Immunomodulatory effects of ethanol extract of germinated ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of ice plant () extract (IPE) and . Raji (a human B cell line) and Jurkat (a human T cell line) cells were treated with various doses of IPE and cell proliferation was measured by WST assay. Results showed that IPE promoted the proliferation of both Raji and Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Alginate oligosaccharide enhances LDL uptake via regulation of LDLR and PCSK9 expression.

The hepatic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) plays a crucial role in lipoprotein metabolism by lowering the plasma LDL-cholesterol concentration, which reduces the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Although alginate oligosaccharide (AOS), prepared from degradation, has several pharmacological effects, it is not known whether AOS affects lipoprotein metabolism. This study was conducted to investigate whether AOS up-regulated LDLR expression and LDL uptake in vitro and in vivo, and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Correction: Bacillus subtilis KCTC 11782BP-Produced Alginate Oligosaccharide Effectively Suppresses Asthma via T-Helper Cell Type 2-Related Cytokines.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Bacillus subtilis KCTC 11782BP-produced alginate oligosaccharide effectively suppresses asthma via T-helper cell type 2-related cytokines.

According to the World Health Organization in 2013, 235 million people are afflicted with asthma. Asthma is a severe pulmonary disease that can be caused by the imbalance of T-helper (Th) type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) cells, and it is potentially fatal. In this study, we evaluated the anti-asthmatic effect of alginate oligosaccharide (AO), which was prepared from seaweed and converted by Bacillus subtilis KCTC 11782BP, in the mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma.