• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2003

아스코마이신(ascomycin)의 macrolactam 유도체인 피메크로리무스(pimecrolimus; 엘리델 [Elidel], SDZ ASM 981; Novartis Pharma AG, 바젤, 스위스)는 세포선택성을 지닌 염증성 사이토카인(cytokines) 억제제로서 아토피피부염, 알레르기성 접촉피부염, 자극성 접촉피부염 및 판형 건선 등 염증성 피부질환의 치료제로 개발되었다. T세포와 비만세포의 염증성 사이토카인 생산 분비를 억제하고 사전 형성된 염증성 매개물질의 비만 세포 분비를 저해한다. 국소 투여된 피메크로리무스는 알레르기성 접촉피부염(allergic contact dermatitis [ACD]) 돼지 모델에서 고역가 코르티코스테로이드 클로베타졸-17-propionate(corticosteroid clobetasol-17-propionate)와 동등한 효과를 나타낸다. 하지만 피메크로리무스는 클로베타졸과는 달리 피부 위축을 일으키지 않는다. 경구 투여시 피메크로리무스는 마우스와 랫트 ACD 치료에 있어서 타크로림무스(tacrolimus [FK 506])와 동등한 혹은 더 우수한 효과를 나타낸다. 또한 피메크로리무스는 아토피피부염 급성 징후 유사 모델인 저마그네슘 혈증 탈모 랫트(hypomagnesemic hairless rat)의 피부 염증과 소양증을 효과적으로 감소시킨다. 피메크로리무스는 랫트에서 다음과 같은 측면의 전신 면역반응 손상 효과가 타크로리무스 와 비교하여 낮게 평가된다: (1)국소 이식편대 숙주 반응, (2)양(sheep) 적혈구에 대한 항체 형성, (3)신장이식. 시험관내 평가시 돼지 피부를 통한 피메크로리무스 투과 속도가 타크로리무스보다 10배 낮게 측정되므로 생체에서 경피 흡수가 더 적게 될 것으로 판단된다. 상기 자료로 판단컨대 피메크로 리무스는 피부에 대한 항염증 활성이 높을 뿐 아니라 전신 면역반응 손상 부작용이 낮은것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2017

Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is an adverse drug reaction mainly described with three types of commonly prescribed drugs, namely, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (nifedipine, diltiazem, and verapamil), anti-convulsants (phenytoin), and immunosuppressive agents (cyclosporine). Numerous reports have associated gingival overgrowth with the newer generation of immunosuppressive agents (tacrolimus, sirolimus, and everolimus), and CCBs (amlodipine, felodipine, nicardipine, and manidipine). Especially, patients concomitantly medicated with an immunosuppressive agent and CCB have a higher DIGO chance. Dentists need to be aware of drugs that induce gingival overgrowth, the possibility of DIGO, and risk factors, and also prevent the progression of DIGO by early detection of DIGO, consultation about the drug change, and the maintenance of strict dental hygiene regimes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.65-77
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• 2005

Present article reviews about clinical pharmacology of mycophenolic acid (MPA), the active form of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), as widely used component of immunosuppressive regimens in the organ transplantation field. MMF, used alone or concomitantly with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, has approved in reducing the incidence of acute rejection and has gained widespread use in solid organ such as kidney, heart and liver transplantation. The application of MPA and development of MMF has shown a considerable impact on immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplantation as a new immunosuppressive agent with different mechanism of action from other drugs after early 1990s. In particular aspect, use of MMF, a morpholinoethyl ester of MPA, represented a significant advance in the prevention of organ allograft rejection as well as allograft and patient survival. In considering MMF clinical data, it is important to note that there is a strong correlation between high MPA area under curve(AUC) values and a low probability of acute allograft rejection. Individual trials have shown that MMF is generally well tolerated and revealed that MMF decreased the relative risk of developing chronic allograft rejection compared with azathioprine. Recent clinical investigations suggested that improved effectiveness and tolerability will results from the incorporation of MPA therapeutic drug monitoring into routine clinical practice, providing effective MMF dose individualization in renal and heart transplant patients. Therefore, MMF has a selective immunosuppressive effect with minimal toxicity and has shown to be more effective that other agents as next step of immunosuppressive agents and regimens that deliver effective graft protection and immunosuppression along with a more favorable side effect.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2017

