In vitro Antibacterial and Morphological Effects of the Urushiol Component of the Sap of the Korean lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera Stokes) on Helicobacter pylori

Eradication regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection have some side effects, compliance problems, relapses, and antibiotic resistance. Therefore, alternative anti-H. pylori or supportive antimicrobial agents with fewer disadvantages are necessary for the treatment of H. pylori. We investigated the pH-(5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0) and concentration (0.032, 0.064, 0.128, 0.256, 0.514, and 1.024 mg/mL)-dependent antibacterial activity of crude urushiol extract from the sap of the Korean lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera Stokes) against 3 strains (NCTC11637, 69, and 219) of H. pylori by the agar dilution method. In addition, the serial (before incubation, 3, 6, and 10 min after incubation) morphological effects of urushiol on H. pylori were examined by electron microscopy. All strains survived only within pH 6.0-9.0. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the extract against strains ranged from 0.064 mg/mL to 0.256 mg/mL. Urushiol caused mainly separation of the membrane, vacuolization, and lysis of H. pylori. Interestingly, these changes were observed within 10 min following incubation with the 1 x minimal inhibitory concentrations of urushiol. The results of this work suggest that urushiol has potential as a rapid therapeutic against H. pylori infection by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane.

Immunoregulation of Murine Immunocytes to Bifidobacteria Strain Isolated from Feces of Healthy Korean Children: IL-10 Release and Proportional Change of CD4+CD25+ Cells

Bifidobacteria is one of the prototypes of probiotics bacteria, normally inhabitating the intestinal tract of humans. To search for a potent immunoregulatory Bifidobacteria strain, we screened the Bifidobacteria strains isolated from the feces of healthy Korean children. The mRNA or protein expression of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, from mouse macrophages stimulated with live Bifidobacteria was examined. Of tested strains, Bifidobacteria A28 induced the highest IL-10 gene expression of murine macrophages. To probe immunoregulatory activity of the selected strain on the mice, we evaluated the proportional changes of CD4+CD25+ surface marker in the murine splenocytes. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the overall percentages of CD4+CD25+ cells in A28-treated splenocytes were higher than those of untreated splenocytes. In parallel, IL-10 release from A28-treated mouse peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes was significantly higher than that of untreated control cells. Collectively, the Bifidobacteria A28 strain isolated from the feces of healthy Korean children augments the mRNA or protein expression of IL-10 release from mouse peritoneal macrophages as well as the proportion of CD4+CD25+ cells of naive splenocytes. These provide in vitro scientific clues that Bifidobacteria A28 might be usable for anti-inflammatory disease such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Protective Effects of Immunization with Proteinase, Phospholipase and Cell Wall Proteins of Candida albicans in Mice Candidosis / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: The opportunistic fungus Candida albicans is a major pathogen especially to immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVES: We examined the protective effect of the active and passive immunizations to evaluate the applicability for the treatment of candidosis in Candida-infected mice model. METHODS: Candida cell wall components were obtained by treatment of lyticase, proteinase K, and dithiothreitol. The proteinase was purified from the culture filtrates of C. albicans using a series of chromatographic steps consisting of DEAE-Sepharose FF, Sephacryl S-200 HR and size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography. The phospholipase was purified from the culture supernatant of C. albicans with DEAE column chromatography, reverse phase column chromatography, revere phase HPLC and size-exclusion HPLC. Antibodies to cell wall protein components, proteinase and phospholipase were produced by immunization into mice of same strain. RESULTS: The mean survival times of active and passive immunized mice groups were longer than those of non-immunized groups. CONCLUSION: These results showed that immunization with proteinase and its antibody were the most effective to prolong survival time in Candida-infected mice.

Different Responses of MSSA and MRSA to Oxacillin of Their Respective MICs

All of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains exhibit resistance to oxacillin by producing PBP2a encoded by mecA, whereas methicllin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains do not. To investigate phenotypic differences other than oxacillin resistance level in responses to oxacillin between MSSA and MRSA, we compared alterations of viability and ultrastructure of MSSA by oxacillin treatment with those of MRSA. When MSSA and MRSA strains were exposed to oxacillin of their respective MICs, and then were assayed for viability and observed by transmission electron microscope, increase in thickness of cell wall was more prominent in MRSA strains than in MSSA strains, while decrease in number of surviving cells was more evident and change in morphology of growing cross wall was greater in MSSA strains than in MRSA strains. It is assumed that these different responses to oxacillin between MSSA and MRSA strains may be due to activation of some PBP2a unbound to oxacillin. In conclusion, MSSA and MRSA showed different functional and morphological responses to oxacillin, although they were treated with oxacillin of concentrations that respectively inhibit their proliferation.

