• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2014

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are known to play an important role in the repair of damaged blood vessels. We used an endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming assay (EPC-CFA) to determine whether EPC numbers could be increased in healthy individuals through regular exercise training. The number of functional EPCs obtained from human peripheral blood-derived AC133 stem cells was measured after a 28-day regular exercise training program. The number of total endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming units (EPC-CFU) was significantly increased compared to that in the control group (p=0.02, n=5). In addition, we observed a significant decrease in homocysteine levels followed by an increase in the number of EPC-CFUs (p=0.04, n=5), indicating that the 28-day regular exercise training could increase the number of EPC colonies and decrease homocysteine levels. Moreover, an inverse correlation was observed between small-endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming units (small-EPC-CFUs) and plasma homocysteine levels in healthy men (r=-0.8125, p=0.047). We found that regular exercise training could increase the number of EPC-CFUs and decrease homocysteine levels, thus decreasing the cardiovascular disease risk in men.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.651-659
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• 2020

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death across the world, and gold-standard treatments such as percutaneous coronary intervention and artery bypass grafting have various limitations including myocardial damage and subsequent maladaptive cardiac remodeling. To overcome this, stem-cell therapies are emerging as a promising strategy for cardiovascular regeneration. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have high potential to proliferate and differentiate into endothelial cells for vascularization and tissue regeneration, and several clinical trials have explored EPC function in tissue repair in relation to clinical safety and improving cardiac function. Consequently, EPC has been suggested as a feasible stem-cell therapy. However, autologous EPC transplantation in cardiovascular disease patients is restricted by risk factors such as age, smoking status, and hypertension that lead to reduced bioactivity in the EPCs. New approaches for improving EPC function and stem-cell efficacy have therefore been suggested, including cell priming, organoid culture systems, and enhancing transplantation efficiency through 3D bioprinting methods. In this review, we provide a comprehensive understanding of EPC characteristics, therapeutic approaches, and the current state of clinical research into EPCs as stem-cell therapy for cardiovascular disease.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2011

Endothelial cells are a vital constituent of most mammalian organs and are required to maintain the integrity of these tissues. These cells also play a major role in angiogenesis, inflammatory reactions, and in the regulation of thrombosis. Angiogenesis facilitates pulp formation and produces the vessels which are essential for the maintenance of tooth homeostasis. These vessels can also be used in bone and tissue regeneration, and in surgical procedures to place implants or to remove cancerous tissue. Furthermore, endothelial cell regeneration is the most critical component of the tooth generation process. The aim of the present study was to stimulate endothelial regeneration at a site of acute cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced endothelial injury by treatment with human umbilical cord-derived endothelial/mesenchymal stem cells (hEPCs). We randomly assigned 16 to 20-week-old female NOD/SCID mice into three separate groups, a hEPC ($1{\times}10^5$ cells) transplanted, 300mg/kg CP treated and saline (control) group. The mice were sacrificed on days 5 and 10 and blood was collected via the abdominal aorta for analysis. The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alkaline phosphatase (s-ALP), and albumin (ALB) levels were then evaluated. Tissue sections from the livers and kidneys were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for microscopic analysis and were subjected to immunohistochemistry to evaluate any changes in the endothelial layer. CP treatment caused a weight reduction after one day. The kidney/body weight ratio increased in the hEPC treated animals compared with the CP only group at 10 days. Moreover, hEPC treatment resulted in reduced s-ALP, AST, ALT levels compared with the CP only group at 10 days. The CP only animals further showed endothelial injuries at five days which were recovered by hEPC treatment at 10 days. The number of CD31-positive cells was increased by hEPC treatment at both 5 and 10 days. In conclusion, the CP-induced disruption of endothelial cells is recovered by hEPC treatment, indicating that hEPC transplantation has potential benefits in the treatment of endothelial damage.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2006

Rhabdovirus-like virus were isolated from the fry (15~30 days post hatching, dph) and rearing water of the snakehead fish Channa arga exhibiting mass mortality in spring of 2003 and 2004 in Korea. The isolates were propagated in EPC and SSN-1 cells but not replicated in FHM cells. The bullet-shaped viral particles (45×100 nm) appeared to be compact and a similar morphology to those of the rhabdoviruses in the infected EPC cells. The optimum temperature for virus replication was 20 to 25℃ but they could not replicate at 15℃. The isolates ShFRV-3 and ShFRV-5 from snakehead fish showed high pathogenicity against the fry (15 dph) and fingering (40 dph) of snakehead fish but did not in the larger size (90 dph).

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 1998

Marine birnavirus (MABV) has wide host range in marine organisms. To clarify various infection properties of MABV in different host species, in vitro study was performed by subculture for 10 passages in several fish cell lines. In CHSE-214, RTG-2 and RSBK-2 cells, the virus produced high yield of virus. Typical CPE with high protein expression was observed in these cells. On the contrary, the virus grown in EPC, FHM and BF-2 cells exhibited no CPE appearance although virus protein was detected. In EPC and FHM cells, the virus titer increased in later passages. The plaque size was distinctly bigger in CHSE-214, RTG-2 and RSBK-2 cells than in other cell lines. The nucleotide sequence of VP2/NS junction region on genome segment A exhibited one specific nucleotide change at 195. The different infection properties in several cell types performed in the present work might reflect in vivo MABV infection in various host species occurring in natural conditions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2012

