Impact of interleukin-21 in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren's syndrome: increased serum levels of interleukin-21 and its expression in the labial salivary glands

Kang, Kwi Young,Kim, Hyun-Ok,Kwok, Seung-Ki,Ju, Ji Hyeon,Park, Kyung-Su,Sun, Dong-Il,Jhun, Joo Yeon,Oh, Hye Jwa,Park, Sung-Hwan,Kim, Ho-Youn BioMed Central 2011 ARTHRITIS RESEARCH AND THERAPY Vol.13 No.5

<P><B>Introduction</B></P><P>Interleukin (IL)-21 is a cytokine that controls the functional activity of effector T helper cells and the differentiation of Th17 cells, and promotes B-cell differentiation. To test whether IL-21 participates in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), serum IL-21 level was measured and IL-21 expression in the labial salivary glands (LSG) was examined.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Serum IL-21 levels in 40 primary SS, 40 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 38 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 20 healthy controls were measured. Serum IL-21 levels of SS patients were assessed for correlations with laboratory data, including anti-nuclear antibody, anti-Ro/La antibodies, globulin, immunoglobulin (Ig) class, and IgG subclass. LSGs from 16 primary SS and 4 controls with sicca symptoms were evaluated for IL-21 and IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) expression by immunohistochemistry. Confocal microscopy was performed to further characterize the IL-21 positive cells.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Primary SS patients had significantly higher serum IL-21 levels than controls, and these increments correlated positively with levels of IgG, IgG1. Serum IgG1 levels correlated with anti-Ro antibody titers. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that lymphocytic foci and the periductal area of the LSGs from SS patients expressed high levels of IL-21 and lower levels of IL-21R, whereas the control LSGs showed minimal expression of both antigens. The more the lymphocyte infiltrated, IL-21expression in LSGs showed a tendency to increase. Confocal microscopic analyses revealed that IL-21 expressing infiltrating lymphocytes in the LSGs of SS patients also expressed CXCR5.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>Primary SS is associated with high serum IL-21 levels that correlate positively with serum IgG, especially IgG1, levels. The expression of IL-21 is increased as more lymphocytes infiltrated in LSGs. These observations suggest that IL-21 may play an important role in primary SS pathogenesis.</P>

Genetic effect of <i>CCR3</i> and <i>IL5RA</i> gene polymorphisms on eosinophilia in asthmatic patients

Lee, June-Hyuk,Chang, Hun Soo,Kim, Ji Hyun,Park, Se-Min,Lee, Yong Mok,Uh, Soo Taek,Rhim, Taiyoun,Chung, Il Yup,Kim, Yong-Hoon,Park, Byung Lae,Park, Choon-Sik,Shin, Hyoung Doo Elsevier 2007 The journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol.120 No.5

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>Eosinophilic infiltration and peripheral blood eosinophilia in asthma require the cooperation of eosinophil-specific cytokines and chemokines and their receptors.</P><P><B>Objective</B></P><P>We investigated the association of polymorphisms in <I>CCR3</I> and <I>IL5RA</I> with asthma susceptibility or peripheral blood eosinophilia and the effects of the polymorphisms on receptor expression.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Polymorphisms in <I>CCR3</I> and <I>IL5RA</I> were identified and genotyped in 576 asthmatic patients and 180 healthy control subjects. CCR3 and IL-5 receptor α (IL-5Rα) protein expression on eosinophils was measured by means of flow cytometry.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Although polymorphisms in <I>CCR3</I> were not associated with asthma susceptibility, the <I>CCR3</I> haplotype <I>ht2</I> showed a negative gene dose effect on the eosinophil count (<I>P</I> = .003–.009). <I>IL5RA c.−5091G>A</I> was weakly associated with eosinophil count. The effects of <I>ht2</I> were greater when paired with <I>IL5RA c.−5091A</I> (<I>P</I> = .001–.002). CCR3 protein expression was higher on eosinophils of asthmatic patients without <I>ht2</I> than in those with <I>ht2</I>. Asthmatic patients with the <I>IL5RA c.−5091A</I> allele showed higher IL-5Rα expression than those who were homozygous for the G allele.</P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>The genetic association between <I>CCR3</I> polymorphisms and the number of circulating eosinophils was revealed as a novel finding. These associations were more pronounced when the <I>CCR3</I> polymorphisms were paired with polymorphisms in <I>IL5RA</I>. The protein expression levels of CCR3 and IL-5Rα on peripheral blood eosinophils are associated with the polymorphisms on their own genes.</P><P><B>Clinical implications</B></P><P>The identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of <I>CCR3</I> and <I>IL5RA</I> might be useful in developing markers for intermediate phenotypes of eosinophil number and in designing strategies to control diseases related to hypereosinophilia.</P>

담배 니코틴에 의한 사람 태아 성상세포에서 종양괴사인자(TNF-α)의 발현 억제작용

손일홍,이성익,양현덕,한선정,석승한,이재규,김재현,박주영,문형인,이성수,Son, Il-Hong,Lee, Sung-Ik,Yang, Hyun-Duk,Han, Sun-Jung,Suk, Seung-Han,Lee, Jai-Kyoo,Kim, Jae-Hyun,Park, Joo-Young,Moon, Hyung-In,Lee, Sung-Soo 대한화학회 2007 대한화학회지 Vol.51 No.3

니코틴은 사람 대식세포에서 interleukin 2 (IL-2)와 종양괴사인자 (tumor necrosis factor-alpha; TNF-α) 가 생성되는 것을 억제하는데, 이러한 억제작용은 cytokine 유전자 발현 중 전사단계에서 전사인자의 활성을 억제함으로써 일어난다. 이러한 니코틴의 면역반응 억제작용은 아프타성궤양 및 궤양성대장염, 알레르기성폐 포염, 건초열 등에서도 보고되고 있다. 만일 중추신경계에서도 위와 같은 니코틴의 면역억제 작용이 일어난 다면 다발성경화증과 같은 면역반응 매개질환의 치료에 새로운 전기가 마련될 수 있을 것이다. 본 연구에서 는 중추신경계의 여러 면역반응 매개질환의 병태생리에 대한 이해를 넓히고자, 이미 알려진 니코틴의 cytokine 생성억제가 사람 중추신경계의 성상세포에서도 일어남을 확인하고 그 억제기전을 밝히고자 하였다. 이를 위 하여 사람 태아 성상세포에 다양한 농도의 니코틴과 IL-1β를 처리한 다음 TNF-α mRNA의 발현 정도와 NF- κB의 활성을 비교, 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 사람 태아 성상세포를 0.1-20 μg/ml의 니코틴으로 처리해 본 결과 10 μg/ml 이상의 농도에서 세포독성능이 나타나기 시작하였다. 2. 사람 태아 성상세포에 IL- 1β를 처리하면 2시간만에 TNF-α mRNA가 최대로 발현되었으며 그 이후로는 점진적으로 감소하였다. 3. 사 람 태아 성상세포를 1 및 0.1 μg/ml의 니코틴으로 전처리한 후 IL-1β로 자극한 군에서는 IL-1β 단독 처리군에 비해 TNF-α mRNA의 발현이 감소하는 양상을 보였다. 1 μg/ml의 니코틴을 처리한 경우에는 8시간 이후부터 TNF-α mRNA의 발현이 현저하게 감소하여 12시간에 최대로 감소하였다. 또한 0.1 μg/ml의 니코틴을 처리한 군에서는 24시간에 가장 현저하게 감소하였다. 4. 성상세포에 IL-1β로 처리한 군에서는 강력한 NF-κB의 활성 을 확인할 수 있었으며, 니코틴을 전처리하고 IL-1β 자극한 군에서는 NF-B의 활성이 감소하였다. 결론적으로 일정농도 이상의 니코틴은 세포독성효과를 나타내나 적정한 농도와 시간 경과후 니코틴은 사람 태아 성상세포에서 IL-1β에 의해 유도되는 TNF-α의 발현 감소를 유도하며, 이는 NF-κB의 활성을 감소시킴으로써 나타난다고 생각된다. The Tumor necrosis factor-α, (TNF-α), is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and contributes to the degeneration of oligodendrocytes as well as neurons. Nicotine has been found to have immunosuppressive and inflammation-suppressing effects. Astrocytes, the major glial cells in the CNS, are capable of producing TNF-α at both the mRNA and protein levels in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1) or TNF-α. Nicotine has been shown to influence glial cell functions. To order to explore the role of astrocytes in the production of TNF-α, astrocytes were pretreated with nicotine and are stimulated with IL-1β to determine their effects on TNF-α production. The results are as follows. Cytotoxic effects of nicotine on human fetal astrocytes were noted above 10 μg/ml of nicotine. The effect of IL-1β on TNF-α mRNA expression in primary cultured human fetal astrocytes was maximal at 2 h after IL- 1β(100 pg/ml) treatment. Human fetal astrocytes were pretreated with 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/ml of nicotine and then stimulated with IL-1β (100 pg/ml) for 2 h. The inhibitory effect of nicotine on expressions of TNF-α mRNA in human fetal astrocytes with pretreated 0.1 μg/ml of nicotine is first noted at 8 hr, and the inhibitory effect is maximal at 12 h. The inhibitory effect at 1 μg/ml of nicotine is inhibited maximal at 24 h. Nicotine at 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/ml concentrations significantly inhibits IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation. Collectively, this study indicates that nicotine might inhibit the expression of TNF-α in activated human fetal astrocytes.

