• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.284-291
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• 2018

The role of androgens in the development of cardiovascular diseases remains controversial. The current study therefore sought to determine the changes in the histomorphology of the common carotid artery of the male rat in orchidectomy-induced hypogonadism. Twenty-two Rattus norvegicus male rats aged 2 months were used. The rats were randomly assigned into baseline (n=4), experimental (n=9), and control (n=9) groups. Hypogonadism was surgically induced in the experimental group by bilateral orchiectomy under local anesthesia. At experiment weeks 3, 6, and 9, three rats from each group (experimental and control) were euthanized, their common carotid artery harvested, and routine processing was done for paraffin embedding, sectioning, and staining. The photomicrographs were taken using a digital photomicroscope for morphometric analysis. Orchidectomy resulted in the development of vascular fibrosis, with a significant increase in collagen fiber density and decrease in smooth muscle and elastic fiber density. Moreover, there was development of intimal hyperplasia, with fragmentation of medial elastic lamellae in the common carotid artery of the castrated rats. Orchidectomy induces adverse changes in structure of the common carotid artery of the male rat. These changes may impair vascular function, therefore constituting a possible structural basis for the higher incidences of cardiovascular diseases observed in hypogonadism.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.154-159
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• 2008

혈관평활근종은 주로 팔다리에 발생하는 양성 종양으로 비강에 발생하는 경우는 매우 드물다. 저자들은 코중격에 발생한 혈관평활근종 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고한다. 51세 여자가 잦은 코피를 주소로 내원하였다. 왼쪽 코중격에 경계가 좋은 종괴가 관찰되었다. 종괴에 대한 절제를 시행하였다. 절제된 종괴는 $0.7{\times}0.5{\times}0.4cm$ 크기였으며 회백색을 띠었다. 조직학적으로 종괴는 두꺼운 혈관벽을 가진 혈관과 민무늬근육세포의 증식으로 구성되어 있었다. 민무늬근육세포는 방추형으로 시가형태의 핵을 가졌으며 세포질은 호산성이었다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.891-896
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• 2008

The function of mast cells as effector cells in allergy has been extensively studied. Mast cells activated through high affinity IgE-receptor ($Fc{\varepsilon}RI$) release diverse mediators, and lead to smooth muscle constriction, vasodilation, increase of vascular permeability, leukocyte recruitment and activation, mucus secretion, and tissue proliferation and remodeling. However, various other immunological and non-immunological signals can lead to the activation of mast cells. In resent years, mast cells have been identified to be involved in a complex range of immune functions. Mast cells can be important as key players in the regulation of innate as well as adapted immune responses, and may influence the development of allergy, autoimmune disorder and peripheral tolerance. This review summarizes the recent advances in the understanding of effector functions of mast cells in immune responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.111-119
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• 2020

In vascular smooth muscle, K⁺ channels, such as voltage-gated K⁺ channels (Kv), inward-rectifier K⁺ channels (Kir), and big-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels (BK_Ca), establish a hyperpolarized membrane potential and counterbalance the depolarizing vasoactive stimuli. Additionally, Kir mediates endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization and the active hyperemia response in various vessels, including the coronary artery. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) induces right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), thereby elevating the risk of ischemia and right heart failure. Here, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we compared Kv and Kir current densities (I_Kv and I_Kir) in the left (LCSMCs), right (RCSMCs), and septal branches of coronary smooth muscle cells (SCSMCs) from control and monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rats exhibiting RVH. In control rats, (1) I_Kv was larger in RCSMCs than that in SCSMCs and LCSMCs, (2) I_Kv inactivation occurred at more negative voltages in SCSMCs than those in RCSMCs and LCSMCs, (3) I_Kir was smaller in SCSMCs than that in RCSMCs and LCSMCs, and (4) I_BKCa did not differ between branches. Moreover, in PAH rats, I_Kir and I_Kv decreased in SCSMCs, but not in RCSMCs or LCSMCs, and I_BKCa did not change in any of the branches. These results demonstrated that SCSMC-specific decreases in I_Kv and I_Kir occur in an MCT-induced PAH model, thereby offering insights into the potential pathophysiological implications of coronary blood flow regulation in right heart disease. Furthermore, the relatively smaller I_Kir in SCSMCs suggested a less effective vasodilatory response in the septal region to the moderate increase in extracellular K⁺ concentration under increased activity of the myocardium.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제50권12호
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• pp.11.1-11.9
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• 2018

Estrogen has diverse effects on cardiovascular function, including regulation of the contractile response to vasoactive substances such as serotonin. The serotonin system recently emerged as an important player in the regulation of vascular tone in humans. However, hyperreactivity to serotonin appears to be a critical factor for the pathophysiology of hypertension. In this study, we examined the modulatory mechanisms of estrogen in serotonin-induced vasoconstriction by using a combinatory approach of isometric tension measurements, molecular biology, and patch-clamp techniques. $17{\beta}$-Estradiol (E2) elicited a significant and concentration-dependent relaxation of serotonin-induced contraction in deendothelialized aortic strips isolated from male rats. E2 triggered a relaxation of serotonin-induced contraction even in the presence of tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist, suggesting that E2-induced changes are not mediated by estrogen receptor. Patch-clamp studies in rat arterial myocytes showed that E2 prevented Kv channel inhibition induced by serotonin. Serotonin increased Src activation in arterial smooth muscle required for contraction, which was significantly inhibited by E2. The estrogen receptor-independent inhibition of Src by E2 was confirmed in HEK293T cells that do not express estrogen receptor. Taken together, these results suggest that estrogen exerts vasodilatory effects on serotonin-precontracted arteries via Src, implying a critical role for estrogen in the prevention of vascular hyperreactivity to serotonin.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제31권9호
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• pp.787-795
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• 2021

등골나물은 오랫동안 음식으로 사용되어 왔으며 한방에서 한약재로 사용되어왔으며, 특히 등골나물 추출물은 항염 및 항산화 효과가 보고되었다. 심혈관 질환인 동맥경화증은 동맥 혈관에서 발생하는 만성 염증이며 다양한 질환에 관여하고 있다. 재협착 및 신경병증 증식과 같은 심혈관 질환은 주로 혈관 평활근 세포의 다중 성장인자로 인한 비정상적인 성장과 이동으로 인해 발생하며, 혈소판유래 성장인자는 손상된 혈관벽에서 방출되며 혈관 평활근 세포의 증식 및 이동에 관여한다. 본 연구에서는 혈관 평활근 세포의 비정상적인 증식 및 이동에 대한 등골나물 추출물의 효과를 확인하였고, 혈소판유래 성장인자로 유도된 혈관 평활근 세포내에서 신호전달 경로를 조사하였다. 혈소판유래 성장인자로 유도된 혈관 평활근 세포에서 등골나물 추출물의 전처리는 세포 증식 및 이동을 효과적으로 감소시켰다. 또한, 세포 내 신호전달 경로 AKT, phospholipase C gamma (PLC-γ) 및 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)의 웨스턴 블롯 실험 결과, 이들 경로의 인산화 억제를 확인하였다. 유세포분석 데이터는 혈관 평활근 세포의 세포주기가 등골나물 추출물에 의해 차단되었음을 보여주었다. 이 결과는 혈소판유래 성장인자가 세포주기와 세포 내 신호전달 인자를 조절하여 혈관 평활근 세포의 증식과 이동을 억제 할 수 있음을 시사한다. 또한, 이는 등골나물 추출물이 혈관 평활근 세포의 비정상적인 증식 및 이동을 차단하여 심혈관 질환 예방에 하나의 소재로 사용될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.117-123
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• 2005

