Seoul National University · Medicine
Professor Hang-Rae Kim's research lab focuses on the immunological mechanisms underlying T-cell homeostasis, aging, and tissue-specific inflammation, with a particular emphasis on the roles of interleukins IL-7 and IL-15 in T-cell survival, differentiation, and function. The lab investigates epigenetic regulation of T-cell receptor expression, especially DNA methylation in IL-7Rα gene control, and explores cytokine-driven pathologies such as tendinopathy and autoimmune joint destruction. Recent work also examines the impact of T-cell depletion during acute infections on immunological memory and the contribution of cytokines like CTRP3 to extracellular matrix degeneration. The lab integrates molecular immunology with translational approaches to identify therapeutic targets for age-related immune decline, autoimmune diseases, and connective tissue disorders.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
We investigated the effects of aging on the IL-7-mediated CD8+ T-cell survival pathway and of IL-7 therapy on T-cell immunity. Cells expressing IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) alphahigh and alphalow were identified in a CD45RA+ effector memory (EM(CD45RA+), CD45RA+CCR7-) CD8+ T-cell subset. Elderly subjects (65 years and older) had an increased frequency of EM(CD45RA+) IL-7Ralphalow) CD8+ T cells, leading to decreased STAT5 phosphorylation and survival responses to IL-7 compared with young subjects (40 ye
Cytokines IL-7 and IL-15 are essentially involved in T-cell homeostasis. IL-7 is required for developing mature T cells in the thymus, whereas in the periphery, it promotes the survival of naïve and memory T cells by upregulating the antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2. IL-15 potently induces the proliferation of memory CD8+ T cells independently of antigen and augments their effector function. Although IL-7 and IL-15 may help to defend the host against microorganisms and tumors by promoting T-cell imm
IL-7 is critical for the development and survival of T cells. Recently, we found two subsets of human CD8+ T cells expressing IL-7Ralpha(high) and IL-7Ralpha(low) with different cell survival responses to IL-7. Although these CD8+ T cell subsets have differential IL-7Ralpha gene expression, the mechanism for this is unknown. DNA methylation is an important gene regulatory mechanism and is associated with the inactivation of gene expression. Thus, we investigated a role for DNA methylation in dif
Tendinopathy, the most common disorder affecting tendons, is characterized by chronic disorganization of the tendon matrix, which leads to tendon tear and rupture. The goal was to identify a rational molecular target whose blockade can serve as a potential therapeutic intervention for tendinopathy. We identified C1q/TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP3) as a markedly up-regulated cytokine in human and rodent tendinopathy. Overexpression of CTRP3 enhanced the progression of tendinopathy by accumulating c
The remarkable decrease of CD4(+) T cells, including Treg cells, during the acute phase of infection may contribute to the loss of immunological memory that are often observed in vaccine studies and recurrent human infection.
Interleukin-7 (IL-7), which is required for the development and survival of T cells in the thymus and periphery, plays a role in joint destruction. However, it remains unclear how IL-7 affects osteoclast formation. Thus, we investigated the mechanism by which IL-7 induced osteoclast formation through IL-7 receptor α (IL-7Rα) in osteoclast precursors. We cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells or synovial fluid mononuclear cells with IL-7 in the presence or absence of an appropriate inhibitor
Recently, we identified two subsets of CCR7(-) memory CD8(+) T cells expressing high and low levels of the IL-7R alpha-chain (IL-7Ralpha) that is essential for memory T cell survival in human peripheral blood. IL-7Ralpha(low)CCR7(-) memory CD8(+) T cells that produce effector cytokines and perforin have impaired proliferation and survival in response to TCR triggering and IL-7, respectively. These findings raise a question of how such cells are sustained at significant numbers, >20% of periphera
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