Lindera obtusiloba Extends Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans

Lindera obtusiloba has been widely used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of lots of diseases, including abdominal pain, bruise, and hepatocirrhosis. Here in this study, we elucidated the lifespan-extending effect of methanolic extract of Lindera obtusiloba (MLO) using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. We found that MLO has potent lifespan extension activities under normal culture condition. Then, we determined the protective effects of MLO on the stress conditions such as osmotic, thermal and oxidative stress. To reveal possible mechanism of MLO-mediated lifespan, we further investigated the effect of MLO on the antioxidant enzyme activities and intracellular ROS levels. Our results demonstrated that superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly up-regulated by MLO treatment, resulted in reduced intracellular ROS levels. In this work, we also tested whether MLO-mediated longevity activity was associated with aging-related factors such as food intake and growth. Our data revealed that both of pharyngeal pumping rate and body length were significantly shifted by MLO treatment, indicating these factors were involved in MLO's lifespan-extension effects. Although MLO induces reduction in food intake, the body movement of MLO-fed aged worms was not decreased, compared to untreated control worms, indicating MLO might extend lifespan without affecting healthspan.

The Studies on the Factors Related to Normal Hair Growth During Postnatal Growth Periods in C57BL/6N, Hairless and Alopecia Areata Mice Model / 체질인류학회지

We have examined the factors related to hair growth regulation during postnatal growth periods in C57BL/6N, hairless and alopecia areata mice model. We first studied the number, localization and granulation status of skin mast cells during postnatal growth periods by toluidine blue, alcian blue and H& E staining methods. We second studied immunoreactive density of neuropeptide (substance P, CGRP, CRF, CRF -receptor, CRF -binding protein) in skin by immunohistochemical methods. We third studied changes of subpopulation of splenocytes and thymocytes during postnatal growth periods in C57BL/6N, hairless and alopecia areata mice model by flow cytometry. The results were as follows : In C57BL/6N mice, the number of mast cells was decreased from 1day to 35 day during postnatal growth period. But skin of alopecia areata model mice in 21 day, the number of mast cells was more increased than that of normal skin. Immunoreactive density of neuropeptide (Substance P, CGRP, CRF, CRF -receptor, CRF -binding Protein) in skin during postnatal growth periods in C57BL/6N mice was weakly stained in 1, 3, 8 day, but immunoreactive density of neuropeptide was heavily stained in 35day and 21 day (no pigment). Splenic B and T lymphocytes were gradually increased with growth, and significantly increased in 29 days -old (hairless, pigment group) than 21 days -old (hairless, no pigment group) C57BL/6N mice. Especially, CD4 positive Th cells in splenic T lymphocytes were markedly increased. But thymic T lymphocytes were not shown any differences. In hairless mice, the number of mast cells was not changed from 3 day to 7 day, but more increased from 13day to 21day. Immunoreactive density of neuropeptide (substance P, CGRP, CRF) in skin during postnatal growth periods in hairless mice was weakly stained in 3, 7 and 13 day. but immunoreactive density of neuropeptide was heavily stained from 17 to 56 day. Splenic B and T lymphocytes were most highly increased in 13 days -old genetically hairless mice. And CD4 positive Th cells and CD8 positive Tc cells in splenic T lymphocytes were significantly increased. And also thymic Th lymphocytes were increased in 13 days -old and 17 days -old hairless mice. These experiment suggest that the factors related to hair loss were mast cells, immunoreactive density of neuropeptide (substance P, CGRP, CRF) and immune response during postnatal growth periods in C57BL/6N, hairless and alopecia areata mice model.

Effects of Sodium Alginate on the Non-Specfic Defense System of the Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio L. ) / 대한면역학회지

Carp which receive intraperitoneal injections of sodium alginate show a high survival rate after being challenged with Edwardsiella tarda. To elucidate the immunoenhancement by sodium alginate, its effects on the non-specific defense system of carp were investigated. Sodium alginate had little influence either on the activity of the alternative complement pathway or on the phagocytic and respiratory burst activities of head kidney phagocytes (HKP), yet it greatly enhanced the migration of HKP to the peritoneal cavity (the site of injection) and concurrently elevated their phagocytic activity. The number of phagocytes mobilized by sodium alginate was 2 to 50 times greater than that by the well-known peritoneal exudate cell-eliciting agents when injected at the same dose. Accordingly, it is highly probable that the early elimination of challenge bacteria by such mobilized and activated phagocytes was responsible for the high survival rate of the alginateinjected fish. In chemotaxis assays, it was revealed that sodium alginate stimulated sorne leukocyte subpopulation (s) within the peritoneal cavity to produce and/or secrete chemotactic factor (s), while concurrently enhancing the sensitivity of HKP to the factor (s).

The Structural Properties of Israeli Carp ( Cyprinus carpio L. ) Immunoglobulin / 대한면역학회지

Serum immunoglobulins from Israeli carp (I. carp) were purified using affinity chromatography. Fish were immunized with purified mouse IgG, and the specific fish antibodies purified from the immune serum on a mouse IgG-immobilized agarose gel. Rabbit anti-carp Ig (Raclg) antibodies were produced following hyperimmunization with mlgG specific I. Carp Ab. SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing condition showed that I. carp Ig (clg) were composed of two u-like heavy chains with about 82 and 50 kD, respectively and one light chain with about 25 kD. On immunoblotting analysis, however, Raclg failed to react with light chain. When both protein A and protein G purified normal clg were compared with mlgG specific clg, no significant structural differences among them were observed. To investigate if there is any homology between other fish Ig molecules, cross-reactivity of Raclg against Ig molecules from 6 different fish sera and mouse control serum was checked on immunoblotting analysis. As a result, Raclg responded to only carp and tilapia Ig molecules, indicating that both tilapia and carp are very closely associated, especially, in the genetic basis of immunoglobulin structure. In flow cytometry study, Raclg appeared to recognize 45.8% of carp Ig+, 14.5% of catfish Ig+ and <5% of tilapia Ig+ cells. The result suggest the heterogeniety between receptor immunoglobulins on B-like lymphocytes and soluble immunoglobulins in serum. It is crucial to obtain pure fish immunoglobulins to produce reagent antibodies as tools for the study of their specific immune response.