Biomedical subjects

H Y Kim

Publications and source records attributed to H Y Kim.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Determination of substrate preference in phosphatidylserine decarboxylation by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A method has been developed to determine the substrate preference in phosphatidylserine decarboxylation (PSD), the process by which phosphatidylserine is converted to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the mitochondria. The in vitro assay utilized liposomes containing deuterium-labeled PS molecular species incubated with liver and brain cortex mitochondria, and the conversion of PS to the corresponding PE species was monitored by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in conjunction with reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Employing this approach we were able to establish for the first time that there exists a substrate preference in PSD in liver (18:0,18:1 > or = 18:0,22:6 > 18:0,20:4-PS) and brain cortex (18:0,22:6 > 18:0,18:1 > 18:0,20:4-PS). The observed PSD molecular species preference, however, did not reflect the mitochondrial PE profile, suggesting that selectivity in other processes such as de novo PE synthesis, intracellular transport of phospholipid molecules, or remodeling by deacylation-reacylation may be important contributors in maintaining a specific lipid profile in mitochondria.

Carboxy-Lyases↗

PubMed2001

Molecular cloning and cultivar specific expression of MAP kinases from Capsicum annuum.

Two MAP kinases, MK1 and MK2, were cloned from Capsicum annuum (pepper) cv. Subicho using a parsley MAP kinase gene as a heterologous probe. MK1 and MK2 encode stress-inducible protein kinases that can contribute to the response to wounding, UV-C, and cold. MK1 has a 92% amino acid identity with WIPK of tobacco. It was transcriptionally induced in response to wounding. In contrast, no detectable MK1 transcript was found in unwounded leaves of pepper. MK2 has a high level of amino acid homology to MAP kinases, such as NTF4 and SIPK and was constitutively expressed in all tissues. Both MK transcripts were downregulated by UV-C treatment. Each MK protein activation was independently wound-inducible in a cultivar dependent manner. MK1 is phosphorylated in cv. Pungchon but not cv. Subicho; whereas, the MK2 protein activation by wounding is restricted to cv. Subicho. In addition, de novo synthesis of the MK1 protein and tyrosine phosphorylation was rapidly and transiently induced in cv. Pungchon by wounding. In contrast, it is highly unlikely that the MK1 protein is produced in cv. Subicho, even though there is an abundant expression of MK1 mRNA after wounding in this cultivar. In Escherichia coli, which overexpresses MK1, autophosphorylation is observed at conserved threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Structural basis for the inactivation of retinoblastoma tumor suppressor by SV40 large T antigen.

Inactivation of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor by Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen is one of the central features of tumorigenesis induced by SV40. Both the N-terminal J domain and the LxCxE motif of large T antigen are required for inactivation of Rb. The crystal structure of the N-terminal region (residues 7-117) of SV40 large T antigen bound to the pocket domain of Rb reveals that large T antigen contains a four-helix bundle, and residues from helices alpha2 and alpha4 and from a loop containing the LxCxE motif participate in the interactions with Rb. The two central helices and a connecting loop in large T antigen have structural similarities with the J domains of the molecular chaperones DnaJ and HDJ-1, suggesting that large T antigen may use a chaperone mechanism for its biological function. However, there are significant differences between large T antigen and the molecular chaperones in other regions and these differences are likely to provide the specificity needed for large T antigen to inactivate Rb.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Preventing labyrinthitis ossificans: the role of steroids.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a possible relationship between the administration of steroids at the time of diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and the development of labyrinthitis ossificans. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the charts of 38 children requiring cochlear implantation who presented with bacterial meningitis and then developed bilateral profound deafness. The patients' charts were reviewed for age at diagnosis, the type of antibiotic administered, and the administration, dosage, and duration of steroid (dexamethasone) therapy. Labyrinthitis ossificans was established by preoperative computed tomographic and/or magnetic resonance imaging and by the intraoperative findings as described in the operative report. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were 38 children who received cochlear implantation by a single senior otolaryngologist for bacterial meningitis-related deafness. Ten patients' charts (26%) were available for full review; 9 of these 10 patients had documented pneumococcal meningitis and the other patient had Haemophilus influenzae-type meningitis. RESULTS: One of the 6 patients who received steroid therapy at the time of initial illness had documented evidence of labyrinthitis ossificans either radiographically or at the time of surgery. All 4 patients who failed to receive steroid therapy developed labyrinthitis ossificans. The results achieve statistical significance by chi2 analysis and a t test (P<.01). CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective study are highly suggestive of a role for steroids in preventing the development of labyrinthitis ossificans in children with pneumococcal meningitis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

PubMed2001

Shift toward T helper 1 cytokines by type II collagen-reactive T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of type II collagen (CII)-reactive T cells on the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: T cell proliferative responses to bovine CII were examined in synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by mixed lymphocyte culture. CII-reactive T cell lines were generated from the SFMC and PBMC. Interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and IL-4 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the SF, sera, and culture supernatants of PBMC and SFMC that had been stimulated with CII. RESULTS: The frequency of CII-reactive T cells was higher in the PBMC from RA patients than in that from osteoarthritis patients and healthy control subjects. In RA patients, CII-reactive T cells were more prevalent in SFMC than in PBMC. The mean level of IFNgamma and the ratio of IFNgamma to IL-4 were significantly higher in the culture supernatants of T cells stimulated with CII; these differences were more prominent in SFMC. Levels of IL-12 in the culture supernatants of SFMC and PBMC stimulated with CII were significantly higher than those in unstimulated supernatants. T cell responsiveness correlated well with the level of type 1 cytokines in culture supernatants from RA T cells stimulated with CII. In the CII-reactive cell lines, the increased production of IFNgamma was consistent with clonal expansion. CONCLUSION: CII-reactive T cells are more abundant in SFMC than in PBMC and are strongly associated with a shift toward Thl cytokine in the inflamed joints of RA patients. Our results suggest that a skewing toward type 1 cytokines by CII-reactive T cells may play an important role in the chronic inflammatory process of RA.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Identification of essential amino acid residues for catalytic activity and thermostability of novel chitosanase by site-directed mutagenesis.

The functional importance of a conserved region in a novel chitosanase from Bacillus sp. CK4 was investigated. Each of the three carboxylic amino acid residues (Glu-50, Glu-62, and Asp-66) was changed to Asp and Gln or Asn and Glu by site-directed mutagenesis, respectively. The Asp-66-->Asn and Asp-66-->Glu mutation remarkably decreased kinetic parameters such as Vmax and kcat to approximately 1/1,000 those of the wild-type enzyme, indicating that the Asp-66 residue was essential for catalysis. The thermostable chitosanase contains three Cys residues at positions 49, 72, and 211. The Cys-49-->Ser/Tyr and Cys-72-->Ser/Tyr mutant enzymes were as stable to thermal inactivation and denaturating agents as the wild-type enzyme. However, the half-life of the Cys-211-->Ser/Tyr mutant enzyme was less than 10 min at 80 degrees C, while that of the wild-type enzyme was about 90 min. Moreover, the residual activity of Cys-211-->Ser/Tyr enzyme was substantially decreased by 8 M urea; and it lost all catalytic activity in 40% ethanol. These results show that the substitution of Cys with any amino acid residues at position 211 seems to affect the conformational stability of the chitosanase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of gastric cancer in the Korean population: prospective case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is still the most common malignant tumor in Koreans. Although many reports have supported the association of Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of gastric cancer, few studies have been adjusted by variable factors such as age. sex, education, and economic status. Furthermore, most results from areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer, such as China and Korea, have failed to document any relationship between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. We conducted a prospective case-controlled study, with controls matched for and adjusted by age, sex, education, and economic status, to evaluate the causal relationship between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer in Korean people. METHODS: From March 1997 to October 1998, 136 consecutive patients with gastric cancer, diagnosed by endoscopic histology, and 136 age- and sex-matched control subjects, confirmed to be free of gastric cancer by endoscopy during the same period, were enrolled in the study. The presence of H. pylori infection was determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) serology test. RESULTS: Seventy-two of the 136 gastric cancer patients (53%) were positive for H. pylori infection and 54 of the 136 control subjects (40%) were positive for H. pylori infection. The odds ratio (OR), adjusted by variable risk factors, such as age, sex, education, and economic status, for gastric cancer in H. pylori-infected patients was 1.82 (95% confidence internal [CI], 1.10-3.00; P = 0.019). The age- and sex-matched OR by conditional logistic regression was 1.6 (95% CI., 1.01-2.53; P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection may be one of the important risk factors for the development of gastric cancer in Korea, an area of high prevalence of H. pylori infection and a high incidence of gastric cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Mechanisms of action of docosahexaenoic acid in the nervous system.

This review describes (from both the animal and human literature) the biological consequences of losses in nervous system docosahexaenoate (DHA). It then concentrates on biological mechanisms that may serve to explain changes in brain and retinal function. Brief consideration is given to actions of DHA as a nonesterified fatty acid and as a docosanoid or other bioactive molecule. The role of DHA-phospholipids in regulating G-protein signaling is presented in the context of studies with rhodopsin. It is clear that the visual pigment responds to the degree of unsaturation of the membrane lipids. At the cell biological level, DHA is shown to have a protective role in a cell culture model of apoptosis in relation to its effects in increasing cellular phosphatidylserine (PS); also, the loss of DHA leads to a loss in PS. Thus, through its effects on PS, DHA may play an important role in the regulation of cell signaling and in cell proliferation. Finally, progress has been made recently in nuclear magnetic resonance studies to delineate differences in molecular structure and order in biomembranes due to subtle changes in the degree of phospholipid unsaturation.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

A synthesis procedure for associative memories based on space-varying cellular neural networks.

In this paper, we consider the problem of realizing associative memories via space-varying CNNs (cellular neural networks). Based on some known results and a newly derived theorem for the CNN model, we propose a synthesis procedure for obtaining a space-varying CNN that can store given bipolar vectors with certain desirable properties. The major part of our synthesis procedure consists of solving generalized eigenvalue problems and/or linear matrix inequality problems, which can be efficiently solved by recently developed interior point methods. The validity of the proposed approach is illustrated by a design example.

Memory↗

PubMed2001

Clinical and immunologic changes after allergen immunotherapy with Hop Japanese pollen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hop Japanese (Hop J) pollen has been reported as one of the major causative pollen allergens in the autumn season. There have been no published data regarding the clinical and immunologic effects of Hop J pollen immunotherapy in sensitized patients. In this study, we evaluated clinical and immunologic effects of Hop J immunotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pollens were collected in our area, and "Depo-Hop J" was prepared in the laboratory of Allergopharma (Reinbek, Germany). Fifteen asthmatic patients who had Hop J immunotherapy for > 1 year were enrolled. Their clinical parameters, such as asthma symptom scores, were monitored. Skin reactivity to Hop J and degree of airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine were measured before and 1 year after the immunotherapy. Sera were collected before the immunotherapy, at the end of initial therapy, and 1 year after the therapy. Serum total IgE levels were compared by radioimmunoassay. Serum-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 levels to Hop J were compared by ELISA. To evaluate the changes of cellular mechanisms, soluble CD30 (sCD30), soluble interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (sIL-2R), soluble CD23 (sCD23), and IL-10 levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Specific IgG1 and IgG4 levels began to increase at the end of the initial therapy (P < 0.05) with significant decreases in symptom scores (P < 0.05), whereas total and specific IgE levels showed variable responses during the immunotherapy with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Serum sIL-2R and sCD30 levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05) 1 year after immunotherapy. No significant changes were noted in sCD23, IL-10, skin reactivity to Hop J, or airway responsiveness to methacholine (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We are certain that Hop J allergen immunotherapy, if carried out properly according to suitable indications, can favorably influence asthma. Thus, an increase in specific IgG4 and IgG1 antibodies and reduction of a possible Th2 lymphocyte marker (sCD30) may be associated with symptomatic improvements.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Synthesis and characterization of nucleosides and oligonucleotides with a benzo[a]pyren-6-ylmethyl adduct at adenine N6 or guanine N2.

Benzo[a]pyrene (1) can be converted to reactive electrophilic species by a number of metabolic pathways, of which the route to the mutagenic and carcinogenic diol epoxide(s) is the best studied. An alternative and interesting pathway to a highly genotoxic electrophile is through alkylation at the 6 position to 6-methylbenzo[a]pyrene (2) followed by oxidation of the methyl group to give 6-hydroxymethylbenzo[a]pyrene (3). Esterification of 3, especially to sulfate ester 4, gives compounds which are both mutagenic and carcinogenic. The major DNA adduct identified from exposure of rats and mice to 4 is the guanine N(2) adduct [2'-deoxy-N(2)-(benzo[a]pyren-6-ylmethyl)guanosine, 5] which is also formed via activation of 2 to a radical cation species by horseradish peroxidase/H(2)O(2) or iodine. To study the biological and structural properties of this adduct and the analogous adenine N(6) adduct (6), a nonbiomimetic synthesis of the adducted nucleosides 5 and 6 has been developed and has been extended to preparation of oligonucleotides containing 5 or 6 at a single site.

Adenine↗

PubMed2001

P16INK4a protein expression is associated with poor survival of the breast cancer patients after CMF chemotherapy.

Immunohistochemical assay for p16 protein expession was performed in 192 breast carcinoma patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. p16 expression was observed in 78 cases (40.6%). The frequency of p16 expression significantly decreased in moderately differentiated (histologic grade II) cancers, 20 (19.6%) of 102. In poorly differentiated cancers (histologic grade III), p16 expression was not observed in all 16 cases. p16 expression was significantly associated with histologic grade of the breast carcinomas (p < 0.001). The proliferative index (PI: S + G2/M) of individual tumors was measured by DNA flow cytometry. In 114 tumors with PI less than 20%, p16 expression was observed in 59 tumors (49.1%). In the tumors with PI equal or more than 20%, p16 expression was observed in 22 (28.2%) of 78 cases. p16 expression was significantly decreased in the tumor with higher PI (p =0.003). For the other clinicopathologic variables, no significant association was found with p16 expression status. Immunohistochemical assay for p53 protein expression was performed on the same breast carcinomas. There was no significant association between p16 and p53 expression in breast carcinomas. During median follow-up period of 52 months (range: 40-72 months), 46 patients (25.8%) had recurrent disease and 32 patients (18.91%) died of recurrent disease. p16 expression was observed in 20 (43.5%) of 46 patients with recurrent disease, while its expression was observed in 58 patients (39.7%) of 146 patients who were free of recurrence during the study period. p16 expression had no significant impact on predicting recurrence of breast carcinoma. Fourteen patients (12.2%) of 114 patients whose tumors did not show p16 expression died of recurrent breast carcinoma, whereas 18 patients (23.1%) of 78 patients with p16 expressing tumor died during the follow-up period. There was a significant difference of patient survival according to p16 expression status (p = 0.039). These results indicate that p16 expression is useful in predicting response to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. p16 protein seems to have a role in tumor growth and differentiation of the breast carcinoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed2001

Citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) may be an important allergen in the development of asthma among exposed children.

BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have demonstrated that spider mites are important allergens in the development of asthma in fruit-cultivating farmers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitization rate to the citrus red mite (Panonychus citri) in children living in rural areas, and to determine the allergenic cross-reactivity with other mites. METHODS: A total of 7254 children (ages 7-15 years) living in rural areas were enrolled, and each subject was evaluated by a questionnaire and a skin prick test. Allergenic cross-reactivity was evaluated by ELISA inhibition tests. RESULTS: The most common sensitizing allergens were house dust mites, followed by citrus red mite and cockroach. High serum-specific IgE bindings to the citrus red mite were detected in 21 of 100 randomly selected subjects. The prevalence of asthma was higher among those with positive skin responses to the citrus red mite than with negative skin responses to this mite. ELISA inhibition tests showed that IgE bindings to this mite were minimally inhibited with additions of domestic mites. CONCLUSION: Spider mites such as the citrus red mite may be important outdoor allergens among children living in rural areas, and spider mite-derived allergens have unique allergenic determinants compared with domestic mites.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Seroepidemiological study of Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic people in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection occurs throughout the world and causes gastroduodenal diseases in all age groups. The prevalence of H. pylori infection varies between countries and races. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in asymptomatic healthy people in South Korea. METHODS: From March 1998 to October 1998, 5732 asymptomatic subjects who responded to the self-assessment questionnaires from 54 hospitals in South Korea were enrolled in this study. The serum levels of antibodies for H. pylori immunoglobulinG were measured by using an ELISA test. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was 46.6% and there was no statistical difference between males (47.2%) and females (45.9%). In adults, a significant difference was observed between genders. According to the geographic areas, the high prevalent provinces were Kangwon (53.4%), Cheju (52.9%) and Cholla province (50.6%); Seoul (41.9%) was the lowest prevalent area. The seroprevalence increased with age and was highest when patients were aged in their 40s (78.5%). The characteristic feature of our study was that the infection rate was steeply increased in three age groups (10-12 year olds, 16-19 year olds and those aged in their 20s). In Seoul, there was no difference in the prevalence rate among the districts studied. CONCLUSIONS: This nation-wide seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in South Korea was 46.6%, which showed the transition from a developing country to a developed country. More studies on the epidemiological factors and the route of transmission of H. pylori infection should be warranted.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Neurosteroid withdrawal model of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy.

PURPOSE: Perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy, the increase in seizure frequency that some women with epilepsy experience near the time of menstruation, may in part be related to withdrawal of the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone, an endogenous anticonvulsant neurosteroid that is a potent positive allosteric gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABA(A)) receptor modulator. The objective of this study was to develop an animal model of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy for use in evaluating drug-treatment strategies. METHODS: A state of prolonged high serum progesterone (pseudopregnancy) was induced in 26-day-old female rats by sequential injection of pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin. Neurosteroid withdrawal was induced by treatment with finasteride (100 mg/kg, i.p.), a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of progesterone to allopregnanolone. Plasma progesterone and allopregnanolone levels were measured by gas chromatography/electron capture negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Seizure susceptibility was evaluated with the convulsant pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). RESULTS: Plasma allopregnanolone levels were markedly increased during pseudopregnancy (peak level, 55.1 vs. control diestrous level, 9.3 ng/mL) and were reduced by 86% 24 h after finasteride treatment (6.4 ng/mL). Progesterone levels were unaffected by finasteride. After finasteride-induced withdrawal, rats showed increased susceptibility to PTZ seizures. There was a significant increase in the number of animals exhibiting clonic seizures when challenged with subcutaneous PTZ (60 mg/kg) compared with control pseudopregnant animals not undergoing withdrawal and nonpseudopregnant diestrous females. The CD50 (50% convulsant dose) was 46 mg/kg, compared with 73 mg/kg in nonwithdrawn pseudopregnant animals and 60 mg/kg in diestrous controls. The threshold doses for induction of various seizure signs, measured by constant intravenous infusion of PTZ, were reduced by 30-35% in neurosteroid-withdrawing animals compared with control diestrous females. No change in threshold was observed in pseudopregnant rats treated from days 7 to 11 with finasteride, demonstrating that high levels of progesterone alone do not alter seizure reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosteroid withdrawal in pseudopregnant rats results in enhanced seizure susceptibility, providing an animal model of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy that can be used for the evaluation of new therapeutic approaches.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

PubMed2001

Identification of IgE-binding components of citrus red mite in sera of patients with citrus red mite-induced asthma.

