• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.244-251
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• 2016

Understanding the developmental mechanisms of humoral immunity against intranasal antigens is essential for the development of therapeutic approaches against air-borne pathogens as well as allergen-induced pulmonary inflammation. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells expressing CXCR5 are required for humoral immunity by providing IL-21 and ICOS costimulation to activated B cells. However, the regulation of Tfh cell responses against intranasal antigens remains unclear. Here, we found that the generation of Tfh cells and germinal center B cells in the bronchial lymph node against intranasal proteinase antigens was independent of $TGF-{\beta}$. In contrast, administration of STAT3 inhibitor STA-21 suppressed the generation of Tfh cells and germinal center B cells. Compared with wild-type OT-II T cells, STAT3-deficient OT-II T cells transferred into recipients lacking T cells not only showed significantly reduced frequency Tfh cells, but also induced diminished IgG as well as IgE specific for the intranasal antigens. Cotransfer study of wild-type OT-II and STAT3-deficient OT-II T cells revealed that the latter failed to differentiate into Tfh cells. These findings demonstrate that T cell-intrinsic STAT3 is required for the generation of Tfh cells to intranasal antigens and that targeting STAT3 might be an effective approach to ameliorate antibody-mediated pathology in the lung.

• 한양메디칼리뷰
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.10-16
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• 2013

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play a significant role in providing T cell help to B cells during the germinal center reaction, where somatic hypermutation, affinity maturation, isotype class switching, and the differentiation of memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells occur. Antigen-specific T cells with IL-6 and IL-21 upregulate CXCR5, which is required for the migration of T cells into B cell follicles, where these T cells mature into Tfh. The surface markers including PD-1, ICOS, and CD40L play a significant role in providing T cell help to B cells. The upregulation of transcription factor Bcl-6 induces the expression of CXCR5, which is an important factor for Tfh differentiation, by inhibiting the expression of other lineage-specific transcription factors such as T-bet, GATA3, and RORγt. Surprisingly, recent evidence suggests that CD4 T cells already committed to Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells obtain flexibility in their differentiation programs by downregulating T-bet, GATA3, and RORγt, upregulating Bcl-6 and thus convert into Tfh. Limiting the numbers of Tfh within germinal centers is important in the regulation of the autoantibody production that is central to autoimmune diseases. Recently, it was revealed that the germinal center reaction and the size of the Tfh population are also regulated by thymus-derived follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) expressing CXCR5 and Foxp3. Dysregulation of Tfh appears to be a pathogenic cause of autoimmune disease suggesting that tight regulation of Tfh and germinal center reaction by Tfr is essential for maintaining immune tolerance. Therefore, the balance between Tfh and Tfr appears to be a critical peripheral tolerance mechanism that can inhibit autoimmune disorders.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.219-232
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• 2016

Production of high affinity antibodies for antigens is a critical component for the immune system to fight off infectious pathogens. However, it could be detrimental to our body when the antigens that B cells recognize are of self-origin. Follicular helper T, or Tfh, cells are required for the generation of germinal center reactions, where high affinity antibody-producing B cells and memory B cells predominantly develop. As such, Tfh cells are considered as targets to prevent B cells from producing high affinity antibodies against self-antigens, when high affinity autoantibodies are responsible for immunopathologies in autoimmune disorders. This review article provides an overview of current understanding of Tfh cells and discusses it in the context of animal models of autoimmune diseases and allograft rejections for generation of novel therapeutic interventions.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.46-50
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• 2022

Traumatic flank hernia (TFH) is rare and prone to recurrence, which makes appropriate treatment challenging. No current guidelines define the optimal timing and method of repair. Meanwhile, recent advances in laparoscopic techniques are reshaping the options for the treatment of TFH. A dual approach that utilizes both laparoscopic and open methods has not previously been reported. Herein, we present the successful treatment of TFH after blunt trauma. A 46-year-old male patient underwent elective herniorrhaphy on hospital day 3, in which laparoscopic implantation of a sublay mesh and extracorporeal implantation of an onlay mesh were performed. Such techniques may be appropriate and result in feasible outcomes in hemodynamically stable patients with large TFH who are strongly suspected of having bowel herniation or concomitant intraperitoneal injuries. Larger studies are needed to assess the long-term results.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.8.1-8.17
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• 2024

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play a crucial role in generating high-affinity antibodies (Abs) and establishing immunological memory. Cytokines, among other functional molecules produced by Tfh, are central to germinal center (GC) reactions. This review focuses on the role of cytokines, including IL-21 and IL-4, in regulating B cell responses within the GC, such as differentiation, affinity maturation, and plasma cell development. Additionally, this review explores the impact of other cytokines like CXCL13, IL-10, IL-9, and IL-2 on GC responses and their potential involvement in autoimmune diseases, allergies, and cancer. This review highlights contributions of Tfh-derived cytokines to both protective immunity and immunopathology across a spectrum of diseases. A deeper understanding of Tfh cytokine biology holds promise for insights into biomedical conditions.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2012년도 제42회 동계 정기 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.530-530
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• 2012

