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Hyung-Seok Seo

Seoul National University · Immunology and Microbiology

About the Lab

Professor Hyung-Seok Seo's research lab focuses on microbial genomics and immunology, with a strong emphasis on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying immune cell dysfunction in cancer and infectious diseases. The lab integrates genomics, systems biology, and immunotherapy approaches to explore T cell and NK cell exhaustion, tumor immune evasion, and the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies. Key research directions include the role of transcriptional regulators like TOX and NR4A in T cell exhaustion, the impact of MHC-I deficiency on immune surveillance, and the preclinical evaluation of combination immunotherapies involving checkpoint blockade and cytokine support such as IL-21. The lab also contributes to foundational bioinformatics by developing and maintaining the EzBioCloud database for prokaryotic taxonomy and genomics.

immunotherapyT cell exhaustionNK cell dysfunctioncancer immunologygenomic databases

Research Overview

Papers
58
Total Citations
10,574
Papers (5y)
30
Primary Field
Immunology and Microbiology

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
30total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
535total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|7,733 citations·2016
Introducing EzBioCloud: a taxonomically united database of 16S rRNA gene sequences and whole-genome assemblies
Seok-Hwan Yoon, Sung Min Ha, Soon‐Jae Kwon, Jeongmin Lim, Ye-Seul Kim, Hyungseok Seo, Jongsik Chun
SJR Q1INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGYOA

The recent advent of DNA sequencing technologies facilitates the use of genome sequencing data that provide means for more informative and precise classification and identification of members of the Bacteria and Archaea. Because the current species definition is based on the comparison of genome sequences between type and other strains in a given species, building a genome database with correct taxonomic information is of paramount need to enhance our efforts in exploring prokaryotic diversity a

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|853 citations·2019
NR4A transcription factors limit CAR T cell function in solid tumours
Joyce Chen, Isaac F. López-Moyado, Hyungseok Seo, Chan‐Wang Jerry Lio, Laura J. Hempleman, Takashi Sekiya, Akihiko Yoshimura, James Scott‐Browne, Anjana Rao
SJR Q1NatureOA
OncologyMedicine
3
Article|769 citations·2019
TOX and TOX2 transcription factors cooperate with NR4A transcription factors to impose CD8 + T cell exhaustion
Hyungseok Seo, Joyce Chen, Edahí González‐Avalos, Daniela Samaniego‐Castruita, Arundhoti Das, Yueqiang H. Wang, Isaac F. López-Moyado, Romain O. Georges, Wade Zhang, Atsushi Onodera, Cheng-Jang Wu, Li‐Fan Lu
SJR Q1Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOA

T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR T cells) have shown impressive therapeutic efficacy against leukemias and lymphomas. However, they have not been as effective against solid tumors because they become hyporesponsive (“exhausted” or “dysfunctional”) within the tumor microenvironment, with decreased cytokine production and increased expression of several inhibitory surface receptors. Here we define a transcriptional network that mediates CD8 + T cell exhaustion. We show that the h

OncologyMedicine
4
Article|350 citations·2021
BATF and IRF4 cooperate to counter exhaustion in tumor-infiltrating CAR T cells
Hyungseok Seo, Edahí González‐Avalos, Wade Zhang, Payal Ramchandani, Chao Yang, Chan‐Wang Jerry Lio, Anjana Rao, Patrick G. Hogan
SJR Q1Nature ImmunologyOA
OncologyMedicine
5
Article|157 citations·2017
IL-21-mediated reversal of NK cell exhaustion facilitates anti-tumour immunity in MHC class I-deficient tumours
Hyungseok Seo, Insu Jeon, Byung‐Seok Kim, Myung Hwan Park, Eun‐Ah Bae, Boyeong Song, Choong‐Hyun Koh, Kwangsoo Shin, Il‐Kyu Kim, Ki-Young Choi, Taegwon Oh, Jiyoun Min
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

During cancer immunoediting, loss of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) in neoplasm contributes to the evasion of tumours from host immune system. Recent studies have demonstrated that most natural killer (NK) cells that are found in advanced cancers are defective, releasing the malignant MHC-I-deficient tumours from NK-cell-dependent immune control. Here, we show that a natural killer T (NKT)-cell-ligand-loaded tumour-antigen expressing antigen-presenting cell (APC)-based vaccine

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
6
Article|133 citations·2019
Paradoxical association of TET loss of function with genome-wide DNA hypomethylation
Isaac F. López-Moyado, Ageliki Tsagaratou, Hiroshi Yuita, Hyungseok Seo, Benjamin Delatte, Sven Heinz, Christopher Benner, Anjana Rao
SJR Q1Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOA

Cancer genomes are characterized by focal increases in DNA methylation, co-occurring with widespread hypomethylation. Here, we show that TET loss of function results in a similar genomic footprint. Both 5hmC in wild-type (WT) genomes and DNA hypermethylation in TET -deficient genomes are largely confined to the active euchromatic compartment, consistent with the known functions of TET proteins in DNA demethylation and the known distribution of 5hmC at transcribed genes and active enhancers. In c

