• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.582-590
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• 2018

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) play a pivotal role in vascular regeneration in ischemic tissues; however, their therapeutic application in clinical settings is limited due to the low quality and quantity of patient-derived circulating EPCs. To solve this problem, we evaluated whether three priming small molecules (tauroursodeoxycholic acid, fucoidan, and oleuropein) could enhance the angiogenic potential of EPCs. Such enhancement would promote the cellular bioactivities and help to develop functionally improved EPC therapeutics for ischemic diseases by accelerating the priming effect of the defined physiological molecules. We found that preconditioning of each of the three small molecules significantly induced the differentiation potential of $CD34^+$ stem cells into EPC lineage cells. Notably, long-term priming of OECs with the three chemical cocktail (OEC-3C) increased the proliferation potential of EPCs via ERK activation. The migration, invasion, and tube-forming capacities were also significantly enhanced in OEC-3Cs compared with unprimed OECs. Further, the cell survival ratio was dramatically increased in OEC-3Cs against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress via the augmented expression of Bcl-2, a pro-survival protein. In conclusion, we identified three small molecules for enhancing the bioactivities of ex vivo-expanded OECs for vascular repair. Long-term 3C priming might be a promising methodology for EPC-based therapy against ischemic diseases.

• 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.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권10호
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• pp.504-509
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• 2017

Ischemia is a serious disease, characterized by an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of the anti-microbial peptide SR-0379 on the stem cell-mediated therapy of ischemic diseases. The migratory and tube-forming abilities of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were enhanced by treatment with SR-0379 in vitro. Intramuscular administration of SR-0379 into a murine ischemic hindlimb significantly enhanced blood perfusion, decreased tissue necrosis, and increased the number of blood vessels in the ischemic muscle. Moreover, co-administration of SR-0379 with EPCs stimulated blood perfusion in an ischemic hindlimb more than intramuscular injection with either SR-0379 or EPCs alone. This enhanced blood perfusion was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of CD31- and ${\alpha}$-SMA-positive blood vessels in ischemic hindlimb. These results suggest that SR-0379 is a potential drug candidate for potentiating EPC-mediated therapy of ischemic diseases.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.459-466
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• 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Because of the side effects and incomplete recovery from current therapy, stem cell therapy emerges as a potential therapy for CVD treatment, and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) is one of the key stem cells used for therapeutic applications. The effect of this therapy required the expansion of EPC function. To enhance the EPC activation, proliferation, and angiogenesis using dronedarone hydrochloride (DH) is the purpose of this study. DH received approval for atrial fibrillation treatment and its cardiovascular protective effects were already reported. In this study, DH significantly increased EPC proliferation, tube formation, migration, and maintained EPCs surface marker expression. In addition, DH treatment up-regulated the phosphorylation of AKT and reduced the reactive oxygen species production. In summary, the cell priming by DH considerably improved the functional activity of EPCs, and the use of which might be a novel strategy for CVD treatment.

• 한국고분자학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국고분자학회 2006년도 IUPAC International Symposium on Advanced Polymers for Emerging Technologies
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• pp.46-47
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• 2006

Vascularization is essential for success in regenerative medicine. We have developed in vitro models to study how human microvascular endothelial cells (EC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) colonize polymer scaffolds and express the endothelial phenotype, including angiogenesis. Examples are given of supportive growth and differeniation of EC on microfibre meshes of the silk protein fibroin and blends of starch with poly(epsilon-caprolactone), phenotypic markers being studied at both protein and mRNA level. Experimental models are also shown and concepts discussed to investigate how the stem cell niche, including that responsible for vascularization could be targeted, for example, by using engineered biodegradable polymer nanoparticles.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.203-213
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• 2018

