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Jae-Wook Yoo

Yonsei University · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

About the Lab

Professor Jae-Wook Yoo's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation and innate immune activation in neurodegenerative diseases. The lab investigates how inflammasomes—particularly NLRP3 and NLRC4—are activated by endogenous and microbial danger signals, including mitochondrial damage, cholesterol metabolites, and bacterial outer membrane vesicles. Key research directions include the role of microglia and tissue-resident macrophages in brain homeostasis and disease, as well as the contribution of metabolic stressors like advanced glycation end products and very long-chain fatty acids to neuroinflammatory pathologies. The lab integrates human iPSC-derived models, primary immune cells, and in vivo disease models to dissect inflammatory pathways in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

inflammasome activationneuroinflammationmicrogliamitochondrial stressneurodegenerative disease

Research Overview

Papers
100
Total Citations
9,107
Papers (5y)
28
Primary Field
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
28total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
479total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|449 citations·2018
MPTP-driven NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglia plays a central role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration
Eunju Lee, Inhwa Hwang, Sangjun Park, Sujeong Hong, Boreum Hwang, Yoeseph Cho, Junghyun Son, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1Cell Death and DifferentiationOA

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and the reduction of dopamine levels in the striatum. Although details of the molecular mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuronal death in PD remain unclear, neuroinflammation is also considered a potent mediator in the pathogenesis and progression of PD. In the present study, we present evidences that microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activati

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|343 citations·2005
Cryopyrin and pyrin activate caspase-1, but not NF-κB, via ASC oligomerization
Je‐Wook Yu, Jiang Wu, Z Zhang, Pinaki Datta, Ibrahim M. Ibrahimi, S. Taniguchi, Junji Sagara, Teresa Fernandes‐Alnemri, Emad S. Alnemri
SJR Q1Cell Death and DifferentiationOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|290 citations·2007
Pyrin Activates the ASC Pyroptosome in Response to Engagement by Autoinflammatory PSTPIP1 Mutants
Je‐Wook Yu, Teresa Fernandes‐Alnemri, Pinaki Datta, Jianghong Wu, Christine A. Juliana, Leobaldo Solórzano, Margaret E. McCormick, Zhijia Zhang, Emad S. Alnemri
SJR Q1Molecular CellOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
4
Review|199 citations·2016
Mitochondria and the NLRP3 inflammasome: physiological and pathological relevance
Je‐Wook Yu, Myung‐Shik Lee
SJR Q1Archives of Pharmacal ResearchOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|164 citations·2016
25-hydroxycholesterol contributes to cerebral inflammation of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy through activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome
Jiho Jang, Sangjun Park, Hye Jin Hur, Hyun‐Ju Cho, Inhwa Hwang, Yun Pyo Kang, Isak Im, Hyunji Lee, Eunju Lee, Wonsuk Yang, Hoon‐Chul Kang, Sung Won Kwon
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), caused by an ABCD1 mutation, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA). Cerebral inflammatory demyelination is the major feature of childhood cerebral ALD (CCALD), the most severe form of ALD, but its underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we identify the aberrant production of cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H) and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) in the cellular context

SurgeryMedicine
6
Article|130 citations·2015
Rotenone-induced Impairment of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Confers a Selective Priming Signal for NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
Ji-Hee Won, Sangjun Park, Sujeong Hong, Seunghwan Son, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1Journal of Biological ChemistryOA

Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered crucial for NLRP3 inflammasome activation partly through its release of mitochondrial toxic products, such as mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS)(2) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Although previous studies have shown that classical NLRP3-activating stimulations lead to mROS generation and mtDNA release, it remains poorly understood whether and how mitochondrial damage-derived factors may contribute to NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Here, we demons

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|84 citations·2021
Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Drives Rosacea-Like Skin Inflammation in an NLRP3-Dependent Manner
Sung-Hyun Yoon, Inhwa Hwang, Eunju Lee, Hyo-Joung Cho, Ju Hee Ryu, Tae‐Gyun Kim, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1Journal of Investigative DermatologyOA
DermatologyMedicine
8
Article|72 citations·2020
Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicle-Mediated Cytosolic Delivery of Flagellin Triggers Host NLRC4 Canonical Inflammasome Signaling
Jungmin Yang, Inhwa Hwang, Eunju Lee, Sung Jae Shin, Eun‐Jin Lee, Joon Haeng Rhee, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1Frontiers in ImmunologyOA

