Monosodium urate crystal-induced triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 is associated with acute gouty inflammation

Lee, Jennifer,Lee, Seon-Young,Lee, Jaeseon,Lee, Juhyun,Baek, Seungye,Lee, Dong-Gun,Kim, Eun-Kyung,Lee, Sung Hak,Cho, Mi-La,Kwok, Seung-Ki,Ju, Ji Hyeon,Park, Sung-Hwan Oxford University Press 2016 Rheumatology Vol.55 No.1

<P>Objective. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1), which amplifies the inflammation elicited by the Toll-like receptor pathway, was originally implicated in sepsis and bacterial infection. However, it has been suggested that TREM-1 may also play an important role in non-infectious inflammation. The present study was conducted to investigate whether TREM-1 is involved in human acute gouty inflammation. Methods. A total of 37 gout patients were recruited between March 2011 and January 2014 from Seoul St Mary's Hospital. The expression of TREM-1 on mononuclear cells was assessed using FACS analysis, immunostaining and real-time RT-PCR. To block the TREM-1 signal, soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) or the synthetic blocking peptide LP17 was used. The concentration of sTREM-1 was assessed by ELISA. Results. FACS analysis and real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that TREM-1 expression was higher in the SF mononuclear cells of acute gouty arthritis patients than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Immunohistochemical staining of tophi tissues revealed TREM-1 expression, with confocal microscopy demonstrating TREM-1 expression on tophi tissue macrophages. We also demonstrated that MSU treatment induced TREM-1 expression on the PBMCs of acute gout patients in vitro. Although blockade of TREM-1 did not directly suppress MSU-induced IL-1 beta production of PBMCs in vitro, the concentration of soluble TREM-1 was higher in the SF of gout vs OA patients and was positively correlated with serum CRP. Conclusion. TREM-1 is induced by MSU and is associated with the inflammation of human acute gouty arthritis.</P>

Role of breast regression protein 39 (BRP-39)/chitinase 3-like-1 in Th2 and IL-13–induced tissue responses and apoptosis

Lee, Chun Geun,Hartl, Dominik,Lee, Gap Ryol,Koller, Barbara,Matsuura, Hiroshi,Da Silva, Carla A.,Sohn, Myung Hyun,Cohn, Lauren,Homer, Robert J.,Kozhich, Alexander A.,Humbles, Alison,Kearley, Jennifer The Rockefeller University Press 2009 The Journal of experimental medicine Vol.206 No.5

<P>Mouse breast regression protein 39 (BRP-39; Chi3l1) and its human homologue YKL-40 are chitinase-like proteins that lack chitinase activity. Although YKL-40 is expressed in exaggerated quantities and correlates with disease activity in asthma and many other disorders, the biological properties of BRP-39/YKL-40 have only been rudimentarily defined. We describe the generation and characterization of BRP-39<SUP>−/−</SUP> mice, YKL-40 transgenic mice, and mice that lack BRP-39 and produce YKL-40 only in their pulmonary epithelium. Studies of these mice demonstrated that BRP-39<SUP>−/−</SUP> animals have markedly diminished antigen-induced Th2 responses and that epithelial YKL-40 rescues the Th2 responses in these animals. The ability of interleukin13 to induce tissue inflammation and fibrosis was also markedly diminished in the absence of BRP-39. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that BRP-39 and YKL-40 play an essential role in antigen sensitization and immunoglobulin E induction, stimulate dendritic cell accumulation and activation, and induce alternative macrophage activation. These proteins also inhibit inflammatory cell apoptosis/cell death while inhibiting Fas expression, activating protein kinase B/AKT, and inducing Faim 3. These studies establish novel regulatory roles for BRP-39/YKL-40 in the initiation and effector phases of Th2 inflammation and remodeling and suggest that these proteins are therapeutic targets in Th2- and macrophage-mediated disorders.</P>

The Risk of Osteoporotic Fractures According to the FRAX Model in Korean Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lee, Jae Ho,Suh, Young Sun,Koh, Jung Hee,Jung, Seung-Min,Lee, Jennifer Jooha,Kwok, Seung-Ki,Ju, Ji Hyeon,Park, Kyung-Su,Park, Sung-Hwan The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 2014 JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE Vol.29 No.8

<P>The aim of the current study is to identify patients without osteoporosis who met the criteria of the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) only. The incidence of fractures was investigated in patients who met only the FRAX criteria of the NOF and patients who presented osteoporosis. Five hundred and forty five patients with rheumatoid arthritis who visited a single center were recruited in Korea. In the follow-up period of median 30 months, the new onset of fractures was investigated. Of 223 patients who have no osteoporosis, 39 (17.4%) satisfied the FRAX criteria for pharmacological intervention. During the follow-up period, 2 new onset fractures occurred in patients who met only the FRAX criteria and 22 new onset fractures did in patients with osteoporosis by bone mineral density. The incidence rate for new onset fractures of patients who met only the FRAX criteria was with 295.93 per 10,000 person-years higher than in the general population with 114.99 per 10,000 person-years. Patients who met the FRAX criteria of the NOF only need pharmacological intervention because their numbers of incidence for new onset fractures are similar to those of patients with osteoporosis by BMD.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P><P/>

