• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

Atherosclerosis is a pathologic process occurring within the artery, in which many cell types, including T cell, macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, interact, and cause chronic inflammation, in response to various inner- or outer-cellular stimuli. Atherosclerosis is characterized by a complex interaction of inflammation, lipid deposition, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial dysfunction, and extracellular matrix remodeling, which will result in the formation of an intimal plaque. Although the regulation and function of vascular smooth muscle cells are important in the progression of atherosclerosis, the roles of smooth muscle cells in regulating vascular inflammation are rarely focused upon, compared to those of endothelial cells or inflammatory cells. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss here how smooth muscle cells contribute or regulate the inflammatory reaction in the progression of atherosclerosis, especially in the context of the activation of various membrane receptors, and how they may regulate vascular inflammation.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2018

Objectives : Coronary and cerebrovascular disease with high mortality is a major factor in arteriosclerosis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines damage vascular endothelial cells, leading to vascular inflammation. These vascular inflammation can build up cholesterol and thrombus to cause atherosclerosis. Methods : In this study, we researched the effect of ChungHyul-Plus for vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$). Change in mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (CCL5, CXCL8, CX3CL1, and MCP-1), cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1), and anti-inflammation modulators (KLF2 and eNOS) were quantified by qRT-PCR. Results : ChungHyul-Plus decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules and increased anti-inflammation modulators expression in $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulated HUVECs. Conclusions : These results suggest that ChungHyul-Plus can be used in the treatment and prevention of vascular inflammation and arteriosclerosis.

• 대한약리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.112.2-112.2
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• 2006

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2010

The pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium have been implicated in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In fact, inflammatory responses in vascular endothelium are primarily regulated through oxidative stress-mediated signaling pathways leading to overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Enhanced expression of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and their close interactions facilitate recruiting and adhering blood leukocytes to vessel wall, and subsequently stimulate transendothelial migration, which are thought to be critical early pathologic events in atherogenesis. Although interleukin-4 (IL-4) was traditionally considered as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, recent in vitro and in vivo studies have provided robust evidence that IL-4 exerts pro-inflammatory effects on vascular endothelium and may play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. The cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for IL-4-induced atherosclerosis, however, remain largely unknown. The present review focuses on the distinct sources of IL-4-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as the pivotal role of ROS in IL-4-induced vascular inflammation. These studies will provide novel insights into a clear delineation of the oxidative mechanisms of IL-4-mediated stimulation of vascular inflammation and subsequent development of atherosclerosis. It will also contribute to novel therapeutic approaches for atherosclerosis specifically targeted against pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.57-60
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• 2002

Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell is observed in the vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. The death of vascular smooth muscle cells can be induced by cytokines and activation of Fas-pathways. It is widely accepted that apoptosis occurs without inflammation. There are, however, reports that apoptosis is not silent. Vascular smooth muscle cells dying by Fas-pathway secreted inflammatory cytokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. This study have investigated whether apoptosis is associated with potent inflammatory cytokine tumor tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. The cells which undergo apoptosis by expressing FADD in the absence of tetracycline expressed and secreted TNF-${\alpha}$. When the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ transcript was investigated, dying smooth muscle cells exhibited transcriptional activation of TNF-${\alpha}$. The data indicate that dying vascular smooth muscle cells contribute to inflammation by expressing inflammatory cytokines. The present study suggests that apoptosis could not be silent in certain pathological situations.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.405-416
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• 2024

Background: Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is the main pathological change in vascular remodeling, a complex cardiopulmonary disease caused by hypoxia. Some research results have shown that ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) can improve vascular remodeling, but the effect and mechanism of Rg1 on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension are not clear. The purpose of this study was to discuss the potential mechanism of action of Rg1 on HPH. Methods: C57BL/6 mice, calpain-1 knockout mice and Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were exposed to a low oxygen environment with or without different treatments. The effect of Rg1 and calpain-1 silencing on inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation and the protein expression levels of calpain-1, STAT3 and p-STAT3 were determined at the animal and cellular levels. Results: At the mouse and cellular levels, hypoxia promotes inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation, and the expression of calpain-1 and p-STAT3 is also increased. Ginsenoside Rg1 administration and calpain-1 knockdown, MDL-28170, and HY-13818 treatment showed protective effects on hypoxia-induced inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation, which may be associated with the downregulation of calpain-1 and p-STAT3 expression in mice and cells. In addition, overexpression of calpain 1 increased p-STAT3 expression, accelerating the onset of inflammation, fibrosis and cell proliferation in hypoxic PASMCs. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 may ameliorate hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling by suppressing the calpain-1/STAT3 signaling pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.300-307
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• 2020

