• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.513-521
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• 2022

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an immune checkpoint molecule that is mainly expressed on activated T cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells that inhibits T-cell activation and regulates immune homeostasis. Due to the crucial functions of CTLA-4 in T-cell biology, CTLA-4-targeted immunotherapies have been developed for autoimmune disease as well as cancers. CTLA-4 is known to compete with CD28 to interact with B7, but some studies have revealed that its downstream signaling is independent of its ligand interaction. As a signaling domain of CTLA-4, the tyrosine motif plays a role in inhibiting T-cell activation. Recently, the lysine motif has been shown to be required for the function of Treg cells, emphasizing the importance of CTLA-4 signaling. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of CTLA-4 biology and molecular signaling events and discuss strategies to target CTLA-4 signaling for immune modulation and disease therapy.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.197-202
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• 2007

Background: Immunomodulators enhancing MHC-restricted antigen presentation would affect many cellular immune reactions mediated by T cells or T cell products. However, modulation of MHC-restricted antigen presentation has received little attention as a target for therapeutic immunoregulation. Here, we report that lectins isolated from mushroom Fomitella fraxinea enhance MHC-restricted exogenous antigen presentation in professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Methods: Lectins, termed FFrL, were isolated from the carpophores of Fomitella fraxinea, and its effects on the class I and class II MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous ovalbumin (OVA) were examined in mouse dendritic cells (DCs) and mouse peritoneal macrophages. The effects of FFrL on the expression of total MHC molecules and the phagocytic activity were also examined in mouse DCs. Results: DCs cultured in the presence of FFrL overnight exhibited enhanced capacity in presenting exogenous OVA in association with class I and class II MHC molecules. FFrL increased slightly the total expression levels of both class I (H-$2K^b$) and class II (I-$A^b$) MHC molecules and the phagocytic activity of DCs. Antigen presentation-enhancing activity of FFrL was also observed in macrophages isolated from mouse peritoneum. Conclusion: Lectins isolated from the carpophores of Fomitella fraxinea increase MHC-restricted exogenous antigen presentation by enhancing intracellular processing events of phagocytosed antigens.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2011

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which recognize structurally conserved components among pathogens, are mainly expressed by antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DCs), B cells, and macrophages. Recognition through TLRs triggers innate immune responses and influences antigen-specific adaptive immune responses. Although studies on the expression and functions of TLRs in antigen-presenting cells have been extensively reported, studies in lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells have been limited. In this study, we observed that LTi cells expressed TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA as well as TLR2 protein and upregulated OX40L, CD30L, and TRANCE expression after stimulation with the TLR2 ligand zymosan or TLR4 ligand LPS. The expression of tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) members was significantly upregulated when cells were cocultured with DCs, suggesting that upregulated TNFSF expression may contribute to antigen-specific adaptive immune responses.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2005

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) playa critical role not only in the initiation of immune responses, but also in the induction of immune tolerance. In an effort to regulate immune responses through the modulation of antigen presenting cell (APC) function of DCs, we searched for and characterized APC function modulators from natural products. Methods: DCs were cultured in the presence of propolis components, WP and CP, and then examined for their ability to present exogenous antigen in association with major histocompatibility complexes (MHC). Results: WP and CP inhibited class I MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen (cross-presentation) in a DC cell line, DC2.4 cells, and DCs generated from bone marrow cells with GM-CSF and IL-4. The inhibitory activity of WP and CP appeared to be due not only to inhibition of phagocytic activity of DCs, but also to suppression of expression of MHC molecules on DCs. We also examined the effects of WP and CP on T cells. Interestingly, WP and CP increased IL-2 production from T cells. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that WP and CP inhibit MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen through down-regulation of phagocytic activity and suppression of expression of MHC molecules on DCs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 2005

Antigen presenting cells (APCs), dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, playa critical role not only in the initiation of immune responses, but also in the induction of immune tolerance. In an effort to regulate immune responses through the modulation of APC function, we searched for and characterized APC function modulators from natural products. Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum SPM1204 (SPM1204) isolated from feces of healthy Korean in the age of 20s was used in this experiment. DCs and macrophages were cultured in the presence of supernatants of SPM 1204 and then examined for their activities for the presentation exogenous antigen in association with major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) and macrophage activation. SPM1204 increased class I MHC-restricted presentation of exogenous antigen (cross-presentation) in a DC cell line, DC2.4 cells. The RAW 264.7 cell line was used to test the nonspecific effect of immune reinforcement of SPM1204 as a source of biological regulating modulator for the macrophage activation, include nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine production. Results showed that the production of NO, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin 1 (IL-1)-$\beta$ and morphological changes in macrophages were largely affected by SPM1204 in a dose-dependent manner. Our results demonstrated that SPM1204 promote cross-presentation of dendritic cells as well as the induction of NO, TNF-$\alpha$ production, and activation of macrophage.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.184-193
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• 2013

