• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2008

Angiomyolipoma of the liver is a rare benign tumor that's composed of variable mixtures of adipose tissue, smooth muscle and thick-walled blood vessels. We report here on the imprint cytologic features of a hepatic angiomyolipoma in a 47-year-old man. The smears showed spindle and epithelioid tumor cells in clusters, trabeculae and single cells. The spindle cells had elongated, cigar-shaped nuclei with finely granular chromatin and fibrillary cytoplasm. The epithelioid cells had round nuclei with a moderate amount of cytoplasm. Any adipose tissue was not found. Immunohistochemically, both the spindle and epithelioid cells revealed cytoplasmic positivity for smooth muscle actin and HMB-45.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.213-219
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• 2021

Plexiform fibromyxoma (PF) of the stomach is a very rare mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. We report the first case of PF with 2 different growth patterns pathologically confirmed after surgical resection. The tumor was characterized microscopically as infiltrative; it demonstrated diffuse growth into the smooth muscle bundles of the muscularis propria and was also multinodular and plexiform within the myxoid stroma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumor cells were positive or weakly positive for smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and H-caldesmon and negative for desmin, CD117, CD34, CK-20, Pan-CK, Dog1, S100, ER, PR, and CD10. No mutations of C-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha were detected. No genetic disruption of glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The final diagnosis of PF was mainly based on the morphological and immunohistochemical findings.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2007

There is increasing evidence that stromal reaction in cancer has an important diagnostic and prognostic significance. The aim of our study is to analyze the relation between the increase in mast cell number and the expression CD34 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA) in the stroma of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We investigated a total of 29 CIN (1,2,3) and 21 SCC (microinvasive and invasive) specimens and compared the distribution of $CD34^+$ stromal cells, ${\alpha}-SMA^+$ cells, transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ $(TGF-{\beta}1)^+$ cells, and the density of mast cells using immunohistochemistry with antibodies against CD34, ${\alpha}$-SMA, TGF-${\beta}1$, and c-Kit (CD117) respectively. Computerized image analysis was to evaluate the positive area (%) and density of the respective immunoreactive cells. In CIN $CD34^+$ cells were abundant in the stroma but no ${\alpha}-SMA^+$ cells were identified except the wall of blood vessels. $CD34^+$ cells were progressively decreased along the continuum from CIN 2 to microinvasive SCC and not observed in the stroma of invasive SCC. Whereas ${\alpha}-SMA^+$ cells were only observed in the stroma of microinvasive and invasive SCC. We found more intense TGF-${\beta}1$ expression in the increased mast cells in the stroma of invasive SCCs than that in the stroma of CIN. These results indicate that disappearance of $CD34^+$ stromal cells and appearance of ${\alpha}-SMA^+$ cells are associated with the stromal change of CIN to SCC and the transformation of $CD34^+$ stromal cells into ${\alpha}-SMA^+$ cells is mediated by TGF-${\beta}1$ secretions in the stromal mast cell of SCC.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.232-239
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• 2010

Two cell lines derived from spontaneous canine mammary gland tumors were established and characterized. Mammary gland tumors from 9 years old pug and 9 years old toy-poodle dogs were collected by aseptic surgical resection and primary culture was performed. The histopathologic examination of tumors revealed adenocarcinoma and complex carcinoma and two dogs died from metastasis of the tumors. The tumor cells were subcultured over 60 times for more than 1 year and morphological consistency maintained. Light microscopic examination, growth curve, doubling time calculation, xenotransplantation to female nude mice, immunohistochemistry for wide spectrum keratin, vimentin, $\alpha$-smooth muscle actin and cytokeratin 8 was performed for characterization. The cell lines exhibited polygonal, elongated cell shape and cytoplasmic bridge and doubling time of 47.1 hrs and 18.6 hrs, respectively. Subcutaneous xenotransplantation to nude mice of the cells produced localized palpable mass within 4 weeks in 4 of 5 and 5 of 5 nude mice, respectively. In immunohistochemical examination one cell line showed strong positive against wide spectrum keratin and cytokeratin 8 and the other cell line showed strong positive against smooth muscle actin and cytokeratin 8. Additional characterization would be possible by investigator's needs and the cell lines may be useful for in vivo and in vitro studies of canine mammary tumor and adjuvant therapies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.707-714
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• 2004

