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Woon Yong Kwon

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Woon Yong Kwon's research lab specializes in critical care and translational immunology, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying sepsis-induced organ injury, particularly acute lung injury and brain injury. The lab investigates protective pathways involving key molecules such as NF-κB, HSP70, HMGB-1, and mitochondrial formyl peptides, with an emphasis on therapeutic interventions using niacin, selenium, glutamine, and S1P1 modulators. Their work bridges preclinical models with clinical relevance, aiming to identify novel targets and combination therapies to improve survival and organ function in septic shock. The lab integrates in vitro cell studies with in vivo rat models of sepsis to dissect signaling pathways and evaluate therapeutic efficacy.

sepsisacute lung injurymitochondrial DAMPsHSP70niacin therapy

Research Overview

Papers
166
Total Citations
1,911
Papers (5y)
32
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
32total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
149total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|84 citations·2010
Niacin attenuates lung inflammation and improves survival during sepsis by downregulating the nuclear factor-κB pathway*
Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Young Ho Kwak
SJR Q1Critical Care Medicine

High dose of niacin attenuated lung inflammation, reduced histologic lung damages, and improved survival during sepsis in rats. These therapeutic benefits were associated with downregulation of the NF-κB pathway.

Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|46 citations·2009
Glutamine attenuates acute lung injury by inhibition of high mobility group box protein-1 expression during sepsis
Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, You Hwan Jo, Jae Hyuk Lee, Kyuseok Kim, Sung Koo Jung
SJR Q2British Journal Of NutritionOA

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is reported as the main factor responsible for the beneficial effects of glutamine (GLN) and as a negative regulator of high mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB-1) expression. Our aim was to determine whether GLN attenuates acute lung injury (ALI) by the inhibition of HMGB-1 expression during sepsis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce sepsis. GLN or saline was administered through tail vein 1 h after CLP. Then, que

Clinical BiochemistryBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|39 citations·2012
4F, apolipoprotein AI mimetic peptide, attenuates acute lung injury and improves survival in endotoxemic rats
Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Young Ho Kwak, Kyuseok Kim
SJR Q1The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care

4F attenuated acute lung injury and improved survival in endotoxemic rats. The therapeutic benefits of 4F were found to be associated with the stimulation of S1P1, the activation of Akt, the down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway, and the suppression of cell adhesion molecules.

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
4
Article|36 citations·2021
Circulating mitochondrial N -formyl peptides contribute to secondary nosocomial infection in patients with septic shock
Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Yoon Sun Jung, Seung Min Park, Subi Oh, Sung Hee Kim, A. Rum Lee, Jeong Yeon Kim, Hayoung Kim, Kyung-Ah Kim, Young H. Kim, Byoung Choul Kim
SJR Q1Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOA

Significance Septic shock commonly leads to multiorgan injury both directly via tissue inflammation and secondarily via hypoperfusion, but both can result in mitochondrial N -formyl peptide (mtFP) release into the circulation. However, no studies have evaluated the role of circulating mtFPs during septic shock. We found that a relatively high plasma nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit-6 (the most potent human mtFP) level was independently associated with the development of se

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|27 citations·2015
Niacin and Selenium Attenuate Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury by Up-Regulating Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2–Related Factor 2 Signaling*
Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Yoon Sun Jung, Sung Hee Kim, Jae Seong Kim, Kyoung Min You
SJR Q1Critical Care Medicine

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the combination therapy of niacin and selenium attenuates lung injury and improves survival during sepsis in rats and whether its benefits are associated with the activation of the glutathione redox cycle and up-regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2. DESIGN: Prospective laboratory study. SETTING: University laboratory. SUBJECTS: Human lung microvascular endothelial cells and male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 291). INTERVENTION: In lipopolysacchari

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|25 citations·2016
Real-time tidal volume feedback guides optimal ventilation during simulated CPR
Kyoung Min You, Chiwon Lee, Woon Yong Kwon, Jung Chan Lee, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Min Ji Park, Sungwan Kim
SJR Q1The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Emergency MedicineMedicine
7
Article|23 citations·2013
Niacin Suppresses the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway and Attenuates Brain Injury After Cardiac Arrest in Rats*
Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Hui Jai Lee, Ki Young Jeong, Young Ho Kwak, Kyuseok Kim
SJR Q1Critical Care Medicine

Single high dose and repeated low dose of niacin attenuated brain injury and improved neurological outcome after cardiac arrest in rats. Their therapeutic benefits were associated with suppressions of the phosphorylations of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase and the cleavage of caspase 3.

