Oleoylethanolamide induces eosinophilic airway inflammation in bronchial asthma

Kwon Eun-Kyung,최영우,Yoon Il-Hee,Won Ha-Kyeong,심소윤,Lee Hee-Ra,Kim Hyoung Su,예영민,신유섭,박해심,Ban Ga-Young 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

Asthma is a chronic eosinophilic inflammatory disease with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Endocannabinoids are known to have immunomodulatory biological effects. However, the contribution of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) to airway inflammation remains to be elucidated. To investigate the effect of OEA, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines was measured by RT-qPCR and ELISA in airway epithelial (A549) cells. The numbers of airway inflammatory cells and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, airway hyperresponsiveness, and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) were examined in BALB/c mice after 4 days of OEA treatment. Furthermore, eosinophil activation after OEA treatment was evaluated by measuring cellular CD69 levels in eosinophils from human peripheral eosinophils using flow cytometry. OEA induced type 2 inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. OEA increased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-33, in A549 cells. In addition, it also induced eosinophilic inflammation, the production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and airway hyperresponsiveness. OEA increased the numbers of IL-5- or IL-13-producing ILC2s in a mouse model. Finally, we confirmed that OEA increased CD69 expression (an eosinophil activation marker) on purified eosinophils from patients with asthma compared to those from healthy controls. OEA may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma by activating ILC2s and eosinophils.

Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor–related protein co-stimulation facilitates tumor regression by inducing IL-9–producing helper T cells

Kim, Il-Kyu,Kim, Byung-Seok,Koh, Choong-Hyun,Seok, Jae-Won,Park, Jun-Seok,Shin, Kwang-Soo,Bae, Eun-Ah,Lee, Ga-Eun,Jeon, Hyewon,Cho, Jaebeom,Jung, Yujin,Han, Daehee,Kwon, Byoung S,Lee, Ho-Young,Chung, Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan P 2015 Nature medicine Vol.21 No.9

<P>T cell stimulation via glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-related protein (GITR) elicits antitumor activity in various tumor models; however, the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. Here we demonstrate a crucial role for interleukin (IL)-9 in antitumor immunity generated by the GITR agonistic antibody DTA-1. IL-4 receptor knockout (Il4ra(-/-)) mice, which have reduced expression of IL-9, were resistant to tumor growth inhibition by DTA-1. Notably, neutralization of IL-9 considerably impaired tumor rejection induced by DTA-1. In particular, DTA-1-induced IL-9 promoted tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses by enhancing the function of dendritic cells in vivo. Furthermore, GITR signaling enhanced the differentiation of IL-9-producing CD4(+) T-helper (T(H)9) cells in a TNFR-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)- and NF-kappa B-dependent manner and inhibited the generation of induced regulatory T cells in vitro. Our findings demonstrate that GITR co-stimulation mediates antitumor immunity by promoting T(H)9 cell differentiation and enhancing CTL responses and thus provide a mechanism of action for GITR agonist-mediated cancer immunotherapies.</P>

A novel role for bone-derived cells in ankylosing spondylitis: Focus on IL-23

Jo, Sungsin,Koo, Bon San,Lee, Bitnara,Kwon, Eunji,Lee, Young Lim,Chung, Heekyoung,Sung, Il-Hoon,Park, Ye-Soo,Kim, Tae-Hwan Elsevier 2017 Biochemical and biophysical research communication Vol. No.

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The main aim of this study are to explore the role of bone-derived cells (BdCs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and determine the underlying molecular mechanisms of IL-23 production. Primary BdCs were isolated from diced bone of facet joints obtained during surgery from seven AS patients and seven disease control (Ct) patients. Osteoblastic activity of BdCs was assessed by measuring their alkaline phosphatase activity and by alizarin red staining. Osteoblast and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes were assessed by quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. In addition, expression of IL-23 in response to BIX (selective BIP inducer X)-induced ER stress was evaluated by qPCR and ELISA. Protein interaction and binding to IL-23 promoter were confirmed by Immunoprecipitation and Chromatin immunoprecipitation, respectively. Transcript levels of genes involved in osteoblast function, as well as of the ER stress marker were higher in the AS group than the Ct group, and elevated RUNX2, BiP and IL-23 expression were observed in the BdCs, serum, and bone biopsies from the AS group. BIX-induced ER stress stimulated osteoblastic activity and IL-23 secretion by upregulating RUNX2 expression. Furthermore, in AS BdCs, RUNX2 interacted with C/EBPβ to bind to IL-23 promoter and RUNX2 knockdown suppressed IL-23 secretion. These finding may provide a molecular mechanism involved in sustained ER stress in AS BdCs stimulates the activation of RUNX2 and C/EBPβ genes, leading to IL-23 production.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Bones and its-derived cells from patients with AS showed an increase in ER stress. </LI> <LI> IL-23 cytokine was significantly higher in AS patients than in healthy controls. </LI> <LI> Inducing ER stress in AS exhibited an increase of bone-related genes. </LI> <LI> Inducing ER stress in AS was accompanied with augmentation of IL-23 cytokine. </LI> <LI> ER stress-induced RUNX2 is involved in IL-23 secretion and bone-related genes. </LI> </UL> </P>

