Restoration of Declined Immune Responses and Hyperlipidemia by Rubus occidenalis in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Hyperlipidemia, which is closely associated with a fatty diet and aging, is commonly observed in the western and aged society. Therefore, a novel therapeutic approach for this disease is critical, and an immunological view has been suggested as a novel strategy, because hyperlipidemia is closely associated with inflammation and immune dysfunction. In this study, the effects of an aqueous extract of Rubus occidentalis (RO) in obese mice were investigated using immunological indexes. The mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce hyperlipidemia, which was confirmed by biochemical analysis and examination of the mouse physiology. Two different doses of RO and rosuvastatin, a cholesterol synthesis inhibitor used as a control, were orally administered. Disturbances in immune cellularity as well as lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were significantly normalized by oral administration of RO, which also decreased the elevated serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level and total cholesterol. The specific immune-related actions of RO comprised considerable improvement in cytotoxic T cell killing functions and regulation of antibody production to within the normal range. The immunological evidence confirms the significant cholesterol-lowering effect of RO, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia and associated immune decline.

Aloe QDM complex enhances specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte killing in vivo in metabolic disease mice

We developed spontaneous diet-induced metabolic disease in mice by feeding them a high-fat diet for 23 weeks and administered Aloe QDM complex for 16 weeks to examine its restorative effect on immune disorders and metabolic syndrome. A series of immune functional assays indicated Aloe QDM complex enhanced lymphocyte proliferation and antigen-specific immunity as determined by the restored functions of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and IgG production. The elevated serum TNF-α level was also regulated by Aloe QDM complex treatment, which suggested its complex therapeutic potential. As for metabolic phenotypes, oral administration of Aloe QDM complex significantly improved diabetic symptoms, including high fasting glucose levels and glucose tolerance, and distinctly alleviated lipid accumulation in adipose and hepatic tissue. The simultaneous restoration of Aloe QDM complex on metabolic syndrome and host immune dysfunction, especially on the specific CTL killing was first elucidated in our study.

Modified Aloe Polysaccharide Restores Chronic Stress-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice

Chronic stress generally experienced in our daily lives; is known to augment disease vulnerability by suppressing the host immune system. In the present study; the effect of modified Aloe polysaccharide (MAP) on chronic stress-induced immunosuppression was studied; this Aloe compound was characterized in our earlier study. Mice were orally administered with MAP for 24 days and exposed to electric foot shock (EFS; duration; 3 min; interval; 10 s; intensity; 2 mA) for 17 days. The stress-related immunosuppression and restorative effect of MAP were then analyzed by measuring various immunological parameters. MAP treatment alleviated lymphoid atrophy and body weight loss. The numbers of lymphocyte subsets were significantly normalized in MAP-treated mice. Oral administration of MAP also restored the proliferative activities of lymphocytes; ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell proliferation; antibody production; and the cell killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In summary; oral administration of MAP ameliorated chronic EFS stress-induced immunosuppression.

Enrichment of regulatory T-cells in blood of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE

To measure the percentage of regulatory T-cells (Treg) and the expression of signalling molecules in these cells from the peripheral blood of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

DESIGN

Patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (S-TB), MDR-TB and healthy controls (HCs) were recruited into the study. Levels of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells from peripheral blood, and programmed death-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and inducible costimulatory (ICOS) molecule expression in the cells were measured using flow cytometry. Suppression mediated by Treg cells was assessed in carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) based suppression assays with autologous CD4(+)CD25(-) T-effector (Teff) cells.

RESULTS

Presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resulted in a higher proportion of Treg cells in S-TB patients than in HCs, and even higher levels in MDR-TB patients. Moreover, Treg cells in MDR-TB patients constitutively expressed high-level PD-1, CTLA-4 and ICOS. In addition, when cultured with activated CD4(+)CD25(-) Teff cells, Treg cells potently suppressed proliferation of Teff cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The high level of Treg cells found in the peripheral blood of tuberculosis patients may partly explain the poor immune response against M. tuberculosis, and could be a marker of MDR-TB.