PLZF⁺ Innate T Cells Support the TGF-β-Dependent Generation of Activated/Memory-Like Regulatory T Cells

Kang, Byung Hyun,Park, Hyo Jin,Park, Hi Jung,Lee, Jae-Il,Park, Seong Hoe,Jung, Kyeong Cheon Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.6

PLZF-expressing invariant natural killer T cells and CD4 T cells are unique subsets of innate T cells. Both are selected via thymocyte-thymocyte interaction, and they contribute to the generation of activated/memory-like CD4 and CD8 T cells in the thymus via the production of IL-4. Here, we investigated whether $PLZF^+$ innate T cells also affect the development and function of $Foxp3^+$ regulatory CD4 T cells. Flow cytometry analysis of the thymus and spleen from both CIITA transgenic C57BL/6 and wild-type BALB/c mice, which have abundant $PLZF^+$ CD4 T cells and invariant natural killer T cells, respectively, revealed that $Foxp3^+$ T cells in these mice exhibited a $CD103^+$ activated/memorylike phenotype. The frequency of $CD103^+$ regulatory T cells was considerably decreased in $PLZF^+$ cell-deficient $CIITA^{Tg}Plzf^{lu/lu}$ and $BALB/c.CD1d^{-/-}$ mice as well as in an IL-4-deficient background, such as in $CIITA^{Tg}IL-4^{-/-}$ and $BALB/c.IL-4^{-/-}$ mice, indicating that the acquisition of an activated/ memory-like phenotype was dependent on $PLZF^+$ innate T cells and IL-4. Using fetal thymic organ culture, we further demonstrated that IL-4 in concert with TGF-${\beta}$ enhanced the acquisition of the activated/memory-like phenotype of regulatory T cells. In functional aspects, the activated/ memory-like phenotype of Treg cells was directly related to their suppressive function; regulatory T cells of $CIITA^{Tg}PIV^{-/-}$ mice more efficiently suppressed ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation compared with their counterparts from wild-type mice. All of these findings suggest that $PLZF^+$ innate T cells also augmented the generation of activated/memory-like regulation via IL-4 production.

PLZF+ Innate T Cells Support the TGF-beta-Dependent Generation of Activated/Memory-Like Regulatory T Cells

Kyeong-Cheon Jung,Byung Hyun Kang,Hyo Jin Park,Hi Jung Park,Jae-il Lee,Seong Hoe Park 한국분자세포생물학회 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.6