Vitiligo is an intriguing depigmentary disorder and is notoriously difficult to be treated. The ultimate goal of vitiligo treatment is to replenish the lost melanocytes by immigration from hair follicle and to restore the normal function of melanogenesis by residual melanocytes. There are two types of topical calcineurin inhibitors called tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, and are recommended as the first-line treatments in vitiligo. Although pimecrolimus is efficacious for the repigmentation of vitiligo, its intrinsic mechanisms have never been investigated in vitro. This research aimed to study the ability of pimecrolimus on stimulating melanogenesis, melanocyte migration and MITF (microphthalmia associated transcription factor) protein expression. Results showed that pimecrolimus at the dosages of 1, 10, $10^2$nM were neither mitogenic nor cytotoxic to melanocytes. The addition of pimecrolimus at 10, $10^2$ and $10^3nM$ significantly increased intracellular tyrosinase activity, which was consistent with the elevated content of melanin content at the same concentrations. The peak effect was seen at 72 h in response to $10^2$nM pimecrolimus. Results of the wound scratch assay and Transwell assays indicate that pimecrolimus is effective in facilitating melanocyte migration on a collagen IV-coated surface. In addition, MITF protein yield reached the highest by pimecrolimus at $10^2nM$. In brief, pimecrolimus enhances melanin synthesis as well as promotes migration of melanocytes directly, possibly via their effects on MITF protein expression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

This study investigated the clinical parameters of atopic dermatitis and evaluated the inhibitory effects of Black currant seed oil for atopic dermatitis by using a Dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) induced BALB/c mice model. Five-week-old BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: normal group (N, non-treated), control group (C, atopic dermatitis-induced), positive control group (PC, Tacrolimus ointment-treated against induced atopic dermatitis, PC), experiment group (E, Black currant seed oil-treated against induced atopic dermatitis). After induction of atopic dermatitis by DNCB, the erythema, edema, eschar, and scratching were severely observed. The symptoms of atopic dermatitis were improved after 2 weeks, and almost disappeared after 4 weeks in PC and E group. The increased frequencies of scratching in C group were decreased in PC and E group. Transepidermal water loss, erythema index and serum IgE level were significantly decreased in E and PC compared to that in C after 4 weeks of the treatment. The results indicated that Black currant seed oil can relieve atopic dermatitis symptoms effectively, and may be possibly used as a functional material for suppression of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.45
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• pp.283.1-283.10
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• 2018

Background: The role of sorafenib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) has been rarely studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sorafenib in post-LT era. Methods: Consecutive patients with post-transplant HCC recurrence not eligible to resection or locoregional therapy were included. Patients receiving best supportive care (BSC) until 2007 were compared with those treated by sorafenib thereafter. Results: Of a total of 65 patients, 20 patients received BSC and 45 received sorafenib. Clinical characteristics were similar between two groups except that sorafenib group received tacrolimus and mammalian target-of-rapamycin inhibitors more frequently than BSC group. Treatment with sorafenib conferred a survival advantage as compared with BSC for survival after recurrence (median, 14.2 vs. 6.8 months; P = 0.01). In multivariate analyses, high serum ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein level, synchronous intrahepatic recurrence and distant metastasis at the time of recurrence, and BSC were independently associated with poorer survival after recurrence. Sorafenib treatment was associated with better survival after recurrence as compared with BSC (hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.62; P = 0.002). In addition, sorafenib group showed tolerable toxicity in the post-transplant setting. Conclusion: Sorafenib may be beneficial in patients with post-transplant HCC recurrence.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.415-421
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• 2023

The revision of the Korea Organ Transplantation Act (KOTA) in 2018 included hand/arm among the organs that can be transplanted. The first hand transplantation since the revision of KOTA took place in January 2021. A 62-year-old male patient experienced hand amputation on July 13, 2018, by a catapult injury. The patient first visited our institute 3 months after the injury. After serial interviews and an overall evaluation, the patient was registered on the hand transplantation waiting list in January 2020. On January 9, 2021, the patient underwent hand transplantation at the right distal forearm level. The total operation time was 17 hours 15 minutes, and the cold ischemic time was 4 hours 9 minutes. Postoperative immunosuppression was administered based on the protocol used for kidney transplantation. Two acute rejection episodes occurred, on postoperative days 33 and 41. Both rejection episodes were reversible with rescue therapy of a higher tacrolimus trough level, steroid pulse therapy, and topical immunosuppressants. Controlled passive range of motion exercise was started on postoperative day 10. Dynamic splint was applied on postoperative day 18. At 1 year, graft maintenance and functional improvement were satisfactory, and the patient showed a Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand score of 25.8. We successfully performed the first hand transplantation surgery under the KOTA amendment. It came from the organic and effective cooperation of plastic, orthopaedic, and transplantation departments and we believe it will guarantee the future ongoing success.