BACKGROUND: Our previous investigations demonstrated that citrus red mite (CRM) antigen could cause IgE-mediated bronchoconstriction in exposed farmers working on citrus farms. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to confirm IgE-binding components and major allergens within the CRM antigens. METHODS: Ten subjects who had been diagnosed as having CRM-induced asthma were enrolled. Serum-specific IgE antibodies to CRM antigens were measured by using an ELISA. To identify IgE-binding components and major allergens, SDS-PAGE, 2-dimensional PAGE, IgE-immunoblot analysis, and amino acid sequencing of major allergens were performed. RESULTS: All the asthmatic subjects had high specific IgE antibodies to CRMs. Twelve percent SDS-PAGE analysis showed more than 10 protein bands ranging from 6 to 64 kd. SDS-PAGE and IgE-immunoblot analysis with each individual serum showed 5 IgE-binding components (11, 24, 35, 40, and 64 kd), with 2 (24 and 35 kd) of them bound in more than 50% of the study subjects. Two-dimensional PAGE and IgE-immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the major allergen at 24 kd had 2 bands with different isoelectric points of 4.75 and 5.1. Thirty-five kilodaltons had one band with an isoelectric point of 4.75. All amino acid sequencing of the 2 major allergens was performed, which was not homologous with any previously characterized allergens. CONCLUSION: Five IgE-binding components and 2 major allergens (24 and 35 kd) were identified within the CRM antigen. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 2 major allergens (24 and 35 kd) was determined.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Anaphylaxis caused by the new ant, Pachycondyla chinensis: demonstration of specific IgE and IgE-binding components.

BACKGROUND: There have been no reports dealing with the pathogenic mechanism and IgE-binding components in patients with anaphylaxis caused by a sting from Pachycondyla chinensis. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to observe the clinical features of patients with P chinensis -induced anaphylaxis. The roles of specific (s) IgE and sIgG4 antibodies were evaluated, and IgE-binding components were identified. METHODS: Seven patients with P chinensis -induced anaphylaxis and 15 unexposed control subjects were enrolled. P chinensis ants were collected at the patients' homes, and venom was prepared as P chinensis extract. Five patients complained of bee venom-induced anaphylaxis and had positive sIgE levels to yellow jacket venom, wasp venom, or both as well. Serum sIgE and sIgG4 were detected by means of ELISA. To identify IgE-binding components within P chinensis extracts, 12% SDS-PAGE with immunoblot analysis was applied. RESULTS: All patients had positive skin prick test responses to P chinensis antigen and positive sIgE levels. Five (71%) patients had positive sIgG4 levels. Eight IgE-binding components (58, 46, 3l, 29, 27, 25, 22, and 12 kd) were noted, and the component at 12 kd was the most frequently found allergen (85%). IgE ELISA inhibition tests were performed on 2 groups of sera: one from patients with anaphylaxis induced by both P chinensis and bee venom (group A) and the other from patients with anaphylaxis induced by P chinensis venom alone without bee venom allergy (group B). ELISA inhibition tests with serum from group A showed significant inhibitions with addition of P chinensis extract, partial inhibitions with yellow jacket antigen, and minimal inhibitions with wasp or imported fire ant antigens. However, ELISA inhibition tests with serum from group B showed significant inhibitions with P chinensis antigen but no inhibition with wasp, yellow jacket, or imported fire ant antigens. CONCLUSIONS: IgE-mediated reactions contributed to the development of P chinensis -induced anaphylaxis. Eight IgE-binding components and one major allergen (12 kd) were identified. Further studies will be needed to clarify the role of sIgG4 and to identify allergenic relationships with major bee and wasp allergens.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Decreased production of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma is associated with renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the type 1/type 2 cytokine balance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) according to the presence of renal disorder and activity status. METHODS: We measured the serum levels of type 1 (IFN-gamma, IL-12) and type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) as well as spontaneous and stimulated cytokine production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 40 patients with SLE. RESULTS: Patients with lupus nephritis (LN) showed significantly lower levels of serum IL-12 and IFN-gamma than those without LN. Production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma by stimulated PBMC were also decreased in patients with LN. The circulating IL-12 correlated positively with IFN-gamma, but inversely with IL-10. The SLEDAI scores correlated well with the ratio of IL-4/IFN-gamma levels. CONCLUSION: The reduced production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma and the resultant shift towards the type 2 cytokine phenotype may be associated with LN.

Adolescent↗