• 대한수의학회지
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.183-191
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• 2012

The maintenance of peripheral immune tolerance and prevention of chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease require $CD4^{+}CD25^{+}$ T cells (regulatory T cells). The transcription factor Foxp3 is essential for the development of functional, regulatory T cells, which plays a prominent role in self-tolerance. Retroviral vectors can confer high level of gene transfer and transgene expression in a variety of cell types. Here we observed that following retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer of Foxp3, transductional Foxp3 expression was increased in the liver, lung, brain, heart, muscle, spinal cord, kidney and spleen. One day after vector administration, high levels of transgene and gene expression were observed in liver and lung. At 2 days after injection, transductional Foxp3 expression level was increased in brain, heart, muscle and spinal cord, but kidney and spleen exhibited a consistent low level. This finding was inconsistent with the increase in both $CD4^{+}CD25^{+}$ T cell and $CD4^{+}Foxp3^{+}$ T cell frequencies observed in peripheral immune cells by fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS) analysis. Retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer of Foxp3 did not lead to increased numbers of $CD4^{+}CD25^{+}$ T cell and $CD4^{+}Foxp3^{+}$ T cell. These results demonstrate the level and duration of transductional Foxp3 gene expression in various tissues. A better understanding of Foxp3 regulation can be useful in dissecting the cause of regulatory T cells dysfunction in several autoimmune diseases and raise the possibility of enhancing suppressive functions of regulatory T cells for therapeutic purposes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.217-221
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• 2012

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) colocalize with leukocyte infiltrates in rheumatoid synovia. Proinflammatory leukocytes are known to amplify inflammation by signaling to FLS, but crosstalk between FLS and regulatory T cells (Tregs) remains uncharacterized. To address this possibility, we cocultured FLS lines derived from arthritic mice with Tregs. FLS that expressed the ligand for glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor family-related gene (GITR) decreased expression of Foxp3 and GITR in Tregs in a contact-dependent manner. This effect was abolished by blocking antibody to GITR. On the other hand, the Tregs caused the FLS to increase IL-6 production. These results demonstrate that inflamed FLS license Tregs to downregulate Foxp3 expression via the GITRL/GITR interaction while the Tregs induce the FLS to increase their production of IL-6. Our findings suggest that the interaction between FLS and Tregs dampens the anti-inflammatory activity of Tregs and amplifies the proinflammatory activity of FLS, thereby exacerbating inflammatory arthritis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권10호
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• pp.4699-4711
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• 2016

Background: In the last decade, it has become clear that change of gene expression may alter the hematopoietic cell quiescent state and consequently play a major role in leukemogenesis. WT1 is known to be a player in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and FOXP3 has a crucial role in regulating the immune response. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of overexpression of WT1and FOXP3 genes on clinical course in adult and pediatric AML patients in Egypt. Patients and methods: Bone marrow and peripheral blood samples were obtained from 97 de novo non M3 AML patients (63 adult and 34 pediatric). Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect overexpression WT1 and FOXP3 genes. Patient follow up ranged from 0.2 to 39.0 months with a median of 5 months. Results: In the pediatric group; WT1 was significantly expressed with a high total leukocyte count median 50X109/L (p=0.018). In the adult group, WT1 had an adverse impact on complete remission induction, disease-free survival and overall survival (p=0.02, p=0.035, p=0.019 respectively). FOXP3 overexpression was associated with FAB subtypes AML M0 +M1 vs. M2, M4+M5 (p =0.039) and the presence of hepatomegaly (p=0.005). Conclusions: WT1 and FOXP3 overexpression has an adverse impact on clinical presentation, treatment response and survival of pediatric and adult Egyptian AML patients.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.29-35
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• 2012

The aim of the study is to characterize the phenotypes of $CD4^+$ $CD25^+$ T regulatory cells within the liver granulomas and association with both Foxp-3 gene expression and splenic cytokines. Naive C57BL/6 mice were intravenously injected with multiple doses of the soluble egg antigen (SEA) 7 days before cercarial infection. The immunized and infected control groups were sacrificed 8 and 16 weeks post-infection (PI). Histopathology, parasitological parameters, splenic phenotypes for T regulatory cells, the FOXP-3 expression in hepatic granuloma using real-time PCR, and the associated splenic cytokines were studied. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed remarkable increase in degenerated ova within hepatic granuloma which decreased in diameter at weeks 8 and 16 PI ($P$<0.01). The percentage of T regulatory cells ($CD4^+$ $CD25^+$) increased significantly ($P$<0.01) in the immunized group compared to the infected control at weeks 8 and 16 PI. The FOXP-3 expression in hepatic granulomas increased from 10 at week 8 to 30 fold at week 16 PI in the infected control group. However, its expression in the immunized group showed an increase from 30 at week 8 to 70 fold at week 16 PI. The splenic cytokine levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4, and TNF-${\alpha}$, showed significant decreases ($P$<0.05) compared to the infected control group. In conclusion, the magnitude and phenotype of the egg-induced effects on T helper responses were found to be controlled by a parallel response within the T regulatory population which provides protection in worm parasite-induced immunopathology.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2009

