Skip to main content

Ilho Park

Korea University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Ilho Park's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and tissue remodeling, with a particular emphasis on fibroblast activation, extracellular matrix regulation, and epigenetic modulation. The lab investigates key pathways involving TGF-β1, histone deacetylases (HDACs), heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), and metformin in driving fibrosis and inflammation in nasal tissues. Current research also explores the impact of environmental factors such as cigarette smoke and the potential therapeutic roles of agents like antihistamines and ginsenosides in modulating inflammatory and fibrotic responses.

chronic rhinosinusitistissue remodelingfibroblast activationHSP47epigenetic regulation

Research Overview

Papers
206
Total Citations
2,997
Papers (5y)
32
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
32total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
249total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|152 citations·2010
Volumetric study in the development of paranasal sinuses by CT imaging in Asian: A Pilot study
Il‐Ho Park, Jong Seok Song, Hyuk Joong Choi, Tae Hoon Kim, Seung Hoon, Sang Hag Lee, Heung-Man Lee
SJR Q2International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
OtorhinolaryngologyMedicine
2
Article|57 citations·2002
Four new acetylated ginsenosides from processed ginseng (sun ginseng)
Il‐Ho Park, Sang Beom Han, Jong‐Moon Kim, Longzhu Piao, Sung Won Kwon, Na Young Kim, Tak Lim Kang, Man Ki Park, Jeong Hill Park
SJR Q1Archives of Pharmacal Research
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|56 citations·2002
Cytotoxic Dammarane Glycosides from Processed Ginseng.
Il‐Ho Park, Long Zhu Piao, Sung Won Kwon, Yong‐Jae Lee, Sool Yeon Cho, Man Ki Park, Jeong Hill Park
SJR Q3Chemical and Pharmaceutical BulletinOA

Steaming ginseng at high temperature increased its cytotoxicity to SK-Hep-1 hepatoma cancer cells. HPLC separation and fractionation followed by MTT assay revealed that ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rs5, and Rs4 are the active principles. Their 50% growth inhibition concentration (GI50) values were 41, 11, 13, 37, and 13 microM, respectively. Cisplatin had a GI50 of 84 microM in the same assay conditions.

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
4
Article|51 citations·2016
Trichostatin A Inhibits Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Induced by TGF-β1 in Airway Epithelium
Il‐Ho Park, Ju‐Hyung Kang, Jae–Min Shin, Heung-Man Lee
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

We showed that EMT is induced by TGF-β1 in airway epithelial cells and nasal tissue via activation of HDAC2 and HDAC4, and that inhibition of HDAC2 and HDAC4 by TSA reduces TGF-β1-induced EMT. This observation indicates that histone deacetylase inhibitors such as TSA could be potential candidates for treatment of recalcitrant CRS related with tissue remodeling.

OtorhinolaryngologyMedicine
5
Article|49 citations·2013
Metformin Reduces TGF‐β1–Induced Extracellular Matrix Production in Nasal Polyp–Derived Fibroblasts
Il‐Ho Park, Ji‐Young Um, Sung‐Moon Hong, Jung‐Sun Cho, Seung Hoon Lee, Sang Hag Lee, Heung‐Man Lee
SJR Q1Otolaryngology

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS: Metformin is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is thought to be the target that mediates its effects. Recently, it has been demonstrated that metformin has antifibrotic effects beyond its antihyperglycemic action. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of metformin on TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation (α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) and extracellular matrix (

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|43 citations·2014
Human papillomavirus-related carcinoma with adenoid cystic-like features of the inferior turbinate: A case report
Sun Jin Hwang, Sohea Ok, Heung-Man Lee, Eun-Jung Lee, Il‐Ho Park
SJR Q2Auris Nasus Larynx
SurgeryMedicine
7
Article|40 citations·2019
TGF-β1-induced HSP47 regulates extracellular matrix accumulation via Smad2/3 signaling pathways in nasal fibroblasts
Hae-Ji Kim, Joo‐Hoo Park, Jae–Min Shin, Hyun‐Woo Yang, Heung-Man Lee, Il‐Ho Park
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

HSP47 is required for the production of collagen and serves an important role in tissue remodeling, a pathophysiologic mechanism of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We investigated the relationship between HSP47 expression and tissue remodeling in CRS. We also determined the underlying molecular mechanisms of TGF-β1-induced HSP47 and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in nasal fibroblasts. HSP47, α-SMA, fibronectin, and collagen type I expression levels were measured using real-time PCR, western

OtorhinolaryngologyMedicine
8
Article|38 citations·2020
Cigarette Smoke Extract Stimulates MMP-2 Production in Nasal Fibroblasts via ROS/PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB Signaling Pathways
Joo‐Hoo Park, Jae–Min Shin, Hyun‐Woo Yang, Tae Hoon Kim, Seung Hoon Lee, Heung-Man Lee, Jae‐Gu Cho, Il‐Ho Park
SJR Q1AntioxidantsOA

Cigarette smoke exposure has been shown to be associated with chronic rhinosinusitis and tissue remodeling. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) production in nasal fibroblasts and to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms. Primary nasal fibroblasts from six patients were isolated and cultured. After the exposure of fibroblasts to CSE, the expression levels of

OtorhinolaryngologyMedicine
9
Article|33 citations·2014
Histamine Promotes the Release of Interleukin-6 via the H1R/p38 and NF-κB Pathways in Nasal Fibroblasts
Il‐Ho Park, Ji‐Young Um, Jung-Sun Cho, Seung Hoon Lee, Sang Hag Lee, Heung-Man Lee
SJR Q1Allergy Asthma and Immunology ResearchOA

The data presented here suggest that antihistamines may be involved in the regulation of cytokines, such as IL-6, due to the role of histamine as an inflammatory mediator in nasal fibroblasts.

