• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권8호
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• pp.1227-1233
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• 2015

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in angiogenesis through binding to its specific receptors, which mainly occurs to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), a kinase insert domain-containing receptor. Therefore, the disruption of VEGFR-2 signaling provides a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer by inhibiting abnormal or tumorinduced angiogenesis. To explore this potential, we expressed the catalytic domain of VEGFR-2 (VEGFR-2-CD) as a soluble active kinase in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified and the VEGFR-2-CD activity was investigated. The obtained VEGFR-2-CD showed autophosphorylation activity and phosphate transfer activity comparable to the commercial enzyme. Furthermore, the IC₅₀ value of known VEGFR-2 inhibitor was determined using the purified VEGFR-2-CD. These results indicated a possibility for functional and economical VEGFR-2-CD expression in E. coli to use for inhibitor screening.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.92-99
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• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pharmacopuncture and dermal application of Sebalgukhwa-san extracts on hair growth in an alopecia mouse model. Methods: Twenty-one C57BL/6 mice were divided into 3 groups; control group-normal saline injection or vehicle solution application, positive control group-minoxidil (MNXD), experimental group-pharmacopuncture and applied Sebalgukhwa-san (SGS) extract. The effects of the treatment on hair growth, were determined through photographs, and phototrichogram analysis by folliscope. Hair follicle morphometry by hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed, and hair growth-related protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, insulin like growth factor-1, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 were monitored by Western blotting. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were measured for liver function test. Results: Body weight increased consistently in all groups. Hair growth was improved in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control. Hair density and thickness improved statistically significantly in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control p < 0.05. The number of hair follicles improved in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control but the size did not. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin like growth factor-1 increased, and there was a decrease in the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in the MNXD and SGS groups compared with the control, however, there was no significant difference. Sebalgukhwa-san treatment had no toxicity in liver function tests. Conclusion: Pharmacopuncture and dermal application of Sebalgukhwa-san extract may be therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of alopecia.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.178-182
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• 2005

Nitric oxide (NO) produced from endothelial cells plays a critical role in vascular physiology. The regulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) involves various mechanisms including multiple Ser/Thr phosphorylations. Recently, eNOS-Ser617 was newly recognized to be phosphorylated in response to humoral factors including vascular endothelial growth factor. However, it remains unknown whether and how eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation is stimulated by shear stress, the primary stimulus of endothelial NO production. This issue was explored in the present study using cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Over-expression of a constitutively active protein kinase B(Akt) mutant in BAECs increased Ser617 phosphorylation while constitutively active protein kinase A mutant had no effect. When BAECs were subjected to an arterial level of laminar shear stress, eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation was clearly increased in a time-dependent manner. Shear stress also stimulated Akt phosphorylation at Thr308, one of the key regulatory sites. The time courses of eNOS-Ser617 and Akt-Thr308 phosphorylations appeared to be very similar. These results suggested that eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation, mediated by Akt, is a physiological response to the mechanical shear stress, involved in the regulation of NO production in endothelial cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권9호
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• pp.1355-1359
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• 2014

To detect goat vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated regrowth of hair, full-length VEGF164 cDNA was cloned from Inner Mongolia cashmere goat (Capra hircus) into the pET-his prokaryotic expression vector, and the recombinant plasmid was transferred into E. coli BL21 cells. The expression of recombinant $6{\times}his-gVEGF164$ protein was induced by 0.5 mM isopropyl thio-${\beta}$-D-galactoside at $32^{\circ}C$. Recombinant goat VEGF164 (rgVEGF164) was purified and identified by western blot using monoclonal anti-his and anti-VEGF antibodies. The rgVEGF164 was smeared onto the dorsal area of a shaved mouse, and we noted that hair regrowth in this area was faster than in the control group. Thus, rgVEGF164 increases hair growth in mice.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.197-206
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• 2005