Tacrolimus is a widely used T cell targeted immunosuppressive drug, known as a calcineurin inhibitor. However, the exact pharmacological effects of tacrolimus on $CD4^+$ T cells have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effects of tacrolimus on $CD4^+$ T cell subsets. Mouse or human $CD4^+$ T cells were cultured with immobilized anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies in the presence of tacrolimus. The cell division of $CD4^+$ T cells was analyzed using a flow cytometer according to the expression of Foxp3. The gene expression patterns of tacrolimus-exposed T cells were examined by quantitative PCR. In the case of conventional $CD4^+$ T cells (Tconv cells), tacrolimus inhibited T cell receptor stimulation-induced cell division. In contrast, the cell division of regulatory $CD4^+$ T cells (Treg cells) was even promoted in the presence of tacrolimus, especially in humans. Tacrolimus did not promote conversion of Tconv to Treg cells in mice. Furthermore, tacrolimus modified the expression levels of Foxp3-regulated T cell receptor signal related-genes, PTPN22 and Itk, in human Treg cells. Immunosuppressive effect of tacrolimus may be attributed to the relatively enhanced proliferation of Treg cells in association with altered gene expression levels of TCR signaling molecules.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.163-171
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• 2016

As most infections by the helminth parasite elicit the recruitment of $CD4^+CD25^+Foxp3^+$ T ($T_{reg}$) cells, many scientists have suggested that these cells could be used for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammation and associated diseases. In order to investigate the distribution and alteration of activated $T_{reg}$ cells, we compared the expression levels of $T_{reg}$ cell activation markers in the ileum and gastrocnemius tissues 1, 2, and 4 weeks after infection. The number of $T_{reg}$ cells was monitored using GFP-coded Foxp3 transgenic mice. In mice at 1 week after Trichinella spiralis infection, the number of activated $T_{reg}$ cells was higher than in the control group. In mice at 2 weeks after infection, there was a significant increase in the number of cells expressing Foxp3 and CTLA-4 when compared to the control group and mice at 1 week after infection. At 4 weeks after infection, T. spiralis was easily identifiable in nurse cells in mouse muscles. In the intestine, the expression of Gzmb and Klrg1 decreased over time and that of Capg remained unchanged for the first and second week, then decreased in the 4th week. However, in the muscles, the expression of most chemokine genes was increased due to T. spiralis infection, in particular the expression levels of Gzmb, OX40, and CTLA-4 increased until week 4. In addition, increased gene expression of all chemokine receptors in muscle, CXCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR9, and CCR10, was observed up until the 4th week. In conclusion, various chemokine receptors showed increased expressions combined with recruitment of $T_{reg}$ cells in the muscle tissue.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.130-139
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• 2017

$CXCR5^+$ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are associated with aberrant autoantibody production in patients with antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus. Follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells expressing CXCR5 and Bcl6 have been recently identified as a specialized subset of $Foxp3^+$ regulatory T (Treg) cells that control germinal center reactions. In this study, we show that retroviral transduction of CXCR5 gene in $Foxp3^+$ Treg cells induced a stable expression of functional CXCR5 on their surface. The Cxcr5-transduced Treg cells maintained the expression of Treg cell signature genes and the suppressive activity. The expression of CXCR5 as well as Foxp3 in the transduced Treg cells appeared to be stable in vivo in an adoptive transfer experiment. Moreover, Cxcr5-transduced Treg cells preferentially migrated toward the CXCL13 gradient, leading to an effective suppression of antibody production from B cells stimulated with Tfh cells. Therefore, our results demonstrate that enforced expression of CXCR5 onto Treg cells efficiently induces Tfr cell-like properties, which might be a promising cellular therapeutic approach for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.263-270
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• 2014