Immune Enhancing Effects of Aqueous Extracted Black Raspberry in Diet-induced Hyperlipidemia Mice

As obese population has increased today, metabolic diseases accompanied with obesity have been issued as well. Hyperlipidemia, one of those metabolic abnormalities, is commonly diagnosed with obesity. It is also associated with inflammation and immune dysfunctions, which can be led to global immune decline as the host ages. In this study, the potential effects of black raspberry on the diet-induced hyperlipidemia were examined in terms of immunology. We first induced hyperlipidemia in mice by feeding with 45kcal high fat diet (HFD) for 23 weeks and the progress of disease was traced by blood lipid profiling. Oral administration of black raspberry then proceeded for 16 weeks. As a result, the lymphocyte subset populations such as CD4+, CD8+ and CD11c+ were quantitatively restored by black raspberry treatment. The proliferation and cytokine production of lymphocytes were also normalized in black raspberry treated mice. Regarding specific immunity, oral administration of black raspberry significantly restored both cellular and humoral immune function as determined by in vivo cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) assay and specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) production level. Lastly the lipid indices including total cholesterol and HDL were considerably improved by black raspberry treatment, indicating the therapeutic effect of black raspberry on hyperlipidemia. That is, not only practical improvement in hyperlipidemia, but also the immune-enhancing effect of black raspberry was newly elucidated with quantitative and qualitative evidences.

[Correlation studies of specific immune indexes in vitro testing and noninvasive fungalsinusitis]

Objective:Through the vitro testing of the specific immune globulin, exploring the relationship between the immune index and noninvasive fungal sinusitis, to provide theoretical support for its pathogenesis, subtype classification criterion and perioperative treatment. Method:After retrospectively analyzed 33 patients of NIFS, including FB 16 cases, and AFS 17cases, we got test and analysis of serum specific row of IgE and IgG, total IgE and count of blood eosinophils. Result:①Two groups of patients with eosinophilia positive rate and serum total IgE positive rate have significant differences (χ²=4.661, P<0.05 and χ²=7.127, P<0.01, respectively); ②Total IgE for patients of FB classified mainly in lever 1 (81.25%) and patients of AFS classified mainly in level 2 (41.18%), the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.189, P<0.01); ③Patients of FB with serum sIgE classified mainly in lever 0 (50%), and patients of AFS mainly in level 2 (47.06%), there was no statistically significant difference between them (Z=-0.655, P>0.05); ④Patients of FB with serum sIgG classified mainly in lever 0 (56.25%), while patients ofAFS mainly at level 1 and 3 (the same 29.41%), there was no statistically significant difference between the two (Z=-1.377, P>0.05). Conclusion:①NIFS pathogenesis is various, not simple for fungal infection causes. Specific allergic constitution NIFS plays an important role in development of pathogenesis; ②In different specific allergic constitution in development of pathogenesis, pathogenic processes of NIFS are different, divided into: FB and AFS subtypes; ③Detection of sIgE, sIgG, total IgE, acidophil in the process of sinusitis and nasal polyps can be used as an auxiliary examination, to provide guidance for clinical treatment.

Serology, virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characteristics of clinical Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains circulating in southeastern China from 2009 to 2013

