• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.1444-1452
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• 2019

The conventional prophylactic vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV) efficiently prevent infection with high-risk HPV types, but they do not promote therapeutic effects against cervical cancer. Previously, we developed HPV16 E7-expressing Lactobacillus casei (L. casei-E7) as a therapeutic vaccine candidate for cervical cancer, which induces antitumor therapeutic effects in a TC-1 murine cancer model. To improve the therapeutic effect of L. casei-E7, we performed co-treatment with poly-gamma-glutamic acid (${\gamma}-PGA$), a safe and edible biomaterial naturally secreted by Bacillus subtilis. We investigated their synergistic effect to improve antitumor efficacy in a murine cancer model. The treatment with ${\gamma}-PGA$ did not show in vitro cytotoxicity against TC-1 tumor cells; however, an enhanced innate immune response including activation of dendritic cells was observed. Mice co-administered with ${\gamma}-PGA$ and L. casei-E7 showed significantly suppressed growth of TC-1 tumor cells and an increased survival rate in TC-1 mouse models compared to those of mice vaccinated with L. casei-E7 alone. The administration of ${\gamma}-PGA$ markedly enhanced the activation of natural killer (NK) cells but did not increase the E7-specific cytolytic activity of $CD8^+$ T lymphocytes in mice vaccinated with L. casei-E7. Overall, our results suggest that oral administration of ${\gamma}-PGA$ induces a synergistic antitumor effect in combination with L. casei-E7.

• 약학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.412-426
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• 1992

Effects of beta-carotene on the immunobiological responses were studied in ICR mice. ICR male mice were divided into 8 groups (10 mice/group), and beta-carotene at doses of 4, 20 and 100 mg/kg were orally administered to ICR mice once daily for 28 consecutive days. Cyclophosphamide (CY) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to ICR mice with a single dose of 5 mg/kg body weight at 2 days before secondary immunization. Mice were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells (5-RBC). Immune responses were evaluated by humoral immunity, cellular immunity and non-specific immunity. The results of this study were summarized as follows: (1) Beta-carotene significantly increased the weight ratios of liver, spleen and thymus to body weight depending on dose, and significantly increased the increasing rate of body weight and the number of circulating leukocyte. (2) Beta-carotene dose-dependently increased hemagglutination titer, Arthus reaction and hemolytic plaque forming cell related to humoral immunity. (3) Beta-carotene significantly increased delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and rosette forming cell related to cellular immunity. (4) Beta-carotene dose-dependently increased phagocytic activity, and significantly increased natural killer (NK) cell activity. (5) Beta-carotene dose-dependently inhibited reductions in humoral immunity, cellular immunity, NK cell activity and phagocytic activity by treatment with CY.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권18호
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• pp.7965-7970
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• 2014

One of the goals of tumor immunotherapy is to generate immune cells with potent anti-tumor activity through in vitro techniques using peripheral blood collected from patients. However, cancer patients generally have poor immunological function. Thus using patient T cells, which have reduced in vitro proliferative capabilities and less tumor cell killing activity to generate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, fails to achieve optimal clinical efficacy. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a potent activating cytokine for both T cells and natural killer cells. Thus, this study aimed to identify optimal donors for allogeneic LAK cell immunotherapy based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the IL-2 and IL-2R genes. IL-2 and IL-2R SNPs were analyzed using HRM-PCR. LAK cells were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by culturing with IL-2. The frequency and tumor-killing activity of LAK cells in each group were analyzed by flow cytometry and tumor cell killing assays, respectively. Regarding polymorphisms at IL-2-330 (rs2069762) T/G, LAK cells from GG donors had significantly greater proliferation, tumor-killing activity, and IFN-${\gamma}$ production than LAK cells from TT donors (P<0.05). Regarding polymorphisms at IL-2R rs2104286 A/G, LAK cell proliferation and tumor cell killing were significantly greater in LAK cells from AA donors than GG donors (P<0.05). These data suggest that either IL-2-330(rs2069762)T/G GG donors or IL-2R rs2104286 A/G AA donors are excellent candidates for allogeneic LAK cell immunotherapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.304-310
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• 2019

Interleukin-21 is a common ${\gamma}$-chain cytokine that controls the immune responses of B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells. Targeting IL-21 to strengthen the immune system is promising for the development of vaccines as well as anti-infection and anti-tumor therapies. However, the practical application of IL-21 is limited by the high production cost. In this study, we improved IL-21 production by codon optimization and selection of appropriate signal peptide in CHO-K1 cells. Codon-optimized or non-optimized human IL-21 was stably transfected into CHO-K1 cells. IL-21 expression was 10-fold higher for codon-optimized than non-optimized IL-21. We fused five different signal peptides to codon-optimized mature IL-21 and evaluated their effect on IL-21 production. The best result (a 3-fold increase) was obtained using a signal peptide derived from human azurocidin. Furthermore, codon-optimized IL-21 containing the azurocidin signal peptide promoted $IFN-{\gamma}$ secretion and STAT3 phosphorylation in NK-92 cells similar to codon-optimized IL-21 containing original signal peptide. Collectively, these results indicate that codon optimization and azurocidin signal peptides provide an efficient approach for the high-level production of IL-21 as a biopharmaceutical.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.236-243
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• 2001

Background: An immunological approach for aging mechanism appears to be important. Lymphocyte subsets analysis in peripheral blood is widely performed to assess the immune status and to diagnose and monitor various diseases. Some lymphocyte subsets are known to change with age, but only few data about age-related reference ragnes for these subsets in healthy individuals have been reported. So we attempted to report reference ranges for these subsets in each age group and review changes of the results with age for the secondary studies about immune cell function as lymphocyte blast transformation and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement (VDJ) including recombination activating genes (RAG-1 and RAG-2). Methods: Lymphocyte subset analysis was performed on 302 subjects, 189 males and 113 females with age group of all decades of life. Two color direct immunofluorescene flow cytometry (FCM) was done using $Simultest^{TM}$ IMK-Lymphocyte kit (Becton Dickinson, USA), $FACScan^{TM}$ (Becton Dickinson, USA) and $FACSCalibur^{TM}$ (Becton Dickinson, USA). Lymphocyte subsets analysed were T ($CD3^+$) and B cells ($CD19^+$), helper/inducer T ($CD4^+$) and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells ($CD8^+$), helper/suppressor ($CD4^+/CD8^+$) ratio and natural killer (NK) cells ($CD3^-CD16^+/CD56^+$). The absolute numbers of each subset were calculated from total lymphocyte counts. Data collected was analysed using SAS 6.12. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: We reported the counts and percentages of lymphocyte and these subsets in each age group. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female subjects. The percentage of $CD4^+$ T cells, and the count of NK cells did not show the significant difference among the various age groups. The age-related changes observed in our study were as following: 1) a decrease in the percentages of T cells, B cells and $CD8^+$ T cells ; 2) a decrease in the counts of B cells and $CD8^+$ T cells ; 3) an increase in the percentage and count of NK cells ; and 4) an increase in the $CD4^+/CD8^+$ ratio. Conclusion: The characteristics of aging process appeared to be showing a marked decrease of lympocyte subsets T and B cells as well as T8 ($CD8^+$). The age-related increase of the percentage of cells bearing NK marker can be interpreted as a compensatory consequence to cope with the decrease of T cells related to the thymic involution. These changes with age appeared to be for the secondary study about immune cell function as lymphocyte blast transformation and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권11호
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• pp.3307-3312
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• 2014

The anti-inflammatory effect of a tubulin inhibitor, N-(5-benzyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3-(furan-2-yl)prop-2-enamide (1), on innate immune responses remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the effect of 1 on the immune responses mediated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The in vitro addition of 1 to dendritic cells and macrophages dose-dependently reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha production elicited by LPS stimulation. Additionally, the stimulation of natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells with 1 resulted in the decrease of interferon gamma ($IFN{\gamma}$) induced by LPS treatment. Moreover, 1 substantially reduced interleukin 12 in dendritic cells (DC) as well as $IFN{\gamma}$ in NKDCs induced by LPS in vitro. Furthermore, the in vivo administration of 1 ameliorated LPS/D-galactosamine-induced endotoxic lethality in mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that 1 possesses anti-inflammatory properties, most notably by modulating LPS-induced innate immune responses. Therefore, 1 might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammation-mediated diseases such as sepsis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.786-790
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• 2006

Cellular components of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (heat-killed whole cells, cytoplasm, and cell walls) were tested for their in vivo immunopotentiating activity. Peritoneal macrophages from mice orally administered with heat-killed whole cells exhibited significantly greater phagocytic activity than the groups administered with cell-wall fraction or cytoplasm fraction. The cytotoxicity of natural-killer cells was the highest in the group administered with whole cells, and the production of cytokines ($IFN-\gamma$, IL-2, and IL-12) in spleen cells was significantly higher, when cellular components were injected, and it tended to be higher in the cell-wall and cytoplasm groups than in the whole-cell group. Interestingly, the cytokine production of Peyer's patch cells was high, when cytoplasm fractions were administered. These results demonstrate that whole cells and cytoplasm and cell-wall fractions of L. lactis ssp. lactis have immunopotentiating activities, which are related to the stimulation of Peyer's patches.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.199-207
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• 2009

목 적: 말초혈액 자연살해세포가 증가된 반복유산 환자군과 증가되지 않은 반복유산 환자군에서 다음 번 유산 시탈락막의 자연살해세포의 발현양상을 관찰하여 말초혈액 자연살해세포와 상관관계가 있는지 보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 말초혈액 자연살해세포가 15% 이상 증가된 반복유산 환자군 14명을 실험군으로, 15% 이하인 군 12명을 대조군으로 하여 연구를 진행하였다. 이 환자들에게서 다음 번 유산 시 착상부위를 포함한 자궁 탈락막 세포를 확인하여 면역조직화학염색을 통해 $CD56^+$와 $CD16^+$ 자연살해세포의 수를 세어 실험군과 대조군을 비교하였다. 결 과: 실험군과 대조군은 탈락막 내 $CD56^+$ 자연살해세포의 수 간에 통계적으로 유의한 차이 ($170.1{\pm}132.1$ vs. $68.3{\pm}66.1$, p=0.02)를 보였으나 둘 간의 상관관계 (r=0.229, p=0.261)는 없었다. 또한 두 군간에 $CD16^+$ 자연살해세포는 통계적으로 유의한 차이 ($25.70{\pm}11.72$ vs. $31.17{\pm}22.67$)를 보이지 않았다. 결 론: 본 연구는 말초혈액 $CD56^+$ 자연살해세포가 증가된 반복유산 환자군에서 말초혈액 자연살해세포가 증가되지 않은 군에 비하여 탈락막의 $CD56^+$ 자연살해세포가 증가되어 있음을 알 수 있었다. 이는 탈락막 자연살해세포가 반복유산의 면역학적 기전에서 중요한 역할을 할 것이라는 가능성을 제시해 주는 연구 결과이며 또한 말초혈액 자연살해세포의 측정이 반복유산 환자에서 다음 번 유산을 예측할 수 있는 유용한 지표임을 알 수 있다.

• 약학회지
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.81-90
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• 2014

In order to determine the functional benefits of Cordyceps militaris in the immune system, we examined the immunomodulatory activities of C. militaris using an immunocompromised C57BL/6 mice, mouse spleen cells, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and A549 lung carcinoma cells. Mice were injected intraperitioneally with an immunosuppressive drug, cyclophosphamide, and then administered orally with 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg of 50% ethanol extract of C. militaris (CME 30, CME 100 and CME 300) for 14 days. CME increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity compared to 3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-treated control mice. CME also increased the production of Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in spleen cells isolated from CME-injected mice and in vitro, which suggested the enhanced cellular immunity in response to CME. CME also increased splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activity, and IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production compared to 1 ${\mu}M$ methotrexate-treated spleen cells in vitro. We examined whether C. militaris regulates the production of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. CME inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression in a dose dependent manner, while COX-2 expression was remained unchanged. In addition, CME also has free radical scavenging activity, indicating its antioxidant activity. These results indicate that C. militaris enhances immune activity by promoting immune cell proliferation and cytokine production.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.100031.1-100031.13
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• 2024

It is now well-accepted that obesity-induced inflammation plays an important role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. A key source of the inflammation is the murine epididymal and human visceral adipose tissue. The current paradigm is that obesity activates multiple proinflammatory immune cell types in adipose tissue, including adipose-tissue macrophages (ATMs), T Helper 1 (Th1) T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells, while concomitantly suppressing anti-inflammatory immune cells such as T Helper 2 (Th2) T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs). A key feature of the current paradigm is that obesity induces the anti-inflammatory M2 ATMs in lean adipose tissue to polarize into proinflammatory M1 ATMs. However, recent single-cell transcriptomics studies suggest that the story is much more complex. Here we describe the single-cell genomics technologies that have been developed recently and the emerging results from studies using these technologies. While further studies are needed, it is clear that ATMs are highly heterogeneous. Moreover, while a variety of ATM clusters with quite distinct features have been found to be expanded by obesity, none truly resemble classical M1 ATMs. It is likely that single-cell transcriptomics technology will further revolutionize the field, thereby promoting our understanding of ATMs, adipose-tissue inflammation, and insulin resistance and accelerating the development of therapies for type 2 diabetes.