Preparation of high quality allergen extracts is essential for the diagnosis and immunotherapy of allergic disorders. Standardization of allergen extracts concerns determination of the allergen unit, development of reference material and measurement of the overall IgE binding capacity of an allergen extract. Recently, quantification of individual allergens has been the main focus of allergen standardization because the allergenicity of most allergen extracts is known to be mainly dependent on the content of a small number of allergen molecules. Therefore, characterization of major allergens will facilitate the standardization of allergens. In this article, we review the current state of allergen standardization. In addition, we briefly summarize the components of allergen extracts that should be under control for the optimization of allergen standardization, since its adjuvant-like activities could play an important role in allergic reactions even though the molecule itself does not bind to the IgE antibodies from subjects.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/chemistry ; Allergens/chemistry/*immunology/isolation & purification ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Reference Standards ; Republic of Korea

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Clerodendrum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Urinary Tract Infections ; drug therapy

Acremonium ; chemistry ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; classification ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

To compare the effects of polysaccharide nucleic acid fraction of bacillus calmette guerin (BCG-PSN) and thymopeptides on T-lymphocytes of normal and immunosuppressed mice, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets of single nucleic cell in thymus, spleen and peripheral blood were detected successively by flow cytometry after application of BCG-PSN and thymopeptides. Meanwhile, CD4+/CD8+ ratio was also calculated. The results showed that both BCG-PSN and thymopeptides could decrease the proportion of CD4+ CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets in the thymus, at the same time increase CD4+ T-lymphocyte, CD8+ T-lymphocyte proportion in the three tissues. The fluctuation in amplitude was greater in thymopeptides group than that in BCG-PSN group. It is concluded that acting location of thymopeptides is in thymus, its stimulating action is stronger than that of BCG-PSN, while BCG-PSN not only accelerates the differentiation in thymus, but also has some direct stimulation to peripheral CD4+ T-lymphocytes, and can maintain CD4+/CD8+ ratio within normal range. So, BCG-PSN is safer.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/*pharmacology ; Immunocompromised Host ; Mycobacterium bovis/*chemistry ; Nucleic Acids/pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments/*pharmacology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*pharmacology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*drug effects ; Thymus Gland/chemistry

The purpose of this study was to determine whether esterification of dehydroepiandrosterone with aspartate (DHEA-aspartate) could reduce peroxisomal proliferation induced by DHEA itself, without loss of antiosteoporotic activity. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized, then DHEA or DHEA-aspartate was administered intraperitoneally at 0.34 mmol/kg BW 3 times a week for 8 weeks. DHEA-aspartate treatment in ovariectomized rats significantly increased trabeculae area in tibia as much as DHEA treatment. Urinary Ca excretion was not significantly increased by DHEA or DHEA-aspartate treatment in ovariectomized rats, while it was significantly increased by ovariectomy. Osteocalcin concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum and cross linked N-telopeptide type I collagen level in urine were not significantly different between DHEA-aspartate and DHEA treated groups. DHEA-aspartate treatment significantly reduced liver weight and hepatic palmitoyl-coA oxidase activity compared to DHEA treatment. DHEA-aspartate treatment maintained a nearly normal morphology of peroxisomes, while DHEA treatment increased the number and size of peroxisomes in the liver. According to these results, it is concluded that DHEA-aspartate ester has an inhibitory effect on bone loss in ovariectomized rats with a marked reduction of hepatomegaly and peroxisomal proliferation compared to DHEA.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology* ; Adjuvants, Immunologic/metabolism ; Adjuvants, Immunologic/chemistry ; Animal ; Aspartic Acid/pharmacology* ; Aspartic Acid/metabolism ; Aspartic Acid/chemistry ; Biological Markers ; Calcium/urine ; Calcium/blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Esterification ; Fatty Acid Desaturases/metabolism ; Female ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lipoproteins, HDL Cholesterol/blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL Cholesterol/blood ; Liver/enzymology ; Liver/drug effects ; Organ Weight ; Osteoporosis/pathology ; Osteoporosis/metabolism* ; Osteoporosis/drug therapy* ; Ovariectomy* ; Peroxisomes/metabolism* ; Prasterone/pharmacology* ; Prasterone/metabolism ; Prasterone/chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibia/pathology ; Tibia/metabolism ; Triglycerides/blood

We studied immune modulation and antioxidant effects of wheat peptides on immunosuppressed mice. Mice were administrated with wheat peptides orally for 10 days and treated with cyclophosphamide at the 8th day. The indexes including serum hemolysin, plaque forming cells, spleen cells proliferation, liver antioxidant enzymes activties, malondialdehyde (MDA), scavenging serum 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and *OH and macrophage phagocytic ability in vitro were measured to assess the immune functions and antioxidation abilities. In vivo study shows that cyclophosphamide significantly decreases serum hemolysin (HC50) and phagocytic function of macrophages. Simultaneously, liver superoxide dismutase, catalase activity and total oxidation capacity were decreased and malondialdehyde was increased. Wheat peptides could recover HC50 and spleen cell proliferation when orally administrated. Furthermore, they could also enhance serum 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and *OH scavenging. In conclusion, wheat peptides can help body resist the stress related disorders in immune and antioxidant system.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Immunocompromised Host ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peptides ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Triticum ; chemistry ; immunology

OBJECTIVEIntends to create mathematical model and analysis of correlation between Chinese medicinal characteristics and immunoregulatory activity based on literature informatics.

