• BMB Reports
• /
• 제41권5호
• /
• pp.345-352
• /
• 2008

The cerebral microvessels possess barrier characteristics which are tightly sealed excluding many toxic substances and protecting neural tissues. The specialized blood-neural barriers as well as the cerebral microvascular barrier are recognized in the retina, inner ear, spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. Microvascular endothelial cells in the brain closely interact with other components such as astrocytes, pericytes, perivascular microglia and neurons to form functional 'neurovascular unit'. Communication between endothelial cells and other surrounding cells enhances the barrier functions, consequently resulting in maintenance and elaboration of proper brain homeostasis. Furthermore, the disruption of the neurovascular unit is closely involved in cerebrovascular disorders. In this review, we focus on the location and function of these various blood-neural barriers, and the importance of the cell-to-cell communication for development and maintenance of the barrier integrity at the neurovascular unit. We also demonstrate the close relation between the alteration of the blood-neural barriers and cerebrovascular disorders.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.443-450
• /
• 2005

In the present study, we have characterized the choline transport system and examined the influence of various amine drugs on the choline transporter using a conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) in vitro. The cell-to-medium (C/M) ratio of $[^3{H}]choline$ in TR-BBB cells increased time-dependently. The initial uptake rate of $[^3{H}]choline$ was concentration-dependent with a Michaelis-Menten value, $K_{m}$, of $26.2\pm2.7{\mu}M$. The $[^3{H}]choline$ uptake into TR-BBB was $Na^{+}-independent$, but was membrane potential-dependent. The $[^3{H}]choline$ uptake was susceptible to inhibition by hemicholinium-3, and tetraethy-lammonium (TEA), which are organic cation transporter substrates. Also, the uptake of $[^3{H}]choline$ was competitively inhibited with $K_{i}$ values of $274 {\mu}M, 251 {\mu}M and 180 {\mu}M$ in the presence of donepezil hydrochloride, tacrine and $\alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone$ (PBN), respectively. These characteristics of choline transport are consistent with those of the organic cation transporter (OCT). OCT2 mRNA was expressed in TR-BBB cells, while the expression of OCT3 or choline transporter (CHT) was not detected. Accordingly, these results suggest that OCT2 is a candidate for choline transport at the BBB and may influence the BBB permeability of amine drugs.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제26권12호
• /
• pp.1367-1375
• /
• 2016

Cilostazol은 phosphodiesterase III의 선택적 저해제로 알려져 있으며, 뇌졸중 치료에 일반적으로 사용되고 있다. Cilostazol을 처리한 경우, 국소 뇌허혈이 발생한 후에 혈관신생을 통해서 혈관형성이 향상된다는 것을 본 연구자들이 발표하였다. 혈관신생은 조직의 허혈상태를 극복하기 위해서 혈관재생을 촉진하는 중요한 과정으로써, 혈관내피세포의 증식, 이동, 모세관구조 형성의 다단계 과정으로 구성되어 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 인간 뇌혈관내피세포를 이용하여 cilostazol이 혈관신생의 각 단계들에 어떤 영향을 미치는지 조사하였다. Cilostazol은 농도의존적으로 뇌혈관내피세포의 이동성을 촉진하였으나, 뇌혈관내피세포의 증식과 모세관구조 형성에는 영향을 미치지 않았다. Cilostazol이 세포이동을 조절하는 기전을 분석하기 위해서 cDNA microarray를 수행하였고, 세포이동에 관련성이 있는 5종의 후보 유전자들을 선택하여 real-time PCR을 통해 해당 유전자의 발현을 검증하였다. Cilostazol에 의해서 발현양이 조절되는 유전자들로써, phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1)와 CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$)은 발현이 증가하였고, tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2), retinoic acid receptor responder 1 (RARRES1), RARRES3는 발현이 감소하였다. 이상의 결과를 통해서 cilostazol이 혈관내피세포의 이동을 촉진하여 혈관신생을 향상시킬 수 있음을 제안할 수 있으며, 뇌혈관내피세포에 대한 cilostazol의 조절기전에 대해서 더욱 상세히 규명을 한다면 혈관형성을 통하여 허혈성 질환을 치료할 수 있는 유용한 정보가 될 것으로 기대한다.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한약학회 2001년도 Proceedings of International Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea
• /
• pp.193.2-194
• /
• 2001

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 1999

Nuclear factor $_{\kappa}B\;(NF-_{\kappa}B)$ activation is modulated by various protein kinases. Activation of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ is known to be important in the regulation of cell viability. The present study investigated the effect of inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA) on $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activity and the viability of bovine cerebral endothelial cells (BCECs). In serum-deprivation-induced BCEC death, low doses of $TNF{\alpha}$ showed a protective effect. $TNF{\alpha}$ induced $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation within 4 h in serum-deprivation. PTK inhibitors (herbimycin A and genistein) and PKC inhibitor (calphostin C) prevented $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation stimulated by $TNF{\alpha}.$ Likewise, these inhibitors prevented the protective effect of $TNF{\alpha}.$ In contrast to $TNF{\alpha}-stimulated\;NF-_{\kappa}B$ activity, basal $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activity of BCECs in media containing serum was suppressed only by calphostin C, but not by herbimycin A. As well BCEC death was also induced only by calphostin C in serum-condition. H 89, a PKA inhibitor, did not affect the basal and $TNF{\alpha}-stimulated\;NF-_{\kappa}B$ activities and the protective effect of $TNF{\alpha}$ on cell death. These data suggest that modulation of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation could be a possible mechanism for regulating cell viability by protein kinases in BCECs.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제51권2호
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2018

Niemann-Pick type C disease (NP-C) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a deficiency of NPC1 gene function, which leads to severe neuroinflammation such as astrogliosis. While reports demonstrating neuroinflammation are prevalent in NP-C, information about the onset and progression of cerebellar astrogliosis in this disorder is lacking. Using gene targeting, we generated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) conditional null mutant mice. Deletion of VEGF in cerebellar Purkinje neurons (PNs) led to a significant increase of astrogliosis in the brain of NP-C mice in addition to the loss of PNs, suggesting PN-derived VEGF as an important factor in NP-C pathology. Moreover, replenishment of VEGF in neurons improved brain pathology in NP-C mice. Overall, our data provide a new pathological perspective on cerebellar astrogliosis in NP-C and suggest the importance of VEGF as a therapeutic target for this disease.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제45권12호
• /
• pp.950-962
• /
• 2022

Aging is a major risk factor for common neurodegenerative diseases. Although multiple molecular, cellular, structural, and functional changes occur in the brain during aging, the involvement of caveolin-2 (Cav-2) in brain ageing remains unknown. We investigated Cav-2 expression in brains of aged mice and its effects on endothelial cells. The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) showed decreased THP-1 adhesion and infiltration when treated with Cav-2 siRNA compared to control siRNA. In contrast, Cav-2 overexpression increased THP-1 adhesion and infiltration in HUVECs. Increased expression of Cav-2 and iba-1 was observed in brains of old mice. Moreover, there were fewer iba-1-positive cells in the brains of aged Cav-2 knockout (KO) mice than of wild-type aged mice. The levels of several chemokines were higher in brains of aged wild-type mice than in young wild-type mice; moreover, chemokine levels were significantly lower in brains of young mice as well as aged Cav-2 KO mice than in their wild-type counterparts. Expression of PECAM1 and VE-cadherin proteins increased in brains of old wild-type mice but was barely detected in brains of young wild-type and Cav-2 KO mice. Collectively, our results suggest that Cav-2 expression increases in the endothelial cells of aged brain, and promotes leukocyte infiltration and age-associated neuroinflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제25권4호
• /
• pp.441-451
• /
• 2017

