Min-Won Baek

Immunoenhancing effects of a new probiotic strain, Lactobacillus fermentum PL9005

The immunoenhancing effects of Lactobacillus fermentum PL9005 were assessed via mouse intragastric inoculation. The number of immunoglobulin A-positive cells in the small intestine, CD4+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, and the lymphocyte proliferation response to mitogen stimulation (lipopolysaccharide) increased in mice fed L. fermentum PL9005. The lactic acid concentration also increased dose dependently in the small intestine of mice fed L. fermentum PL9005. No differences were found in body weight, food intake, and clinical signs between mice fed L. fermentum PL9005 and the control group. Results indicated that L. fermentum PL9005 is a probiotic with immunoenhancing properties.

Gastric Lesions and Immune Responses caused by Long-term Infection with Helicobacter heilmannii in C57BL/6 Mice

Helicobacter heilmannii is a gastric micro-organism that can induce gastritis and B-cell MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma in mice, in a host-dependent manner. The present study was designed to examine gastric lesions and immune responses caused by intragastric H. heilmannii infection of an inbred mouse strain, C57BL/6. Long-term infection led to the formation of gastric nodules and increased mucosal thickness of the stomach, due to gastric epithelial proliferation. Infection also induced the formation of lymphoid follicles in the corpus mucosa and submucosa. The follicular cells were mainly CD45R+ cells that did not produce immunoglobulin. However, scattered in the lamina propria and corpus submucosa, numerous IgA+ cells were found in infected mice, but not in control mice. RT-PCR results showed that H. heilmannii infection led to increased mRNA expression for IFN-gamma (a Th1 cytokine) and IL-10 (a Th2 cytokine) in the mouse stomach, suggesting that both Th1 and Th2 responses are associated with H. heilmannii infection. The mRNA of other cytokines and chemokines (IL-1beta, IL-12p40, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, KC and MIP-2) was also increased by infection.

Effects of dietary high fat on prostate intraepithelial neoplasia in TRAMP mice.

Increased fat intake is known to be a major cause of prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary high fat on prostate intraepithelial neoplasia using transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice. Six-week-old male TRAMP mice were fed AIN93G (control group, 4.0 kcal/kg, n=6) and AIN93G-HFD (experimental group, 4.8 kcal/kg, n=7) for 10 weeks. Prostate histopathology, urogenital tract (UGT) weight, epididymal white adipose tissue weight, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) counts, and serum leptin levels were examined. AIN93G-HFD fed group showed progressed neoplastic lesions in the prostate (P<0.05) compared to AIN93G fed group. AIN93G-HFD intake resulted in a increase in the weight of UGT (P<0.05) and epididymal white adipose tissue. The number of Ag-NOR positive dots significantly increased in each prostate lobe and final serum leptin levels in AIN93G-HFD fed group were about twice those of AIN93G fed group (P<0.05). Dietary high fat was related to the prostate cancer progression in the early stage of TRAMP mice and increased serum leptin levels, suggesting that the regulation of dietary components could delay the progression of prostate cancer.

Highly expressed recombinant human follicle- stimulating hormone from Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in serum-free medium and its effect on induction of folliculogenesis and ovulation

OBJECTIVE To develop efficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that express recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) in serum-free conditions and to investigate the effect of this newly synthesized rhFSH on folliculogenesis and ovulation. DESIGN Experimental study. SETTING Seoul National University, South Korea. ANIMALS Forty immature hypophysectomized rats and 40 androgen-sterilized mice. INTERVENTION(S) A stable single CHO cell that expresses rhFSH at a high level was obtained by introducing the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) alpha-subunit and FSH beta-subunit genes. After purification processing, we investigated the effect of this newly synthesized rhFSH on folliculogenesis in hypophysectomized rats and ovulation in androgen-sterilized mice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The ovary weight, uterine weight, number of follicles, and ovarian morphology were evaluated in immature hypophysectomized rats. The number of ovulated oocytes and ovarian morphology were examined in androgen-sterilized mice. RESULT(S) After purification processing, we analyzed the new rhFSH using matrix-associated laser desorption ionization-time of flight and found that this new rhFSH increased both ovarian weight and uterine weight in hypophysectomized rats and induced ovulation in androgen-sterilized mice. CONCLUSION(S) This newly synthesized rhFSH might be safely used in anovulatory infertile woman as well as in ovulation induction protocols for subfertile women.

Protective and therapeutic effects of an extract mixture of alder tree, labiate herb, milk thistle green bean-rice bran fermentation, and turnip against ethanol-induced toxicity in the rat.

An herbal extract mixture and yogurt added to the herbal extract mixture were tested for their protective and therapeutic effects on ethanol-induced liver injury. The herbal extract mixture, yogurt and commercial drugs were used for treatment for two weeks prior to administering a single oral dose of ethanol (3 g/kg body weight). The herbal extract mixture and yogurt added to the herbal extract mixture were found to provide protection against ethanol-induced toxicity comparable to the commercial drug treatment, according to the serum and histopathological analysis. It was also shown that co-treatment with herbal extract mixture and yogurt against a triple oral dose of ethanol (2 g/kg body weight, over one week) provided protection against ethanol toxicity. After the initial set of experiments, the herbal extract mixture and yogurt treatments were extended for three more weeks. When compared to the positive control, further treatment with both the herbal extract and yogurt significantly reduced liver injury and resulted in a lower grade of lipid deposition.