Co-signaling molecules are surface glycoproteins that positively or negatively regulate the T cell response to antigen. Co-signaling ligands and receptors crosstalk between the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T cells, and modulate the ultimate magnitude and quality of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. In the past 10 years, the field of co-signaling research has been advanced by the understanding of underlying mechanisms of the immune modulation led by newly identified co-signaling molecules and the successful preclinical and clinical trials targeting co-inhibitory molecules called immune checkpoints in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancers. In this review, we briefly describe the characteristics of well-known B7 co-signaling family members regarding the expression, functions and therapeutic implications and to introduce newly identified B7 members such as B7-H5, B7-H6, and B7-H7.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.469-478
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• 1991

The CALLA on the surface of leukemic cell lines, recognized by our monoclonal antibody. KP-22(IgG1, K) was one of cell surface glycoproteins having moi. wt. of approximately 100,000 dalton, and could be shed in spent medium or endocytosed when binding the cognate antidoby, KP-22. In the presence of cognate antibodies, 60% of CALLAS recogniEed by KP-22 MAs were modulated and cleared from the cell surface during 24 hrs, and approximaetely 35% of them was endocytosed and 25%, was shed in spent medium. The reappearance of the membrane CALLA after modulation by the KP-22 required at least 6 hours and supposed to be newly synthesized molecules.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2009

Nelumbo nucifera (lotus) is known to be a useful medicinal plant and leaf extract contains several flavonoids and alkaloids. To analyze the effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaves extract (NNL) on the HBsAg production, we treated NNL on HepG2.2.15 cells which contain the hepatitis B viral genome and secrete surface antigen into media. NNL suppressed the production of hepatitis B surface antigen as a dose-dependent manner. To analyze the effect of NNL on HBV DNA replication, PCR analysis was performed. NNL was not affected the HBV DNA replication and HBsAg mRNA expression. To understand the effect of NNL on the production of HBsAg, we carried out the analysis of lipid-metabolizing gene expression using one-step RT-PCR. NNL reduced the gene expression of FASN and SREBP2 and increased the expression of LDLR. Triglyceride content of HepG2.2.15 cells was not decreased by treatment of NNL. This result suggests a possibility that NNL may have an effect for the inhibition of hepatitis B surface antigen by modulation of lipid and cholesterol metabolism.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.380-385
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• 2008

Ethanolic extracts of T. cordifolia and C. asiatica were evaluated for immunostimulatory effect in mice against sheep RBCs as antigen by three models viz. delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, ercent change in neutrophil count and haemagglutination titre. Immunostimulatory effect in the presence of immunosuppressant agent, cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was also investigated. T. cordifolia and C. asiatica significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.05 respectively) enhanced foot pad thickness when measured after 24 hours of sheep RBC antigen challenge. Both the plant materials increased foot pad thickness even after being subjected to immunosuppressant exposure. T. cordifolia revealed enhanced neutrophil counts, while C. asiatica had no significant effect on neutrophil counts. T. cordifolia exhibited significantly (P < 0.01) elevated neutrophil levels even in the presence of cyclophosphamide administration. Both the plants exhibited humoral antibody response, as haemagglutination titre values were significantly high as compared to control. T. cordifolia and C. asiatica could combat immunosuppressant effect of cyclophosphamide (P < 0.01). This suggests that T. cordifolia and C. asiatica can be regarded as biological response modifiers and can be utilized for the development of immunostimulating agent among plant sources.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2009

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) also known as plasma procarboxypeptidase B or U is a 60 kD glycoprotein, which is the major modulator of fibrinolysis in plasma. TAFI is a proenzyme, which is activated by proteolytic cleavage to an active carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme (TAFIa, 35.8 kD) by thrombin/thrombomodulin and plasmin. Modulation of fibrinolysis occurs when TAFIa enzymatically removes C-terminal lysine residues of partially degraded fibrin, thereby inhibiting the stimulation of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) modulated plasminogen activation. TAFIa undergoes a rapid conformational change at $37{^{\circ}C}$ to an inactive isoform called TAFIai. Potato tuber carboxypetidase inhibitor (PTCI) was shown to specifically bind to TAFIa as well as TAFIai. In this study, a novel immunoassay TAFIa/ai ELISA was used for quantitation of the two TAFI activation isoforms TAFIa and TAFIai. The ELISA utilizes PTCI as the capture agent and a double antibody sandwich technique for the detection. Low levels of TAFIa/ai antigen levels were detected in normal plasma and elevated levels were found in hemophilia A plasmas. TAFIa/ai antigen represents a novel marker to monitor fibrinolysis and TAFIa/ai ELISA may be a valuable assay for studying the role of TAFI in normal hemostasis and in pathological conditions.