Heung-Kyu Lee

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) detect viruses in the acidified endosomes by means of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Yet, pDC responses to certain single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses occur only after live viral infection. We present evidence here that the recognition of such viruses by TLR7 requires transport of cytosolic viral replication intermediates into the lysosome by the process of autophagy. In addition, autophagy was found to be required for the production of interferon-alpha by pDCs.

An increasing number of studies have revealed that the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) is related to gut microbiome composition. Under normal conditions, the gut microbiome acts as a barrier to other pathogens or infections in the intestine and modulates inflammation by affecting the host immune system. These gut microbiota are not only related to the intestinal inflammation associated with tumorigenesis but also modulation of the anti-cancer immune response. Thus, they are associated wit

Although mucosal surfaces represent the main portal of entry for pathogens, the mechanism of antigen presentation by dendritic cells (DCs) that patrol various mucosal tissues remains unclear. Instead, much effort has focused on the understanding of initiation of immune responses generated against antigens delivered by injection. We examined the contributions of migratory versus lymph node-resident DC populations in antigen presentation to CD4 and CD8 T cells after needle injection, epicutaneous

Macroautophagy/autophagy has been implicated in cytoplasmic and viral antigen presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. However, the role of autophagy in the presentation of phagocytized tumor-associated antigens in vivo remains unclear. Following the administration of apoptotic tumor cells and in vivo chemotherapy, mice with a dendritic cell–specific deletion of Atg5, a key autophagy gene, exhibit reduced CD4+ T-cell priming but not CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell priming

Hypoxia is a hallmark of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive cancer of the central nervous system, and is associated with multiple aspects of tumor pathogenesis. For example, hypoxia induces resistance to conventional cancer therapies and inhibits antitumor immune responses. Thus, targeting hypoxia is an attractive strategy for GBM therapy. However, traditional studies on hypoxia have largely excluded the immune system. Recently, the critical role of the immune system in the defen

The female reproductive tract harbors a unique microbiome, especially the vagina. The human vaginal microbiome exhibits a low diversity and is dominated by Lactobacillus species, compared to the microbiome of other organs. The host and vaginal microbiome mutually coexist in the vaginal microenvironment. Host cells provide Lactobacillus glycogen as an energy source, and Lactobacillus produce lactic acid, which lowers vaginal pH thereby preventing growth of other bacteria. Bacterial vaginosis can

SARS-CoV-2 infection has recently been declared a pandemic. Some patients showing severe symptoms exhibit drastic inflammation and airway damage. In this study, we re-analyzed published scRNA-seq data of COVID-19 patient bronchoalveolar lavage fluid to further classify and compare immunological features according to the patient's disease severity. Patients with severe symptoms showed DNA damage and apoptotic features of epithelial cells. Our results suggested that epithelial damage was associate

Abstract Infiltrating tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are known to impede immunotherapy against glioblastoma (GBM), however, TAMs are heterogeneous, and there are no clear markers to distinguish immunosuppressive and potentially immune-activating populations. Here we identify a subset of CD169 + macrophages promoting an anti-tumoral microenvironment in GBM. Using single-cell transcriptome analysis, we find that CD169 + macrophages in human and mouse gliomas produce pro-inflammatory chemokines

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, has resulted in a pandemic with millions of deaths. To eradicate SARS-CoV-2 and prevent further infections, many vaccine candidates have been developed. These vaccines include not only traditional subunit vaccines and attenuated or inactivated viral vaccines but also nucleic acid and viral vector vaccines. In contrast to the diversity in the platform technology, the delivery of vaccines is limited to intramuscular vaccination. Although in

The skin and orogenital mucosae, which constitute complex protective barriers against infection and injuries, are not only the first to come into contact with pathogens but are also colonized by a set of microorganisms that are essential to maintain a healthy physiological environment. Using 16S ribosomal RNA metagenomic sequencing, scientists recognized that the microorganism colonization has greater diversity and variability than previously assumed. These microorganisms, such as commensal bact