The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Bee Pollen from Acorn ( Carr.) and Darae ().

Aging is a complex biological process characterized by a progressive decline in physical function and an increased risk of age-related chronic diseases. Additionally, oxidative stress is known to cause severe tissue damage and inflammation. Pollens from acorn and darae are extensively produced in Korea.

Eriocitrin Inhibits Angiogenesis by Targeting VEGFR2-Mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathways.

Eriocitrin, a flavanone found in peppermint and citrus fruits, is known to possess many physiological activities. However, the anti-angiogenic effects of eriocitrin are yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, the objective of this research was to explore the anti-angiogenic effects of eriocitrin both in vitro and in vivo as well as its underlying mechanism.

Clearing soluble MIC reverses the impaired function of natural killer cells from patients with multiple myeloma.

Background: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related protein (MIC) is a stress-induced ligand released from multiple myeloma (MM) cells during progression, and soluble MIC impairs natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) activating receptor-mediated recognition and function of natural killer (NK) cells. However, whether clearing soluble MIC with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) can restore NK cell activity of MM patients remains undetermined.

Methods: We analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) CoMMpass data set to examine the prognostic significance of expression in MM.

Novel next generation sequencing panel method for the multiple detection and identification of foodborne pathogens in agricultural wastewater.

Detecting and identifying the origins of foodborne pathogen outbreaks is a challenging. The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel method offers a potential solution by enabling efficient screening and identification of various bacteria in one reaction. In this study, new NGS panel primer sets that target 18 specific virulence factor genes from six target pathogens (, , , , , and ) were developed and optimized.

Phase I Study: Safety and Efficacy of an Ex Vivo-Expanded Allogeneic Natural Killer Cell (MG4101) with Rituximab for Relapsed/Refractory B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

The prognosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remains poor, with an unmet need for novel therapies. MG4101, an ex vivo-expanded allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell, can enhance rituximab antibody-dependent cytotoxicity in relapsed/refractory (r/r) B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of MG4101 plus rituximab for patients with r/r NHL.

Development and Evaluation of a Next-Generation Sequencing Panel for the Multiple Detection and Identification of Pathogens in Fermented Foods.

These days, bacterial detection methods have some limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and multiple detection. To overcome these, novel detection and identification method is necessary to be developed. Recently, NGS panel method has been suggested to screen, detect, and even identify specific foodborne pathogens in one reaction.

Mouse feeding study and microbiome analysis of sourdough bread for evaluation of its health effects.

Sourdough bread fermented with yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is thought to have various beneficial health effects. However, its beneficial effects were not fully evaluated with mouse model. To evaluate these effects , a mouse feeding study and microbiome analysis of white bread containing 40% sourdough (WBS) and yeast-leavened white bread (WB) were performed.

Safety and immunogenicity of two recombinant DNA COVID-19 vaccines containing the coding regions of the spike or spike and nucleocapsid proteins: an interim analysis of two open-label, non-randomised, phase 1 trials in healthy adults.

Background: We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of two recombinant DNA vaccines for COVID-19: GX-19 containing plasmid DNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and GX-19N containing plasmid DNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) foldon, nucleocapsid protein, and plasmid DNA encoding the spike protein.

Methods: Two open-label non-randomised phase 1 trials, one of GX-19 and the other of GX-19N were done at two hospitals in South Korea. We enrolled healthy adults aged 19-49 years for the GX-19 trial and healthy adults aged 19-54 years for the GX-19N trial.

Longitudinal Assessment of Anti-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Immune Responses for Six Months Based on the Clinical Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: There is insufficient data on the longevity of immunity acquired after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Methods: We aimed to evaluate the duration of SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity according to the clinical severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study population comprised asymptomatic (n = 14), symptomatic/nonpneumonic (n = 42), and pneumonic (n = 41) patients.

Dynamic changes in circulating PD-1CD8 T lymphocytes for predicting treatment response to PD-1 blockade in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: The predictive value of immune monitoring with circulating CD8 T lymphocytes for treatment response to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors has not been explored in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prompting us to investigate whether dynamic changes in PD-1CD8 T lymphocytes have predictive value for durable clinical benefit (DCB) and survival after PD-1 blockade.

Methods: Patients with recurrent and/or metastatic NSCLC treated with PD-1 inhibitors were enrolled (discovery cohort; n = 94). Peripheral blood was obtained immediately before and after one cycle of treatment with PD-1 blockade.

Increased frequency of CD4CD57 senescent T cells in patients with newly diagnosed acute heart failure: exploring new pathogenic mechanisms with clinical relevance.

Recent animal studies showed T cells have a direct pathogenic role in the development of heart failure (HF). However, which subsets of T cells contribute to human HF pathogenesis and progression remains unclear. We characterized immunologic properties of various subsets of T cells and their clinical implications in human HF.

Development of a SFTSV DNA vaccine that confers complete protection against lethal infection in ferrets.

Although the incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection has increased from its discovery with a mortality rate of 10-20%, no effective vaccines are currently available. Here we describe the development of a SFTSV DNA vaccine, its immunogenicity, and its protective efficacy. Vaccine candidates induce both a neutralizing antibody response and multifunctional SFTSV-specific T cell response in mice and ferrets.

Tumor Necrosis Factor and Regulatory T Cells.

CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells play major roles in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. In this review, we comprehensively describe the relationship between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Treg cells, focusing on the effects of TNF on Treg cells and on TNF-producing Treg cells. Contradictory results have been reported for the effect of TNF on the suppressive activity of Treg cells.

Herpes Zoster DNA Vaccines with IL-7 and IL-33 Molecular Adjuvants Elicit Protective T Cell Immunity.

Herpes zoster (HZ), or shingles, is caused by the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) from the sensory ganglia when VZV-specific T-cell immunity is decreased because of aging or immunosuppression. In the present study, we developed HZ DNA vaccine candidates encoding VZV proteins and cytokine adjuvants, such as IL-7 and IL-33. We immunized C57BL/6 mice with DNA plasmids encoding VZV glycoprotein E (gE), immediate early (IE) 63, or IE62 proteins and found that robust VZV protein-specific T-cell responses were elicited by HZ DNA vaccination.

IL-17A-Producing Foxp3 Regulatory T Cells and Human Diseases.

CD4Foxp3 regulatory T (Treg) cells play major roles in immune homeostasis. While CD4Foxp3 Treg cells act to suppress other immune effector cells, there is growing evidence that they also produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17A, in inflammatory conditions. The pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu, toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, and specific transcription factors are important for the production of IL-17A by CD4Foxp3 Treg cells.