• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.85-89
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• 2016

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems. Although the etiology of SLE remains unclear, it is widely accepted that genetic factors could be involved in its pathogenesis. A number of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the risk of SLE in diverse populations. However, not all the SNP candidates identified from non-Asian populations have been validated in Koreans. In this study, we aimed to replicate the SNPs that were recently discovered in the GWAS; these SNPs have not been validated in Koreans or have only been replicated in Koreans with an insufficient sample size to conclude any association. For this, we selected five SNPs (rs1801274 in FCGR2A and rs2286672 in PLD2, rs887369 in CXorf21, rs9782955 in LYST, and rs3794060 in NADSYN1). Through the replication study with 656 cases and 622 controls, rs1801274 in FCGR2A was found to be significantly associated with SLE in Koreans (odds ratio, 1.26, 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.50; p = 0.01 in allelic model). This association was also significant in two other models (dominant and recessive). The other four SNPs did not show a significant association. Our data support that FCGR polymorphisms play important roles in the susceptibility to SLE in diverse populations, including Koreans.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.999-1004
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• 2014

In the present paper, the effects of initial crack location on spatial randomness of fatigue crack growth resistance (FCGR) in friction stir welded (FSWed) AA7075-T651 plates were studied. The objective of this study is to characterize the statistical properties of FCGR for three different types of initial crack location (ICL) specimens. In this work, the FCGR coefficients were treated as a spatial random process. It was found that the FCGR coefficients for all initial crack location specimens closely followed a two parameter Weibull distribution. The shape parameter of the Weibull distribution for BM-ICL specimens showed the largest value of 7.50, and that for the WM-ICL specimens showed the smallest value of 2.61. In addition, the autocorrelation functions for all the ICL specimens followed the exponential function.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.24 no.7 s.178
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• pp.1673-1680
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• 2000

The degradation of a boiler header constructed by a material, 1Cr-0.5Mo steel in a fossil power plant is observed when the header is exposed for a long period to the high temperature and pressure. The present investigations are for evaluating the effect of the degradation on the material, such as its strength changes. Reheat-treated metal is used to compare the mechanical properties of the degraded and that of reheat-treated materials. Through the investigation, following results are obtained 1) the area ratio of ferrite in the reheat-treated material is larger than that of the degraded material, 2) the hardness and tensile strength of the degraded material are lower than that of the reheat-treated material, 3) the ductile-brittle transition temperature(DBTT) increased toward high temperature region, 4) the fatigue crack growth rate(FCGR) of the degraded material is higher than that of the reheat-treated material in the region of low ΔK value while FCGR of the both materials are similar in high ΔK region.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.84-88
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• 2015

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that predominantly affects children, and can result in coronary artery lesions (CAL). A patient with KD who is resistant to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has a higher risk of developing CAL. Incomplete KD has increased in prevalence in recent years, and is another risk factor for the development of CAL. Although the pathogenesis of KD remains unclear, there has been increasing evidence for the role of genetic susceptibility to the disease since it was discovered in 1967. We retrospectively reviewed previous genetic research for known susceptibility genes in the pathogenesis of KD, IVIG resistance, and the development of CAL. This review revealed numerous potential susceptibility genes including genetic polymorphisms of ITPKC, CASP3, the transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ signaling pathway, B lymphoid tyrosine kinase, FCGR2A, KCNN2, and other genes, an imbalance of Th17/Treg, and a range of suggested future treatment options. The results of genetic research may improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of KD, and aid in the discovery of new treatment modalities for high-risk patients with KD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2011

Melatonin, which is the main product of the pineal gland, has well documented antioxidant and immune-modulatory effects. Macrophages produce molecules that are known to play roles in inflammatory responses. We conducted microarray analysis to evaluate the global gene expression profiles in response to treatment with melatonin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, eight genes were subjected to real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to confirm the results of the microarray. The cells were treated with LPS or melatonin plus LPS for 24 hr. LPS induced the up-regulation of 1073 genes and the down-regulation of 1144 genes when compared to the control group. Melatonin pretreatment of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells resulted in the down regulation of 241 genes and up regulation of 164 genes. Interestingly, among genes related to macrophage-mediated immunity, LPS increased the expression of seven genes (Adora2b, Fcgr2b, Cish, Cxcl10, Clec4n, Il1a, and Il1b) and decreased the expression of one gene (Clec4a3). These changes in expression were attenuated by melatonin. Furthermore, the results of real-time PCR were similar to those of the microarray. Taken together, these results suggest that melatonin may have a suppressive effect on LPS-induced expression of genes involved in the regulation of immunity and defense in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Moreover, these results may explain beneficial effects of melatonin in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions.