• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권7호
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• pp.3261-3265
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate serum VEGF-A levels in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) patients and relationships with response to therapy. Materials and Methods: Serum VEGF-A levels in patients (n=72) treated with radiotherapy (RT) or radio-chemotherapy (RCT) and controls (n=40) were measured by ELISA. Results: Serum VEGF-A levels of the SCCHN cases were significantly higher (p=0.001) than in healthy controls, and in patients with positive as compared to negative lymph node status (p=0.004). Similarly, patients with advanced stage (Stage III-IV) disease had more greatly elevated levels of serum VEGF-A level than their early stage (Stage I-II) counterparts (p=0.001). In contrast, there was no significant difference (p=0.57) in serum level of VEGF-A in patients with advanced T-stage (T3-4) as compared to early stage (T1-2). Similarly, patients with distant metastasis had no significant (p=0.067) elevation in serum VEGF-A level as compared to non-metastatic disease. However, the non-responder patients had significantly higher serum VEGF-A level as compared to responders (p=0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the serum VEGF-A level may be a useful biomarker for the prediction of response to therapy in SCCHN.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제37권9호
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• pp.781-786
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• 2004

흉막수의 원인별 감별진단을 위한 기존의 검사 방법들은 한계가 있었다. 저자들은 VEGF를 이용한 흉막수의 원인별 감별 진단의 유용성과 기존의 검사 수치들과 어떤 상관관계가 있는지 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 흉막수를 가진 총 35명의 환자를 악성종양군(n=10), 양성종양군(n=5), 염증성 질환군(n=10), 그리고 기흉군(n=10)으로 나누어 전향적 연구를 하였다. 각 군으로부터 흉막수를 채취하여 혈구검사, 생화학적 검사(포도당, 단백질, LDH, ADA), 그리고 VEGF를 측정하였다. 결과： 포도당은 염증성 질환군이 양성종양군(60.5$\pm$36.09 mg/dL vs. 162.0$\pm$19.80 mg/dL, p=0.011)과 기흉군(60.5$\pm$36.09 mg/dL vs. 107.3$\pm$15.99 mg/dL, p=0.010)에 비해 낮았고, 양성종양군은 기흉군에 비해 높았다 (162.0$\pm$19.80 mg/dL vs. 107.3 $\pm$ 15.99 mg/dL, p=0.004). ADA는 염증성 질환군이 악성종양군(87.9 $\pm$42.62 IU/L vs. 27.7$\pm$31.04 IU/L, p=0.024)과 기흉군(87.9$\pm$42.62 IU/L vs. 38.5$\pm$33.32 IU/L, p=0.047)에 비해 높았다. VEGF는 기흉군에 비해 악성종양군(82.9$\pm$58.49 pg/dL vs. 364.3$\pm$433.83 pg/dL, p=0.026)과 염증성 질환군(82.9$\pm$58.49 pg/dL vs. 335.8$\pm$383.34 pg/dL, p=0.048)에서 높았다. 악성종양군에서의 VEGF가 양성종양군(364.38$\pm$433.83 pg/dL vs. 53.3$\pm$22.20 pg/dL, p=NS)에 비해 높은 경향을 보였으나 통계적인 의미는 없었다. VEGF전체 값과 다른 검사치들의 전체 값과의 상관관계는 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다. 결론: 흉막수의 원인별 감별진단을 위한 방법 중 농흉에서는 포도당이, 결핵에서는 ADA가 도움이 된다고 할 수 있다. VEGF는 맥관형성과 혈관 투과성이 증가하는 질환인 악성종양과 염증성 질환에서 다른 군에 비해 증가하나 이 두 군 사이를 감별 진단하는 데에는 도움이 되지 못한다고 할 수 있다. 악성종양에서 양성종양에 비해 VEGF가 높은 경향을 보여 좀 더 많은 환자를 대상으로 한 연구가 진행되어야 한다. 또한 VEGF가 다른 기존의 검사수치와 상관관계가 없는 것으로 밝혀져 흉막수의 원인별 감별진단을 위해 앞으로 새로운 검사방법이나, 기존의 검사 수치와 새로운 조합을 하는 데 연구가 진행되어야 한다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.4453-4458
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• 2012

Angiogenesis plays a significant role in colorectal cancer (CRC) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) appears to be involved with multiple aspects of CRC angiogenesis. Our aim was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Tan II-A (Tanshinone II-A, Tan II-A) on tumor growth in mice, as well as alteration of expression of COX-2 and VEGF in CRC. We established the mice xenograft model of C26 CRC cell line, and injected 0.5, 1, 2mg/kg of Tan II-A and 1mg/kg of 5-FU in respectively in vivo. Then, we assayed tumor weight and volume, and evaluated microvascular density and expression of VEGF. COX-2 promoter and COX-2 plasmids were transfected into HCT-116 cells, followed by detection of COX-2 promoter activity by chemiluminescence, and detection of COX-2 mRNA expression by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Taken together, the results showed Tan II-A could inhibit tumor growth and suppress the VEGF level in vivo. HCT-116 cell experiments showed marked inhibitory effects of Tan II-A on COX-2 and VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that Tan II-A can effectively inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis of human colorectal cancer via inhibiting the expression level of COX-2 and VEGF.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6869-6874
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• 2013

