Splenocyte-mediated immune enhancing activity of Sargassum horneri extracts / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the immunological activity and optimized the mixture conditions of Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) extracts in vitro and in vivo models.METHODS: S. horneri was extracted using three different methods: hot water extraction (HWE), 50% ethanol extraction (EE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production (Interleukin-2 and Interferon-γ) were measured using a WST-1 assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of nitric oxide and T cell activation production were measured using a Griess assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The natural killer (NK) cell activity was determined using an EZ-LDH kit.RESULTS: Among the three different types of extracts, HWE showed the highest levels of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. In the animal model, three different types of extracts were administrated for 14 days (once/day) at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. HWE and SFE showed a high level of splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production in the with and without mitogen-treated groups, whereas EE administration did not induce the splenocyte activation. When RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with different mixtures (HWE with 5, 10, 15, 20% of SFE) to determine the optimal mixture ratio of HWE and SFE, the levels of nitric oxide and cytokine production increased strongly in the HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE containing group. In the animal model, HWE with 5% and 10% of SFE mixture administration increased the levels of splenocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and activated CD4⁺ cell population significantly, with the highest level observed in the HWE with 5% of SFE group. Moreover, the NK cell activity was increased significantly in the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture-treated group compared to the control group.CONCLUSION: The optimal mixture condition of S. horneri with immune-enhancing activity is the HWE with 5% of SFE mixture. These results confirmed that the extracts of S. horneri and its mixtures are potential candidate materials for immune enhancement.

New evidences of α7nAChR participating in 100 Hz EA regulating NK cells activity / 重庆医学

Objective On the basis of previous experiments ,we try further to seek the new evidences of α7nAChR participating in 100 Hz electroacupuncture (EA ) regulating natural killer (NK ) cells activity .Methods α7nAChR antibody and the specificα7nAChR antagonist α-bungarotoxin (α-Bgt) were used to study the effect of α7nAChR on NK cell activity in 100 Hz EA mice .Re-sults Compared with 100 Hz EA group ,100 Hz EA plus α7nAChR-Ab group showed a significant enhanced in NK cell activity (P<0 .05) .100 Hz EA treated with 1 .5 or 3 .0 μg α-Bgt groups had higher NK cell activity than 100 Hz EA group(P<0 .01) . Conclusion α7nAChR is involved in 100 Hz EA modulation for immune function ,which provide the theoretical and practical basis for further clarifying and expanding the clinical application of EA .

Effects of Essential Oil Odor Exposure on Psychophysiological and Immunological Parameters of Fatigue due to Computer-Related Tasks / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<b>Objective</b>: The psychophysiological and immunological effects of exposure to different varieties of essential oils on fatigue were extensively investigated in students performing personal computer tasks.<br> <b>Design</b>: Randomized crossover study<br> <b>Methods</b>: This study was approved by the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Research Ethics Committee, and informed consents were obtained from all subjects. Eight healthy male university students with mean age of 22.38±1.30 (range 21–24) who served as the subjects in this study were given a 120-minute personal computer task with 10-minute rest period before and after the task.<br> During the course of performing PC task, subjects were either exposed to one of the five essential oil odors (grapefruit, peppermint, true lavender, blend A, blend B) or not exposed to any odor at all, serving as the control in the study. Each of the six odor setting were carried out on separate days upon which psychophysiological and immunological parameters of fatigue in the subjects were evaluated.<br> <b>Results and Conclusions</b>: The results of this study suggest that exposure to essential oil odors affects the autonomic nervous and immunological system when engaged in a personal computer task. Moreover, different varieties of essential oils cause different vital reactions. In particular, peppermint essential oil exhibits fatigue-reducing effects.<br>

A Study of Natural Killer Cell Activities , T Cells and T Cell Subsets in Vitiligo / 대한피부과학회지

The pathogenesis of vitiligo is still unresolved. The three classically held theories are the immune hypothesis, neural hypothesis, and self destruct hypothesis. Recently the immunologic hypothesis is the most important. We analysed natural killer cell activities of 30 cases of vitiligo by Cr release assay, also analysed T cells and T cell subsets of 7 cases of vitiligo in peripheral blood by monoclonal antibody. The result were as follows l. A statistically significant increase of natural killer cell activity was observed in patients with vitiligo(67.5+/-19.2%) in comparison with control subjects(54.7+/-14.7%) 2. 5lo significant difference of natural killer cell activity was observed in patients whose onset of disease was less than 1 year(66.2+/-19.6%) in comparison with more than 1 year(72.0+/-18.4%) 3. No significant difference of natural killer cell activity was observed in patients with vitiligo between generalized(68.3+/-20.6) and localized type(70.3+/-18.0%). 4. The mean value of T cell, T cell subsets(T3, T4, TS) in patients with vitiligo(78. 8+/-10.8, 42.4+/-6.1, 26.46.8%) showed no significant difference in comparison with control subjects(75.3+/-6.3, 43.5+/-8.7, 26.1+/-6.69).