• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.192-194
• /
• 2022

The trophic factor Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) plays a critical role in the development of the peripheral nervous system and the repair of nerve injuries. The regulation of neutrophil apoptosis by cytokine secretion from structural cells is an important process in inflammatory diseases, including asthma. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NRG-1 and the alteration of neutrophil apoptosis by the regulation of cytokine release in the human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) induce the increase in the release of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). NRG-1 alone had no effect on the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. However, co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 inhibited the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 that had been increased by TNF-α and IFN-γ. Treatment with NRG-1 did not have a direct effect on neutrophil apoptosis. Co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 was not effective on suppression of neutrophil apoptosis due to TNF-α and IFN-γ. The supernatant of BEAS-2B cells after co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 suppressed the inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis that had been caused due to the supernatant treated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. Taken together, NRG-1 has an anti-inflammatory effect in an inflammatory milieu by the regulation of cytokine secretion and neutrophil apoptosis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.533-538
• /
• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of Pycnogenol (Pyc) on survival and immune dysfunction of C57BL/6 mice induced by low micronutrient supplementation. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57/BL/6 mice were fed a diet containing 7.5% of the recommended amount of micronutrients for a period of 12 wks (immunological assay) and 18 wks (survival test). For immunological assay, lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine regulation, and hepatic oxidative status were determined. RESLUTS: Pyc supplementation with 50 and $100mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}bw{\cdot}d^{-1}$ resulted in partial extension of the median survival time. Pyc supplementation led to increased T and B cell response against mitogens and recovery of an abnormal shift of cytokine pattern designated by the decreased secretion of Th1 cytokine and increased secretion of Th2 cytokine. Hepatic vitamin E level was significantly decreased by micronutrient deficiency, in accordance with increased hepatic lipid peroxidation level. However, Pyc supplementation resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of hepatic lipid peroxidation, which may result from restoration of hepatic vitamin E level. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that Pyc supplementation ameliorates premature death by restoring immune dysfunction, such as increasing lymphocyte proliferation and regulation of cytokine release from helper T cells, which may result from the antioxidative ability of Pyc.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.768-773
• /
• 2002

Behcets disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder. The etiology and pathogenesis of Behcets disease has yet been fully elucidated but might involve immune dysfunction. Cytokines involved in the regulation of inflammatory reactions and immune responses may play a role in the pathogenesis of Behcets disease (BD). Onchungeum is an Oriental herbal medication, which has been successfully used in Korea for the treatment of BD. This report describes modulation effects of Onchungeum on cytokine production from phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of Behcets patients by ELISA. Onchungeum significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. TNF-α and IL-1β, compared to absence of Onchungeum (by 52.3 1.4 % inhibition for TNF-α and 113.5 3.3 % for IL-1β, p < 0.001). Onchungeum also inhibited the production of IFN-γ, immunoregulatory Th1 cytokine, by 89.4 0.8 % (p < 0.001). The inhibitory effects of Onchungeum on cytokine production showed dose-dependent manner, and the pre-treatment of 1 mg/ml Onchungeum had better effects than immunosuppressive drug for treatment of BD, cyclosporin A. Our results suggest that Onchungeum treatment for Behcets disease patients may have pharmacologic activities and abilities of regulation of immune and inflammatory responses by cytokine modulation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.213-218
• /
• 2005

Phellinus linteus (PL), one of the immune-regulatory substances, is recognized to play the role in the metabolic process on inflammation and immunity. It has been traditionally used in the oriental medicine to treat inflammatory related disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of PL on the mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes immune function in the ICR male mice. Control mice received vehicle only. The PL treated mice were administered the respective extract by oral gavages for 4 weeks. IgE concentrations in serum and MLN lymphocytes were significantly lower in PL treated mice than in control mice. PL increased the proportion of $CD4^+\;and\;CD8^+$ T cells in MLN lymphocytes. PL significantly decreased Th2 cytokine concentrations and mRNA expression levels in cytokine secretions. Therefore, water extracts of PL modulate inflammatory parameters through regulation of immunoglobulin production resulting from decreased Th2 cytokine secretion and mRNA expression levels and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and mRNA expression in MLN lymphocytes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2018

Objective : The immune enhance is the main focus of current society that to increase resistance to invasion by pathogenic species of bacteria in body, stimulate the immune system and possibly protect against cancer or inflammatory disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Gentianae Radix extract on immune regulation in a LPS-induced mice model of acute inflammation. Methods : Gentianae Radix extract was administered orally at doses of 200 mg/kg/day or 400 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks before a intraperitoneally injection of LPS (1 mg/kg of 0.9% saline). After LPS-intraperitoneal injection 3 hours, blood was collected by cardiac puncture under ether anaesthesia from all animals, for the immune regulate efficacy verification based on blood or serum biomarkers (i.e., immune cells, cytokine, $PGE_2$, ROS, and $LTB_4$) analysis. Results : Compared to the control mice, the Gentianae Radix extract treatments significantly increased the count of immune cells (i.e., wite blood cell, neutrophils, and monocyte), and significantly reduced the lymphocyte. In addition, the Gentianae Radix extract treatments significantly decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokine (i.e., $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$), and significantly increased IL-10 of anti-inflammatory cytokine. Furthermore, the Gentianae Radix extracts treatments significantly increased the levels of $PGE_2$ and significantly decreased the levels of ROS, and $LTB_4$. Conclusions : The results indicate that Gentianae Radix extract alleviated acute inflammatory reaction though regulation of immune meditor. Thus, Gentianae Radix extract may raw material of development a health food and medicine option for the immune enhance.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.531-534
• /
• 2000

Nitric oxide (NO), products of activated macrophages, have a great impact on the regulation of cytokine production. The role of NO in non-specific host cells is commonly accepted. On the contrary, its role as an immuno-regulatory molecule is still controversial. In this study, we have investigated the effect of NO on the production of cytokines from murine splenocytes and macrophages. S-nitroso-L-glutathione inhibited the release of both interferone-$\gamma$ and interleukin-2 produced by Th1 cells and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and interleukin-1$\beta$ produced by macrophages, but did not affect the release of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 produced by Th2 cells. These results suggest that NO exerts a down-regulatory effect on the secretion of cytokines from Th1 cells and macrophages which are implicated in immune response. Thus, NO may have an important role as an immune-modulatory as well as effector molecule in the immune system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1996.11a
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 1996

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.326-332
• /
• 2012

Mast cells play pivotal pathologic roles in allergic disease involving T helper 2 (Th2) cytokine such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. Fisetin has been known as an anti-allergic agent having inhibitory effects on the IL-4 and IL-13 gene expressions in inflammatory immune cells. However, its molecular mechanisms for suppressive effects of fisetin on IL-4 and IL-13 in activated mast cells have been incompletely elucidated. In this study we found that fisetin significantly inhibited the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin (PI)-induced production of IL-4 and IL-13 in mast cells. The levels of mRNA were dramatically decreased by fisetin, indicating the suppression might be regulated at the transcriptional levels. Western blot analysis of the nuclear expression of various transcription factors involved in the promoter activation indicated that suppression of c-Fos was prominent together with significant down-regulation of nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NF-AT) and NF-${\kappa}B$, but not c-Jun. Furthermore, the nuclear expression of GATA binding protein 2 (GATA-2) transcription factor was significantly down-regulated by fisetin. Taken together, our study indicated fisetin has suppressive effects on IL-4 and IL-13 gene expression through the regulation of selective transcription factors.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.250-256
• /
• 2008

Red ginseng is a medicinal herb widely used in East-Asia for a long time. Recently there have been a lot of studies about the effect of red ginseng on the immune responses. We investigated the differences between Korean red ginseng and Chinese red ginseng in the lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production. The rats were divided into 3 groups, KRG(Korean Red Ginseng) group, CRG(Chinese Red Ginseng) group, and the Control group. Experimental groups were administered with Korean and Chinese red ginsengs for three months respectively. Then we obtained the lymphatic cells from spleen and compared the ability of KRG on the lymphocyte proliferation and the cytokine production after mitogen-stimulated culture to CRG. The proliferation of lymphocyte and level of $IL-1{\alpha}$ were significantly increased only in KRG group. There were significant increases in the level of $INF-{\gamma}$ in both KRG and CRG groups. There were no significant differences in the level of IL-2 and $TNF-{\alpha}$. These results indicate that KRG can induce infection-relevant immune responses much faster and higher than CRG. Furthermore, functional activation of CD8+ T-cell may be activated by red ginsengs.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.148-156
• /
• 2013

The $PrP^C$ is expressed in many types of immune cells including monocytes and macrophages, however, its function in immune regulation remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined a role for $PrP^C$ in regulation of monocyte function. Specifically, the effect of a soluble form of $PrP^C$ was studied in human monocytes. A recombinant fusion protein of soluble human $PrP^C$ fused with the Fc portion of human IgG1 (designated as soluble $PrP^C$-Fc) bound to the cell surface of monocytes, induced differentiation to macrophage-like cells, and enhanced adherence and phagocytic activity. In addition, soluble $PrP^C$-Fc stimulated monocytes to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6. Both ERK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways were activated in soluble $PrP^C$-treated monocytes, and inhibitors of either pathway abrogated monocyte adherence and cytokine production. Taken together, we conclude that soluble $PrP^C$-Fc enhanced adherence, phagocytosis, and cytokine production of monocytes via activation of the ERK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways.