Jin-Wou Kim

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.

Interleukin-10 haplotype associated with total serum IgE in atopic dermatitis patients.

Background:  The genetic background of atopic dermatitis (AD) is not clearly understood. Interleukin (IL)‐10 is a powerful Th‐2 cell cytokine produced by lymphoid cells that exerts its function by inhibiting macrophage/monocyte and T‐cell lymphocyte replication and secretion of inflammatory cytokines [IL‐1, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNFA), IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐12].

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by itraconazole

mones and pregnancy have been reported to either improve or exacerbate autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune bttllous diseases also are modulated by pregnancy. Herpes gestat ions occurs during pregnancy and puerperium, and pemphigus vulgaris can develop or be exacerbated during pregnancy or immediately postpartum. 9 On the other hand, patients with linear IgA disease improve during pregnancy. 10 Although one patient has been discussed in whom E B A developed on the second day after her third delivery, 11 there are few observations on the influence of pregnancy on EBA. In our patient, the onset o f EB A in connection with systemic estrogen and progesterone treatment and the exacerbation in her first month of gestation and during the luteal phase o f her menstrual cycle implicate progesterone as a key factor. Another possibility is that hormonal factors accelerate not the autoimmune response but bulla formation through, for example, augmentation of protease activity.

Distribution of HLA‐A, B alleles and polymorphisms of TAP and LMP genes in Korean patients with atopic dermatitis

Background Atopic dermatitis has been seen to result from multifactorial inheritance, with interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The genetic association may differ according to the ethnic backgrounds.

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.

Extramammary Paget’s disease in Korea: its association with gastrointestinal neoplasms

BackgroundExtramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) most commonly occurs in the perineal and genital areas of elderly people. The current treatment of choice is adequate surgical excision.Materials and methodsBetween 1990 and 2007, 28 patients (27 men and one woman) with EMPD were treated at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, by wide local excision (WLE) with a 2- to 3-cm normal skin margin. “Carcinoma in situ” (CIS) was defined as confinement of Paget cells to the epithelium, whereas “invasive carcinoma” was defined as infiltration of Paget cells into more than dermal connective tissue.ResultsOf the 28 lesions, 21 (75%) were located in the penoscrotal area. Six (21.4%) patients had associated gastrointestinal neoplasms, three with associated gastrointestinal malignancies and four with synchronous colorectal adenomas, including one with both. Surgical procedures included WLE with primary repair in 13 patients (46.4%), WLE with skin graft in 12 (42.9%), WLE with skin graft and Gracilis muscle transposition in two (7.1%), and combined abdominoperineal resection and distal gastrectomy in one (3.6%). Four patients (14.3%) also underwent inguinal lymph node dissection, with three found to have lymph node metastases. Of 11 patients with invasive carcinoma, three (27.3%) had lymph node metastases, compared with none of 17 patients with CIS. Patients with lymph node metastases showed a significantly lower disease-specific survival rate (P = 0.008). Patients with invasive carcinoma tended to have a lower disease-specific survival rate (P = 0.087).ConclusionsEMPD in Korea showed an absolute male predominance and an association with gastrointestinal neoplasms. Lymph node metastasis significantly affected, and depth of invasion tended to affect, disease-specific survival rate.

Efficacy validation of synthesized retinol derivatives in vitro: Stability, toxicity, and activity

Retinol (vitamin A) is used as an antiwrinkle agent in the cosmetics industry. However, its photo-instability makes it unsuitable for use in general cosmetic formulations. To improve the photo-stability of retinol, three derivatives (3, 4, and 5) were synthesized and their biological activities were analyzed. 1H NMR and HPLC analysis indicated that derivatives 3 and 5 were much more stable than retinol under our sunlight exposure conditions. When human adult fibroblasts were treated, the IC(50) of derivative 3 was 96 microM, which is similar to that of retinol, as determined by the MTT assay. Derivatives 4 and 5 were 2.5 and 8 times more toxic than retinol, respectively. At 1 microM treatment, like retinol, derivatives 3 and 4 were specifically active for RARalpha out of six retinoid receptors (RAR/RXRalpha, beta, gamma). Dose-dependent analysis confirmed that derivative 4 was as active as retinol and the other two derivatives were less active for RARalpha. The effect of our derivatives on the expression of collagenase, an indicator of wrinkle formation, was measured using the transient co-expression of c-Jun and RT-PCR in HaCaT cells. Collagenase promoter activity, which is increased by c-Jun expression, was reduced 42% by retinol treatment. The other derivatives inhibited collagenase promoter activity similarly. These results were further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis of the collagenase gene. Taken together, our results suggest that retinol derivative 3 is a promising antiwrinkle agent based on its higher photo-stability, lower RARalpha activity (possibly indicating reduced side effects), and similar effect on collagenase expression.

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.

Perception of men with androgenetic alopecia by women and nonbalding men in Korea: how the nonbald regard the bald

Background Baldness has significant negative psychosocial effects. It has been asserted that the negative effects of baldness are often trivialized by the nonbald. Most studies concerning the perception of baldness have focused on the perceptions of the bald by themselves. In this study, we assessed the perception of baldness by the nonbald in Korea.

Expression of T cell receptor Vβ chain in lesional skin of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disorder characterized by local infiltration of T cells. To date, numerous reports have shown that Staphylococcus aureus may exacerbate atopic dermatitis, and superantigens produced by this organism are thought to be one of the major causative factors in atopic dermatitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of staphylococcal superantigen in atopic dermatitis by observing expression of the variable region of beta chain of T cell receptor (TCR V beta) in the inflammatory cells infiltrating cutaneous lesions of atopic dermatitis. Fourteen patients with atopic dermatitis were enrolled. Punch biopsy specimens were obtained from lesional and normal-appearing skin of all patients. The expression of TCR V beta was studied by means of immunohistochemical technique using monoclonal antibodies. In 4 out of 14 patients, the tendencies of preferential expression of specific TCR V beta were found in lesional skin. This study suggested that staphylococcal superantigen and its corresponding T cell subsets may act as causative or pathogenic factors in a subgroup of atopic dermatitis.