• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.42-54
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• 1992

To understand the structural changes of the myocardial myocytes and endothelial cells in ischemic and reperfused heart, and to elucidate their roles in those conditions, the authors observed cat and rat myocardium ultrastructurally and evaluated them with morphometric techniques. In cat, mild ischemia and moderate degree reperfusion injury was induced by ligation of the anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery and reperfusion. In rat, severe ischemia and irreversible reperfusion iniury was made using in vitro Langendorff techniques. In normal cat myocytes, the volume densities of cytoplasm, myofibrils, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum and T tubules were $0.11{\pm}0.013,\;0.51{\pm}0.096,\;0.25{\pm}0.082,\;0.09{\pm}0.008,\;0.02{\pm}0.010$ (Mean${\pm}$S.D.) respectively, and the myofibril/mitochondria ratio was $2.33{\pm}1.379$. The numerical density and average volume of mitochondria were $0.76{\pm}0.210/{\mu}m^3$ and $0.33{\pm}0.057{\mu}m^3$ respectively. In normal cat endothelial cells, the volume densities of cytoplasm, cytoplasmic vesicles, tubular systems (including endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus) and mitochondria were $0.43{\pm}0.023,\;0.28{\pm}0.007,\;0.22{\pm}0.021,\;0.03{\pm}0.014$ respectively. The mean thickness of endothelial cells was $230{\pm}45.2{\mu}m$. The numerical density and average volume of cytoplasmic vesicles were $508{\pm}55.0/{\mu}m^3,\;578{\pm}104.8nm^3$ respectively. In cat myocytes which received mild ischemic injury, the volume densities of organelles were not changed significantly in ischemic and reperfusion states. In reperfusion group myocytes, the numerical density of mitochondria was decreased significantly and the average volume was increased significantly. In endothelial cells, the volume density of tubular system in ischemic group and the average volume of cytoplasmic vesicles in reperfusion group were increased significantly. In rat myocytes which received severe ischemic injury, the volume density and average volume of mitochondria were increased significantly, and the volume density of sarcoplasmic reticulum and numerical density of mitochondria were decreased significantly in both ischemic and reperfusion groups. In ischemic and reperfused endothelial cells, the volume density and numerical density of cytoplasmic vesicles, the volume density of cytoplasm were decreased significantly. The volume densities of tubular system were increased significantly in both ischemic and reperfused groups. The volume density of mitochondria in ischemic group and the average volume of cytoplasmic vesicles in reperfusion group showed significant increase. The authors, based on the above observations, conclude that the mitochondria of myocytes and the cytoplasmic vesicles of endothelia are the first group of targets in ischemic and reperfusion injury and in this respect, the degree of ischemic insult is not significant. The role of myocyte mitochondria in reperfusion injury may be insignificant, but endothelial cells may contribute actively to reperfusion injury.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1777-1786
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• 2009

Thymosin ${\beta}4$, a small protein containing 43 amino acids, has multi-functional roles in cell physiology. It was first identified as a thymic maturation factor and recently has been shown to accelerate wound healing, hair growth, angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. It was also reported to play a key role in developing organs, including the nervous system and heart. Thymosin ${\beta}4$ induces the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), laminin-5, and other important biologically active genes. Using tissue microarray analysis, we investigated the expression patterns of thymosin ${\beta}4$ and VEGF in various normal human adult tissues. Thymosin ${\beta}4$ was highly expressed in the liver, pancreas, ductal epithelium of the salivary gland, and heart, and moderately expressed in the skin, lung, spleen, lymph node, thymus, ureter, and blood endothelial cells in both the lung and adrenal gland. The expression of VEGF generally co-localized with thymosin ${\beta}4$ and VEGF was highly expressed in the pancreas, ureter, mammary gland, liver, esophagus, and blood endothelial cells in both the lung and adrenal gland. These results suggest that thymosin ${\beta}4$ plays an important role in the function of various organs and since the expression pattern of thymosin ${\beta}4$ co-localized with VEGF, part of that function may be to induce or maintain angiogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.4103-4103
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to examine whether near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an acceptable tool to determine cholesterol and collagen in human atherosclerotic plaque without destruction of the analyzed areas and without danger the endothelial cells - three preconditions for the development of a NIR-heart-catheter. The questions were: Can the cholesterol and collagen content of the arterial intima be estimated with acceptable precision in vitro by NIRS despite the matrix inhomogeneity of the plaques and their anatomic variability\ulcorner How deep can such NIR radiation penetrate into arterial tissue without danger for endothelial cells\ulcorner Is this penetration sufficient for information on the lipid and collagen accumulation\ulcorner Using NIRS, cholesterol and collagen can be determined with acceptable precision in model mixtures and human aortic specimens (r=0,896 to 0,957). The chemical reference method was HPLC. The energy dose was 71 mW/$cm^{-2}$ using a fiber optic strand with a length of 1.5m and an optical window of d=4mm. This dose appears to be not dangerous for endothelial cells, It will be attenuated to 50% by a arterial tissue of about 170-$200\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness. The results are also acceptable using a thin coronary catheter-like fiber optic strand (d=1mm).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2003

Purpose : Pulmonary vascular hypertension is a common problem in congenital heart disease, the most common cardiac condition in childhood. However, the mechanisms responsible for this pathologic change, treatment, and prevention are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) by using a hypoxic model of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Methods : The main pulmonary artery and its proximal branches of a 6 wk old Fischer rat were excised. They were cut into multiple small pieces and suspended in DMEM medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and incubated in 5% $CO_2$-95% air atmosphere. The smooth muscle cells were confirmed by immunostaining with smooth muscle myosin and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin antibodies. The VEGF gene expression in the hypoxic group was compared with the one in control the group as well as the one in the starved group by RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. Results : There was no statistically significant difference among the control, hypoxic and starved groups. Conclusion : There are few studies of pulmonary vascular hypertension at the molecular level in Korea. Therefore, we studied the expression of VEGF gene in hypoxic pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. Further studies will be needed to find the difference between newly born and adult rats, or human and rat pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells in gene expression. We hope that the study will lead to a better understanding of pulmonary vascular hypertension.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.595-600
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• 2019

Cardiac fibrosis is a common feature in chronic hypertension patients with advanced heart failure, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is known to promote Angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated cardiac fibrosis. Previous studies have suggested a potential role for the transcription factor, ETS-1, in Ang II-mediated cardiac remodeling, however the mechanism are not well defined. In this study, we found that mice with endothelial Ets-1 deletion showed reduced cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy following Ang II infusion. The reduced cardiac fibrosis was accompanied by decreased expression of fibrotic matrix genes, reduced EndMT with decreased Snail, Slug, Twist, and ZEB1 expression, as well as reduced cardiac hypertrophy and expression of hypertrophy-associated genes was observed. In vitro studies using cultured H5V cells further confirmed that ETS-1 knockdown inhibited $TGF-{\beta}1$-induced EndMT. This study revealed that deletion of endothelial Ets-1 attenuated Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis via inhibition of EndMT, indicating an important ETS-1 function in mediating EndMT. Inhibition of ETS-1 could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treatment of heart failure secondary to chronic hypertension.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2007

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases that are complicated by atherosclerosis and a thromboembolism. An increased level of plasma homocysteine develops from a genetic defect in the of enzyme for the homocysteine metabolism or a vitamin deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinemia has direct toxic effect on the vascular endothelium and causes damages to the antithrombotic action of vascular endothelial cells. Most cases of hyperhomocysteinemia are asymptomatic, but cardiopulmonary or cerebrovascular incidents developin rare cases. In the case of a thromboembolism with an unknown cause, hyperhomocysteinemia should be considered in a differential diagnosis. The authors report a case of pulmonary thromboembolism in a patient with hyperhomocysteinemia with a review of the relevant literature.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.223-226
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• 2014

In the fermented soybean product known as "chungkookjang", diverse bioactive compounds are produced when the soybean proteins are degraded during fermentation. Vascular endothelial cells (EC) are crucial in vein function and the formation of new vessels. A treatment to stimulate formation of new blood vessels is needed in cerebrovascular diseases that lead to ischaemic stroke and heart attack, as well as for diabetic ulcers. VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) simulates EC formation. The effect of Chungkookjang ethanol extract (CEE) on the proliferation of EC was studied. CEE (100, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) and boiled CEE were as effective as VEGF (10 ng/ml) for the proliferation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). The effect of CEE on the migration of HUVEC was investigated using sprout analysis. CEE ($100{\mu}g/ml$) was as effective as VEGF (10 ng/ml) for the migration of HUVEC. Isolation of specific peptides influencing the growth and migration of EC is needed.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2010

Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were orally administered with $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) which inhibits or blocks the production of nitric oxide from L-arginine in vascular endothelial cells and vessel tissue to statistically examine the effects of nitric oxide on some physiological changes such as blood pressure and heart rate, and to confirm the apoptosis induced by the suppressed nitric oxide activity in some related organs under light microscope. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased 28.5% by the chronic treatment of L-NAME for 8 weeks (P<0.001), no significant difference, however, was observed in heart rate between the control group and the L-NAME-treated group regardless of their age. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed some histological alterations only in kidney among the examined organs; heart, liver, pancreas, and adrenal gland from the L-NAME-treated group. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) test showed a strong positive reaction, representing that the chronic treatment of L-NAME facilitates apoptosis, in the cortex and medulla of kidney, but not any significance detectable in the other organs. These results conclude that chronic treatment of L-NAME significantly increases blood pressure, and that the followed inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis occurs a typical inducement of apoptosis in kidney.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.182-198
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• 2005

Object : This study was designed to research whether the protection and inhibitory effects of cardiovascular diseases in L-NAME induced rat or ECV 304 cell lines through the Cell morphological pattern, Tunel assay, LDH activity, heart rate, blood pressure and immunohistochemistric analysis by Boonsimgieum water extract Methods : Nitric oxide(NO) play an important role in normal and pathophysiological cells including as a messenger molecule, neurotransmitter, microbiocidal agent, or dilator of blood vessels and artheriosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, respectively. Endothelial cell products can modulate the magnitude of a response to a vasoconstrictor, as evinced by the greater constriction after endothelium removal or NO synthesis blockade. To investigate that Boonsimgieum in the potential contribution of the levels of nitric oxide generated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and the mechanisms of protection against NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), human ECV 304 cells, which normally do not express eNOS, were expressed by L-NAME. L-NAME stimulated rat or cells were found to be resistant to injury and delayed death following the Boonsimgieum. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis abolished the protective effect against L-NAME, thrombin and collagen exposure. Interestingly, such effects have been observed during stimulation with agents such as phenylephrine and KCl on L-NAME mediate rats, were damaged by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. Result : As the result of this study, In group, the anti-apoptosis and necrosis in the cardiovascular system have a potential capacity for prevented, protected and treating the diseases of cardiovascular system, against the necrosis of rat and ECV 304 cells with Caspase 3 and calpain expression by L-NAME is promoted. Conclusion : these results demonstrate neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects of ZIBU, suggesting its beneficial actions for the treatment of AD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1119-1126
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• 1998

Background: In this study, we investigated the early time course of expression of the major histocompatibility(MHC) antigens, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), interleukin-6 and the histopathological changes in the coronary arteries of cardiac allografts exchanged between inbred mice strains that differ in one loci of class I major histocompatibility antigen (B10.BR to B10.A). Material and Method: No immunosuppressive therapy was used. Both allografts and the hearts of the recipients were harvested at 7(group 1, n=6), 15(group 2, n=6), 21(group 3, n=6), and 30(group 4, n=6) days after transplantation. They were examined by immunohistochemistry, microscopy and morphometry. All allografts had contractions at the time of harvest. Result: A strong MHC class I antigen expression was present on the endothelial and medial cells of the coronary arteries in group 1 and remained unchanged in the rest of the groups. However, MHC class II reactivity was none or very little at any time. Mild to moderate ICAM-1 expression was observed on the endothelial cells, but not on the medial cells at any time by 30 days. VCAM-1 expression was strong both on the endothelial and medial cells at any time. Moderate degree expression of interleukin-6 was observed from 7 to 30 day specimens. Histopathologically, percentage of affected vessels(vessels with intimal thickening) was less than 10 % in 7 day group and increased up to 50 % at 30 days. Mean percent narrowing of the lumen of the affected vessels revealed less than 20 % at 7 days and 40 % at 30 days. The area occupied by tropomyosin positive cells in the intimal lesion, graded from 0 to 3, showed gradual increase but remained between grade 0 to 1 by 30 days. Medial integrity was also well preserved at any time. Moderate perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration was observed at 7 days and it was progressively increased upto 30 days. Recipients' heart revealed no positive immunopathologic findings. Conclusion: In this study, the early time course of progression of the transplantation vasculopathy was demonstrated in the murine heterotopic heart transplant model.