• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2008

Background: Down regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator (CIITA) has been identified as a major factor of immunosuppression in sepsis and the level of CIITA expression inversely correlates with the degree of severity. However, it has not been fully elucidated whether the lower expression of CIITA is a cause of disease process or a just associated sign. Here we determined whether the CIITA deficiency decreased survival rate using murine sepsis model. Methods: Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) deficient, CIITA deficient and wild type B6 mice were subjected to cecal ligation puncture (CLP) surgery. CIITA and recombination activation gene (RAG)-1 double deficient mice were generated to test the role of lymphocytes in CIITA-associated sepsis progression. Results: Sepsis mortality was enhanced in CIITA deficient mice, not by impaired bacterial clearance resulted from CD4 T cell depletion, but hyper-inflammatory response such as excessive release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that CIITA deficiency affects the course of sepsis via the unexpected function of CIITA, regulation of cytokine release.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

Previously, we reported that vitamin C facilitates the CpG demethylation of Foxp3 enhancer in $CD4^+Foxp3^+$ regulatory T cells (Tregs) by enhancing the activity of a DNA demethylase ten-eleven-translocation (Tet). However, it is not clear whether vitamin C affects other helper T cell lineages like T helper type 17 (Th17) cells which are related with Tregs. Here, we show that the expression of interleukin-17A (IL17) increases with the treatment of vitamin C but not with other antioxidants. Interestingly, the upregulation of IL17 was not accompanied by DNA demethylation in Il17 promoter and was independent of Tet enzymes. Rather, vitamin C reduced the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3) in the regulatory elements of the Il17 locus, and the effects of vitamin C were abrogated by knockdown of jumonji-C domain-containing protein 2 (jmjd2). These results suggest that vitamin C can affect the expression of IL17 by modulating the histone demethylase activity.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 1997

A new sensing system based on the immobilization of luminescent batcteria, Photobacterium phosphoreum, was proposed for continuous real-time monitoring of polluants. The response curves demonstrate that Photobacterium phosphoreum immobilized on the strontium alginate was very sensitive to seven reference chemicals used. The significant inhibitory concentrations for bioluminescence emission were 5 ppm for Pb(NO3)2, NiCl2, CdCl2, 50 ppm for NaAsO2, 0.1ppm for HgCl2, 0.5ppm for pentachlorophenol and less than 5ppm for SDS, respectively. The alginate mixed-cells (AMC) retained their luminescence during experimental period (29 days) under storage condition of -8$0^{\circ}C$. The variables affecting performance of continuous flow through monitoring (CFTM) were optimized in order to ensure stability and efficiency. The flow through cell with strontium-alginate immobilized luminescent bacteria was tested with salicylate and 4-nitrophenol and a rapid response of luminescence was recorded by time drive mode in bioluminescence spectrometer after exposure to both toxicants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.836-843
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• 2004

Nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi), a Gram-negative obligate human pathogen, causes pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, and otitis media, and the respiratory epithelium is the first line of defense that copes with the pathogen. In an effort to identify transcriptional responses of human respiratory epithelial cells to infection with NTHi, we examined its differential gene expression using high density cDNA microarrays. BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to NTHi for 3 hand 24 h, and the alteration of mRNA expression was analyzed using microarrays consisting of 8,170 human cDNA clones. The results indicated that approximately 2.6% of the genes present on the microarrays increased in expression over 2-fold and 3.8% of the genes decreased during the 24-h infection period. Upregulated genes included cytokines (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor 2, granulocyte chemotactic protein 2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8), transcription factors (Kruppel-like factor 7, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein $\beta$, E2F-1, NF-$\kappa$B, cell surface molecules (CD74, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, HLA class I), as well as those involved in signal transduction and cellular transport. Selected genes were further confirmed by reverse-transcription-PCR. These data expand our knowledge of host cellular responses during NTHi infection and should provide a molecular basis for the study of host-NTHi interaction.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.196-201
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• 2007

An intracellular invertase was purified to homogeneity from the cell extract of an alkalophilic and thermophilic Bacillus sp. TA-11, which was classified as a new species belonging to Bacillus cereus based on chemotaxanomic and phylogenetic analyses. The purified enzyme with a recovery of 26.6% was determined to be a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 23 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 26 kDa by gel filtration. The maximum enzyme activity was observed at pH 7.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, and the purified enzyme was stable at the pH range of 5.0 to 8.0 and below $60^{\circ}C$. $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values of the enzyme for sucrose were 370 mM and 3.0 ${\mu}M$ per min, respectively. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by bivalent metal ions ($Hg^{2+}$, $Cd^{2+}$ and $Cu^{2+}$) and sugars (glucose and fructose).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.77-77
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• 1995

