• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.123-126
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• 2010

Volatile organic compounds are commonly off gassed from various building materials and can induce sick building syndrome. Volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene are known as toxic agents in immune cells. Human leukocytes, particularly, neutrophils and eosinophils play important roles in the regulation of immune responses. In this study, we investigated the toxic effects of formaldehyde, ortho-xylene (o-xylene), para-xylene (p-xylene) and toluene on the apoptosis of neutrophils and eosinophils isolated from the blood of healthy donors. Formaldehyde increased the constitutive apoptosis of neutrophils and eosinophils. o-xylene, p-xylene and toluene increased the spontaneous apoptosis of eosinophils, but not that of neutrophils. Formaldehyde increased the protein level of IL-8 in neutrophils and eosinophils, and suppressed the MCP-1 expression in neutrophils. The release of IL-6 from neutrophils was diminished by volatile organic compounds used in this study. In conclusion, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene elevate the apoptosis of neutrophils and eosinophils, and regulate the release of cytokine and chemokine in neutrophils and eosinophils. These results indicate that formaldehyde, xylene and toluene have a cytotoxicity in human neutrophils and eosinophils and may damage the modulation of immune responses.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Neutrophils play an important role in the human immune system for protection against such microorganisms as a protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis; however, the precise role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of trichomoniasis is still unknown. Moreover, it is thought that trichomonal lysates and excretory-secretory products (ESP), as well as live T. vaginalis, could possibly interact with neutrophils in local tissues, including areas of inflammation induced by T. vaginalis in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of T. vaginalis lysate on the fate of neutrophils. We found that T. vaginalis lysate inhibits apoptosis of human neutrophils as revealed by Giemsa stain. Less altered mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and surface CD16 receptor expression also supported the idea that neutrophil apoptosis is delayed after T. vaginalis lysate stimulation. In contrast, ESP stimulated-neutrophils were similar in apoptotic features of untreated neutrophils. Maintained caspase-3 and myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) in neutrophils co-cultured with trichomonad lysate suggest that an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis was involved in T. vaginalis lysate-induced delayed neutrophil apoptosis; this phenomenon may contribute to local inflammation in trichomoniasis.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.89-93
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• 2011

Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease and is characterized by the releases of inflammatory mediators including chemokines. They are mainly associated with the recruitment, activation and dysregulation of specific inflammatory cells, especially neutrophils in neutrophilic asthma. CC chemokines bind to CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) in the surface of their target cells. The aims of this study are to examine the CCR expression in neutrophils of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic patients and to determine the alternation of migration and apoptosis of neutrophils by the BALF. We demonstrate that CCR3 strongly expresses in BALF neutrophils of asthmatic patients as compared to other CCRs and increases during apoptosis of the BALF neutrophils. The migration of asthmatic blood neutrophils increases in response to asthmatic BALF as compared to BALF of normal volunteer. In addition, asthmatic BALF includes the higher levels of IL-8 protein than normal BALF and it has no effect on apoptosis of asthmatic blood neutrophils. Taken together, our results indicate that CCR3 expression may be associated with unknown function of asthmatic BALF neutrophils and BALF may be involved in the recruitment of neutrophils into the airway, but not in the neutrophils apoptosis.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.211-214
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• 2016

House dust mite is an essential allergen in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Abnormal regulation of neutrophil apoptosis is an important pathogenic process in allergic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of house dust mites on spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils and its associated mechanisms. Extract of Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (DP) inhibited neutrophil apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Cycloheximide (CHX), an inhibitor of translation, increased apoptosis of DP-treated neutrophils as well as control cells. The pro-apoptotic effect of CHX was blocked by DP in neutrophils. In addition, DP increased the phosphorylation of Bad in a time-dependent manner, indicating that it exerted an inhibitory effect on the function of Bad. These results suggest that DP has anti-apoptotic effects of neutrophils and may regulate protein synthesis and activation of Bad. Moreover, these findings may shed light on elucidation of allergy pathogenesis due to house dust mites.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.307-309
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• 2012

(S)-(+)-3(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-acrylic acid 2,2-dimethyl-8-oxo3,4-dihydro-2H,8H-pyrano[3,2-g]Chromen-3-yl-ester (Compound 6, C6) is synthesized from (S)-(+)-decursin and attenuates the pathophysiologic progression of asthma in a ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mouse model. In the present study, we examined the effect of C6 on spontaneous apoptosis of eosinophils and neutrophils of normal and asthmatic subjects. C6 increased the apoptosis of asthmatic eosinophils in a dose-dependent manner, but it inhibited neutrophil apoptosis. C6 has no effect on apoptosis of normal eosinophils and neutrophils. LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, rottlerin, an inhibitor of $PKC{\delta}$, Ro-31-8425, an inhibitor of classical PKC inhibitor, PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, and BAY 11-7085, an inhibitor of NF-${\kappa}B$, blocked the inhibitory effect on apoptosis of asthmatic neutrophils due to C6. These results indicate that C6 may be valuable as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of asthma.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.22-30
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• 2011