Inhibiting the bioactivities of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) results in significant inhibition of neovessel formation during tumor angiogenesis. To investigate the potential effect of phloroglucinol as an EPC inhibitor, we performed several in vitro functional assays using $CD34^+$ cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB). Although a high treatment dose of phloroglucinol did not show any cell toxicity, it specifically induced the cell death of EPCs under serum free conditions through apoptosis. In the EPC colony-forming assay (EPC-CFA), we observed a significant decreased in the small EPC-CFUs for the phloroglucinol group, implying that phloroglucinol inhibited the early stage of EPC commitment. In addition, in the in vitro expansion assay using $CD34^+$ cells, treatment with phloroglucinol was shown to inhibit endothelial lineage commitment, as demonstrated by the decrease in endothelial surface markers of EPCs including $CD34^+$, $CD34^+/CD133^+$, $CD34^+/CD31^+$ and $CD34^+/CXCR4^+$. This is the first report to demonstrate that phloroglucinol can inhibit the functional bioactivities of EPCs, indicating that phloroglucinol may be used as an EPC inhibitor in the development of biosafe anti-tumor drugs that target tumor angiogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2018

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is essential for cell culture and is used in the determination of infectivity titer and propagation of viruses. To clarify the effects of FBS on the propagation of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), which is a causative agent of mass mortalities of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in Korea, VHSV was inoculated into an EPC (epithelioma papulosum cyprinid) cell line supplemented with MEMs (minimal essential medium) with FBS concentrations of 0%, 2%, 5%, and 10% (MEM0, MEM2, MEM5, and MEM10), respectively, and infectivity titers were compared. Cytopathic effects were observed in all experimental groups at 2 days post virus inoculation (dpi) and all cells were detached from cell culture flasks at 7 dpi. Infectivity titers increased to 3 dpi, persisted to 7 dpi, and decreased when cells were detached. The titer of VHSV in EPC cells in MEM0 was the lowest while those in the other experimental groups showed similar levels. In conclusion, 2% (v/v) of FBS was sufficient to propagate VHSV in EPC cells and the withdrawal of VHSV from cell culture flasks should be performed before cell detachment.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

This study evaluated in vitro cytotoxicity of 5 pesticides, including 2 herbicides, 2 germicides, and an insecticide, as an alternative to the fish acute toxicity test. The in vitro cytotoxicity was tested using a neutral red uptake (NRU) assay with epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells that originated from the epidermal tissue of Cyprinus carpio (common carp). An in vivo fish acute toxicity test was conducted according to OECD Test Guideline No. 203 using Aphyocypris chinensis (Chinese bleak), Oryzias latipes (Japanese medaka), and C. carpio. The results showed that the sensitivity of the cell viability assay for the pesticides was similar to the fish acute test in ranking order despite having approximately 10 times less absolute sensitivity. The $r^2$ correlation values were calculated as 0.38 (p = 0.26), 0.76 (p = 0.05) and 0.90 (p = 0.01) for A. chinensis, O. latipes, and C. carpio, respectively. These results suggested that the potential of EPC cell viability assay as an alternative to the fish acute toxicity test due to their good correlation and NRU assay is expected to serve as a useful tool for predicting acute fish lethality for pesticides if further studies with a large set of pesticides are conducted.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2012

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are a population of cells that circulate in the blood stream. They play a role in angiogenesis and, therefore, can be prognostic markers of vascular repair. Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ prevents endothelial cell apoptosis through the inhibition of the mitochondrial caspase pathway. It also affects estrogen activity, which reduces EPC senescence. Sun ginseng (SG), which is heat-processed ginseng, has a high content of ginsenosides. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of SG on senescence-associated apoptosis in EPCs. In order to isolate EPCs, mononuclear cells of human blood buffy coats were cultured and characterized by their uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (acLDL) and their binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (ulex-lectin). Flow cytometry with annexin-V staining was performed in order to assess early and late apoptosis. Senescence was determined by ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}$-gal) staining. Staining with 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole verified that most adherent cells (93${\pm}$2.7%) were acLDL-positive and ulex-lectin-positive. The percentage of ${\beta}$-gal-positive EPCs was decreased from 93.8${\pm}$2.0% to 62.5${\pm}$3.6% by SG treatment. A fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis showed that 4.9% of EPCs were late apoptotic in controls. Sun ginseng decreased the apoptotic cell population by 39% in the late stage of apoptosis from control baseline levels. In conclusion, these results show antisenescent and antiapoptotic effects of SG in human-derived EPCs, indicating that SG can enhance EPC-mediated repair mechanisms.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.368-376
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of lycopene on the migration, adhesion, tube formation capacity, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) cultivated with high glucose (HG) and as well as explore the mechanism behind the protective effects of lycopene on peripheral blood EPCs. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. EPCs were identified after induction of cellular differentiation. Third generation EPCs were incubated with HG (33 mmol/L) or 10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/mL$ of lycopene plus HG. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess proliferation and apoptosis of EPCs. EPC migration was assessed by MTT assay with a modified boyden chamber. Adhesion assay was performed by replating EPCs on fibronectin-coated dishes, after which adherent cells were counted. In vitro vasculogenesis activity was assayed by Madrigal network formation assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze protein expression of both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated p38 MAPK. RESULTS: The proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity of EPCs treated with 10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/mL$ of lycopene plus HG were all significantly higher comapred to the HG group (P < 0.05). Rates of apoptosis were also significantly lower than that of the HG group. Moreover, lycopene blocked phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in EPCs (P < 0.05). To confirm the causal relationship between MAPK inhibition and the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced cellular injury, we treated cells with SB203580, a phosphorylation inhibitor. The inhibitor significantly inhibited HG-induced EPC injury. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene promotes proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity as well as reduces apoptosis of EPCs. Further, the underlying molecular mechanism of the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced EPC injury may involve the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway. Specifically, lycopene was shown to inhibit HG-induced EPC injury by inhibiting p38 MAPKs.