Lineage Differentiation Program of Invariant Natural Killer T Cells

Kwon, Dong-il,Lee, You Jeong 한국조명·전기설비학회 2017 한국조명·전기설비학회 학술대회논문집 Vol. No.

<P>Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate T cells restricted by CD1d molecules. They are positively selected in the thymic cortex and migrate to the medullary area, in which they differentiate into 3 different lineages. Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) modulates this process, and PLZF<SUP>high</SUP>, PLZF<SUP>intermediate</SUP>, and PLZF<SUP>low</SUP> iNKT cells are designated as NKT2, NKT17, and NKT1 cells, respectively. Analogous to conventional helper CD4 T cells, each subset expresses distinct combinations of transcription factors and produces different cytokines. In lymphoid organs, iNKT subsets have unique localizations, which determine their cytokine responses upon antigenic challenge. The lineage differentiation programs of iNKT cells are differentially regulated in various mice strains in a cell-intrinsic manner, and BALB/c mice contain a high frequency of NKT2 cells. In the thymic medulla, steady state IL-4 from NKT2 cells directly conditions CD8 T cells to become memory-like cells expressing Eomesodermin, which function as premade memory effectors. The genetic signature of iNKT cells is more similar to that of γδ T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) than of conventional helper T cells, suggesting that ILCs and innate T cells share common developmental programs.</P>

Naringin inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and AKT phosphorylation in tumor necrosis factor-α-induced vascular smooth muscle cells

Lee, Eo-Jin,Kim, Dong-Il,Kim, Wun-Jae,Moon, Sung-Kwon WILEY-VCH Verlag 2009 Molecular nutrition & food research Vol.53 No.12

<P>Citrus fruits are high in naringin, which has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular diseases. However, the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) regulation involved in cell migration and invasion remains to be identified. Naringin inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced expression of MMP-9, under 10–25 μM concentration conditions in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The TNF-α-induced invasion and migration of VSMC were inhibited by naringin. Furthermore, naringin suppressed TNF-α-mediated release of interleukin-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8). However, naringin (10–25 μM) treatment of VSMC in the presence of TNF-α did not affect cell growth and apoptosis. In additional experiments, naringin reduced the transcriptional activity of activator protein-1 and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB), which are two important nuclear transcription factors that are involved in MMP-9 expression. Also, naringin treatment blocked PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K pathway in TNF-α-induced VSMC. Treatment of aglycone naringenin (10–25 μM) had same effect on the levels of MMP-9 expression, invasion, migration, and AKT phosphorylation in TNF-α-induced VSMC, compared with naringin treatment. These results suggest that naringin represses PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K pathway, invasion and migration, and subsequently suppresses MMP-9 expression through the transcription factors NF-κB and activator protein-1 in TNF-α-induced VSMC. These novel findings provide a theoretical basis for the preventive use of naringin for atherosclerosis disease.</P>

Anti-inflammatory Activity of 1-docosanoyl Cafferate Isolated from Rhus verniciflua in LPS-stimulated BV2 Microglial Cells

Lee, Jae-Won,Cheong, Il-Young,Kim, Hae-Sung,Lee, Jae-Jun,Lee, Yong-Suk,Kwon, Yong-Soo,Kim, Myong-Jo,Lee, Hee-Jae,Kim, Sung-Soo,Chun, Wan-Joo The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2011 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.15 No.1