아포지방단백 A-I (apoA-I)은 항염증 및 항산화 작용을 가지고 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 논문에서는 인간 혈액의 호중구를 이용하여 in vitro 상태에서 세포사멸과 시토카인의 분비 과정에 미치는 apoA-I의 영향을 조사하였다. 인간 호중구에 apoA-I을 처리한 결과 세포사멸의 정도가 감소되었다. 또한, apoA-I을 함유하는 고밀도 지방단백(HDL)에 의하여도 세포사멸은 현저히 감소되었다. HDL이 결합하는 수용체인 scavenger 수용체 B-1에 대한 항체에 의하여도 세포사멸은 억제되었다. ApoA-I을 20 시간 처리한 세포의 배양액내 인터루킨-8, 인터페론-유도단백질 10(IP-10) 및 종양괴사인자-α의 분비가 현저히 증가하였다. 호중구에 인터페론 감마와 apoA-I을 동시 처리하였을 때 시토카인 중에서 IP-10과 종양괴사인자-$\alpha$의 분비가 단독으로 처리한 경우에 비해 현저히 증가되었다. 이러한 결과들은 인간 혈액 호중구에 apoA-I을 처리한 경우 호중구가 활성화되고 호중구의 세포사멸이 지연된다는 것을 제시하는 것으로 apoA-I이 호중구에 대하여 염증성 인자로 작용할 것으로 추정된다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.122-125
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• 2015

House dust mite (HDM) as a major allergen and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) such as S100A8 and S100A9 trigger the pathogenesis and severity of allergic disease such as asthma. Regulation of neutrophil apoptosis is an important immune response and its dysregulation is involved in pathogenesis of allergic diseases. In this study, we examined the effects of HDM, S100A8 and S100A9 on spontaneous apoptosis of normal neutrophils. We considered the importance of the difference between in vitro and in vivo results and developed a new in vitro system consisting of a combination of immune cells and T helper (Th) cytokines. Extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), S100A8, and S100A9 inhibited neutrophil apoptosis in culture of neutrophils alone without other leukocytes. DP and S100A8 more strongly suppressed neutrophil apoptosis in combinations of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes or monocytes than in a culture of neutrophils alone. Anti-apoptotic effect of S100A9 in the mixture of immune cells was similar to that in neutrophils. DP, S100A8, and S100A9 blocked neutrophil apoptosis, regardless of pretreatment with a T helper (Th) 1 cytokine (IFN-$\gamma$), Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10), a Th9 cytokine (IL-9), a Th17 cytokine (IL-17), a Treg-producing cytokine (TGF-$\beta$). These findings may enable elucidation of allergy pathogenesis due to HDM and DAMP.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.285-290
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• 2010

Tyrosine kinases are one of the most important regulators for intracellular signal transduction related to inflammatory responses. However, there are no reports describing the effects of tyrosine kinases on neutrophil apoptosis induced by Entamoeba histolytica, In this study, isolated human neutrophils from peripheral blood were incubated with live trophozoites in the presence or absence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Entamoeba-induced receptor shedding of CD16 and PS externalization in neutrophils were inhibited by pre-incubation of neutrophils with the broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein or the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2. Entamoeba-induced ROS production was also inhibited by genistein or PP2, Moreover, genistein and PP2 blocked the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK in neutrophils induced by E. histolytica. These results suggest that Src tyrosine kinases may participate in the signaling event for ROS-dependent activation of MAPKs during neutrophil apoptosis induced by E. histolytica.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.102-108
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• 2016

Der p 2는 알레르기 질환과 관련이 있는 집먼지 진드기의 주요 알러젠이다. 알레르기 질환의 병인기전은 림프구의 사이토카인 분비와 호중구의 세포고사와 관련이 있다. 본 연구에서는 Der p 2가 림프구의 사이토카인 분비를 유도하고, 유도된 사이토카인이 호중구의 세포고사 조절에 효과가 있는 지를 확인하였다. Der p 2는 정상인과 알레르기 질환의 림프구에서 IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, GM-CSF의 분비를 증가시켰다. Der p 2는 호중구의 세포고사에 어떠한 효과도 없었지만, Der p 2로 림프구를 자극한 뒤 모은 상층액이 호중구의 자발적 세포고사를 억제시켰다. Der p 2는 정상인의 림프구와 호중구를 공동배양에서 자극한 것 보다 알레르기 질환의 림프구와 호중구의 공동배양에서 자극했을 때 호중구의 세포고사를 더 크게 억제시켰다. Der p 2의 림프구와 호중구의 조절기전 규명은 알레르기 질환의 병인기전을 규명하는데 유용한 결과가 될 것이다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.230-236
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• 2015

Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (DP)는 알레르기 질환과 연관이 있는 집먼지 진드기 중 하나이다. 집먼지 진드기에 의해 생성되는 Cystein 단백질분해효소(Derp-1)가 강력한 알레르겐으로 작용한다. 알레르기 병인기전은 림프구의 사이토카인 분비와 호중구의 자발적인 세포고사와 연관이 있다. 본 연구에서는 Derp-1이 림프구에서 사이토카인 분비를 유도하는지 여부와 이에 의해 호중구 세포고사 조절에 영향을 주는지를 실험 해보았다. 정상인과 알레르기 환자의 림프구에서, Derp-1에 의해 IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1그리고 GM- CSF의 분비가 증가됨을 보였다. Derp-1이 단독으로 호중구에 영향을 주는 것은 아니지만, Derp-1으로 호중구를 자극한 뒤 모은 상층액이 호중구의 세포고사를 억제시킴을 확인하였다. 정상인의 호중구와 림프구를 co-culture하여 Derp-1을 처리한 결과 호중구의 세포고사가 억제되었고, 이보다 알레르기 환자에서 시행되어진 것이 그 효과가 더 크게 나타났다. 즉, Derp-1은 사이토카인의 분비를 증가시키고, 이로 인해 정상인과 알레르기 환자의 호중구의 세포고사를 억제시킨다. 이를 통해 알레르기 질환의 병인기전을 밝히는데 유용한 자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.