• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.88-92
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• 2012

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II or Hunter syndrome) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) deficiency. MPS II causes a wide phenotypic spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. IDS activity, which is measured in leukocyte pellets or fibroblasts, was reported to be related to clinical phenotype by Sukegawa-Hayasaka et al. Measurement of residual plasma IDS activity using a fluorometric assay is simpler than conventional measurements using skin fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This is the first study to describe the relationship between plasma IDS activity and clinical phenotype of MPS II. Methods: We hypothesized that residual plasma IDS activity is related to clinical phenotype. We classified 43 Hunter syndrome patients as having attenuated or severe disease types based on clinical characteristics, especially intellectual and cognitive status. There were 27 patients with the severe type and 16 with the attenuated type. Plasma IDS activity was measured by a fluorometric enzyme assay using 4-methylumbelliferyl- ${\alpha}$-iduronate 2-sulphate. Results: Plasma IDS activity in patients with the severe type was significantly lower than that in patients with the attenuated type ($p$=0.006). The optimal cut-off value of plasma IDS activity for distinguishing the severe type from the attenuated type was 0.63 $nmol{\cdot}4hr^{-1}{\cdot}mL^{-1}$. This value had 88.2% sensitivity, 65.4% specificity, and an area under receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve of 0.768 (ROC curve analysis; $p$=0.003). Conclusion: These results show that the mild phenotype may be related to residual lysosomal enzyme activity.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

In the workplace, the arsenic is used in the semiconductor production and the manufacturing of pigments, glass, pesticides and fungicides. Therefore, workers may be exposed to airborne arsenic during its use in manufacturing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of particulate matters (PMs) doped with arsenic (PMs-Arsenic) using a rodent model and to compare the genotoxicity in various concentrations and to examine the role of PMs-Arsenic in the induction of signaling pathway in the lung. Mice were exposed to PMs $124.4{\pm}24.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (low concentration), $220.2{\pm}34.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $426.4{\pm}40.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) doped with arsenic $1.4\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (Low concentration), $2.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $5.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) for 4 wks (6 h/d, 5 d/wk), respectively in the whole-body inhalation exposure chambers. To determine the level of genotoxicity, Chromosomal aberration (CA) assay in splenic lymphocytes and Supravital micronucleus (SMN) assay were performed. Then, signal pathway in the lung was analyzed. In the genotoxicity experiments, the increases of aberrant cells were concentration-dependent. Also, PMs-arsenic caused peripheral blood micronucleus frequency at high concentration. The inhalation of PMs-Arsenic increased an expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt: protein kinase B) and phpsphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) at high concentration group. Taken together, inhaled PMs-Arsenic caused genotoxicity and altered Akt signaling pathway in the lung. Therefore, the inhalation of PMs-Arsenic needs for a careful risk assessment in the workplace.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.295-304
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• 2017

Opisthorchis viverrini infection induces chronic inflammation, and a minor proportion of infected individuals develop advanced periductal fibrosis (APF) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Inflammatory cytokines and/or their gene polymorphisms may link to these biliary pathologies. We therefore investigated associations among cytokine gene polymorphisms and cytokine production in 510 Thai cases infected with O. viverrini who presented with APF+ or APF-, as established by abdominal ultrasonography as well as in patients diagnosed with CCA. Levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined in culture supernatants after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with O. viverrini excretory-secretory (ES) products. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IFN-${\gamma}$, LT-${\alpha}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly increased in CCA patients compared with non-CCA (APF- and APF+) cases. Polymorphisms in genes encoding IL-$1{\beta}$-511C/T, IL-6-174G/C, IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G, and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A were then investigated by using PCR-RFLP or allele specific-PCR (AS-PCR) analyses. In the CCA cases, LT-${\alpha}$+252A/G and TNF-${\alpha}$-308G/A heterozygous and homozygous variants showed significantly higher levels of these cytokines than the wild type. By contrast, levels of cytokines in wild type of IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A were significantly higher than the variants in CCA cases. IFN-${\gamma}$+874T/A polymorphisms were associated with advanced periductal fibrosis, whereas IL-6-174G/C polymorphisms were associated with CCA. To our knowledge, these findings provide the first demonstration that O. viverrini infected individuals carrying several specific cytokine gene polymorphisms are susceptible to develop fibrosis and CCA.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.463-469
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• 2013

Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) is mainly expressed on $CD4^+$ T cells, which plays an important role in immune response. The aim of this study was to detect the association between polymorphisms of the CD4 gene and T lymphocyte subpopulations in pigs, and to investigate the effects of genetic variation on the CD4 gene expression level in immune tissues. Five missense mutations in the CD4 gene were identified using DNA pooling sequencing assays, and two main haplotypes (CCTCC and AGCTG) in strong linkage disequilibrium (with frequencies of 50.26% and 46.34%, respectively) were detected in the population of Large White pigs. Our results indicated that the five SNPs and the two haplotypes were significantly associated with the proportions of $CD4^-CD8^-$, $CD4^+CD8^+$, $CD4^+CD8^-$, $CD4^+$ and $CD4^+/CD8^+$ in peripheral blood (p<0.05). Gene expression analysis showed the mRNA level of the CD4 gene in thymus was significantly higher than that in lymph node and spleen (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between animals with CCTCC/CCTCC genotype and animals with AGCTG/AGCTG genotype in the three immune tissues (p>0.05). These results indicate that the CD4 gene may influence T lymphocyte subpopulations and can be considered as a candidate gene affecting immunity in pigs.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.239-246
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• 2010

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing Class III epitope of CD34 are essential for flow cytometric diagnosis of leukemia. Methods: 27H2 mAb was developed from a mouse alternatively immunized with human acute leukemia cell lines, KG1 and Molm-1. Using flow cytometric analysis of various leukemic cell lines and peripheral blood, immunohistochemical study of frozen tonsil, we characterized 27H2 mAb. Antigen immunoprecipitated with 27H2 mAb immunobloted with anti-CD34 mAb. A case of bone marrow sample of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patient was obtained at CBNU Hospital. For epitope identification enzyme treatment with neuraminidase and O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase (OSGE) and blocking assay with known classIII mAb (HPCA-2) were done. Results: Only KG1 and Molm-1 revealed positive immunoreactivity. Immunohistochemical staining disclosed strong membranous immunoreactivity on high endothelial venules. Antigen immunoprecipitated by 27H2 mAb showed approximately 100 kDa sized band immunoblotted with anti-CD34 under non-reducing conditions. Epitope recognized by 27H2 mAb disclosed resistancy to both neuraminidase and OSGE treatment and completely blocked with known class III mAb preincubation. CD34 positive leukemic cells in BM of pre B cell ALL patient detected by FITC-conjugated 27H2 and HPCA-2 were identified with similar sensitivity. Conclusion: A novel murine mAb recognizing class III epitope of human CD34 with high affinity, which is useful for flow cytometric diagnosis of leukemia, was developed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권12호
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• pp.2214-2223
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• 2016

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) can recognize conserved molecular patterns and initiate a wide range of innate and adaptive immune responses against invading infectious agents. The aim of this study was to assess the transcript profile of mink TLRs (mTLRs) in mink peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and a range of tissues, and to explore the potential role of mTLRs in the antiviral immune response process. The results indicated that the mTLR partial nucleotide sequences had a high degree of nucleotide identity with ferret sequences (95-98%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that mammalian TLRs grouped into five TLR families, with a closer relationship of the mTLRs with those of ferret than the other mammalian sequences. Moreover, all the mTLRs were ubiquitously expressed in lymphoid organs (spleen and lymph nodes) and PBMCs. Interestingly, the mTLR expression patterns in lung, uterus, and heart showed quite a lot of similarity. Another remarkable observation was the wide expression of mTLR1-3 mRNAs in all tissues. Among the analyzed tissues, skeletal muscle was revealed to being the lowest repertoire of mTLR expression. Additionally, mink PBMCs exposed to the canine distemper virus revealed significant upregulation of mTLR2, mTLR4, mTLR7, and mTLR8 mRNAs, indicating that mTLRs have a role in innate immunity in the mink. Collectively, our results are the first to establish the basic expression patterns of mTLRs and the relationship between mTLRs and a virus, which will contribute to better understanding of the evolution and the functions of mTLRs in the innate immune system in minks.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.433-440
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• 2009

High levels of inflammatory cytokines were proposed contributors to the pathogenesis of a various inflammatory skin disorders. Therefore, investigating the immune response of the inflammatory skin disorder allows a better understanding of pathogenesis of a various inflammatory skin disorders and therapeutic approaches. The aim of this study was to analyze of the immune response in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease. To this aim, the present study evaluated relative mRNA expression of canine $IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-4, $TGF-{\beta}$ and IL-10 using TaqMan realtime PCR assays and semi-quantitative RT-PCR in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from twenty dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease and ten normal dogs. The relative mRNA expression levels of IL-4 mRNA were significantly higher in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease than those in normal dogs (P < 0.01). The results of present study also showed a tendency towards increased expression of IL-10 transcripts in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease. However, there were no significant differences in the levels $IFN-{\gamma},\;TGF-{\beta}$ between normal and chronically inflammed dogs. In addition, the concentration of serum IgE was significantly increased in dogs with chronic inflammatory skin disease compared with those in normal dogs (P < 0.01). In histopathological examination, we found that there were markedly increased mast cell counts in chronically inflammed dogs (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin disease might be associated with a T-cell mediated inflammatory responses characterized by a Th2-skewed immune response. Based on these results, the modulation of Th1/Th2 balance may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin disease.

