• KSBB Journal
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.52-57
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• 1996

평활근 세포에 대한 shear stress의 영향을 알아보기 위해 슬라이드 글라스위에 배양된 牛 대통맥의 평활근 세포를 120시간 동안 0~26 dyn/$cm^2$의 각기 다른 일정한 shear stress의 유체에 노출하였다. 실험 장치를 순환하는 배지의 lactate dehydrogen­a ase의 농도측정 결과, 본 연구에서 적용된 shear stress 범위에서는 유체의 흐름으로 인하여 세포가 슬라이드 글라스 표면으로부터 이탈되는 현상은 없었다. 표면 $cm^2$ 당 존재하는 세포의 수를 측정한 결과, 평활근 세포는 정체배양시 가장 빨리 성장하였다. 표변에서의 shear stress가 증가할수록 i영활근 세포의 성장은 늦었으며, shear stress가 17 dyn/$cm^2$ 이상에서는 세포의 성장이 관찰되지 않았다.

• 약학회지
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.265-271
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• 2013

Treatments of vascular disease via modulating the expression of specific proteins by gene transfer have been attempted in various studies over the past few years. Among several methods to deliver genes, adenovirus currently has been used because of a number of positive aspects. In this study, we test adenoviral vector as a potential mediator in the treatment of vascular disease by using freshly isolated vascular tissues not cultured vascular cells. Freshly isolated vascular tissues were directly exposed to adenoviral vector pAd5CMVmcsIRESeGFPpA to check the possibility of GFP expression in different layer of vascular tissues. We found that the GFP expression by using adenoviral vector experiments is mainly focused on the adventitia and failed to detect GFP expression at endothelial layer or vascular smooth muscle layer in vascular tissues. However, we also found that several integrin receptors are robustly expressed in vascular smooth muscle, thus the limited expression of protein in vascular smooth muscle are not likely the lack of integrin receptors. In conclusion, adenovirus could not be a good tool for a specific protein expression in vascular smooth muscle cell. Thus, the application of adenovirus as a tool for gene therapy of vascular smooth muscle cells in clinical therapeutic trial need to be optimized further.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권7호통권87호
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• pp.976-982
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• 2007

본 연구는 분화 전단계인 C2C12 myoblast세포에 중요한 후천적 기작의 하나인 DNA 히스톤 단백질의 아세틸화를 조절하였을 때 일어나는 변화를 살펴본 결과, 히스톤 탈아세틸화 효소를 trichostatin A로서 억제시키자 C2C12 myoblast 세포가 smooth muscle로 분화하였다. 이는 immunofluorescentstaining을 통해 smooth muscle ${\alpha}-actin$의 발현 증가를 trishostatin A로 처리한 세포에서 관찰하였으며, DAPI 염색을 통해 대조군 세포와 비교하여 세포의 증식이 많이 억제됨을 관찰하였다. 또한 real-time PCR 결과는 smooth muscle ${\alpha}$-actin과 transgelin mRNA의 발현이 trichostatin A 처리군 세포에서 현저히 증가함을 보여주었다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 히스톤 단백질의 탈아세틸화 억제는 C2C12 myoblast 세포의 분화에 매우 중요한 역할을 하며, 또한 C2C12 myoblast 세포를 골격근인 다핵의 myotube로 분화시키지 않고, smooth muscle로 분화시킴을 알 수 있었다. 이것은 분명히 HDAC억제제 인 trichostatin A가 DNA 히스톤 단백질의 HDAC 효소에 의한 탈아세틸화를 강력히 억제하고, 이러한 HDAC효소의 억제는 세포주기에 있어서 증식과 분화를 조절하는 유전자들의 발현을 조절하였음을 시사한다. 이를 검증하기 위해 세포주기 조절인자인 p21과 cyclin Dl mRNA의 발현을 조사한 결과 세포를 증식단계로 진행하는데 있어서 필수적인 cdk 억제제인 p21 mRNA의 발현이 trichostatin A로 처리한 세포에서 현저히 증가함을 보였으며, 세포 증식을 유도하는 cyclin Dl mRNA의 발현은 trichostatin A를 처 리 한 후 24시간 후 유의하게 감소함을 보였는데 이는 trichostatin A가 세포증식을 억제하는 초기단계에서 cyclin Dl 유전자의 발현을 조절함을 보여준다. 향후 연구에서는 또 하나의 중요한 후천적 기작인 DNA 메틸화와 히스톤 아세틸화가 유전자 발현을 조절하는데 있어서 상호작용에 대한 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.431-436
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• 2011

Vascular smooth muscle cells can obtain a proliferative function in environments such as atherosclerosis in vivo or primary culture in vitro. Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells is accompanied by changes in ryanodine receptors (RyRs). In several studies, the cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ response to caffeine is decreased during smooth muscle cell culture. Although caffeine is commonly used to investigate RyR function because it is difficult to measure $Ca^{2+}$ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) directly, caffeine has additional off-target effects, including blocking inositol trisphosphate receptors and store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry. Using freshly dissociated rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) and cultured RASMCs, we sought to provide direct evidence for the operation of RyRs through the $Ca^{2+}$- induced $Ca^{2+}$ -release pathway by directly measuring $Ca^{2+}$ release from SR in permeabilized cells. An additional goal was to elucidate alterations of RyRs that occurred during culture. Perfusion of permeabilized, freshly dissociated RASMCs with $Ca^{2+}$ stimulated $Ca^{2+}$ release from the SR. Caffeine and ryanodine also induced $Ca^{2+}$ release from the SR in dissociated RASMCs. In contrast, ryanodine, caffeine and $Ca^{2+}$ failed to trigger $Ca^{2+}$ release in cultured RASMCs. These results are consistent with results obtained by immunocytochemistry, which showed that RyRs were expressed in dissociated RASMCs, but not in cultured RASMCs. This study is the first to demonstrate $Ca^{2+}$ release from the SR by cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ elevation in vascular smooth muscle cells, and also supports previous studies on the alterations of RyRs in vascular smooth muscle cells associated with culture.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

