• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.439-448
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• 2018

Objective: Myogenic satellite cells were isolated from semitendinosus muscle of prepubertal Korean black goat to observe the differential effect of linolenic and retinoic acid in thepresence of thiazolidinediones (TZD) and also to observe the production insulin sensitive preadipocyte. Methods: Cells were characterized for their stemness with cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34), CD13, CD106, CD44, Vimentin surface markers using flow cytometry. Cells characterized themselves as possessing significant (p<0.05) levels of CD13, CD34, CD106, Vimentin revealing their stemness potential. Goat myogenic satellite cells also exhibited CD44, indicating that they possessed a % of stemness factors of adipose lineage apart from their inherent stemness of paxillin factors 3/7. Results: Cells during proliferation stayed absolutely and firmly within the myogenic fate without any external cues and continued to show a significant (p<0.05) fusion index % to express myogenic differentiation, myosin heavy chain, and smooth muscle actin in 2% horse serum. However, confluent myogenic satellite cells were the ones easily turning into adipogenic lineage. Intriguingly, upregulation in adipose specific genetic markers such as peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, adiponectin, lipoprotein lipase, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ were observed and confirmed in all given treatments. However, the amount of adipogenesis was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01) with linolenic acid as compared to retinoic acid in combination with TZD's. Conclusion: Retinoic acid was found to produce smaller preadipocytes which have been assumed to have insulin sensitization and hence retinoic acid could be used as a potential agent to sensitize tissues to insulin in combination with TZD's to treat diabetic conditions in humans and animals in future.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.37 no.sup2
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• pp.447-463
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• 2007

Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells have been known as multipotential cells, and as playing an important rolesin periodontal regeneration. The PDL cells are composed of heterogeneous cell populations which have the capacity to differentiate into either cementoblasts or osteoblasts, depending on needs and conditions. Therefore, PDL cells have the capacity to produce mineralized nodules in vitro in mineralization medium which include ascorbic acid, ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone. In spite of these well-known osteoblast like properties of PDL cells, very little is known about the molecules involved in the formation of the mineralized nodules in the PDL cells. In the present study, we analysed gene-expression profiles during the mineralization process of cultured PDL cells by means of a cDNA microarray consisting of 3063 genes. Nodules of mineralized matrix were strongly stained with alizarin red S on the PDL cells cultured in the media with mineralization supplements. Among 3,063 genes analyzed, 35 were up-regulated more than two-fold at one or more time points in cells that developed matrix mineralization nodules, and 38 were down-regulated to less than half their normal level of expression. In accord with the morphological change we observed, several genes related to calcium-related or mineral metabolism were induced in PDL cells during osteogenesis, such as IGF-II and IGFBP-2. Proteogycan 1, fibulin-5, keratin 5, ,${\beta}$-actin, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin and capping protein, and cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix proteins were up-regulated during mineralization. Several genes encoding proteins related to apoptosis weredifferentially expressed in PDL cells cultured in the medium containing mineralization supplements. Dkk-I and Nip3, which are apoptosis-inducing agents, were up-regulated, and Btf and TAXlBP1, which have an anti-apoptosis activity, were down-regulated during mineralization. Also periostin and S100 calciumbinding protein A4 were down-regulated during mineralization.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.944-952
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• 2009

