• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.339-347
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• 2005

IL-17 (IL-17A or CTLA-8) is the founding member of a novel family of inflammatory cytokines, and emerging evidence indicates that it plays a central role in inflammation and autoimmunity. IL-17 is made primarily, if not exclusively by T cells, but relatively little is known about how its expression is regulated. In the present study, we examined the requirements and mechanisms for IL-17 expression in primary mouse lymphocytes. Like many cytokines, IL-17 is induced rapidly in primary T cells after stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) through CD3 crossinking. Surprisingly, however, the pattern of regulation of IL-17 is different in mice than in humans, because "costimulation" of T cells through CD28 only mildly enhanced IL-17 expression, whereas levels of IL-2 were dramatically enhanced. Similarly, several other costimulatory molecules such as ICOS, 4-1BB and CD40L exerted only very weak enhancing effects on IL-17 production. In agreement with other reports, IL-23 enhanced CD3-induced IL-17 expression. However, IL-17 production can occur autonomously in T cells, as neither dendritic cells nor IL-23 were necessary for promoting short-term production of IL-17. Finally, to begin to characterize the TCR-mediated signaling pathway(s) required for IL-17 production, we showed that IL-17 expression is sensitive to cyclosporin-A and MAPK inhibitors, suggesting the involvement of the calcineurin/NFAT and MAPK signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2016

We investigated 23 lactic acid bacteria isolated from Korean breast milk-fed infant in order to select strains which show superior anti-allergic effect. The candidates were cultivated and then we obtained dried powders of tyndallized cells and supernatant concentrate separately. Screening was carried out with down-regulation of interleukin (IL) 4 and up-regulation of IFN-${\gamma}$ in mouse splenocytes. As a result of the screening, we selected Lactobacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 (RH3201) for oral feeding to ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mice. Oral administration of RH3201 as dead cell bodies and supernatant concentrate suppressed hyper-production of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels compared to vehicle group. Such anti-allergic effects were achieved by improvement of the balance between cytokines produced from type-1 helper T (Th1) and type-2 helper T (Th2) lymphocytes. Therefore, RH3201 has potential to improve atopic symptoms by immunomodulatory effect.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2007

The ultrastructure of submandibular gland was examined in the Korean spider shrew, Sorex caecutiens. The submandibular gland wat composed of acini and salivary ducts. A submadibular acinus was a mixed gland having serous demilune cells and mucous cells that were filled with well developed rER, mitochondria and large amount of dense secretory granules. Serous acinar granules were oval shape without distinct limiting membrane on the border and it had only coarse specks with various density. Mucous acinar granules were oval shape without distinct limiting membrane and had a variety pattern with several thin or transparent bands into the homogeneous dense matrix. Thus submandibular acinar granules of S. caecutiens belonging to subfamily Soricinae were distinct from the other mammalian species including Crocidurinae, because of the absence of limiting membrane of acinar granules and specific pattern of mucous acinar granules. Granular duct cells had large amount of small granular vesicles and several characteristic structures of granule which were revered with stratified limiting membranes and filled with coarse serous-like granule or homogeneous matrix.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.58-60
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• 2019

Anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium Prevotella intermedia is a part of normal flora of the oral cavity and associated with various types of oral and systemic diseases. We present here a draft genome sequence of P. intermedia ATCC 15032, originally isolated from cervicofacial actinomycosis. The genome is 2,848,426 bp in length and has a GC content of 43.45%. The genome includes 2,358 protein-coding genes, 5 rRNAs, and 43 tRNA. The sequence information will provide important clues in understanding the genome diversity within the bacterial species, and genetic basis for phenotypic differences among P. intermedia strains.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare dental plaque scores obtained through clinical examinations and various imaging techniques, as well as to assess the effectiveness of herbal and conventional toothpastes for plaque removal. Materials and Methods: Thirty volunteers were divided into 3 groups. Each group was given a different toothpaste (from 2 herbal toothpastes and a conventional toothpaste) with which to brush their teeth for 21 days. Both initially and after brushing, dental plaque samples were collected, and plaque on the buccal surfaces of anterior teeth was scored using several imaging systems after staining with a disclosing agent. Specifically, digital dental photography, intraoral digital scanning, and FluoreCam imaging were employed to capture intraoral images. The Turesky Modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index was used for clinical examination and image analysis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses and correlational assessments between clinical examination and imaging scores were conducted before and after toothpaste use. The Shapiro-Wilk test and Pearson correlations were utilized. Results: The lowest mean value was observed in the clinical examination without staining, while the highest was obtained using the FluoreCam method. No significant change was found in the level of any microorganism assessed following toothpaste use (P<0.05), with the exception of a decrease in S. mutans levels after using conventional toothpaste (P<0.05). Conclusion: Herbal toothpaste demonstrated plaque-removal effectiveness comparable to that of conventional toothpaste. The use of imaging methods for measuring plaque index has been suggested as a means to educate patients about plaque control and promote ongoing oral care.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13.1-13.8
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• 2023

Importance of accurate molecular diagnosis and quantification of particular disease-related pathogenic microorganisms is highlighted as an introductory step to prevent and care for diseases. In this study, we designed a primer/probe set for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) targeting rgpA gene, known as the specific virulence factor of periodontitis-related pathogenic bacteria 'Porphyromonas gingivalis', and evaluated its diagnostic efficiency by detecting and quantifying relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis within saliva samples collected from clinical subjects. As a result of qRT-PCR, we confirmed that relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis was detected and quantified within all samples of positive control and periodontitis groups. On the contrary, negative results were confirmed in both negative control and healthy groups. Additionally, as a result of comparison with next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based 16S metagenome profiling data, we confirmed relative bacterial load of P. gingivalis, which was not identified on bacterial classification table created through 16S microbiome analysis, in qRT-PCR results. It showed that an approach to quantifying specific microorganisms by applying qRT-PCR method could solve microbial misclassification issues at species level of an NGS-based 16S microbiome study. In this respect, we suggest that P. gingivalis-specific primer/probe set introduced in present study has efficient applicability in various oral healthcare industries, including periodontitis-related microbial molecular diagnosis field.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2006

Generally, Tension-Type Headache(TTH) patients exhibit muscle pain, but can also have TMJ pain, which includes mouth opening limitation or joint sounds. The purpose of our study is to observe the clinical pain characteristics between TTH patients with muscle pain and TMJ pain. One hundred sixty-seven patients were diagnosed with TTH according to the questionnaires based on the International Headache Society's proposal on the diagnostic criteria of TTH. The patients were classified into three group; arthralgia group (18 patients), myalgia group (50 patients) and arthromyalgia group (99 patients). TTH patients with pericranial muscle pain were classified in the myalgia group. TTH patients with temporal region pain were classified in the arthralgia group. TTH patients with both types of pain were classified in the arthromyalgia group. The parameters in the diagnostic criteria such as quality, intensity, laterality of pain, and aggravation due to physical activities were compared among the three groups. 1. There were no significant differences in the quality of pain among the three groups. 2. There were no significant differences in the intensity of pain among the three groups. 3. There were no significant differences in the laterality of pain among the three groups. 4. A higher percentage of patients in the arthromyalgia group experienced headaches that were aggravated due to physical activity (p=0.03) compared to the other groups. The results of this study show that TTH patients with both arthralgia (TMJ pain) and myalgia (pericranial muscle pain) are more aggravated by physical activity than TTH patients with either one.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.301-308
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• 2013

Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) is one of the important immune-inhibitory molecules which was expressed in T cells, B cells, NKT cells, and macrophages activated by various immune activating factors. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is one of the crucial immunogens for PD-1 expression. However, there are only a few reports on the expression mechanisms of PD-1 in innate immune cells. In this study, we investigate the expression mechanisms of PD-1 in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cell lines by RT-PCR, Western Blot, flow cytometry as well as ChIP assay and co-immunoprecipitation. When Raw264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS, PD-1 expression was greatly up-regulated via PI3K and p38 signaling. Primary macrophages isolated from LPS-injected mice were also shown the increased expression of PD-1. In promoter assay, NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF-1 binding regions in mouse PD-1 promoter are important for PD-1 expression. We also found that the co-activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF-1 is indispensable for the maximum PD-1 expression. These results indicate that the modulation of PD-1 expressed in innate immune cells could be a crucial for the disease therapy such as LPS-induced mouse sepsis model.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.502-510
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• 2009

Although the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) has already been expressed in several different systems, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, studies regarding the synthesis of LTB into oligomeric structures of pentameric size in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been limited. Therefore, this study used a functional signal peptide of the amylase 1A protein from rice to direct the yeast-expressed LTB towards the endoplasmci reticulum to oligomerize with the expected pentameric size. The expression and assembly of the recombinant LTB were confirmed in both the cell-free extract and culture media of the recombinant strain using a Western blot analysis. The binding of the LTB pentamers to intestinal epithelial cell membrane glycolipid receptors was further verified using a GM1-ganglioside enzyme-linked inmmunosorbent assay (GM1-ELISA). On the basis of the GM1-ELISA results, pentameric LTB proteins comprised approximately 0.5-2.0% of the total soluble proteins, and the maximum quantity of secreted LTB was estimated to be 3 mg/l after a 3-day cultivation period. Consequently, the synthesis of LTB monomers and their assembly into biologically active aligomers in a recombinant S. cerevisiae strain demonstrated the feasibility of using a GRAS microorganism-based adjuvant, as well as the development of carriers against mucosal disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1159-1166
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• 2013

Orientia tsutsugamushi, a gram-negative bacterium, causes severe acute febrile illness in humans. Despite this danger, the route of infection, infectivity, and protective mechanisms of the host's immune response to O. tsutsugamushi are unclear. Dendritic cells (DCs) are one of the most important cell types in bridging the innate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, we observed that O. tsutsugamushi infects and replicates in monocyte-derived DCs (MODCs). During infection and replication, the expressions of the cytokines IL-12 and TNF-${\alpha}$, as well as the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD83, CD86, and CD40, were increased in MODCs. When O. tsutsugamushi-treated MODCs were co-cultured with autologous $CD4^+$ T cells, they enhanced production of IFN-${\gamma}$, a major Th1 cytokine. Collectively, our results show that O. tsutsugamushi can replicate in MODCs and can simultaneously induce MODC maturation and increase proinflammatory cytokine levels in MODCs that subsequently activate $CD4^+$ T cells.