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of food-borne diarrhoea in coastal countries. Although V. parahaemolyticus cases have been reported since 1950, they have been poorly documented. From July 2009 to June 2013, we collected 6951 faecal specimens for pathogen detection; V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from 563 specimens (8.1%). We then analysed the characteristics of the 501 V. parahaemolyticus strains that were isolated as the sole pathogen. Twenty-one serotypes were identified among these strains; O3:K6 was the most common serotype (65.1%), followed by O4:K8, O4:K68 and O1:K36. One strain of the O4:K18 serotype was isolated from clinical patients for the first time. Pandemic O3:K6 clones were predominant and accounted for 69.1% of all of the pandemic strains. This is the first report of one strain expressing the O3:K8 serotype with a pandemic genotype. The presence of the haemolysin gene tdh (93.0%) was the key characteristic of the virulent strains; however, a few strains carried the trh gene. We also confirmed the presence of the type III secretion system 2 (T3SS2) genes in all of the pathogenic strains. Subsequent multilocus sequence typing split the isolates into 16 sequence types (STs), with ST3 and ST88 as the most prevalent in southeastern China. Most isolates were sensitive to common antimicrobial agents, apart from ampicillin. However, the resistance rate to ampicillin has apparently increased in this area. In conclusion, our results indicate that pandemic O3:K6 V. parahaemolyticus isolates are predominant in southeastern China, and additional surveillance should be conducted to facilitate control of the transmission of this pathogen.

Association of vitamin D-binding protein variants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis

Gene polymorphism of vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) correlates with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the results remain inconclusive. We aimed to explore the association between VDBP gene polymorphism and COPD. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for publications addressing the association between VDBP gene polymorphism and COPD. After qualitative evaluation, randomized controlled trials were pooled using either a fixed- or a random-effect model depending upon the degree of heterogeneity. Eleven studies with 3144 subjects were included. The genotype group-specific component (GC)*1F-1F was significantly associated with COPD in Asians [odds ratio (OR) = 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-2.81, P = 0.03], but not in Caucasians (OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 0.57-3.66, P = 0.45). A protective effect of GC*1F-1S was observed in Asians (OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.55-0.89, P = 0.003) but not in Caucasians (OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.69-1.24, P = 0.61). There was no association of GC*1S-1S, GC*2-1S and GC*1F-2 with COPD. As for alleles, GC*1F was a risk factor, whereas GC*1S was protective against COPD in Asians; GC*2 was not protective. The genotype GC*1F-1F or allele GC*1F was associated with increased susceptibility to COPD in Asians. No protective effect of genotype GC*2-2 against COPD was found. The protective effects of GC*1F-1S and GC*1S were observed in Asians but not in Caucasians. The VDBP gene polymorphism could be a potential marker for screening of COPD.

Restoration of electric footshock-induced immunosuppression in mice by Modified Aloe Polysaccharide (INC2P.411)

A mutual relationship between stress and immune system has long been studied. To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of MAP (modified aloe polysaccharide) on stressed model, we induced electric foot shock on mice for 17days. Oral administration of MAP was found to prevent the atrophy of body weight and immune apparatus weights. The stress-induced disturbances in cellularity were also restored by MAP administration in both thymus and spleen. In addition, MAP treatment improved lymphocytes proliferation induced by several antigens. The model antigen OVA-peptide was designed to examine the restoration effects of MAP in terms of specific immunity. The oral administration of MAP considerably improved the proliferation of OVA-specific CD4+T cells. We also found that MAP treated mice generated more potent ova specific cytotoxic T cells compared to MAP untreated group. In a sense of humoral immunity, OVA specific IgG production level was increased by the oral administration of MAP. According to the analysis of stress-related hormones including dopamine, serotonin and corticosterone, the oral administration of MAP tends to reduce the changes in hormone levels between the stressed and unstressed groups. Lastly, elevated plus-maze (EPM) test showed the anxiolytic effects of MAP in stressed mice. These results consistently demonstrate that oral administration of MAP could increase host defense toward chronic stress induced by electric foot shock.

Involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in rituximab-induced interstitial lung disease: a case report

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 IgG1 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of various forms of lymphoma and haematological autoimmune diseases. Interstitial lung disease is a rare but lethal pulmonary toxicity of rituximab. Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a molecular platform activated upon signs of cellular 'danger' to trigger the maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We report the first case of rituximab-induced interstitial lung disease (R-ILD) with NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the lung.