Hyperpolarization of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholine is considered to be produced by the release of an unidentified chemical substance, an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Several chemicals have been proposed as the candidate for EDHF. However, none of them fulfil completely the nature and property of EDHF. Ultrastructural observation with electron microscope reveals that in some arteries, gap junctions are formed between endothelial and smooth muscle cells. In small arterioles, injection of gap junction permeable dyes into an endothelial cell results in a distribution of the dye to surrounding cells including smooth muscle cells. These observations allow the speculation that myoendothelial gap junctions may have a functional significance. Simultaneous measurement of the electrical responses in both endothelial and smooth muscle cells using the double patch clamp method demonstrates that these two cell types are indeed electrically coupled, indicating that they behave as a functional syncytium. The EDHF-induced hyperpolarization is produced by an activation of $Ca^{2+}-sensitive\;K^+-channels$ that are inhibited by charybdotoxin and apamin. Agonists that release EDHF increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in endothelial cells but not in smooth muscle cells. Inhibition of gap junctions with chemical agents abolishes the agonist-induced hyperpolarization in smooth muscle cells but not in endothelial cells. All these observations can be explained if EDHF is an electrotonic signal propagating from endothelium to smooth muscle cells through gap junctions.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.108-120
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• 2004

Objective : Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb (EA) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine, commonly used to treat tumors in Korea and China for centuries. Several earlier studies have indicated that EA exhibits anti-tumor properties, but its mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the molecular mechanism of EA in a human uterine leiomyomal smooth muscle cell (ULSMC) line. Methods : This study was evaluated by: (a), morphological changes by using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining; (b), DNA fragmentation by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL); and (c), sub-G1 cell analysis. Results : This study observed that EA treatment caused apoptotic cell death and depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and that reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential was found to be involved in the initiation of apoptosis by EA. Conclusion : This results show that EA exerted clear cytotoxic effects and strongly inhibited the proliferation of ULSMC.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.59-62
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• 2016

Purpose: Zinc, a biomineral present within and outside cells, manages various cellular mechanisms. In this study, we examined whether zinc was involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification via regulation of calcification inhibitor protein, osteopontin (OPN). Methods: Rat aorta cell line (A7r5 cells) and primary vascular smooth muscle cells (pVSMCs) from rat aorta were cultured with phosphate (1-5 mM) and zinc ($0-15{\mu}M$) as appropriate, along with osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) as control. The cells were then stained for Ca and P deposition for calcification examination as well as osteopontin expression as calcification inhibitor protein was measured. Results: Both Ca and phosphate deposition increased as the addition of phosphate increased. In the same manner, the expression of osteopontin was upregulated as the addition of phosphate increased in both cell types. When zinc was added, Ca and P deposition decreased in VSMCs, while it increased in osteoblasts. Conclusion: The results imply that zinc may prevent VSMC calcification by stimulating calcification inhibitor protein OPN synthesis in VSMCs.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.92-97
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• 2013

The calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is considered one of the major contributors for vascular disease. Phosphate is known as the inducer for VSMC calcification. In this study, we assessed whether phosphate affected cell viability and fetuin-A, a calcification inhibitor protein, both which are related to VSMC calcification. Also, VSMC viability by zinc level was assessed. The results showed that phosphate increased Ca and P deposition in VSMCs (A7r5 cell line, rat aorta origin). This phosphate-induced Ca and P deposition was consistent with the decreased A7r5 cell viability (P<0.05), which implies phosphate-induced calcification in A7r5 cells might be due to the decreased VSMC cell viability. As phosphate increased, the protein expression of fetuin-A protein was up-regulated. A7r5 cell viability decreased as the addition of cellular zinc level was decreased (P<0.05). The results suggested that zinc deficiency causes the decreased cell viability and it would be the future study to clarify how zinc does act for VSMC cell viability. The results suggest that the decreased VSMC viability by high P or low Zn in VSMCs may be the risk factor for vascular disease.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.535-547
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• 2000

Recent findings indicate that mechanical strain (deformation) exerted by the extracellular matrix modulates activation of airway smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, cytoskeletal organization in airway smooth muscle appears to be dynamic, and subject to modulation by receptor activation and mechanical strain. Mechanosensitive modulation of crossbridge activation and cytoskeletal organization may represent intracellular feedback mechanisms that limit the shortening of airway smooth muscle during bronchoconstriction. Recent findings suggest that receptor-mediated signal transduction is the primary target of mechanosensitive modulation. Mechanical strain appears to regulate the number of functional G-proteins and/or phospholipase C enzymes in the cell membrane possibly by membrane trafficking and/or protein translocation. Dense plaques, membrane structures analogous to focal adhesions, appear to be the primary target of cytoskeletal regulation. Mechanical strain and receptor-binding appear to regulate the assembly and phosphorylation of dense plaque proteins in airway smooth muscle cells. Understanding these mechanisms may reveal new pharmacological targets for control1ing airway resistance in airway diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제12권2호
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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.