A cumulative evidence indicates that consumption of tea catechin, flavan-3-ol derived from green tea leaves, lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, a precise mechanism for this cardiovascular action has not yet been fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of different green tea catechins, such as epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin-3 gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC), on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophy in primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation was used to assess VSMC hypertrophy, protein kinase assay, and western blot analysis were used to assess mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, and RT-PCR was used to assess c-jun or c-fos transcription. Ang II increased [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation into VSMC. However, EGCG and ECG, but not EGC or EC, inhibited [$^3H$]-leucine incorporation increased by Ang II. Ang II increased phosphorylation of c-Jun, extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 MAPK in VSMC, however, EGCG and ECG , but not EGC or EC, attenuated c-Jun phosphorylation increased by Ang II. ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation induced by Ang II were not affected by any catechins. Ang II increased c-jun and c-fos mRNA expression in VSMC, however, EGCG inhibited c-jun but not c-fos mRNA expression induced by Ang II. ECG, EGC and EC did not affect c-jun or c-fos mRNA expression induced by Ang II. Our findings indicate that the galloyl group in the position 3 of the catechin structure of EGCG or ECG is essential for inhibiting VSMC hypertrophy induced by Ang II via the specific inhibition of JNK signaling pathway, which may explain the beneficial effects of green tea catechin on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases observed in several epidemiological studies.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제28권2호통권70호
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• pp.185-199
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the inhibitive effect of a combined-herb prescription of Dansam-san (DSS) on formation of foam cells and cytokine. Methods : Experimental formation of foam cells was induced on macrophage RAW 264.7 with ox-LDL. The effect of DSS extract was observed by measuring the changes of CD36, $PPAR-{\Gamma}$, MMP-9, iNOS expression and changes of formation level of foam cells after treating experimentally induced foam cells with DSS extract. Then the antioxidative effect of DSS extract was compared with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Result and Conclusions : Results obtained are as follows: 1. DSS extract showed significant antioxidative effect at 8 mg/ml or more. 2. DSS extract inhibited the formation of foam cells. 3. DSS extract inhibited the creation and revelation of conversion-related material about foam cells. 4. DSS extract prohibited the increase of smooth muscle of vessels.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.201-207
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• 2019

Nanoxel-$PM^{TM}$ (Nanoxel) is a docetaxel-loaded methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (mPEG-PDLLA). This newly developed and marketed nanoformulation exhibits an improved pharmacokinetic profile, efficacy, and safety. Although the safety of Nanoxel to docetaxel as well as its bioequivalence must be clinically confirmed, all biological activities have not been examined in in vitro or in vivo studies. Here, the toxicity in a cultured cell system and the effects on blood cells were tested with Nanoxel and docetaxel. The in vitro cytotoxicity of Nanoxel was found to be comparable to or slightly lower than that of docetaxel depending on the concentrations tested or the cell types. Neither docetaxel nor Nanoxel induced erythrocytes hemolysis and produced reactive oxygen species up to $100{\mu}M$. However, Nanoxel was able to enhance the aggregatory response of platelets to collagen, whereas docetaxel attenuated such aggregation in a range of $50-100{\mu}M$, while thrombin-induced aggregation was not affected by either of them. Docetaxel or Nanoxel did not alter basal level of $Ca^{2+}$ and 5-hydroxytryptamine-evoked $Ca^{2+}$ transient in vascular smooth muscle cells. These results suggest that the mPEG-PDLLA micellar formulation alters the toxicological properties of docetaxel, and that extra cautions are needed when evaluating the safety of nanomedicine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.533-538
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• 2016

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in embryo development, tissue repair, inflammatory diseases, and tumor growth. In the present study, we showed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) regulates retinal angiogenesis. Mice that lack eNOS showed growth retardation, and retinal vessel development was significantly delayed. In addition, the number of tip cells and filopodia length were significantly reduced in mice lacking eNOS. Retinal endothelial cell proliferation was significantly blocked in mice lacking eNOS, and EMG-2-induced endothelial cell sprouting was significantly reduced in aortic vessels isolated from eNOS-deficient mice. Finally, pericyte recruitment to endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cell coverage to blood vessels were attenuated in mice lacking eNOS. Taken together, we suggest that the endothelial cell function and blood vessel maturation are regulated by eNOS during retinal angiogenesis.