CASE SUMMARY

A 30-year-old male patient diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was treated with four cycles of rituximab in one month. Three weeks after last rituximab administration, he developed progressive dyspnoea associated with respiratory failure, which was diagnosed as R-ILD. The patient showed a good response to steroid treatment, and lung biopsy was performed 5 days after the treatment. Immunohistopathological studies of lung specimens showed high expressions of inflammasome components NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) and caspase-1 in lung interstitium with a heavy infiltration of CD19-positive cells. The levels of inflammasome-related cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum were declined during the therapy.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report confirmed the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in pulmonary toxicity of rituximab. Inhibited activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung by steroid treatment could reverse R-ILD and block subsequent lung fibrosis. This result could open a new sight into the pathogenesis and provide a new target for the treatment of R-ILD.

Expression system for production of bioactive compounds, recombinant human adiponectin, in the silk glands of transgenic silkworms

Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to develop a human adiponectin expression system in transgenic silkworm using a human adiponectin expression vector. The silk gland of the silkworm is a highly specialized organ that has the wonderful ability to synthesize and secrete silk protein. To express human adiponectin in the silk gland of transgenic silkworm, targeting vectors pB-A3-adiponectin-IRES-RFP and pB-Ser1-adiponectin-IRES-RFP were constructed and then introduced into the silkworm pupa. The transgenic silkworms were verified by PCR and then generated. The level of adiponectin in the transgenic silkworm was 6-10 ng/50 mg of freeze-dried powder, and western blotting using an antibody against human adiponectin demonstrated a specific band with a molecular weight of 30 kDa in the silkworm. These results showed that human adiponectin introduced into the silkworm genome was expressed successfully on a large-scale.

Metformin Suppresses MHC-Restricted Antigen Presentation by Inhibiting Co-Stimulatory Factors and MHC Molecules in APCs

Metformin is widely used for T2D therapy but its cellular mechanism of action is undefined. Recent studies on the mechanism of metformin in T2D have demonstrated involvement of the immune system. Current immunotherapies focus on the potential of immunomodulatory strategies for the treatment of T2D. In this study, we examined the effects of metformin on the antigen-presenting function of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Metformin decreased both MHC class I and class II-restricted presentation of OVA and suppressed the expression of both MHC molecules and co-stimulatory factors such as CD54, CD80, and CD86 in DCs, but did not affect the phagocytic activity toward exogenous OVA. The class II-restricted OVA presentation-regulating activity of metformin was also confirmed using mice that had been injected with metformin followed by soluble OVA. These results provide an understanding of the mechanisms of the T cell response-regulating activity of metformin through the inhibition of MHC-restricted antigen presentation in relation to its actions on APCs.

Serum paraoxonase, arylesterase activities and oxidative status in patients with insomnia

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate serum paraoxonase (PON) activity, arylesterase (ARE) activity, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels in patients with insomnia and to determine whether there was a relationship between oxidative stress and insomnia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 29 insomniacs and 25 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Serum PON and ARE activities, TAS and TOS level were determined, and OSI were calculated.

RESULTS

Patients with insomnia had lower PON and ARE activities as compared to healthy controls (PON: 82.0±30.0 U/L vs. 193.5±58.4 U/L, p < 0.001; ARE: 143.0±26.7 U/L vs. 175.0±27.1 U/L, p < 0.001; respectively). Serum TAS was lower, while TOS and OSI were higher in the insomnia group than in the control group (TAS: 1.13±0.29 mmol Trolox equivalent/L vs. 1.70±0.35 mmol Trolox equivalent /L, p < 0.001; TOS: 18.68±5.03 µmol H2O2 equivalent/L vs. 10.92±2.21 µmol H2O2 equivalent/L, p < 0.001; OSI: 1.76±0.74 vs. 0.68±0.23, p < 0.001; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with insomnia have increased systemic oxidative stress and reduced levels of serum antioxidant enzymes. Oxidative stress appears to be an underlying condition associated with insomnia.