New concepts in systemic rheumatic diseases that are registered as rare diseases in Korea

Lee, Jennifer Jooha,Park, Sung-Hwan Korean Medical Association (KAMJE) 2012 대한의사협회지 Vol.55 No.3

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell spheroid sheet accelerates regeneration of ulcerated oral mucosa by enhancing inherent therapeutic properties

Jennifer Sang-jee Lee,Se-Jeong Kim,최지숙,Min Rye Eom,Heungsoo Shin,Seong Keun Kwon 한국공업화학회 2020 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.91 No.-

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of transplantation of an adipose-derived stem cell(ASC) spheroid sheet on the regeneration of ulcerated oral mucosa. The ASC spheroid sheet wasconstructed by seeding three-dimensional (3D) spheroidal ASCs on a temperature-responsive hydrogel,where cell adhesion and spreading were improved by incorporatingfibronectin. The 3D culture of ASCsenhanced their inherent paracrine properties for up to 1 week after transferring to two-dimensional (2D)culture conditions. Expansion of the hydrogel through temperature change promoted effective deliveryof ASCs to the site of injury, and viability was maintained after transferring ASCs to the target substrate. Treatment with the ASC spheroid sheet accelerated wound closure and regeneration of the stratifiedmulti-layered epithelium. The regenerated epithelium not only had structural integrity, but alsodisplayed phenotypic polarization across the mucosa; basal epithelial cells expressed cytokeratin 5,whereas cytokeratin 13-positive cells were located in the supra-basal layers. In addition, by day 7 aftertreatment, the mucosa that received the ASC spheroid sheet had significantly decreased inflammation,similar to that of the normal mucosa. These results demonstrate that the ASC spheroid sheet is aneffective treatment for ulcers in the oral cavity.

Deliver knowledge or touch the mind? The effect of informational and emotional advertisement strategy on fashion sportswear brand attitude and recall

Jennifer J. Lee,LeslieDavisBurns 한국마케팅과학회 2014 Journal of Global Fashion Marketing Vol.5 No.2

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of advertisement strategy(informational, positive emotional, negative emotional) and brand awareness (high,low) on brand name recall and change in brand attitude. The study extends previousresearch by focusing on fashion sportswear brands and including personal involvement toward fashion sportswear as a moderating variable. Online survey participants were divided into two groups; one group viewed ads featuring high-awareness brands’ logos and the other viewed ads from a low-awareness brand. Results indicated that compared to informational ad strategy, emotional ad strategies led to greater change in brand attitude. Also, positive and negative change in brand attitude after viewing positive and negative emotional ads depended on the brand awareness. The findings of the present study emphasize the importance for brands of raising brand awareness and utilizing emotional advertisement strategies.

Translation and Validation of a Korean Version of the Xerostomia Inventory in Patients with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome

Lee, Jennifer,Koh, Jung Hee,Kwok, Seung-Ki,Park, Sung-Hwan The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 2016 JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE Vol.31 No.5

<P>This study was conducted to generate and validate a cross-culturally adapted Korean version of the xerostomia inventory (XI), an 11-item questionnaire designed to measure the severity of xerostomia. The original English version of the XI was translated into Korean according to the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality-of-life measures. Among a prospective cohort of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) in Korea, 194 patients were analyzed. Internal consistency was evaluated by using Cronbach’s alpha, and test-retest reliability was obtained by using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. Construct validity was investigated by performing a correlation analysis between XI total score and salivary flow rate (SFR). Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency was 0.868, and the ICC for test-retest reliability ranged from 0.48 to 0.827, with a median value of 0.72. Moderate negative correlations between XI score and stimulated SFR, unstimulated SFR, and differential (stimulated minus unstimulated) SFR were observed (Spearman’s rho, <I>ρ</I> = −0.515, −0.447, and −0.482, respectively; <I>P</I> < 0.001). The correlation analysis between the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of overall dryness and SFR indicated a smaller <I>ρ</I> value (−0.235 [<I>P</I> = 0.006], −0.243 [<I>P</I> = 0.002], and −0.252 [<I>P</I> = 0.003], respectively), which supports that XI more accurately reflects the degree of xerostomia in the pSS patients. In conclusion, the Korean version of the XI is a reliable tool to estimate the severity of xerostomia in patients with pSS.</P>

Visceral fat obesity is highly associated with primary gout in a metabolically obese but normal weighted population: a case control study

