• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 1995

Complete prelining of artificial vascular grafts with autologous endothelial cells may be one of the ideal solutions to obtain a nonthrombogenlc blood-contacting surface. To establish an intact endothelial cell monolayer on a prosthetic surface at the time of implantation,a sufficient number of endothelial cells and adequate propagation condition In cell culture are prerequisites. In this experimental study, endothelial cells from microvessels of adult human oriental adipose tissue were enzymatically harvested, and optimal culture conditions for proliferation of the endothelial cells in cell culture were examined. Human oriental adipose tissue was digested with collagenase and endothelial cells were separated from other stromal elements by mesh filtration method. Cultured cells were identified as endothelial cells by immunofluorescent staining for factor VIII-related antigen. Proliferation in usual 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) medium or medium containing endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF)(5 ng/ml) and heparin (HEP)(1,000 units/ml) were compared,and the effects of adding compounds that increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels, that is,cholera toxin (CT)(1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX)(0.2 ml),were also analyzed. In total,following eight media groups were examined. 1) FBS medium + ECGF + HEP, 2) FBS medium + ECGF + HEP+CT, 3) FBS medium+ECGF+HEP+lBMX, 4) FBS medium+ECGF+HEP+CT+ IBMX, 5) FBSmedium, 6) FBS medium +CT, 7) FBS medium + IBMX, 8) FBS medium + CT + IBMX. It was shown that the medium containing ECGF + HEP with or without cholera toxin was most efficient in Stimulating cell proliferation. IBMX was considered to have antagonistic effect to ECGF. Among experimental groups without ECGF and HEP, the addition of cholera toxin and IBMX was shown to significantly potentiate cell proliferation. This results could provide a practical method for use of cultured human endothelial cells for endothelial cell seeding of cardiovascular prosthetic device, particularly in small-diameter vascular grafts.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2003

Purpose : Pulmonary vascular hypertension is a common problem in congenital heart disease, the most common cardiac condition in childhood. However, the mechanisms responsible for this pathologic change, treatment, and prevention are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) by using a hypoxic model of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Methods : The main pulmonary artery and its proximal branches of a 6 wk old Fischer rat were excised. They were cut into multiple small pieces and suspended in DMEM medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and incubated in 5% $CO_2$-95% air atmosphere. The smooth muscle cells were confirmed by immunostaining with smooth muscle myosin and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin antibodies. The VEGF gene expression in the hypoxic group was compared with the one in control the group as well as the one in the starved group by RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. Results : There was no statistically significant difference among the control, hypoxic and starved groups. Conclusion : There are few studies of pulmonary vascular hypertension at the molecular level in Korea. Therefore, we studied the expression of VEGF gene in hypoxic pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. Further studies will be needed to find the difference between newly born and adult rats, or human and rat pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells in gene expression. We hope that the study will lead to a better understanding of pulmonary vascular hypertension.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.7.1-7.10
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• 2019

Sargassum serratifolium ethanolic extract has been known for strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We prepared hexane fraction from the ethanolic extract of S. serratifolium (HSS) to improve biological activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of HSS on the inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-induced monocyte adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that HSS suppressed the production of cell adhesion molecules such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in TNF-${\alpha}$-induced HUVECs. Moreover, TNF-${\alpha}$-induced production of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and keratinocyte chemoattractant was inhibited by HSS treatment. HSS suppressed TNF-${\alpha}$-induced nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) activation via preventing proteolytic degradation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. HSS induced the production of heme oxygenase 1 via translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus in TNF-${\alpha}$-treated HUVECs. Overall, HSS alleviated vascular inflammation through the downregulation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and the upregulation of Nrf2 activation in TNF-${\alpha}$-induced HUVECs. These results indicate that HSS may be used as therapeutic agents for vascular inflammatory disorders.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.683-687
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• 2001

Objective : Angiogenesis, the proliferation of capillary endothelial cells, is a vital component in the development, progression, and metastasis of many human tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) is an endothelial cell-specific mitogen and induces angiogenesis and vascular permeability. The features of glioblastoma, distinct from low grade astrocytomas, are the presence of necroses and vascular endothelial proliferation. In this study, we investigated VEGF expression in the different grades of astrocytomas and determined whether VEGF expression correlates with development of glioblastoma and progression of astrocytomas. Patients and Methods : Forty seven patients with astrocytic tumors(24 males and 23 females), aged 3 to 65 years, were evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out using labelled streptavidin biotin method and primary antibody was a antirabbit polyclonal Ab against N-terminus region of VEGF165(Oncogene research product, MA, USA). Immunoreactivity(IR) was classified into no IR(absent or a trace of stain), moderate IR and intense IR by level of staining amount and intensity. Results : Six pilocytic astrocytomas showed 3 no IR and 3 moderate IR, 10 astrocytomas showed 2 no IR, 6 moderate IR and 2 intense IR, 12 anaplastic astrocytomas showed I no IR, 7 moderate IR and 4 intense IR and 19 glioblastomas showed 1 no IR, 11 moderate IR and 7 intense IR. Immunoreactivity was significantly different between low and high grade of tumors but there was no significant difference between anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas. Gemistocytic tumor cells represented the predominent VEGF-immunoreactive cell types, as compared with compactly-arranged small tumor cells. In glioblastomas VEGF IR was observed in both perinecrotic and vital tumor areas. Conclusion : VEGF seems to be a important angiogenic factor in anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas and VEGF expression may contribute to neovascularization of human astrocytomas.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2012