To determine the correlation between mast cells(MCs) and neoangiogenesis in the growth and progression of cervical cancer, we investigated mast cell density(MCD), microvessel density(MVD) and the expression of vascular epithelial growth factor(VEGF) in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive suqamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Forty-five cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN I, II and III), 15 microinvasive carcinomas, 15 invasive squamous cell carcinomas and 20 normal cervical epithelia were included in this study. MCs were stained with anti-c-Kit antibody and alcian blue, microvessels with anti-factor VIII antibody and VEGF with anti-VEGF antibody. The adjacent fields of both normal and neoplastic epithelium were used for counting MCs and microvessels. Computerized image analysis was used to evaluate MCD and MVD. MCD and MVD were the mean numbers per $1mm^2$ counted in 5-10 high and low power fields respectively. In both c-Kit and alcian blue stained sections, MCD progressively increased along the continuum from CIN I to invasive squamous cell carcinoma(p<0.001). MVD increased significantly with cervical neoplasia progression, from CIN to invasive squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.001). In double c-Kit and Factor VIII-stained sections, MCs were mainly present in the areas adjacent to newly formed blood vessels. However, there were no significant differences in MCD and MVD between normal epithelum and CIN I. A strong correlation was also observed between MCD and MVD. In double VEGF and alcian blue-stained sections, VEGF was expressed in only MCs. Strong VEGF-positive MCs were particularly abundant around the tumorous region. Our results suggest that MCs may upregulate neoangiogenesis by VGEF secretion in the development and progression of cervical neoplasia.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.325-333
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• 2016

Background: Ginseng extracts are known to have angiogenic effects. However, to date, only limited information is available on the molecular mechanism underlying the angiogenic effects and the main components of ginseng that exert these effects. Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are used as an in vitro model for screening therapeutic agents that promote angiogenesis and wound healing. We recently isolated gintonin, a novel ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, from ginseng. LPA plays a key role in angiogenesis and wound healing. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of gintonin on proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs, which express endogenous LPA1/3 receptors. Results: Gintonin stimulated proliferation and migration of HUVECs. The LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425, short interfering RNA against LPA1 or LPA3 receptor, and the Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, significantly decreased the gintonin-induced proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs, which indicates the involvement of LPA receptors and Rho kinase activation. Further, gintonin increased the release of vascular endothelial growth factors from HUVECs. The cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS-398, nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor BAY11-7085, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 blocked the gintonin-induced migration, which shows the involvement of cyclooxygenase-2, nuclear factor kappa B, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling. Conclusion: The gintonin-mediated proliferation, migration, and vascular-endothelial-growth-factor release in HUVECs via LPA-receptor activation may be one of in vitro mechanisms underlying ginsenginduced angiogenic and wound-healing effects.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.263-268
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• 2004

본 연구에서는 FGF-2를 이용하여 혈관내피세포의 발아와 단백질분해효소의 분비 및 인테그린과의 관계를 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. PPAECs 세포의 발아에 미치는 FGF-2의 효과를 조사한 결과, 10 ng/ml에서 약 3.5배 증가되는 등 농도-의존적으로 발아가 증가되었다. MMPs에 대한 enzyme immunoassay결과, MMP-2에서만 약 1.9배의 분비증가가 유도되었다. MMP-1 및 MMP-3는 FGF-2에 의해 유의할만한 분비 증가가 나타나지 않았으며, 특이하게 MMP-3는 FGF-2의 처리 없이도 많은 양이 분비되었고, MMP-9은 0.6∼1.2 ng/$10^{6}$ cells 정도로 분비량이 적었다. FGF-2에 의한 플라스민의 분비증가 여부를 확인한 결과, 10 ng/ml에서 약 2.6배 증가하였으며, MMPs 억제제 및 인테그린 억제제에 의해 유의할만한 감소가 나타났고 플라스민 억제제인 $\alpha$2-antiplasmin에 의해서는 플라스민의 분비가 완전히 억제되었다. 또한, FGF-2 처리에 의해 농도-의존적으로 인테그린 Mac-1의 발현이 증가되었으며, 인테그린 억제제인 IS201를 전처리한 결과, 인테그린 Mac-1의 발현이 완전히 억제되었다. FGF-2에 의한 발아 유도효과는 IS201 처리에 의해 거의 완벽하게 억제되었으며, MMP-2 및 플라스민의 분비도 유의할만하게 감소시켰다. 이상의 결과를 요약하면, FGF-2에 의해 유도된 혈관내피세포의 발아 증가는 MMP-2 및 플라스민의 분비증가와 인테그린 Mac-1의 발현 증가에 의한 것이라 생각된다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.355-363
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• 2005

This study aimed to investigate the cerebroprotective effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on permanent focal cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 6 and 24 hours by an intraluminal monofilament technique. An open cranial window was made on the right parietal bone for determination of continuous changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by laser-Doppler flowmetry. The infarct size was morphometrically determined using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride technique. Brain edema was determined by measuring brain water content. In normal rats, rCBF was significantly increased by intravenous infusion of VEGF for 10 minutes. The VEGF-induced increase in rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with suramin, a heparin-binding growth factor inhibitor as well as $N^{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In focal cerebral ischemic rats, the amplitude of decrease in rCBF during ischemic period was significantly less in VEGF-treated group, compared with that in vehicle-treated group. The cerebral infarct size was reduced by VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. The brain edema formation was dose-dependently reduced by VEGF in 24-hour MCA occlusion group but not in 6-hour MCA occlusion group. It is suggested that VEGF not only improves the rCBF during cerebral ischemic period but also reduces the brain edema formation, and thereby exert a protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.13-17
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• 2007

Purpose: To understand the pathogenesis of the disease that presents abnormally proliferated vascular endothelial cells, a model of DMH(1,2-dimethylhydrazine)-induced abnormal proliferation of HUVECs(Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells) was made. We indirectly determined that Protein Kinase C(PKC) restricts the cellular proliferation and inhibits the manifestation of growth factor by using several inhibiting substances of the transmitter through our previous studies. Thereupon, we attempted to observe direct enzymatic activities of PKC and its correlation with the abnormal proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. Methods: $10^5$ HUVECs cells were applied to 6 individual well plates in three different groups; A control group cultured without treatment, a group concentrated with $0.75{\times}10^{-8}M$ DMH only, and a group treated with DMH & $5{\times}10^{-9}M$ Calphostin C, inhibitor of PKC. In analyzing the formation of intracellular PKC enzyme, protein separation was performed, and separated protein was quantitatively measured. PKC enzyme reaction was analyzed through Protein Kinase C Assay System (Promega, USA), and the results were analyzed according to Beer's law. Results: Enzymatic activity of PKC presented the highest in all reaction time of a group concentrated only with DMH, and the lowest in the control group. The group treated with DMH and the inhibitor revealed statistically lower enzymatic activity than group only with DMH in all reaction time, although higher than the control group. Conclusion: From the enzymatic aspect, most active and immediate reaction of the PKC was observed in the group concentrated with DMH only. The group treated with DMH & PKC inhibitor showed meaningful decrease. Accordingly, PKC holds a significant role in DMH-induced abnormal proliferation of vascular endothelial cells.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.196-203
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• 2014

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important growth factors for metastatic tumors. To clarify the role of VEGF-A and C in patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) or gastric cancer (GC), we evaluated the expression levels of these two molecules. We also analyzed the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on VEGF-A and C expression levels. Materials and Methods: Patients with dyspepsia who needed diagnostic endoscopy were selected and divided into three groups: nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD), PUD, and GC, according to their endoscopic and histopathological results. Fifty-two patients with NUD, 50 with PUD, and 38 with GC were enrolled in this study. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by the rapid urease test. After RNA extraction and synthesis of cDNA, the expression levels of VEGF-A and C were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: The VEGF-C expression level in the PUD and GC groups was significantly higher than that in the NUD group. Moreover, the VEGF-A expression level in the PUD and GC groups was higher than in the NUD group, although the differences were not statistically significant. Significant positive correlations were also observed between the expression levels of these two molecules in the PUD and GC groups. In addition, the expression levels of these two molecules were higher in H. pylori positive patients with PUD or GC than in H. pylori negative patients of the same groups; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Up-regulation of VEGF-C expression during gastric mucosal inflammation may play a role in the development of peptic ulcers or GC.