• 한국자기공명학회논문지
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.74-92
• /
• 2005

The high resolution solution structure of MCP-3 was determined using multinuclear, multidimensional NMR spectroscopy with an expressed and $^{13}C-\;and\;^{15}N-labeled$ protein. The MCP-3 has a typical chemokine fold including 3 anti-parallel $\beta-sheets$, and a C-terminal helix, but it exists as a monomer in solution under the conditions where the structure was determined (2 mM, pH 5.1 at $30^{\circ}C$). Based on the structure and the amino acid sequence compared to other chemokines we propose that Ile20 and Leu25 in MCP-3 play key roles in the formation of N-loop (residues between the $2^{nd}$ cysteine and the I sheet) which has been implicated as a determinant of chemokine specificity. Additional receptor binding surface is supplied by the 40s loop (residues between the 2 and the 3 sheet) and the binding interface of the acidic N-terminal region of chemokine receptor to MCP-3 would resemble the dimerization interface of CC type dimer.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제57권1호
• /
• pp.28-36
• /
• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the impact of socioeconomic factors and sexual orientation-related attributes on the rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: A web-based survey, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, was conducted among paying members of the leading online portal for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) community in Korea. The study participants were MSM living in Korea (n=942). COVID-19 vaccination and infection were considered dependent variables, while sexual orientation-related characteristics and adherence to non-pharmacological intervention (NPI) practices served as primary independent variables. To ensure analytical precision, nested logistic regression analyses were employed. These were further refined by dividing respondents into 4 categories based on sexual orientation and disclosure (or "coming-out") status. Results: Among MSM, no definitive association was found between COVID-19 vaccination status and factors such as socioeconomic or sexual orientation-related attributes (with the latter including human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] status, sexual orientation, and disclosure experience). However, key determinants influencing COVID-19 infection were identified. Notably, people living with HIV (PLWH) exhibited a statistically significant predisposition towards COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, greater adherence to NPI practices among MSM corresponded to a lower likelihood of COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: This study underscores the high susceptibility to COVID-19 among PLWH within the LGBTQ+ community relative to their healthy MSM counterparts. Consequently, it is crucial to advocate for tailored preventive strategies, including robust NPIs, to protect these at-risk groups. Such measures are essential in reducing the disparities that may emerge in a post-COVID-19 environment.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
• /
• 제54권1호
• /
• pp.28-37
• /
• 2022

임신은 갑상선 기능 검사의 중요한 해석을 필요로 하며 임신 중 갑상선 기능 이상과 외부 바이러스성 감염 인자들의 항체의 존재는 태아 및 산모의 건강에 영향을 미치기에 임신에서 갑상선 기능의 선별적 평가가 요구된다. 본 연구에서는 임신기간 동안 정상 산모들의 선택적 산전 감염인자 검사 항목 중에서 갑상선 관련 인자와 바이러스성 감염 인자의 임신시기별 상호 연관성을 알아보고자 하는 후향적 단편 실태조사이다. 분석한 결과를 살펴보면, T3는 나이가 증가함에 따라 감소하고, 특히 HCV가 양성인 그룹에서 양의 유의성을 보였다(P<0.01). 또한 HIV가 음성이지만 임계치에 근접하거나 쌍둥이 임산부에서는 FT4가 유의한 증가를 나타냈다(P<0.05). TSH는 30대 연령에서 높게 분포하였으며, 다른 바이러스성 감염인자와는 통계적 유의성이 나타나지 않았다. 또한, TSH의 결과 값을 삼분위로 나누어 분석한 결과, FT4와 T3은 양의 상관성을 보였으나 TSH와는 음의 상관성을 보였다(P<0.05). 따라서 본 연구를 통해서 임신 중 산전검사인 갑상선 검사와 바이러스성 감염인자의 검사를 통한 임신 중 평가는 임신 경과시간, 감염인자의 노출상태 및 정량적 수치의 상태를 반영하여 이루어져야 할 것이며, 갑상선 관련 내분비 인자에 대한 산전검사의 유용성에 대한 평가의 보완이 이루어져야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제28권6호
• /
• pp.849-859
• /
• 2018

