Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H B Moon

Publications and source records attributed to H B Moon.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Occupational asthma caused by two herb materials, Dioscorea batatas and Pinellia ternata.

There have been very few cases of occupational allergies caused by herb materials. In this paper, we report a case of occupational asthma and rhinitis caused by two herb materials, Dioscorea batatas and Pinellia ternata, which are known as Sanyak and Banha respectively. The patient had strong positive responses to grass pollens and cat fur, as well as to Sanyak and Banha extracts on skin-prick tests. Bronchoprovocation tests showed a dual asthmatic response to Sanyak whereas only an early asthmatic response to Banha. Serum specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies to Sanyak were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) but there was no specific IgE antibody binding to Banha. In order to further characterize the allergenic component of these extracts, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electroblotting studies were also performed. Three IgE binding components (29,000, 57,000, 63,000 Da) were detected within the Sanyak extracts, but no IgE-binding component was noted within the Banha extracts. It is suggested that Sanyak can induce IgE-mediated bronchoconstriction in an exposed worker. Further studies are needed to investigate the pathogenetic mechanism triggered by Banha.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Antigenic relationship between mugwort and ragweed pollens by crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

Mugwort and ragweed pollens have been considered as important respiratory allergens in Korea. These two pollens are abundant in the air of Seoul from August through October. Many ragweed-sensitive patients have shown concurrent sensitivities to mugwort pollen. However the antigenic relationship between these two pollens has not been clarified. To observe the cross-reactivity between them, we developed polyclonal anti-mugwort and anti-ragweed antibodies by immunization on New Zealand white rabbits, and performed crossed immunoelectrophoresis(CIE) with two pollen extracts. Five precipitation lines were formed by mugwort and anti-mugwort antibody. One precipitation line was formed by ragweed and anti-ragweed antibody. There was no reaction from mugwort and anti-ragweed antibody, and from ragweed and anti-mugwort antibody. These results indicate that there is no cross-antigenicity between mugwort and ragweed pollens.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Detection of the H1-j strain of Salmonella typhi among Korean isolates by the polymerase chain reaction.

Salmonella typhi, the etiologic agent of typhoid fever, typically has only a phase-1 flagellar antigen, H1-d (fliC). While most strains of S. typhi have H1-d antigen, 10-20% of Indonesian isolates have been reported to possess H1-j antigen instead. To investigate the presence H1-j strains of S. typhi isolates in Korea, where typhoid fever is still a common infectious problem, we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a pair of oligonucleotides primers that specifically amplified the flagellin gene of S. typhi. Of 375 isolates of S. typhi tested, only one was shown to possess the H1-j antigen, which was shown by the presence of a 1,269-basepair fragment on agarose gel electrophoresis after the PCR. The isolate with the H1-j antigen was cultured from a Korean-Indonesian man who was already symptomatic in Indonesia and was thought to be an Indonesian strain. Because 375 strains tested in this study were collected from cases with typhoid fever in different regions of Korea during the period from 1986 to 1991, it could be concluded that the mutation rate to j antigen is negligible among S. typhi endemic in Korea.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1993

Intracellular induction pathways for CD23 antigen and surface immunoglobulins in human tonsillar B cells: the roles of protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase-mediated signals.

The expression of CD23 on human tonsillar B cells is increased following treatment with interleukin 4 (IL-4) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), while that of surface immunoglobulins (sIgs) is increased by IL-4 but decreased by TPA. This suggests that the signaling by these effectors may result from distinct second messenger-generating systems. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the signal transduction pathways responsible for the expression of CD23 and sIgs by using different protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors. Our results showed that B cells expressed varying amounts of sIgs depending on different activators and inhibitors. Sphingosine, a PKC inhibitor, almost completely reversed the TPA-induced decrease in sIgM and sIgD expression. Other PKC inhibitors, e.g., H7 and staurosporine, had similar but less profound effects. In comparison, the up-regulation of CD23 by IL-4 and TPA was only partially blocked by these PKC inhibitors. TK inhibitors, such as herbimycin A and genistein, decreased both the IL-4- and TPA-induced CD23 expression by 50-80%, but had modest effects on sIgs expression. These findings indicate that CD23 and sIgs expression is regulated by independent pathways; PKC is important for the regulation of sIgs expression while the signals through TK pathways might play the major role in CD23 expression.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1993

Detection of Salmonella typhi in the blood of patients with typhoid fever by polymerase chain reaction.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test was developed for the detection of Salmonella typhi in the blood specimens from patients with typhoid fever. Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a 343-bp fragment of the flagellin gene of S. typhi. Amplified products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization by using a 32P-labeled 40-base probe internal to the amplified DNA. The nested PCR with two pairs of primers could detect 10 organisms of S. typhi as determined by serial dilutions of DNA from S. typhi. The peripheral mononuclear cells from 11 of 12 patients with typhoid fever confirmed by blood culture were positive for DNA fragment of the flagellin gene of S. typhi, whereas 10 blood specimens of patients with other febrile diseases were negative. With the nested PCR, S. typhi DNAs were detected from blood specimens of four patients with suspected typhoid fever on the basis of clinical features but with negative cultures. We suggest that the PCR technique could be used as a novel diagnostic method of typhoid fever, particularly in culture-negative cases.

Bacteremia↗
PubMed1992

Clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Korea. Lymphoreticular Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists.

This study sponsored by the Lymphoreticular Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists was carried out to provide nationwide data about the histopathologic-immunophenotypic features of malignant lymphomas in Korea. Two hundred and ninety Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) among 312 malignant lymphomas collected from three representative areas in Korea were histologically reclassified. Two hundred and fifty three cases were immunohistochemically studied. T-cell lymphoma comprised 35.2% of NHL in this study and showed a quite comparable incidence to that of Japan and China, but it was much higher than in Western countries. A very low prevalence rate of the follicular variety (4.0%) and a higher propensity of primary extranodal involvement (60%) are additional characteristics of NHL in Korea. The most common histologic subtype of B cell lymphoma was diffuse large cell type, whereas the most common subtype of T cell lymphoma was diffuse mixed small and large cell type.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The effect of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens on proliferation and CD23 antigen expression of peripheral blood lymphocytes from atopic patients.

The low affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of IgE synthesis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the responses to in vitro stimulation by allergen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; D.p) and/or interleukin-4 (IL-4) of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) isolated from atopic and non-atopic subjects. IL-4 induced up to 5 fold increase in CD23 expression on PBLs from both atopic patients and normal controls, whereas the D.p extract increased CD23 expression on cells from 7 of 8 atopic donors and from 2 of 8 normal controls. The combination of IL-4 and allergen had an additive effect of CD23 expression. PBLs from 6 of 8 atopic patients but 1 of 8 normal controls showed significant proliferative responses to D.p extract whereas IL-4 did not induce any cell proliferation. The dose of D.p extract required for the maximal CD23 expression was 20 fold higher than that for cell proliferation. These results imply that allergen stimulation, presumably through proliferating allergen specific T cells which secrete IL-4, activates B cells from most atopic donors and a few non-atopic donors resulting in increased CD23 expression. This allergen-mediated CD23 expression may play an important role in specific IgE production.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

Type III hypersensitivity reaction in mushroom growers.

Some respiratory symptoms in mushroom growers such as mushroom worker's lung develop by inhalation of certain agents arising from the environment of mushroom cultivation. Recently we observed mushroom workers who had respiratory symptoms which might be type III hypersensitivity reaction to the antigen of Pleurotus floridae. We gave questionnaires to all the mushroom growers at one of the biggest cultivation areas of mushrooms, Pleurotus floridae in Pocheon, Kyunggi Province. Those with respiratory symptoms were subjects for the study. CBC, chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, skin test with Pleurotus floridae extract, and precipitin antibody test to Pleurotus floridae were performed in the study subjects. Out of a total 308 mushroom workers, 23 workers (14 males, 9 females) had respiratory symptoms. Their mean age was 45 years, and their mean duration of engagement was 3.4 years. Their main symptoms were cough (100%), sputum (82.6%), dyspnea (43.5%), and fever with chills (13.0%). Two cases showed increased interstitial lung markings on chest X-ray films. Sixteen cases (73.9%) showed precipitin antibodies against P. floridae extract by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Antibodies against Micropolyspora faeni and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris were not detected in any subject.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Regulation of murine lymphokine production in vivo. Ultraviolet radiation exposure depresses IL-2 and enhances IL-4 production by T cells through an IL-1-dependent mechanism.