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Review|112 citations·2019
Roles of NKT cells in cancer immunotherapy
Eun‐Ah Bae, Hyungseok Seo, Il‐Kyu Kim, Insu Jeon, Chang‐Yuil Kang
SJR Q1Archives of Pharmacal Research
ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
8
Article|64 citations·2018
Activation of NKT Cells in an Anti-PD-1–Resistant Tumor Model Enhances Antitumor Immunity by Reinvigorating Exhausted CD8 T Cells
Eun‐Ah Bae, Hyungseok Seo, Byung Seok Kim, Jeong-Won Choi, Insu Jeon, Kwang-Soo Shin, Choong-Hyun Koh, Boyeong Song, Il‐Kyu Kim, Byung Soh Min, Yoon Dae Han, Sang Joon Shin
SJR Q1Cancer ResearchOA

Abstract PD-1–based cancer immunotherapy is a successful example of immune checkpoint blockade that provides long-term durable therapeutic effects in patients with cancer across a wide spectrum of cancer types. Accumulating evidence suggests that anti-PD-1 therapy enhances antitumor immunity by reversing the function of exhausted T cells in the tumor environment. However, the responsiveness rate of patients with cancer to anti-PD-1 therapy remains low, providing an urgent need for optimization a

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
9
Article|60 citations·2018
IL21 Therapy Combined with PD-1 and Tim-3 Blockade Provides Enhanced NK Cell Antitumor Activity against MHC Class I–Deficient Tumors
Hyungseok Seo, Byung Seok Kim, Eun‐Ah Bae, Byung Soh Min, Yoon Dae Han, Sang Joon Shin, Chang‐Yuil Kang
SJR Q1Cancer Immunology ResearchOA

Abstract Increased expression of coinhibitory molecules such as PD-1 and Tim-3 on NK cells has been demonstrated in advanced cancer patients who harbor MHC class I–deficient tumors. However, even in preclinical models, the antitumor effects of checkpoint blockade on NK cells have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we show that anti–PD-1/anti–Tim-3 treatment suppressed tumor progression in mice bearing MHC class I–deficient tumors, and the suppression was further enhanced by recombinant IL21 (rIL

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
10
Article|7 citations·2025
Acute neuroinflammation induces prolonged transcriptional reprogramming in microglia
Sehoon Moon, Cheol Gyun Kim, Young-Kwang Kim, Cheol‐Heui Yun, Min-Kyoo Shin, Hyungseok Seo
SJR Q1Journal of NeuroinflammationOA

Acute neuroinflammation rapidly activates brain immune responses, but its lasting effects on microglia are unclear. Using systemic LPS administration and LCMV-Armstrong infection, we found that blood-brain barrier disruption and cytokine shifts resolved within 30 days, yet microglial recovery was incomplete-marked by persistent numerical loss and an IFN-γ-low phenotype in the LPS model and reduced relative abundance in the LCMV model. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed sustained transcriptional

NeurologyNeuroscience
11
Article|2 citations·2019
Disruption of TOX transcription factors enhances CAR T cells function in solid tumors
Hyungseok Seo, Joyce Chen, Edahi Gonzalez Avalos, Daniela Samaniego Castruita, Issac Lopez Moyado, Cheng-Jang Wu, Arundhoti Das, Li-Fan Lu, Avinash Bhandoola, Anjana Rao
SJR Q1The Journal of Immunology

Abstract T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have shown impressive therapeutic efficacy against leukemias and lymphomas, but have not been as effective against solid tumors because chronic stimulation with tumor antigens causes them to enter a hyporesponsive (“exhausted” or “dysfunctional”) state. Here we show that the high-mobility group (HMG)-box transcription factors TOX and TOX2 are highly expressed in CAR-expressing exhausted (PD-1highTim3high) CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymph

OncologyMedicine
12
Article|2 citations·2016
Effect of electrically heated humidifier on intraoperative core body temperature decrease in elderly patients: a prospective observational study
서형석, 김경미, 오은아, 문연진, 김영국, 황재현

Background: Core body temperature (TC) can decrease during general anesthesia. Particularly in elderly patients, more aggressive strategies to prevent intraoperative hypothermia may be required. Here, we investigated the effect of a heated humidifier on intraoperative TC decrease in the elderly. Methods: Twenty-four elderly patients were randomly assigned into two groups: those who used a heated humidifier (group H) and those who used a conventional ventilator circuit with a heat moisture exchan

13
Article|2 citations·2019
Abstract 938: Disruption of TOX overcomes CAR T-cell dysfunction function in solid tumor
Hyungseok Seo, Joyce Chen, Arundhoti Das, Avinash Bhandoola, Anjana Rao
SJR Q1Cancer Research

Abstract Adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor expressing T (CAR T) cells has shown promising therapeutic efficacy against leukemia and lymphoma. However, CAR T cells in solid tumors fail to be as effective as in liquid tumors since they enter into a hyporesponsive (exhausted or dysfunctional) state that is induced by chronic antigen stimulation in cancer. Here, we show that CAR T cells in solid tumors exhibit low effector function and high expression of inhibitory receptors such

OncologyMedicine
14
Article|1 citations·2025
Transforming TGF-β suppression into IL-15 stimulation: Advancing engineered CAR-T therapy for solid tumors
Hyungseok Seo
SJR Q1Molecular Therapy
OncologyMedicine
15
Article|1 citations·2025
Advances and challenges in CAR-T therapy for glioblastoma
Hyeri Ryou, Sang-Eun Jung, Hyungseok Seo
SJR Q1Seminars in Hematology
OncologyMedicine

Research Areas

ImmunologyOncologyMolecular BiologyBiotechnologyPharmacologyInternal Medicine

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