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
10
Article|28 citations·2020
TGF-β1 Activates Nasal Fibroblasts through the Induction of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Jae–Min Shin, Ju‐Hyung Kang, Joo‐Hoo Park, Hyun‐Woo Yang, Heung-Man Lee, Il‐Ho Park
SJR Q1BiomoleculesOA

(1) Background: Tissue remodeling and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper airway. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is considered to be the key signal for triggering tissue remodeling in pathological conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the role of ER-stress in TGF-β1-stimulated nasal fibroblasts and inferior turbinate organ cultures; (2) Methods: Fibroblasts and organ cultures were pretreated with 4-ph

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
11
Article|25 citations·2022
Eosinophil-Derived Osteopontin Induces the Expression of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators and Stimulates Extracellular Matrix Production in Nasal Fibroblasts: The Role of Osteopontin in Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Hyun‐Woo Yang, Joo‐Hoo Park, Min-Sik Jo, Jae–Min Shin, Dae Woo Kim, Il‐Ho Park
SJR Q1Frontiers in ImmunologyOA

Background: Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS) is a subtype of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and is a refractory or intractable disease. However, a reliable clinical marker or an effective treatment strategy has not yet been established. ECRS is accompanied by excessive eosinophil infiltration and Th2 inflammatory response, which is closely related to tissue remodeling in the upper airways. Objectives: We sought to investigate the effect of eosinophils on tissue remodeling in ECRS. The pu

OtorhinolaryngologyMedicine
12
Article|24 citations·2012
Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Transforming Growth Factor Beta1-Induced Alpha Smooth-Muscle Actin and Collagen Production in Nasal Polyp-Derived Fibroblasts
Il‐Ho Park, Se-Jin Park, Jung-Sun Cho, You‐Mi Moon, Tae Hoon Kim, Sang Hag Lee, Heung-Man Lee
SJR Q2International Archives of Allergy and Immunology

BACKGROUND: Myofibroblasts are detected in nasal polyps and are involved in nasal polyp formation by inducing extracellular matrix accumulation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released during the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. The purpose of this study was to investigate ROS production and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) expression in nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts (NPDFs) and to evaluate whether ROS from NOX mediates transforming growth factor (T

OtorhinolaryngologyMedicine
13
Article|22 citations·2017
Chemical Chaperone of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced by TGF-β1 in Airway Epithelium via the c-Src Pathway
Heung-Man Lee, Ju‐Hyung Kang, Jae–Min Shin, Seoung-Ae Lee, Il‐Ho Park
SJR Q2Mediators of InflammationOA

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that allows epithelial cells to assume a mesenchymal cell phenotype. EMT is considered as a therapeutic target for several persistent inflammatory airway diseases related to tissue remodeling. Herein, we investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and c-Src in TGF- β 1-induced EMT. A549 cells, primary nasal epithelial cells (PNECs), and inferior nasal turbinate organ cultures were exposed to 4-phenylbutylic acid (4PBA

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
14
Article|20 citations·2013
Respiratory Epithelial Adenomatoid Hamartoma Originating from Nasal Septum
Il‐Ho Park, Hak Chun Lee, Heung-Man Lee
SJR Q1Clinical and Experimental OtorhinolaryngologyOA

Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) is a rare benign lesion in nasal cavity. We report two cases of REAH of the nasal cavity arising from nasal septum. The etiology of REAH is unknown although inflammation may induce gland proliferation observed in hamartomas. One of our cases was associated with nasal polyposis. REAH is a self-limiting disease, so it is important to differentiate REAH from other pathologic process, including inverted papilloma and low-grade adenocarcinoma. The t

SurgeryMedicine
15
Article|19 citations·2012
Effect of Simvastatin on Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1–Induced Myofibroblast Differentiation and Collagen Production in Nasal Polyp-Derived Fibroblasts
Il‐Ho Park, Se-Jin Park, Jung-Sun Cho, You‐Mi Moon, Jun-Hyeok Moon, Tae Hoon Kim, Sang Hag Lee, Heung-Man Lee
SJR Q1American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy

BACKGROUND: Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Statins exert not only lipid-lowering but also other cellular effects, including antifibrotic properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of simvastatin on transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and collagen production in nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts (NPDFs) and to verify the mechanism of the effect of simvastatin in TGF-beta-1-indu

OtorhinolaryngologyMedicine

Research Areas

OtorhinolaryngologySurgeryMolecular BiologyImmunology and AllergyPulmonary and Respiratory MedicinePharmacology

Dive deeper into Ilho Park's research on Nubint

Open this lab's papers in the app to read with AI, summarize, and cite in your writing.