• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제17권1호
• /
• pp.20-26
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The study aimed to determine changes in laboratory data for cancer patients receiving Korean medicine (KM) care, with a focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity. Methods: We conducted an observational study of various cancer patients in all stages admitted to the East-West Cancer Center (EWCC), Dunsan Korean Hospital of Daejeon University, from Mar. 2011 to Aug. 2011. All patients were under the center's multi-modality Korean-medicine-based inpatient cancer care program. The hospitalization stay at EWCC ranged from 9 to 34 days. A total of 80 patients were followed in their routine hematologic laboratory screenings performed before and after hospitalization. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the status of their treatment: prevention of recurrence and metastasis group, KM treatment only group, and combination of conventional and KM treatment group. The lab reports included natural killer cell count (CD16 + CD56), fibrinogen, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophil, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, platelet, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Results: With a Focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity, emphasis was placed on the NK cell count, fibrinogen count, and ECOG scores. Data generally revealed decreased fibrinogen count, fluctuating NK cell count and decreased ECOG, meaning improved performance status in all groups. The KM treatment only group showed the largest decrease in mean fibrinogen count and the largest increase in mean NK cell count. However, the group's ECOG score showed the smallest decrease, which may be due to the concentration of late-cancer-stage patients in that particular group. Conclusions: Multi-modality KM inpatient care may have positive effect on lowering the cancer coagulation factor fibrinogen, but its correlation with the change in the NK cell count is not clear.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제46권2호
• /
• pp.304-314
• /
• 2022

Background: Ginsenosides are biologically active components of ginseng and have various functions. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory activity of a ginseng product generated from ginseng powder (GP) via enzymatic bioconversion. This product, General Bio compound K-10 mg solution (GBCK10S), exhibited increased levels of minor ginsenosides, including ginsenoside-F1, compound K, and compound Y. Methods: The immunomodulatory properties of GBCK10S were confirmed using mice and a human natural killer (NK) cell line. We monitored the expression of molecules involved in immune responses via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, NK cell-targeted cell destruction, quantitative reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analyses. Results: Oral administration of GBCK10S significantly increased serum immunoglobulin M levels and primed splenocytes to express pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ. Oral administration of GBCK10S also activated NK cells in mice. Furthermore, GBCK10S treatment stimulated a human NK cell line in vitro, thereby increasing granzyme B gene expression and activating STAT5. Conclusion: GBCK10S may have potent immunostimulatory properties and can activate immune responses mediated by B cells, Th1-type T cells, and NK cells.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.241-247
• /
• 1998

Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal agent which inhibits the biosynthesis of fungal cellmembrane ergosterol and has immunosuppressive properties in vitro. Biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (PMC) has been utilized for antioxidative action and for liver-protective purposes. Studies were undertaken to investigate effects of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (PMC) on the immunosuppression of ketoconazole in ICR mice. In the combination of PMC and ketoconazole, as compared with the treatment of ketoconazole alone, there were significant increases in activities of natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes along with circulation leukocytes. The elevation of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (S-GPT) and total protein levels caused by ketoconazole were reduced by the combination of PMC and ketoconazole. In addition, lower serum albumin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio were also increased to normal level.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제55권1호
• /
• pp.48-56
• /
• 2022

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) secreted by most cells carry bioactive macromolecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids for intercellular communication. Given that some immune cell-derived sEVs exhibit anti-cancer properties, these sEVs have received scientific attention for the development of novel anti-cancer immunotherapeutic agents. In this paper, we reviewed the latest advances concerning the biological roles of immune cell-derived sEVs for cancer therapy. sEVs derived from immune cells including dendritic cells (DCs), T cells, natural-killer (NK) cells, and macrophages are good candidates for sEV-based cancer therapy. Besides their role of cancer vaccines, DC-shed sEVs activated cytotoxic lymphocytes and killed tumor cells. sEVs isolated from NK cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cells. sEVs derived from CD8⁺ T and CD4⁺ T cells inhibited cancer-associated cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) and activated B cells, respectively. M1-macrophage-derived sEVs induced M2 to M1 repolarization and also created a pro-inflammatory environment. Hence, these sEVs, via mono or combination therapy, could be considered in the treatment of cancer patients in the future. In addition, sEVs derived from cytokine-stimulated immune cells or sEV engineering could improve their anti-tumor potency.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한생식의학회 2007년도 제53차 추계학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.101-101
• /
• 2007

• 생약학회지
• /
• 제25권4호통권99호
• /
• pp.348-355
• /
• 1994

An antitumor component, F-D-P, was purified from the hot water extract of the carpophores of Elfvingia applanata by precipitation with ethanol, dialysis, and passage through a column of DEAE-cellulose ion exchange. F-D-P inhibited the growth of Sarcoma 180 in mice showing the tumor inhibition ratio of 88.3% in doses of 20 mg/kg for ten days. Chemical analysis of F-D-P showed that it was composed of polysaccharide(65.3%) and protein(6.5%0, and that the monosaccharides consisting of the polysaccharide was glucose(89.1%) and mannose(10.9%). The immunomodulatory activities of F-D-P were explored by determining its effect on the proliferation of the whole and subpopulations of lymphocytes, and on the generation of natural killer(NK) cell activity in vitro. F-D-P was mitogenic to total lymphocytes and B cells, but not to purified T cells, even in the presence of accessory cells. F-D-P did not increase NK cell activity when added to cultures of resting lymphocytes. From these results, it is clear that F-D-P modulates primarily the humoral immune responeses.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제43권1호
• /
• pp.15-25
• /
• 2016

