• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.265-276
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• 2014

The interactions between B7 molecules and CD28-family receptors are crucial in the regulation of adaptive cellular immunity. In cancer, the aberrant expression of co-inhibitory B7 molecules has been attributed to reduced anti-tumor immunity and cancer immune evasion, prompting the development of cancer therapeutics that can restore T cell function. Murine tumor models have provided significant support for the targeting of multiple immune checkpoints involving CTLA-4, PD-1, ICOS, B7-H3 and B7-H4 during tumor growth, and clinical studies investigating the therapeutic effects of CTLA-4 and PD-1 blockade have shown exceptionally promising results in patients with advanced melanoma and other cancers. The expression pattern of co-inhibitory B7 ligands in the tumor microenvironment has also been largely correlated with poor patient prognosis, and recent evidence suggests that the presence of several B7 molecules may predict the responsiveness of immunotherapies that rely on pre-existing tumor-associated immune responses. While monotherapies blocking T cell co-inhibition have beneficial effects in reducing tumor burden, combinatorial immunotherapy targeting multiple immune checkpoints involved in various stages of the anti-tumor response has led to the most substantial impact on tumor reduction. In this review, we will examine the contributions of B7- and CD28-family members in the context of cancer development, and discuss the implications of current human findings in cancer immunotherapy.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.733-737
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• 2018

박과 작물에 함유되어 있는 tetracyclic triterpene 성분 중 하나인 쿠쿠르비타신(cucurbitacin)-I는 대장암, 유방암, 간암세포에서의 항종양 활성이 밝혀져 있으나 난소암에서의 쿠쿠르비타신-I의 역할은 보고된 바 없다. CD44는 세포막에 존재하는 당단백질로 생체 내 리간드인 glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid를 통해 세포 외부 매트릭스와 다른 세포와의 접촉을 매개한다. 최근 연구에 의해 CD44의 발현이 난소암세포의 증식 및 세포 부착과 침윤을 증가시키는 주요 원인이라는 것이 보고되었다. 이러한 결과는 CD44의 발현을 억제함으로써 난소암의 진행을 조절할 수 있음을 시사하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 쿠쿠르비타신-I가 난소암세포의 CD44의 발현을 억제할 수 있는 지의 여부를 조사하였다. 인간의 난소암 세포인 SKOV-3를 이용한 MTS assay를 수행한 결과, 쿠쿠르비타신-I는 100 nM이상의 농도에서 세포독성을 나타내었다. 세포독성을 나타내지 않는 농도의 쿠쿠르비타신-I를 SKOV-3 세포에 처리하여 Western blot 분석과 qRT-PCR을 수행한 결과, 쿠쿠르비타신-I에 의해 CD44의 단백질과 mRNA의 발현이 유의적으로 감소되는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 쿠쿠르비타신-I에 의한 CD44의 발현 억제가 $NF-{\kappa}B$와 AP-1의 인산화 감소에 기인하고 있음을 밝혔다. 이러한 결과는 쿠쿠르비타신-I가 CD44 발현을 억제하는 기능을 가지며, 이는 난소암 치료에 도움을 줄 수 있는 제재로서 쿠쿠르비타신-I의 가능성을 제시하는 것이다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2495-2499
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• 2015

Mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) is an important serine/threonine protein kinase and a member of the MAPK family. MEKK3 can effectively activate the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and promote an autocrine growth loop critical for tumor genesis, cell proliferation, terminal differentiation, apoptosis and survival. To explore the relationship between MEKK3 and cell apoptosis, clinicopathology and prognosis, we characterize the expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 in the renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Protein expression was detected by tissue microarray and immunochemistry in 46 cases of RCCC and 28 control cases. Expression levels of CD3+,CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+,CD4+CD25+, CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ were assessed by flow cytometry and analyzed for their association with pathological factors, correlation and prognosis in RCCC. Expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 was significantly up-regulated in RCCC as compared to control levels (p<0.01), associated with pathological grade (p<0.05)and clinical stage (p<0.05). CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells were also significantly increased in RCCC patients (p<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that MEKK3, pERK expression and patholigical stage were independent prognostic factors in patients with RCCC (p<0.05). MEKK3 can be used as an important marker of early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation in RCCC. It may be associated with imbalance of anti-tumor immunity and overexpression of pERK. Expression of MEKK3 and pERK are significantly increased in RCCC, with protein expression and clinical stage acting as independent prognostic factors.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

The Artemisia capillaris THUNB is a perennial herb that belongs to the family Compositae spp and probably the most common plant among the various herbal folk remedies being used in the treatment of abdominal pain, hepatitis, chronic liver disease, jaundice and coughing in Korea. Recently the biological and pharmacological actions of herb have been studied well such as antibacterial, antidiabetic and antitumor activities. This experiment was conducted to investigate antitumor and immunomodulatory effects of Artemisia capillaris extracts against Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180 cancer cells in in vivo experimental tests. In in vivo experimental tests using 210 ICR mice, based on flow cytometry, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and TNF-${\alpha}+$ splenocytes were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in the Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180 inoculated vehicle controls, HP and SP, compared to those of the intact vehicle control on both the $28^{th}$ day and the $42^{nd}$ day, respectively. These decreases of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and TNF-${\alpha}+$ cells induced by tumor inoculations were significantly (p<0.05) inhibited by mACH treatment regardless of the type of experiments and tumor cells inoculated. The results suggest that Artemisia capillaris methanol extracts have prominent antitumor effects on the cancer cell lines Hepa-1c1c7 and Sarcoma 180.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.339-347
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• 2005

IL-17 (IL-17A or CTLA-8) is the founding member of a novel family of inflammatory cytokines, and emerging evidence indicates that it plays a central role in inflammation and autoimmunity. IL-17 is made primarily, if not exclusively by T cells, but relatively little is known about how its expression is regulated. In the present study, we examined the requirements and mechanisms for IL-17 expression in primary mouse lymphocytes. Like many cytokines, IL-17 is induced rapidly in primary T cells after stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) through CD3 crossinking. Surprisingly, however, the pattern of regulation of IL-17 is different in mice than in humans, because "costimulation" of T cells through CD28 only mildly enhanced IL-17 expression, whereas levels of IL-2 were dramatically enhanced. Similarly, several other costimulatory molecules such as ICOS, 4-1BB and CD40L exerted only very weak enhancing effects on IL-17 production. In agreement with other reports, IL-23 enhanced CD3-induced IL-17 expression. However, IL-17 production can occur autonomously in T cells, as neither dendritic cells nor IL-23 were necessary for promoting short-term production of IL-17. Finally, to begin to characterize the TCR-mediated signaling pathway(s) required for IL-17 production, we showed that IL-17 expression is sensitive to cyclosporin-A and MAPK inhibitors, suggesting the involvement of the calcineurin/NFAT and MAPK signaling pathways.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권sup1호
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• pp.49-52
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• 2016

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a hereditary humoral immunodeficiency that results from Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK ) gene mutations. These mutations cause defects in B-cell development, resulting in the virtual absence of these lymphocytes from the peripheral circulation. Consequently, this absence leads to a profound deficiency of lg all isotypes, and an increased susceptibility to encapsulated bacterial infections. A 15-month-old Korean boy presented with recurrent sinusitis and otitis media after 6 months of age, and had a family history of 2 maternal uncles with XLA. Laboratory tests revealed a profound deficiency of Ig isotypes, and a decreased count of $CD19^+$ B cells in the peripheral circulation. Based on his family history and our laboratory test results, he was diagnosed with XLA. We performed BTK gene analysis of peripheral blood samples obtained from family members to confirm the diagnosis. Mutational analysis revealed a novel hemizygous frameshift mutation (c.82delC, p.Arg28Alafs*5), in the BTK gene. His mother and maternal grandmother were heterozygous carriers of this mutation and his two maternal uncles were hemizygous at the same position. After XLA diagnosis, intravenous immunoglobulin (400 mg/kg, monthly) treatment was initiated; recurrent sinusitis and otitis media were subsequently brought under control. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a Korean pedigree with a novel mutation in the BTK gene.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권8호
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• pp.1194-1201
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• 2015

This study investigated the effect of oxidized soybean oil in the diet of young chickens on growth performance and intestinal oxidative stress, and indices of intestinal immune function. Corn-soybean-based diets containing 2% mixtures of fresh and oxidized soybean oil provided 6 levels (0.15, 1.01, 3.14, 4.95, 7.05, and $8.97meqO_2/kg$) of peroxide value (POV) in the diets. Each dietary treatment, fed for 22 d, had 6 replicates, each containing 30 birds (n = 1,080). Increasing POV levels reduced average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the broilers during d 1 to 10, body weight and average daily gain at d 22 but did not affect overall ADFI. Concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased in plasma and jejunum as POV increased but total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) declined in plasma and jejunum. Catalase (CAT) activity declined in plasma and jejunum as did plasma glutathione S-transferase (GST). Effects were apparent at POV exceeding $3.14meqO_2/kg$ for early ADFI and MDA in jejunum, and POV exceeding $1.01meqO_2/kg$ for CAT in plasma and jejunum, GST in plasma and T-AOC in jejunum. Relative jejunal abundance of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) P50 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ P65 increased as dietary POV increased. Increasing POV levels reduced the jejunal concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A and cluster of differentiation (CD) 4 and CD8 molecules with differences from controls apparent at dietary POV of 3.14 to $4.95meqO_2/kg$. These findings indicated that growth performance, feed intake, and the local immune system of the small intestine were compromised by oxidative stress when young broilers were fed moderately oxidized soybean oil.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.299-304
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• 2009

인터루킨 27(IL-27)은 인터루킨 12계열의 이성이량체 사이토카인으로 EBI3와 p28의 두 서브유니트로 구성 되어 있다. 인터루킨 27은 Th1 개시의 초기 조절에 관여하는 사이토카인으로 Th2 인자인 GATA-3의 작용을 억제하는 역할을 한다. 이 사이토카인은 $CD4^+$ T 림프구와 자연살해세포에서 아주 높게 발현하는 수용체(WSX-1)에 의하여 매개된다. 우리들은 사람의 IL-27p28유전자에서 네 개의 유전자다형성 부위를 찾아서 이들 유전자다형성이 기관지 천식의 감수성에 영향을 미치는 것을 보고한 바 있다. 이 연구에서는 IL-27p28 유전자의 유전자다형성이 알레르기성 비염의 감수성에 영향을 미치는 지를 알아보기 위하여 이들 다형성에 있어서 알레르기성 비염환자 군과 정상인군 사이의 유전자형 및 대립형질의 빈도를 비교분석 하였다. 비록 알레르기성 비염환자 군에서 IL-27p28 유전자의 유전자다형성의 유전자형 및 대립형질의 빈도의 차는 정상인 군의 그것과 큰 차이가 없었으나, g.2905T>G SNP에서 두 그룹간에 주목할만한 차이(P=0.037)를 발견하였다. 이 결과는 IL-27p28 유전자의 g.2905T>G 유전자 형성이 알레르기성 비염환자에서 IgE의 생산에 영향을 준다는 것을 암시한다.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.363-373
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• 2007

우리나라 도시 및 공단지역의 농경지에 대해 서식하고 있는 지표곤충 및 평가지수를 이용하여 농업생태계 내의 환경상태를 평가하고자 2004년부터 2006년까지 곤충 서식환경이 다른 지역을 대상으로 곤충 상을 조사하였다. 각 조사지역 내에서의 서식식물을 조사하여 식생을 평가한 결과 농업지역의 자연성이 좋았으며, 도시지역 과 공단지역은 자연환경 상태가 다소 떨어졌다. 각 지역별 수질, 토양 및 대기환경을 조사한 결과 농업지역에 비해 도시지역과 공단지역의 수질, 토양중금속, 대기 등 오염이 더 심한 것으로 나타났다. 5월부터 10월까지 서식곤충을 조사한 결과 조사지역 모두 6월부터 8월까지 가장 많은 곤충이 채집되었으며, 농업지역은 총 12목 106과 166종, 도시지역은 11목 102과 148종, 공단지역은 11목 100과 152종으로 농업지역에서 가장 많은 곤충이 서식하고 있었다. 목별로는 딱정벌레목의 곤충이 가장 많이 서식하였으며, 곤충 군집분석 결과 다양도 지수는 농업지역이 2.36으로 도시지역(1.92)과 공단지역(1.28) 보다 높았다. 이상의 결과를 종합하여 평가 항목별 기준을 보면 양호한 지역은 농업지역이며, 곤충 다양성 지수 2.1이상, 지표곤충은 남방폭탄먼지벌레, 환경조건은 수질 BOD 4.8 ml/L, 토양중금속 Cd 0.06 ppm이하였다. 보통인 지역은 도시지역이며, 곤충 다양성 지수 1.5-2.0, 지표곤충은 끝동매미충, 환경조건은 수질 BOD 10.98 ml/L, 토양중금속 Cd 0.30 ppm이하였다. 그리고 불량한 지역은 공단지역이며, 곤충 다양성 지수 1.5미만, 지표곤충은 콩잎벌레, 환경조건은 수질 BOD 29.7 ml/L, 토양중금속 Cd 1.01 ppm이었다. 따라서 도시 및 공단지역은 농업지역에 비해 곤충이 서식할 수 있는 환경조건, 특히 식생, 수질, 토양환경이 떨어졌으며, 서식하고 있는 곤충 종수, 개체수 등 서식밀도가 낮은 것으로 보아 이들 농경지에 대한 건전성을 평가할 수 있는 일부 기준이 될 것으로 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.624-631
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• 2005

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, continues to be one of the main diseases to mankind. It is urgent to discover novel drug targets for appropriate antimicrobial agents against this human pathogen. The shikimate pathway is onsidered as an attractive target for the discovery of novel antibiotics for its essentiality in bacteria and absence in mammalian cells. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis aroE-encoded shikimate dehydrogenase was cloned, expressed and purified. Sequence alignment analysis shows that shikimate dehydrogenase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis exhibit the pattern of G-X-(N/S)-V-(T/S)-X-PX-K, which is highly conserved within the shikimate dehydrogenase family. The recombinant shikimate dehydrogenase spectrum determined by CD spectroscopy showed that the percentages for $\alpha$-helix, $\beta$-sheet, $\beta$-turn, and random coil were 29.2%, 9.3%, 32.7%, and 28.8%, respectively. The enzymatic characterization demonstrates that it appears to be fully active at pH from 9.0 to 12, and temperature $63^{\circ}C$. The apparent Michaelis constant for shikimic acid and $NADP^+$ were calculated to be about $29.5\;{\mu}M$ and $63\;{\mu}M$. The recombinant shikimate dehydrogenase catalyzes the substrate in the presence of $NADP^+$ with an enzyme turnover number of $399\;s^{-1}$. Zymological studies suggest that the cloned shikimate dehydrogenase from M. tuberculosis has a pretty activity, and the work should help in the discovery of enzyme inhibitors and further of possible antimicrobial agents against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.