• Korean Journal of Transplantation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.165-168
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• 2014

The recipient candidate was a 51-year-old male with end-stage renal disease owing to diabetes mellitus. The initial immunosuppressive regimen included basiliximab for induction and tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. Urine output was 413 mL/day on the operative day and 100 mL/day on the postoperative day (POD) 1. There was no definite stenosis of the ureter or vessels. He had anuria on POD 2~4 and he had undergone hemodialysis. His serum creatinine level did not decrease. Therefore, a graft biopsy was performed on POD 4. The pathologic finding was consistent with acute calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) toxicity. There was no evidence of rejection or acute tubular necrosis. Anuria continued on POD 6; therefore, we started sirolimus instead of a CNI based regimen. Graft function was gradually recovered 1 day after reduction of CNI dose and hemodialysis was stopped. The serum creatinine level was normalized on POD 10. He was discharged on POD 21.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.44.1-44.16
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• 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are effective in treating autoimmune diseases and managing various conditions, such as engraftment of allogeneic islets. Additionally, autologous and HLA-matched allogeneic MSCs can aid in the engraftment of human allogeneic kidneys with or without low doses of tacrolimus, respectively. However, HLA alloantigens are problematic because cell therapy uses more HLA-mismatched allogeneic cells than autologous for convenience and standardization. In particular, HLA-mismatched MSCs showed increased Ag-specific T/B cells and reduced viability faster than HLA-matched MSCs. In CRISPR/Cas9-based cell therapy, Cas9 induce T cell activation in the recipient's immune system. Interestingly, despite their immunogenicity being limited to the cells with foreign Ags, the accumulation of HLA alloantigen-sensitized T/B cells may lead to allograft rejection, suggesting that alloantigens may have a greater scope of adverse effects than foreign Ags. To avoid alloantigen recognition, the β2-microglobulin knockout (B2MKO) system, eliminating class-I MHC, was able to avoid rejection by alloreactive CD8 T cells compared to controls. Moreover, universal donor cells in which both B2M and Class II MHC transactivator (CIITA) were knocked out was more effective in avoiding immune rejection than single KO. However, B2MKO and CIITA KO system remain to be controlled and validated for adverse effects such as the development of tumorigenicity due to deficient Ag recognition by CD8 T and CD4 T cells, respectively. Overall, better HLA-matching or depletion of HLA alloantigens prior to cell therapy can reduce repetitive transplantation through the long-term survival of allogeneic cell therapy, which may be especially important for patients seeking allogeneic transplantation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.449-458
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• 2003

Background : Cyclosporin A(CsA) and tacrolimus(FK506) have been widely used as immunosuppressants. The effects of CsA, or FK506, on the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway have been shown to vary according to the cell type. However, their effects on the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway have not been reported in bronchial epithelial cells. In this study, the effects of CsA and FK506 on the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway in bronchial epithelial cells, monocytes, lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages were evaluated. The relationship between their effects on the $I{\kappa}B/NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway and $I{\kappa}B$ kinase(IKK) activity was also investigated. Methods : BEAS-2B and A549 cells, pulmonary alveolar macrophages, peripheral blood monocytes and lymphocytes were used. The cells were pre-treated with CsA, or FK506, for various time periods, followed by stimulation with TNF-${\alpha}$, LPS or IL-$1{\beta}$. The $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ expressions were assayed by Western blot analyses. The IKK activity was evaluated by an in vitro immune complex kinase assay, using GST-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ as the substrate. Results : Neither CsA nor FK506 affected the level of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ expression in any of the cell types used in this study. CsA pre-treatment inhibited the TNF ${\alpha}$-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation in bronchial epithelial cells. In contrast, the TNF ${\alpha}$-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation was not affected by FK506 pre-treatment. However, FK506 suppressed the cytokine-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation in the pulmonary alveolar macrophages, peripheral blood monocytes and lymphocytes. The inhibitory effect of CsA, or FK506, on $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation was not related to IKK. Conclusions : CsA and FK506 suppressed the $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation in bronchial epithelial cells, monocytes, lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages, so this may not be mediated through IKK.