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Biomedical subjects

Hyun Kyung Lee

Publications and source records attributed to Hyun Kyung Lee.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Tandem splice acceptor sites: Profiling their relevance to human disease.

PURPOSE: Interpretation of variation, particularly the creation or disruption of tandem splice acceptor sites (NAGNnAG variants), challenges genomic medicine practice. METHODS: We analyzed the creation and disruption of dinucleotide AG sites within ±30 bases of natural splice-acceptor sites in the GRCh37 human reference genome. These results were compared with variant data from the ClinVar and gnomAD databases, as well as with data from 779 National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program study participants. Using RNA sequencing, we assessed the splicing at NAGNnAG variants for 107 of the Undiagnosed Diseases Program participants and compared the empirical data with SpliceAI predictions. RESULTS: Creation or disruption of NAGNnAG sites within 30 bases of the natural splice acceptor are enriched in ClinVar compared with gnomAD; however, such variants in the 2 databases are rarely differentiated by SpliceAI scores. Empirical evaluation via RNA sequencing analysis supported novel acceptor site usage from -21 to +30; splice-altering variants did not predominate in a specific region or have SpliceAI scores invariantly, suggesting increased spliceogenicity. CONCLUSION: NAGNnAG variants within 30 bp of the natural splice acceptor have a high probability of clinical relevance and are poorly contextualized for clinical utility. Their interpretation benefits from empirical evaluation via RNA analysis.

Humans↗

Structural investigation of an RNA device that regulates PD-1 expression in mammalian cells.

Synthetic RNA devices are engineered to control gene expression and offer great potential in both biotechnology and clinical applications. Here, we present multidisciplinary structural and biochemical data for a tetracycline (Tc)-responsive RNA device (D43) in both ligand-free and bound states, providing a structure-dynamical basis for signal transmission. Activation of self-cleavage is achieved via ligand-induced conformational and dynamical changes that stabilize the elongated bridging helix harboring the communication module, which drives proper coordination of the catalytic residues. We then show the utility of CRISPR-integrated D43 in EL4 lymphocytes to regulate programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), a key receptor of immune checkpoints. Treatment of these cells with Tc showed a dose-dependent reduction in PD-1 by immunostaining and a decrease in messenger RNA levels by quantitative PCR as compared with wild type. PD-1 expression was recoverable upon removal of Tc. These results provide mechanistic insight into RNA devices with potential for cancer immunotherapy or other applications.

Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor↗

Evaluation of adenoassociated virus 2 and human papilloma virus 16 and 18 infection in cervical cancer biopsies.

OBJECTIVE: Protective roles of adenoassociated virus (AAV) 2 in cervical tumorigenesis are controversial. In an effort to clarify this issue, we tested prevalence of AAV 2 and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical lesions and adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: Tissues of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN) I (20 patients), CIN II (24 patients), CIN III (25 patients), and invasive cancer (23 patients) were investigated by microdissection and PCR using HPV-16-, HVP-18-, and AAV-2-specific primers. RESULTS: AAV 2 was detected in 11 out of 20 CIN I (55%), 21 out of 24 CIN II (84.5%), 13 out of 25 CIN III (52%), and 12 out of 23 invasive cancer cases (52.2%). However, HPV 16 was detected in none out of 20 CIN I, 2 out of 24 CIN II (8.3%), 6 out of 25 CIN III (24%), and 6 out of 23 invasive cancer cases (26.1%). HPV 18 was detected in 1 case in CIN II (4.2%) and 2 cases in CIN III (8%). In 92 perilesional normal tissues, AAV 2 was detected in 53 cases (57.6%), displaying 25% of CIN I, 83.3% of CIN II, 52% of CIN III, and 65.2% of invasive cancer. CONCLUSION: The differences in AAV 2 prevalence are not significant between CIN and normal tissues. However, differences in HPV 16 are significant in CIN III and invasive cancer, as compared to CIN I, CIN II, and normal, suggesting no significant correlation between AAV 2 and cervical cancer. Thus, these results support the notion that AAV 2 is not associated with cervical tumorigenesis.

Biopsy↗

Loffler's syndrome associated with Clonorchis sinensis infestation.

In 1932, Loffler described a syndrome of self-limiting, transient pulmonary infiltrates associated with peripheral blood eosinophilia and mild pulmonary symptoms. A number of conditions are related to pulmonary eosinophilia or pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia. Especially, parasitic infestations are often related to pulmonary eosinophilia, but only two cases associated with Clonorchis sinensis have been anecdotally reported in English literature. Here we report a case of migrating pulmonary eosniophilic infiltrations associated with Clonorchis sinensis that was successfully treated with praziquantel. Clonorchiasis should be considered in patients with marked eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltrations.

Animals↗