• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.487-496
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• 2014

Angiotensinogen (AGT), the precursor of angiotensin I, is known to be involved in tumor angiogenesis and associated with the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. This study was undertaken to determine the role played by AGT in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in tumor progression and metastasis. It was found that the number of EPC colonies formed by AGT heterozygous knockout ($AGT^{+/-}$) cells was less than that formed by wild-type (WT) cells, and that the migration and tube formation abilities of $AGT^{+/-}$ EPCs were significantly lower than those of WT EPCs. In addition, the gene expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Flk1, angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, Tie-2, stromal derived factor (SDF)-1, C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), and of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were suppressed in $AGT^{+/-}$ EPCs. Furthermore, the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-$1{\alpha}$and $-2{\alpha}$ were downregulated in $AGT^{+/-}$ early EPCs under hypoxic conditions, suggesting a blunting of response to hypoxia. Moreover, the activation of Akt/eNOS signaling pathways induced by VEGF, epithelial growth factor (EGF), or SDF-$1{\alpha}$ were suppressed in $AGT^{+/-}$ EPCs. In $AGT^{+/-}$ mice, the incorporation of EPCs into the tumor vasculature was significantly reduced, and lung tumor growth and melanoma metastasis were attenuated. In conclusion, AGT is required for hypoxia-induced vasculogenesis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.149-154
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• 2008

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, has been implicated in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. Endothelial dysfunction (Editor note: Aberrant and dysfunction are somewhat redundant. The authors may want to choose one or the other.) contributes to chronic periodontal inflammation. Using cDNA-representational difference analysis, we found that P.gingivalis lipopolysaccharide differentially induces a number of genes in human microvascular endothelial cells. Among these upregulated genes, we focused on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), which is crucial for leukocyte recruitment during vascular inflammation. P. gingivalis LPS significantly increased the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) as well as ICAM-1. Promoter assays revealed that the transcription of these cell adhesion molecules was mainly regulated by nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) in endothelial cells. Furthermore, P. gingivalis LPS significantly increased leukocyte adhesiveness to microvascular endothelial cells and to aortic endothelium. Taken together, our results demonstrate that P. gingivalis LPS activates microvascular endothelial cells through NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent expression of cell adhesion molecules.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2018

Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) expression in endothelial cells is intimately associated with angiogenic sprouting and vascular remodeling, but the precise mechanism of transcriptional regulation of DLL4 remains incompletely understood. Here, we showed that LIM-domain binding protein 2 (LDB2) plays an important role in regulating basal DLL4 and VEGF-induced DLL4 expression. Knockdown of LDB2 using siRNA enhanced endothelial sprouting and tubular network formation in vitro. Injection of ldb2-morpholino resulted in defective development of intersegmental vessels in zebrafish. Reduction or over-expression of LDB2 in endothelial cells decreased or increased DLL4 expression. LDB2 regulated DLL4 promoter activity by binding to its promoter region and the same promoter region was occupied and regulated by the LMO2/TAL1/GATA2 complex. Interestingly, LDB2 also mediated VEGF-induced DLL4 expression in endothelial cells. The regulation of DLL4 by the LDB2 complex provides a novel mechanism of DLL4 transcriptional control that may be exploited to develop therapeutics for aberrant vascular remodeling.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.42
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• pp.23.1-23.11
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• 2020

Background: 4-Hexylresorcinol (4HR) is able to increase angiogenesis. However, its molecular mechanism in the human endothelial cells has not been clarified. Methods: As endothelial cells are important in angiogenesis, we treated the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with 4HR and investigated protein expressional changes by immunoprecipitation high-performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC) using 96 antisera. Results: Here, we found that 4HR upregulated transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, RAF-B/ERK and p38 signaling, and M2 macrophage polarization pathways. 4HR also increased expression of caspases and subsequent cellular apoptosis. Mechanistically, 4HR increased TGF-β1 production and subsequent activation of SMADs/VEGFs, RAF-B/ERK and p38 signaling, and M2 macrophage polarization. Conclusion: Collectively, 4HR activates TGF-β/SMAD/VEGF signaling in endothelial cells and induced vascular regeneration and remodeling for wound healing.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.355-364
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• 1996

