• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.137-142
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• 2019

Numerous efforts are being made to develop an ideal dermal filler that should be bio-compatibility, non-immunogenicity, long-lasting and biodegradable without a toxic secretion. Biomaterials of dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid filler, calcium filler, PMMA filler and collagen filler depending on the ingredient. Although hyaluronic acid (HA) is most widely used, it has shortages such as short shelf life and low mechanical strength compare to extracellular matrix (ECM). The cartilage ECM composed of collagen type II, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and in a minor part with glycoproteins. In this study, we developed a cartilage ECM injectable filler capable of improving biocompatibility and longevity compared with hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. The ECM hydrogel was cross-linked by the reaction of N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) for mechanical enhancement. Prepared ECM filler was compared with cross-linked HA by butanediol diglycidyle ether (BDDE), which is the most widely used natural polymers for dermal filler. In the results, the articular cartilage ECM hydrogel has great potential as a dermal filler to improve the biophysical and biological performance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.119-121
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• 1999

Tumor cell interaction with the extracellular matrix is defined as the critical event of tumor invasion that signals the initiation of a metastatic cascade. Sesquicillin has been identified as an inhibitor of melanoma cell adhesion to the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cultured broth of fungal strain F60063. Sesquicillin strongly inhibited the adhesion of B16 melanoma cells to laminin, fibronectin, and typeIV collagen. It also inhibited B16 melanoma cell invasion of reconstituted basement membrane Matrigel in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that sesquicillin is a new class of nonpeptidic ECM adhesion inhibitor having anti-invasive activity.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 1995

A variety of experiments of endothelial cell seeding onto artificial vessels have been performed. To improve endothelialization, one or two components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) have been used as an underlying matrix. In this study, the whole ECM excreted from fibroblasts was used as an underlying matrix. Fetal human fibroblasts were cultured on a polyurethane (PU) sheet. After a conflu; ence was attained, the cytoskeleton and the nuclei of the fibroblast were destroyed using Triton-X. Mitomycin, or irradiation. Omental microvascular endothelial cells from adult human were seeded onto various substrates. After 12 days in culture, the cells were counted. It was observed that the ECM treated by irradiation had the highest cell number. In addition, the cells on this substrate exhibited the most typical endothelial cell morphology. For preliminary animal experiments the PU vessels (inner diameter, 1.5mm) coated with ECM were implanted in the infrarena] abdominal aorta of rat. After the vessels had been implanted for 5 weeks, it was found that the surface of the PU vessels was completely covered with endothelia] cells. In conclusion, we can state that the fibroblast-derived whole ECM makes a better underlying substrate for the endothelialization of small diameter artificial vessels.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권10호
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• pp.491-499
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• 2020

The extracellular matrix is a critical component of every human tissue. ECM not only functions as a structural component but also regulates a variety of cellular processes such as cell migration, differentiation, proliferation, and cell death. In addition, current studies suggest that ECM is critical for the pathophysiology of various human diseases. ECM is composed of diverse components including several proteins and polysaccharide chains such as chondroitin sulfate, heparan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid. Each component of ECM exerts its own functions in cellular and pathophysiological processes. One of the interesting recent findings is that ECM is involved in inflammatory responses in various human tissues. In this review, we summarized the known functions of ECM in neuroinflammation after acute injury and chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nerve systems.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2313-2316
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• 2015

Objective: To investigate the correlation between extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM1) and the growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Forty-five samples with laryngeal benign and malignant tumors confirmed by pathology in Laiwu City People's Hospital from March 2006 to March 2011 were collected, in which there were 29 cases with laryngeal carcinoma and 16 with benign tumors. The expression of ECM1 and factor VIII-related antigens in patients with laryngeal carcinoma and those with benign tumors was respectively detected using immunohistochemical method, and the correlation between ECM1 staining grade and microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed. Results: In laryngeal carcinoma tissue, ECM1 was mainly expressed in cytoplasm, less in cytomembrane or intercellular substance. With abundant expression in the tissue of laryngeal benign tumors (benign mesenchymoma and hemangioma), ECM1 was primarily expressed in the connective tissue, which was different from the expression in laryngeal carcinoma tissue. The proportion of positive ECM1 staining (++) in patients with laryngeal carcinoma was dramatically higher than those with benign tumors (p<0.05), and that of strongly-positive ECM1 staining (+++) slightly higher. The results of Spearman nonparametric correlation analysis revealed that ECM1 staining grade in laryngeal carcinoma tissue had a significantly-positive correlation with MVD (r=0.866, p=0.000). Conclusions: ECM1 expression in laryngeal carcinoma is closely associated with tumor cell growth, metastasis and angiogenesis, which can be considered as an effective predictor in the occurrence and postoperative recurrence of laryngeal carcinoma.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.213-222
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• 2011

