and in vivo affects of the two different haplotype strains of mice, BALB/c and C3H/HeN infected with Echinostoma hortense, and the manifestation of the profiles of cytokine in the splenocytes. In the in vitro experiment, the two mice's splenocytes were divided and stimulated with antigen of crude extracts and the antigen of excretory and secretory products of an adult warm and the manifestation of cytokine mRNA was verified with RT-PCR. As a result, the two different strains of mice both strongly manifested the Th2 cytokine rather than the Thl cytokine and in the case of the Th2 cytokine, the BALB/c mice manifested more strongly than the C3H/HeN mice. In the experiment using the ELISA method, the protem cytokine manifestation had the same result as the mRNA experiment. In the in vivo experiment, the mice was infected via oral route with the metacercaria of the Echinostoma hortense and the manifestation of cytokine was verified by RT-PCR and ELISA and the results were the same as the in vitro experiment. Therefore, in the two strains of BALB/c and C3H/HeN, the C3H/HeN showed a higher susceptivity to the Echinostoma hortense.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2000

We have investigated the efficacy of liposome encapsulated N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartic acid (PALA) for the treatment of the C-26 murine colon tumor in Balb/c mice, and have compared it in this regard to free PALA. Healthy female Balb/c mice and C-26 tumor inoculated mice were randomized for the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) study and the in vivo therapy study, and the survival was measured after a single intraperitoneal injection of the drug. The maximum tolerated dose for intraperitoneally administered drug was found to be 750 mg/Kg for free PALA, and was greater than the maximum dose possible (150 mg/Kg) for PALA encapsulated in both DSPC and DSPG liposomes. When drug was administered one day after tumor implantation, 150 mg/Kg of PALA in DSPG liposomes increased the percentage of tumor bearing mice surviving at day 36 from 8% (buffer control) to 88%. In contrast, 150 mg/Kg free PALA increased the day 36 surviving percentage to only 25%. A 150 mg/Kg dose of PALA in DSPC liposomes increased the surviving percentage to 50%, while a 75 mg/Kg dose of PALA in sterically stabilized liposomes increased the surviving percentage to 78%. These results show that PALA in negatively charged or sterically stabilized liposomes can exhibit considerably greater potency than free PALA in C-26 tumor bearing mice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.116-121
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• 2004

To observe the intervening effect of resveratrol on coxsackie virus B3m-induced myocarditis in Balb/c mice and explore the mechanism of intervening effect. Using an animal model of viral myocarditis induced by coxsackie virus B3m (CVB3m), with Ribavirin and Astragalan as comparison, to examine the changes of general condition, mortality, the weights of heart, liver and spleen, serum MDA and NO levels, and cardiac histology in Balb/c mice. By comparison with Ribavirin and Astragalan, it was found that in the mice model of viral myocarditis induced by coxsackie virus B3m resveratrol significantly improved the changes of general condition, mortality, the weights of heart, liver and spleen, serum MDA and NO levels, and cardiac histology. It suggested that resveratrol may have some chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in the treatment of viral myocarditis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2008

The behavioral phenotypes of out-bred ICR mice were compared with those of in-bred C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. In particular, this study examined the locomotor activity and two forms of hippocampus-dependent learning paradigms, passive avoidance and object recognition memory. The basal open-field activity of the ICR strain was greater than that of the C57BL/6 and BALB/c strains. In the passive avoidance task, all the mice showed a significant increase in the cross-over latency when tested 24 hours after training. The strength of memory retention in the ICR mice was relatively weak and measurable, as indicated by the shorter cross-over latency than the C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. In the object recognition memory test, all strains had a significant preference for the novel object during testing. The index for the preference of a novel object was lower for the ICR and BALB/c mice. Nevertheless, the variance and the standard deviation in these strains were comparable. Overall, these results confirm the strain differences on locomotor activity and hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in mice.