Red Ginseng Extract and γ-Aminobutyric Acid Synergistically Enhance Immunity Against Cancer Cells and Antitumor Metastasis Activity in Mice.

The effects of combined administration of red ginseng (RG) extracts and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on immunostimulatory activity and tumor metastasis inhibition were investigated in mice. For the immunostimulatory activity, splenocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, including the production of granzyme B (GrB) and interferon gamma (IFN-), and serum level of cytokine such as IFN-, interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-21 were assessed. Peyer's patch cells obtained from mice administered with RG+GABA were cultured, and the cytokine level in the culture supernatant and bone marrow (BM) cell proliferation activity were examined.

Synergistic effect of Korean red ginseng extract and GABA mixture on the IgE production in mice via Th1/Th2 cell balance.

It has been recently reported that the immune system has been linked to the nervous system. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of administration of two components, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Panax ginseng Meyer (GIN), on the production of IgE and Th1-Th2 dominant cytokines. Antibody and inflammatory mediator levels in serum, and the cytokines secreted to spleen cells of ovalbumin (OVA) immunized mice were analyzed.

Ring finger protein 219 regulates inflammatory responses by stabilizing sirtuin 1.

Background And Purpose: Ring finger protein 219 (RNF219), a protein containing the C HC -type RING-HC motif, has been identified as a binding partner of the histone deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). To explore the functions of RNF219, we examined its possible roles in the cellular responses to inflammation.

Experimental Approach: Effects of RNF219 on SIRT1 were studied in vitro using RAW264.

Signaling pathways associated with macrophage-activating polysaccharides purified from fermented barley.

Barley is commonly used in many food and health products. We have previously demonstrated the macrophage-stimulating properties of polysaccharides derived from fermented barley. In this study, three polysaccharide fractions (BF-I-III) were purified from fermented barley and their monosaccharide composition was analyzed.

Immunoadjuvant activity in mice of polysaccharides isolated from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer.

Our previous study showed polysaccharide (GS-P) isolated from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer possessed anti-tumor metastatic activity in mouse model.

Polysaccharides from ginseng leaves inhibit tumor metastasis via macrophage and NK cell activation.

In this study, we purified the polysaccharide fraction (GS-P) from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and analyzed its monosaccharide composition and antitumor and antimetastatic activity in vitro and in vivo.

Changes in the antigenicity and allergenicity of ovalbumin in chicken egg white by N-acetylglucosaminidase.

Ovalbumin (OVA), an (hen) egg allergen, is one of the most abundant glycoprotein allergens associated with IgE-mediated hypersensitivity through the T-helper type 2 immune response. The effect of deglycosylation of the N-terminal glycan in OVA on allergenicity and antigenicity after N-acetylglucosaminidase treatment was studied. N-acetylglucosaminidase-treated OVA (N-OVA) evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

SIGN-R1 and complement factors are involved in the systemic clearance of radiation-induced apoptotic cells in whole-body irradiated mice.

Although SIGN-R1-mediated complement activation pathway has been shown to enhance the systemic clearance of apoptotic cells, the role of SIGN-R1 in the clearance of radiation-induced apoptotic cells has not been characterized and was investigated in this study. Our data indicated that whole-body γ-irradiation of mice increased caspase-3(+) apoptotic lymphocyte numbers in secondary lymphoid organs. Following γ-irradiation, SIGN-R1 and complements (C4 and C3) were simultaneously increased only in the mice spleen tissue among the assessed tissues.

Cleavage of the terminal N-acetylglucosamine of egg-white ovalbumin N-glycans significantly reduces IgE production and Th2 cytokine secretion.

Ovalbumin (OA) is one of the most abundant of the glycoprotein allergens, and induces a T-helper type 2 immune response that results in an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity. In this study, the terminal carbohydrates of N-glycans from intact OA were cleaved with the exoglycosidases galactosidase, mannosidase, and N-acetylglucosaminidase to generate degalactosylated-OA, demannosylated-OA, and de-N-acetylglucosaminylated-OA, respectively, in order to evaluate their role in allergenicity. The exoglycosidase digestion procedure did not result in either degradation or contamination of the three deglycosylated sample, and the digestion efficiency was confirmed by comparing the results of glycan analysis of the three exoglycosidase-treated OAs with that of glycans of intact OA.

Porcine Splenic Hydrolysate has Antioxidant Activity in vivo and in vitro.

The antioxidant capacity of porcine splenic hydrolysate (PSH) was studied in vitro and in vivo. Peptide hydrolysates were prepared, using the proteolytic enzyme Alcalase(®). The molecular weights of PSH were 37,666, 10,673, 6,029, and 2,918 g/mol.

Inhibitory effect of chaga mushroom extract on compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock and IgE production in mice.

Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) are hypothesised to exhibit general immune-potentiating, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties, but their anti-allergic activities are not fully understood. Therefore, this study investigated whether a chaga mushroom extract (C-HE) might have anti-allergic activity. This activity was assessed through the levels of the IgE Ab produced in response to an allergen (OVA).

The effects of β-glucans on cancer metastasis.

Beta-glucans (β-glucans), naturally occurring polysaccharides, are present as constituents of the cell wall of cereal grains, mushrooms, algae, or microbes including bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Since Pillemer et al. first prepared and investigated zymosan in the 1940s and others followed with the investigation of β-glucans in the 1960s and 1970s, researchers have well established the significant role of β-glucans on the immune system relative to cancer treatment, infection immunity, and restoration of damaged bone marrow.

Fermentation of Korean red ginseng by Lactobacillus plantarum M-2 and its immunological activities.

We investigated ginsenoside transformation by fermentation of red ginseng with Lactobacillus plantarum M-2. We also examined the anti-metastasis and immune-stimulating activities of EtOH extracts of fermented red ginseng (FRG-E) in animal and human subjects. Total sugar decreased from 85.

The antioxidant and chemopreventive potentialities of Mosidae (Adenophora remotiflora) leaves.

Our study focused on the antioxidant activities of Mosidae leaf ethanol extract (MLE) and included measurements of reducing power, total phenolic compounds, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. In order to determine whether or not MLE evidences any chemopreventive activities, experimental lung metastasis was induced via the i.v.

Innate immune stimulation of exo-polymers prepared from Cordyceps sinensis by submerged culture.

After we prepared exo-polymers (EPS) from Cordyceps sinensis by submerged culture, prophylactic intravenous administration (i.v.) of EPS significantly inhibited metastasis in experimental lung metastasis of colon 26-M3.

Anti-tumor immunostimulatory effect of heat-killed tumor cells.

As a part of our ongoing search for a safe and efficient anti-tumor vaccine, we attempted to determine whether the molecular nature of certain tumor antigens would influence immune responses against tumor cells. As compared with freeze-thawed or formaldehyde-fixed tumor antigens, heat-denatured tumor antigens elicited profound anti-tumor immune responses and greatly inhibited the growth of live tumor cells. The heat-denatured tumor antigens induced a substantial increase in the anti-tumor CTL response in the absence of any adjuvant material.

Anti-tumor metastatic activity of beta-glucan purified from mutated Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The beta-glucans isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) enhance the innate immune system, but there is little evidence for its antitumor activity. To examine the antitumor and immunostimulating activities of beta-glucan (IS-2) purified from mutated S.

Isolation and characterization of two Korean mistletoe lectins.

Two isolectins (KML-IIU and the KML-IIL) were individually isolated from the previously reported Korean mistletoe lectin, KML-C, by using an immunoaffinity column. Molecular weights of the KML-IIU and the KML-IIL were 64 kDa and 60 kDa respectively. Both of the lectins were composed of heterogeneous A and B subunits linked with a disulfide bond, and showed the same carbohydrate-binding specificities for Gal and GalNAc.

Dietary Korean mistletoe enhances cellular non-specific immune responses and survival of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica).

The present study was performed to investigate the immunostimulatory effects of Korean mistletoe extract (KM-110; Viscum album Coloratum) on the non-specific immune response and protection against Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica). Eels were fed under 4 regimes, 0%, 0.1%, 0.

Glycoprotein isolated from Acanthopanax senticosus protects against hepatotoxicity induced by acute and chronic alcohol treatment.

The protective effect of a 30 kDa glycoprotein (GF-AS) isolated from the stem bark of Acanthopanax senticosus against acute and chronic alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity were studied. N-terminal amino acid sequence of GF-AS showed NH(2)-Val-Ala-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ala-Leu-Ser-Leu-Glx-Pro-Pro-Ala-Gly-Tyr-. GF-AS significantly increases the activities of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, including alcohol dehydrogenase, microsomal ethanol metabolizing system, and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in rats acutely treated with alcohol, resulting in decreased plasma alcohol levels.

Detection and identification of human papillomavirus types isolated from Korean patients with flat warts.

Flat warts, also called verruca planna (VP) or juvenile warts, are benign epithelial proliferations of the skin caused by infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV). Several HPV types are known to be associated with flat warts, and particularly HPV type 3 and 10 have been most frequently reported in other countries. In this study, for the detection and typing of human papillomavirus isolated from Korean patients with flat warts, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction endonuclease digestion were carried out with a set of restriction endonucleases, using the cloned HPV DNA and DNA from clinical specimens.

Transcriptional regulation of the mouse interleukin-2 receptor beta chain gene by Ets and Egr-1.

To clarify the mechanisms and factors involved in the regulation of mouse IL-2Rbeta gene expression, we isolated the 5'-flanking region of IL-2Rbeta gene and investigated the promoter activity. Here we elucidated the positive regulatory regions, the most potent of which are located between -50 to -30bp and -164 to -135bp. These regions contain a potentially functional Ets and Egr-1-binding sites whose mutations abrogate promoter activity.