• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2018

Tuberculosis (TB) is infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. It is known that not only the property of microorganism but also the genetic susceptibility of infected patients is controlled. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a cytokine belonging to type 1 T helper (Th1) activity. In addition, IL-2, when infected with MTB, binds IL-2 receptor and promotes T cell replication and is involved in granuloma formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of the IL-2 receptor gene in tuberculosis patients and normal individuals. We analyzed 22 SNPs in three genes using the genotype data of 443 tuberculosis cases and 3,228 healthy controls from the Korea Association Resource for their correlation with tuberculosis case. IL2RA, IL2RB, and IL2RG genes were genotyped of 16, 4, and 2 SNPs, respectively. Among three genes, only IL2RA gene polymorphisms showed statistically significant association with tuberculosis case. 6 SNPs with high significance were identified in the IL2RA gene. In addition, the linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure of IL2RA gene was confirmed. SNP imputation of IL2RA gene was performed, it was confirmed that more SNPs were significant between case and control. If we look at the results of IL2RA gene analysis above, we can see that genetic polymorphism in the gene expressing $IL-2R{\alpha}$ will regulate the expression level of $IL-2R{\alpha}$, and the change in the immune system involved in $IL-2R{\alpha}$. In this study, genetic polymorphism that may affect host immunity suggests that susceptibility to tuberculosis may be controlled.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.23
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• 2022

In the past few decades, biological drugs and small molecule inhibitors targeting inflammatory cytokines, immune cells, and intracellular kinases have become the standard-of-care to treat autoimmune diseases. Inhibition of TNF, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23 has revolutionized the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis. B cell depletion therapy using anti-CD20 mAbs has shown promising results in patients with neuroinflammatory diseases, and inhibition of B cell survival factors is approved for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Targeting co-stimulatory molecules expressed on Ag-presenting cells and T cells is also expected to have therapeutic potential in autoimmune diseases by modulating T cell function. Recently, small molecule kinase inhibitors targeting the JAK family, which is responsible for signal transduction from multiple receptors, have garnered great interest in the field of autoimmune and hematologic diseases. However, there are still unmet medical needs in terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles. Emerging therapies aim to induce immune tolerance without compromising immune function, using advanced molecular engineering techniques.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.182-187
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been shown to generally decrease levels of innate immune markers and inflammatory cytokines, but the specific associations between blood levels of PUFAs and those of innate immune markers have not been investigated. Thus, the present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that innate immune markers as well as cytokines are negatively associated with n-3 PUFAs but positively associated with n-6 PUFAs in healthy adults. MATERIALS/METHODS: One hundred sixty-five healthy Korean adults aged 25-70 years old were included in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Serum levels of n-3 PUFAs, such as 18:3n3, 20:5n3, 22:5n3, and 22:6n3 were negatively correlated with eosinophil and basophil counts and $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, and IL-10 levels. Multivariate analysis also showed that serum levels of n-3 PUFAs were negatively associated with monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts and $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, and IL-12 levels. Additionally, the ratio of 20:4n6 to 20:5n3 was positively correlated with eosinophil counts and associated with $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$, and IL-4 levels. However, NK cell activity was not associated with serum fatty acid composition. CONCLUSIONS: Innate immune markers such as eosinophil, monocyte, and basophil counts were inversely associated with serum levels of n-3 PUFAs, but were positively associated with the 20:4n6/20:5n3 ratio in this population.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.379-389
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• 2018

A nucleobase adenine is a fundamental component of nucleic acids and adenine nucleotides. Various biological roles of adenine have been discovered. It is not produced from degradation of adenine nucleotides in mammals but produced mainly during polyamine synthesis by dividing cells. Anti-inflammatory roles of adenine have been supported in IgE-mediated allergic reactions, immunological functions of lymphocytes and dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. However adenine effects on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated inflammation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a cell wall component of Gram negative bacteria, is not examined. Here we investigated anti-inflammatory roles of adenine in LPS-stimulated immune cells, including a macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMCs) and peritoneal cells in mice. In RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS, adenine inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 and inflammatory lipid mediators, prostaglandin $E_2$ and leukotriene $B_4$. Adenine impeded signaling pathways eliciting production of these inflammatory mediators. It suppressed $I{\kappa}B$ phosphorylation, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) JNK and ERK. Although adenine raised cellular AMP which could activate AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), the enzyme activity was not enhanced. In BMMCs, adenine inhibited the LPS-induced production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-13 and also hindered phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and Akt. In peritoneal cavity, adenine suppressed the LPS-induced production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 by peritoneal cells in mice. These results show that adenine attenuates the LPS-induced inflammatory reactions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.9
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• 2022

Despite the high prevalence of chronic dermatitis and the accompanied intractable itch, therapeutics that specifically target itching have low efficacy. Increasing evidence suggests that TLRs contribute to immune activation and neural sensitization; however, their roles in chronic itch remain elusive. Here, we show that the RBL-2H3 mast cell line expresses TLR4 and that treatment with a TLR4 antagonist opposes the LPS dependent increase in mRNA levels of Th2 and innate cytokines. The pathological role of TLR4 activation in itching was studied in neonate rats that developed chronic itch due to neuronal damage after receiving subcutaneous capsaicin injections. Treatment with a TLR4 antagonist protected these rats with chronic itch against scratching behavior and chronic dermatitis. TLR4 antagonist treatment also restored the density of cutaneous nerve fibers and inhibited the histopathological changes that are associated with mast cell activation after capsaicin injection. Additionally, the expression of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 mRNA in the lesional skin decreased after TLR4 antagonist treatment. Based on these data, we propose that inhibiting TLR4 alleviated itch in a rat model of chronic relapsing itch, and the reduction in the itch was associated with TLR4 signaling in mast cells and nerve fibers.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Inflammasomes are intracellular multiprotein complexes that coordinate anti-pathogenic host defense during inflammatory responses in myeloid cells, especially macrophages. Inflammasome activation leads to activation of caspase-1, resulting in the induction of pyroptosis and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and IL-18. Although the inflammatory response is an innate host defense mechanism, chronic inflammation is the main cause of rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and $Sj{\ddot{o}}gren^{\prime}s$ syndrome (SS). Since rheumatic diseases are inflammatory/autoimmune disorders, it is reasonable to hypothesize that inflammasomes activated during the inflammatory response play a pivotal role in development and progression of these diseases. Indeed, previous studies have provided important observations that inflammasomes are actively involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on several types of inflammasomes during macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses and discuss recent research regarding the role of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases. This avenue of research could provide new insights for the development of promising therapeutics to treat inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2017

To elucidate new biological ingredients in cold-brew coffee extracted with cold water, crude polysaccharide (CCP-0) was isolated by ethanol precipitation, and its immune-stimulating activities were assayed. CCP-0 mainly comprised galactose (53.6%), mannose (15.7%), arabinose (11.9%), and uronic acid (12.4%), suggesting that it might exist as a mixture of galactomannan and arabinogalactan. CCP-0 significantly increased cell proliferation on both murine peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes in a dose dependent manner. CCP-0 also significantly augmented nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production by murine peritoneal macrophages. In addition, macrophages stimulated by CCP-0 enhanced production of various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12. In an in vitro assay for intestinal immune-modulating activity, CCP-0 showed higher bone-marrow cell-proliferation activity through Peyer's patch cells at $100{\mu}g/mL$ than the negative control. These results suggest that CCP-0 may potentially enhance macrophage functions and the intestinal immune system.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.93-96
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• 2022

Natural language processing (NLP) is utilized to understand a natural text. Text analysis systems use natural language algorithms to find the meaning of large amounts of text. Text classification represents a basic task of NLP with a wide range of applications such as topic labeling, sentiment analysis, spam detection, and intent detection. The algorithm can transform user's unstructured thoughts into more structured data. In this work, a text classifier has been developed that uses academic admission and registration texts as input, analyzes its content, and then automatically assigns relevant tags such as admission, graduate school, and registration. In this work, the well-known algorithms support vector machine SVM and K-nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithms are used to develop the above-mentioned classifier. The obtained results showed that the SVM classifier outperformed the kNN classifier with an overall accuracy of 98.9%. in addition, the mean absolute error of SVM was 0.0064 while it was 0.0098 for kNN classifier. Based on the obtained results, the SVM is used to implement the academic text classification in this work.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.280-286
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• 2022

Facial recognition system is a biometric manipulation. Its applicability is simpler, and its work range is broader than fingerprints, iris scans, signatures, etc. The system utilizes two technologies, such as face detection and recognition. This study aims to develop a facial recognition system to recognize person's faces. Facial recognition system can map facial characteristics from photos or videos and compare the information with a given facial database to find a match, which helps identify a face. The proposed system can assist in face recognition. The developed system records several images, processes recorded images, checks for any match in the database, and returns the result. The developed technology can recognize multiple faces in live recordings.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.169-183
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• 2022

Gastric cancer is prevalent in Korea and ranked as the third most common cancer in 2019, followed by lung and thyroid cancers. The National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for gastric cancer has been implemented in adults aged ≥ 40 since 1999 and involves endoscopic screening every 2 years. The beneficial effects of the current NCSP on early cancer detection, cost-effectiveness, and mortality reduction are evident. However, the screening program results in a large socioeconomic burden and the consumption of medical resources, as it focuses solely on secondary prevention (early detection) rather than primary prevention of cancer. Helicobacter pylori is defined as a group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Hence, its eradication has been suggested as an important primary gastric cancer prevention strategy. Well-designed randomized controlled trials involving high-risk groups (post-endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer and family history of gastric cancer) and long-term follow-up studies in the general population have provided high-quality evidence regarding the effects of H. pylori eradication on gastric cancer prevention. In this review, we discussed the evidences for a possible modification of the current gastric cancer secondary prevention strategy by introducing primary prevention through H. pylori eradication. Areas for future research to optimize primary prevention strategies were also suggested.