• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2007

The present study was undertaken to determine whether $SM22{\alpha}$ participates in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contractility using $SM22{\alpha}$ knockout mice and, if so, to investigate the mechanisms involved. Aortic ring preparations were mounted and equilibrated in organ baths for 60 min before observing contractile responses to 50 mM KCl, and then exposed to contractile agents such as phenylephrine and phorbol ester. Measurement of isometric contractions using a computerized data acquisition system was combined with molecular or cellular experiments. Interestingly, the aortas from $SM22{\alpha}$-deficient mice ($SM22^{-/-LacZ}$) displayed an almost three-fold increase in the level of $SM22{\beta}$ protein compared to wild-type mice, but no change in the levels of caldesmon, actin, desmin or calponin. $Ca^{2+}$-independent contraction in response to phenylephrine or phorbol ester was significantly decreased in the $SM22{\alpha}$-deficient mice, whereas in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$ neither contraction nor subcellular translocation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in response to phenylephrine or 50 mM KCl was significantly affected. A decrease in phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was observed in the $SM22{\alpha}$-deficient mice and this may be related to the decreased vascular contractility. Taken together, this study provides evidence for a pivotal role of $SM22{\alpha}$ in the regulation of $Ca^{2+}$-independent vascular contractility.

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.18-19
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• 2011

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Objective : Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae) (SM), an eminent herbal plant, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of vascular diseases such as hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine whether SM inhibits production of nitrite, an index of NO, and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. And this study investigated whether or not SM could reduce tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-induced inflammatory response in human vascular aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) and umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Methods : Cytotoxic activity of SM on RAW 264.7 cells was using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxy phenyJ)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. We measured the NO production using Griess Reagent System. Production of Proliflammatory cytokines was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results : Our results indicated that SM significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO production accompanied by an attenuation of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 formation in macrophages. SM decreased TNF-${\alpha}$-induced IL-8, IL-6 production, and intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression. Conclusion : These results indicate that SM has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.79-84
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• 2012

Nano-magnetic materials such as iron-nitrides have been actively studied as an alternative to the application of high density, high performance needs for next generation information storage and also alternative to the rare earth and neodymium magnet. $Fe_4N$ is the basic materials for magnetic storage media and is one of the important magnetic materials in focus because of its higher magnetic recording density and chemical stability. Single phase ${\gamma}^{\prime}-Fe_4N$ nanoparticles have been prepared by a PAD (Plasma Arc Discharge) method and nitriding in a $NH_3-H_2$ mixed gases at temperature, $400^{\circ}C$ for 4 hrs. Also $Fe_{17}Sm_2N_x$ powders were synthesized by nitriding after reduction/diffusion of $Fe_{17}Sm_2$ to compare the magnetic properties with nano-sized $Fe_4N$ particles. The saturation magnetization of $Fe_4N$ and $Fe_{17}Sm_2N_x$ were 149 and 117 emu/g, respectively, but the coercive force was considerably smaller than that of bulk or acicular $Fe_4N$.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2016

Pine wood nematode, Bursaphlenchus xylophilus is a fatal damaging pest, infecting pinewood trees and is one of the serious forest pest in Korea. Trunk injection is one of the most effective method to protect the live pine trees from nematode infection. The aim of this research was to reveal the efficacy of the nematicidal materials from 46 Kyrgyzstan, 88 Vietnam plant materials and 21 active materials (${\alpha}$-terpinene, ${\alpha}$-pinene, ${\beta}$-thujaplicin, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, emodin, geraniol, limonone, methyl palmitate, matrine, myrcene, methyl gallate, nicotine, quassin, resveratrol, rotenone, thymol, thujaplicin, terthiophene, tuberstemonine, ${\gamma}$-terpinene) isolated from plants for using as trunk injection agents. Eclipta prostrata extract was highly effective against pine wood nematode in plant extracts and terthiophene has the best nematicidal activity from active materials isolated from plants. Foliar spray of terthiophene on Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) tree reduced proliferation of inoculated pine wood nematode at 22 days after treatment, however no efficacy was found over 22 days. Eclipta prostrata extract and terthiophene can be used as nematicide for further nematicidal efficacy test against any other plant parasitic nematodes and trunk injection efficacy against pine wood nematode.