Dae-Gyoo Byun

Enhanced IL-18 expression in common skin tumors

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) has been found to have multiple effects upon various cells involved in inflammatory response. Recently we reported that B16 murine melanoma cells are able to produce IL-18, which is involved in the regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and Fas-ligand expression, indicating that IL-18 plays key role in the tumor activity of melanoma. In this study, we investigated the pattern of IL-18 expression in the human system. IL-18 production was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay in various tumor cell lines, including Raji (Burkitts lymphoma), IM-9 (B lymphoblast), Jurkat (acute T cell leukemia), SK-MES-1 (squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell line), SK-MEL-2, G-361, DM-4, and DX-3 (melanoma cell lines). ELISA tests showed that IL-18 was highly expressed in malignant skin tumors such as SK-MES-1, SK-MEL-2, G-361, DM-4, and DX-3 cell lines, thus suggesting that IL-18 production may be associated with the malignancy of skin tumors. Here, we report that enhanced IL-18 expression is positively correlated with malignant skin tumors such as SCC and melanoma, suggesting the importance role of IL-18 in malignancy of skin tumors. Taken together, expression of IL-18 by tumor cells in human skin tissue may provide an important clue to understand the pathogenesis of malignant skin tumors.

Detection and differentiation of causative fungi of onychomycosis using PCR amplification and restriction enzyme analysis

Background Onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection, has become one of the most important dermatophytoses. Unfortunately, a predictably successful diagnostic approach to onychomycosis does not yet exist.

Spontaneous expression of mRNA for IL-10, GM-CSF, TGF-β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from atopic dermatitis

Background Monocytes and T helper cells play major roles in the immunologic dysfunction of atopic dermatitis (AD). There have been many studies on the cytokine pattern to evaluate abnormalities of immune cells in AD, but the results were conflicting and most of these previous reports were performed with various mitogen-stimulation. Objective The purpose was to investigate de novo cytokine pattern in AD peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We focused on the expression of cytokines that have effects on monocytes and T cells. Methods We measured mRNA expression of IL-10, GM-CSF, TGF-β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in freshly isolated PBMC with semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The intensity of cytokine cDNA were normalized to that of β-actin product as a standard marker. Results Interleukin-10 mRNA expression was significantly enhanced in AD compared with control subjects ( P P Conclusion Our data could represent in vivo cytokine expression state associated with monocytes and other immune cells. Increased expression of IL-10 and GM-CSF may be associated with monocyte dysfunction in AD although increase in the expression of GM-CSF mRNA was not statistically significant. Inhibitory effect of increased IL-10 was suggested on decreased expression of TNF-α mRNA. The role of TGF-β in AD remains to be seen.

Minor cutaneous features of atopic dermatitis in South Korea.

Background Minor cutaneous features are important in atopic dermatitis (AD) because they are related to the ethnic or genetic background and to the etiopathogenesis of the disease other than atopic allergy. In addition, they can be used as auxiliary diagnostic criteria in patients with uncertain major features. It is our experience that our AD patients have characteristic features that have not been described previously in the literature.

Effects of substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide on interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 production in severe atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND Recent studies have demonstrated that two T cell-derived lymphokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). It is known that neuropeptides, such as substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), have various immunomodulatory effects. Elevated levels of these neuropeptides and increased staining of SP positive nerve fibers have been reported in AD patients. OBJECTIVE The study was designed to examine the effects of SP and VIP on the production of IFN-gamma and IL-4. The aim of the study was to establish whether these neuropeptides acted to affect cytokine release in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of AD patients. METHODS The effects of SP and VIP on the production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in phytohemagglutinin stimulated PBMC cultures over a 48-hour period were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 15 AD patients. Non-atopic individuals were used as a control group. RESULTS Base cytokine profiles of AD patients showed significantly decreased IFN-gamma and increased IL-4 when weighed against non-atopic controls. Compared with controls, SP had a significant percentage enhancing effect on both IFN-gamma and IL-4 production at concentrations of 10(-8) M and 10(-6) M, however, this IFN-gamma up-regulatory effect of SP was reversed by spantide, a SP antagonist. The ratios of IFN-gamma: IL-4 production were significantly elevated in the SP treated AD group. Although VIP had no specific noticeable effects on the IFN-gamma and IL-4 production. CONCLUSIONS Our data may suggest that SP has an influence on the immunomodulation of AD patient by regulating IFN-gamma production, either directly or indirectly. Vasoactive intestinal peptide, on the other hand, has no modulatory effects on the cytokine production of AD patients.