This study reports significant improvement of atopic dermatitis condition as a result of experiment using Xanthium strumarium L. extract (XS-E) at the dorsal skin of induced atopic dermatitis Nc/Nga mice. Skin clinical score has decreased ($2.75{\pm}0.85$, *p<0.05), showing visible change of skin condition. IgE (***p<0.001) and IgG1 ($2522.00{\pm}32.80$, ***p<0.001) in plasma also decreased significantly. mRNA (gene expression) level increased ($RQ=2.75{\pm}0.10$, ***p<0.001) within skin tissue of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cell that's activated by XS-E dosage, thereby discovering that there is an effect of suppressing proliferation and viability of Th2 cell, eosinophils, mast cell and inflammatory cell. Upon examining cells permeated with H&E and toluidine blue staining technique, thickness of epidermis and mast cell's permeation decreased, and the result of examining the distribution of CCR 3+ eosinophils within ALN showed that it's level fell down to that of wild type (normal group, NC/Nga-WT). By such results, it is suggested that XS-E is highly effective on atopic dermatitis, and it is considered that continued quantitative research and case study of clinical research such as effect of cell number in individual tissues or change of total cell number are necessary.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.482-499
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• 2017

Allergy 질환은 지난 십여년 동안 개발도상국을 포함해서 전 세계적으로 증가하고 있다. Allergy 염증 반응은 수지상 세포와 같은 항원제시 세포에 의한 allergy 항원섭취를 시작으로 하여 Th2 면역 반응에 의해서 일어난다. 장내 미생물은 신체의 대사나 생리적 기능을 조절하고, 생애 초기의 면역 체계 성숙과 일생 동안 면역 체계 항상성 및 상피세포 총체성에 기여한다. Bifidobacteria는 Th1/Th2 balance에 strain-specific 한 면역 자극 특성을 가지며, TSLP와 IgE 발현을 억제 시키고 Flg과 FoxP3 발현을 촉진 시켜 allergy를 완화시킨다. 또한 Unmethylated CpG motif ODN은 B 세포와 수지상 세포의 TLR9에 의해 인식 되어 선천성과 적응성 면역 반응을 유도하고, Clostridium butyricum에 의해서 생산된 butyrate는 수지상 세포의 anti-inflammatory 유전자의 발현을 유도하기 위해 GPR109a signaling pathway를 활성화시키고, GPR43 활성화를 통하여 tTreg 세포 proliferation을 직접 자극하거나 HADC 활성을 억제시켜 Foxp3 gene intronic enhancer의 histone H3 acetylation을 통해 naive $CD4^+$ T 세포를 pTreg 세포로 분화시킨다.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.51-85
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of concurrent administration of KKSDU and AJ on atopic dermatitis in an in-vivo experiment using an NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse, which has histological and clinical similarities to the condition in humans. Methods : We evaluated clinical skin score, hematology, serum total IgE and IgG1 of NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse and analyzed the cytoline level, total cell number, immunohistochemical staining, histological features of axillary lymph node(ALN), draining lymph node(DLN), peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and dorsal skin tissue in NC/Nga mouse. Results : Orally administration of KKSDU and concurrent administration of KKSDU and AJ decreased the clinical skin score, total cell number of WBC, platelet, neutrophils, eosinophils in blood, serum total IgE & IgG1, IL-5, IL-13. Also, total cell number of ALN and dorsal skin tissue, absolute cell number of CD3e+&CD19+, CD4+&CD8+, CD3+/CCR3+, CCR3+, CD3+/CD69+, CD3+/CXCR5+ in ALN, PBMCs, absolute cell number of CCR3+, CD3+/CD69+, CD11b+/Gr-1+ in dorsal skin tissue, Eotaxin2 mRNA, CCR3 mRNA in dorsal skin tissue and gene expression of IL-5 mRNA, IL-13 mRNA in ALN are significantly decreased. Furthermore, thickness of epidermis, infiltrated inflammatory immune cell & mast cell in dermis, histologic infiltration of mast cell, the size of inflammatory lymphocytes cells & plasma cells in ALN and histologic infiltration of CD4+ & CCR3+ in ALN and dorsal skin tissue are significantly decreased. However, total cell number of DLN, absolute cell number of CD3+&CD19+, CD4+&CD8+, B220+/CD23+, CD3+/CD69+ in DLN and CD4+CD25+foxp3+Treg cell, foxp3 mRNA in dersal skin tissue are increased significantly. Conclusions : Concurrent administration of KKSDU and AJ on atopic dermatitis in an in-vivo experiment using an NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse was very effective to the atopic detmatitis treatment.