SUMO2 overexpression enhances the generation and function of interleukin-17-producing CD8⁺ T cells in mice.

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) 2 is a small protein that controls the activity and stability of other proteins by SUMOylation. In this study, T cell-specific SUMO2 overexpressing transgenic mice were generated to study the effect of SUMO2 on T lymphocytes. SUMO2 overexpression promoted differentiation of interleukin (IL)-17-producing CD8(+) T cells, and significantly suppressed the growth of EL4 tumor cells in vivo.

Bcl-2 knockdown accelerates T cell receptor-triggered activation-induced cell death in jurkat T cells.

Cell death and survival are tightly controlled through the highly coordinated activation/inhibition of diverse signal transduction pathways to insure normal development and physiology. Imbalance between cell death and survival often leads to autoimmune diseases and cancer. Death receptors sense extracellular signals to induce caspase-mediated apoptosis.

Injection of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid regulates gene expression of lipolysis-related factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and hormones on mouse fat tissue.

Injection of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and deoxycholic acid (DA) preparation is widely used as an alternative to liposuction for the reduction of subcutaneous fat. Nevertheless, its physiological effects and mechanism of action are not yet fully understood. In this report, PC and deoxycholic acid (DA) were respectively injected into adipose tissue.

Therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 for house-dust mite-induced dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.

Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 was isolated from Kimchi, a Korean fermented food, and its potential to improve mouse atopic dermatitis after onset was studied. Dermatitis was developed through house dust-mite extract application onto NC/Nga mice, and then CJLP133 feeding was started. CJLP133 suppressed dermatitis-like skin lesions and decreased high serum IgE levels through balancing between IL-4 and IFN-γ in serum.

Peroxiredoxin-1, a possible target in modulating inflammatory cytokine production in macrophage like cell line RAW264.7.

Peroxiredoxin (PRX), a scavenger of H(2) O(2) and alkyl hydroperoxides in living organisms, protects cells from oxidative stress. Contrary to its known anti-oxidant roles, the involvement of PRX-1 in the regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling is poorly understood, possible immunological functions of PRX-1 having been uncovered only recently. In the present study, it was discovered that the PRX-1 deficient macrophage like cell line (RAW264.

Erratum to ‘‘Characterization of the regulatory roles of the SUMO.

Background: Type 1 diabetes is a multi-factorial autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas; both genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to its development. Recently, a novel gene encoding small ubiquitin-like modifier protein 4 (SUMO4) was cloned and a single nucleotide substitution (M55V) was found to be strongly associated with type 1 diabetes. SUMO4 was shown to interact with IκBα and inhibit NFκB transcriptional activity.

Characterization of the regulatory roles of the SUMO.

Background: Type 1 diabetes is a multi-factorial autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas; both genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to its development. Recently, a novel gene encoding small ubiquitin-like modifier protein 4 (SUMO4) was cloned and a single nucleotide substitution (M55V) was found to be strongly associated with type 1 diabetes. SUMO4 was shown to interact with IκBα and inhibit NFκB transcriptional activity.

Immunomodulatory activity of Lactobacillus strains isolated from fermented vegetables and infant stool.

Four Lactobacillus strains - Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133, L. plantarum CJLP243, L. plantarum CJNR26, and Lactobacillus gasseri CJMF3 - were isolated from Korean fermented food or healthy infant feces, and their capacity to modulate cellular and humoral immune responses was studied.

Modulation of Th1/Th2 balance by Lactobacillus strains isolated from Kimchi via stimulation of macrophage cell line J774A.1 in vitro.

Unlabelled: Lactobacilli isolated from Kimchi, a Korean traditional food, were tested for their capacity to modulate the T helper (Th) 1/Th2 balance. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mouse splenocytes were cultured with 26 strains of lactobacilli; the highest IL-12 induction and lowest IL-4 production were then observed in 4 strains, including Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55, CJLP56, CJLP133, and CJLP136. These strains produced a larger amount of IL-12, which enhances differentiation and activation of Th1 cells, in macrophage cell-lines more than positive control strains L.

