• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2017

Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype plays an essential role in many cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we provide evidence that $kr{\ddot{u}}ppel$-like factor 8 (KLF8) is essential for tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$)-induced phenotypic conversion of VSMC obtained from thoracic aorta from 4-week-old SD rats. Stimulation of the contractile phenotype of VSMCs with $TNF{\alpha}$ significantly reduced the VSMC marker gene expression and KLF8. The gene expression of KLF8 was blocked by $TNF{\alpha}$ stimulation in an ERK-dependent manner. The promoter region of KLF8 contained putative Sp1, KLF4, and $NF{\kappa}B$ binding sites. Myocardin significantly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF4 and KLF8. The ectopic expression of KLF4 strongly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF8. Moreover, silencing of Akt1 significantly attenuated the promoter activity of KLF8; conversely, the overexpression of Akt1 significantly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF8. The promoter activity of SMA, $SM22{\alpha}$, and KLF8 was significantly elevated in the contractile phenotype of VSMCs. The ectopic expression of KLF8 markedly enhanced the expression of SMA and $SM22{\alpha}$ concomitant with morphological changes. The overexpression of KLF8 stimulated the promoter activity of SMA. Stimulation of VSMCs with $TNF{\alpha}$ enhanced the expression of KLF5, and the promoter activity of KLF5 was markedly suppressed by KLF8 ectopic expression. Finally, the overexpression of KLF5 suppressed the promoter activity of SMA and $SM22{\alpha}$, thereby reduced the contractility in response to the stimulation of angiotensin II. These results suggest that cross-regulation of KLF family of transcription factors plays an essential role in the VSMC phenotype.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 1996

In the present study, mouse follicular oocytes and 2-cell embryos(late -zygote stage embryos included) were cultured on the electric pad for electric stimulation in the culture incubator. In addition, follicular oocytes and embryos were tested for maturation and development under higher temperature condition($39^{\circ}C$).Mouse follicular oocyte maturation were not affected by anion electric stimulation and there is no significant difference in GBVD and MI between the control and experiment group after 4hr culture. In the embryo culture, it was found that more morula and blastocyst were found in the electric stimulation group rather than the control(96hr). This may seem to be caused with cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ transient rise by electric stimulation(anion pad). On the other hand higher temperature incubation ($39^{\circ}C$) on the anion pad caused all the embryos degenerated within $12h{\sim}24hr$ culture. This was quite different from large animal embryos(bovine, pig, sheep), in which beneficial effect of high temperature incubation for oocyte maturation and embryo development were found.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.139-139
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• 1998

Effects of TCDD and flavonoids on ethoxyresorufin deethylase in Hepa I cells and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were examined. TCDD treatment have resulted in the stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity based on fluorometry in Hepa I in dose and time dependent manner. 0.1 nM TCDD showed maximal stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity and 24 hour treatment also showed maximal stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity. In MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, untreated cells showed high basal level of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity. TCDD treatment to MCF-7 cells resulted minor stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity compared to that in Hepa I cells. Various chemicals were tested for ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity in both cell lines. Flavonoids, such as quercetin showed an inhibition of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity that is stimulated with TCDD or 3-Methylcholanthrene. Estrogen and estrogen metabolites such as 16a-estriol also affects the ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity in MCF-7 cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.138-138
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• 1998

Effects of nitric oxide and hypoxia on ethoxyresorufin deethylase in Hepa I cells and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were examined. TCDD treatment have resulted in the stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity based on fluorometry in Hepa I in dose and time dependent manner. 0.1 nM TCDD showed maximal stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity and 24 hour treatment also showed maximal stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity. In MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, untreated cells showed high basal level of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity. TCDD treatment to MCF-7 cells resulted minor stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity compared to that in Hepa I cells. Nitric oxide and hypoxia inhibit TCDD effects on ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity in both cell lines. And also flavonoids, such as quercetin showed an inhibition of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity that is stimulated with TCDD or 3-Methylcholanthrene. Estrogen and estrogen metabolite such as 16 a-estriol and 2-hydroxyestradiol also affects the ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity in MCF-7 cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2000

This study has been carried out to understand histochemical and ultrastructural changes by acupuncture stimulation at the acupoint of the Zusanli (St. 36) in the rat. A lot of mast cells are observed in the peripheral of the hole with a sparrow-pecking and twistin -needle manipulation to the acupoint Zusanli for induction of 'Qi'. These cells contained a lot of granules with varied electron density and exocytosis granules were observed near the mast cell. H-bands of the muscle fiber that situated near the hole were shortened. It is assumed that these muscles are contracted by acupuncture stimulation. These results imply that functional relationship between mast cells in the dermis and Qi-sensation induced by acupuncture plays an important role on the specific receptor response to the mechanical stimulation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.407-407
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• 2014

