• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.321-327
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• 2015

A 50-year-old male visited the outpatient clinic and complained of fever, poor oral intake, and weight loss. A chest X-ray demonstrated streaky and fibrotic lesions in both lungs, and chest CT revealed multifocal peribronchial patchy ground-glass opacities with septated cystic lesions in both lungs. Cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed lymphocyte-dominant leukocytosis, and further analysis of lymphocyte subsets showed a predominance of cytotoxic T cells and few T helper cells. Video-assisted wedge resection of the left upper lobe was performed, and the histologic examination was indicative of a Pneumocystis jirovecii infection. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) was orally administered for 3 weeks; however, the patient complained of cough, and the pneumonia was aggravated in the follow-up chest X-ray and chest CT. Molecular studies demonstrated mutations at codons 55 and 57 of the dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene, which is associated with the resistance to TMP-SMX. Clindamycin-primaquine was subsequently administered for 3 weeks replacing the TMP-SMX. A follow-up chest X-ray showed that the pneumonia was resolving, and the cough was also alleviated. A positive result of HIV immunoassay and elevated titer of HCV RNA indicated HIV infection as an underlying condition. This case highlights the importance of careful monitoring of patients with P. jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) during the course of treatment, and the molecular study of DHPS mutations. Additionally, altering the anti-PCP drug utilized as treatment must be considered when infection with drug-resistant P. jirovecii is suspected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of TMP-SMX-resistant PCP described in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1027-1032
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• 2016

Antigen is substance causing disease derived from pathogen. Living organism has the immune system in terms of defense mechanism against antigen. Antigen is processed through several pathways such as phagocytosis, antibody action, complement activation, and cytotoxins by NK or cytotoxic T lymphocyte via MHC molecule. Lymph node (LN) is comprised of the complicated 3 dimensional network and several stromal cells. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) are distributed in T zone for interaction with T cells. FRC produces the extra cellular matrix (ECM) into LN for ECM reorganization against pathogen infections and secretes homing chemokines. However, it has not so much been known about the involvement of the antigen process of FRC. The present report is for the function of FRC on antigen process. For this, FRC was positioned with several infected situations such as co-culture with macrophage, T cell, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TNFα stimulation. When co-culture between FRC with macrophage and T cells was performed, morphological change of FRC was observed and empty space between FRCs was made by morphological change. The matrix metallo-proteinase (MMP) activity was up-regulated by Y27632 and T cells onto FRC. Furthermore, inflammatory cytokine, TNFα regulated the expression of adhesion molecules and MHC I antigen transporter in FRC by gene chip assay. NO production was elevated by FRC monolayer co-cultured with macrophage stimulated by LPS. GFP antigen was up-taken by macrophage co-cultured with FRC. Collectively, it suggests that FRC assists of the facilitation of antigen process and LN stroma is implicated into antigen process pathway.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.216-229
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• 1996

Interferon(IFN) is a sort of glycoproteins that are produced by activated lymphocyte, monocyte and fibroblast. IFN has anti-viral effects, immuno-defensive mechanism and regulating properties to the several kinds of cells that includes affect on the bone formation and resorption. The effect of IFN on the osteoclast & other tissue cells has been studied in a number of researchers with the limited reports on the osteoblast. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of IFN on the osteoblastic function. The MC3T3/El cell(Mouse osteoblast) was incubated in ${\alpha}-minimum$ essential medium containing 10% FBS. To detect the cytotoxic effect of $IFN-{\gamma}$ on osteoblast, the cells were cultured in 96-well plate to which $IFN-{\gamma}$ of various concentrations were added for 2 days. After staining with trypan blue, total cells and living cells were counted under microscope. To determine the activity of alkaline phosphataset(ALP), various concentrations of $IFN-{\gamma}$ were treated to culture medium, and biochemical assay was performed. $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ plus cycloheximide were added to culture medium separately and then ALP activity were determined. To detect the effect of the $IFN-{\gamma}$ on the bone formation of osteoblast, long-term culture was performed, and calcified nodule formation were observed using von Kossa's staining. After the addition of $IFN-{\gamma}$ with various concentrations to the medium, no cytotoxic effect of $IFN-{\gamma}$ was detected at any concentration. The significant increase in ALP activity of osteoblast were found the concentration of $IFN-{\gamma}$ 500-2500U/ml and the culture time of 24-48 hours respectively. The enhancement of ALP activity by $IFN-{\gamma}$ of osteoblast was decreased significantly by the treatment of cycloheximide. After long-term culture of osteoblast, the nodule formation was found to be increased in number and density by the addition of 500 U/ml $IFN-{\gamma}$. These results suggest that $IFN-{\gamma}$ was affected on the bone formation of osteoblast. Forthemore this kind of study or $IFN-{\gamma}$ to osteoblast will be held continuously.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.529-539
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• 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial immune-mediated disease, the pathogenesis of which involves different cell types. T-cell activation plays an important role in RA. Therefore, inhibiting T-cell activation is one of the current therapeutic strategies. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig), also known as abatacept, reduces cytokine secretion by inhibiting T-cell activation. To achieve a homeostatic therapeutic effect, CTLA4-Ig has to be administered repeatedly over several weeks, which limits its applicability in RA treatment. To overcome this limitation, we increased the number of sialic acid-capped antennas by genetically engineering the CTLA4 region to increase the therapeutic effect of CTLA4-Ig. N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnT) and α2,6-sialyltransferase (α2,6-ST) were co-overexpressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to generate a highly sialylated CTLA4-Ig fusion protein, named ST6. The therapeutic and immunogenic effects of ST6 and CTLA4-Ig were compared. ST6 dose-dependently decreased paw edema in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis and reduced cytokine levels in a co-culture cell assay in a similar manner to CTLA4-Ig. ST6- and CTLA4-Ig-induced T cell-derived cytokines were examined in CD4 T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells after cell killing through irradiation followed by flow- and magnetic-bead-assisted separation. Interestingly, compared to CTLA4-Ig, ST6 was substantially less immunogenic and more stable and durable. Our data suggest that ST6 can serve as a novel, less immunogenic therapeutic strategy for patients with RA.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2005