Lee, Jennifer,Lee, Ji-Yeon,Lee, Jae-Ho,Jung, Seung-Min,Suh, Young Sun,Koh, Jung-Hee,Kwok, Seung-Ki,Ju, Ji Hyeon,Park, Kyung-Su,Park, Sung-Hwan BioMed Central 2015 ARTHRITIS RESEARCH AND THERAPY Vol.17 No.-

<P><B>Introduction</B></P><P>Gout is a chronic inflammatory disease the development of which is associated with obesity-induced metabolic abnormalities. However, a substantial number of non-obese patients (body mass index [BMI] <25 kg/m<SUP>2</SUP>) also develop gout in Korea. It was suggested that accumulation of visceral fat rather than subcutaneous fat is associated with metabolic abnormalities and hyperuricemia in patients with gout; therefore, we hypothesized that visceral fat accumulation was increased in non-obese gout patients.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>One hundred and three male patients with primary gout and 204 age-matched healthy controls who attended a health check-up examination were recruited after the review of medical charts. The visceral fat area (VFA) was measured using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method, and a VFA >100 cm<SUP>2</SUP> was defined as visceral fat obesity (VFO). The frequency of VFO was compared in patients and control groups. The frequencies of metabolic syndrome and related parameters were also investigated.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>BMI, waist circumference, total fat mass, serum triglycerides, and serum glucose levels were significantly greater in patients compared with controls. VFA and the prevalence of VFO was increased in gout patients compared with controls. There were positive correlations between VFA and serum triglyceride levels and serum glucose levels. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that VFO is an independent risk factor for gout (odds ratio 2.488, 95% confidence interval 1.041–4.435). In non-obese subgroup analyses (gout patients, <I>n</I> = 38; healthy controls, <I>n</I> = 150), VFA (98.7 ± 19.3 vs. 91.0 ± 16.7, <I>P</I> = 0.016) and the frequency of VFO (47.4 vs. 27.3%, <I>P</I> = 0.017) remained significantly higher in gout patients. There was no difference in either BMI or total fat mass between patients and controls in the non-obese subgroup. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with gout was 31.7% (33/104), compared with 13.2% (5/38) in the non-obese subgroup according to modified ATP III criteria.</P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>VFO, measured using BIA, is observed more frequently in patients with primary gout compared with healthy controls, even in non-obese individuals. Therefore, VFO might more properly represent metabolic derangements in patients with gout than general obesity.</P>

[< 전시-P-94 >] Cytotoxic action of the supercritical fluid extract of P inus densiflora pine needle on B16F10 murine melanoma cells

( Jennifer J. Lee ),( Young-woong Choi ),( Thamizhiniyan Venkatesan ),( Young-kyoon Kim ) 韓國木材工學會 2017 한국목재공학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2017 No.1

Role of Fractalkine in the Pathogenesis of Primary Sjögren Syndrome: Increased Serum Levels of Fractalkine, Its Expression in Labial Salivary Glands, and the Association with Clinical Manifestations

Lee, Jae Ho,Kwok, Seung-Ki,Jung, Seung Min,Lee, Jennifer,Lee, Jae-Seon,Baek, Seung Ye,Kim, Eun-Kyung,Ju, Ji Hyeon,Park, Sung-Hwan,Kim, Ho-Youn Journal of Rheumatology 2014 The Journal of rheumatology Vol.41 No.12

<P><B>Objective.</B></P><P>To investigate the expression of fractalkine and identify the clinical effects of fractalkine and its receptor (CX3CR1) in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS).</P><P><B>Methods.</B></P><P>Serum fractalkine levels were determined by ELISA. Immunohistochemical staining was done to compare the expression of fractalkine and CX3CR1 between salivary glands (SG) of patients with SS and controls. The cells to be merged with fractalkine were evaluated by confocal microscopy. Type of CX3CR1-expressing cells among infiltrating lymphocytes in SG was analyzed by confocal microscopy. Further, associations among fractalkine, proinflammatory cytokines, and clinical profiles were investigated.</P><P><B>Results.</B></P><P>Serum fractalkine levels in patients with pSS were higher than those in the control group (p = 0.026). SG expression of fractalkine and its receptor was upregulated in patients with pSS compared to that in the controls by immunohistochemistry. Higher histological grade was associated with more fractalkine-positive cells per total epithelial cells. Epithelial cells were the main fractalkine-expressing cell type in the SG. Serum fractalkine levels were significantly correlated with proinflammatory cytokines levels (interleukin 17: r = 0.685, p = 0.029; tumor necrosis factor-α: r = 0.444, p = 0.003), antinuclear antibody (r = 0.349, p = 0.022), and immunoglobulin G levels (r = 0.325, p = 0.044). Serum fractalkine levels in patients with extraglandular manifestations of pSS were significantly higher than in those without extraglandular manifestations (p = 0.026).</P><P><B>Conclusion.</B></P><P>Fractalkine and CX3CR1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of pSS, including extraglandular manifestations.</P>