Nanotechnology, especially vertically grown silicon nanowires, has gotten great attentions in biology due to characteristics of one dimensional nanostructure; controllable synthetic structure such as lengths, diameters, densities. Silicon nanowires are promising materials as nanoelectrodes due to their highly complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) - and bio-compatibility. Silicon nanowires are so intoxicated that are effective for bio molecular delivery and electrical stimulation. Vertical nanowires with integrated Au tips were fabricated for electrical intracellular interfacing with PC-12 cells. We have made synthesized two types of nanowire devices; one is multi-nanowires electrode for bio molecular sensing and electrical stimulation, and the other is single-nanowires electrode respectively. Here, we demonstrate that differentiation of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) treated PC-12 cells can be promoted depending on different magnitudes of electrical stimulation and density of Si NWs. It was fabricated by both bottom-up and top-down approaches using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) with high vacuuming environment to electrically stimulate PC-12 cells. The effects of electrical stimulation with NGF on the morphological differentiation are observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and it induces neural outgrowth. Moreover, the cell cytosol can be dyed selectively depending on the degree of differentiation along with fluorescence microscopy measurement. Vertically grown silicon nanowires have further expected advantages in case of single nanowire fabrication, and will be able to expand its characteristics to diverse applications.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2010

Purpose: We tested whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improved recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats with transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ATSCs). Methods: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g, female) were used. Moderate spinal cord injury was induced at the T9 level by a New York University (NYU) impactor. The rat ATSCs (approximately $5{\times}10^5$ cells) were injected into the perilesional area at 9 days after SCI. Starting four days after transplantation, rTMS (25 Hz, 0.1 Tesla, pulse width=$370{\mu}s$, on/off time=3 sec/3 sec) was applied daily for 7 weeks. Functional recovery was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale as well as pain responses for thermal and cold stimuli. Results: Both groups showed similar, gradual improvement of locomotor function. rTMS stimulation decreased thermal and cold hyperalgesia after 7 weeks, but sham stimulation did not. Conclusion: rTMS after transplantation of ATSCs in an SCI model may reduce thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia, and may be an adjuvant therapeutic tool for pain control after stem cell therapy in SCI.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.155-157
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• 2014

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.51-75
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• 2022

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation that is able to alter neuronal activity in particular brain regions. Many studies have researched how tDCS modulates neuronal activity and reorganizes neural networks. However it is difficult to conclude the effect of brain stimulation because the studies are heterogeneous with respect to the stimulation parameter as well as individual difference. It is not fully in agreement with the effects of brain stimulation. In particular few studies have researched the reason of variability of brain stimulation in response to time so far. The study investigated individual variability of brain stimulation based on circadian rhythm and chronotype. Participants were divided into two groups which are morning type and evening type. The experiment was conducted by Zoom meeting which is video meeting programs. Participants were sent experiment tool which are Muse(EEG device), tdcs device, cell phone and cell phone holder after manuals for experimental equipment were explained. Participants were required to make a phone in frount of a camera so that experimenter can monitor online EEG data. Two participants who was difficult to use experimental devices experimented in a laboratory setting where experimenter set up devices. For all participants the accuracy of 98% was achieved by SVM using leave one out cross validation in classification in the the effects of morning stimulation and the evening stimulation. For morning type, the accuracy of 92% and 96% was achieved in classification in the morning stimulation and the evening stimulation. For evening type, it was 94% accuracy in classification for the effect of brain stimulation in the morning and the evening. Feature importance was different both in classification in the morning stimulation and the evening stimulation for morning type and evening type. Results indicated that the effect of brain stimulation can be explained with brain state and trait. Our study results noted that the tDCS protocol for target state is manipulated by individual differences as well as target state.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.585-593
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• 2015

Stress fiber (SF) alteration is mediated by cellular receptors, which, upon interaction with the extracellular counterpart, signal to the actin cytoskeleton for remodeling. This association is mediated by a variety of scaffold and signaling factors, which control the mechanical and signaling activities of the interaction site. The heterotrimeric transmembrane lymphotoxin α1β2 (LTα1β2), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines, including soluble homotrimeric lymphotoxin (LT α), plays an important role in lymphoid tissue architecture. Ligation between LTα1β2 and the lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) activates signal-cascade in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). We found LTβR stimulation using an agonistic anti-LTβR antibody alone or combined with LTα or TNFα induced changes in the actin and plasticity of cells. To clarify the involvement of myosin underlying the alteration, we analyzed the effect of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) with an MLCK inhibitor (ML7), the phosphorylation level of myosin light chains (MLC), and the level of phospho-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) after treatment with an agonistic anti-LTβR antibody for cytoskeleton reorganization in FRCs. The inhibition of MLCK activity induced changes in the actin cytoskeleton organization and cell morphology in FRC. In addition, we showed the phosphorylation of MLC and MYPT1 was reduced by LTβR stimulation in cells. A DNA chip revealed the LTβR stimulation of FRC down-regulated transcripts of myosin and actin components. Collectively, these results suggest LTβR stimulation is linked to myosin regarding SF alteration in FRC.