• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2014

Molecular mimicry is an attractive mechanism for triggering autoimmunity. In this review, we explore the potential role of evolutionary conserved bacterial proteins in the production of autoantibodies with focus on granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Seven autoantigens characterized in GPA and RA were BLASTed against a bacterial protein database. Of the seven autoantigens, proteinase 3, type II collagen, binding immunoglobulin protein, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, ${\alpha}$-enolase, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein have well-conserved bacterial orthologs. Importantly, those bacterial orthologs are also found in human-associated bacteria. The wide distribution of the highly conserved stress proteins or enzymes among the members of the normal flora and common infectious microorganisms raises a new question on how cross-reactive autoantibodies are not produced during the immune response to these bacteria in most healthy people. Understanding the mechanisms that deselect auto-reactive B cell clones during the germinal center reaction to homologous foreign antigens may provide a novel strategy to treat autoimmune diseases.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.146-149
• /
• 2010

Exendin-4 (Ex-4), a peptide secreted from the salivary glands of the Gila monster lizard, can increase pancreatic $\beta$-cell growth and insulin secretion by activating glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor. In this study, we expressed a fusion protein consisting of exendin-4 and the human immunoglobulin heavy chain (Ex-4/IgG-Fc) in E. coli and explored its potential therapeutic use for the treatment of insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes. Here, we show that the Ex-4/IgG-Fc fusion protein induces expression of insulin receptor substrate-2 in rat insulinoma INS-1 cells. Our findings therefore suggest that Ex-4/IgG-Fc overexpressed in E. coli could be used as a potential, long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetic.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.135-138
• /
• 2000

Both myasthenia gravis and Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome are autoimmune disorder, but it is very rare that both of them occur together. A 53-year old woman with history of myathenia gravis complained of weakness of extremities, worsening progressively for several days. Electrophysiologic study showed findings of motor axonal neuropathy without sensory involvement. She became improved in aspect of clinical symtoms and electrophysiologic findings after infusion of immunoglobulin. This is a case of Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome in a patient with myasthenia gravis.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.48-51
• /
• 2004

The occurrence of polyneuropathy in association with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is quite common. However, reports of MGUS associated cranial neuropathies are rare. A 63 year-old women was presented with diplopia and swallowing difficulty. Neurological examination showed limitation of abduction of right eye, right peripheral facial palsy, decreased hearing and gag reflex, left side deviation of uvula, and decreased DTR. Sensorimotor polyneuropathy were observed with elctrophysiological studies. Protein and immunoelectrophoresis revealed IgG ${\kappa}$monoclonal gammopathy. She was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and steroid, and her symptoms and signs were improved. This case suggested that she had sensorimotor polyneuropathy and multiple cranial neuropathies associated with IgG ${\kappa}$MGUS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
• /
• 2005.09a
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2005

Immunoglobulins (IG) , T cell receptors (TR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are major components of the immune system. Their experimentally determined three-dimensional (3D) structures are numerous and their retrieval and comparison is problematic. IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system$^{\circledR}$(http://imgt.cines.fr), has devised controlled vocabulary and annotation rules for the sequences and 3D structures of the IG TR and MHC. Annotated data from IMGT/3D sructure-DB, the IMGT 3D structure database, are used in this paper to compare 3D structure of the domains and receptor, and to characterize IG/antigen, peptide/MHC and TR/peptide/MHC interfaces. The analysis includes angle measures to assess receptor flexibility, structural superimposition and contact analysis. Up-to-date data and analysis results are available at the IMGT Web site, http://imgt.cines.fr.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.451-462
• /
• 2018

Hubakmawhang-tang (HMT), listed in Geumgweyoryak, is an oriental medicine used for the symptoms of asthma, such as cough and dyspnea. In this study, we investigated the HMT effects on ovalbumin-induced asthmatic in mice. We examined weight changes, airway hyperresponsiveness, histopathological abnormalities, immune cell infiltrations, immunoglobulin and inflammatory cytokine levels, and spleen body weight ratios in asthmatic mice. HMT inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness, immune cell infiltration, and airway remodeling and caused a significant lowering of serum IgE and IgG1 levels. The asthmatic mice had elevated IL-4 levels in lung tissue and this elevation was effectively prevented by HMT. HMT did not cause changes in body weight or in the spleen body weight ratio. Therefore, HMT might have an anti-asthmatic effect in the ovalbumin-induced mouse model.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1479-1486
• /
• 2003

In order to evaluate the antiallergic effects of Kamiohihyosan(KCHS), studies were done. We measured the cytotoxic activity for lung fibroblast cell, cytokines transcript expression, production of IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, proliferation of B cell in anti-CD40mAb plus rIL-4 stimulated murine splenic B cells. The results were obtained as follows: KCHS was not showed cytotoxicity in the fibroblast lung cell, KCHS increased the gene synthesis of INF-γ, TNF-α, IL1-β, IL-6, IL-10(m-RNA), KCHS decreased the gene synthesis of IL-4, IL-5, TGF-β(m-RNA), KCHS decreased the appearance of IL-4, IgE significantly, KCHS increased the appearance of IL-10, IFN-γ significantly, KCHS decreased the proliferation of B cell significantly, The facts above prove that KCHS is effective against the allergy. Thus, I think that we should study on this continuously.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2015

It is well known that proteins present in the primary urine are reabsorbed in the renal proximal tubules, and that this reabsorption is mediated via the megalin-cubilin complex and the neonatal $Fc{\gamma}$ receptor. However, the reabsorption is also thought to be influenced by an electrostatic interaction between protein molecules and the microvilli of the renal proximal tubules. By analyzing the charge diversity of urinary IgG, we showed that this reabsorption process occurs in a cationic charge-preferential manner. The charge-selective molecular sieving function of the glomerular capillary walls has long been a target of research since Brenner et al. demonstrated the existence of this function by a differential clearance study by using the anionic dextran sulfate polymer. However, conclusive evidence was not obtained when the study was performed using differential clearance of serum proteins. We noted that immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG have similar molecular sizes but distinct molecular isoelectric points. Therefore, we studied the differential clearance of these serum proteins (clearance IgA/clearance IgG) in podocyte diseases and glomerulonephritis. In addition, we studied this differential clearance in patients with Dent disease rather than in normal subjects because the glomerular sieving function is considered to be normal in subjects with Dent disease. Our results clearly showed that the charge-selective barrier is operational in Dent disease, impaired in podocyte disease, and lacking in glomerulonephritis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.46-50
• /
• 2012

C1q nephropathy is a distinct clinicopathologic entity, characterized by mesangial immunoglobulin and complement deposits, predominantly C1q, with no evidence for systemic lupus erythematosus. Clinically it may present as nephrotic syndrome and non-nephrotic proteinuria per se or associated with microscopic hematuria, gross hematuria, hypertension, or renal insufficiency. So far there is only one report about a familial case of C1q nephropathy (in two sisters). We present two cases of familial C1q nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome which was steroid resistant, but partially remitted with cyclosporine.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.325-328
• /
• 2001

Gelatin particle agglutination test (GPAT) was used to detect Cymbidum mosaic virus (CymMV) in Cattleya plants. Gelatin particles were coated with purified anti-CymMV immunoglobulin of 25-100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and were subjected to several different concentrations of purified CyMfV as well as varying dilutions of orchid leaf extracts. The GPAT detected purified CymMV up to a minimum concentration of 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. CymMV was detected from crude sap extract of infected Cattleya leaves and roots up to 1:51,200 and 1:25,600 dilutions, respectively. However, the optimum range of leaf and root sap dilutions was between 50-100. Non-specific reactions were not encountered from any of the healthy orchid plants tested. The entire GPAT process was completed within 2-3 hours. This test was found to be very useful for the detection of CymMV in orchids because it is sensitive, economical, and easy to perform.