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) contains several nonstructural genes which are required for the viral replication and disease pathogenesis. Among them, tat and nef genes encode an essential transactivator of HIV-1 LTR and a pluripotent protein which seems to be essential for the in vivo but not in vitro viral replication, respectively. We constructed two tat and n of defective HIV-1 and tested for their ability to replicate in several T cells. The defective viruses did not replicate in CD4$\^$+/ T cells, but rescued in the recombinant Jurkat-tat cell which also contains tat gene. The replication of tat and nef defective HIV-1 which expresses chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) gene was easily detected by a sensitive CAT assay. No revertant was identified during the passages of the mutant viruses for more than two months in Jurkat-tat cells. tat and n of defective HIV-1 could be used instead of wild type viruse for several purposes such as inhibitor screening and development of attenuated AIDS vaccine.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.312-321
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• 1998

We used the saponin Rgi extracted from Panax ginseng to study its effects on lymphocytes of 10 young and 19 elderly persons. The proliferate response of Iymphocytes cocultured for 72h with PHA and saponin was measured by using MTT method and the'H-TdR incorporation procedure. PHA and Rgl had stimulative effects on the phenotype of Iymphocytes (p<0.001). Rgl also increased the fluidity of lymphocyte membrane of the aged (p<0.001). The CD2s and CDfsRA positive cells of Iymphocytes in the elderly were lower than those of the young people,8.6clo $\pm$ 2.7olo vs 10.43% : 3.5%, 20.95% $\pm$ 15.5clQ vs 50.86% :4.3olo, respectively. More CDfsRO positive cell lymphocy populations were seen in the aged. The CEfsRO positive cells of the young people were 39.63% $\pm$ 3.2%. We discussed the cause of declined immune function of Lymphocytes of aged person and the mechanism of the effect of P. ginseng on Lymphocytes. Key words: Saponin, Lymphocytes, Aged person, Stimulatory effect, and Panax ginseng

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.624-626
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• 2006

Four known butenolides were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of the culture broth of the marine-derived bacterium, Streptoverticillium luteoverticillatum, by bioassay-guided fractionation. The structures were identified on the basis of spectral data. The absolute configuration of compound (1) was determined by CD spectrum for the first time. Compounds 1-4 showed in vitro cytotoxicity against the murine lymphoma P388 and human leukemia K562 cell lines. This is the first report on the isolation of butenolides from the marine bacterium, Streptoverticillium luteoverticillatum, and their cytotoxic activities.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 1999

Two extracellular proteases, EP I and EP II, from cells of Oligotropha carboxydovorans (formerly Pseudomonas carboxydovorans) DSM 1227 grown in nutrient broth were purified to greater than 95% homogeneity in five steps using azocasein as a substrate. The final specific activities of EPs I and II were 214.9 and 667.4 units per mg of protein. The molecular weights of native EPs I and II were determined to be 23,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis revealed the two enzymes to be monomers. The enzymes were found to be serine-type proteases. The activity of EP I was stimulated by Ca2+, Mg2+, and Ba2+, but that of EP II was not. The enzymes were completely inhibited by Fe2+, Hg2+, Co2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+. EDTA and EGTA exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on EP I. The optimal pH for the two enzymes was pH 9.0. The optimal temperatures for EP I and II were 60 and 50$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzymes were stable under alkaline conditions. The thermal stability of EP I was higher than that of EP II. Cell-free extracts did not inhibit the purified enzymes. The enzymes were active on casein, azocasein, azocoll, and carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, but weakly active with bovine serum albumin.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.13
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• 2019

The enhanced differentiation and activation of osteoclasts (OCs) in the inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gout causes not only local bone erosion, but also systemic osteoporosis, leading to functional disabilities and morbidity. The induction and amplification of NFATc1, a master regulator of OC differentiation, is mainly regulated by receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) ligand-RANK and calcium signaling which are amplified in the inflammatory milieu, as well as by inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6. Moreover, the predominance of CD4⁺ T cell subsets, which varies depending on the condition of inflammatory diseases, can determine the fate of OC differentiation. Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies which are critical in the pathogenesis of RA can bind to the citrullinated vimentin on the surface of OC precursors, and in turn promote OC differentiation and function via IL-8. In addition to adaptive immunity, the activation of innate immune system including the nucleotide oligomerization domain leucine rich repeat with a pyrin domain 3 inflammasome and TLRs can regulate OC maturation. The emerging perspectives about the diverse and close interactions between the immune cells and OCs in inflammatory milieu can have a significant impact on the future direction of drug development.