• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.128-137
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• 2003

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), zinc dependent proteolytic enzymes, cleave extracellular matrix (ECM: collagen, laminin, firbronectin, etc) as well as non-matrix substrates (growth factors, cell surface receptors, etc). The deregulation of MMPs is involved in many diseases, such as tumor metastasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal disease. Metastasis is the major cause of death among cancer patients. In this review, we will focus on the roles of MMPs in tumor metastasis. The process of metastasis involves a cascade of linked, sequential steps that involve multiple host-tumor interactions. Specifically, MMPs are involved in many steps of tumor metastasis. These include tumor invasion, migration, host immune escape, extravasation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Therefore, without MMPs, the tumor cell cannot perform successful metastasis. The activities of MMPs are tightly regulated at the gene transcription levels, zymogen activation by proteolysis, and inhibition of active forms by endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP), and RECK. The detailed regulations of MMPs are described in this review.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.428-430
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• 2011

We previously demonstrated that in vivo engagement of CD137, a member of TNF receptor superfamily, can delete allorective $CD4^+$ T cells through the induction of activation-induced cell death (AICD) in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and subsequently reverse established cGVHD. In this study, we further showed that agonistic anti-CD137 mAb was highly effective in triggering AICD of donor $CD8^+$ T cells as well as donor $CD4^+$ T cells in the $C57BL/6{\rightarrow}unirradiated$ $(C57BL/6\;{\times}\;DBA/2)F1$ acute GVHD model. Our results suggest that strong allostimulation should facilitate AICD of both alloreactive $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T cells induced by CD137 stimulation. Therefore, depletion of pathogenic T cells using agonistic anti-CD137 mAb combined with potent TCR stimulation may be used to block autoimmune or inflammatory diseases mediated by T cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.790-798
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• 2016

Chlamydiae, obligate intracellular bacteria, are associated with a variety of human diseases. The chlamydial life cycle undergoes a biphasic development: replicative reticulate bodies (RBs) phase and infectious elementary bodies (EBs) phase. At the end of the chlamydial intracellular life cycle, EBs have to be released to the surrounded cells. Therefore, the interactions between Chlamydiae and cell death pathways could greatly influence the outcomes of Chlamydia infection. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated host cell death after Chlamydia infection in vitro, in L929 cells, and showed that Chlamydia infection induces cell necrosis, as detected by the propidium iodide (PI)-Annexin V double-staining flow-cytometric assay and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), an important factor in induction of necrosis, was increased after Chlamydia infection, and inhibition of ROS with specific pharmacological inhibitors, diphenylene iodonium (DPI) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), led to significant suppression of necrosis. Interestingly, live-cell imaging revealed that Chlamydia infection induced lysosome membrane permeabilization (LMP). When an inhibitor upstream of LMP, CA-074-Me, was added to cells, the production of ROS was reduced with concomitant inhibition of necrosis. Taken together, our results indicate that Chlamydia infection elicits the production of ROS, which is dependent on LMP at least partially, followed by induction of host-cell necrosis. To our best knowledge, this is the first live-cell-imaging observation of LMP post Chlamydia infection and report on the link of LMP to ROS to necrosis during Chlamydia infection.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.402-409
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• 2020

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) contains a bi-segmented viral genome, RNA1 (3.4 kb, RdRp), and RNA2 (1.4 kb, capsid protein) in a small particle (25 nm). Despite its extremely compact size, NNV has caused serious damage by infecting approximately 120 fish species worldwide since it was first reported in the late 1980s. In order to minimize the damage caused by NNV infection and develop effective vaccines, it is necessary to understand the intra cellular signaling system according to NNV infection. NNV infection induces cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase via the p53-dependent pathway to use the cellular system for its replication. Otherwise, host cells recognize NNV infection through the RIG-1-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway to control the virus and infected cells, and then ISGs required for antiviral action are activated via the IFN signaling pathway. Moreover, apoptosis of infected cells is triggered by the unfolded protein response (UPR) through ER stress and mitochondria-mediated cell death. Cell signaling studies on the NNV infection mechanisms are still at an early stage and many pathways have yet to be identified. Understanding the various disease-specific cellular signaling systems associated with NNV infection is essential for rapid and accurate diagnosis and vaccine development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.13-13
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• 2003

When plants are infected by plant pathogens, rapid cell responses are initiated for further inhibition from fast invasion of pathogens. Hypersensitive response (HR) of plant is well known defense response stopping pathogenesis process through rapid cell death. However, informations on the signaling pathway from reception of pathogen by host plants to appropriate resistant responses are very limited to date. Efficient perception of infection by pathogens and well-programmed signalling mechanism for appropriate responses are important for survival of plants. Plant have developed a sophisticated network(s) of defense/stress responses, among which one of the earliest signalling pathways after perception (of stimuli) is the evolutionary conserved Rop GTPase and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade.(중략)

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.224-228
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• 2010

