Patients with Omenn syndrome (OS) have hypomorphic RAG mutations and develop varying manifestations of severe combined immunodeficiency. It is not known which symptoms are caused directly by the RAG mutations and which depend on other polymorphic genes. Our current understanding of OS is limited by the lack of an animal model. In the present study, we identified a C57BL/10 mouse with a spontaneous mutation in, and reduced activity of, RAG1. Mice bred from this animal contained high numbers of memory-phenotype T cells and experienced hepatosplenomegaly and eosinophilia, had oligoclonal T cells, and demonstrated elevated levels of IgE, major symptoms of OS. Depletion of CD4 + T cells in the mice caused a reduction in their IgE levels. Hence these "memory mutant" mice are a model for human OS; many symptoms of their disease were direct results of the Rag hypomorphism and some were caused by malfunctions of their CD4 + T cells.

No abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic multipotent stem cells with selfrenewal properties and ability to differentiate into a variety of mesenchymal tissues. This chapter overviews effects of hypoxia on MSCs, makes it promising therapy to various diseases. Cultivation of MSCs under hypoxic condition results in variety of outcome that is important to be noted in clinical use. In most studies, hypoxic condition appears to increase proliferation, differentiation, and immune regulatory performance of MSCs without affecting its characteristic. Those benefits are therefore utilized in clinical application. However, there are also studies that report on negative effects of hypoxia in MSCs such as chromosomal instability. Molecular mechanism of MSCs in hypoxic condition is provided for better understanding, which is crucial for further development with better outcome.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a bowel inflammation that happens in the colon and rectum. In UC there is an increased level of inflammatory mediators, one of which is interleukin-8 (IL-8), the main chemoattractant for polymorphonuclear (PMN) inflammatory cells causing inflammation to worsen. Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. var. italica) contains sulforaphane which can inhibit nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ĸB), resulting in the decrease of IL-8. This study was performed to identify the effect of steamed broccoli juice to the serum interleukin-8 level in murine model of colitis.Method: This study was a true experimental laboratory study using complete randomized design. Experimental animals being used were 28 murines with Balb/c strain and were divided into 4 intervention groups. Serum IL-8 level was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, followed by multiple comparisons Tukey honest significant difference (HSD) test (a = 0.05) and p  0.05.Results: The highest mean of IL-8 level was found in the positive control group. This study also showed highly significant difference (p 0.001) of IL-8 level between positive control group and treatment group.Conclusion: Steamed broccoli juice could decrease serum interleukin-8 level in murine model of colitis.

Various diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases are induced by free radicals via lipid peroxidation, protein peroxidation, DNA damage, and cellular degeneration in the cells. Piper betle L., commonly called betel, belongs to the Piperaceae family. It originated from South and South East Asia, and has been used as a traditional medicine by people there due to its medicinal properties. In the present study, free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic leaves extract of Piper betle L. together with its different solvent fractions (hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water) were evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The ethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction had shown very significant DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radical scavenging activity compared to the other fractions. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the IC50 value of the ethanolic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction were found to be 17.43µg/mL and 11.53 µg/mL, respectively. The free radical scavenging activity was assumed due to the total phenolic content. The total phenolic content was found to be highest in the ethanol extract (277.68 μg EGCG/mg) and the ethyl acetate fraction (559.38μg EGCG/mg). The results concluded that the ethanolic leaves extract of Piper betle L. and its ethyl acetate fraction have a considerably free radical scavenging activity.