Tumor undergo uncontrolled, excessive proliferation leads to hypoxic microenvironment. To fulfill their demand for nutrient, and oxygen, tumor angiogenesis is required. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been known to the main source of angiogenesis because of their potential to differentiation into endothelial cells. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of EPC-mediated angiogenesis in hypoxia is critical for development of cancer therapy. Recently, mitochondrial dynamics has emerged as a critical mechanism for cellular function and differentiation under hypoxic conditions. However, the role of mitochondrial dynamics in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis remains to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that hypoxia-induced mitochondrial fission accelerates EPCs bioactivities. We first investigated the effect of hypoxia on EPC-mediated angiogenesis. Cell migration, invasion, and tube formation was significantly increased under hypoxic conditions; expression of EPC surface markers was unchanged. And mitochondrial fission was induced by hypoxia time-dependent manner. We found that hypoxia-induced mitochondrial fission was triggered by dynamin-related protein Drp1, specifically, phosphorylated DRP1 at Ser637, a suppression marker for mitochondrial fission, was impaired in hypoxia time-dependent manner. To confirm the role of DRP1 in EPC-mediated angiogenesis, we analyzed cell bioactivities using Mdivi-1, a selective DRP1 inhibitor, and DRP1 siRNA. DRP1 silencing or Mdivi-1 treatment dramatically reduced cell migration, invasion, and tube formation in EPCs, but the expression of EPC surface markers was unchanged. In conclusion, we uncovered a novel role of mitochondrial fission in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis. Therefore, we suggest that specific modulation of DRP1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics may be a potential therapeutic strategy in EPC-mediated tumor angiogenesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2004

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly the highly selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been shown to decrease the growth of tumor, in part, by inhibition of neovascularization. Recently, besides mature endothelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to contribute neovascularization in angiogenic tissues. In this study, we addressed a question whether nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, could affect differentiation of EPCs into adhesive endothelial cells in vitro. Total mononuclear cells were isolated from cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were incubated with nimesulide or vehicle control for 7 days. The number of adherent and spindle-shaped cells decreased by nimesulide treatment in a concentration-dependent fashion at a concentration range of 5 - 200 ${\mu}M$. Moreover, the adherent cells double positive for DiI-ac-LDL uptake and lectin binding significantly decreased upon nimesulide treatment. There was no change of expression of CD31 between treatment and control groups, whereas slight reduction was detected upon treatment in expression of VE-cadherin, ICAM-1, vWF, ${\alpha}v$, and ${\alpha}5$. Nimesulide also reduced cell viability during first 3 days' culture and induced apoptosis in adherent EPCs, resulting in increased annexin-V-positive and propidium iodide-negative cells. Taken together, these results suggest that nimesulide could be applied for the inhibition of new vessel formation, in part, by inhibiting differentiation and survival of EPCs.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제2권3호
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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.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.223-227
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• 2008

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells retain the capacity for self-renewal, are pluripotent and differentiate into the three embryonic germ layer cells. The regulatory transcription factors Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 play an important role in maintaining the pluripotency of human ES cells. The aim of this research was to identify unknown genes upregulated in human ES cells along with Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2. This study characterizes an unknown gene, named chromosome 1 open reading frame 31 (C1orf31) mapping to chromosome 1q42.2. The product of C1orf31 is the hypothetical protein LOC388753 having a cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIb (COX6b) motif. In order to compare expression levels of C1orf31 in human ES cells, human embryoid body cells, vascular angiogenic progenitor cells (VAPCs), cord-blood endothelial progenitor cells (CB-EPCs) and somatic cell lines, we performed RT-PCR analysis. Interestingly, C1orf31 was highly expressed in human ES cells, cancer cell lines and SV40-immortalized cells. It has a similar expression pattern to the Oct4 gene in human ES cells and cancer cells. Also, the expression level of C1orf31 was shown to be upregulated in the S phase and early G2 phase of synchronized HeLa cells, leading us to purpose that it may be involved in the S/G2 transition process. For these reasons, we assume that C1orf31 may play a role in on differentiation of human ES cells and carcinogenesis.