The native extracellular matrix (ECM) consists of an integrated fibrous protein network and proteoglycan-based ground (hydrogel) substance. We designed a novel electrospinning technique to engineer a three dimensional fiber-hydrogel composite that mimics the native ECM structure, is injectable, and has practical macroscale dimensions for clinically relevant tissue defects. In a model system of articular cartilage tissue engineering, the fiber-hydrogel composites enhanced the biological response of adult stem cells, with dynamic mechanical stimulation resulting in near native levels of extracellular matrix. This technology platform was expanded through structural and biochemical modification of the fibers including hydrophilic fibers containing chondroitin sulfate, a significant component of endogenous tissues, and hydrophobic fibers containing ECM microparticles.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) are multipotent stromal cells that have great potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types such as osteocytes, chondrocytes, and myocytes. Although there have been many studies on their clinical availability, little is known about how intracellular signals can be modulated by topographic features of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we investigated whether and how microwavy-patterned extracellular matrix (ECM) could affect the signaling activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a key cellular adhesion protein. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based FAK biosensor-transfected cells are incubated on microwavy-patterned surfaces and then platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) are treated to trigger FAK signals, followed by monitoring through live-cell FRET imaging in real time. As a result, we report that PDGF-induced FAK was highly activated in cells cultured on microwavy-patterned surface with L or M type, while inhibited by H type-patterned surface. In further studies, PDGF-induced FAK signals are regulated by functional support of actin filaments, microtubules, myosin-related proteins, suggesting that PDGF-induced FAK signals in hMSC upon microwavy surfaces are dependent on cytoskeleton (CSK)-actomyosin networks. Thus, our findings not only provide new insight on molecular mechanisms on how FAK signals can be regulated by distinct topographical cues of the ECM, but also may offer advantages in potential applications for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.307-314
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• 2013

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a potent pro-fibrotic factor, which is implicated in fibrosis through extracellular matrix (ECM) induction in diabetic cardiovascular complications. It is an important downstream mediator in the fibrotic action of transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ ($TGF{\beta}$) and is potentially induced by hyperglycemia in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify the signaling pathways of CTGF effects on ECM accumulation and cell proliferation in VSMCs under hyperglycemia. We found that high glucose stimulated the levels of CTGF mRNA and protein and followed by VSMC proliferation and ECM components accumulation such as collagen type 1, collagen type 3 and fibronectin. By depleting endogenous CTGF we showed that CTGF is indispensable for the cell proliferation and ECM components accumulation in high glucose-stimulated VSMCs. In addition, pretreatment with the MEK1/2 specific inhibitors, PD98059 or U0126 potently inhibited the CTGF production and ECM components accumulation in high glucose-stimulated VSMCs. Furthermore, knockdown with ERK1/2 MAPK siRNA resulted in significantly down regulated of CTGF production, ECM components accumulation and cell proliferation in high glucose-stimulated VSMCs. Finally, ERK1/2 signaling regulated Egr-1 protein expression and treatment with recombinant CTGF reversed the Egr-1 expression in high glucose-induced VSMCs. It is conceivable that ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating CTGF expression and suggests that blockade of CTGF through ERK1/2 MAPK signaling may be beneficial for therapeutic target of diabetic cardiovascular complication such as atherosclerosis.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.182-187
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• 2018

In carcinoma, cancer-associated fibroblasts participate in force-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, consequently leading to invasion of cancer cells. Likewise, the ECM remodeling actively occurs in glioblastoma (GBM) and the consequent microenvironmental stiffness is strongly linked to migration behavior of GBM cells. However, in GBM the stromal cells responsible for force-mediated ECM remodeling remain unidentified. We show that tumor-associated mesenchymal stem-like cells (tMSLCs) provide a proinvasive matrix condition in GBM by force-mediated ECM remodeling. Importantly, CCL2-mediated Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) activation increased phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2 in tMSLCs and led to collagen assembly and actomyosin contractility. Collectively, our findings implicate tMSLCs as stromal cells providing force-mediated proinvasive ECM remodeling in the GBM microenvironment, and reminiscent of fibroblasts in carcinoma.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.313-318
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• 2015

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and regulate the extracellular microenvironment. Despite the significant role that MMP activity plays in cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions, migration, and differentiation, analyses of MMPs in vitro and in vivo have relied upon their abundance using conventional immunoassays, rather than their enzymatic activities. To resolve this issue, diverse nanoprobes have emerged and proven useful as effective activity-based detection tools. Here, we review the recent advances in luminescent nanoprobes and their applications in in vitro diagnosis and in vivo imaging of MMP activity. Nanoprobes with the purpose of sensing MMP activity consist of recognition and detection units, which include MMP-specific substrates and luminescent (fluorescent or bioluminescent) nanoparticles, respectively. With further research into improvement of the optical performance, it is anticipated that luminescent nanoprobes will have great potential for the study of the functional roles of proteases in cancer biology and nanomedicine. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 313-318]