How to improve the cell culture method on scaffolds is important in the tissue engineering fileld. In this study, we optimized seeding and culture methods to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) on biodegradable polymer scaffold. The primary culture of VSMCs obtained from canine external jugular vein was accomplished by applying the explant-derived method. The primary cultured VSMCs were seeded into scaffolds and then cultured by using various different methods; static or dynamic seeding, static or dynamic culture. The difference in proliferative response of VSMCs was analyzed with an alamar blue assay. Cell-polymer construct was examined by histochemical method and scanning electron microscopy. Mesh type scaffold ($10 \times 10 \times0.4 mm$) was made of polyglycolic acid (PGA) suture thread. The PGA mesh type scaffold was 45% in porosity, and 0.03 g in weight. The primary cultured VSMCs were confirmed with immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal anti-$\alpha$-smooth muscle actin. The density and distribution of proliferated VSMCs within the scaffold and cellular adherence on the surface of the scaffold showed better results in the static seeding condition than in the dynamic condition. Under the same condition of seeding method as the static condition, the dynamic culture condition showed enhanced proliferation rates of the VSMCs when compared to the static culture condition. In conclusion, to improve the VSMCs proliferation in vitro, static seeding is better than the dynamic condition. In the culture condition, however, culture under the dynamic status is better than the static condition. This was a pilot study to manufacture artificial vascular vessel by tissue engineering.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.69.1-69.11
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• 2023

Background: Kalkitoxin (KT) is an active lipopeptide isolated from the cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula found in the bed of the coral reef. Although KT suppresses cell division and inflammation, KT's mechanism of action in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is unidentified. Therefore, our main aim was to investigate the impact of KT on vascular calcification for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Objectives: Using diverse calcification media, we studied the effect of KT on VSMC calcification and the underlying mechanism of this effect. Methods: VSMC was isolated from the 6 weeks ICR mice. Then VSMCs were treated with different concentrations of KT to check the cell viability. Alizarin red and von Kossa staining were carried out to examine the calcium deposition on VSMC. Thoracic aorta of 6 weeks mice were taken and treated with different concentrations of KT, and H and E staining was performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to examine KT's effect on VSMC mineralization. Calcium deposition on VSMC was examined with a calcium deposition quantification kit. Results: Calcium deposition, Alizarin red, and von Kossa staining revealed that KT reduced inorganic phosphate-induced calcification phenotypes. KT also reduced Ca⁺⁺-induced calcification by inhibiting genes that regulate osteoblast differentiation, such as runtrelated transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), SMAD family member 4, osterix, collagen 1α, and osteopontin. Also, KT repressed Ca²⁺-induced bone morphogenetic protein 2, RUNX-2, collagen 1α, osteoprotegerin, and smooth muscle actin protein expression. Likewise, Alizarin red and von Kossa staining showed that KT markedly decreased the calcification of ex vivo ring formation in the mouse thoracic aorta. Conclusions: This experiment demonstrated that KT decreases vascular calcification and may be developed as a new therapeutic treatment for vascular calcification and arteriosclerosis.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2006

Vascular smooth muscle contraction is mediated by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, an isoform of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). However, the role of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in vascular smooth muscle contraction has not been defined. We investigated the role of JNK in the contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) in rat aortic smooth muscle. NE evoked contraction in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was inhibited by the JNK inhibitor SP600125. NE increased the phosphorylation of JNK, which was greater in aortic smooth muscle from hypertensive rats than from normotensive rats. NE-induced JNK phosphorylation was significantly inhibited by SP600125 and the conventional-type PKC (cPKC) inhibitor Go6976, but not by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 or the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Thymeleatoxin, a selective activator of cPKC, increased JNK phosphorylation, which was inhibited by $G{\ddot{o}}6976$. SP600125 attenuated the phosphorylation of caldesmon, an actin-binding protein whose phosphorylation is increased by NE. These results show that JNK contributes to NE-mediated contraction through phosphorylation of caldesmon in rat aortic smooth muscle, and that this effect is regulated by the PKC pathway, especially cPKC.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.205-221
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• 2004

Periodontal ligament(PDL) cells have been known as playing an important roles in periodontal regeneration and gingival fibroblasts are also important to periodontal regeneration by forming connective tissue attachment. There were rare studies about the gene expression patterns of PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts, therefore in this study, we tried cDNA microarray-based gene expression monitoring to explain the functional differences of PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts in vivo and to confirm the characteristics of PDL cells. Total RNA were extracted from PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts of same person and same passages, and mRNA were isolated from the total RNA using Oligotex mRNA midi kit(Qiagen) and then fluorescent cDNA probe were prepared. And microarray hybridization were performed. The gene expression patterns of PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts were quite different. About 400 genes were expressed more highly in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts and about 300 genes were more highly expressed in the gingival fibroblasts than PDL cells. Compared growth factor- and growth factor receptor-related gene expression patterns of PDL cells with gingival fibroblasts, IGF-2, IGF-2 associated protein, nerve growth factor, placental bone morphogenic protein, neuron-specific growth- associated protein, FGF receptor, EGF receptor-related gene and PDGF receptor were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts. The results of collagen gene expression patterns showed that collagen type I, type III, type VI and type VII were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts, and in the gingival fibroblasts collagen type V, XII were more highly expressed than PDL cells. The results of osteoblast-related gene expression patterns showed that osteoblast specific cysteine-rich protein were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts. The results of cytoskeletal proteins gene expression patterns showed that a-smooth muscle actin, actin binding protein, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain homolog and myosin light chain were more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibrobalsts, and ${\beta}-actin$, actin-capping protein(${\beta}$ subunit), actin- related protein Arp3(ARP) and myosin class I(myh-1c) were more highly expressed in the gingival fibroblasts than PDL cells. Osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor(OPG/OCIF) was more highly expressed in the PDL cells than gingival fibroblasts. According to the results of this study, PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts were quite different gene expression patterns though they are the fibroblast which have similar shape. Therefore PDL cells & gingival fibroblasts are heterogeneous populations which represent distinct characteristics. If more studies about genes that were differently expressed in each PDL cells & gingival fibroblasts would be performed in the future, it would be expected that the characteristics of PDL cells would be more clear.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 2019

We describe a case of a 48-year-old Korean woman who had a subepithelial mass incidentally discovered by endoscopic examination. Endoscopic mucosal resection revealed a well-circumscribed whitish solid mass within the submucosal space. Microscopically, the tumor was comprised of sparse spindle cells in the dense collagenous stroma with several calcifications and lymphoid aggregates. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the tumor cells are negative for c-kit, smooth muscle actin, desmin, S-100 and CD34. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed with calcifying fibrous tumor.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 2018

Objectives : In Traditional Korean Medicine, Epimedium koreanum Nakai has diverse pharmacological activities to treat impotence, forgetfulness, cataract and exophthalmos. Present study investigated anti-fibrogenic effects of E. koreanum water extract (EKE) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods : To study anti-fibrogenic effects of EKE, LX-2 cells, a human immortalized HSCs, were pre-treated with $3-300{\mu}g/mL$ of EKE, and then subsequently exposed to 5 ng/mL of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$). Expression level of ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin was determined by immunoblot analysis. Phosphorylation of Smad, transactivation of Smad, and expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were monitored to investigate the effect of EKE on $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ signaling pathway. Results : Up to $100{\mu}g/mL$, EKE did not show any cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Pre-treatment of EKE ($100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin expression induced by $TGF-{\beta}1$. In addition, EKE significantly decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and PAI-1 expression by $TGF-{\beta}1$. Of three flavonoid compounds found in EKE, only quercertin ($30{\mu}M$) attenuated $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ PAI-1 expression. Conclusion : These results suggest that EKE has an ability to suppress fibrogenic process in HSCs via inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}1/Smad$ signaling pathway.