Korea University · Medicine
Professor Eun Jin Lee's research lab focuses on the intersection of cellular signaling, tissue homeostasis, and regenerative biology, with a particular emphasis on the roles of gap junctions, inflammatory mediators, and mechanical microenvironments in neural and skeletal tissues. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying retinal degeneration, bone remodeling, and epithelial barrier function, using advanced cell culture models and in vivo disease models. Key research directions include the functional regulation of connexins and pentraxin-3 in neurovascular and osteogenic contexts, as well as the impact of mechanical cues on epithelial cell behavior and tissue integrity. These studies aim to uncover novel therapeutic targets for degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, osteoporosis, and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Connexin 36 (Cx36) is a channel-forming protein found in the membranes of apposed cells, forming the hexameric hemichannels of intercellular gap junction channels. It localizes to certain neurons in various regions of the brain including the retina. We characterized the expression pattern of neuronal Cx36 in the guinea pig retina by immunocytochemistry using specific antisera against Cx36 and green/red cone opsin or recoverin. Strong Cx36 immunoreactivity was visible in the ON sublamina of the i
Bone is a highly vascularized organ, providing structural support to the body, and its development, regeneration, and remodeling depend on the microvascular homeostasis. Loss or impairment of vascular function can develop diseases, such as large bone defects, avascular necrosis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and osteopetrosis. In this review, we summarize how vasculature controls bone development and homeostasis in normal and disease cases. A better understanding of this process will facilitate
Melanocortins are known to be involved in the regulation of feeding behavior. These hormones mediate their effects through G-protein-coupled receptors by stimulating adenylate cyclase. In this study we describe the functional response of melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3R) in HEK 293T cells, by using a luciferase reporter gene under the transcriptional control of a cAMP-responsive element (CRE) as a monitor of intracellular cAMP levels and cAMP-regulated gene expres
Pentraxin-3 (PTX3), also known as tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene 14 (TSG-14), is produced by immune and vascular cells in response to pro-inflammatory signals and is therefore a multipotent inflammatory mediator. The present study showed that during human osteoblast (OB) differentiation, precursor OBs (pOBs), but not mature OB, highly expressed PTX3. TNFα treatment elevated the PTX3 expression of pOBs. When mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide, which induces an inflammatory osteolyt
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a type of inherited retinal degenerative disease, which leads to blindness. The primary pathological event of this disease is the death of rods because of genetic mutations. The S334ter-line-3 rat is a transgenic model developed to express a rhodopsin mutation similar to that found in RP. In this study, the rod's death triggered are organization of the cone mosaic into an orderly array of rings. Four observations were relevant to understand this reorganization. First
Epithelial cell function is modulated by mechanical forces imparted by the extracellular environment. The transmission of forces onto the cytoskeleton by modalities such as mechanical stress and matrix stiffness is necessary to address by the development of new experimental models that permit finely tuned cell mechanical challenges. Herein, we developed an epithelial tissue culture model, named the 3D Oral Epi-mucosa platform, to investigate the role mechanical cues in the epithelial barrier. In
Interleukin-32 gamma (IL-32γ) is a recently discovered cytokine that is elevated in inflamed tissues and contributes to pathogenic features of bone in human inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Nevertheless, the role of IL-32γ and its direct involvement in bone metabolism is unclear. We investigated the molecular mechanism of IL-32γ in bone remodeling and the hypothetical correlation between IL-32γ and disease activity in osteoporosis patients. Transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing human IL-32γ showed
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an important retinal neurotransmitter. We studied the expression of GABA, glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) and GAD67 by immunocytochemistry and Western blot, in the retinas of control and dark-reared C57BL/6J black mice. This study asked three questions. First, is visual input necessary for the normal expression of GABA, GAD65 and GAD67? Second, can the retina recover from the effects of dark-rearing if returned to a normal light-dark cycle? Third, does BDNF p
Although non-syndromic hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is genetically heterogeneous, etiologic mutations have been identified only in the Son of Sevenless-1 gene (SOS1). To test evidence of increased cell proliferation, we studied histological, morphological, and proliferation characteristics in monolayer and three-dimensional cultures of fibroblasts with the SOS1 g.126,142-126,143insC mutation. Histological assessment of HGF gingiva indicated increased numbers of fibroblasts (30%) and in
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most common forms of inherited visual loss with the initial degeneration of rod photoreceptors, followed by a progressive cone photoreceptor deterioration. Coinciding with this visual loss, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is reorganized, which alters matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity levels. A potential pathological role of MMPs, MMP-9 in particular, involves an excitotoxicity-mediated physiological response. In the current study, we examine the MMP-9
Atrazine (ATR) is one of the most commonly applied broad-spectrum herbicides. Although ATR is well known to be a biologically hazardous molecule with potential toxicity in the immune system, the molecular mechanisms responsible for ATR-induced immunotoxicity remain unclear. In this study, we found that the immunotoxic properties of ATR were mediated through the induction of apoptotic changes in T lymphocytes. Mice exposed to ATR for 4 weeks exhibited a significant decrease in the number of splee
ABSTRACT Polymer electrolytes are attractive for the applications in conventional electrochemical devices and emerging flexible devices. In this study, we developed a poly(urethane acrylate)‐based gel polymer electrolyte with excellent mechanical stability, optical transparency, and a high ionic conductivity. These polymer electrolytes showed excellent dimensional stability and an elastomer‐like behavior with a Shore A hardness in the range of 20–40. The optical transmittance values of these pol
We serendipitously found a distal Disabled-1 (Dab1)-immunoreactive cell in retina of the C57BL/6J black mouse. The somata of these cells are located in the outermost part of the inner nuclear layer (INL). Their processes extend toward the outer plexiform layer (OPL), receiving synaptic inputs from horizontal and interplexiform cells. In the current study, we name this cell the "distal Dab1-immunoreactive cell." Double-labeling experiments demonstrate that the distal Dab1-immunoreactive cell is n
In S334ter-line-3 rat model of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), rod cell death induces the rearrangement of cones into mosaics of rings while the fibrotic processes of Müller cells remodel to fill the center of the rings. In contrast, previous work established that DL-alpha-aminoadipic-acid (AAA), a compound that transiently blocks Müller cell metabolism, abolishes these highly structured cone rings. Simultaneously, adherens-junction associated protein, Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression forms in a
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