• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2011

The functional cardiovascular system is comprised of distinct mesoderm-derived lineages including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and other mesenchymal cells. Recent studies in the human embryonic stem cell differentiation model have provided evidence indicating that these cell lineages are developed from the common progenitors such as hemangioblasts and cardiovascular progenitor cells. Also, the studies have suggested that these progenitors have a common primordial progenitor, which expresses KDR (human Flk-1, also known as VEGFR2, CD309). We demonstrate here that sustained activation of BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein 4) in hESC line, CHA15 hESC results in $KDR^+$ mesoderm specific differentiation. To determine whether the $KDR^+$ population derived from hESCs enhances potential to differentiate along multipotential mesodermal lineages than undifferentiated hESCs, we analyzed the development of the mesodermal cell types in human embryonic stem cell differentiation cultures. In embryoid body (EB) differentiation culture conditions, we identified an increased expression of $KDR^+$ population from BMP4-stimulated hESC-derived EBs. After induction with additional growth factors, the $KDR^+$ population sorted from hESCs-derived EBs displays mesenchymal, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle potential in matrix-coated monolayer culture systems. The populations plated in monolayer cultures expressed increased levels of related markers and exhibit a stable/homologous phenotype in culture terms. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the $KDR^+$ population is stably isolated from CHA15 hESC-derived EBs using BMP4 and growth factors, and sorted $KDR^+$ population can be utilized to generate multipotential mesodermal progenitors in vitro, which can be further differentiated into cardiovascular specific cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.196-203
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• 2013

Recent accumulating studies have reported that hypoxic preconditioning during ex vivo expansion enhanced the self-renewal or differentiation of various stem cells and provide an important strategy for the adequate modulation of oxygen in culture conditions, which might increase the functional bioactivity of these cells for cardiac regeneration. In this study, we proposed a novel priming protocol to increase the functional bioactivity of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) for the treatment of cardiac regeneration. Firstly, patient-derived c-$kit^+$ CPCs isolated from the atrium of human hearts by enzymatic digestion and secondly, pivotal target molecules identified their differentiation into specific cell lineages. We observed that hCPCs, in response to hypoxia, strongly activated ERK phosphorylation in ex vivo culture conditioning. Interestingly, pre-treatment with an ERK inhibitor, U0126, significantly enhanced cellular proliferation and tubular formation capacities of CPCs. Furthermore, we observed that hCPCs efficiently maintained the expression of the c-kit, a typical stem cell marker of CPCs, under both hypoxic conditioning and ERK inhibition. We also show that hCPCs, after preconditioning of both hypoxic and ERK inhibition, are capable of differentiating into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and cardiomyocytes (CMs), but not endothelial cells (ECs), as demonstrated by the strong expression of ${\alpha}$-SMA, Nkx2.5, and cTnT, respectively. From our results, we conclude that the functional bioactivity of patient-derived hCPCs and their ability to differentiate into SMCs and CMs can be efficiently increased under specifically defined culture conditions such as short-term hypoxic preconditioning and ERK inhibition.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제31권9호
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• pp.856-861
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• 2021

CD82/KAI1은 분자촉진제로서 암 전이억제자로 역할이 잘 알려져 있으나, 최근 줄기 전구 세포와 혈관 신생, 근육에서 다양한 역할들이 밝혀지고 있다. 이에 본 연구진은 최근에 보고된 CD82의 다양한 기능과 역할에 관하여 총설 하고자 한다. CD82는 4개의 막 통과 도메인을 가진 테트라스파닌의 한 종류로 암의 전이 과정에 관여하는 세포접착분자들과의 상호작용을 통하여 암세포의 이동 능력을 저해한다. 암 전이 억제자로의 기능 외에도 줄기세포 니쉬에서도 그 역할이 밝혀졌다. 골수에서 분화재생능력이 뛰어난 최상위 조혈모세포(LT-HSC)에서 CD82가 발현되며, DARC와의 상호결합으로 줄기세포의 휴면을 유도한다. 줄기세포의 휴면 조절 외에도, CD82는 Rac1 활성 조절을 통해 조혈모세포의 골수로의 귀환 및 생착에도 역할을 한다. 또한, CD82는 근육 줄기 세포의 분화능을 유지시키며, 혈관 내피세포에서 세포 접착 분자와 IL-6, VEGF와 같은 사이토카인의 발현을 저해하여 혈관 신생을 억제한다. CD82는 다양한 조직 및 줄기-전구 세포에서 계급을 구별할 수 있는 핵심 세포막 표면 단백질이며, 세포 자원의 증폭 및 검증에 있어 중요하다. 다양한 기관과 세포에서 CD82의 역할과 추가적인 연구들이 줄기세포치료의 임상적 적용에 있어 큰 도움이 되기를 기대한다.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.71-71
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• 2003

