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Diseases we are investigating
Diseases we are investigating
Periodontitis (치주염):
Chronic inflammation of tooth supporting tissue
A number one cause of tooth loss
It is associated with diverse systemic diseases.
Oral Lichen Planus (구강편평태선):
A chronic mucocutaneous disease of unknown etiology (cause)
There is no cure.
Pathogenesis involves T cells, but triggering antigens are not known.
Pathogenesis model proposed by our group
Sjogren's Syndrome (쇼그렌 증후군):
A systemic autoimmune disorder that target the salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to dryness of the mouth and eyes.
The pathological characteristics of SS include focal lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary/lacrimal glands, hypergammaglobulinemia, and various autoantibodies, including those against SS-related antigen A (SSA), SS-related antigen B (SSB), IgG, type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R), and aquaporin-5 (AQP5).
Glandular dysfunction involves not only destruction of acinar cells by infiltrated T cells but also autoantibodies against the M3R or AQP5 that interfere with the secretion process.
AQP5 is a major water channel protein expressed in the lacrimal and salivary glands and plays a critical role in tear and saliva secretion.
We identified anti-AQP5 autoantibodies.
Human AQP5 has high homology with AQPs of several oral bacterial species.
Ductal cells and the areas of lymphocytic infiltration in the SS salivary glands are heavily infected with bacteria.
Immunization of mice with a peptide derived from an oral bacterial AQP induced anti-AQP5 autoantibodies and reduced salivary flow.
Questions and Hypotheses we are addressing
Questions and Hypotheses we are addressing
How germinal center B cells distinguish self-Ag from foreign-Ag after mutation of BCR?
Do TRPV1+ neuron cells have a role in the control of persistent infection?
What are the consequences of interactions between infected keratinocytes and Th1/Th17 cells?
1) The clearance of infected bacteria
2) Epithelial barrier functions
Oral keratinocytes infected with GFP-expressing E. coli isolated from OLP
Interactions between infected keratinocytes and Th1/Th17 cells in Ag-specific or Ag-nonspecific manners
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