• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.5.1-5.12
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• 2019

Autophagy is a homeostatic mechanism that discards not only invading pathogens but also damaged organelles and denatured proteins via lysosomal degradation. Increasing evidence suggests a role for autophagy in inflammatory diseases, including infectious diseases, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. These studies suggest that modulating autophagy could be a novel therapeutic option for inflammatory diseases. Eosinophils are a major type of inflammatory cell that aggravates airway inflammatory diseases, particularly corticosteroid-resistant inflammation. The eosinophil count is a useful tool for assessing which patients may benefit from inhaled corticosteroid therapy. Recent studies demonstrate that autophagy plays a role in eosinophilic airway inflammatory diseases by promoting airway remodeling and loss of function. Genetic variant in the autophagy gene ATG5 is associated with asthma pathogenesis, and autophagy regulates apoptotic pathways in epithelial cells in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Moreover, autophagy dysfunction leads to severe inflammation, especially eosinophilic inflammation, in chronic rhinosinusitis. However, the mechanism underlying autophagy-mediated regulation of eosinophilic airway inflammation remains unclear. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the role of autophagy in eosinophilic airway inflammation. We also suggest that autophagy may be a new therapeutic target for airway inflammation, including that mediated by eosinophils.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제70권1호
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• pp.10-20
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• 2011

Various diseases can diffusely involve central airways, including the trachea and main stem bronchi. Central airway abnormalities are frequently not apparent or are overlooked on chest radiographs, even though the patient may have significant symptoms. Recent advances in spiral and multi-detector computed tomography (CT) with multi-planar reconstruction and three-dimensional demonstration, including virtual bronchoscopy, allow for excellent display of central airway anatomy and abnormalities with visualization of accurate locations of lesions. Early detection and proper diagnosis of airway diseases based on various radiographic findings will help determine appropriate treatment, including surgical planning and evaluation of treatment response. Herein we describe and illustrate the imaging findings of a wide spectra of diffuse central airway diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제64권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제76권4호
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• pp.169-174
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• 2014

Background: The Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) Cohort Study is a prospective longitudinal study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or other unclassified obstructive lung diseases. It was designed to develop new classification models and biomarkers that predict clinically relevant outcomes for patients with obstructive lung diseases. Methods: Patients over 18 years old who have chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitations or bronchial hyper-responsiveness were enrolled at 17 centers in South Korea. After a baseline visit, the subjects were followed up every 3 months for various assessments. Results: From June 2005 to October 2013, a total of 477 subjects (433 [91%] males; 381 [80%] diagnosed with COPD) were enrolled. Analyses of the KOLD Cohort Study identified distinct phenotypes in patients with COPD, and predictors of therapeutic responses and exacerbations as well as the factors related to pulmonary hypertension in COPD. In addition, several genotypes were associated with radiological phenotypes and therapeutic responses among Korean COPD patients. Conclusion: The KOLD Cohort Study is one of the leading long-term prospective longitudinal studies investigating heterogeneity of the COPD and is expected to provide new insights for pathogenesis and the long-term progression of COPD.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.107-112
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• 2000

To investigate the alteration of airway mucin in airway disease patients, immunoassay procedures were employed using monoclonal antibodies HM02 and HM03 (Hybridoma, 18,457-463, 1999). Alteration of mucin release was determined by ELISA and the integrity of mucin was determined by Western blot. In ELISA, it was found that mucin release increased from pneumonia, chronic cough, bronchiectasis, eosinophilic pneumonia, lung cancer and bronchial asthma patients. In Western blot, the increase in immunoreactivity was observed in case of pneumonia, chronic cough, bronchiectasis and bronchial asthma. In bronchial asthma, there was no obvious degradation of mucin while in other diseases, varying degree of mucin degradation was observed. The data from the present study implicate that HMO2 and HM03 are suitable for the immunological analysis of mucin in airway disease patients. The role of increased mucin release and varying degree of mucin degradation on airway diseases should be further investigated in the future.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

The airway epithelium is the first place, where a defense mechanism is initiated against environmental stimuli. Mucociliary transport (MCT), which is the defense mechanism of the airway and the role of airway epithelium as mechanical barriers are essential in innate immunity. To maintain normal physiologic function, normal oxygenation is critical for the production of energy for optimal cellular functions. Several pathologic conditions are associated with a decrease in oxygen tension in airway epithelium and chronic sinusitis is one of the airway diseases, which is associated with the hypoxic condition, a potent inflammatory stimulant. We have observed the overexpression of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), an essential factor for oxygen homeostasis, in the epithelium of sinus mucosa in sinusitis patients. In a series of previous reports, we have found hypoxia-induced mucus hyperproduction, especially by MUC5AC hyperproduction, disruption of epithelial barrier function by the production of VEGF, and down-regulation of junctional proteins such as ZO-1 and E-cadherin. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced inflammation by HMGB1 translocation into the cytoplasm results in the release of IL-8 through a ROS-dependent mechanism in upper airway epithelium. In this mini-review, we briefly introduce and summarize current progress in the pathogenesis of sinusitis related to hypoxia. The investigation of hypoxia-related pathophysiology in airway epithelium will suggest new insights on airway inflammatory diseases, such as rhinosinusitis for clinical application and drug development.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.1-16
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• 2008