Although various derivatives of caffeic acid have been reported to possess a wide variety of biological activities such as protection of neuronal cells against excitotoxicity, the biological activity of 1-docosanoyl cafferate (DC) has not been examined. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of DC, isolated from the stem bark of Rhus verniciflua, on lipopoly-saccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Pretreatment of cells with DC significantly attenuated LPS-induced NO production, and mRNA and protein expression of iNOS in a concentration-dependent manner. DC also significantly suppressed LPS-induced release of cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. Consistent with the decrease in cytokine release, DC dose-dependently and significantly attenuated LPS-induced mRNA expression of these cytokines. Furthermore, DC significantly suppressed LPS-induced degradation of IKB, which retains NF-kB in the cytoplasm. Therefore, nuclear translocation of NF-kB induced by LPS stimulation was significantly suppressed with DC pretreatment. Taken together, the present study suggests that DC exerts its anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of NF-kB translocation to the nucleus.

Thymol attenuates the worsening of atopic dermatitis induced by <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> membrane vesicles

Kwon, Hyo Il,Jeong, Na Hee,Jun, So Hyun,Son, Joo Hee,Kim, Shukho,Jeon, Hyejin,Kang, Sun Chul,Kim, Sang Hyun,Lee, Je Chul Elsevier 2018 INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY Vol.59 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P> <I>Staphylococcus aureus</I> membrane vesicles (MVs) aggravate atopic dermatitis (AD) through the delivery of bacterial effector molecules to host cells and the stimulation of inflammatory responses. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of thymol, a phenolic monoterpene found in essential oils derived from plants, on the worsening of AD induced by <I>S. aureus</I> MVs both <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo</I>. The sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations of thymol disrupted <I>S. aureus</I> MVs. Intact <I>S. aureus</I> MVs induced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) and chemokine (IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) genes in cultured keratinocytes, whereas thymol-treated <I>S. aureus</I> MVs did not stimulate the expression of these genes. Topical application of thymol-treated <I>S. aureus</I> MVs or treatment with thymol after intact <I>S. aureus</I> MVs to AD-like skin lesions diminished the pathology of AD. This included decreases in epidermal/dermal thickness and infiltration of eosinophils/mast cells, and inhibited expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes in mouse AD model. Moreover, thymol significantly suppressed the Th1, Th2, and Th17-mediated inflammatory responses in AD-like skin lesions induced by <I>S. aureus</I> MVs, and reduced the serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G2a, mite-specific IgE, and total IgE. In summary, thymol disrupts <I>S. aureus</I> MVs and suppresses inflammatory responses in AD-like skin lesions aggravated by <I>S. aureus</I> MVs. Our results suggest that thymol is a possible candidate for the management of AD aggravation induced by <I>S. aureus</I> colonization or infection in the lesions.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The subMICs of thymol disrupt <I>S. aureus</I> membrane vesicles (MVs). </LI> <LI> Thymol-treated <I>S. aureus</I> MVs do not induce inflammatory responses in keratinocytes. </LI> <LI> Thymol inhibits worsening of AD-like lesions induced by <I>S. aureus</I> MVs. </LI> </UL> </P>

Inhibition of acute lethal pulmonary inflammation by the IDO–AhR pathway

Lee, Soung-Min,Park, Ha Young,Suh, Young-Sill,Yoon, Eun Hye,Kim, Juyang,Jang, Won Hee,Lee, Won-Sik,Park, Sae-Gwang,Choi, Il-Whan,Choi, Inhak,Kang, Sun-Woo,Yun, Hwayoung,Teshima, Takanori,Kwon, Byungsu National Academy of Sciences 2017 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Vol.114 No.29

<P>The lung is a prototypic organ that was evolved to reduce immunopathology during the immune response to potentially hazardous endogenous and exogenous antigens. In this study, we show that donor CD4(+) T cells transiently induced expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in lung parenchyma in an IFN-gamma-dependent manner early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Abrogation of host IDO expression by deletion of the IDO gene or the IFN-gamma gene in donor T cells or by FK506 treatment resulted in acute lethal pulmonary inflammation known as idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS). Interestingly, IL-6 strongly induced IDO expression in an IFN-gamma-independent manner when deacetylation of STAT3 was inhibited. Accordingly, a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) could reduce IPS in the state where IFN-gamma expression was suppressed by FK506. Finally, L-kynurenine produced by lung epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages during IPS progression suppresses the inflammatory activities of lung epithelial cells and CD4(+) T cells through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. Taken together, our results reveal that IDO is a critical regulator of acute pulmonary inflammation and that regulation of IDO expression by HDACi may be a therapeutic approach for IPS after HSCT.</P>

