Jiyoun Kim, PhD
Degree(s) – BS, MS, Ph.D.
Academic Title – Research Assistant Professor
Education/Training -
Korea University, Seoul, Korea: BS Biology 1982
Korea University, Seoul, Korea: MS Microbiology 1984
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL: Ph.D. Immunology 1999
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI: Research Fellow 1999-2004
Research Interests -
Asthma represents an important health problem in the United States and is among the most common respiratory complaints seen by physicians in the outpatient setting. While the magnitude of the problem affects nearly 36 million Americans, understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma at this time is limited.
We developed a novel murine model of asthma which is induced by a house dust extract that contains cockroach allergens and endotoxin. The house dust was collected from the house that has asthmatic child and then extracted into PBS. Pulmonary expression of inflammatory mediators, recruitment of leukocytes, and airway hyper-responsiveness were significantly increased following immunization and challenge with the house dust extract. All of these data demonstrate that we have been successful in establishing a unique murine model of asthma-like pulmonary inflammation.
My studies have been focused on expanding our understanding of asthma by using our well-established mouse model:
- The role of tumor necrosis factor in asthma, potentially novel mediators for new insights into the pathogenesis of this asthma like pulmonary inflammation. In a previous study, we demonstrated a brisk and significant increase in tumor necrosis factor within the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid immediately after pulmonary challenge with the house dust extract. Given the increase in TNF, it would represent a logical target for inhibition and blockade of the pulmonary inflammatory response to the house dust extract. Preliminary studies showed that blockade of TNF resulted in a reduction of the pulmonary and inflammation demonstrated by reduced recruitment of inflammatory cells and airway hyper-responsiveness.
- The association between increased ambient air pollution levels and symptoms of asthma. Asthmatics represent a highly sensitive subpopulation that is at increased risk following exposure to particulate matters in the ambient environment. A recent article has demonstrated that normal volunteers develop pulmonary inflammation when exposed to diesel exhaust particles. Our proposed model views asthma as a three-legged stool with ambient air pollution, endotoxin, and allergens representing individual legs supporting the asthmatic response. Understanding the relative contribution of each one of these pathways may help direct interventions most likely to yield effective therapies.
- Treatment of asthma using an herbal extract mixture.
Recent Publications -
- Jiyoun Kim and Daniel G. Remick. Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors for the Treatment of Asthma. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports 2007, 7: 151-156.
- Jiyoun Kim, McKinley L, Natarajan S, Bolgos G, Siddiqui J, Copeland S, and Daniel G Remick. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody treatment reduces pulmonary inflammation and methacholine hyperresponsiveness in a Murine Asthma Model Induced by House Dust. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2006, 36: 122-132.
- Laura McKinley. Jiyoun Kim, Gerry L Bolgos, Javed Siddiqui, and Daniel G Remick. CXC chemokines modulate IgE secretion and pulmonary inflammation in a model of allergic asthma. Cytokine 2005, 32: 178-185.
- Jiyoun Kim, Laura McKinley, Javed Siddiqui, Gerry L Bolgos, Daniel G Remick. Prevention and Reversal of Pulmonary inflammation and Airway Hyperresponsiveness by Dexamethasone Treatment in a Murine Model of Asthma Induced by House Dust Containing High Levels of Cockroach Allergens. American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 2004, 287: L503-L509.
- Kim Jiyoun, Merry A, Nemzek J, Bolgos G, Siddiqui J, Remick DG. Eotaxin represents the principal eosinophil chemoattractant in a novel murine asthma model induced by house dust containing cockroach allergens. Journal of Immunology, 2001, 167:2808-2815.
Contact Information
- Telephone – (617) 414-5313
- Email – jykim@bu.edu
