• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권2호
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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.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.651-659
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• 2020

허혈성 심혈관질환은 전 세계적으로 치사율이 높은 질병 중 하나이다. 이를 치료하기 위해 수술적 방법이 시행되고 있으나, 손상된 심근조직 회복의 어려움과 수술 후 부작용의 한계가 남아있다. 이러한 한계점을 극복하기 위해, 최근 줄기세포를 기반으로 한 심혈관질환의 세포치료제가 각광받고 있는데 그 중에서도 특히 혈관내피전구세포(EPC)는 높은 증식능과 분화능을 기반으로 손상된 혈관을 재생하고, 주변 조직의 재생을 돕는다는 장점이 있다. 또, EPC는 임상적으로 안전하며, 환자의 심근 기능을 회복시켜주기에 잠재적인 심혈관질환 치료제로서의 가능성이 대두되었다. 하지만, 환자 유래 EPC를 이용한 치료법은, 고령, 흡연 여부, 기저질환 등의 이유로 환자의 EPC 기능이 저하되어 있어, 그 치료 효능을 기대하기 어렵다. 따라서, 최근에는 세포 프라이밍 기법, 오가노이드 배양법과 같이 EPC의 생리학적 활성도를 올리는 체외 배양법의 개발과 3D 바이오프린팅 기법을 이용한 EPC의 이식 효율을 높여 치료 효능을 개선시킬 수 있는 새로운 접근법이 연구되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 EPC의 특징과 세포치료제로서의 임상적용 가능성에 대해 살펴보고자 한다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제36권3호
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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.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2006

2003~2004년 봄, 대량 폐사한 가물치 자어 (부화 후 15~30일령)에서 랩도바이러스 유사 병원체를 분리하였다. 분리 바이러스주는 EPC cell과 SSN-1 cell에서 잘 증식하는 반면 FHM cell에는 감수성이 없었고 감염된 EPC cell에서 전형적인 랩도바이러스 모양의 탄환형 바이러스 입자 (45×100 nm)를 다수 관찰할 수 있었다. 분리 바이러스주의 증식 적온은 20~25℃이었고, 15℃이하에서는 증식할 수 없었으며, 30℃ 이상에서는 증식하지는 않았으나 초기 감염가를 유지하였다. 분리 바이러스는 15일령 및 40일령의 가물치 자치어에서는 침지 감염에서 병원성이 높은 반면, 90일령 이상의 중간 육성어에서는 폐사를 나타내지는 않았다.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.89-96
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• 1998

해양버나바이러스(MABV)는 여러 종의 해양생물에 감염되며 숙주역이 넓다. 다양한 종의 숙주에 감염되었을 때의 MABV의 감염 특성을 규명하기 위하여, 주화세포 내에서 바이러스를 10대 계대 배양하여 in vitro로 연구했다. CHSE-214, RTG-2와 RSBK-2세포에서는 전형적인 CPE를 보이며 많은 양의 바이러스가 생산되었고, 높은 바이러스 단백질의 발현도 관찰되었다. 이에 반하여, EPC, FHM과 BF-2세포에서는 형광항체법에 의하여 바이러스단백질은 검출되었으나 CPE는 나타나지 않았다. EPC와 FHM 세포에서는 계대를 할수록 바이러스의 역가가 높아져, 바이러스의 숙주세포에의 적응이 일어난 것으로 보인다. 플라크의 크기는 CHSE-214, RTG-2와 RSBK-2세포에서 계대한 것이 다른 세포에서 계대한 것보다 커, 숙주세포의 종류에 따른 변이가 바이러스에 일어난 것으로 추측되었다. 게놈분절 A에 존재하는 VP2/NS 경계영역의 염기배열에서는 195번째의 염기에 특이적인 변이가 보였다. 숙주세포의 종류에 따라 다른 MABV의 감염특성은 자연계에서 다양한 숙주종에서 일어나는 in vivo에서의 감염특성을 반영하는 것으로 생각된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권2호
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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.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제51권1호
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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.

• 농약과학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

본 연구는 5가지 제품농약을 이용하여 어류 급성독성시험 결과 (반수치사농도)와 잉어의 표피에서 유래된 EPC 세포를 이용한 neutral red uptake 결과 (반수저해농도)를 비교함으로써 동물 실험의 대체 가능성을 평가하기 위하여 수행되었다. 어류 급성 독성시험은 왜몰개 (Aphyocypris chinensis)를 포함하여 OECD와 농촌진흥청의 농약에 대한 독성시험기준에서 추천하는 어종인 송사리 (Oryzias latipes)와 잉어 (Cyprinus carpio)를 이용하여 수행하였다. 5가지 제품 농약에 대한 민감도는 어류에 비하여 세포에서 약 10배 더 낮게 확인되었지만, 독성을 서열화 하였을 때 나타나는 순서는 두 가지 방식에서 모두 비슷하게 나타났다. 5가지 제품 농약에 대한 세포와 어류 독성값의 상관성을 분석한 결과는 A. chinensis, O. latipes와 C. carpio에서 각각 $r^2=0.38$ (p = 0.26), $r^2=0.76$ (p = 0.05), $r^2=0.90$ (p = 0.01)을 나타내었다. 본 시험의 결과, EPC 세포를 이용한 NRU 시험은 O. latipes와C. carpio에 대한 어류 독성시험 결과와 상관성이 높으므로 향후 더 많은 약제시험을 통해 어류 급성독성시험의 대체시험법으로서의 가능성이 기대된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제36권1호
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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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• 제8권4호
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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.