A Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitor Targeting the IL-6 Receptor β Subunit, Glycoprotein 130

Hong, Soon-Sun,Choi, Jung Ho,Lee, Sung Yoon,Park, Yeon-Hwa,Park, Kyung-Yeon,Lee, Joo Young,Kim, Juyoung,Gajulapati, Veeraswamy,Goo, Ja-Il,Singh, Sarbjit,Lee, Kyeong,Kim, Young-Kook,Im, So Hee,Ahn, Sun The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. 2015 JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Vol.195 No.1

<P>IL-6 is a major causative factor of inflammatory disease. Although IL-6 and its signaling pathways are promising targets, orally available small-molecule drugs specific for IL-6 have not been developed. To discover IL-6 antagonists, we screened our in-house chemical library and identified-LMT-28, a novel synthetic compound, as a candidate IL-6 blocker. The activity, mechanism of action, and direct molecular target of LMT-28 were investigated. A reporter gene assay showed that LMT-28 suppressed activation of STAT3 induced by IL-6, but not activation induced by leukemia inhibitory factor. In addition, LMT-28 downregulated IL-6-stimulated phosphorylation of STAT3, gp130, and JAK2 protein and substantially inhibited IL-6-dependent TF-1 cell proliferation. LMT-28 antagonized IL-6-induced TNF-alpha production in vivo. In pathologic models, oral administration of LMT-28 alleviated collagen-induced arthritis and acute pancreatitis in mice. Based on the observation of upstream IL-6 signal inhibition by LMT-28, we hypothesized IL-6, IL-6R alpha, or gp130 to be putative molecular targets. We subsequently demonstrated direct interaction of LMT-28 with gp130 and specific reduction of IL-6/IL-6R alpha complex binding to gp130 in the presence of LMT-28, which was measured by surface plasmon resonance analysis. Taken together, our data suggest that LMT-28 is a novel synthetic IL-6 inhibitor that functions through direct binding to gp130.</P>

Gene therapy of intracranial glioma using interleukin 12-secreting human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Ryu, Chung Heon,Park, Sang-Hoon,Park, Soon A,Kim, Seong Muk,Lim, Jung Yeon,Jeong, Chang Hyun,Yoon, Wan-Soo,Oh, Won-il,Sung, Young Chul,Jeun, Sin-Soo Mary Ann Liebert 2011 Human gene therapy Vol.22 No.6

<P>Clinical trials of gene therapy using a viral delivery system for glioma have been limited. Recently, gene therapy using stem cells as the vehicles for delivery of therapeutic agents has emerged as a new treatment strategy for malignant brain tumors. In this study, we used human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) as delivery vehicles with glioma-targeting capabilities, and modified interleukin-12 (IL-12p40N220Q; IL-12M) as a novel therapeutic gene. We also engineered UCB-MSCs to secret IL-12M (UCB-MSC-IL12M) via tetrameric cell-permeable peptide (4HP4)-mediated adenoviral transduction. We confirmed the migratory capacity of UCB-MSC-IL12M toward GL26 mouse glioma cells by an in vitro migration assay and in vivo injection of UCB-MSC-IL12M into the ipsilateral hemisphere of implanted gliomas in C57BL/6 mice. In vivo efficacy experiments showed that intratumoral injection of UCB-MSC-IL12M significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival of glioma-bearing mice compared with control mice. Antitumor effects were associated with increased local IL-12M levels, followed by interferon-γ secretion and T-cell infiltration in intracranial gliomas, as well as antiangiogenesis. Interestingly, tumor-free mice after UCB-MSC-IL12M treatment were resistant to ipsilateral and contralateral tumor rechallenge, which was closely associated with tumor-specific long-term T-cell immunity. Thus, our results provide the rationale for designing novel experimental protocols to induce long-term antitumor immunity against intracranial gliomas using UCB-MSCs as an effective delivery vehicle for therapeutic cytokines including IL-12M.</P>

Two-Track Medical Treatment Strategy According to the Clinical Scoring System for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Kim, Dong-Kyu,Kang, Seong Il,Kong, Il Gyu,Cho, Young Hoon,Song, Seul Ki,Hyun, Se Jin,Cho, Sung Dong,Han, Sang-Yoon,Cho, Seong-Ho,Kim, Dae Woo The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical 2018 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.10 No.5

<P><B>Purpose</B></P><P>The previously reported Japanese clinical scoring study (JESREC) suggests that chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can be divided into 4 subtypes according to the degree of eosinophilic CRS (ECRS) and offers the information regarding the prognosis of CRS to clinicians. However, this scoring system has not yet been validated by an immunological study and needs to provide treatment guidelines based on underlying immunologic profiles. We investigated the immunologic profile of each CRS subgroup according to the JESREC classification and suggest its clinical application.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>A total of 140 CRS patients and 20 control subjects were enrolled. All patients were classified into 4 groups according to the JESREC (non-, mild, moderate and severe ECRS). Nasal tissues were analyzed for mRNA expression of major cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23p19, IFN-γ, periostin, thymic stromal lymphopoietin [TSLP] and ST2), major chemokines (CCL11, CCL24, CXCL1 and CXCL2), transcription factors (T-bet, GATA3, RORC and FOXP3) and COL1A1 for type I collagen. Protein levels of 3 major cytokines (IL-5, IL-17A and IFN-γ) were also measured by multiplex immunoassay. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to investigate the overall profile of multiple mediators.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>The moderate/severe ECRS showed up-regulation of type 2-related mediators (IL-5, IL-13, periostin, TSLP and ST-2), whereas INF-γ (type 1 cytokine) and CXCL1 (neutrophil chemokine) expressions were increased in non-/mild ECRS compared with moderate/severe ECRS. The JESREC classification reflected an immunological endotype. In PCA data, PCA1 indicates a relative type 2 profile, whereas PCA2 represents a type 1/type 17-related profile. In this analysis, mild ECRS was indistinguishable from non-ECRS, whereas moderate to severe ECRS showed a distinct distribution compared with non-ECRS. The JESREC classification could be divided into 2 categories, non-/mild vs. moderate/severe ECRS based on underlying immunological analyses.</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>The CRS clinical scoring system from the JESREC study reflects an inflammatory endotype. However, the immunologic profile of mild ECRS was similar to that of non-ECRS. Therefore, we propose type 2-targeted medical treatment for moderate to severe ECRS and type 1/type 17-targeted for non-ECRS and mild ECRS as the first treatment option.</P>

Inhibitory Effect of Farfarae Flos Water Extract on COX-2, iNOS Expression and Nitric Oxide Production in lipopolysaccharide - activated RAW 264.7 cells

Yoon Tae Gyoung,Byun Boo Hyeong,Kwon Teag Kyu,Suh Seong Il,Byun Sung Hui,Kwon Young Kyu,Kim Sang Chan The Physiological Society of Korean Medicine and T 2004 동의생리병리학회지 Vol.18 No.3

Farfrae Flos has been clinically used for the treatment of asthma in traditional oriental medicine. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of Farfrae Flos on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Farfrae Flos on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. In Raw 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic inflammation, Farfrae Flos water extract inhibited nitric oxide production in a dose-dependent manner and abrogated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Farfrae Flos water extract did not affect on cell viability. To investigate the mechanism by which Farfrae Flos water extract inhibits iNOS and COX-2 gene expression, we examined the on the phospholylation of inhibitor κBα and production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Results provided evidence that Farfrae Flos inhibited the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor κBα in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that Farfrae Flos can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

Selective addition of CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ Th1 cells enhances generation of cytotoxic T cells by dendritic cells in vitro

Sung Hee Yoon,Sun Ok Yun,Jung Yong Park,Hee Yeun Won,Eun-Kyung Kim,Hyun-Jung Sohn,Hyun-Il Cho,김태규 생화학분자생물학회 2009 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.41 No.3

Increasing importance is being given to the stimulation of Th1 response in cancer immunotherapy because its presence can shift the direction of adaptive immune responses toward protective immunity. Based on chemokine receptor expression, CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells as Th1-type cells were investigated its capacity in monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation and polarization, and induction of antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were decreased to the basal level compared with high production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 in CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. Co-incubation of activated CD4+ or CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells with DC (CD4+/DC or CXCR3+CD4+/DC, respectively) particularly up-regulated IL-12 and CD80 expression compared with DC matured with TNF-α and LPS (mDC). Although there was no significant difference between the effects of the CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ and CD4+ T cells on DC phenotype expression, CXCR3+CD4+/DC in CTL culture were able to expand number of CD8+ T cells and increased frequencies of IFN-γ secreting cells and overall cytolytic activity against tumor antigen WT-1. These results demonstrated that the selective addition of CXCR3+ CCR4- CD4+ T cells to CTL cultures could enhance the induction of CTLs by DC in vitro, and implicated on a novel strategy for adoptive T cell therapy. Increasing importance is being given to the stimulation of Th1 response in cancer immunotherapy because its presence can shift the direction of adaptive immune responses toward protective immunity. Based on chemokine receptor expression, CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells as Th1-type cells were investigated its capacity in monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation and polarization, and induction of antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were decreased to the basal level compared with high production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 in CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. Co-incubation of activated CD4+ or CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ T cells with DC (CD4+/DC or CXCR3+CD4+/DC, respectively) particularly up-regulated IL-12 and CD80 expression compared with DC matured with TNF-α and LPS (mDC). Although there was no significant difference between the effects of the CXCR3+CCR4-CD4+ and CD4+ T cells on DC phenotype expression, CXCR3+CD4+/DC in CTL culture were able to expand number of CD8+ T cells and increased frequencies of IFN-γ secreting cells and overall cytolytic activity against tumor antigen WT-1. These results demonstrated that the selective addition of CXCR3+ CCR4- CD4+ T cells to CTL cultures could enhance the induction of CTLs by DC in vitro, and implicated on a novel strategy for adoptive T cell therapy.

Intermittent Fasting Modulates Immune Response by Generating Tregs via TGF-β Dependent Mechanisms in Obese Mice with Allergic Contact Dermatitis

( Sang-chul Han ),( Jung-il Kang ),( Youn Kyung Choi ),( Hye-jin Boo ),( Weon-jong Yoon ),( Hee-kyoung Kang ),( Eun-sook Yoo ) 한국응용약물학회 2024 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.32 No.1

People with obesity maintain low levels of inflammation; therefore, their exposure to foreign antigens can trigger an excessive immune response. In people with obesity or allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), symptoms are exacerbated by a reduction in the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and IL-10/TGF-β-modified macrophages (M2 macrophages) at the inflammatory site. Benefits of intermittent fasting (IF) have been demonstrated for many diseases; however, the immune responses regulated by macrophages and CD4⁺T cells in obese ACD animal models are poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated whether IF suppresses inflammatory responses and upregulates the generation of Tregs and M2 macrophages in experimental ACD animal models of obese mice. The IF regimen relieved various ACD symptoms in inflamed and adipose tissues. We showed that the IF regimen upregulates Treg generation in a TGF-β-dependent manner and induces CD4⁺T cell hypo-responsiveness. IF-M2 macrophages, which strongly express TGF-β and inhibit CD4⁺T cell proliferation, directly regulated Treg differentiation from CD4⁺T cells. These results indicate that the IF regimen enhances the TGF-β-producing ability of M2 macrophages and that the development of Tregs keeps mice healthy against ACD exacerbated by obesity. Therefore, the IF regimen may ameliorate inflammatory immune disorders caused by obesity.

Epstein-Barr Virus IL-10 Engages IL-10R1 by a Two-step Mechanism Leading to Altered Signaling Properties

Yoon, Sung Il,Jones, Brandi C.,Logsdon, Naomi J.,Harris, Bethany D.,Kuruganti, Srilalitha,Walter, Mark R. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bi 2012 The Journal of biological chemistry Vol.287 No.32

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase ${\alpha}$ is induced in ganglioside-stimulated brain astrocytes and contributes to inflammatory responses

Lee, Sang-Yoon,Kim, Bo-Kyung,Yoon, Sa-Rah,Kim, Yeon-Joo,Liu, Tian,Woo, Joo-Hong,Chwae, Yong-Joon,Joe, Eun-Hye,Jou, Il-O Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bion 2010 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.42 No.9