Imperatorin, a major bioactive furanocoumarin with multifunctions, can be used for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of imperatorin transport in the brain. Experiments of the present study were designed to study imperatorin transport across the blood-brain barrier both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo study was performed in rats using single intravenous injection and in situ carotid artery perfusion technique. Conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cells were as an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier to examine the transport mechanism of imperatorin. Brain distribution volume of imperatorin was about 6 fold greater than that of sucrose, suggesting that the transport of imperatorin was through the blood-brain barrier in physiological state. Both in vivo and in vitro imperatorin transport studies demonstrated that imperatorin could be transported in a concentration-dependent manner with high affinity. Imperatorin uptake was dependent on proton gradient in an opposite direction. It was significantly reduced by pretreatment with sodium azide. However, its uptake was not inhibited by replacing extracellular sodium with potassium or N-methylglucamine. The uptake of imperatorin was inhibited by various cationic compounds, but not inhibited by TEA, choline and organic anion substances. Transfection of plasma membrane monoamine transporter, organic cation transporter 2 and organic cation/carnitine transporter 2/1 siRNA failed to alter imperatorin transport in brain capillary endothelial cells. Especially, tramadol, clonidine and pyrilamine inhibited the uptake of [$^3H$]imperatorin competitively. Therefore, imperatorin is actively transported from blood to brain across the blood-brain barrier by passive and carrier-mediated transporter.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제24권5호
• /
• pp.423-431
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin on brain hypoxic-ischemic (HI) damage in neonatal rats and whether the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway is involved. Brain HI damage models were established in neonatal rats, which received the following treatments: curcumin by intraperitoneal injection before injury, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) by subcutaneous injection after injury, and VEGF by intracerebroventricular injection after injury. This was followed by neurological evaluation, hemodynamic measurements, histopathological assessment, TUNEL assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting to assess the expression of p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, Akt, and VEGF. Compared with rats that underwent sham operation, rats with brain HI damage showed remarkably increased neurological deficits, reduced right blood flow volume, elevated blood viscosity and haematocrit, and aggravated cell damage and apoptosis; these injuries were significantly improved by curcumin pretreatment. Meanwhile, brain HI damage induced the overexpression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and VEGF, while curcumin pretreatment inhibited the expression of these proteins. In addition, IGF-1 treatment rescued the curcumin-induced down-regulated expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and VEGF, and VEGF overexpression counteracted the inhibitory effect of curcumin on brain HI damage. Overall, pretreatment with curcumin protected against brain HI damage by targeting VEGF via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in neonatal rats.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제40권3호
• /
• pp.301-307
• /
• 1993

Intravascular bronchioloalveolar tumor is now recognized as a pulmonary form of hemangioendothelioma(HE). HE is an unusual tumor of adult life which is characterized by proliferation of an "epithelioid" or "spindle" endothelial cell. In the lung it usually presents as multiple bilateral slowly growing nodules less than 2 cm in diameter. The aetiology and pathogenesis of this disease are unknown. Spindle cell HE occurs at any age, but approximately one half of patient are 25 years of age or younger and males are affected twice more frequently than females. On light microscopic examination, the tumor show mild cellular atypia, nearly absent mitoses and electron-microscopic studies reveal evidence of endothelial cell differentiation. Intracytoplasmic localization of Factor VIII-related antigen is demonstrated on immunohistochemical study, which confirmed the endothelial origin of the tumor. No effective therapy is yet known for HE, but survival of this tumor can be quite long. However, one half of the patient have died, usually of progressive pulmonary insufficiency. This 19-yr-old male complained of Rt. chest pain and intermittent hemoptysis. Simple chest film and chest CT scan showed the Rt. pleural effusion, variable sized bilateral pulmonary nodules, irregular large heterogenous tumor with well enhancement and extensive necrosis in the anterior mediastinum. The mediastinal mass was biopsied and diagnosed as spindle cell HE by light microscopic finding and immunohistochemical studies.