Human umbilical cord blood cells(HUCBC) are rich in mesenchymal progenitor cells, endothelial cell precursors and hematopoietic cells. HUCBC have been used as a source of transplantable stem and progenitor cells. However, little is known about survival and development of HUCBC transplantation in the CNS. Estrogen has a neuroprotective potential against oxidative stress-induced cell death so has an effect on reducing infarct size of ischemic brain. We investigated the potential use of HUCBC as donor cells and tested whether estrogen mediates intravenously infused HUCBC enter and survive in ischemic brain. PKH26 labeled mononuclear fraction of HUCBC were injected into the tail vein of ischemic OVX rat brain with or without $17\beta$-estradiol valerate(EV). Under fluorescence microscopy, labeled cells were observed in the brain section. Significantly more cells were found in the ischemic brain than in the non-ischemic brain. HUCBC transplanted into ischemic brain could migrate and survive. Some of cells have shown neuronal like cells in hippocampus, striatum and cortex tissues. These result suggest that estrogen reduces ischemic damage and increases the migration of human umbilical cord blood cells. This Study was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation(KOSEF) though the Biohealth Products Research Center(BPRC), Inje University, Korea.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.299-305
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• 2010

Purpose: Adipose tissue is located beneath the skin, around internal organs, and in the bone marrow in humans. Its main role is to store energy in the form of fat, although it also cushions and insulates the body. Adipose tissue also has the ability to dynamically expand and shrink throughout the life of an adult. Recently, it has been shown that adipose tissue contains a population of adult multipotent mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells that, in cell culture conditions, have extensive proliferative capacity and are able to differentiate into several lineages, including, osteogenic, chondrogenic, endothelial cells, and myogenic lineages. Materials and Methods: This study focused on endothelial cell culture from the adipose tissue. Adipose tissues were harvested from buccal fat pad during bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for surgical correction of mandibular prognathism. The tissues were treated with 0.075% type I collagenase. The samples were neutralized with DMEM/and centrifuged for 10 min at 2,400 rpm. The pellet was treated with 3 volume of RBC lysis buffer and filtered through a 100 ${\mu}m$ nylon cell strainer. The filtered cells were centrifuged for 10 min at 2,400 rpm. The cells were further cultured in the endothelial cell culture medium (EGM-2, Cambrex, Walkersville, Md., USA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, human EGF, human VEGF, human insulin-like growth factor-1, human FGF-$\beta$, heparin, ascorbic acid and hydrocortisone at a density of $1{\times}10^5$ cells/well in a 24-well plate. Low positivity of endothelial cell markers, such as CD31 and CD146, was observed during early passage of cells. Results: Increase of CD146 positivity was observed in passage 5 to 7 adipose tissue-derived cells. However, CD44, representative mesenchymal stem cell marker, was also strongly expressed. CD146 sorted adipose tissue-derived cells was cultured using immuno-magnetic beads. Magnetic labeling with 100 ${\mu}l$ microbeads per 108 cells was performed for 30 minutes at $4^{\circ}C$ a using CD146 direct cell isolation kit. Magnetic separation was carried out and a separator under a biological hood. Aliquous of CD146+ sorted cells were evaluated for purity by flow cytometry. Sorted cells were 96.04% positivity for CD146. And then tube formation was examined. These CD146 sorted adipose tissue-derived cells formed tube-like structures on Matrigel. Conclusion: These results suggest that adipose tissue-derived cells are endothelial cells. With the fabrication of the vascularized scaffold construct, novel approaches could be developed to enhance the engineered scaffold by the addition of adipose tissue-derived endothelial cells and periosteal-derived osteoblastic cells to promote bone growth.

• 폴리머
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.602-607
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• 2009

심혈관용 소재로서 혈관내피전구세포의 포획을 통해 in vivo 내피세포화가 가능한 표면을 가진 폴리우레탄 표면을 개발하였다. 혈관내피전구세포의 점착을 유도하는 CD34 단일클론항체(monoclonal antibody, mAb)를 표면에 도입하기 위해, poly (poly (ethylene glycol) acrylate-co-butyl methacrylate), poly (PEGA-co-BMA) 공중합체가 합성되었고, 이를 폴리우레탄 표면에 코팅하여 CD34 단일클론항체를 화학적으로 고정화하였다. 중합된 공중합체의 $^1H$-NMR 분석은 원하는 조성을 가진 poly(PEGA-co-BMA)의 합성이 가능함을 확인해 주었다. 이전 연구에서 개발된 PEG가 그래프트된 폴리우레탄과의 비교를 통해, 본 연구에서 제조된 poly(PEGA-co-BMA)가 코팅된 폴리우레탄 표면이 CD34 mAb의 고정화에 더 효과적인 것으로 나타났으며, 이는 CD34 mAb의 표면밀도와 활성도가 32배 이상 증가된 결과를 통해 증명되었다. 개질된 폴리우레탄 표면의 물리화학적 특성은 XPS와 물 접촉각, AFM에 의해 분석되었으며, 각각의 개질된 표면에 따른 표면의 특이적 성질을 잘 보여주었다. 본 연구에서 얻어진 결과들은 poly(PEGA-co-BMA)의 코팅을 통해 제조된 표면이 CD34 mAb의 고정화에 효과적임을 설명하였으며, 실제로 심혈관용 소재의 개발에 적용 가능성이 크다는 것을 증명해 주었다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

The endogenous retrovirus-like elements (HERVs) found on several human chromosomes are somehow involved in gene regulation, especially during the transcription level. HERV-H, located on chromosome Xp22, may regulate gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in connection with diverse diseases. By suppression subtractive hybridization screen on SV40-immortalized lung fibroblast (WI-38 VA-13), we discovered that expression of HERV-HX2, a clustered HERV-H sequence on chromosome X, was upregulated in immortalized lung cells, compared to that of normal cells. Expression of HERV-HX2 was then analyzed in various cell lines, including normal somatic cells, cancer cells, SV40-immortalized cells, and undifferentiated and differentiated human embryonic stem cells. Expression of HERV-HX2 was specifically upregulated in continuously-dividing cells, such as cancer cells and SV40-immortalized cells. Especially, HERV-HX2 in HeLa cells was highly upregulated during the S phase of the cell cycle. Similar results were obtained in hES cells, in which undifferentiated cells expressed more HERV-HX2 mRNA than differentiated hES cells, including neural precursor and endothelial progenitor cells. Taken together, our results suggest that HERV-HX2 is upregulated in cancer cells and undifferentiated hES cells, whereas downregulated as differentiation progress. Therefore, we assume that HERV-HX2 may playa role on proliferation of cancer cells as well as differentiation of hES cells in the transcriptional level.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권2호
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• pp.153-165
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• 2019

Objective : Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a very serious health problem, usually caused by a trauma and accompanied by elevated levels of inflammation indicators. Stem cell-based therapy is promising some valuable strategies for its functional recovery. Nestin-positive progenitor and/or stem cells (SC) isolated from pancreatic islets (PI) show mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics. For this reason, we aimed to analyze the effects of rat pancreatic islet derived stem cell (rPI-SC) delivery on functional recovery, as well as the levels of inflammation factors following SCI. Methods : rPI-SCs were isolated, cultured and their MSC characteristics were determined through flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis. The experimental rat population was divided into three groups : 1) laminectomy & trauma, 2) laminectomy & trauma & phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and 3) laminectomy+trauma+SCs. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) labelled rPI-SCs were transplanted into the injured rat spinal cord. Their motilities were evaluated with Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) Score. After 4-weeks, spinal cord sections were analyzed for GFP labeled SCs and stained for vimentin, $S100{\beta}$, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proinflammatory (interleukin [IL]-6, transforming growth factor $[TGF]-{\beta}$, macrophage inflammatory protein [MIP]-2, myeloperoxidase [MPO]) and anti-inflammatory (IL-1 receptor antagonis) factors. Results : rPI-SCs were revealed to display MSC characteristics and express neural and glial cell markers including BDNF, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), fibronectin, microtubule associated protein-2a,b (MAP2a,b), ${\beta}3$-tubulin and nestin as well as anti-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 receptor, EP3. The BBB scores showed significant motor recovery in group 3. GFP-labelled cells were localized on the injury site. In addition, decreased proinflammatory factor levels and increased intensity of anti-inflammatory factors were determined. Conclusion : Transplantation of PI-SCs might be an effective strategy to improve functional recovery following spinal cord trauma.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제50권11호
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• pp.13.1-13.15
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• 2018

Wound healing is delayed in diabetic patients. Increased apoptosis and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) dysfunction are implicated in delayed diabetic wound healing. Melatonin, a major secretory product of the pineal gland, promotes diabetic wound healing; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, EPCs were isolated from the bone marrow of mice. Treatment of EPCs with melatonin alleviated advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced apoptosis and cellular dysfunction. We further examined autophagy flux after melatonin treatment and found increased light chain 3 (LC3) and p62 protein levels in AGE-treated EPCs. However, lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 expression was decreased, indicating that autophagy flux was impaired in EPCs treated with AGEs. We then evaluated autophagy flux after melatonin treatment and found that melatonin increased the LC3 levels, but attenuated the accumulation of p62, suggesting a stimulatory effect of melatonin on autophagy flux. Blockage of autophagy flux by chloroquine partially abolished the protective effects of melatonin, indicating that autophagy flux is involved in the protective effects of melatonin. Furthermore, we found that the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway is involved in autophagy flux stimulation by melatonin. An in vivo study also illustrated that melatonin treatment ameliorated impaired wound healing in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic wound healing model. Thus, our study shows that melatonin protects EPCs against apoptosis and dysfunction via autophagy flux stimulation and ameliorates impaired wound healing in vivo, providing insight into its mechanism of action in diabetic wound healing.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1532-1540
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• 2013

Tbr2는 T-box family 전사인자의 하나로써 뇌의 발달, 전구세포의 증식, 그리고 CD8+ T 세포와 자연살상세포의 분화와 기능에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 마우스에서 pilocarpine을 이용하여 경련중첩증을 유도한 후 나타나는 병리기전에 Tbr2의 연관성을 확인하였다. 경련중첩증은 해마의 CA3, hilus 그리고 조롱박피질 등에서 뚜렷한 신경세포의 손상을 유발하였다. 흥미롭게도 Tbr2를 이용한 조직 염색에서 경련중첩증 2일 후에 CA3와 조롱박피질에서 면역반응성이 뚜렷하게 증가하는 것을 관찰하였다. 또한 CA3와 조롱박피질에서 Tbr2를 발현하는 세포는 미세아교세포와 단핵구, CD8+ T세포 또는 자연살상세포 등 백혈구의 표지물질인 CD11b 와 이중염색되는 것을 발견하였다. Tbr2와 CD11b에 동시에 염색된 세포는 아메바 모양의 형태를 갖추고 있는 것을 발견하였다. 게다가 혈관 내피세포에서 발혈되는 platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1(PECAM-1)과 이중 염색한 결과 Tbr2를 발현하는 세포가 CA3 지역의 혈관내에 다량 존재하는 것을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과를 종합할 때 Tbr2를 발현하는 세포는 뇌 조직으로 이주하는 백혈구일 가능성이 높음을 보여준다. 이러한 결과는 경련중첩증에 따른 신경병리기전에 Tbr2가 관여할 가능성이 높음을 처음으로 제시하였다.