Bacteria-released components can modulate host innate immune response in the absence of direct host cell-bacteria interaction. In particular, bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) were recently shown to activate host caspase-11-mediated non-canonical inflammasome pathway <i>via</i> deliverance of OMV-bound lipopolysaccharide. However, further precise understanding of innate immune-modulation by bacterial OMVs remains elusive. Here, we present evidence that flagellated bacteria-released

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Review|68 citations·2021
Distinct Features of Brain-Resident Macrophages: Microglia and Non-Parenchymal Brain Macrophages
Eunju Lee, Jun-Cheol Eo, Changjun Lee, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1Molecules and CellsOA

Tissue-resident macrophages play an important role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and innate immune defense against invading microbial pathogens. Brain-resident macrophages can be classified into microglia in the brain parenchyma and non-parenchymal brain macrophages, also known as central nervous system-associated or border-associated macrophages, in the brain-circulation interface. Microglia and non-parenchymal brain macrophages, including meningeal, perivascular, and choroid plexus macroph

NeurologyNeuroscience
10
Review|66 citations·2023
Distinctive role of inflammation in tissue repair and regeneration
Bokeum Choi, Changjun Lee, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1Archives of Pharmacal Research
GeneticsMedicine
11
Article|62 citations·2017
Advanced glycation end products impair NLRP3 inflammasome–mediated innate immune responses in macrophages
Seunghwan Son, Inhwa Hwang, Seung Hyeok Han, Jeon‐Soo Shin, Ok Sarah Shin, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1Journal of Biological ChemistryOA

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are adducts formed on proteins by glycation with reducing sugars, such as glucose, and tend to form and accumulate under hyperglycemic conditions. AGE accumulation alters protein function and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many degenerative diseases such as diabetic complications. AGEs have also been shown to promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but the roles of AGEs in inflammasome signaling have not been explored in detail. He

Clinical BiochemistryBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
12
Article|61 citations·2017
NLRP3 Inflammasome Contributes to Lipopolysaccharide-induced Depressive-Like Behaviors via Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase Induction
Seon‐A Jeon, Eunju Lee, Inhwa Hwang, Bo-Young Han, Sangjun Park, Seunghwan Son, Jungmin Yang, Sujeong Hong, Chul Hoon Kim, Junghyun Son, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1The International Journal of NeuropsychopharmacologyOA

Our data indicate that the NLRP3 inflammasome is significantly implicated in the progression of systemic inflammation-induced depression. NLRP3-dependent caspase-1 activation produced significant increases in indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase levels, which may play a significant role in lipopolysaccharide-induced depression. Collectively, our findings suggest that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is a potential downstream mediator of the NLRP3 inflammasome in inflammation-mediated depressive-like behaviors

Biological PsychiatryNeuroscience
13
Article|52 citations·2015
Histone deacetylase 6 negatively regulates NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Inhwa Hwang, Eunju Lee, Seon‐A Jeon, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q2Biochemical and Biophysical Research CommunicationsOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
14
Article|47 citations·2018
Brefeldin A–sensitive ER‐Golgi vesicle trafficking contributes to NLRP3‐dependent caspase‐1 activation
Sujeong Hong, Inhwa Hwang, Eunji Gim, Jungmin Yang, Sangjun Park, Sung-Hyun Yoon, Won‐Woo Lee, Je‐Wook Yu
SJR Q1The FASEB JournalOA

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi vesicle trafficking plays a pivotal role in the conventional secretory pathway of many cytokines; however, the precise release mechanism of a major inflammasome mediator, IL-1β, is not thought to follow the conventional ER-Golgi route and remains elusive. Here, we found that perturbation of ER-Golgi trafficking by brefeldin A (BFA) treatment attenuated nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome a

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
15
Article|46 citations·2025
Microglial NLRP3-gasdermin D activation impairs blood-brain barrier integrity through interleukin-1β-independent neutrophil chemotaxis upon peripheral inflammation in mice
Sung-Hyun Yoon, C Kim, Eunju Lee, Changjun Lee, Kyung-Seo Lee, Jaeho Lee, Hana Park, Bong-Ryong Choi, Inhwa Hwang, Junhan Kim, Tae‐Gyun Kim, Junghyun Son
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disintegration is a key contributor to neuroinflammation; however, the biological processes governing BBB permeability under physiological conditions remain unclear. Here, we investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in BBB disruption following peripheral inflammatory challenges. Repeated intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide administration causes NLRP3-dependent BBB permeabilization and myeloid cell infiltration into the brain. Using a mouse model with cell-specific hype

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Areas

Molecular BiologyNeurologyCellular and Molecular NeuroscienceImmunologySurgeryOrganic Chemistry

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