The encapsulation of bacteria may be used to harness them for longer periods of time in order to make them viable, whereas antibiotic treatment would result in controlled release of therapeutic molecules. Encapsulated Escherichia coli GFP (green fluorescent protein) (E. coli GFP) was used here as a model for therapeutic substance - GFP fragments release (model of bioactive substances). Our aim was to evaluate the performance of bacteria encapsulated in hollow fibers (HFs) treated with antibiotic for induction of cell death. The polypropylene-surface-modified HFs were applied for E. coli encapsulation. The encapsulated bacteria were treated with tetracycline in vitro or in vivo during subcutaneous implantation into mice. The HF content was evaluated in a flow cytometer, to assess the bacteria cell membrane permeability changes induced by tetracycline treatment. It was observed that the applied membranes prevented release of bacteria through the HF wall. The E. coli GFP culture encapsulated in HF in vitro proved the tetracycline impact on bacteria viability and allows the recognition of the sequence of events within the process of bacteria death. Treatment of the SCID mice with tetracycline for 8 h proved the tetracycline impact on bacteria viability in vivo, raising the necrotic bacteria-releasing GFP fragments. It was concluded that the bacteria may be safely enclosed within the HF at the site of implantation, and when the animal is treated with antibiotic, bacteria may act as a local source of fragments of proteins expressed in the bacteria, a hypothetical bioactive factor for the host eukaryotic organism.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.217-218
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• 2001

In a series of our screening for immunomodulating substances, we isolated prodigiosin from the culture broth qf Serratia marcescens B-1231. This compound inhibited the T cell-mediated immune responses such as concanavalin A-induced proliferation, mixed lymphocyte response, local graft versus host reaction and T-dependent antibody response at nontoxic concentrations. However. prodigiosin did not effect B cell-mediated immune functions such as lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation and -activated polyclonal antibody production at the same concentrations. Prodigiosin did not cause death in vitro to lymphocytes at effective concentrations (＜100 nM) and also did not show toxicity in vivo to lymphoid organs at effective dos-ages (10 and 30 mg/kg). The pharmacological potencies were comparable to the activities of well-known T-cell specific immunosuppressants such as cyclosporin A. In our continuing study, mechanism of action of PDG is investigated with respect to the effect of PDG on IL-2/IL-2R pathway and transcription factor.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) is one of the four subtypes of gastric carcinoma (GC), as defined by the novel classification recently proposed by The Cancer Genome Atlas. EBVaGC has several clinicopathological features such as longer survival and higher frequency of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and carcinoma with Crohn's disease-like lymphoid reaction that distinguish it from EBV-negative GC. The intensity and pattern of host cellular immune response in GC have been found to significantly correlate with the prognosis of patients with GC, suggesting that immune reaction and tumor microenvironment have critical roles in the progression of GC, and in particular, EBVaGC. Here, we reviewed the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying prominent immune reactions in patients with EBVaGC. In EBVaGC, deregulation of the expression of immune response-related genes promotes marked intra-or peritumoral immune cell infiltration. The expression of programmed death receptor-ligand 1 is known to be increased in EBVaGC, and therefore, it has been proposed as a favorable prognostic factor for patients with EBVaGC, albeit some data supporting this claim are controversial. Overall, the underlying mechanisms and clinical significance of the host cellular immune response in patients with EBVaGC have not been thoroughly elucidated. Therefore, further research is necessary to better understand the role of tumor microenvironment in EBVaGC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 2006

The major event in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is the death of many cells related to host immune response. The demise of these cells is normally explained by cell suicide mechanism, apoptosis. Interestingly, the decrease in the number of immune cells, such as non-CD4+ cells as well as CD4+ T cells, in HIV infection usually occurs in uninfected bystander cells, not in directly infected cells. It has, therefore, been suggested that several soluble factors, including viral protein R (Vpr), are released from the infected cells and induce the death of bystander cells. Some studies show that Vpr interacts directly with adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) to induce mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP). The MMP results in release of some apoptogenic factors such as cytochrome-c (cyt-c) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Vpr also has indirect effect on mitochondria through enhancing the level of caspase-9 transcription and suppressing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). The involvement of p53 in Vpr-induced apoptosis remains to be studied. On the other hand, low level of Vpr expression has anti-apoptotic effect, whereas it's high level of expression induces apoptosis. Extracellular Vpr also exhibits cytotoxicity to uninfected bystander cells through apoptotic or necrotic mechanism. The facts that Vpr has cytotoxic effect on both infected cells and bystander cells, and that it exhibits both proand anti-apoptotic activity may explain its role in viral survival and disease progression.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.128-140
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• 2001

Infection of pepper leaves by Colletotrichum cocodes at the two- and eight-leaf stages caused susceptible and resistant lesions 96 h after inoculation, respectively. At the two-leaf stage, progressive symptom development occurred on the infected leaves. In contrast, localized necrotic spots were characteristic symptoms at the eight-leaf stage. Infected leaves at the two-leaf stage exhibited cell death accompanied by the accumulation of autofluorescent compounds. At the eight-leaf stage, pepper leaves infected by the anthracnose fungus displayed localized autofluorescence from the symptoms. Infection of pepper leaves by C. cocodes at the two-leaf stage resulted in its rapidand massive colonization of all the leaf tissues including the vascular tissue, together with cytoplasmic collapse, distortion of chloroplasts, and disruption of host cell walls. However, penetration of C. cocodes was very limited in the older leaf tissues of pepper plants at the eight-leaf stage. Fungal hyphae grew only in the intramural spaces of the epidermal cell walls at this stage. Occlusion of amorphous material in xylem vessels, aggregation of fibrillar material in inter-cellular spaces, and deposition of protein bodies were found as resistance responses to C. cocodes.