Purpose : To investigate the effects of angiotensin II inhibition on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the developing kidney, we tested the expression of EMT markers and nestin in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-treated kidneys. Methods : Newborn rat pups were treated with enalapril (30 mg/kg/d) or a vehicle for 7 days. Immunohistochemistry for the expression of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (SMA), E-cadherin, vimentin, and nestin were performed. The number of positively-stained cells was determined under 100 magnification in 10 random fields. Results : In the enalapril-treated group, ${\alpha}SMA-positive$ cells were strongly expressed in the dilated tubular epithelial cells. The number of ${\alpha}SMA-positive$ cells in the enalapril-treated group increased in both the renal cortex and medulla, compared to the control group (P<0.05). The expression of E-cadherin-positive cells was dramatically reduced in the cortical and medullary tubular epithelial cells in the enalapril-treated group (P<0.05). The number of vimentin- and nestin-positive cells in the cortex was not different in comparisons between the two groups; however, their expression increased in the medullary tubulointerstitial cells in the enalapril-treated group (P<0.05). Conclusion : Our results show that ACE inhibition in the developing kidney increases the renal EMT by up-regulating ${\alpha}SMA$ and down-regulating E-cadherin. Enalapril treatment was associated with increased expression of vimentin and nestin in the renal medulla, suggesting that renal medullary changes during the EMT might be more prominent, and ACE inhibition might differentially modulate the expression of EMT markers in the developing rat kidney.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation on healing of impaired wound and alteration of mast cells in experimental diabetic rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups : incision (control), diabetes+incision (diabetes) and diabetes + incision + electrical stimulation (D/ES). Diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (60 mg/kg, one time) and 20 mm length incision wounds were created on the back after shaving hair. The electrical stimulation rats were treated with a current intensity of 30~50 V at 120 pps and $140{\mu}s$ for 10 days from 3 days after STZ injection. The lesion and adjacent skin tissues were fixed with 10% buffered formalin, embedded with paraffin. For wound healing analysis, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and picrosirius red staining were performed. Mast cells (MC) were stained with toluidine blue (pH 0.5) and quantified at ${\times}200$ using a light microscope. The density of keratinocyte proliferation and microvessels in skin tissues were analyzed using a computerized image analysis system on sections immunostained with proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), respectively. The results showed that the wound healing rate, collagen density and neoepidermis thickness, density of PCNA-positive cells and density of ${\alpha}$-SMA-positive vessels were significantly higher in D/ES rats than in diabetic rats. The density of MCs and degranulated MCs in D/ES rats were also significantly higher than those in diabetic rats. These findings suggest that the electrical stimulation may promote the tissue repair process by accelerating collagen production, keratinocyte proliferation and angiogenesis in the diabetic rats, and MCs are required for wound healing of skin in rats.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2020

Objective: Endometrial fibrosis, the primary pathological feature of intrauterine adhesion, may lead to disruption of endometrial tissue structure, menstrual abnormalities, infertility, and recurrent pregnancy loss. At present, no ideal therapeutic strategy exists for this fibrotic disease. Eupatilin, a major pharmacologically active flavone from Artemisia, has been previously reported to act as a potent inducer of dedifferentiation of fibrotic tissue in the liver and lung. However, the effects of eupatilin on endometrial fibrosis have not yet been investigated. In this study, we present the first report on the impact of eupatilin treatment on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced endometrial fibrosis. Methods: The efficacy of eupatilin on TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis was assessed by examining changes in morphology and the expression levels of fibrosis markers using immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Eupatilin treatment significantly reduced the fibrotic activity of TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis in Ishikawa cells, which displayed more circular shapes and formed more colonies. Additionally, the effects of eupatilin on fibrotic markers including alpha-smooth muscle actin, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, collagen type I alpha 1 chain, and matrix metalloproteinase-2, were evaluated in TGF-β-induced endometrial fibrosis. The expression of these markers was highly upregulated by TGF-β pretreatment and recovered to the levels of control cells in response to eupatilin treatment. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that suppression of TGF-β-induced signaling by eupatilin might be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of endometrial fibrosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.406-412
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• 2011

Background: Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. Materials and Methods: Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2/MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ and expression of SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-${\beta}1$ supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. Results: MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-${\beta}1$ treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. Conclusion: ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2013

