title: Exopolysaccharide fraction from Pediococcus pentosaceus KFT18 induces immunostimulatory activity in macrophages and immunosuppressed mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exopolysaccharide fraction from Pediococcus pentosaceus KFT18 (PE-EPS), a lactic acid bacteria isolated from Kimchi (a Korean fermented vegetable product), was preliminary characterized and its immunostimulating effects were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we used interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-primed RAW 264·7 macrophages and CD3/CD28-stimulated splenocytes to determine the immunotimulatory activities of PE-EPS. Upon exposure to PE-EPS, IFN-γ-primed RAW 264·7 macrophages showed significant increases in the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β. Molecular data using reporter gene assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed that PE-EPS upregulated transcriptional activity, DNA binding and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Furthermore, PE-EPS enhanced anti-CD3/CD28-specific proliferation and the productions of IL-2 and IFN-γ in primary splenocytes. In cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice, pretreatment with PE-EPS (5, 15 or 45 mg kg(-1) day(-1), p.o.) increased thymus and spleen indices, and improved lymphocyte and neutrophil counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PE-EPS stimulated the IFN-γ-primed macrophages and primary splenocytes to induce immune responses and improved the cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results in this study improved our understanding of immunostimulating activity of PE-EPS and supported its potential treatment option as a natural immunostimulant.
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmaceutical Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.|Reactive Oxygen Species Medical Research Center, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J-S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmaceutical Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmaceutical Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S-G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyonggi University, Suwon-Si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: K-S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Kyunggi, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Y-K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Kyunggi, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: M-K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Kyunggi, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: H-D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmaceutical Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: K-T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D000070006:Pediococcus pentosaceus / Q000737:chemistry*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
keywords: Pediococcus pentosaceus KFT18; cyclophosphamide; exopolysaccharide; immunostimulatory activity; macrophage