Forced expression of programmed death-1 gene on T cell decreased the incidence of type 1 diabetes.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is a co-inhibitory receptor of the CD28/CTLA-4 family which is expressed on activated T cells and inhibits T cell activation after binding to PD-1 ligands. In animal models, PD-1 regulates autoimmune disease and induces tolerance in pancreas. In this study the effects of PD-1 on type 1 diabetes were examined using PD-1 transgenic mice (Tg).

The new diterpene isodojaponin D inhibited LPS-induced microglial activation through NF-kappaB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Neuroinflammation with prolonged microglial activation leads to increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and subsequently contributes to neuronal dysfunction and neuronal loss. Therefore, pharmacological suppression of neuroinflammation would theoretically slow the progression of neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and possible mechanisms of isodojaponin D (19-hydroxy-1alpha,6-diacetoxy-6,7-seco-ent-kaur-16-en-15-one-7,20-olide), a new diterpene isolated from Isodon japonicus against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced microglial activation in BV2 cells.

Inhibition of coagulation activation and inflammation by a novel Factor Xa inhibitor synthesized from the earthworm Eisenia andrei.

We have cloned an earthworm-derived Factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor, with an excellent inhibitory specificity from the midgut of the Eisenia andrei. We designate this inhibitor eisenstasin. An eisenstasin-derived small peptide (ESP) was synthesized and we examined whether ESP played an essential role in FXa inhibition.

Therapeutic advantages of medicinal herbs fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum, in topical application and its activities on atopic dermatitis.

The use of herbal medicines in the therapeutic treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been suggested recently. The present study examined whether selected herbal extracts fermented in Lactobacillus plantarum (FHE) possessed anti-AD properties. In addition, the study assessed the increased bioavailability of these herbal extracts both in vitro and in vivo.

Interferon signal transduction of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate/amantadine and anti-HBV activity in HepG2 2.2.15.

Biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) is a hepatoprotectant, which is used as an adjuvant agent in a treatment for chronic hepatitis. Amantadine is an antiviral agent, which is utilized primarily in the treatment of influenza, but also, occasionally in the treatment of hepatitis C. In a previous study, we reported that DDB, coupled with amantadine, would exert an anti-HBV effect, via the induction of interferon-inducible gene expression in the HepG2 2.

Reciprocal activity of ginsenosides in the production of proinflammatory repertoire, and their potential roles in neuroprotection in vivo.

Ginsenosides, the active compounds inherent to most Ginseng species [e. g., Panax ginseng (Araliaceae)], have recently been the focus of increased attention, due to both their purported CNS, antineoplastic and immunomodulatory effects, and their ability to stimulate phagocytosis.

Potential role of ursodeoxycholic acid in suppression of nuclear factor kappa B in microglial cell line (BV-2).

Expression of the NF-kappaB-dependent genes responsible for inflammation, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), contributes to chronic inflammation which is a major cause of neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. Alzheimer's disease).

Isoflavones extracted from Sophorae fructus upregulate IGF-I and TGF-beta and inhibit osteoclastogenesis in rat bone marrow cells.

Isoflavones have been a central subject in research on the natural phytoestrogens found in Leguminosae. Their effects on bone formation and remodeling are important in that they can act like estrogen by binding on estrogen receptors on the target cell surface. We, therefore, believed that isoflavones may help in the treatment of patients with estrogen deficiency disease such as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for osteoporosis.

Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits pro-inflammatory repertoires, IL-1 beta and nitric oxide in rat microglia.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a non-toxic, hydrophilic bile acid in widespread clinical use mainly for acute and chronic liver disease. Recently, treatment with UDCA in hepatic graft-versus-host disease has been given in immunosuppressive therapy for improvement of the biochemical markers of cholestasis. Moreover, it has been reported that UDCA possesses immunomodulatory effects by the suppression of cytokine production.