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection has been a public health concern worldwide. It is the leading cause of genital herpes and a contributing factor to cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. No vaccine is available yet for the treatment of HSV-2 infection, and routinely used synthetic nucleoside analogs have led to the emergence of drug resistance. The small molecule $Retro-2^{cycl}$ has been reported to be active against several pathogens by acting on intracellular vesicle transport, which also participates in the HSV-2 lifecycle. Here, we showed that Retro-2.1, which is an optimized, more potent derivative of $Retro-2^{cycl}$, could inhibit HSV-2 infection, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of $5.58{\mu}M$ and $6.35{\mu}M$ in cytopathic effect inhibition and plaque reduction assays, respectively. The cytotoxicity of Retro-2.1 was relatively low, with a 50% cytotoxicity concentration of $116.5{\mu}M$. We also preliminarily identified that Retro-2.1 exerted the antiviral effect against HSV-2 by a dual mechanism of action on virus entry and late stages of infection. Therefore, our study for the first time demonstrated Retro-2.1 as an effective antiviral agent against HSV-2 in vitro with targets distinct from those of nucleoside analogs.

• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제46권1호
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2006

We have studied pharmacokinetics of a new anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) agent VP-0501 and its amino acid prodrug VP-0501AL which is designed to improve oral bioavailability. After oral administration at 100 mg/kg dose in rats (n = 4), VP-0501 was not detectable in plasma (<50 ng/ml), while after the administration of VP-0501AL, VP-0501 was quantitatively detected, at least for 8 hrs, with Cmax of ca. $2.5{\mu}g/ml$ and AUC of $8hr^{\ast}{\mu}g/ml$. When VP-0501 was intravenously administered at 50mg/kg, this compound appeared at a marginal level in plasma with AUC of $2hr^{\ast}{\mu}g/ml$, $t_{1/2}$ of 2 hr, $C_0$ of $0.7{\mu}g/ml$, and MRT of 3 hr. On the other hand, with intravenous VP-0501AL at the same dose, both the prodrug VP-0501AL and its metabolite VP-0501 appeared comparatively at higher level in the plasma: pharmacokinetic parameters of VP-0501AL including $Vd_{\beta}$, AUC, $t_{1/2,{\beta}}$, $C_0$, $CL_{tot}$, and MRT were ca. 2 L/kg, $70hr^{\ast}{\mu}g/ml$, 2 hr, $180{\mu}g/ml$, 0.7 L/hr/kg, and 1 hr, respectively. These results demonstrate that attachment of amino acid alanine to VP-0501 is an effective approach for improvement of its oral bioavailability. Therefore, VP-0501AL is expected to become a new highly bioavailable and potent anti-AIDS drug candidate/lead compound.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2010

본 연구에서는 가래나무 추출물의 항산화 효과와 티로시나제 활성 저해, 멜라닌 생성 및 티로시나제 합성 억제효과를 측정하고 이 추출물을 함유하는 제품의 임상시험을 실시하여 미백 화장품 소재로서의 개발 가능성을 관찰하였다. 가래나무 추출물은 농도 의존적으로 DPPH radical과 초산소 음이온 라디칼을 소거하였고, $SC_{50}$값은 각각 $20\;{\mu}g/mL$ 및 $25\;{\mu}g/mL$ 이었다. B16/BL6 멜라노마 세포를 이용하여 세포내 티로시나제 활성, 멜라닌 생성 및 티로시나제 합성 억제 효과를 측정한 결과 농도 의존적으로 티로시나제의 활성 및 멜라닌 생성을 억제하였으며, 티로시나제 단백질의 합성도 감소시켰다. 또한, 임상시험을 통하여 가래나무 추출물을 함유한 화장품이 대조 제품에 비해 통계적으로 유의한 피부 미백 효과가 있음을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 볼 때 가래나무 추출물은 색소침착 방지와 개선에 효과있는 새로운 미백 원료로 개발할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.192-198
• /
• 2006