• 대한바이러스학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.271-281
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• 1999

The nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to determine the sequences of reverse transcriptase (RT) codons 41, 67, 70, 210, 215 and 219 of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) pol gene. Template DNA was obtained from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 27 Korean HIV-1 infected patients treated with ZDV and Korean red ginseng. The second PCRs were done for 2 separated regions (RT codons $13{\sim}98$ and $152{\sim}259$) with $5\;{\mu}l$ of the first PCR productNucleotide sequences were determined by direct sequencing. In the 27 patients, CD4+ cell count decreased from $230{\pm}117/{\mu}l$ to $152{\pm}162/{\mu}l$ for $46{\pm}26$ months (Mo), and actual duration of ZDV intake was $72{\pm}16$ Mo. In the 16 patients who had been treated with ZDV therapy ${\ge}25$ Mo, the incidences of 70R, 215F/Y, and 41L were 61%, 28% and 22%, respectively and those of 67N, 210W and 219Q were 17%. The incidences of 215F/Y were 6.7% for group ${\le}12$ Mo treatment, 22.7% for group with 13 to 24 Mo, and 27.8% for group ${\ge}25$ Mo. There was no mutation in 9 patients. It might be associated with the interruption of ZDV therapy for more than 6 months in 6 patients. This study shows that the detection of mutation could be useful prognostic marker with other clinical and virological data, and very low mutation rate is dectected compared to overseas reports.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.417-422
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• 2006

Cytogenetic and hematological analysis was performed in peripheral blood obtained from cattle bred in the high background radiation areas (HBRA, Goesan-gun, Cheongwon-gun, Boeun-gun) and a control area. The frequencies of gamma-ray induced micronuclei (MN) in the cytokinesis-blocked (CB) lymphocytes at several doses were measured in 3 cattle. An estimated dose of radiation was calculated by a best fitting linear-quadratic model based on the radiation-induced MN formation from the bovine lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiation over the range from 0 mGy to 1,969 mGy. The measurements performed after irradiation showed dose-related increases in the MN frequency in each donors. The results were analyzed using a linear-quadratic model with a line of best fit of $y=(0.0583{\pm}0.0137)D+(0.0366{\pm}0.0081)D^2+(0.0093{\pm}0.0015)$ (y=number of MN/CB cells and D=irradiation dose in Gy). MN rates per 1,000 CB lymphocytes of cattle from the Goesan-gun, Cheongwon-gun, Boeun-gun and the control area were $6.50{\pm}2.72,\;9.00{\pm}4.50,\;10.89{\pm}4.23\;and\;9.60{\pm}4.70$, respectively. The MN frequencies of CB lymphocytes from cattle bred in 4 areas mean that the values are within the background variation in this experiment. The MN frequencies and hematological values were similar regardless of whether the cattle were bred in the HBRA or the control area.

• 생약학회지
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• 제36권2호통권141호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2005

Lectins from Allomyrina dichotoma (ADL) and Bombyx mori (BML) were partially purified by physiological saline extraction, ammonium sulfate fractionation, anion exchange column chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50 and gel filtration column chromatography on Sephadex G-200. An assay for cytokine expression was carried out by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). mRNA isolated from PBMC(human peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were stimulated with ADL(O.D.=0.2) and BML(O.D.=0.1) for various times(1,4,8,24,48 and 72 h) and various cytokine mRNA assessed by RT-PCR were shown as follows: The patterns of bands for IL-1 mRNA of BML were very similar with those from ADL and these bands were decreased along the increasing reaction times after showing a strong band at 1 h. However mRNA expressions for IL-2, IL-6, $IFN{\gamma}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$ showed different patterns between ADL and BML. With the effect of ADL, the expression of IL-2 and IL-6 mRNA were continuously detected until 72 h with the strongest band of IL-2 mRNA at 24 h. The strong bands of $IFN{\gamma}$ mRNA were observed from 4 to 8 h but the strongest one of $TNF{\alpha}$ was just observed at 1 h. Meanwhile with BML, the bands for IL-2 and $IFN{\gamma}$ were increased along the increasing reaction times until 72 h. The strongest bands were showed from 4 to 8 h with IL-6 and at 8 h with $TNF[\alpha}$. To verify quantitatively ELISA was used for assay of protein secretions of the cytokine gene with IL-2 and $IFN{\gamma}$ expressed markedly different in RT-PCR. The highest cytokine secretion for IL-2 was demonstrated at 48 h. The production of $IFN{\gamma}$ was markedly increased at 24 h and secreted highest at 72 h. These result suggest that ADL and BML, as inducers of cytokines, can elicit detectable cytokine mRNA from PBMC within the first few hours of stimulation and maintain the production of cytokines for a few days by the methods of RT-PCR and ELISA.