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Sang-kyung Cho

Korea University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Sang-kyung Cho's research lab focuses on the immunological and cellular mechanisms underlying acute and chronic kidney injury, with a particular emphasis on the roles of innate immune cells—especially macrophages and neutrophils—during ischemia-reperfusion injury and sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. The lab investigates key signaling pathways, including those involving cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β), chemokines (e.g., MCP-1), and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, to identify novel therapeutic targets. A central theme is the gut-kidney axis, exploring how intestinal dysbiosis and barrier dysfunction contribute to systemic inflammation and progressive fibrosis in chronic kidney disease. The lab also evaluates preclinical efficacy of emerging compounds, aiming to bridge the gap between animal models and human clinical translation.

acute kidney injurymacrophage polarizationsphingosine-1-phosphategut-kidney axisischemia-reperfusion injury

Research Overview

Papers
241
Total Citations
5,938
Papers (5y)
42
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
42total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
615total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|326 citations·2006
Macrophages contribute to the initiation of ischaemic acute renal failure in rats
Sang-Kyung Jo, Su-Ah Sung, Won-Yong Cho, Kang-Jee Go, Hyoung Kyu Kim
SJR Q1Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation

BACKGROUND: Although neutrophils and T cells are important in mediating renal injury following ischaemia/reperfusion, the role of macrophages is still unknown. Using liposomal clodronate (LC), we investigated the effect of systemic monocyte-macrophage depletion on renal damage in ischaemic acute renal failure in rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected by LC or liposomal vehicle and underwent bilateral renal pedicle clamping (40 min) or sham ischaemia. Biochemical and histological r

NephrologyMedicine
2
Review|255 citations·2007
Pharmacologic Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury
Sang‐Kyung Jo, Mitchell H. Rosner, Mark D. Okusa
SJR Q1Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

Current strategies to limit the extent of injury in acute renal failure are based on extensive studies that identified cellular and molecular mechanisms of acute kidney injury. Despite successes in various animal models, translation to human studies has failed or studies are inconclusive. This review describes past failures and barriers to successful clinical trials. It also focuses on promising preclinical studies using novel compounds that currently are in or close to human investigation. Impl

NephrologyMedicine
3
Article|235 citations·2005
MEK inhibitor, U0126, attenuates cisplatin-induced renal injury by decreasing inflammation and apoptosis
Sang-Kyung Jo, Won Yong Cho, Su Ah Sung, Hyoung Kyu Kim, Nam Hee Won
SJR Q1Kidney International
Pathology and Forensic MedicineMedicine
4
Article|146 citations·2015
The Role of M2 Macrophages in the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease following Acute Kidney Injury
Myung-Gyu Kim, Sun Chul Kim, Yoon Sook Ko, Hee Young Lee, Sang-Kyung Jo, Won-Yong Cho
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Although M2 macrophages are known to be indispensible for short-term recovery, they are thought to be main culprit in the development of renal fibrosis following IRI.

NephrologyMedicine
5
Article|135 citations·2020
Intestinal microbiota control acute kidney injury severity by immune modulation
Jihyun Yang, Chan Johng Kim, Yoon Sook Ko, Hee Young Lee, Myung-Gyu Kim, Se Won Oh, Won Yong Cho, Sin‐Hyeog Im, Sang‐Kyung Jo
SJR Q1Kidney International
NephrologyMedicine
6
Article|125 citations·2010
Activation of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate 1 Receptor in the Proximal Tubule Protects Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Amandeep Bajwa, Sang-Kyung Jo, Hong Ye, Liping Huang, Krishna R. Dondeti, Diane L. Rosin, Volker H. Haase, Timothy L. Macdonald, Kevin R. Lynch, Mark D. Okusa
SJR Q1Journal of the American Society of NephrologyOA

Agonists of the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) attenuate kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Previous studies suggested that S1P1R-induced lymphopenia mediates this protective effect, but lymphocyte-independent mechanisms could also contribute. Here, we investigated the effects of S1PR agonists on kidney IRI in mice that lack T and B lymphocytes (Rag-1 knockout mice). Administration of the nonselective S1PR agonist FTY720 or the selective S1P1R agonist SEW2871 reduced injury in bo

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|113 citations·2018
Intestinal barrier disruption and dysregulated mucosal immunity contribute to kidney fibrosis in chronic kidney disease
Jihyun Yang, Sung Yoon Lim, Yoon Sook Ko, Hee Young Lee, Se Won Oh, Myung-Gyu Kim, Won Yong Cho, Sang‐Kyung Jo
SJR Q1Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation

Our results suggest that intestinal dysbiosis-associated gut barrier disruption and aberrant mucosal immunity are important for the systemic inflammation and progressive fibrosis of CKD. Targeting the intestine might provide novel therapeutic opportunities for CKD.

GeneticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
8
Article|102 citations·2002
Inflammatory Cytokines and Lipopolysaccharide Induce Fas-Mediated Apoptosis in Renal Tubular Cells
Sang‐Kyung Jo, Dae Ryong, Won Yong Cho, Hyoung Kyu Kim, Kyung Hyun Chang, Su Yun, Nam Hee Won
˜The œNephron journals/Nephron journals

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increased susceptibility of the kidney to acute renal failure (ARF) in the setting of sepsis even in the absence of systemic hypotension is well known. In the hypothesis that the proinflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in gram-negative sepsis can directly cause renal tubular cell apoptosis via Fas- and caspase-mediated pathways, we examined apoptosis and Fas, Fas ligand, FADD expression, as well as PARP cleavage in cultured human proximal tubular cells under the c

NephrologyMedicine
9
Article|82 citations·2014
The incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury after hepatobiliary surgery: a prospective observational study
Eun‐Jung Cho, Sun-Chul Kim, Myung-Gyu Kim, Sang-Kyung Jo, Won Yong Cho, Hyoung Kyu Kim
SJR Q2BMC NephrologyOA

BACKGROUND: Although intraperitoneal surgery is a major operation associated with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), the incidence, risk factors, and long-term renal outcome are not well known. We aimed to determine the risk factors and 6 months renal outcome in patients with clinical or subclinical AKI after hepatobiliary surgery. We also assessed the validity of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the early detection of AKI or prediction of renal outcome. METHODS:

NephrologyMedicine
10
Article|73 citations·2008
Divergent roles of sphingosine kinases in kidney ischemia–reperfusion injury
Sang-Kyung Jo, Amandeep Bajwa, Hong Ye, Amy L. Vergis, Alaa S. Awad, Yugesh Kharel, Kevin R. Lynch, Mark D. Okusa
SJR Q1Kidney InternationalOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
11
Article|69 citations·2001
α‐MSH decreases apoptosis in ischaemic acute renal failure in rats: possible mechanism of this beneficial effect
Sang‐Kyung Jo, Su Yun, Kyung Hyun Chang, Dae Ryong, Won Yong Cho, Hyoung Kyu Kim, Nam Hee Won
SJR Q1Nephrology Dialysis TransplantationOA

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis frequently occurs in acute renal injury but the molecular mechanisms responsible for this distinct form of cell death are largely unknown. Fas belongs to the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)/nerve growth factor superfamily and engagement by Fas ligand induces apoptosis in various epithelial cells. To investigate the role of apoptosis and associated mechanisms, we examined the occurrence of apoptosis and Fas and Fas ligand expression, and the therapeutic effect of alpha-melanocy

NephrologyMedicine
12
Article|67 citations·2006
Heat Preconditioning Attenuates Renal Injury in Ischemic ARF in Rats
Sang-Kyung Jo, Gang Jee Ko, Chang Su Boo, Won Yong Cho, Hyoung Kyu Kim
SJR Q1Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

Although heat preconditioning has been known to be protective in various types of injury, the precise molecular mechanism for this is unclear. Recent observations that indicate that previous heat shock has an anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic effect led to this investigation of the in vivo effect of heat preconditioning on NF-kappaB activation and inflammation and also on tubular cell injury in ischemic acute renal failure (ARF). Heat preconditioning provided marked functional protection and also

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
13
Article|64 citations·2010
The role of Tregs and CD11c+ macrophages/dendritic cells in ischemic preconditioning of the kidney
Won Yong Cho, Hye Min Choi, So Young Lee, Myung-Gyu Kim, Hyoung Kyu Kim, Sang-Kyung Jo
SJR Q1Kidney InternationalOA
SurgeryMedicine
14
Article|64 citations·2013
Role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiorenal syndrome in a rat myocardial infarction model
E. Cho, M. Kim, Y.-S. Ko, H. Y. Lee, Mi Hyun Song, Myung-Gyu Kim, H.-K. Kim, Won Yong Cho, Sang‐Kyung Jo
SJR Q1Nephrology Dialysis TransplantationOA

BACKGROUND: Cardiorenal syndrome is now frequently recognized, and the combined dysfunction of heart and kidney increases morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate possible mechanisms that underlie renal damage following heart dysfunction using a rat myocardial infarction model, focusing on the inflammatory pathway. METHODS: Rats were randomized into four groups: normal, volume depletion, sham operation and myocardial infarction (MI). MI was induced by the ligation of the left cor

NephrologyMedicine
15
Article|60 citations·2003
Detection of inflammation following renal ischemia by magnetic resonance imaging
Sang-Kyung Jo, Xuzhen Hu, Hisataka Kobayashi, Martin J. Lizak, Takehiko Miyaji, Alan P. Koretsky, Robert A. Star
SJR Q1Kidney International
NephrologyMedicine

Research Areas

NephrologyMolecular BiologyPulmonary and Respiratory MedicineSurgeryImmunologyCardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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