Korea University · Medicine
Professor Il-Ho Park's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper airway, particularly chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and nasal polyps. The lab investigates key pathological processes such as tissue remodeling, extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and fibroblast activation, with a strong emphasis on signaling pathways involving TGF-β, ER stress, HDACs, and AMPK. The research also explores potential therapeutic targets and repurposed drugs—such as metformin, histone deacylase inhibitors (e.g., TSA), and antihistamines—offering translational insights into novel treatments for refractory airway diseases.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Steaming ginseng at high temperature increased its cytotoxicity to SK-Hep-1 hepatoma cancer cells. HPLC separation and fractionation followed by MTT assay revealed that ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rs5, and Rs4 are the active principles. Their 50% growth inhibition concentration (GI50) values were 41, 11, 13, 37, and 13 microM, respectively. Cisplatin had a GI50 of 84 microM in the same assay conditions.
We showed that EMT is induced by TGF-β1 in airway epithelial cells and nasal tissue via activation of HDAC2 and HDAC4, and that inhibition of HDAC2 and HDAC4 by TSA reduces TGF-β1-induced EMT. This observation indicates that histone deacetylase inhibitors such as TSA could be potential candidates for treatment of recalcitrant CRS related with tissue remodeling.
This study showed that metformin inhibits TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and ECM production in NPDFs via the Smad2/3 pathway. AMPK can be a therapeutic target for the prevention of ECM remodeling in nasal polyps.
The data presented here suggest that antihistamines may be involved in the regulation of cytokines, such as IL-6, due to the role of histamine as an inflammatory mediator in nasal fibroblasts.
(1) Background: Tissue remodeling and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper airway. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is considered to be the key signal for triggering tissue remodeling in pathological conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the role of ER-stress in TGF-β1-stimulated nasal fibroblasts and inferior turbinate organ cultures; (2) Methods: Fibroblasts and organ cultures were pretreated with 4-ph
Eosinophil-derived OPN stimulated nasal fibroblasts and contributed to inflammation and tissue remodeling in ECRS. Moreover, the expression level of OPN was proportional to the severity of ECRS. Therefore, OPN regulation is a potential treatment for ECRS.
This study showed that NOX4 and ROS have a role in myofibroblast differentiation and collagen production of TGF-β1-induced NPDFs and that these processes are inhibited by the elimination of ROS.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that allows epithelial cells to assume a mesenchymal cell phenotype. EMT is considered as a therapeutic target for several persistent inflammatory airway diseases related to tissue remodeling. Herein, we investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and c-Src in TGF-<i>β</i>1-induced EMT. A549 cells, primary nasal epithelial cells (PNECs), and inferior nasal turbinate organ cultures were exposed to 4-phenylbutylic acid
Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) is a rare benign lesion in nasal cavity. We report two cases of REAH of the nasal cavity arising from nasal septum. The etiology of REAH is unknown although inflammation may induce gland proliferation observed in hamartomas. One of our cases was associated with nasal polyposis. REAH is a self-limiting disease, so it is important to differentiate REAH from other pathologic process, including inverted papilloma and low-grade adenocarcinoma. The t
We showed that simvastatin inhibits TGF-beta-1-induced myofibroblast differentiation (expression of alpha-SMA) and collagen production in NPDFs and Rho/Rock and TGF-β/Smad signaling is involved as an underlying mechanism. The results of our study suggest that simvastatin is a possible candidate for the suppression of nasal polyp formation.
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