• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.54-63
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• 2024

This work investigated the influence of concentration and applied potential on the characteristics of zinc powder (purity, apparent density, morphology, particle size distribution, and particle zeta potential) produced by the electrochemical process from waste brass. High-purity zinc powder is obtained using selective leaching of industrial brass waste in acidic, neutral, and alkaline solutions. The free immersion method with and without voltage using linear polarization technique is used. In the electrochemical process, hydrochloric acid HCl in three different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) M is used. The time and the distance between the electrodes are set to be 30 min and 3 cm, respectively. It has been found that the percentage purity is 98%, 96%, and 94% for the acidic, neutral, and alkaline solutions, respectively. In addition, the morphology of zinc powder analyzed by SEM was dendritic and mossy. It has been recorded that the purity of zinc increases with the increase of the concentration and applied potential. The highest value of purity for zinc powder was %98.58 in 1000 mV and 0.3M concentration for graphite cathode.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.32.1-32.20
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• 2022

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily targets the salivary and lacrimal glands. The pathology of these exocrine glands is characterized by periductal focal lymphocytic infiltrates, and both T cell-mediated tissue injury and autoantibodies that interfere with the secretion process underlie glandular hypofunction. In addition to these adaptive mechanisms, multiple innate immune pathways are dysregulated, particularly in the salivary gland epithelium. Our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of SS has substantially improved during the past decade. In contrast to viral infection, bacterial infection has never been considered in the pathogenesis of SS. In this review, oral dysbiosis associated with SS and evidence for bacterial infection of the salivary glands in SS were reviewed. In addition, the potential contributions of bacterial infection to innate activation of ductal epithelial cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and B cells and to the breach of tolerance via bystander activation of autoreactive T cells and molecular mimicry were discussed. The added roles of bacteria may extend our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for this autoimmune exocrinopathy.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.11.1-11.26
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• 2022

When epithelial cells are exposed to potentially threatening external stimuli such as allergens, bacteria, viruses, and helminths, they instantly produce "alarmin" cytokines, namely, IL-33, IL-25, and TSLP. These alarmins alert the immune system about these threats, thereby mobilizing host immune defense mechanisms. Specifically, the alarmins strongly stimulate type-2 immune cells, including eosinophils, mast cells, dendritic cells, type-2 helper T cells, and type-2 innate lymphoid cells. Given that the alarm-raising role of IL-33, IL-25, and TSLP was first detected in allergic and infectious diseases, most studies on alarmins focus on their role in these diseases. However, recent studies suggest that alarmins also have a broad range of effector functions in other pathological conditions, including psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Therefore, this review provides an update on the epithelium-derived cytokines in both allergic and non-allergic diseases. We also review the progress of clinical trials on biological agents that target the alarmins and discuss the therapeutic potential of these agents in non-allergic diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.99-108
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• 2016

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cancer worldwide. Although incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer are gradually decreasing in the US, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have poor prognosis with an estimated 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Over the past decade, advances in combination chemotherapy regimens for colorectal cancer have led to significant improvement in progression-free and overall survival. However, patients with metastatic disease gain little clinical benefit from conventional therapy, which is associated with grade 3~4 toxicity with negative effects on quality of life. In previous clinical studies, cell-based immunotherapy using dendritic cell vaccines and sentinel lymph node T cell therapy showed promising therapeutic results for metastatic colorectal cancer. In our preclinical and previous clinical studies, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells treatment for colorectal cancer showed favorable responses without toxicities. Here, we review current treatment options for colorectal cancer and summarize available clinical studies utilizing cell-based immunotherapy. Based on these studies, we recommend the use CIK cell therapy as a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.1.1-1.13
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• 2019

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototypic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by production of autoantibodies to various nuclear antigens and overexpression of genes regulated by IFN-I called IFN signature. Genetic studies on SLE patients and mutational analyses of mouse models demonstrate crucial roles of nucleic acid (NA) sensors in development of SLE. Although NA sensors are involved in induction of antimicrobial immune responses by recognizing microbial NAs, recognition of self NAs by NA sensors induces production of autoantibodies to NAs in B cells and production of IFN-I in plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Among various NA sensors, the endosomal RNA sensor TLR7 plays an essential role in development of SLE at least in mouse models. CD72 is an inhibitory B cell co-receptor containing an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) in the cytoplasmic region and a C-type lectin like-domain (CTLD) in the extracellular region. CD72 is known to regulate development of SLE because CD72 polymorphisms associate with SLE in both human and mice and CD72^-/- mice develop relatively severe lupus-like disease. CD72 specifically recognizes the RNA-containing endogenous TLR7 ligand Sm/RNP by its extracellular CTLD, and inhibits B cell responses to Sm/RNP by ITIM-mediated signal inhibition. These findings indicate that CD72 inhibits development of SLE by suppressing TLR7-dependent B cell response to self NAs. CD72 is thus involved in discrimination of self-NAs from microbial NAs by specifically suppressing autoimmune responses to self-NAs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.354-365
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• 2024

Panax species include Panax ginseng Meyer, Panax quinquefolium L., Panax notoginseng, Panax japonicum, Panax trifolium, and Panax pseudoginseng, which contain bioactive components (BCs) such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides. Recently, growing evidence has revealed the pharmacological effects of Panax species and their BCs on allergic airway diseases (AADs), including allergic asthma (AA) and allergic rhinitis (AR). AADs are characterized by damaged epithelium, sustained acquired immune responses with enforced Th2 responses, allergenspecific IgE production, and enhanced production of histamine and leukotrienes by activated mast cells and basophils. In this review, we summarize how Panax species and their BCs modulate acquired immune responses involving interactions between dendritic cells and T cells, reduce the pro-inflammatory responses of epithelial cells, and reduce allergenic responses from basophils and mast cells in vitro. In addition, we highlight the current understanding of the alleviative effects of Panax species and their BCs against AA and AR in vivo. Moreover, we discuss the unmet needs of research and considerations for the treatment of patients to provide basic scientific knowledge for the treatment of AADs using Panax species and their BCs.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.104-112
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• 2008

목적: 기존치료에 반응하지 않는 다발성 간전이를 동반한 대장암 환자에서 방사선치료와 병합한 수지상세포 면역치료의 독성과 반응도를 조사하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2004년 5월부터 2006년 11월까지 다발성 간전이가 동반된 대장암 환자들 중에서 항암화학 요법에 반응하지 않은 환자 중 지원자를 대상으로 연구를 시행하였다. 본 임상 시험에 대하여 동아대학교병원과 부산대학교병원의 임상윤리심의위원회의 허가를 획득하였고, 동의서에 서명한 환자들을 임상 시험의 대상으로 등록하였다. 환자의 말초 혈액으로부터 수지상세포를 추출하여 배양하였다. 임상시험 일자에 맞추어서 $6{\times}10^6$개의 수지상세포를 바이알(0.5 ml)에 넣어서 디씨백/아이알 주사를 만들었다. 수지상세포 면역치료는 2주 간격으로 간전이암조직에 3회 주사하고, 5주에 내약성 평가를 하였다. 내약성 평가를 통과한 환자에게는 8주에 4번째 수지상세포 면역치료를 하였다. 병의 악화가 없거나 임상시험에 대한 환자의 동의 철회가 없는 경우에는 5, 6번째 수지상세포 면역치료를 각각 12, 16주에 시행하였다. 방사선치료는 수지상세포 면역치료를 주사할 간전이암 부위에 주사하기 전일 및 당일에 4 Gy씩을 조사하였다. 내약성 평가는 $3{\times}10^6$개의 수지상세포로부터 시작하여, $12{\times}10^6$개의 수지상세포까지 시행하였다. 내약성 평가의 최대 내성 용량으로 추가 임상시험을 하였다. 수지상세포 면역치료 주사를 맞은 모든 환자들에서 안전성 평가를 하였다. 4회 이상 주사를 맞은 환자들을 대상으로 10주에 치료 반응을 평가하여 유효성을 조사하였다. 결과: 임상시험에 등록한 24명 중 22명에서 수지상세포 면역치료를 시행하였다. 내성약 평가에는 14명이 등록하여 11명에서 평가를 완료하였다. 시험약과의 관련성이 있을 것으로 생각되는 grade 3 이상의 약물반응으로 인한 이상반응은 없었다. $12{\times}10^6$개의 수지상세포를 내성용량으로 확인하였고, 내성용량인 $12{\times}10^6$개 수지상세포 면역치료를 이용하여 8명에서 추가로 시험을 하였다. 치료에 대한 환자들의 내성은 양호하였고, grade 3을 초과하는 치명적인 부작용은 발생되지 않았다. 4회 이상의 수지상세포 면역치료 주사를 받은 환자가 17명이었고, 이 중의 15명에서는 종양의 반응도 평가가 이루어졌다. 본 연구의 목적은 안전성 평가이지만, 면역치료의 유효성 평가를 위해, 방사선치료와 수지상세포 면역치료 주사가 시행된 부위 외의 간전이암에서 반응도를 조사 하였다. 면역치료의 반응은 평가가 이루어진 환자들에서 정지성 병변이 4명, 진행성 병변이 11명 이었다. 결론: 수지상세포 면역치료와 병행한 방사선치료는 이론적으로 국소 및 전신 제어에 상승효과가 있을 것으로 기대할 수 있다. 하지만 기존 치료에 반응하지 않는 매우 진행된 직장암 환자들을 대상으로 한 본 연구에서는 방사선 치료와 병합한 수지상세포 면역치료로 인한 심각한 부작용의 발생은 없었다는 결과와 4예에서의 정지성 병변의 관찰을 보고한다. 수지상세포의 최대 투여 용량, 적절한 투여 방법, 적절한 방사선의 양, 방사선과 수지상 세포의 적절한 투여 간격 등에 관한 추가 연구를 통하여, 향후 제 2상, 3상 시험으로서의 진행 여부에 긍정적인 결과를 얻을 수 있다고 판단한다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권12호
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• pp.2033-2041
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• 2007

For many years, it has been demonstrated that neurotrophins regulate the adult nervous system, implicating their potential as therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. We generated adenoviral vectors encoding brain-derived neutotrophin factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and tested either separately or together for the ability to induce differentiation of neuronal precursor cells with two different origins. Separate transduction of adenovirus delivering BDNF (BDNF-Ad) or NT3 (NT3-Ad) induced the neuronal differentiation in hippocampal and cortical precursor cells. NT3-Ad infected cells extended short neurites, whereas BDNF-Ad infected cells had longer neurites. In the early differentiation of hippocampal precursor cells, simultaneous infection of BDNF-Ad and NT3-Ad promoted further differentiation and neurite elongation compared with the separate infection of each virus. In contrast, simultaneous infection did not show the synergistic effect in the cortical precursor cells, suggesting that the neurotrophins play distinct roles in different regions of the brain. However, the numbers of neurites and spines per differentiated cells were markedly increased in cortical as well as hippocampal precursor cells, indicating the promotion of efficient neurite elongation and formation of dendritic spine, when BDNF-Ad and NT3-Ad were co-infected. These results suggest more studies in the effect of a combinatorial use of neurotrophins on different sites of brain need to be carried out to develop gene therapy protocols for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.238-244
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• 2015

Macrophage-derived chemokine, C-C motif chemokine 22 (MDC/CCL22), is one of the inflammatory chemokines that controls the movement of monocytes, monocyte-derived dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. Serum and skin MDC/CCL22 levels are elevated in atopic dermatitis, which suggests that the chemokines produced from keratinocytes are responsible for attracting inflammatory lymphocytes to the skin. A major signaling pathway in the interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$)-stimulated inflammation response involves the signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1). In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of dieckol and its possible action mechanisms in the category of skin inflammation including atopic dermatitis. Dieckol inhibited MDC/CCL22 production induced by IFN-${\gamma}$ (10 ng/mL) in a dose dependent manner. Dieckol (5 and $10{\mu}M$) suppressed the phosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of STAT1. These results suggest that dieckol exhibits anti-inflammatory effect via the down-regulation of STAT1 activation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.138-146
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• 2009

Background: The MHC region of the chromosome contains a lot of genes involved in immune responses. Here we have investigated the mouse NG29/Cd320 gene in the centrometrically extended MHC region of chromosome 17. Methods: We cloned the NG29 gene by RT-PCR and confirmed the tissue distribution of its gene expression by northern blot hybridization. We generated the NG29 gene expression constructs and polyclonal antibody against the NG29 protein to perform the immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometric analysis. Results: The murine NG29 gene and its human homologue, the CD320/8D6 gene, were similar in the gene structure and tissue expression patterns. We cloned the NG29 gene and confirmed its expression in plasma membrane and intracellular compartments by transfecting its expresssion constructs into HEK 293T cells. The immunoprecipitation studies with rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against the NG29-NusA fusion protein indicated that NG29 protein was a glycoprotein of about 45 kDa size. A flow cytometric analysis also showed the NG29 expression on the surface of Raw 264.7 macrophage cell line. Conclusion: These findings suggested that NG29 gene in mouse extended MHC class II region was the orthologue of human CD320 gene even though human CD320/8D6 gene was located in non-MHC region, chromosome 19p13.