In brain tissue, astrocytes play defensive roles in central nervous system integrity by mediating immune responses against pathological conditions. Type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase ${\alpha}$ ($PIP5K{\alpha}$) that is responsible for production of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ($PI[4,5]P_2$) regulates many important cell functions at the cell surface. Here, we have examined whether $PIP5K{\alpha}$ is associated with astrocyte inflammatory responses. Gangliosides are releasable from damaged cell membranes of neurons and capable of inducing inflammatory responses. We found that treatment of primary cultured astrocytes with gangliosides significantly enhanced $PIP5K{\alpha}$ mRNA and protein expression levels. $PI(4,5)P_2$ imaging using a fluorescent tubby (R332H) expression as a $PI(4,5)P_2$-specific probe showed that ganglioside treatment increased $PI(4,5)P_2$ level. Interestingly, microRNA-based $PIP5K{\alpha}$ knockdown strongly reduced ganglioside-induced transcription of proinflammatory cytokines IL-$1{\beta}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$. $PIP5K{\alpha}$ knockdown also suppressed ganglioside-induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and the degradation of $l{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, indicating that $PIP5K{\alpha}$ knockdown interfered with the ganglioside-activated NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling. Together, these results suggest that $PIP5K{\alpha}$ is a novel inflammatory mediator that undergoes upregulation and contributes to immune responses by facilitating NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in ganglioside-stimulated astrocytes.

프로폴리스 및 발효 프로폴리스의 섭취가 BALB/c mice의 면역활성에 미치는 영향

김윤희(Yoon Hee Kim),권혁세(Hyuck-Se Kwon),김대환(Dae Hwan Kim),박일환(IL-Hwan Park),박상재(Sang-Jae Park),신현경(Hyun-Kyung Shin),김진경(Jin-Kyung Kim) 한국식품과학회 2008 한국식품과학회지 Vol.40 No.5

본 연구는 프로폴리스 추출물 및 발효 프로폴리스 추출물의 투여에 의한 면역활성에 미치는 영향을 검토하기 위하여 수행하였다. 프로폴리스 추출물 및 발효 프로폴리스 추출물을 체중 ㎏ 당 50, 100, 200 ㎎/㎏의 농도로 BALB/c 마우스에게 14일 동안 연속적으로 경구투여한 후, 이러한 시험물질 투여에 기인한 비장 림프구와 창자간막 림프구의 증식능, 림프구의 아집단 비율의 변화 및 사이토카인 분비능을 측정하였다. 또한 비장 림프구로부터 NK 세포를 분리하여 YAC-1 세포를 살해하는 NK 세포의 활성을 측정하였다. 그 결과 프로폴리스 및 발효 프로폴리스의 투여에 의해 비장 림프구와 창자간막 림프구의 T 림프구(CD³?) 비율이 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 이는 CD⁴?와 CD?? T 림프구 비율의 증가에 기인하였다. 비장 및 창자간막 림프절로부터 분리한 림프구의 증식능도 프로폴리스 및 발효 프로폴리스 투여에 의해 증가되는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. Th-1/Th-2 사인토카인 분비에 미치는 영향을 관찰한 결과 비장림프구에서는 발효 프로폴리스 추출물이 프로폴리스 추출물에 비하여 IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4의 분비를 증강시키는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 창자간막 림프구의 Th-2 사이토카인 분비증강은 고농도(200 ㎎/㎏)의 프로폴리스 및 발효 프로폴리스 추출물 투여군에서만 관찰되었다. 프로폴리스 및 발효 프로폴리스 투여에 의해 YAC-1 세포를 살해하는 NK 세포의 활성도 유의적으로 증가하였다. 이상의 결과로, 프로폴리스 및 발효 프로폴리스 추출물의 경구투여는 체내 면역기능을 증강 시킬 수 있는 면역조절제로서의 가능성을 가지는 것으로 사료된다. Propolis is the generic term for the resinous substance collected by honey bees from a variety of plant sources. In this study, we have assessed the immunomodulatory properties of propolis (P) and fermented-propolis (FP) in BALB/c mice. Mice were subjected to gavage once a day (for 14 days) with 50, 100, 200 ㎎/㎏ body weight P, FP, or vehicle. Lymphocytes were isolated from the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and the immune cell proportions, proliferative activities, and cytokine production were evaluated. The P- and FP-administration induced similar, but differential, alterations in the percentage of immune cell populations and their biological functions, including cytokine production and NK cell cytotoxicity. The proportion of CD⁴? and CD?? T cells in the spleen was increased slightly in the P- and FP-administered mice as compared to the vehicle-treated mice. In MLN, the percentage of CD⁴? T cells was increased significantly in the 200 ㎎/㎏ P-treated mice. The mice which were treated with P and FP evidenced significantly increased interferon-γ and interleukin-4 production in concanavalin A-stimulated splenocytes, whereas the production of theses cytokines was not shown to be induced by P-treatment. In addition, NK cell activity was also increased dramatically by the administration of P and FP. Collectively, these findings showed that P and FP are widespectrum immunomodulators, which may modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses.