Metformin reduces gene expression of adipogenesis and inflammatory cytokines through the modulation of T cell priming in obese-induced Type II diabetic mice (P5063)

Inflammation is increasingly regarded as a key process underlying metabolic diseases in obese individuals where obese adipose tissue shows features characteristic of active local inflammation. Metformin is a biguanide derivative used in the treatment of T2D and one of the world's most widely prescribed drugs and have been suggested that metformin has anti-inflammatory properties. Here we show that metformin efficiently attenuates the metabolic disorder in DIO mice and suppresses MHC-restricted antigen presentation in dendritic cells. This study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of metformin on diabetic symptoms in DIO mice. Metformin decreased aipogenesis related gene, FAS, SCD-1, GPAT, SREBP1a, but also suppressed gene expression of innate cytokines than control mice. Metformin decreased both class I- and class II-restricted presentation of exogenous OVA in dendritic cells. Metformin also decreased expression of the co-stimulatory molecules, ICAM-1 and B7-1/-2, and MHC class I and II molecules but not phagocytic activity of DCs. Metformin decreased MHC class II-restricted exogenous antigen presentation in peritoneal macrophages in vivo. These results show that metformin attenuates immune responses followed by decreases MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen in DCs via intracellular processing events. Theses finding suggest that modulation of the antigen presentation pathway could provide a novel means for regulating T cell responses in metabolic diseases.

Serotypes, genotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns of human diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli isolates circulating in southeastern China

Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) infection is a major health problem in developing countries. The prevalence and characteristics of DEC have not been thoroughly investigated in China. Consecutive faecal specimens from outpatients with acute diarrhoea in nine sentinel hospitals in southeastern China were collected from July 2009 to June 2011. Bacterial and viral pathogens were detected by culture and RT-PCR, respectively. DEC isolates were further classified into five pathotypes using multiplex PCR. The O/H serotypes, sequence types (STs) and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the DEC isolates were determined. A total of 2466 faecal specimens were collected, from which 347 (14.1%) DEC isolates were isolated. DEC was the dominant bacterial pathogen detected. The DEC isolates included 217 EAEC, 62 ETEC, 52 EPEC, 14 STEC, one EIEC and one EAEC/ETEC. O45 (6.6%) was the predominant serotype. Genotypic analysis revealed that the major genotype was ST complex 10 (87, 25.6%). Isolates belonging to the serogroups or genotypes of O6, O25, O159, ST48, ST218, ST94 and ST1491 were highly susceptible to the majority of antimicrobials. In contrast, isolates belonging to O45, O15, O1, O169, ST38, ST226, ST69, ST31, ST93, ST394 and ST648 were highly resistant to the majority of antimicrobials. DEC accounted for the majority of bacterial pathogens causing acute diarrhoea in southeastern China, and it is therefore necessary to test for all DEC, not only the EHEC O157:H7. Some serogroups or genotypes of DEC were highly resistant to the majority of antimicrobials. DEC surveillance should be emphasized.

Dopamine D3 receptors regulate reconsolidation of cocaine memory

Memories of learned associations between the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse and environmental cues contribute to craving and relapse in humans. Disruption of reconsolidation dampens or even erases previous memories. Dopamine (DA) mediates the acquisition of reward memory and drugs of abuse can pathologically change related neuronal circuits in the mesolimbic DA system. Previous studies showed that DA D3 receptors are involved in cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP) and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. However, the role of D3 receptors in reconsolidation of cocaine-induced reward memory remains unclear. In the present study, we combined genetic and pharmacological approaches to investigate the role of D3 receptors in reconsolidation of cocaine-induced CPP. We found that the mutation of the D3 receptor gene weakened reconsolidation of cocaine-induced CPP in mice triggered by a 3-min (min) retrieval. Furthermore, treatment of a selective D3 receptor antagonist PG01037 immediately following the 3-min retrieval disrupted reconsolidation of cocaine-induced CPP in wild-type mice and such disruption remained at least 1 week after the 3-min retrieval. These results suggest that D3 receptors play a key role in reconsolidation of cocaine-induced CPP in mice, and that pharmacological blockade of these receptors may be therapeutic for the treatment of cocaine craving and relapse in clinical settings.

