Summary Cytokines are crucial in host defence against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. A newly described cytokine, interleukin‐32 (IL‐32), induces various proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6) and chemokines in both human and mouse cells through the nuclear factor‐κB and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase inflammatory signal pathway. The IL‐32 primarily acts on monocytic cells rather than T cells. In an attempt to isolate the IL‐32 soluble receptor, we used an IL‐32 ligand‐affinity column to purify neutrophil proteinase 3, which is a serine proteinase involved in many inflammatory diseases. IL‐32 has biological activity associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and chronic proinflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. IL‐32 is transcribed as six alternative splice variants and the biological activity of each individual isoform remains unknown. Here, we cloned the complementary DNA of the four IL‐32 isoforms (α, β, γ and δ) that are the most representative IL‐32 transcripts. To produce recombinant protein with a high yield, the amino acids of two cysteine residues were mutated to serine residues, because serine residues are not conserved among different species. The multi‐step purified recombinant IL‐32 isoform proteins were assessed for their biological activities with different cytokine assays. The γ isoform of IL‐32 was the most active, although all isoforms were biologically active. The present study will provide a specific target to neutralize endogenous IL‐32, which may contribute to basic and clinical immunology.

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Abstract. Cofilin, an actin-binding protein, is essential for a variety of cell responses. In this study, we investigated the correlation between proliferation and cofilin phosphorylation in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). The phosphorylation of cofilin and activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were measured by Western analyses and proliferation in RASMCs was measured by BrdU incorporation assays. The phosphorylation of cofilin in RASMCs was decreased by PDGF-BB treatment at 10 min, but recovered to the level of the quiescent state at 60 min. PDGF-BB-induced dephosphorylation of cofilin was inhibited by pretreatment with piceatannol (a spleen tyrosine kinase [Syk] inhibitor), PP2 (a Src inhibitor), or SP600125 (a c-Jun N-terminal kinase [JNK] inhibitor), but not by PD98059, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 / 2. PDGF-BB increased JNK activity and proliferation, and these responses were suppressed by kinase inhibitors and small interference RNA-cofilin. The results suggest that PDGF-BB-induced dephosphorylation of cofilin can be promoted via the JNK pathway, which is regulated by both Syk and Src kinases and that cofilin dephosphorylation may be involved in PDGF-BB-induced RASMC proliferation.

Interleukin-32 (IL-32

BackgroundTemporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in children often leads to facial deformity, functional deficit, and negative influence of the psychosocial development, which worsens with growth. The treatment of TMJ ankylosis in the pediatric patient is much more challenging than in adults because of a high incidence of recurrence and unfavorable growth of the mandible.Case reportThis is a case report describing sequential management of the left TMJ ankylosis resulted from trauma in early childhood. The multiple surgeries including a costochondral graft and gap arthroplasty using interpositional silicone block were performed, but re-ankylosis of the TMJ occurred after surgery. Alloplastic TMJ prosthesis was conducted to prevent another ankylosis, and signs or symptoms of re-ankylosis were not found. Additional reconstruction surgery was performed to compensate mandibular growth after confirming growth completion. During the first 3 years of long-term follow-up, satisfactory functional and esthetic results were observed.ConclusionsThis is to review the sequential management for the recurrent TMJ ankylosis in a growing child. Even though proper healing was expected after reconstruction of the left TMJ with costal cartilage graft, additional surgical interventions, including interpositional arthroplasty, were performed due to re-ankylosis of the affected site. In this case, alloplastic prosthesis could be an option to prevent TMJ re-ankylosis for growing pediatric patients with TMJ ankylosis in the beginning.

Background The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and pharmacoepidemiologic characteristics of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Methods The study population is comprised of 86patients who were diagnosed with ONJ at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from 2008 to 2015. Factors for epidemiologic evaluation were gender, age, location of lesion, and clinical history. The types of bisphosphonates, duration of intake, and the amount of accumulated dose were evaluated for therapeutic response. Clinical symptoms and radiographic images were utilized for the assessment of prognosis. Results Among the 86 patients, five were male, whereas 81 were female with mean age of 73.98 (range 45–97). Location of the lesion was in the mandible for 58 patients and maxilla in 25 patients. Three patients had both mandible and maxilla affected. This shows that the mandible is more prone to the formation of ONJ lesions compared to the maxilla. ONJ occurred in 38 cases after extraction, nine cases after implant surgery, six cases were denture use, and spontaneously in 33 cases. Seventy-six patients were taking other drugs aside from drugs indicated for osteoporosis. Most of these patients were diagnosed as osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis, multiple myeloma, or had a history of cancer therapy. Higher weighted total accumulation doses were significantly associated with poorer prognosis ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Dose, duration, route, and relative potency of bisphosphonates are significantly associated with treatment prognosis of osteonecrosis of the jaw.

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In dentistry, tissue expanders have been used to obtain sufficient soft tissue for alveolar bone augmentation in the severely atrophic ridge. Herein, we review two cases of soft tissue augmentation using a self-inflating tissue expander in patients in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital for bone graft and implant operations. The results of each patient were presented using pre-operative and post-operative radiographs and clinical exams. The results of our study indicate successful bone graft and implant surgery using a self-inflating tissue expander.