아토피 피부염 모델에 대한 β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 Lactobacillus plantarum LM1004의 면역 조절 효과

김인성(In Sung Kim),김성학(Sung Hak Kim),김정아(Jeong A Kim),유다윤(Da Yoon Yu),김광일(Gwang Il Kim),박동찬(Dong-Chan Park),임종민(Jong Min Lim),이상석(Sang Suk Lee),최인순(In Soon Choi),조광근(Kwang Keun Cho) 한국생명과학회 2018 생명과학회지 Vol.28 No.1

본 연구에서는 아토피 피부염 동물 모델에 대한 β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 L. plantarum LM1004의 면역조절 효과를 확인하고자 하였다. 가려움증의 횟수와 유출된 evans blue, 그리고 혈청 IgE와 histamine의 농도는 β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 L. plantarum LM1004를 섭취한 그룹에서 아토피 피부염 유발그룹에 비해 유의적으로 감소하는 결과를 나타내었다. 아토피 피부염이 유발되면 전사 수준에서 Th2 및 Th17 세포의 전사인자 및 cytokine은 과발현되며, β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 L. plantarum LM1004를 섭취하였을 때 이를 유의적으로 감소되었다. 또한 β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 L. plantarum LM1004는 Th1 및 Treg 세포의 전사인자(T-bet, GATA-3, RORγT, Foxp3) 및 cytokine (INF-γ, IL-4, IL-17, TGF-β)의 발현을 증가시킴으로써 면역 균형을 조절하는 것으로 나타났다. Galectin-9과 filaggrin은 아토피 피부염 유발 처리군에서 유의적으로 가장 낮았으며, β-1,3/1,6-glucan 처리군에서 유의적으로 가장 높게 나타났다. 이와 반대로 TSLP는 아토피 피부염 유발그룹에서 유의적으로 가장 높았으며 β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 L. plantarum LM1004를 섭취한 그룹은 대조군과 유사한 수준이었다. 이러한 결과를 통해 β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 L. plantarum LM1004는 아토피 피부염 동물 모델에서 면역조절 작용 및 아토피 피부염의 개선 효과를 가짐을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 β-1,3/1,6-glucan과 L. plantarum LM1004는 아토피 피부염에 유용한 천연소재로서 사용될 것으로 기대된다. In this study, we examined the efficacy of the immune regulation of β-1,3/1,6-glucan and Lactobacillus plantarum LM1004 on atopic dermatitis models. The oral administration of β-1,3/1,6-glucan and L. plantarum LM1004 on mice significantly decreased the amount of scratching, leakage to evans blue, and concentrations of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine compared with the atopic dermatitis–induced group. When atopic dermatitis was induced, the transcription factors (GATA-3, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ T [RORγT]) and cytokines (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-17) of Th2 and Th17 cells were overexpressed at the transcriptional level, and they significantly decreased with oral administration of β-1,3/1,6-glucan and L. plantarum LM1004. In addition, β-1,3/1,6-glucan and L. plantarum LM1004 were shown to modulate the immune balance by increasing the expression of Th1 and Treg transcription (T-bet, forkhead box p3 [Foxp3]) and cytokines (interferon-γ [IFN-γ], transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β]). Galectin-9 and filaggrin were significantly lower in the atopic dermatitis–induced group and significantly higher in the β-1,3/1,6-glucan-treated group. In contrast, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) was highest in the atopic dermatitis–induced group, while mice that were orally administered β-1,3/1,6-glucan and L. plantarum LM1004 showed similar TSLP levels to the control group. These results indicate that β-1,3/1,6-glucan and L. plantarum LM1004 have immunomodulatory effects and atopic dermatitis improvement effects in an animal model of atopic dermatitis. Therefore, it is expected that β-1,3/1,6-glucan and L. plantarum LM1004 can be used as natural materials in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.