METHODThe numbers of the Chinese medicines with immune effects were worked out within the framework of "The China Pharmacopeia" of 2005 edition, from the literature publicized since 1980. The correlation and mathematical model were figured out between Chinese medicinal characteristics including biological classification, different tastes, channel tropism as well as the parts used and immunoregulatory activity based on the statistical software SPSS.

RESULTThe results showed that the immunoregulatory activity was related to the five tastes of Chinese medicines, and the pungent medicines had less immune effect. The Chinese medicines of underground parts had more immune effect compared with other parts of the medicine. Medicines acting upon heart and kidneys were more powerful as for the immune effects (P <0.05). The coincidence was 74.7% between mathematical computing and original classification.

CONCLUSIONThere are correlations,between Chinese medicinal characteristics and immunoregulatory activity. The mathematical model based on these results can be used for immunopharmacology.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Theoretical ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification

OBJECTIVE: To explore the immunoregulatory effect of Huangqi Fuzhengtang on immunosuppressive mice. METHODS: The immunosuppressive mouse model was established by using hydrocortisone. Huangqi Fuzhengtang and Yupingfeng San apozema were given to the mice intragastrically. The contents of hemolysin, IL-2, and INF-gamma in the mouse serum and the expression of CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+) in the peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured. RESULTS: Huangqi Fuzhengtang could obviously elevate the contents of hemolysin, IL-2, INF-gamma and the ratio of CD4(+) and CD8+, which was more effective than Yupingfeng San. CONCLUSION Huangqi Fuzhengtang could improve the immune function in the immunosuppressive mice.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Astragalus propinquus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hydrocortisone ; Immunocompromised Host ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Random Allocation ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

To evaluate the immunities of biodegradable microsphere as a release delivery system for DNA vaccine against Infectious Bursal Disease Virus, in our study, silk fibroin/chitosan microsphere adjuvant was prepared with a precipitation/coacervation method. Both glutaraldehyde and Na2SO4 solution were used in cross-linking. No immune chicken were intramuscularly inoculated at 14 day-old and boosted 2 weeks later. The results show that glutaraldehyde destroyed the DNA activity of the vaccine whereas Na2SO4 solution did not. Factors of the chitosan concentration 0.5% (pH 5.0), silk fibroin concentration 0.6%, plasmid DNA (500 microg/mL) dissolved in 2% Na2SO4 solution were optimized to produce microsphere, with a loading capacity of 89.14%. The average particle size of SF-CS/pCI-VP2/4/3 microsphere is 1.98 microm, and it can protect the loading DNA vaccine from DNase I digestion. Data from anti IBDV ELISA antibodies in the serum show that immunization activity of the microsphere groups were generally higher than plasmid vaccine group (P < 0.05), and the SF/CS compound microspheres group was better than that of sole CS microsphere group. The developed SF/CS microspheres are a very promising vaccine delivery system.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; chemistry ; Animals ; Birnaviridae Infections ; prevention & control ; veterinary ; Chickens ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Infectious bursal disease virus ; Microspheres ; Plasmids ; Poultry Diseases ; prevention & control ; Vaccines, DNA ; chemistry ; Viral Vaccines ; chemistry

To optimize the formulation and preparation method of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin and to investigate its pharmacokinetics in rats, the multivesicular liposome of thymopentin was prepared by double emulsification method and the formulation was optimized by orthogonal design. The release characteristics of thymopentin from multivesicular liposome in PBS (pH 7.4) and in plasma were investigated. The multivesicular liposome of thymopentin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate was prepared by double emulsification method. Its pharmacokinetics was evaluated following intramuscular injection in rats. The optimal formulation of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin were formulated with 7.5% glucose in aqueous phase and 2.25 mol x L(-1) triolein, 2.68 mol x L(-1) DPPG and 16.96 mol x L(-1) DOPC in organic phase. The entrapment efficiency of the multivesicular liposome of thymopentin was above 85% and the mean particle size was about 22 microm. The in vitro release of thymopentin from multivesicular liposome in PBS (pH 7.4) and in plasma was found to be in a sustained manner. The release curves were fitted to Higuchi equation. The pharmacokinetics following intramuscular injection of the multivesicular liposome of thymopentin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate in rats showed that the peak concentration of thymopentin was lower and elimination of it was slower significantly than that of thymopentin labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate solution in the same dose. The plasma concentration of thymopentin maintained above quantitative limitation at 120 h after administration of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin. The optimized formulation and preparation technology of multivesicular liposome of thymopentin with higher entrapment efficiency are feasible with good reproducibility. Multivesicular liposome of thymopentin showed significant sustained-release property following intramuscular injection in rats.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Male ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylcholines ; chemistry ; Phosphatidylglycerols ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thymopentin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Triolein ; chemistry