Downregulation of Mcl-1 through inhibition of translation contributes to benzyl isothiocyanate-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human leukemia cells

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is one of the compounds of ITCs' family that has attracted a great deal of interest because of its ability to exhibit anticancer activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of BITC on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human leukemia cell lines, primary leukemia cells, and nude mice Jurkat xenograft. Exposure of Jurkat cells to BITC resulted in dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptosis, caspase activation, cytochrome c release, nuclear apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) accumulation, Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) translocation, and myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) downregulation. Treatment with these cells also resulted in cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. The G2/M-arrested cells are more sensitive to undergoing Mcl-1 downregulation and apoptosis mediated by BITC. BITC downregulates Mcl-1 expression through inhibition of translation, rather than through a transcriptional, post-translational, or caspase-dependent mechanism. Dephosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4G could contribute to the inhibition of Mcl-1 translation mediated by BITC. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Mcl-1 substantially attenuates BITC-mediated lethality in these cells, whereas knockdown of Mcl-1 through small interfering RNA significantly enhances BITC-mediated lethality. Finally, administration of BITC markedly inhibited tumor growth and induced apoptosis in Jurkat xenograft model in association with the downregulation of Mcl-1. Taken together, these findings represent a novel mechanism by which agents targeting Mcl-1 potentiate BITC lethality in transformed and primary human leukemia cells and inhibitory activity of tumor growth of Jurkat xenograft model.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Dioscoreae Rhizome Against Inflammation through Suppressed Production of Cytokines Via Inhibition of the NF-κB Pathway

Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR) has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and is reported to have anti-diabetes and anti-tumor activities. To identify a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of DR (EDR), we determined the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and performed a FACS analysis for measuring surface molecules. EDR dose-dependently decreased the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and PGE₂, as well as mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 was also reduced by EDR. Furthermore, activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-κB, but not that of IL-4 and IL-10, in macrophages was inhibited by EDR. These results show that EDR decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-κB-dependent inflammatory protein level, suggesting that EDR could be a useful immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.

Cryopreservation of Kalopanax septemlobus embryogenic callus using vitrification and droplet-vitrification

A cryopreservation protocol has been developed for embryogenic callus cultures of castor aralia (Kalopanax septemlobus), a deciduous tree which is widely used in oriental medicine and in landscape design. Three preculture treatments, four loading and six vitrification solutions were tested in a vitrification procedure. Preculture of embryogenic callus (EC) with high sucrose concentrations (up to 0.7 M) showed no effect on regrowth after cryopreservation. Loading for 20 min at ambient temperature improved regrowth of cryopreserved EC by 70-75 percent compared with non-loaded samples, regardless of the composition of the loading solution. Among vitrification solutions, the highest regrowth of 95-100 percent after cryopreservation was obtained after incubation of EC in a vitrification solution A3-80 percent comprising (w/v) 33.3 percent glycerol + 13.3 percent DMSO + 13.3 percent EG + 20.1 percent sucrose for 40 min at 0°C. Profiling of crystallization and recrystallization events using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed that freezing injury was minimized in samples after loading and cryoprotection with this vitrification solution. Unlike many other papers, the droplet-vitrification protocol did not produce higher post-cryopreservation regrowth of Kalopanax EC, compared with the vitrification procedure. When samples are sufficiently cryoprotected during VS treatment, vitrification using cryovials may be preferred, since droplet-vitrification is more complex and requires skilled personnel. Cryopreserved callus grew rapidly and produced numerous somatic embryos, which developed similarly to embryos obtained from non-cryopreserved samples.