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.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Selected Papers
15BACKGROUND: 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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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:
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
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
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
Research Areas
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