• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2003

Background: Immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain repertoire has been implicated as a critical determinant in regulation of autoreactive B cells and production of pathogenic anti-DNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We analyzed the impact of Ig ${\lambda}$ chain repertoire on development of autoimmunity in patients with SLE. Methods: We obtained genomic DNA from individual peripheral CD19+ B cells of 3 untreated active SLE patients, and amplified $V{\lambda}$ rearrangements from each single cell by polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total number of 208 $V{\lambda}J{\lambda}$ rearrangements were analyzed. Analyzed sequences included 158 productive rearrangements and 50 nonproductive rearrangements. The differences in $V{\lambda}$ gene usage in the productive and nonproductive repertoire of SLE patients were found compared to the non-autoimmune individuals. $V{\lambda}$ gene, 9A was significantly overrepresented in nonproducative repertoire of SLE patients (P=0.016). In the productive repertoire, $V{\lambda}$ genes, 3L and 1E were found more often in the SLE patients (P=0.001, P=0.043). When the productive and the nonproductive repertoires were compared, 9A was found significantly less in the productive repertoire in the SLE patients (P=0.000). There were no significant differences in the $J{\lambda}$ gene usage between SLE patients and non-autoimmune individuals, but $J{\lambda}2/3$ gene was the most frequently used in SLE, whereas $J{\lambda}7$ gene was the most frequently used in the normal subjects. In the productive SLE $V{\lambda}$ repertoire, 9.4% of the total sequences employed identical CDR3. It was particularly striking to find 7 identical versions of the 1G-$J{\lambda}2/3$ $V{\lambda}J{\lambda}$ rearrangements from one patient and 3 of the same sequence from another patient. Notably, identical $V{\lambda}$ junctions in the SLE patients utilized significantly more homologous joining compared to $V{\lambda}$ junctions of the normal adults (P=0.044). Conclusion: These data demonstrate regulation of ${\lambda}$ light chain expression in the SLE patients by selection of unique $V{\lambda}$ genes. Also, biased selection and clonal expansion of particular $V{\lambda}$ rearrangements are apparent in the SLE ${\lambda}$ repertoire.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.284-294
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• 2010

In this study, river water-based reference materials (RMs), NIER-I08RW and NIER-I09, for trace metal analysis were prepared and certified for Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu with evaluation of uncertainties. The RMs were confirmed to be homogeneous enough to be used as proficiency testing materials since within-bottle homogenieties of the RMs were lower than 0.3 times of targeted standard deviation of proficiency testing. The RMs were distributed to environmental testing laboratories for the proficiency testing and the variation of Z scores of the proficiency testing results were compared for different assigned values. The relative bias, $B_{relative}$, deviations between reference values and consensus values, were lower than ${\pm}$1 except for cadmium of NIERI08RW. The results showed both values were in a good agreement and only 2.9% of Z scores changed by using a different assigned values such as consensus and reference values.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.152-159
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• 2017

Purpose: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations, molecular features, and treatment status of XLA in Korean patients at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Methods: Fourteen Korean boys with XLA showing serum agammaglobulinemia, non-detectable to less than 2% of peripheral B-cells, and mutation of the Btk gene were enrolled. We observed the clinical features, laboratory findings, status of treatment, and complications in these XLA patients. Results: All XLA patients had a history of recurrent bacterial infections before diagnosis, and 20% of them had a neutropenia. Of the XLA patients 35.7% had a family history of XLA and 75% of their mothers were carriers. Btk gene analysis showed variable gene mutations in Xq22 including 9 amino acid substitutions, 3 frameshifts, 1 premature stop codon, and 1 splice defect. After intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy, infection episodes decreased, but complications such as bronchiectasis and chronic sinusitis remained. Conclusions: In patients less than 4 years of age with recurrent infection, analysis of serum gamma globulin levels and the Btk gene are recommended for the early diagnosis of XLA and for the appropriate prevention of recurrent infection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.122-135
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• 2018

Listeriolysin O (LLO), one of the most immunogenic proteins of Listeria monocytogenes and its main virulence factor, mediates bacterial escape from the phagosome of the infected cell. Thus, its expression in a nonpathogenic bacterial host may enable effective delivery of heterologous antigens to the host cell cytosol and lead to their processing predominantly through the cytosolic MHC class I presentation pathway. The aim of this project was to characterize the delivery of a model antigen, chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA), to the cytosol of dendritic cells by recombinant Bacillus subtilis vegetative cells expressing LLO. Our work indicated that LLO produced by non-sporulating vegetative bacteria was able to support OVA epitope presentation by MHC I molecules on the surface of antigen presenting cells and consequently influence OVA-specific cytotoxic T cell activation. Additionally, it was proven that the genetic context of the epitope sequence is of great importance, as only the native full-sequence OVA fused to the N-terminal fragment of LLO was sufficient for effective epitope delivery and activation of $CD8^+$ lymphocytes. These results demonstrate the necessity for further verification of the fusion antigen potency of enhancing the MHC I presentation, and they prove that LLO-producing B. subtilis may represent a novel and attractive candidate for a vaccine vector.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2013

Obesity is consistently increasing in prevalence and can trigger insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Many lines of evidence have shown that macrophages play a major role in inflammation associated with obesity. This study was conducted to determine metformin, a widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, would regulate inflammation through down-regulation of scavenger receptors in macrophages from obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with LPS to induce inflammation, and C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet to generate obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mice. Metformin reduced the production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines ($IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) through down-regulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ translocation in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, the protein expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were enhanced or maintained by metformin. Also, metformin suppressed secretion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and reduced the protein and mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in obese mice as well as in macrophages. The expression of scavenger receptors, CD36 and SR-A, were attenuated by metformin in macrophages and obese mice. These results suggest that metformin may attenuate inflammatory responses by suppressing the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and the expressions of scavenger receptors.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.345-351
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• 2006

We have examined the induction of HL-60 cell differentiation by treatment of the water extract of Rhizoma Zingiberis Siccatum, which is a Korean traditional herbal medicine. It was observed that HL-60 cell proliferation was dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with various dose of Rhizoma Zingiberis Siccatum extract. The level of inhibition was identical to those of ATRA-treated cells. Rhizoma Zingiberis Siccatum extract treatment caused a significant change in NBT reduction (47%) and enhanced ATRA-induced NBT reduction. Treatment of Rhizoma Zingiberis Siccatum to HL-60 cells increased only CD11 b expression in the cells, and also increased markedly G0/G1 stage arrest. This can suggest that Rhizoma Zingiberis Siccatum induced the differentiation of HL-60 cell and enhanced ATRA-induced differentiation predominantly along the granulocytic lineage. The results present here show that Rhizoma Zingiberis Siccatum extract contains the potential effect of differentiation induction or acts as a agent enhancing the induction of differentiation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4965-4969
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• 2015

LCN2 (Lipocalin 2) is a 25 KD secreted acute phase protein, reported to be a novel regulator of angiogenesis in breast cancer. Up regulation of LCN2 had been observed in multiple cancers including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. However, the role of LCN2 promoter methylation in the formation of microvessels is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of LCN 2 promoter methylation with microvessel formation and tumor cell proliferation in breast cancer patients. The LCN2 promoter methylation status was studied in 64 breast cancer tumors by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Evaluation of microvessel density (MVD) and Ki67 cell proliferation index was achieved by immunohistochemical staining using CD34 and MIB-1 antibodies, respectively. LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was observed in 43 (67.2%) of breast cancer patients whereas LCN2 methylation status was seen in 21 (32.8%). Further, LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and elevated mean MVD in breast cancer patients.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.125-134
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• 2015

Acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) is characterized by selective damage to the liver, the skin, and the gastrointestinal tract. Following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, donor bone marrow (BM) cells repopulate the immune system of the recipient. We previously demonstrated that the acute intestinal GVHD (iGVHD) mortality rate was higher in MyD88-deficient BM recipients than that in the control BM recipients. In the present study, the role of MyD88 (expressed by donor BM) in the pathophysiology of hepatic GVHD (hGVHD) was examined. Unlike iGVHD, transplantation with MyD88-deficient T-cell depleted (TCD) BM attenuated hGVHD severity and was associated with low infiltration of T cells into the liver of the recipients. Moreover, GVHD hosts, transplanted with MyD88-deficient TCD BM, exhibited markedly reduced expansion of $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$ myeloidderived suppressor cells (MDSC) in the liver. Adoptive injection of the MDSC from wild type mice, but not MyD88-deficient mice, enhanced hepatic T cell infiltration in the MyD88-deficient TCD BM recipients. Pre-treatment of BM donors with LPS increased MDSC levels in the liver of allogeneic wild type BM recipients. In conclusion, hGVHD and iGVHD may occur through various mechanisms based on the presence of MyD88 in the non-T cell compartment of the allograft.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.15-32
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the soil characteristics and propose the management for the Monument Beobsoo Marsh, Korea. The soil properties of O.M, $Ca^{2+}$, $Na^+$ and CEC were higher and the soil properties of pH_{1:5}$ and $P_2O_5$ were lower the studied sites than other marsh sites in Korea. Although the Heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr and As were lower compare to the safety standard of soil pollution in Korea, the overall conservation management plan based on long-term monitoring should be considered just because it varied by the point and non-point source pollution within the studied marsh. The source of water pollution varied due to non-point polluting origins such as sewage inlet, degraded terrain for agriculture, fishing sites, sites of removed water grasses, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, as well as fallen leaves. The creation of an artificial marsh is recommended due to the soil environment of the studied sites may be changed owing to the accumulated contaminants from the sources of both of point or non-point contaminants. The establishment of the zones of core, buffer and transition which is basic management structure of the UNESCO MaB could be applied to manage the studied site. Simultaneously the promotion of voluntary participation and education of the local residents are needed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2000

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) have known as potentially hazardous air pollutants(HAPs0 to human health because of its carcinogenic and mutagenic behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of 6 PAHs(Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo[a]anthracene, Chrysene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, and Benzo[a]pyrene) as well as 10 inorganic elements(Cr, Na, K, Zn, Pb, Fe, Cu, Ti, Al and Cd) in the ambient PM-10. The total of 115 samples had been collected from February, 1996 to June, 1996 on quartz fiber by a PM-10 high volume air sampler near the Yong-Tong Apartment complexes. A statistical analysis was performed for the PAHs and inorganic elements data set using a principal component analysis in order to identify qualitatively the potential sources of PM-10. A total of 6 principal components were separated by intensive data pretrement and transformation processes, such as soil, refuse incineration, oil burning, coal burning, field burning, vehicle emission sources. The results showed that PAHs were associated with various burning activities like refuse and field burning, coal burning, and oil burning emissions in the study area. These derived sources were well matched with the previously known source profiles in terms of compositonal order and level of measured species. The combination data set consisted of both organic and inorganic species might provide more powerful source signature and might increase the number of potentially derived sources than PAHs or inorganic data alone.