• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.136-145
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• 2010

Natural killer T (NKT) cell is a special type of T lymphocytes that has both receptor of natural killer (NK) cell (NK1.1, CD161c) and T cell (TCR) and express a conserved or invariant T cell receptor called $V{\alpha}14J{\alpha}18$ in mice or Va24 in humans. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cell recognizes lipid antigen presented by CD1d molecules. Marine-sponge-derived glycolipid, ${\alpha}-galactosylceremide$ (${\alpha}-GalCer$), binds CD1d at the cell surface of antigen-presenting cells and is presented to iNKT cells. Within hours, iNKT cells become activated and start to secrete Interleukin-4 and $interferon-{\gamma}$. NKT cell prevents autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, systemic lupus erythematous, inflammatory colitis, and Graves' thyroiditis, by activation with ${\alpha}-GalCer$. In addition, NKT cell is associated with infectious diseases by mycobacteria, leshmania, and virus. Moreover NKT cell is associated with asthma, especially CD4+ iNKT cells. In this review, I will discuss the characteristics of NKT cell and the association with inflammatory diseases, especially asthma.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.505-512
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• 2017

Toxoplasma gondii cathepsin C proteases (TgCPC1, 2, and 3) are important for the growth and survival of T. gondii. In the present study, B-cell and T-cell epitopes of TgCPC1 were predicted using DNAstar and the Immune Epitope Database. A TgCPC1 DNA vaccine was constructed, and its ability to induce protective immune responses against toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice was evaluated in the presence or absence of the adjuvant ${\alpha}-GalCer$. As results, TgCPC1 DNA vaccine with or without adjuvant ${\alpha}-GalCer$ showed higher levels of IgG and IgG2a in the serum, as well as IL-2 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in the spleen compared to controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and ${\alpha}-GalCer$). Upon challenge infection with tachyzoites of T. gondii (RH), $pCPC1/{\alpha}-GalCer$ immunized mice showed the longest survival among all the groups. Mice vaccinated with DNA vaccine without adjuvant (pCPC1) showed better protective immunity compared to other controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and ${\alpha}-GalCer$). These results indicate that a DNA vaccine encoding TgCPC1 is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.251-258
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• 2011

Here we have investigated how lactosylceramide (LacCer) modulates gene expression of adhesion molecules in TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN ${\gamma}$ (CM)-stimulated astrocytes. We have observed that stimulation of astrocytes with CM increased the gene expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. D-Threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) and N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NBDNJ), inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase (GLS) and LacCer synthase (galactosyltransferase, GalT-2), inhibited the gene expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and activation of their gene promoter induced by CM, which were reversed by exogenously supplied LacCer. Silencing of GalT-2 gene using its antisense oligonucleotides also attenuated CM-induced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, which were reversed by LacCer. PDMP treatment and silencing of GalT-2 gene significantly reduced CM-induced luciferase activities in NF-${\kappa}B$, AP-1, GAS, and STAT-3 luciferase vectors-transfected cells. In addition, LacCer reversed the inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ and STAT-1 luciferase activities by PDMP. Taken together, our results suggest that LacCer may play a crucial role in the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 via modulating transcription factors, such as NF-${\kappa}B$, AP-1, STAT-1, and STAT-3 in CM-stimulated astrocytes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.439-445
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• 2006

목 적 : ${\alpha}$-Galactosylceramide (GalCer)로 자극한 자연살상 T 세포(NKT)는 CD1d 및 T 세포 수용체(T cell receptor) 의존적으로 일부 백혈병에서 항암효과를 발현하나, CD1d음성인 신경모세포종에서는 세포독성을 유도할 수 없다. 이들 NKT세포의 활성화 시 분비되는 많은 양의 사이토카인의 직접적인 항암효과에 대해서는 소수의 보고가 있다. 본 연구에서는 hCD1d/${\alpha}$-GalCer tetramer로 NKT세포를 자극하여 얻은 상청액(supernatant)을 이용하여 NKT세포에 의한 신경모세포종의 치료적 접근의 가능성을 알아보았다. 방 법 : 신경모세포종 세포 주를 IMDM 배지에 배양하였고, NKT세포에서 분비되는 사이토카인 양은 cytometric bead array (CBA)분석으로 측정하였다. 세포 생존율은 calcein-AM 형광물질을 이용하여 digital image microscopy scanning (DIMSCAN)으로 측정하였고 특이 세포고사(specific apoptosis)는 annexin V and 7-AAD 염색 후 유식세포분석기를 통하여 산출하였다. 결 과 : 활성화된 NKT세포는 많은 양의 IL-2, IL-4, INF-${\gamma}$와 TNF-${\alpha}$을 분비하였다. NKT 자극 후 얻어진 상청액은 8개의 신경모세포종 세포 주 중 4개에서 의미있는 세포독성을 나타냈으며, 그 기전은 annexin-V 염색이나 pancaspase 억제제의 전 처치 실험으로 세포고사을 통하여 유도됨을 알 수 있었다. 그리고 이들 세포고사 유도는 anti-TNF-${\alpha}$, anti-IFN-${\gamma}$ 중화항체의 단독투여 시 현저히 감소하였고 동시투여 시에는 완전하게 억제되었다. 결 론 : NKT 세포의 활성화에 의해 분비된 IFN-${\gamma}$와 TNF${\alpha}$가 일부 신경모세포종 세포 주에서 협동적 세포 독성을 유도하였다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.218-221
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• 2013

CD1d expressing dendritic cells (DCs) are good glyco-lipid antigen presenting cells for NKT cells. However, resting B cells are very weak stimulators for NKT cells. Although ${\alpha}$-galactosylceramide (${\alpha}$-GalCer) loaded B cells can activate NKT cells, it is not well defined whether B cells interfere NKT cell stimulating activity of DCs. Unexpectedly, we found in this study that B cells can promote Th1-skewed NKT cell response, which means a increased level of IFN-${\gamma}$ by NKT cells, concomitant with a decreased level of IL-4, in the circumstance of co-culture of DCs and B Cells. Remarkably, the response promoted by B cells was dependent on CD1d expression of B cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.137-143
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• 2005

Background: Millions of people in the world are suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD), which is a chronic inflammatory skin disease triggered by Th2 immune responses. The NC/Nga mouse is the most extensively studied animal model of AD. Like human AD, NC/Nga mice demonstrate increased levels of IgE, a hallmark of Th2 immune responses. Adaptive immunity cannot be generated without help of innate immunity. Especially natural killer T (NKT) cells and marginal zone B (MZB) cells have been known to play important roles in linking innate immunity to adaptive immunity. Methods: Through flow cytometric analysis and ELISA assay, we investigated whether these lymphocytes might be altered in number in NC/Nga mice. Results: Our data demonstrated that the number of NKT cells was reduced in NC/Nga mice and IFN${\gamma}$ production by NKT cells upon ${\alpha}-GalCer$ stimulation decreased to the levels of CD1d KO mice lacking in NKT cells. However, reduction of NKT cells in NC/Nga mice was not due to CD1d expression, which was normal in the thymus. Interestingly, there was a significant increase of $CD1d^{high}B220^+$ cells in the spleen of NC/Nga mice. Further, we confirmed that $CD1d^{high}B220^+$ cells are B cells, not dendritic cells. These $CD1d^{high}B220^+$ B cells show $IgM^{high}CD21^{high}CD23^{low}$, a characteristic phenotype of MZB cells. Conclusion: We provide the evidence that there are decreased activities of NKT cells and increased number of MZB cells in the NC/Nga mice. Our findings may thus explain why NC/Nga mice are susceptible to AD.