It is well documented that an extract of European mistletoe has a variety of biological effects, such as the stimulation of cytokine production from immune cells, and additional immunoadjuvant activities. While the European mistletoe has been studied intensively, we know less about Korean mistletoe as a therapeutic plant, especially as a possible immunomodulating drug. This study will investigated the effects of Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin, VCA) on murine splenocytes to investigate whether VCA acts as an immunomodulator, which could lead to improved immune responses in these cells. The results showed that VCA inhibited cell proliferation at higher concentrations (at 1-8 ng/ml) and enhanced cell proliferation at lower concentrations (at 4-32 pg/ml). Further studies were carried out to determine if the proproliferative or anti-proliferative activity exhibited by VCA was correlated with cytokine secretion. Consequently, interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion was decreased in concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated murine splenocytes by VCA (4-64 ng/ml), but there was no change in IL-4 levels. This suggests that VCA has the ability to modulate murine splenocyte proliferation and can possibly act on the balance of Th1/Th2 cellular immune responses.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.5483/bmbrep.2006.39.6.662 | DOI Listing |
J Nanobiotechnology
January 2025
College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Background: The rapid mutation of avian influenza virus (AIV) poses a significant threat to both the poultry industry and public health. Herein, we have successfully developed an mRNA-LNPs candidate vaccine for H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza and evaluated its immunogenicity and protective efficacy.
Results: In experiments on BALB/c mice, the vaccine candidate elicited strong humoral and a certain cellular immune responses and protected mice from the heterologous AIV challenge.
J Immunother Cancer
January 2025
National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
Background: Arginase-1 (Arg1) expressing tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may create an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which is a significant challenge for cancer immunotherapy. We previously reported the existence of Arg1-specific memory T cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and described that Arg-1-based immune modulatory vaccines (IMVs) control tumor growth and alter the M1/M2 macrophage ratio in murine models of cancer. In the present study, we investigated how Arg1-specific T cells can directly target TAMs and influence their polarization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld J Stem Cells
January 2025
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, South Korea.
Background: Human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess regenerative potential due to pluripotency and paracrine functions. However, their stemness and immunomodulatory capabilities are sub-optimal in conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture.
Aim: To enhance the efficiency and therapeutic efficacy of MSCs, an -like 3D culture condition was applied.
Vaccines (Basel)
January 2025
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100052, China.
Background: The development of a protective vaccine is critical for conclusively ending the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic.
Methods: We constructed nucleotide-modified mRNA vaccines expressing HIV-1 Env and Gag proteins. Env-gag virus-like particles (VLPs) were generated through co-transfection with env and gag mRNA vaccines.
Front Immunol
January 2025
Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Introduction: The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in influencing host health, through the production of metabolites and other key signalling molecules. While the impact of specific metabolites or taxa on host cells is well-documented, the broader impact of a disrupted microbiota on immune homeostasis is less understood, which is particularly important in the context of the increasing overuse of antibiotics.
Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice were gavaged twice daily for four weeks with Vancomycin, Polymyxin B, or PBS (control).
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