• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.273-278
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• 2015

The induction of angiogenesis is a crucial step in tumor progression, and therefore, efficient inhibition of angiogenesis is considered a powerful strategy for the treatment of cancer. In the present study, we report that the lipophilic antimicrobial peptides from EML-CAP3, a new endophytic bacterial strain isolated from red pepper leaf (Capsicum annuum L.), exhibit potent antiangiogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. The newly obtained antimicrobial peptides effectively inhibited the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells at subtoxic doses. Furthermore, the peptides suppressed the in vitro characteristics of angiogenesis such as endothelial cell invasion and tube formation stimulated by vascular endothelial growth factor, as well as neovascularization of the chorioallantoic membrane of growing chick embryos in vivo without showing cytotoxicity. Notably, the angiostatic peptides blocked tumor cell-induced angiogenesis by suppressing the expression levels of hypoxia-inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ and its target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To our knowledge, our findings demonstrate for the first time that the antimicrobial peptides from EML-CAP3 possess antiangiogenic potential and may thus be used for the treatment of hypervascularized tumors.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.539-545
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• 2016

Nafamostat mesilate (NM), a synthetic serine protease inhibitor, has anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties. The intracellular mediator and external anti-inflammatory external signal in the vascular wall have been reported to protect endothelial cells, in part due to nitric oxide (NO) production. This study was designed to examine whether NM exhibit endothelium dependent vascular relaxation through Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation and generation of NO. NM enhanced Akt/eNOS phosphorylation and NO production in a dose- and time-dependent manner in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and aorta tissues obtained from rats treated with various concentrations of NM. NM concomitantly decreased arginase activity, which could increase the available arginine substrate for NO production. Moreover, we investigated whether NM increased NO bioavailability and decreased aortic relaxation response to an eNOS inhibitor in the aorta. These results suggest that NM increases NO generation via the Akt/eNOS signaling pathway, leading to endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation. Therefore, the vasorelaxing action of NM may contribute to the regulation of cardiovascular function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1382-1386
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• 2004

This study was performed for the investigation of vasodilatory efficacy and its underlying mechanisms of Samhwangsasim-tang(SST), herbal remedy. SST relaxed vascular strips precontracted with phenylephrine or KCI(51 mM), but the magnitude of relaxation was greater in phenylephrine(PE) induced contraction. The relaxation effects of SST was endothelium-independent. L-NAME, iNOS inhibitor, and methyl en blue(MB), cGMP inhibitor, did not attenuate the relaxation responses of SST. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, pre-incubation of the aortic rings with SST significantly reduced the contraction by PE, suggesting that the relaxant action of the SST includes inhibition of Ca/sup 2+/ influx and release of Ca/sup 2+/ from intracellular stores (SR). In addition, the cell death was induced by SST in human aortic smooth muscle cells but not that of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We conclude that in rat thoracic aorta, SST may induce in part vasodilation through inhibition of Ca/sup 2+/ influx and release of Ca/sup 2+/ from intracellular stores.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.601-609
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• 2014

In this study, the effect of plant extract on the senescence action and cell survival rate in two types of cells, in which aging was derived by adriamycin, was analyzed to find the materials for suppressing cell senescence from natural resources. The results are as follows. For human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the fruit of Physalis angulata L. and the aerial part of Synurus deltoides (Aiton) Nakai showed excellent cell-senescence inhibition activities in a treatment concentration-dependent manner, demonstrating the high possibility for utilization as a material for prevention and treatment for vascular diseases. The water extract from the root of Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum for variegatum Y. N. Lee showed potent cell-senescence inhibitory effect for human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Thus it is considered that the additional study on the plant needs for elucidating the possible utilization as material for skin health improvement.