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in endothelial dysfunction due to persistent inflammation is a key component and emerging concept in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), an active compound from red ginseng, has been known to be important for vascular homeostasis. However, the effect of Rg3 on inflammation-induced EndMT has never been reported. Here, we hypothesize that Rg3 might reverse the inflammation-induced EndMT and serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for vascular diseases. Methods: EndMT was examined under an inflammatory condition mediated by the NOD1 agonist, γ-d-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid (iE-DAP), treatment in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The expression of EndMT markers was determined by Western blot analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunocytochemistry. The underlying mechanisms of Rg3-mediated EndMT regulation were investigated by modulating the microRNA expression. Results: The NOD1 agonist, iE-DAP, led to a fibroblast-like morphology change with a decrease in the expression of endothelial markers and an increase in the expression of the mesenchymal marker, namely EndMT. On the other hand, Rg3 markedly attenuated the iE-DAP-induced EndMT and preserved the endothelial phenotype. Mechanically, miR-139 was downregulated in cells with iE-DAP-induced EndMT and partly reversed in response to Rg3 via the regulation of NF-κB signaling, suggesting that the Rg3-miR-139-5p-NF-κB axis is a key mediator in iE-DAP-induced EndMT. Conclusion: These results suggest, for the first time, that Rg3 can be used to inhibit inflammation-induced EndMT and may be a novel therapeutic option against EndMT-associated vascular diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.724-731
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• 2012

This study was designed to elucidate whether combination with Korean red ginseng and Morus alba L. (MPM), traditional treatment for diabetes, ameliorates on high fructose-induced steatohepatitis and vascular inflammation. Animals were divided into four groups; Control receiving tap water, fructose-fed, rosiglitazone-treated fructose-fed rats, and MPM-treated fructose-fed rats both receiving supplemented with 60% fructose (n=10). The MPM or rosiglitazone groups initially received a high-fructose diet alone for 8 weeks, with supplementation with MPM or rosiglitazone, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist, occurring during the final 6 weeks. Treatment with MPM significantly prevented the increase in c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the high fructose group. MPM suppressed high fructose diet-induced vascular inflammation marker expression such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. MPM also reduced intima/media thickness of thoracic aorta. Histologic observation and oil red O staining demonstrated hepatic tissue damage and lipid accumulation were severe in high fructose group. Treatment with MPM ameliorated hepatic tissue morphology with minimized steatosis. In addition, MPM attenuated hepatitis by inhibition of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression. MPM-fed group showed lower serum GOT and GPT levels comparing with high fructose group. MPM and rosiglitazone (positive control) significantly decreased the size of epididymal adipocytes. Taken together, the administration of MPM inhibited high fructose-induced steatohepatitis and vascular inflammation. These results suggested that MPM is useful in the prevention or treatment of metabolic syndrome-related disorders such as fatty acid metabolism and vascular homeostasis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2010

Pulmonary pathogenesis in lupus is characterized by interstitial inflammation and vasculitis in lungs. We investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) attenuates pulmonary inflammation and lung injury in pristane-induced lupus mice. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were administrated with BC 0.5 ml/kg or PBS orally once a day for 14 days. Our results demonstrated that BC significantly attenuated levels of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) IL-6, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$, $PGE_2$ and VEGF, and pulmonary vascular permeability in pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, these findings suggest that BC may inhibit development of pulmonary inflammation and lung injury in lupus.

• Proceedings of the KACD Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.549-550
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• 2003

Pulpal inflammation is a kind of neurogenic inflammation and it shows vascular changes such as vasodilation and changes in vascular leakage. Various kinds of neuropeptides including substance P (SP) are known to be involved in the pulpal inflammation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of NK1 receptor antagonists on the pulpal blood flow (PBF) when applied iontophoretically through the dentinal cavity of the teeth in order to understand whether iontophoretic ally applied NK1 receptor antagonists can control the pulpal inflammation.(omitted)