Immunity is responsible for the defense mechanism of the body but in case of autoimmune diseases, its role gets diverted. Like so many other diseases, asthma is also considered as one of the most common autoimmune diseases to be occurring in community. Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory airway disease that is characterized by airway hyper reactivity and mucus hypersecretion that result in intermittent airway obstruction. The incidence of allergic asthma has almost doubled in the past two decades. Although, precise causative mechanism of asthma is unknown, but several mechanisms have been proposed that is immunological, pharmacological and genetic mechanisms, and airway and neurogenic inflammation. The inflammatory process observed in the asthmatic patients is the final result of a complex network of interactions between various immunological cell lineages, its mediators and secreted substances. Thus, among the mechanisms proposed, the immunological one plays a key role. Through this article, we have tried to provide some insight into immunological mechanisms in pathogenesis of asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제80권4호
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• pp.325-335
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with abnormal inflammatory response and airflow limitation. Acute exacerbation involves increased inflammatory burden leading to worsening respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea and sputum production. Some COPD patients have frequent exacerbations (two or more exacerbations per year). A substantial proportion of COPD patients may remain stable without exacerbation. Bacterial and viral infections are the most common causative factors that breach airway stability and lead to exacerbation. The increasing prevalence of exacerbation is associated with deteriorating lung function, hospitalization, and risk of death. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of airway inflammation in COPD and discuss how bacterial or viral infection, temperature, air pollution, eosinophilic inflammation, and concomitant chronic diseases increase airway inflammation and the risk of exacerbation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.786-796
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• 1999

배 경: 만성 기도 질환자에서 유신 양의 증가와 생화학적 변화가 예상된다. 기도 질환자에서의 기도내 뮤신의 정량적 측정에 흰쥐 뮤신에 대한 단 세포군 항체(RTO3)의 임상적 유용성을 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법: 기도 질환자와 정상인에서 채취한 객담과 기관지 세척액으로부터 얻은 뮤신과 RTO3와의 교차반응을 확인하기 위하여 western blotting을 이용하였고 단 세포군 항체가 생체내의 기도 뮤신과의 특이적인 반응을 하는지를 면역조직화학적으로 검색 하였다. ELISA를 이용하여 정상인과 기도 질환자의 뮤신 양을 비교하여 보았고 또한 기도 질환에 따른 뮤신양의 변화도 관찰하였다. 결 과: 1) Western blot으로 두명의 기관지 천식환자에서 220kDa 이상에서 면역적으로 반응하는 뮤신을 관찰하였고 2) 사람의 주 기관지에서 상피 세포층의 배상 세포와 점막하층의 분비선에서 뮤신이 분비됨을 PAS 염색법으로 확인하였지만 RTO3를 이용한 면역조직 화학 염색에서는 양성 소견을 보이는 세포의 빈도가 적었다. 3) 뮤신의 양은 정상인에서는 평균 48ng/ml이하로 분비 되지만 기도 질환자에서는 정상인에 비해 뮤신 양의 분비가 증가됨을 알 수 있었다. 4) 기도 질환의 병기에 따른 뮤신 양의 변화는 기관지 천식환자에서 심한 발작시에 뮤신의 분비가 안정한 천식상태에서 보다 증가 됨을 알 수 있었다. 5) 폐암 환자의 기도 세척액에서 얻은 뮤신의 양도 정상인 보다 증가되어 있었다. 결 론: 만성 기도질환자의 뮤신 정량적 측정에 표식자로 단세포군 항체 RTO3를 이용한 ELISA의 시용 가능성을 보여 주었다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.239-249
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• 2003

Multi-detector row CT (MDCT) provides faster speed, longer coverage in conjunction with thin slices, improved spatial resolution, and ability to produce high quality muliplanar and three-dimensional (3D) images. MDCT has revolutionized the non-invasive evaluation of the central airways. Simultaneous display of axial, multiplanar, and 3D images raises precision and accuracy of the radiologic diagnosis of central airway disease. This article introduces central airway imaging with MDCT emphasizing on the emerging role of multiplanar and 3D reconstruction.