Emergency MedicineMedicine
8
Article|22 citations·2015
Plasma glutathione reductase activity and prognosis of septic shock
Jae Seong Kim, Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Yoon Sun Jung, Sung Hee Kim, So Eun Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Surgical Research
BiochemistryBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Article|16 citations·2021
Regional cerebral oxygen saturation in cardiac arrest survivors undergoing targeted temperature management 36 °C versus 33 °C: A randomized clinical trial
Woon Yong Kwon, Yoon Sun Jung, Gil Joon Suh, Tae-Kyun Kim, Hyeongkyu Kwak, Taekwon Kim, Jeong Yeon Kim, Min Sung Lee, Kyung Su Kim, Jonghwan Shin, Hui Jai Lee, Kyung Min You
SJR Q1ResuscitationOA

Regardless of target temperatures, low rSO<sub>2</sub> levels during TTM were significantly associated with poor 6-month neurological outcomes in OHCA survivors.

Emergency MedicineMedicine
10
Article|14 citations·2018
Low serum Kallistatin level was associated with poor neurological outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors: Proteomics study
Yoon Sun Jung, Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Sungyoon Moon, Mi-Hee Han, Je-In Youn, Sang‐Uk Seo, Kyung Su Kim, Seung‐Yong Seong
SJR Q1Resuscitation
Emergency MedicineMedicine
11
Article|12 citations·2018
Niacin and Selenium Attenuate Brain Injury After Cardiac Arrest in Rats by Up-Regulating DJ-1-Akt Signaling
Woon Yong Kwon, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Yoon Sun Jung, Sung Hee Kim, A Rum Lee, Kyoung Min You, Min Ji Park
SJR Q1Critical Care Medicine

OBJECTIVES: To determine neuroprotective effects and mechanism of the combination therapy of niacin and selenium in cardiac arrest rats. DESIGN: Prospective laboratory study. SETTING: University laboratory. SUBJECTS: Rat cortex neurons and male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 68). INTERVENTIONS: In rat cortex neurons underwent 90 minutes of oxygen-glucose deprivation and 22.5 hours of reoxygenation, effects of the combination therapy of niacin (0.9 mM) and selenium (1.5 μM) were investigated. The role

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
12
Article|10 citations·2024
Development of artificial intelligence-driven biosignal-sensitive cardiopulmonary resuscitation robot
Taegyun Kim, Gil Joon Suh, Kyung Su Kim, Hayoung Kim, Heesu Park, Woon Yong Kwon, Jaeheung Park, Jaehoon Sim, Sung-moon Hur, Jung Chan Lee, Dong Ah Shin, Woo Sang Cho
SJR Q1Resuscitation
Emergency MedicineMedicine
13
Article|8 citations·2020
Direct Airway Instillation of Neutrophils Overcomes Chemotactic Deficits Induced by Injury
Quan‐Zhi Zhang, Woon Yong Kwon, Barbora Vlková, Ingred Riça, Elżbieta Kaczmarek, Jinbong Park, Hyo In Kim, Barbora Konečná, Françoise Jung, Garry J. Douglas, Leo E. Otterbein, Carl J. Hauser
SJR Q1ShockOA

BACKGROUND: Trauma induces neutrophil migration toward injury sites, both initiating wound healing and protecting against local bacterial infection. We have previously shown that mitochondrial formyl peptides (mtFPs) released by injured tissues act as chemoattractants by ligating neutrophil (PMN) formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1). But this process can also internalize multiple neutrophil chemoattractant receptors and thus might limit neutrophil migration to the lung in response to bacteria. Our o

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
14
Article|8 citations·2017
Prehospital Supraglottic Airway Was Associated With Good Neurologic Outcome in Cardiac Arrest Victims Especially Those Who Received Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Min Ji Park, Woon Yong Kwon, Kyuseok Kim, Gil Joon Suh, Jonghwan Shin, You Hwan Jo, Kyung Su Kim, Hui Jai Lee, Joonghee Kim, Se Jong Lee, Jeong Yeon Kim, Jun Hwi Cho
SJR Q1Academic Emergency MedicineOA

OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to investigate the association of prehospital supraglottic airway (SGA) on neurologic outcome in cardiac arrest victims with adjustment of postresuscitation variables as well as prehospital and resuscitation variables. METHODS: This study was a retrospective study based on a multicenter prospective cohort registry from December 2013 to April 2016. According to the 28-day cerebral performance categories (CPCs) scale, patients were divided into the good-outcome

Emergency MedicineMedicine
15
Article|7 citations·2007
Triage Method for Out-of-Hospital Poisoned Patients
Woon Yong Kwon, Joong Eui Rhee, Hong Seong Gang, Sang Do Shin, Jun Hwi Cho, Hyoung Gon Song, Gil Joon Suh
SJR Q2Journal of Korean Medical ScienceOA

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a triage method to prevent unnecessary emergency department visits of out-of-hospital poisoned patients. From October 2003 to September 2004, the calls that lay persons gave to the Seoul Emergency Medical Information Center to seek advice on the out-of-hospital poisoned patients were enrolled. We designed a triage protocol that consisted of five factors and applied it to the patients. According to the medical outcomes, we classified the patients

Emergency MedicineMedicine

Research Areas

Emergency MedicineEpidemiologyMolecular BiologyImmunologyCritical Care and Intensive Care MedicineSurgery

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