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinases are two important factors for angiogenesis associated with breast cancer growth and progression. The present study was aimed to examine the effects of tamoxifen and tranilast drugs singly or in combination on proliferation of breast cancer cells and also to evaluate VEGF and MMP-9 expression and VEGF secretion levels. Materials and Methods: Human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were treated with tamoxifen and/or tranilast alone or in combination and percentage cell survival and proliferative activity were evaluated using LDH leakage and MTT assays. mRNA expression and protein levels were examined by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA assay, respectively. Results: LDH and MTT assays showed that the combined treatment of tamoxifen and tranilast resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability and cell proliferation compared with tamoxifen or tranilast treatment alone, with significant decrease in VEGF mRNA and protein levels. We also found that tamoxifen as a single agent rarely increased MMP-9 expression. A decrease in MMP-9 expression was seen after treatment with tranilast alone and in the combined treatment MMP-9 mRNA level was decreased. Conclusions: This combination treatment can able to inhibit growth, proliferation and angiogenesis of breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2008

Objective : In Moyamoya disease, the primary goal of treatment is to improve collateral circulation through angiogenesis. In the present study, we obtained and sub-cultured bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from rats without a cell-mediated immune response. Then, we injected the labeled BMSCs directly into adjacent temporal muscle during encephalomyosynangiosis (EMS). Three weeks after BMSC transplantation, we examined the survival of the cells and the extent of neovascularization. Methods : We divided 20 rats into a BMSC transplantation group (n=12) and a control group (n=8). Seven days after the induction of chronic cerebral ischemia, an EMS operation was performed, and labeled BMSCs ($1{\times}106^6/100\;{\mu}L$) were injected in the temporal muscle for the transplantation group, while an equivalent amount of culture solution was injected for the control group. Three weeks after the transplantation, temporal muscle and brain tissue were collected for histological examination and western blot analysis. Results : The capillary/muscle ratio in the temporal muscle was increased in the BMSC transplantation group compared to the control group, showing a greater increase of angiogenesis (p<0.05). In the brain tissue, angiogenesis was not significantly different between the two groups. The injected BMSCs in the temporal muscle were vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-positive by immunofluorescence staining. In both temporal muscle and brain tissue, the expression of VEGF by western blot analysis was not much different between the two groups. Conclusion : During EMS in a chronic cerebral ischemia rat model, the injection of BMSCs resulted in accelerated angiogenesis in the temporal muscle compared to the control group.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.2031-2035
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• 2015

Intra-tumoral hypoxia is an environment that promotes tumor cell migration, angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition that accounts for a major mechanism of metastasis. Chloroquine potentially offers a new therapeutic approach with an 'old' drug for effective and safe cancer therapies, as it exerts anti-metastatic activity. We investigated the inhibitory effect of chloroquine on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell migration under cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$)-stimulated hypoxia. We showed that chloroquine suppressed CCA cell migration under hypoxic-mimicking conditions on exposure to $100{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$. Moreover, chloroquine stabilized the protein level of prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins (PHD-2) but reduced the levels of hypoxic responsive proteins such as hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It also suppressed epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) by increasing the ratio of E-cadherin to N-cadherin under hypoxic conditions. In conclusion, chloroquine can inhibit hypoxia-stimulated metastasis via HIF-$1{\alpha}$/VEGF/EMT which may serve as a useful additional strategy for CCA therapy.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.197-205
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• 2007

Angiogenesis is a essential part for bone formation and bone fracture healing. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the most important molecules among many angiogenic factors, is a specific mitogen for vascular endothelial cells. VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is required for bone formation and repair. However, the effect of VEGF on osteoblastic cells during osteogenesis is still controversial. In recent days, substantial progress have been made toward developing tissue-engineered alternatives to autologous bone grafting for maxillofacial bony defects. Periosteum has received considerable interest as a better source of adult stem cells. Periosteum has the advantage of easy harvest and contains various cell types and progenitor cells that are able to differentiate into a several mesenchymal lineages, including bone. Several studies have reported the bone formation potential of periosteal cells, however, the correlation between VEGF signaling and cultured human periosteal cell-derived osteogenesis has not been fully investigated yet. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between VEGF signaling and cultured human periosteal-derived cells osteogenesis. Periosteal tissues of $5\;{\times}\;20\;mm$ were obtained from mandible during surgical extraction of lower impacted third molar from 3 patients. Periosteal-derived cells were introduced into the cell culture and were subcultured once they reached confluence. After passage 3, the periosteal-derived cells were further cultured for 42 days in an osteogenic inductive culture medium containing dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and ${\beta}-glycerophosphate$. We evaluated the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, the expression of Runx2 and VEGF, alizarin red S staining, and the quantification of osteocalcin and VEGF secretion in the periosteal-derived cells. The ALP activity increased rapidly up to day 14, followed by decrease in activity to day 35. Runx2 was expressed strongly at day 7, followed by decreased expression at day 14, and its expression was not observed thereafter. Both VEGF 165 and VEGF 121 were expressed strongly at day 35 and 42 of culture, particularly during the later stages of differentiation. Alizarin red S-positive nodules were first observed on day 14 and then increased in number during the entire culture period. Osteocalcin and VEGF were first detected in the culture medium on day 14, and their levels increased thereafter in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that VEGF secretion from cultured human periosteal-derived cells increases along with mineralization process of the extracellular matrix. The level of VEGF secretion from periosteal-derived cells might depend on the extent of osteoblastic differentiation.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.1199-1206
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• 2006

Plasminogen kringle 5는 plasminogen kringles 1-4로 구성된 내생의 혈관 신생 억제제인 angiostatin과 같이 내피세포의 분열을 강력하게 억제한다고 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 plasminogen kringle 5의 재조합 단백질을 효모 발현 체계에서 생산하여 내피세포의 이동에 대한 저해 효과와 이에 대한 작용기전을 조사하였다 재조합 단백질 PK5는 plasminogen의 Thr456에서 Phe546까지 이르는 cDNA 부분을 ${\alpha}-factor$ prepro-peptide의 분비 신호 서열 뒤에 도입하여 Pichia pastoris GS115에서 발현시켰다. 메탄올 유도 후 얻은 배양액을 S-spin column을 이용하여 정제하였다. 정제된 단백질을 SDS-PACE하였을 때 약 10kDa의 단일 밴드를 나타냄을 확인할 수 있었다. 정제된 PK5는 bFGF나 VEGF에 의해 유도된 인간의 제대 유래 내피 세포의 이동을 약 500nM의 $IC_{50}$ 값으로 농도 의존적으로 감소시켰다. 내피 세포에 PK5 500M을 처리한 결과 bFGF에 의해 유도된 ERK1/2의 인산화를 감소시켰다 또한, PK5는 bFGF에 의해 유도된 내피세포의 골격 재형성을 강력하게 억제하는 것으로 관찰되었다. 따라서, 이러한 결과들은 효모 생산 PK5가 내피세포의 이동을 효과적으로 억제하며, 이는 ERK1/2의 활성과 세포골격의 재배열을 억제함으로써 나타나는 것으로 부분적으로 설명될 수 있다.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.453-460
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• 2009

Background and Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, VEGF-D and their tyrosine kinase receptor, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3 are recently known to have lymphangiogenic activities in various tumor types. Oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (OMSCC) easily metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes, so we determined the expression levels of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We performed Western blot analyses with 4 OMSCC cultured tumor cell lines (SCC9, KB, YD-10B, YD-38), and with 7 surgical specimens of OMSCC for the detection of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 proteins. Expression of VEGF-C mRNA as well as mRNA for VEGFR-3 in 4 OMSCC cell lines (KB, SCC-4, SCC-9, YD-10B) was investigated by RT-PCR. We also measured VEGFC/VEGF-D protein concentrations in the media and protein concentration of VEGFR-3 in cell lysates of 4 OMSCC cell lines (SCC9, KB, YD-10B, YD-38) using commerical ELISA kits. Finally, we performed immunoprecipitation for the detection of VEGF-C in cell lysates of 4 OMSCC cells (KB, SCC-4, SCC-9, YD-10B) and real-time RT-PCR for the quantification of VEGF-C mRNA. Results: In the result of Western blotting with cell lysates of 4 OMSCC cells, we could not detect the protein expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and VEGFR-3. But, all tumor tissues demonstrated VEGF-C and VEGFR-3. VEGF-C mRNA was detected at various levels in 4 OMSCC cell lines. Moreover, OMSCC cells secreted VEGF-C, not VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 was also detected in cell lysates of OMSCC by ELISA. Immunoprecipitation and real-time RT-PCR revealed VEGF-C was also expressed in 4 OMSCC cell lines. Conclusion: Taken together, tumor cells of OMSCC secrete VEGF-C, not VEGF-D. And VEGFR-3 is expressed tumor cells as well as OMSCC tumor tissues, needs further study.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.76-81
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• 2010

Ultraviolet B (UVB) induces multiple inflammatory and carcinogenic reactions. In skin, UVB induces to secrete several kinds of inflammatory cytokines from keratinocytes and also increases angiogenic process via the modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production. Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is an inflammatory cytokine and produced by activated T cells. The biologic functions of IL-21 have not yet extensively studied. In the present study, we investigate the production of IL-21 from human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT and its biological effect after exposure to UVB. First, we confirmed the IL-21 production and its receptor expression in HaCaT. And then, the change of IL-21 and VEGF production in HaCaT by UVB irradiation was examined. Not only IL-21 but also VEGF production was enhanced by UVB irradiation. Next, to determine relationship of enhanced production of IL-21 and VEGF, we detected VEGF production after neutralization of IL-21. VEGF production was reduced by IL-21 neutralization, which indicates that the IL-21 is involved in the VEGF production. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-21 and VEGF production is enhanced by UVB irradiation in HaCaT. In addition, it seems that IL-21 plays a role in the angiogenic process in skin via the modulation of VEGF production.