• BioChip Journal
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.294-303
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• 2018

Shear stress occurs in flowing liquids, especially at the interface of a flowing liquid and a stationary solid phase. Thus, it occurs inside the artery system of the human body, where it is responsible for a number of biological functions. The shear stress level generally remains less than $70dyne/cm^2$ in the whole circulatory system, but in the stenotic arteries, which are constricted by 95%, a shear stress greater than $1,000dyne/cm^2$ can be reached. Methods of researching the effects of shear stress on cells are of large interest to understand these processes. Here, we show the development of a microfluidic device for generating shear stress gradients. The performance of the shear stress gradient generator was theoretically simulated prior to experiments. Through simple manipulations of the liquid flow, the shape and magnitude of the shear stress gradients can be manipulated. Our microfluidic device consisted of five portions divided by arrays of micropillars. The generated shear stress gradient has five distinct levels at 8.38, 6.55, 4.42, 2.97, and $2.24dyne/cm^2$. Thereafter, an application of the microfluidic device was demonstrated testing the effect of shear stress on human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.629-639
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• 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cardiovascular system disorders. Cellular senescence is a key mechanism associated with dysfunction of aged vascular endothelium. Hyaluronic acid and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1) has been known to non-covalently link hyaluronic acid (HA) and proteoglycans (PGs), and forms and stabilizes HAPLN1-containing aggregates as a major component of extracellular matrix. Our previous study showed that serum levels of HAPLN1 decrease with aging. Here, we found that the HAPLN1 gene expression was reduced in senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Moreover, a recombinant human HAPLN1 (rhHAPLN1) decreased the activity of senescence-associated β-gal and inhibited the production of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes, including IL-1β, CCL2, and IL-6. rhHAPLN1 also downregulated IL-17A levels, which is known to play a key role in vascular endothelial senescence. In addition, rhHAPLN1 protected senescent HUVECs from oxidative stress by reducing cellular reactive oxygen species levels, thus promoting the function and survival of HUVECs and leading to cellular proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. We also found that rhHAPLN1 not only increases the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) levels, but also reduces the cellular senescence markers levels, such as p53, p21, and p16. Taken together, our data indicate that rhHAPLN1 delays or inhibits the endothelial senescence induced by various aging factors, such as replicative, IL-17A, and oxidative stress-induced senescence, thus suggesting that rhHAPLN1 may be a promising therapeutic for CVD and atherosclerosis.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.3321-3329
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• 2019

Cuscuta chinensis Lamak (CCL) has traditionally been used in Korea to treat sexual disorders and skin problems. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CCL extract on surgical injury-induced ischemia in the hind limbs of mice. Specifically, female C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized, and their hind-limb vessels were ligated with surgical silk (6-0) and excised. CCL (150 or 450 mg/kg/BW) was then administered to the mice for 3 weeks, and the blood flow rate was evaluated using a laser Doppler system at -7, 0, 7, 14 and 21 days following hind-limb ischemia. The serum expression profiles of angiogenic and inflammatory mediators were measured using an antibody array, and the transcript levels were reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The rate of hind limb blood flow was normalized to non-ischemic lesions and revealed to be markedly elevated at 14 and 21 days following ischemia when compared with the vehicle group. The density of capillaries in the hind limbs was also significantly increased following treatment with CCL in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the transcriptional expression of angiogenetic factors were upregulated, whereas that of inflammatory cytokines were downregulated. Finally, vascular endothelial cell migration and tube formation were evaluated in vitro using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and identified to be significantly increased following treatment with CCL. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that CCL extract exhibits therapeutic potential for the treatment of hind-limb ischemia as it promotes peripheral angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 1997