PLZF-expressing invariant natural killer T cells and CD4 T cells are unique subsets of innate T cells. Both are selected via thymocyte-thymocyte interaction, and they contribute to the generation of activated/memory-like CD4 and CD8 T cells in the thymus via the production of IL-4. Here, we investigated whether PLZF+ innate T cells also affect the development and function of Foxp3+ regulatory CD4 T cells. Flow cytometry analysis of the thymus and spleen from both CIITA transgenic C57BL/6 and wild-type BALB/c mice, which have abundant PLZF+ CD4 T cells and invariant natural killer T cells, respectively, revealed that Foxp3+ T cells in these mice exhibited a CD103+ activated/memory-like phenotype. The frequency of CD103+ regulatory T cells was considerably decreased in PLZF+ cell-deficient CII-TATgPlzflu/lu and BALB/c.CD1d−/− mice as well as in an IL-4-deficient background, such as in CIITATgIL-4−/− and BALB/ c.IL-4−/− mice, indicating that the acquisition of an activated/memory-like phenotype was dependent on PLZF+ innate T cells and IL-4. Using fetal thymic organ culture, we further demonstrated that IL-4 in concert with TGF- enhanced the acquisition of the activated/memory-like phenotype of regulatory T cells. In functional aspects, the activated/memory-like phenotype of Treg cells was directly related to their suppressive function; regulatory T cells of CIITATgPIV-/- mice more efficiently suppressed ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation compared with their counterparts from wild-type mice. All of these findings suggest that PLZF+ innate T cells also augmented the generation of activated/memory-like regulation via IL-4 production.

Early Phase of UVB - induced GM - CSF Upregulation in Epithelial Cell Line is not Totally Dependent on IL - 1α

Park, Kyoung Chan,Kim, Kyu Han,Ahn, Jong Seong,Chung, Jin Ho,Youn, Jai Il,Whang, Ji Hwan,Youn, Sang Woong,Kim, Young Gull,Koh, Woo Seok,Jung, Hyun Chae 대한피부과학회 1997 Annals of Dermatology Vol.9 No.4

Backgrounds : It was demonstrated that ultraviolet(UV) B light induces the release of IL-la in cultured human epithelial cell line and augmentation of GM-CSF production by UVB is reported to be mediated by IL-1α in the murine keratinocyte cell line Pam 212. Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of UVB on kinetic profile of IL-1 and GM-CSF mRNA expression and to see whether synthesis of GM-CSF by UVB can be completely inhibited by blocking IL-1α mediated pathway. Method : We used a competitive RT-PCR for measuring cytokine gene expression in epithelial cell line after UV radiation. Results : The IL-1α mRNA increased as early as 1h after UV irradiation, and then decreased at 3h after the irradiation. Thereafter, the response of IL-1α mRNA was upregulated with a second peak at 6h after the UV irradiation. However, mRNA for GM-CSF increased at 1h after UV light exposure and anti-IL-1α antibodies could only partially inhibit UV-augmented GMCSF production. Conclusion : UVB induced GM-CSF production seemed to be mainly mediated by UVB induced IL-1α but these results suggest that UVB may also induce GM-CSF production through an IL-1α independent pathway.

Intracellular Signaling Pathways for Type II IgE Receptor (CD23) Induction by Interleukin - 4 and Anti - CD40 Antibody

Kim, Hyun-Il,Park, Hee-Jeoung,Lee, Choong-Eun Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biol 1997 Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology Vol.30 No.6

Since the role of CD40 on the interleukin-4(IL-4) -induced B cell activation has been strongly implicated in the agumentation of IgE production and response, we have investigated the intracelluar signaling pathways utilized by IL-4 and CD40 for type II IgE receptor (CD23) expression. IL-4 and anti-CD40 antibody treatment of human B cells, independently caused a rapid induction of CD23 gene activation within 2 h. There was a noticeable synergism between the action of the two agents inducing CD23 expression: the addition of anti-CD40 to the IL-4-treated culture significantly agumented the IL-4-induced CD23 on both mRNA and surface protein levels, and the inclusion of IL-4 in the anti-CD40-treated cells caused a further increase of CD23 expression far above the maximal level induced by anti-CD40. Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors effectively suppressed the both IL-4- and anti -CD40-induced CD23 expression. whereas protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors had no effects. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) have shown that IL-4 and anti-CD40 induce the activation of NF-IL-4 and $NF-_{K}B$, respectively, binding to the CD23 promoter, both in a PKC-independent and PTK-dependent manner. These data suggest that the synergistic activation of CD23 gene expression by IL-4 and anti-CD40 is mediated by co-operative action of distinct nuclear factors. each of which is rapidly activated via PKC-independent and PTK-dependent process.

A genome-wide by PM₁₀ interaction study identifies novel loci for lung function near <i>BICD1</i> and <i>IL1RN-IL1F10</i> genes in Korean adults

Kim, Hyun-Jin,Seo, Yong-Seok,Sung, Joohon,Chae, Jeesoo,Yun, Jae Moon,Kwon, Hyuktae,Cho, Belong,Kim, Jong-Il,Park, Jin-Ho Elsevier 2020 CHEMOSPHERE - Vol.245 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Although several genome-wide interaction studies (GWIS) have been performed in specific European populations to understand the missing link between genetic and environmental factors for lung function, GWIS of Asian samples remain rare. Therefore, we performed a GWIS of exposure to air pollution to identify loci for lung function in Korean adult men. A total of 1826 adult men recruited from two health check-up centers were included in the analysis and the annual mean concentrations of ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM<SUB>10</SUB>) were used. In case of forced vital capacity (FVC), one SNP (rs12312730) that passed our genome-wide threshold of <I>p</I>int < 1 × 10–5 was detected in the intronic region of the <I>BICD1</I> gene on chromosome 12. In addition, we found two variants (rs6743376 and rs17042888) located near the <I>IL1RN-IL1F10</I> gene that were involved in the inflammatory response and associated with decreased FVC via interaction with PM<SUB>10</SUB> exposure. A stratified association analysis according to these SNP genotypes showed that PM<SUB>10</SUB> concentrations in subjects with one or two of the risk alleles, compared with those with the non-risk allele, were significantly correlated with a reduction in FVC. This pattern was replicated in another 892 Korean adult samples. The current study reports the first GWIS discovery in an Asian population: the <I>BICD1</I> and <I>IL1RN-IL1F10</I> genes may contribute to the decrease in FVC levels by interacting with PM<SUB>10</SUB> exposure.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Significant interactions between <I>BICD1 or IL1RN-IL1F10</I> and PM<SUB>10</SUB> for FVC were found. </LI> <LI> The several SNPs in these genes were more susceptible to FVC decline by PM<SUB>10</SUB>. </LI> <LI> For FVC, these interaction effects were reproducible in another sample. </LI> </UL> </P>

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>

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Atrophic Gastritis and Intestinal Metaplasia in a Korean Population Without Significant Gastroduodenal Disease

Kim, Nayoung,Park, Young Soo,Cho, Sung-Il,Lee, Hye Seung,Choe, Gheeyoung,Kim, In Wook,Won, Yoo-Deok,Park, Ji Hyun,Kim, Joo Sung,Jung, Hyun Chae,Song, In Sung Wiley (Blackwell Publishing) 2008 Helicobacter Vol.13 No.4

<P>BACKGROUND AND AIM: The prevalence of gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori infection is unacceptably high in Korea. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) and to identify their risk factors with respect to H. pylori virulence factors, and environmental and host factors, in Korean population without significant gastroduodenal disease. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 389 subjects (> or = 16 years). AG and IM were scored histologically using the Sydney classification in the antrum and body, respectively. Prevalences and bacterial factors (i.e. cagA, vacA m1, and oipA), environmental factors (i.e. smoking and alcohol), and host factors (i.e. genetic polymorphisms of IL-1B-511, IL-1RN, TNF-A-308, IL-10-592, IL-10-819, IL-10-1082, IL-8-251, IL-6-572, GSTP1, p53 codon 72, and ALDH2) were evaluated. RESULTS: Prevalences of AG in the antrum and body were 42.5% and 20.1%, and those of IM were 28.6% and 21.2%, respectively. The presences of AG and IM were significantly higher in H. pylori-positive than in the H. pylori-negative subjects. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for AG were H. pylori infection, age > or = 61 years, and cagA and vacA m1 positivity. For IM the risk factors were H. pylori infection, age > or = 61 years, a smoking history (rather than current smoking), strong spicy food, occupation (unemployed or nonprofessional vs. professional), and the presence of IL10-592 C/A as opposed to A/A. In addition, IL6-572 G carrier was found to have a protective effect against IM development as compared with C/C. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection was most important risk factor of AG and IM. Bacterial factors were found to be important risk factor for AG but environmental and host factors were more important for IM.</P>