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of high doses of dexamethasone (DEX) in early pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Pregnant BALB/c mice were treated with high-dose DEX in the experimental group or saline in the control group on gestational days (GDs) 0.5 to 4.5. Pregnant mice were sacrificed on GDs 7.5, 13.5, or 18.5 and their peripheral blood, placentas, fetuses, and uterine tissue were collected. Decidual and placenta cell supernatants were examined to evaluate the effect of DEX on the proliferation of mononuclear cells, the quantity of uterine macrophages and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, and levels of progesterone and $17{\beta}-estradiol$, as determined by an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also were measured fetal and placental growth parameters on GD 18.5. Results: We found that high doses of DEX were associated with an increased abortion rate, enhancement of the immunosuppressive effect of the decidua, alterations in placental growth parameters, decreased progesterone and $17{\beta}-estradiol$ levels, and a reduced frequency of macrophages and uNK cells. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the high-dose administration of DEX during early pregnancy negatively affected pregnancy outcomes.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.78-85
• /
• 2009

본 연구는 차가버섯, 상황버섯, 영지버섯 혼합추출물(IPGE)음료 복용이 인체의 혈중 조혈모세포와 임파구 아형(Lymphocyte, $CD4^+T$ cell, $CD8^+T$ cell, Natural Killer cell) 증식에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위하여 수행하였다. 피험자는 건강한 지원자들로서 $40{\sim}70$대의 남여 일반인들로 하였다. 전체 39명을 모집하여 무작위 배정을 통해 27명, 12명 씩 2그룹으로 나누고 각각 버섯 복합추출물과 위약 음료를 따로 지급하여 4주 동안 매일 복용하게 하였다. 혈액은 복용 첫날부터 시작하여 2주 간격으로 피험자들로부터 채취되었으며 면역세포 수 측정에 사용되었다. 조혈모세포(hematopoietic stem cell)는 IPGE 음료 복용군에서 복용 전에 비하여 현저하게 증가하였으며 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 나타냈다(p<0.001). 임파구(lymphocyte)는 IPGE음료 복용 전과 후 간에 유의한 차이가 관찰되지 않았다. $CD4^+T$ 세포, $CD4^+T$ 세포 및 $CD4^+/CD8^+$ 비율은 시험 음료 복용 전과 후 간에 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 그리고 NK 세포도 IPGE 음료 복용 전과 후 간에 유의한 차이가 관찰되지 않았다. 본 연구결과를 종합해 볼 때 차가버섯, 상황버섯 및 영지버섯 혼합추출물(IPGE)음료는 조혈모세포의 증식효과를 현저하게 높게 나타내었기 때문에 총체적인 혈액세포 정상화를 통해 인체 건강증진에 긍정적인 효과를 나타낼 것으로 사료되었다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제20권6호
• /
• pp.51.1-51.17
• /
• 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe pulmonary disease in infants, young children, and the elderly. Formalin inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine trials failed due to vaccine enhanced respiratory disease, but the underlying immune mechanisms remain not fully understood. In this study, we have used wild type C57BL/6 and CD4 knockout (CD4KO) mouse models to better understand the roles of the CD4 T cells and cellular mechanisms responsible for enhanced respiratory disease after FI-RSV vaccination and RSV infection. Less eosinophil infiltration and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine production were observed in FI-RSV vaccinated CD4KO mice after RSV infection compared to FI-RSV vaccinated C57BL/6 mice. NK cells and cytokine-producing CD8 T cells were recruited at high levels in the airways of CD4KO mice, correlating with reduced respiratory disease. Depletion studies provided evidence that virus control was primarily mediated by NK cells whereas CD8 T cells contributed to IFN-γ production and less eosinophilic lung inflammation. This study demonstrated the differential roles of effector CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as NK cells, in networking with other inflammatory infiltrates in RSV disease in immune competent and CD4-deficient condition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권9호
• /
• pp.3901-3905
• /
• 2015

Objective: Our aim was to investigation the roles of MHC class I chain-related gene A(MICA) and natural killer cell group 2D(NKG2D) in human renal cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The expression of membrane MICA (mMICA) on renal cells and NKG2D on NK cells were detected by flow cytometry (FCM); the content of sMICA were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the distribution of mMICA on renal tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry; the interaction between MICA and NKG2D was observed by antibody closed method. Results: Our results showed that the expression of mMICA in renal cancer tissues was significantly higher than in controls, where the soluble MICA was not expressed. Cytotoxic activity of NK cells was significantly reduced after exposure to NKG2D and MICA antibodies (P<0.05), and serum containing sMICA can obviously lower the function of NKG2D (P<0.05). Conclusions: The interaction of mMICA and NKG2D play important roles in mediation of cytotoxicity of NK cells in RCC. On the other hand, sMICA may mediate tumor immune escape through down- regulated NKG2D expression.