Background: Investigating strategy to enhance efficiency of gene transfer via adenovirus is critical to sustain gene expression in targeted cells or tissues to regulate immune responses. However, the use of adenovirus as a gene delivery method has been limited by the native tropism of the virus. In this study, the critical parameter is to improve the efficient binding of viral particles to the plasma membrane prior to cellular uptake. Methods: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) trans-acting activator of transcription (TAT), a protein transduction domain, was fused to the ectodomain of the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR). The CAR-TAT protein was produced from a Drosophila Schneider 2 cells (S2) transfected with CAR-TAT genes. The function of CARTAT was analyzed the efficiency of adenoviral gene transfer by flow cytometry, and then immunizing AdVGFP with CAR-TAT was transduced on dendritic cells (DCs). Results: S2 transfectants secreting CAR-TAT fusion protein has been stable over a period of 6 months and its expression was verified by western blot. Addition of CAR-TAT induced higher transduction efficiency for AdVGFP at every MOI tested. When mice were vaccinated with DC of which adenoviral transduction was mediated by CAR-TAT, the number of IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting T-cells was increased as compared with those DCs transduced without CAR-TAT. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that CAR-TAT fusion protein enhances adenoviral transduction and immunogenecity of transgenes on DCs and may influence on the development of adenoviral-mediated anti-tumor immunotherapy.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• 제48권2호
• /
• pp.92-102
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study investigated the validity of the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) as a predictor of periodontal disease (PD) over a 12-year period. Methods: Nationwide representative samples of 149,785 adults aged ${\geq}60$ years with PD (International Classification of Disease, 10th revision [ICD-10], K052-K056) were derived from the National Health Insurance Service-Elderly Cohort during 2002-2013. The degree of comorbidity was measured using the CCI (grade 0-6), including 17 diseases weighted on the basis of their association with mortality, and data were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression in order to investigate the associations of comorbid diseases (CDs) with PD. Results: The multivariate Cox regression analysis with adjustment for sociodemographic factors (sex, age, household income, insurance status, residence area, and health status) and CDs (acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, cerebral vascular accident, dementia, pulmonary disease, connective tissue disorders, peptic ulcer, liver disease, diabetes, diabetes complications, paraplegia, renal disease, cancer, metastatic cancer, severe liver disease, and human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]) showed that the CCI in elderly comorbid participants was significantly and positively correlated with the presence of PD (grade 1: hazard ratio [HR], 1.11; P<0.001; grade ${\geq}2$: HR, 1.12, P<0.001). Conclusions: We demonstrated that a higher CCI was a significant predictor of greater risk for PD in the South Korean elderly population.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.102-105
• /
• 2012

Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG) has become an important cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). First delineated from other proteinuric glomerular lesions in the 1980s, CG is now recognized as a common, distinct pattern of proliferative parenchymal injury that portends a rapid loss of renal function and poor responses to empirical therapy. The first cases in the literature trace back to human-immunodeficiency-virus(HIV)-negative patients who underwent biopsy in 1979. A 45-year-old male patient complained of hematuria and proteinuria eight years ago. He showed an abrupt serum creatinine increase from 1.75 to 2.65 mg/dL in the last preceding months. Afterwards, his serum creatinine progressively increased up to 6.82 mg/dL. Moreover, his 24 h urine protein level was determined to have reached 6,171 mg/day, as opposed to 670 mg/day a year earlier. Consequently, renal biopsy was performed, and its result showed collapsing glomerulopathy, compatible with the diagnosis. He has undergone continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis as renal replacement therapy. Thus, it is reported herein that a patient clinically diagnosed with chronic kidney disease eight years ago showed a sudden renal-function decrease and was clinicopathologically diagnosed with collapsing glomerulopathy based on the results of his renal biopsy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제41권2호
• /
• pp.144-150
• /
• 2017

Background: The presence of gross deletions in the human immunodeficiency virus nef gene ($g{\Delta}nef$) is associated with long-term nonprogression of infected patients. Here, we investigated how quickly genetic defects in the nef gene are associated with Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) intakein 10 long-term slow progressors. Methods: This study was divided into three phases over a 20-yr period; baseline, KRG intake alone, and KRG plus highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART). nef gene amplicons were obtained using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR from 10 long-term slow progressors (n = 1,396), and nested PCR from 36 control patients (n = 198), and 28 ART patients (n = 157), and these were then sequenced. The proportion of $g{\Delta}nef$, premature stop codons, and not in-frame insertion or deletion of a nucleotide was compared between three phases, control, and ART patients. Results: The proportion of defective nef genes was significantly higher in on-KRG patients (15.6%) than in baseline (5.7%), control (5.6%), on-KRG plus ART phase (7.8%), and on-ART patients (6.6%; p < 0.01). Small in-frame deletions or insertions were significantly more frequent among patients treated with KRG alone compared with controls (p < 0.01). Significantly fewer instances of genetic defects were detected in samples taken during the KRG plus ART phase (7.8%; p < 0.01). The earliest defects detected were $g{\Delta}nef$ and small in-frame deletions after 7 mo and 67 mo of KRG intake, respectively. Conclusion: KRG treatment might induce genetic defects in the nef gene. This report provides new insight into the importance of genetic defects in the pathogenesis of AIDS.