Background: The anti-tumor therapeutic effect of autologous tumor cell lysate pulseddendritic cells (DCs) was studied for non-immunogenic and immune suppressive lung cancer model. To test the possibility as an adjuvant therapy, minimal residual disease model was considered in mouse in vivo experiments. Methods: Syngeneic 3LL lung cancer cells were inoculated intravenously into the C57BL/6 mouse. Autologous tumor cell (3LL) or allogeneic leukemia cell (WEHI-3) lysate pulsed-DCs were injected twice in two weeks. Intraperitoneal DC injection was started one day (MRD model) after tumor cell inoculation. Two weeks after the final DC injection, tumor formation in the lung and the tumor-specific systemic immunity were observed. Tumor-specific lymphocyte proliferation and the IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion were analyzed for the immune monitoring. Therapeutic DCs were cultured from the bone marrow myeloid lineage cells with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 7 days and pulsed with tumor cell lysate for 18 hrs. Results: Compared to the saline treated group, tumor formation was suppressed in 3LL tumor cell lysate pulsed-DC treated group, while 3LL-specific immune stimulation was minimum. WEHI-3-specific immune stimulation occurred in WEHI-3 lysate-pulsed DC treated group, which had no correlation with tumor regression. Conclusion: The data suggest the possible anti-tumor effect of cultured DCs as an adjuvant therapy for minimal residual disease state of lung cancer. The significance of immune modulation in DC therapy including the possible involvement of NK cell as well as antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell activity induction was discussed.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.284-290
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• 2016

In this research, recombinant human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4Ig) was produced by transgenic rice cells. RAmy3D promoter was used for overcome the limitation of low expression level in transgenic plant cells, and the secretion of target protein was accomplished by signal peptide. However, the RAmy3D promoter system which can be induced only by sugar starvation causes the decrease of cell viability. As a result, cell death promotes the release of protease which degrades the target proteins. The protein stability and productivity can be significantly influenced by proteolysis activity. Therefore, development of new strategies are necessary for the in situ recovery of target proteins from cell culture media. In this study, in situ recovery was performed by various strategies. Direct addition of Protein A resin with nylon bag leads to cell death by increased shear stress and decrease in production of hCTLA4Ig by protease. Medium exchange through modified flask could recover hCTLA4Ig with high cell viability and low protease activity, on the other hand, the productivity was lower than that of control. When in situ recovery was conducted at day 7 after induction in air-lift bioreactor, 1.94-fold of hCTLA4Ig could be recovered compared to control culture without in situ recovery. Consequently, in situ recovery of hCTLA4Ig from transgenic rice cell culture could enhance productivity significantly and prevent degradation of target proteins effectively.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2017

Sialylation is important in producing therapeutic proteins such as antibody, cytokine and fusion protein. Thus, enhancement of sialylation is usually performed in CHO cell cultures. ${\alpha}2,6$-Sialyltransferase (ST), which plays a key role in the attachment of ${\alpha}2,6-sialic$ acid, is present in human cells but not in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Overexpression of ${\alpha}2,6-ST$ can be used for enhancing the degree of sialylation and achieving human-like glycosylation. In this study, we constructed CHO cells producing human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4-Ig) as well as ${\alpha}2,6-ST$. Transfected CHO cells were selected using G418 and stable cell line was established. Profiles of viable cell density and hCTLA4-Ig titer in an overexpressed cell line were similar to those of a wild-type cell line. It was confirmed that the total amount of sialic acid was increased and ${\alpha}2,6-sialic$ acid was attached to the terminal residues of N-glycan of hCTLA4-Ig by ESI-LC-MS. Compared to 100% of ${\alpha}2,3-sialic$ acid in wild type cells, 70.9% of total sialylated N-glycans were composed of ${\alpha}2,6-sialic$ acid in transfected cells. In conclusion, overexpression of ${\alpha}2,6-ST$ in CHO cells led to the increase of both the amount of total sialylated N-glycan and the content of ${\alpha}2,6-sialic$ acid, which is more resemble to human-like structure of glycosylation.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.149-170
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• 1999

Protozoa of the genus Eimeria are the etiologic agents of avian coccidiosis, the most economically important Parasitic disease for the poultry industry. Coccidia multiply in intestinal epithelial cells of a wide range of hosts, including livestock in addition to poultry. Chemotherapy is extensively used to control coccidiosis. However, development of drug resistance by Eimeria parasites, the intensive cost and labor involved in the identification of new anticoccidial compounds and public awareness of drug residues in foods warrant alternative methods to prevent coccidiocic in the fast growing poultry industry. For these reasons, there is a great interest in developing vaccines against avian coccidiosis. Live Eimeria vaccines confer protective immunity, however a significant disadvantage of using these types of vaccines is their pathogenicity. Live parasites with attenuated pathogenicity also usually produce immunity but may revert back to a pathogenic form and may be contaminated with other pathogenic organisms. Killed Eimeria vaccines are safer but, unlike live attenuated vaccines, are not able to generate cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Recombinant vaccines are biochemically purified proteins produced by genetic engineering that consist of particular epitopes or metabolites of Eimeria. Unlike live attenuated organisms, recombinant vaccines do not possess as much risk and generally are able to induce both humoral and cell mediated immunity. DNA vaccines consist of genes encoding immunogenic proteins of pathogens that are directly administered into the host in a manner that the gene is expressed and the resulting protein generates a protective immune response. Although all of these different types of vaccines have been applied to coccidiosis, this disease continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality in the poultry industry. Future development of an effective vaccine against coccidiosis will depend on further investigation of protective immunity to Eimeria infection and identification of important immundgenic parasite molecules.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3843-3847
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• 2015

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death of women. Persistent HPV infection, especially with high-risk types such as HPV16 and HPV18, has been identified to be the primary cause of cervical cancer. E6 and E7 are the major oncoproteins of high-risk HPVs, which are expressed exclusively in HPV infected tissues, and thereby represent ideal therapeutic targets for immunotherapy of cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: In this work, we used recombinant adenovirus expressing coden-optimized HPV16 E6 and E7 fusion protein (Ad-ofE6E7) to prime dendritic cells (DC-ofE6E7), to investigate the ability of primed DC vaccine in eliciting antitumor immunity in vitro and vivo. Results: Our results indicated that DC-ofE6E7 vaccine co-culturing with splenocytes could strongly induce a tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response and kill the TC-1 cells effectively in vitro. Moreover, DC-ofE6E7 vaccine induced protective immunity against the challenge of TC-1 cancer cells in vivo. Conclusions: The results suggested that the HPV16 ofE6E7 primed DC vaccine has potential application for cervical cancer immunotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2035-2038
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• 2014

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is an important protein involved in the regulation of the immune system. The +49 G/A polymorphism is the only genetic variation in the CTLA-4 gene that causes an amino acid change in the resulting protein. It is therefore the most extensively studied polymorphism among all CTLA-4 genetic variants and contributions to increasing the likelihood of developing cancer are well known in various populations, especially Asians. However, there have hiterto been no data with respect to the effect of this polymorphism on breast cancer susceptibility in our North Indian population. We therefore assayed genomic DNA of 250 breast cancer subjects and an equal number of age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched healthy controls for the CTLA-4 +49 G/A polymorphism but no significant differences in either the gene or allele frequency were found. Thus the CTLA-4 +49 G/A polymorphism may be associated with breast cancer in other Asians, but it appears to have no such effect in North Indians. The study also highlights the importance of conducting genetic association studies in different ethnic populations.