The exposure of experimental animals to the inflammatory effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to cause depressions in their ability to initiate and effectuate various types of cellular immune responses. Contact-type and delayed-type hypersensitivity, plus the ability to generate protective forms of anti-viral and anti-tumor immunity, are all affected by the prior exposure of normal animals to the effects of this physical agent. Presently, the cellular and molecular mechanism(s) responsible for mediating the changes in immune function observed in UVR-exposed animals is not fully understood. Herein we report that one reproducible consequence of exposing normal mice to low doses of UVR is a dramatic change in the pattern of lymphokines secreted by their activated T cells. Lymphocytes isolated from UVR-exposed donors produce/secrete greatly reduced levels of the T cell lymphokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma activation in vitro with protein Ag of the polyclonal T cell stimulant anti-CD3. The secretion of IL-4 by these lymphocyte cultures, however, is consistently elevated in comparison to normal controls. Further studies determined that a similar change in lymphokine production was induced when mice were treated with either bacterial LPS or rIL-1 beta, a cytokine known to be elevated in vivo after UVR or LPS exposure. The ability of IL-1 to facilitate a change in the capacity of T lymphocytes to produce/secrete lymphokines after in vitro activation does not appear to represent a direct effect of this cytokine on lymphocyte or accessory cell targets because addition of IL-1 beta to cultures of Ag-primed lymphocytes obtained from normal donors was incapable of altering the pattern of lymphokine production. Collectively, our present results add further support to the hypothesis that UVR-induced elevations in endogenous IL-1 are, in part, responsible for the immunomodulatory effects of UVR. These findings provide compelling evidence that UVR, plus other agents capable of endogenously stimulating the production of IL-1, may function to alter the expression of different effector mechanisms in vivo. This could be facilitated through selective reductions in lymphokines produced by Th-1-type cells (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and a simultaneous augmentation in a lymphokine produced by Th-2-type cells (IL-4).

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Regulation of IgG1 and IgE synthesis by interleukin 4 in mouse B cells.

Mouse interleukin 4 (IL-4) has been shown to act on B cells as an induction factor for Ig class switch. We studied the characteristics of IL-4-regulated Ig isotype production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenic B-cell cultures with emphasis on the comparison between the IgG1 and IgE responses. The results show that the kinetics for the appearance of IgG1 and IgE isotypes are similar, but that the dose of IL-4 required for the induction of an IgE response is 3-10 times higher than that for an IgG1 response. No requirement for T cells was found for the induction of either isotype. Pre-incubation of cells for 24 h with IL-4 alone was sufficient to induce an IgG1 response when cells were recultured with LPS from days 1 to 6. However, the simultaneous presence of both IL-4 and LPS for at least 24 h was required for a detectable IgE response. For an optimal IgE response, IL-4 needed to be present for more than 72 h in LPS-activated cultures. The possible reasons for the different regulation of IgG1 and IgE responses are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide in different phases of Korean hemorrhagic fever.

Korean hemorrhagic fever (KHF) is an epidemic viral disease characterized by high fever, hemorrhagic tendency and renal failure, and by hemorrhages of right atrium and renal medulla as well as necrosis of anterior hypophysis. Plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (irANP) levels of 15 patients in the oliguric phase was 94.8 +/- 8.4 pg/ml (mean +/- SEM), 80% higher than of the normal control group (53.0 +/- 4.7 pg/ml; n = 28). In the diuretic phase it declined to 63.7 +/- 5.3 pg/ml (n = 26). Plasma renin activity (PRA) in the oliguric phase was 19.0 +/- 1.3 ng AI/ml/h, and in the diuretic phase 5.3 +/- 0.9 ng AI/ml/h, significantly higher than the control value (2.5 +/- 0.1 ng AI/ml/h). Elevations of irANP and PRA were not correlated in each group. Also systemic blood pressure as well as heart beats were significantly increased in the oliguric phase. These findings suggest that the increased irANP may have resulted from increased circulatory volume and that the ANP secretory process may not be affected by the disease.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1988

Interleukin 4 instructs uncommitted B lymphocytes to switch to IgG1 and IgE.

Mouse interleukin 4 (IL 4) is a T cell-produced lymphokine with multiple effects on different cells types of the hematopoietic lineages. IL 4 has pronounced effects on B lymphocytes, where it induces high levels of IgG1 and IgE secretion in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cultures that would otherwise secrete predominantly IgG3 and IgG2b (of the non-IgM isotypes). An important question is how IL 4 exerts its effect. Two main possibilities exist: (a) IL 4 instructs uncommitted B lymphocytes to IgG1 and IgE production; (b) IL 4 selects and expands an already precommitted B cell. In this study we show, by the use of limiting dilution analysis, that IL 4 dramatically increases the precursor frequency of IgG1 and IgE-secreting cells with no significant effect on the clone size, clearly suggesting that IL 4 instructs uncommitted B cells to switch to IgG1 and IgE. The fraction of total Ig precursors that can switch to the two isotypes is furthermore high. The high precursor frequency for IgE obtained in the presence of IL 4 further demonstrates that IL 4 is an important modulator of IgE responses.

Animals↗