Restoration of Declined Immune Responses and Hyperlipidemia by Rubus occidenalis in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Hyperlipidemia, which is closely associated with a fatty diet and aging, is commonly observed in the western and aged society. Therefore, a novel therapeutic approach for this disease is critical, and an immunological view has been suggested as a novel strategy, because hyperlipidemia is closely associated with inflammation and immune dysfunction. In this study, the effects of an aqueous extract of Rubus occidentalis (RO) in obese mice were investigated using immunological indexes. The mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce hyperlipidemia, which was confirmed by biochemical analysis and examination of the mouse physiology. Two different doses of RO and rosuvastatin, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor used as a control, were orally administered. Disturbances in immune cellularity as well as lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were significantly normalized by oral administration of RO, which also decreased the elevated serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level and total cholesterol. The specific immune-related actions of RO comprised considerable improvement in cytotoxic T cell killing functions and regulation of antibody production to within the normal range. The immunological evidence confirms the significant cholesterol-lowering effect of RO, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia and associated immune decline.

Mucosal CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Immunity of Vaccinized Animals to Genital Infection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

In the present study, we directly evaluated mucosal CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity using ex vivo cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay and MHC class I tetramer staining method in iliac lymph node (LN) and vaginal tracts of mice immunized mucosally with several prime-boost protocols after genital infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Ex vivo CTL activity in iliac LN of infected mice was evaluated at 3-day post-infection without in vitro 5-day stimulation. Iliac LN of mice immunized with recombinant viral vaccine-priming and DNA vaccine-boosting protocol showed more potent CTL activity than those of other groups. Such ex vivo CTL activity was consistent with mucosal gB498-505 (SSIEFARL)-specific CD8+ T cell number of vaginal tract determined by MHC class I (H-2b) tetramer containing immunodominant peptide. Furthermore, the number of mucosal SSIEFARL-specific CD8+ T cells recruited into infected genital tracts appeared to decide the protective outcome against genital infection of virulent HSV-1. These results support that mucosal CD8+ T cells are principal mediators for the protection against genital infection of HSV-1.