1. Can you please briefly summarize the paper? 

Our research paper worked on elucidating the contribution of dysfunctional blood vessels to manifestation of psoriasis. In this paper, we have shown that, in mural psoriatic lesions, pro-inflammatory cell abundance leads to compromising of blood vessel barrier hence its dysfunctionality. Tie2, a receptor well known for its pivotal role toward maintaining the tight junction and endothelial cell-cell contact, has been found to have reduced phosphorylation level in psoriatic skin samples. Our in vitro studies suggest the involvement of ROS in this reduction, possibly by modification of multiple cysteine residues in its kinase domain. By using Tie2 activating antibody, we can rescue the phosphorylation of Tie2 in vitro, as well as endothelial functionality. Together with our in vivo experiments, we observe the positive effects of activating Tie2 in psoriasis condition, proposing this receptor as the novel sensor for ROS and a worthy target for alternative therapeutic approaches.

2. Can you please tell us the main difficulties you had in the laboratory work and how you overcame them?

The most challenging part in this research was to determine the mechanism of action of ROS in reducing Tie2 phosphorylation level. Since Tie2 kinase domain has several cysteine residues that can be subjected to modification by ROS. We have tried several hypotheses involving the formation of disulfide bonds, conformational changes due to additional charges etc., but the result were either contradicting with our hypothesis or not sufficient to justify such a robust change in phosphorylation of Tie2. To overcome this problem, we have consulted with our collaborators and even performed mass spectrometry analysis in order to pin point the exact oxidation modification of cysteine residues in Tie2 kinase domain.

3. Please introduce your laboratory, university or organization to bio-researchers in Korea.

I am currently working in professor Kim Chungho’s Lab of Matrix biology in Korea University. Our lab has graduate students working on different projects ranging from the cell-matrix interaction, transduction of signaling from transmembrane receptors to extracellular proteolysis. These studies were put under different contexts such as thrombosis, angiogenesis or metastasis with the aim of understanding its underlying mechanism, physiology and better designing alternative treatments. Our lab belongs to the department of life sciences, which houses a variety of laboratories providing unlimited chances for collaborations and interdisciplinary studies.

4. Please tell us your experiences and your thoughts related to research activities abroad.

In my opinion, researching abroad seems to demand more independence and self-motivation. That does not mean I was working on my own without any support. It is in the nature of surrounding myself with foreign environment. It was not necessarily a bad thing; I have been granted the chance to better improve my critical thinking and planning ahead of the time. Also, I am grateful for the opportunities to meet so many great people in the field and learn a lot from them.

5. Can you provide some advice for younger scientists who have plans to study abroad?

I would tell them to be patient with themselves, allow themselves some time to adapt with the changes and new things to come. Studying abroad is like throwing yourself to the unknown, so you have to embrace the differences, meet new people, seek the collaborations whenever possible. Scientific advancements come from a collective effort of people working in different fields, it would do no harm trying to share the ideas and getting different points of view from our colleagues.

6. Future plan?

The immediate plan is to finish my thesis and get my PhD. I have always dreamed of becoming of researcher, so I have been planning on seeking some postdoc programs to better equip myself with advanced techniques.

7. Do you have anything else that you would like to tell Korean scientists and students?

I believe Korean scientists are among the most hard-working and dedicated ones that I feel so fortunate to work with. My time studying in Korea has been so worthwhile with the help from you all. And for that, I will be forever be thankful.