Scoparone from Artemisia capillaris Inhibits the Release of Inflammatory Mediators in RAW 264.7 Cells upon Stimulation Cells by Interferon-γ Plus LPS

Seon Il Jang,Young-Jun Kim,Woo-Yiel Lee,Kyung Chell Kwak,Seung Hwa Baek,Gyu Beum Kwak,Young-Gab Yun,Tae-Oh Kwon,Hun Taeg Chung,Kyu-Yun Chai 대한약학회 2005 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.28 No.2

Scoparone is a major component of the shoot of Artemisia capillaris (Compositae), which has been used for the treatment of hepatitis and biliary tract infection in oriental countries. In the present study we observed that, scorparone exhibited no cytotoxic effect in unstimulated macrophages, but reduced the release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) upon stimulation by IFN-γ/LPS or LPS. The inhibitory effects were found to be in conjuction with the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in IFN-γ/LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, scoparone also attenuated the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that scoparone decreases the production of the inflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2 in macrophages by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression.

방송통신위원회의 헌법상 지위에 관한 고찰

이권일(Lee, Kwon-Il) 유럽헌법학회 2008 유럽헌법연구 Vol.4 No.-

‘절대권력은 절대부패한다.’ 현재의 방송통신위원회에 가장 적절한 비유가 아닐까 한다. 방송과 통신이 융합하는 급변하는 시대에 방송과 통신의 영역을 아우르는 새로운 매체를 규율하기 위한 많은 논의가 있었고 그 결과로 방송통신위원회가 출범하였다. 위원회의 법적 지위를 어떻게 할 것인지에 대해서는 많은 논의가 있었지만 결론은 대통령 소속의 위원회이다. 이는 위헌적 요소가 많은 제도이다. 이명박 정부는 출범초기에 `press friendly`를 줄곧 내세웠다. 하지만 현재는 과연 이 press friendly가 무엇을 의미하는가에 의문이 든다. 무엇보다도 정치권력으로부터 자유로워야 하고 독립적이어야 하는 언론이 정권에 의해 장악당하고 있다는 의문을 떨칠 수가 없고 지난 방송통신위원회의 행적을 보면 이 의문이 틀리지 않았음을 알 수 있다. 현행법상의 방송통신위원회제도-대통령 직속 위원회제도-는 방송의 독립성을 보장할 수 있는 견제장치가 마련되어 있지 못하다. 이러한 상황에서 방송주무부서가 대통령 소속이 된다는 것은 방송의 국가로부터의 자유가 다시 10년 전으로 도태되는 것이다. 과거 방송위원회와 같은 독립규제위원회 방식이 더 최적의 방안이다. 최소한 방송을 관할하는 기관이 국가로부터 비록 외형적이라 하더라도 독립되어있기 때문이다. 이는 상징적인 의미를 가지기도 한다. 업무수행의 효율성을 위해 여론형성이라는 민주사회의 근간을 이루는 헌법적 가치를 포기할 수는 없는 것이다. The ‘absolute power certainly decays.’ It will be the metaphor that is the appropriate in the current the ‘Korea Communications Commission’ There were many discussions for rules to do the new media which did the broadcast and the communication together in the times when broadcast and communication converge and as a result of these, eventually the ‘Korea Communications Commission’ is born. There were many discussions for the legal position of the ‘Korea Communications Commission’ too, the conclusion is a administrative agency not independent regulation agency. It is unconstitutional system. At the early period of Lee’s government it advocates `press friendly`, but there is room for doubt that the sense of this statement-press friendly. The media that it must be become independent by government will have been filled the power. I has doubted it, and it is realized. There is a little the rule on the existing law that check the ‘Korea Communications Commission’ - administrative agency- for guaranteeing the independence of the broadcast. The best method makes ‘Korea Communications Commission’ into independent regulation agency. Because it is independent from the government at least external form, and it has a symbolic meaning. It must not give up value of the constitution to become the basis of the democracy for efficiency of the government.