The Expression of TLR3 and Cytokines Induced by Poly I:C in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

In this study, we examined the expression of Toll-like receptor3 (TLR3) by human retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) and determined whether exposure to the TLR3 agonist polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) would induced the expression of cytokines in these cells. RT-PCR revealed that TLR3 was constitutively expressed in human RPE, and its expression was increased by treatment with poly I:C. After treatment with poly I:C, we determined the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human RPE using RT-PCR and ELISA. We demonstrated that poly I:C treatment increased the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 in human RPE. Upon exposure to poly I:C, human RPE initiated antiviral response resulting in the induction of IFN-beta mRNA expression and 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA expression. These results suggest that human RPE may participate in ocular defense mechanism against viral infection through TLR3.

The Expression Pattern of Toll-like Receptor (TLR) and Cytokine Production to TLR Agonists in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) constituting the outer blood-retina barrier plays an important role in ocular defense mechanism. Many studies reported that RPE participates in ongoing immune responses in the retina. However, the exact mechanism is still uncertain. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) participate in the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), such as LPS, zymosan, lipoprotein, and dsRNA. The expression and function of TLRs in human RPE have not been established. In this study, we investigated TLRs expression in human fetal RPE and their recognition of PAMP to determine how human RPE participates in ocular defense mechanism against microbial component. RT-PCR and real time PCR revealed that TLR1 through 5 were constitutively expressed in human fetal RPE, and their expressions were slightly increased by LPS. We determined the TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 expression in human fetal RPE after treatment with LPS, zymosan, petidoglycan, or poly I:C. RT-PCR demonstrated that LPS and poly I:C treatment increased the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 in human fetal RPE. LPS showed more potent effects on TNF-alpha and IL-8 production. Peptidoglycan and zymosan did not induce the production of TNF-alpha. CD14, the co-receptor of LPS was weakly expressed and functioned in recognizing LPS in human fetal RPE. These results suggest that human RPE may participate in ocular defense mechanism against microbial component through toll-like receptors.

Differential Expression, Shedding, Cytokine Regulation and Function of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in Human Fetal Astrocytes

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha induces pleiotropic cellular effects through a 55kDa, type 1 receptor (TNFR1) and a 75kDa type 2 receptor (TNFR2). Moreover, it participates in the pathogenesis of several CNS diseases, including demyelinating diseases. TNF- receptors are differentially expressed and are regulated in many cell types. However, data regarding the TNF-alpha receptor expression and regulation in human astrocytes is limited to date. We investigated TNF-alpha receptor expression, its regulation by cytokines, and its functional role in primary cultured human fetal astrocytes, which are the most abundant cellular population in the central nervous system and are known to be immunologically active. In this study, astrocytes were found to constitutively and predominantly transcribe, translate and shed TNFR1 rather than TNFR2, but TNFR2 expression was increased by adding TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IFN-gamma, but not by adding LPS. To determine the functional roles of TNFR1 and TNFR2 on TNF induction, we investigated NF-kappaB activation and TNF-alpha induction after neutralizing TNFR1 and TNFR2 by an antibody treatment. We found that NF-kappaB activation and TNF-alpha induction are blocked by TNFR1 neutralizing antibody treatments.

Experimental reproduction of proliferative enteropathy and the role of IFN-gamma in protective immunity against Lawsonia intracellularis in mice

Proliferative enteropathy was reproduced in IFN-gamma receptor knockout (IFN-gamma R-) mice by experimental infection with Lawsonia intracellularis (L. intracellularis). The cecum and the colon of the infected mice were evidently enlarged 2 weeks post infection. The presence of L. intracellularis was identified in the stool and the cecum of the mice after infection. However, high levels of IFN-gamma were detected in the sera of the infected mice 2 weeks PI. These data indicated that the IFN-gamma produced in the infected mice should have been utilized by it's receptor to elicit protective immune responses against L. intracellularis infections.