Construction of the stable monolayer of endothelial cells onto physicochemically modified polymeric surFace is one of the appropriate method to develop the small caliber vascular graft with the long-term patency. In this study, we constructed the monolayer of endothelial cells on the fibronectin rind the extracellular matrix-coated polyurethane surface derived from human fibroblast cells. To elucidate the adhesion strength of endothelial cells on the extracellular matrix-coated polyurethane, a laminar flow chamber apparatus was developed to exposure the shear stress on the apical membrane of ondothelial cells. Endothelial cells show the strongest adhesion after two days of seeding onto the fibronectin-coated polyurethane surface, whereas endothelial cells on the extracellular matrix derived from the human flbroblast cells show the minimal doubling time of cellular growth.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 1995

We found that bufalln, one of the prominent components of the bufadlenolides in the Chinese medicine chan'su, has the potent inhibitory effects on growth and proliferation of the cultured bovine aortlc endothelial (BAE) and human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells. All naturally-occuring bufadienolides used in this study inhibited the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, bufalin among the bufadienolides showed the strongest inhibitory activity for the cell growth. The order of growth inhibition by bufadienolides on BAE cells was as follows: bufalin > gamabufotalln > bufotalln > cinobufagin > cinobufotalin > resibufogenin. The $IC_50$ values (50% inhibition of cell growth) of bufalin as determined by XTT assay were the range of 1-10 nM in BAE and HUVE cells. Bufalin exhibited a higher sensitivity towards cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells than human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2013

Thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) is one of major proinflammatory mediators, plays an important role in the development of vascular inflammatory diseases. $TXA_2$ acting through the thromboxane receptor regulates multiple pathways and genes in a variety of cells. In this study, we report that the activation of thromboxane receptor with U46619 increases the interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA in vascular endothelial cells. We also demonstrated that U46619 produces the activations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which is required for endothelial IL-8 production. And U46619 enhanced mRNA stability of IL-8 transcripts in endothelial cells. Moreover, inhibition of ERK1/2 or p38MAPK reduced monocyte adhesion to aortic endothelium stimulated by U46619. Therefore, these results suggest that activation of thromboxane receptor promotes the expression of IL-8 via ERK1/2 and p38MAPK activation in endothelial cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.582-590
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• 2018

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) play a pivotal role in vascular regeneration in ischemic tissues; however, their therapeutic application in clinical settings is limited due to the low quality and quantity of patient-derived circulating EPCs. To solve this problem, we evaluated whether three priming small molecules (tauroursodeoxycholic acid, fucoidan, and oleuropein) could enhance the angiogenic potential of EPCs. Such enhancement would promote the cellular bioactivities and help to develop functionally improved EPC therapeutics for ischemic diseases by accelerating the priming effect of the defined physiological molecules. We found that preconditioning of each of the three small molecules significantly induced the differentiation potential of $CD34^+$ stem cells into EPC lineage cells. Notably, long-term priming of OECs with the three chemical cocktail (OEC-3C) increased the proliferation potential of EPCs via ERK activation. The migration, invasion, and tube-forming capacities were also significantly enhanced in OEC-3Cs compared with unprimed OECs. Further, the cell survival ratio was dramatically increased in OEC-3Cs against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress via the augmented expression of Bcl-2, a pro-survival protein. In conclusion, we identified three small molecules for enhancing the bioactivities of ex vivo-expanded OECs for vascular repair. Long-term 3C priming might be a promising methodology for EPC-based therapy against ischemic diseases.

• 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.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.120-126
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• 2005

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a critical role in vascular biology and pathophysiology. Its activity is regulated by multiple mechanisms such as calcium/calmodulin, protein-protein interactions, sub-cellular locations and phosphorylation at various sites. Phosphorylation of eNOS-Ser1177 (based on mouse sequence) has been identified as an important mechanism of eNOS activation. However, signaling pathway leading to it phosphorylation remains controversial. The regulation of eNOS-Ser1177 phosphorylation by Src and protein kinase A (PKA) was investigated in the present study using cultured mouse aorta endothelial cells. Expression of a constitutively active Src mutant in the cells enhanced phosphorylation of eNOS and protein kinase B (Akt). The Src-stimulated phosphorylation was not attenuated by the expression of a dominant negative PKA regulatory subunit. Neither activation nor inhibition of PKA activity had any significant effect on tyrosine phosphorylation of activation or inactivation site in Src. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that Src/Akt pathway and PKA signaling may regulate eNOS phosphorylation independently. The existence of multiple mechanisms for eNOS phosphorylation may guarantee endothelial nitric oxide production in various cellular contexts which is essential for maintenance of vascular health.