Research Interest

Alzheimer’s, Atherosclerosis

Metainflammation/Metabolic DAMPs/Oxysterol

Macrophages/Microglia/CD4+ T cells

Research Summary

Investigation of metainflammation induced by oxysterols and discovery of lead compounds for Alzheimer’s disease or atherosclerosis

Inflammation induced by oxysterols promotes Alzheimer’s disease and atherosclerosis. My research interests are to investigate and to modulate molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying inflammation and immune responses involved in the aforementioned diseases. The effects of oxysterols on monocytes/macrophages, microglia, and CD4 T cells are being investigated in terms of M1 polarization and Th1 differentiation. Proteomic approaches are also used to identify the surface molecules whose levels are elevated on and the marker proteins released from the immune cells in a milieu rich in oxysterols. My laboratory has established a screening method via which any lab members can find the chemicals that inhibit oxysterol-induced inflammation. By using the system, a few chemicals suppressing the inflammation have been discovered. The beneficial effects of the chemicals are under investigation.

Selected publication

1. Kim BY, Son Y, Kim MS, Kim K. Prednisolone suppresses the immunostimulatory effects of 27-hydroxycholesterol. Exp Ther Med. 2020 Mar;19(3):2335-2342.

2. Choi J, Kim BY, Son Y, Lee D, Hong YS, Kim MS, Kim K. Reblastatins Inhibit Phenotypic Changes of Monocytes/Macrophages in a Milieu Rich in 27-Hydroxycholesterol. Immune Netw. 2020 Apr 23;20(2):e17.

3. Son Y, Choi J, Kim B, Park YC, Eo SK, Cho HR, Bae SS, Kim CD, Kim K. Cyclosporin A inhibits differentiation and activation of monocytic cells induced by 27-hydroxycholesterol. Int Immunopharmacol. 2019 Apr;69:358-367.

4. Lee J, Kim BY, Son Y, Giang DH, Lee D, Eo SK, Kim K. 4'-O-Methylalpinumisoflavone inhibits the activation of monocytes/macrophages to an immunostimulatory phenotype induced by 27-hydroxycholesterol. Int J Mol Med. 2019 May;43(5):2177-2186.

5. Kim BY, Son Y, Choi J, Eo SK, Park YC, Kim K. 27-Hydroxycholesterol upregulates the production of heat shock protein 60 of monocytic cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2017 Sep;172:29-35.

6. Cho HR, Son Y, Kim SM, Kim BY, Eo SK, Park YC, Kim K. 7α-Hydroxycholesterol induces monocyte/macrophage cell expression of interleukin-8 via C5a receptor. PLoS One. 2017 Mar 21;12(3):e0173749.

7. Son Y, Kim BY, Park YC, Kim K. Diclofenac Inhibits 27-hydroxycholesterol-induced Differentiation of Monocytic Cells into Mature Dendritic Cells. Immune Netw. 2017 Jun;17(3):179-185.

8. Son YH, Kim BY, Eo SK, Park YC, Kim K. Dexamethasone Suppresses Oxysterol-Induced Differentiation of Monocytic Cells. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:2915382.

9. Kim BY, Son Y, Eo SK, Park YC, Kim K. Diclofenac inhibits 27-hydroxycholesterol-induced inflammation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2016 Sep 23;478(3):1456-61.

10. Kim SM, Kim BY, Eo SK, Kim CD, Kim K. 27-Hydroxycholesterol up-regulates CD14 and predisposes monocytic cells to superproduction of CCL2 in response to lipopolysaccharide. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015 Mar;1852(3):442-50