The shortage of human organs for transplantation has induced the research on the possibility of using animal as porcine. However, pig to human transplantation as known as xeno-transplantation has major problem as immunorejection. Recently, the solutions of pig to human xenotransplantation are commonly mentioned as having a genetically modification which include alpha 1, 3 galatosyl transferase knockout (GTKO) and immune-suppressing gene transgenic model. Unfortunately, the expression level of transgenic gene is very low activity. Therefore, development of gene overexpression system is the most urgent issue. Also, the tissue specific overexpression system is very important. Because most blood vessels are endothelial cells, establishment of the endothelial-specific promoter is attractive candidates for the introduction of suppressing immunorejection. In this study, we focus the ICAM2 promoter which has endothelial-specific regulatory region. To detect the regulatory region of ICAM2 promoter, we cloned 3.7 kb size mini-pig ICAM2 promoter. We conduct serial deletion of 5' flanking region of mini-pig ICAM2 promoter then selected promoter size as 1 kb, 1.5 kb, 2 kb, 2.5 kb, and 3 kb. To analyze promoter activity, luciferase assay system was conducted among these vectors and compare endothelial activity with epithelial cells. The reporter gene assay revealed that ICAM2 promoter has critical activity in endothelial cells (CPAE) and 1 kb size of ICAM2 promoter activity was significantly increased. Taken together, our studies suggest that mini-pig ICMA2 promoter is endothelial cell specific overexpression promoter and among above all size of promoters, 1 kb size promoter is optimal candidate to overcome the vascular immunorejection in pig to human xenotransplantation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.170-177
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• 2014

Endothelial cell dysfunction is considered to be a major cause of vascular complications in diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of a baechu kimchi added Ecklonia cava extract (BKE) against high glucose induced oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Treatment with a high concentration of glucose (30 mM) induced cytotoxicity, whereas treatment with BKE protected HUVECs from high glucose induced damage; by restoring cell viability. In addition, BKE reduced lipid peroxidation, intracellular reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide levels in a dose dependent manner. Treatment with high glucose concentrations also induced the overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and NF-${\kappa}B$ proteins in HUVECs, but BKE treatment significantly reduced the overexpression of these proteins. These findings indicate that BKE may be a valuable treatment against high glucose-induced oxidative stress HUVECs.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.685-690
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• 2009

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in this process. Conversely, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a biologically active sphingolipid known to play a key role in cancer progression by regulating endothelial cell proliferation and migration. In this study, the authors found that S1P increases the level of VEGF mRNA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and immortalized HUVECs (iHUVECs). Additionally, S1P was found to increase VEGF promoter activity in MS-1 mouse pancreatic islet endothelial cells. Furthermore, a pharmacological inhibitory study revealed that $G_{\alpha i/o}$-mediated phospholipase C, Akt, Erk, and p38 MAPK signaling are involved in this S1P-induced expression of VEGF. A component of AP1 transcription factor is important for S1P-induced VEGF expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that S1P enhances endothelial cell proliferation and migrat ion by upregulating the expression of VEGF mRNA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2019

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and its receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3, are responsible for lymphangiogenesis in both embryos and adults. In epilepsy, the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was significantly upregulated in the human brains affected with temporal lobe epilepsy. Moreover, pharmacologic inhibition of VEGF receptors after acute seizures could suppress the generation of spontaneous recurrent seizures, suggesting a critical role of VEGF-related signaling in epilepsy. Therefore, in the present study, the spatiotemporal expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 against pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) was investigated in C57BL/6N mice using immunohistochemistry. At 1 day after SE, hippocampal astrocytes and microglia were activated. Pyramidal neuronal death was observed at 4 days after SE. In the subpyramidal zone, VEGF-C expression gradually increased and peaked at 7 days after SE, while VEGFR-3 was significantly upregulated at 4 days after SE and began to decrease at 7 days after SE. Most VEGF-C/VEGFR-3-expressing cells were pyramidal neurons, but VEGF-C was also observed in some astrocytes in sham-manipulated animals. However, at 4 days and 7 days after SE, both VEGFR-3 and VEGF-C immunoreactivities were observed mainly in astrocytes and in some microglia of the stratum radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampus, respectively. These data indicate that VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 can be upregulated in hippocampal astrocytes and microglia after pilocarpine-induced SE, providing basic information about VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression patterns following acute seizures.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2001

Inflammation is a frequent radiation-induced following therapeutic irradiation. Treatment of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) with ${\gamma}$-irradiation (${\gamma}$IR) induces the expression of adhesion proteins such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Since the upregulation of these proteins on endothelial cell surface has been known to be associated with inflammation, interfering with the expression of adhesion molecules is an important therapeutic target. In the present study, we demonstrate that bioflavonoid rutin inhibits ${\gamma}$IR induced expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin on HUVEC in a dose- and time dependent manner. Rutin also inhibited ${\gamma}$IR induced production of NO. These data suggest that rutin has therapeutic potential for the treatment of various inflammatory disorder associated with an increase of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2002

Background: Inflammation is a frequent reaction following therapeutic irradiation. Since the upregulation of adhesion molecules on endothelial cell surface is known to be associated with inflammation, the expression of adhesion molecules is an important therapeutic target. Methods: Treatment of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) with ${\gamma}$-irradiation (${\gamma}IR$) induces the expression of adhesion proteins such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Changes in the expression of these proteins on ${\gamma}$-irradiated HUVECs which had been treated previously with allicin were measured by ELISA. Results: In the present study, we demonstrate that allicin inhibits the ${\gamma}IR$ induced expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin on HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. Allicin was also found to inhibit the ${\gamma}IR$ induced production of nitric oxide (NO). Conclusion: These data suggest that allicin has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of various inflammatory disorders associated with increase numbers of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules.