Effects of supplementation with higher levels of manganese and magnesium on immune function.

The magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) were evaluated for its effectiveness as an immunomodulator in rats. The treatments were as follows: Group 1, AIN-93M diet (0.05% Mg, 0.

Gamma-irradiation-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression is associated with catalase: activation of Ap-1 and JNK.

The ionizing radiation used in cancer therapy frequently produces damage to normal tissues and induces complex responses, including inflammation. The upregulation of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in response to numerous inducing factors is associated with inflammation. Therefore, this study examined the molecular mechanisms responsible for ICAM-1 expression induced by gamma-irradiation (gammaIR).

Inhibition of ICAM-1 expression by garlic component, allicin, in gamma-irradiated human vascular endothelial cells via downregulation of the JNK signaling pathway.

Ionizing radiation used in cancer therapy frequently exerts damaging effects on normal tissues and induces a complex response including inflammation. Since the upregulation of adhesion molecules on endothelial cell surface has been known to be associated with inflammation and our previous data showed that irradiation enhanced adhesion molecules expression, interfering with the expression of adhesion molecules may be an important therapeutic target of inflammatory diseases. We examined the effect of allicin, a major component of garlic, on the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by gamma-irradiation (gamma IR) and the mechanisms of its effect in gamma-irradiated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

CML-1 inhibits TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation and adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells through inhibition of IkBalpha kinase.

CML-1 is a purified extract from a mixture of 13 oriental herbs (Achyranthis Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Eucommiae Cortex, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Hoelen, Lycii Fructus, Paeoniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Atractylodis Rhizoma, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Zizyphi Semen, Acori Graminei Rhizoma) that have been widely used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in Asia. Since our previous study has been shown to have the anti-inflammatory activity of CML-1 in vivo and the upregulation of adhesion molecules in response to numerous inducing factors is associated with inflammation, this study examined the effect of CML-1 on the expression of adhesion molecules induced by TNF-alpha in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Preincubation of HUVECs for 20h with CML-1 (1-100mug/ml) dose-dependently inhibited TNF-alpha (10ng/ml)-induced adhesion of THP-1 monocytic cells, as well as mRNA and protein expression of E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).

Immunomodulatory function of murine NK cell activity by alginate.

The in vivo immunomodulatory function of the activity of murine natural killer (NK) cells induced by high mannuronic acid-containing alginate (HMA) was examined. HMA was injected i.p at doses of 25 and 100 mg/kg.

Methamphetamine administration produces immunomodulation in mice.

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA) is an increasingly growing problem globally and produces serious side effects. In the present study, the immunomodulating effects of MA were examined on the immune system after MA (5 mg/kg body weight) was administered daily orally for 14 d. The immune system was evaluated by the antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC; plaque assay and serum immunoglobulin [Ig] G), natural killer (NK) activity, lymphocyte subpopulations in the spleen and thymus, and concanavalin A (Con A)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation using splenocytes.

Vitamin C blocks TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation and ICAM-1 expression in human neuroblastoma cells.

Interactions of the cell adhesion molecules are known to play important roles in mediating inflammation. The proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), activates the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, which induces the expression of various genes, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In this study, the effect of vitamin C on the ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-alpha in a human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH was investigated.

Modulation of murine macrophage function by methamphetamine.

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA) is an increasingly growing problem globally and produces serious side effects. In the present study, the immunomodulating effects of MA were examined on murine peritoneal macrophages after MA (5 mg/kg body weight) was administered daily orally for 2 wk. When purified macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the tumoricidal activity induced by LPS was significantly suppressed by MA.

Vitamin C blocks TNF-α-induced NF-kB activation and ICAM-1 expression in human neuroblastoma cells.

Interactions of the cell adhesion molecules are known to play important roles in mediating inflammation. The proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), activates the NF-kB signaling pathway, which induces the expression of various genes, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In this study, the effect of vitamin C on the ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-α in a human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH was investigated.

Antiviral and tumoricidal activities of alginate-stimulated macrophages are mediated by different mechanisms.

Macrophages play an important role in host defenses by killing tumors and virus infections and producing secretory products. High mannuronic acid (HMA) containing alginate was examined to determine the mechanisms by which HMA-activated macrophages resist infection with HSV-1 and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The ability of macrophages to resist infection with HSV-1 or to inhibit the growth of tumor cells was assessed following treatment with HMA alginate in the presence of either antibodies to various cytokines or inhibitors/scavengers of toxic macrophage products.

Immune alterations in mice exposed to the herbicide simazine.

Simazine, a triazine herbicide, was investigated for its in vivo immunomodulatory properties. Male C57Bl/6 mice were treated with vehicle or 300 or 600 mg/kg body weight (bw) simazine daily orally for 4 wk. The immune system was evaluated by the antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC; plaque assay and serum immunoglobulin G), natural killer (NK) and macro-phage activities, lymphocyte subpopulations in the spleen and thymus, and concanavalin A (Con A)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation using splenocytes.

Modulation of TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 expression, NO and H2O2 production by alginate, allicin and ascorbic acid in human endothelial cells.

Plant nutrients are believed to provide protection against various diseases including inflammation. Since interactions of the cell adhesion molecules are known to play important roles in mediating inflammation, inhibiting adhesion protein upregulation is a possible therapeutic target. In this study, the interacellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was induced in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) after stimulation with TNF-alpha.

The immunomodulatory effects of the herbicide simazine on murine macrophage functions in vitro.

We examined the immunomodulating effects of simazine, a triazine herbicide, on murine peritoneal macrophages after in vitro pre-exposure. When thioglycollate-elicited macrophages pre-exposed to simazine were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the antitumor activity induced by LPS was suppressed by simazine. Simazine also inhibited poly I:C-induced antiviral activity and interferon (IFN) production in macrophages.