• BMB Reports
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.6-15
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• 2009

The most common genetic disorder Down syndrome (DS) displays various developmental defects including mental retardation, learning and memory deficit, the early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), congenital heart disease, and craniofacial abnormalities. Those characteristics result from the extra-genes located in the specific region called 'Down syndrome critical region (DSCR)' in human chromosome 21. In this review, we summarized the recent findings of the DYRK1A and RCAN1 genes, which are located on DSCR and thought to be closely associated with the typical features of DS patients, and their implication to the pathogenesis of neural defects in DS. DYRK1A phosphorylates several transcriptional factors, such as CREB and NFAT, endocytic complex proteins, and AD-linked gene products. Meanwhile, RCAN1 is an endogenous inhibitor of calcineurin A, and its unbalanced activity is thought to cause major neuronal and/or non-neuronal malfunction in DS and AD. Interestingly, they both contribute to the learning and memory deficit, altered synaptic plasticity, impaired cell cycle regulation, and AD-like neuropathology in DS. By understanding their biochemical, functional and physiological roles, we hope to get important molecular basis of DS pathology, which would consequently lead to the basis to develop the possible therapeutic tools for the neural defects in DS.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.343-348
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• 2015

Fiber type-specific programs controlled by the transcription factor MEF2 dictate muscle functionality. Here, we show that HDAC4, a potent MEF2 inhibitor, is predominantly localized to the nuclei in fast/glycolytic fibers in contrast to the sarcoplasm in slow/oxidative fibers. The cytoplasmic localization is associated with HDAC4 hyper-phosphorylation in slow/oxidative-fibers. Genetic reprogramming of fast/glycolytic fibers to oxidative fibers by active CaMKII or calcineurin leads to increased HDAC4 phosphorylation, HDAC4 nuclear export, and an increase in markers associated with oxidative fibers. Indeed, HDAC4 represses the MEF2-dependent, PGC-$1{\alpha}$-mediated oxidative metabolic gene program. Thus differential phosphorylation and localization of HDAC4 contributes to establishing fiber type-specific transcriptional programs.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.508-514
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• 2013

본 연구에서는 오리나무유래 HST의 T 세포 비활성화 효능을 확인하고 그 기전을 탐색하여 새로운 항아토피 천연소재로의 개발 가능성을 제시하고자 하였다. HST는 T 세포 mitogen으로서 anti-CD3 mAb가 처리 된 마우스 비장에서 Th 사이토카인(IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10)의 발현을 효과적으로 억제하였으며, T 세포 early activation marker인 CD25 유전자 발현이 INCA-6에서 매우 효과적으로 억제되는 것으로 보아, NFAT inactivator-유사 NFAT 탈인산화 억제 기전을 가지는 것으로 예측되었다. 또한 세포주기조절 단백질인 p21과 p27의 유전자도 HST에 의해 upregulation이 되어 효과적인 T 세포 증식 및 분화를 억제할 것으로 생각되었다. 이러한 세포주기조절 효과는 AD를 악화시키는 세균인 S. aureus 성장억제 실험에서 확인되어 향후 항박테리아 효능을 갖는 우수한 항아토피피부염 천연소재로서 HST의 활용 가치가 높을 것으로 판단된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권7호
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• pp.407-412
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• 2015

The 12 kDa FK506-binding protein (FK506BP12), an immunosuppressor, modulates T cell activation via calcineurin inhibition. In this study, we investigated the ability of PEP-1-FK506BP12, consisting of FK506BP12 fused to the protein transduction domain PEP-1 peptide, to suppress catabolic responses in primary human chondrocytes and in a mouse carrageenan-induced paw arthritis model. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis showed that PEP-1-FK506BP12 efficiently penetrated chondrocytes and cartilage explants. In interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-treated chondrocytes, PEP-1-FK506BP12 significantly suppressed the expression of catabolic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-1, -3, and -13 in addition to cyclooxygenase-2, at both the mRNA and protein levels, whereas FK506BP12 alone did not. In addition, PEP-1-FK506BP12 decreased IL-1β-induced phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) complex (p38, JNK, and ERK) and the inhibitor kappa B alpha. In the mouse model of carrageenan-induced paw arthritis, PEP-1-FK506BP12 suppressed both carrageenan-induced MMP-13 production and paw inflammation. PEP-1-FK506BP12 may have therapeutic potential in the alleviation of OA progression. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 407-412]

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2009

Tacrolimus is a widely used T cell targeted immunosuppressive drug, known as a calcineurin inhibitor. However, the exact pharmacological effects of tacrolimus on $CD4^+$ T cells have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effects of tacrolimus on $CD4^+$ T cell subsets. Mouse or human $CD4^+$ T cells were cultured with immobilized anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies in the presence of tacrolimus. The cell division of $CD4^+$ T cells was analyzed using a flow cytometer according to the expression of Foxp3. The gene expression patterns of tacrolimus-exposed T cells were examined by quantitative PCR. In the case of conventional $CD4^+$ T cells (Tconv cells), tacrolimus inhibited T cell receptor stimulation-induced cell division. In contrast, the cell division of regulatory $CD4^+$ T cells (Treg cells) was even promoted in the presence of tacrolimus, especially in humans. Tacrolimus did not promote conversion of Tconv to Treg cells in mice. Furthermore, tacrolimus modified the expression levels of Foxp3-regulated T cell receptor signal related-genes, PTPN22 and Itk, in human Treg cells. Immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus may be attributed to the relatively enhanced proliferation of Treg cells in association with altered gene expression levels of TCR signaling molecules.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.64-74
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of a Korean Medicine Treatment on 45 facial atopic dermatitis patients. Methods : Total 45 facial atopic dermatitis patients, who has visited korean medical clinic in year 2011 were analyzed by Objective SCORAD Index(OSI) and Investigator's Global Assessment(IGA). Subanalysis of OSI and IGA were done according to topical ointment user/non-user, treatment period and change in IGA distribution. Results : 1. Male and female percent was 20%:80%. 17.8% were teens, 55.6% were twenties, 13.3% were thirties, 13.3% were above age forty. 64.4% were on topical ointment treatment of corticosteroid or calcineurin inhibitor, and 35.6% were not at the initial visit. Patients with family history were 44.4% and 62.2% had atopic dermatitis past history. 2. OSI and IGA were significantly lower after 1~3, 3~6, 6~9 month of treatment. Average post-treatment score was lower in longer-treated group. 3. IGA distribution has changed from average 3.42 at the first visit to 1.76 at final visit. 91.1% of total patients reported decrease in IGA at the final visit. 4. OSI and IGA improvement rate were significantly higher in non-topical ointment user than the user. Age, treatment period, initial OSI and IGA score difference were not significantly different. Conclusion : A significant percent of 45 facial atopic dermatitis patients who were treated with Korean Medicine Treatment reported decrease in OSI and IGA. The difference increased with the treatment period. Non-topical ointment users' improvement was significantly higher than topical ointment user.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.36-43
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• 2020

Background: Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, is an immunosuppressant used in post-transplantation maintenance therapy. The drug has a narrow therapeutic range and requires periodic therapeutic drug monitoring. Although many studies have reported the effects of intrapatient variability of tacrolimus on survival, rejection, and complications in renal transplant recipients, very few studies have reported these effects in liver transplant recipients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intrapatient variability of tacrolimus on clinical outcomes after liver transplantation. Methods: Intrapatient variability was calculated using individual, averaged tacrolimus concentrations. Patients were divided into two groups according to their median variability value: high-variability and low-variability groups. The rate of deviation from the therapeutic range, incidence of acute rejection, post-transplant diabetes, incidence of infection, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after transplantation were compared between the groups. Results: Of the total patients (n=82), the high-variability group (n=41) exhibited significantly greater deviation from the therapeutic range (65.92% vs. 56.84%; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in acute rejection or post-transplantation diabetes incidence or eGFR; however, the number of infection in the first 6 months was significantly lower in the low-variability group (0.4 vs. 0.9 times; p=0.039). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the number of infection significantly increased as intrapatient variability increased (p=0.015). Conclusion: High intrapatient variability in tacrolimus concentrations was strongly associated with an increased frequency of deviation from the suggested therapeutic range and an increased number of infection.