Cirsium japonicum (CJ) leaf (L) alcoholic extracts were investigated for analysis their active components (flavonoids and flavanolignans; silymarins) and inhibitory effect on transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}$ induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs, LX-2 cells) activation. The CJ root (R) extracts were also analyzed and compared with leaf extracts. Total flavonoid and polyphenol contents of the leaf extracts showed higher than those of the root extracts. The content of each flavonoid compound, which was analyzed by HPLC, in CJ-L extracts was also higher than in CJ-R extracts. The results of flavanolignans content in CJ-L and CJ-R extracts were consistent in flavonoid and polyphenol. We studied inhibitory effect of two extracts against TGF-${\beta}1$ induced HSCs activation. The CJ-L extracts significantly suppressed overexpression of profibrogenic factor, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin and collagen-${\alpha}1$(I). The CJ-R extract also showed inhibitory effect on TGF-${\beta}1$ induced HSCs activation, but the efficacy was lower than in CJ-L extract. These results suggest that CJ-L may contribute to the fibrotic liver treatment.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.348-353
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• 2012

L-2-Oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (OTC) is a cysteine prodrug that maintains glutathione in tissues. The present study was designed to investigate anti-fibrotic and anti-oxidative effects of OTC via modulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in an in vivo thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic fibrosis model. Treatment with OTC (80 or 160 mg/kg) improved serum liver function parameters and significantly ameliorated liver fibrosis. The OTC treatment groups exhibited significantly lower expression of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$, and collagen ${\alpha}1$ mRNA than that in the TAA model group. Furthermore, the OTC treatment groups showed a significant decrease in hepatic malondialdehyde level compared to that in the TAA model group. Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 expression increased significantly in the OTC treatment groups compared with that in the TAA model group. Taken together, these results suggest that OTC restores the anti-oxidative system by upregulating Nrf2; thus, ameliorating liver injury and a fibrotic reaction.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2010

Hepatic fibrosis represents the main complication of most chronic liver disorders and, regardless of its etiology, is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix components. In this study, we examined that 1-O-Hexyl-2,3,5-Trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), a potent anti-oxidative agent, could prevent experimental hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in male SD rats. Except for vehicle control group, other groups were induced hepatic fibrosis by intraperitoneal injection with DMN (10 mg/ml/kg) on 3 consecutive days weekly for 4 weeks. During the same 4 weeks, control and DMN groups were given vehicle and HTHQ 50, 100 and 200 groups were orally administered HTHQ (50, 100, 200 mg/kg respectively). In HTHQ 100 and 200 groups, relative liver weight and serum chemistry level improved significantly. HTHQ reduced hydroxyproline (p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) level in the liver. Histopathological examination of H&E, Masson's trichrome stain showed the reduced fibrotic septa in HTHQ 100 and 200 groups. HTHQ administration showed reduced mRNA level of PDGF (Platelet-derived growth factor), $\alpha$-SMA ($\alpha$-smooth muscle actin) and TGF-$\beta$ (transforming growth factor-$\beta$) than DMN-induced hepetic fibrosis animals in the liver tissue. In this study, we showed that HTHQ improves against DMN-induced liver fibrosis in male SD rats.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.166-174
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• 2002

Background: Human umbilical cord bloods, which could be taken during the delivery are utilized as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Also in cord blood, there are several kinds of stem cells such as endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: We isolated the mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord bloods and confirmed the differentiation of these cells into osteoblast progenitor cells. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood have the ability to differentiate into specific tissue cells, which is one of characteristics of stem cells. These cells were originated from the multipolar shaped cells out of adherent cells of the umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell culture. Results: The mesenchymal stem cells expressed cell surface antigen CD13, CD90, CD102, CD105, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin and cytoplasmic antigen vimentine. Having cultrued these cells in bone formation media, we observed the formation of extracellular matrix and the expression of alkaline phosphatase and of mRNA of cbfa-1, ostoecalcin and type I collagen. Conclusion: From these results we concluded that the cells isolated from the umbilical cord blood were mesenchymal stem cells, which we could differentiate into osteoblast when cultured in bone formation media. In short, it is suggested that these cells could be used as a new source of stem cells, which has the probability to alternate the embryonic stem cells.