Many practical applications of carbon nanotubes(CNTs) have been proposed and there have been attempts to utilize CNT films as transparent electrodes for solar cells and displays. Our group has considered the use of the CNT film as a thin film heater (TFH) and proposed it for the first time and reported the thermal behavior of the TFH made of single walled CNTs. However, due to the relatively high electrical resistance of the CNT film, using the TFH in application areas requiring high heat flux has been a difficult problem. To overcome this obstacle, we adopted a 'branch electrodes' concept to increase the film conductance dramatically. If two branch electrodes are inserted into a TFH whose original electrical resistance is R, the total resistance will be reduced to R/9. Because of the increased aspect ratio, the resistance of each segmented TFH will be reduced to R/3. Furthermore, since they are connected in parallel, the total resistance reduces to R/9. This could be extended to n branch electrodes, and the total resistance of the film will be reduced to R/(n+1)2, if the resistance of electrodes are negligibly small. We fabricated the heaters with different number of branch electrodes. The number of branch electrodes of the fabricated heaters are 0, 2, 4, 8 and their electrical resistance are 101.4, 39.5, 20.0, $15.4{\Omega}$, respectively. We applied 20V to each heater and monitored the temperature variations. We could achieve high heating temperature even with low voltage supply. This technique could be applied to relevant industrial applications which need high power film heater.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.195-201
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• 2015

Antibodies are powerful defense tools against pathogens but may cause autoimmune diseases when erroneously directed toward self-antigens. Thus, antibody producing cells are carefully selected, refined, and expanded in a highly regulated microenvironment (germinal center) in the peripheral lymphoid organs. A subset of T cells termed T follicular helper cells (Tfh) play a central role in instructing B cells to form a repertoire of antibody producing cells that provide life-long supply of high affinity, pathogenspecific antibodies. Therefore, understanding how Tfh cells arise and how they facilitate B cell selection and differentiation during germinal center reaction is critical to improve vaccines and better treat autoimmune diseases. In this review, I will summarise recent findings on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Tfh generation and function with an emphasis on T cell costimulation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권11호
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• pp.747-754
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• 2019

The incidence of atherosclerosis is higher among patients with several autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is well documented that innate immune cells including macrophages and dendritic cells sense lipid species such as saturated fatty acids and oxidized low-density lipoprotein and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, whether a hyperlipidemic environment also impacts autoimmune T cell responses has been unclear. Among $CD4^+$ T cells, Th17 and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are known to play pathogenic roles in the development of hyperlipidemia-associated autoimmune diseases. This review gives an overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which dysregulated lipid metabolism impacts the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, with specific emphasis on Th17 and Tfh cells.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.253-260
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the facial dimensions of young adult women with a preferred facial appearance and compare the results with those from the general population. Methods: Twenty-five linear, nine angular, and three area measurements were made and four ratios were calculated using a sample of standardized frontal and lateral photographs of 46 young adult women with a preferred facial appearance (Miss Korea group) and 44 young adult women from the general population (control group). Differences between the two groups were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: Compared with the control group, the Miss Korea group exhibited a significantly greater facial height, total facial height (TFH; trichion-menton), facial width (tragus right-tragus left), facial depth (tragus-true vertical line), and trichion-nasion/TFH ratio and smaller subnasale-menton/TFH and facial width/TFH ratios. Furthermore, the control group had smaller intercanthal and interpupillary widths. Conclusions: The Miss Korea group exhibited longer, wider, and deeper faces compared with those from the general population. Furthermore, the Miss Korea group had larger eyes, longer but less protruded noses, longer and more retruded lower lips and chins, larger lip vermilion areas, and smaller labiomental angles. These results suggest that the latest trends in facial esthetics should be considered during diagnosis and treatment planning for young women with dentofacial abnormalities.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.239-247
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• 1985

The author compared patients with extreme variations in MP-SN angle with normal group in order to examine the relationship between the MP-SN angle and other skeletal and dental parameters. The results were as follows; 1. The OP-SN angle and OP-MP angle decreased as the MP-SN angle decreased. 2. As the MP-SN angle decreased, the skeletal and dental components became more anteriorly situated. 3. In high MP-SN group, TFH, UFH, LFH, OP-MP, ADH increased more than those in average MP-SN group. 4. The RH/TFH ratio decreased as the MP-SN increased.