In an attempt to investigate the role of phospholipase $A_2$($PLA_2$) in interleukin-l (IL-l) induced acute lung injury, mepacrine was tried to inhibit $PLA_2$ in IL-l induced ARDS rats. For confirmation of acute lung injury by IL-l, and to know the role of neutrophils in this injury, lung leak index, lung myeloperoxidase(MPO), number of neutrophils and protein content in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and wet lung weight were measured. At the same time lung $PLA_2$ was measured to know the effect of IL-l on $PLA_2$ activity. Pulmonary surfactant was also measured for an investigation of type II alveolar cell function. Neutrophil adhesion assay was performed to know the effect of $PLA_2$ inhibition in vitro with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). For precise location of injury by IL-l, morpholgical study was performed by electron microscopy. Five hours after instillation of IL-l (50 ng/rat), lung leak index, protein content, number of neutrophils, lung MPO and wet lung weight were increased significantly. Five hours after IL-l instillation lung $PLA_2$ activity was increased significantly, and increased surfactant release was observed in IL-l induced ARDS rats' BAL. In contrast, in rats given mepacrine and IL-l, there was decrease of acute lung injury i.e. decrease of lung leak index, wet lung weight, protein content, number of neutrophils in BAL and decreased lung MPO activity. Mepacrine decreased surfactant release also. Interestingly, inhibition of $PLA_2$ decreased adhesion of human neutrophils to HUVEC in vitro. Morphologically, IL-l caused diffuse necrosis of endothelial cells, type I and II epithelial cells and increased the infiltration of neutrophils in the interstitium of the lung but after mepacrine treatment these pathological findings were lessened. On the basis of these experimental results it is suggested that $PLA_2$ has a major role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury mediated by neutrophil dependent manner in IL-l induced acute lung injury.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.131-136
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• 2013

Sirtuin proteins have emerged as important modulators of several age-associated diseases. These include cancer and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Among the sirtuin family members, SIRT2 mRNA is strongly expressed. To investigate the pathophysiological significance of SIRT2 as a primary regulator of angiogenesis, we focused on the biological role of SIRT2 under hypoxic conditions, examining the gene expression pattern of sirtuin family members in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). SIRT2 was expressed primarily in the cytoplasm, but it was dynamically trans-localized in the nuclear by hypoxia stimuli. Interestingly, both SIRT2 and the pro-angiogenic factor, VEGF, were up- regulated by hypoxia. A Matrigel assay demonstrated that the HUVECs formed a tube-like structure under hypoxia. The SIRT2 inhibitor, AK-1, significantly decreased the tube-forming activity of the HUVECs under either normoxia or hypoxia conditions. These findings suggest that SIRT2 might be a key regulator of angiogenesis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2012

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is the most important etiologic agent of aggressive periodontitis and can interact with endothelial cells. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are chemokines, playing important roles in periodontal pathogenesis. In our current study, the effects of A. actinomycetemcomitans on the production of MCP-1 and IL-8 by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were investigated. A. actinomycetemcomitans strongly induced the gene expression and protein release of both MCP-1 and IL-8 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Dead A. actinomycetemcomitans cells were as effective as live bacteria in this induction. Treatment of HUVEC with cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of endocytosis, did not affect the mRNA up-regulation of MCP-1 and IL-8 by A. actinomycetemcomitans. However, genistein, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases, substantially inhibited the MCP-1 and IL-8 production by A. actinomycetemcomitans, whereas pharmacological inhibition of each of three members of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family had little effect. Furthermore, gel shift assays showed that A. actinomycetemcomitans induces a biphasic activation (early at 1-2 h and late at 8-16 h) of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and an early brief activation (0.5-2 h) of activator protein-1 (AP-1). Activation of canonical NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway ($I{\kappa}B$ kinase activation and $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation) was also demonstrated in these experiments. Although lipopolysaccharide from A. actinomycetemcomitans also induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, this activation profile over time differed from that of live A. actinomycetemcomitans. These results suggest that the expression of MCP-1 and IL-8 is potently increased by A. actinomycetemcomitans in endothelial cells, and that the viability of A. actinomycetemcomitans and bacterial internalization are not required for this effect, whereas the activation of protein tyrosine kinase(s), NF-${\kappa}B$, and AP-1 appears to play important roles. The secretion of high levels of MCP-1 and IL-8 resulting from interactions of A. actinomycetemcomitans with endothelial cells may thus contribute to the pathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis.