Yuri Kim

The adult heart responds to excessive neurohumoral signaling and workload by a pathological growth response characterized by hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes and activation of a fetal program of cardiac gene expression. These responses culminate in diminished pump function, ventricular dilatation, wall thinning, and fibrosis, and can result in sudden death. Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcription factors serve as targets of the signaling pathways that drive pathological cardiac remodeling, b

Recently, a large outbreak initiated by an MERS-CoV-infected traveler from the Middle East swept South Korea and resulted in 186 confirmed cases with 38 deaths. This is the largest outbreak outside the Middle East, and it raised strong concerns about the possible emergence of MERS-CoV mutations. Here, we isolated 13 new viral genomes and found that 12 of them possess a point mutation in the receptor-binding domain of viral spike protein, resulting in reduced affinity to the human cognate recepto

Despite the worldwide effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the underlying mechanisms of fatal viral pneumonia remain elusive. Here, we show that critical COVID-19 is associated with enhanced eosinophil-mediated inflammation when compared to non-critical cases. In addition, we confirm increased T helper (Th)2-biased adaptive immune responses, accompanying overt complement activation, in the critical group. Moreover, enhanced antibody responses and complement activation are

Dynamic manipulation of supramolecular self-assembled structures is achieved irreversibly or under non-physiological conditions, thereby limiting their biomedical, environmental, and catalysis applicability. In this study, microgels composed of azobenzene derivatives stacked via π-cation and π-π interactions are developed that are electrostatically stabilized with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-bearing anionic polymers. Lateral swelling of RGD-bearing microgels occurs via cis-azobenzene formation mediated by

Interactions among beta-carotene (BC), alpha-tocopherol (AT) and ascorbic acid (AA) led to the hypothesis that using a combination of these antioxidants could be more beneficial than using a single antioxidant alone, particularly against smoke-related lung cancer. In this investigation, we have conducted an animal study to determine whether combined BC, AT and AA supplementation (AOX) protects against 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung carcinogenesis in smoke-expos

Abstract Cells dynamically interact with native nanostructured extracellular matrix at a molecular level in vivo. Developing remotely and actively controllable nanoengineered biomaterials can manipulate and unravel complex cell‐material interactions that dynamically occur in the nanoscale in vivo. In this review, we discuss emerging advances in a myriad of recent nanoengineering technologies to design remotely manipulable materials that enable dynamic nanobiomedical engineering at the molecular

Macrophages can associate with extracellular matrix (ECM) demonstrating nanosequenced cell-adhesive RGD ligand. In this study, we devised barcoded materials composed of RGD-coated gold and RGD-absent iron nanopatches to show various frequencies and position of RGD-coated nanopatches with similar areas of iron and RGD-gold nanopatches that maintain macroscale and nanoscale RGD density invariant. Iron patches were used for substrate coupling. Both large (low frequency) and externally positioned RG

The use of vaccines is the most effective and reliable method for the prevention of viral infections. However, research on evaluation of effective therapeutic agents for use in treatment after infection is necessary. Zanamivir was administered through inhalation for treatment of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 in 2009. However, the emergence of drug-resistant strains can occur rapidly. Alloferon, an immunomodulatory drug developed as an NK cell activator, exerts antiviral effects against various virus

There is growing evidence that crosstalk between mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells and stromal microenvironments, such as bone marrow and secondary lymphoid tissues, promotes tumor progression by enhancing survival and growth as well as drug resistance of MCL cells. Recent advances in the understanding of lymphoma microenvironment have led to the identification of crucial factors involved in the crosstalk and subsequent generation of their targeted agents. In the present study, we evaluated the c

Despite a clear association of patient's age with COVID-19 severity, there has been conflicting data on the association of viral load with disease severity. Here, we investigated the association of viral load dynamics with patient's age and severity of COVID-19 using a set of respiratory specimens longitudinally collected (mean: 4.8 times/patient) from 64 patients with broad distribution of clinical severity and age during acute phase. Higher viral burden was positively associated with inflammat

The seropositivity rate of the recovered MERS patients persisted up to 4 years after infection and significantly dropped in the fifth year, whereas the neutralizing antibody titres against MERS-CoV decreased more rapidly and were significantly reduced at 4 years after infection.