• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.51.1-51.20
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• 2022

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is an intracellular protozoan parasite, which is now present in most industrialized countries. About 40% of T. cruzi infected individuals will develop severe, incurable cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or neurological disorders. The molecular mechanisms by which T. cruzi induces cardiopathogenesis remain to be determined. Previous studies showed that increased IL-6 expression in T. cruzi patients was associated with disease severity. IL-6 signaling was suggested to induce pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses, however, the role of this pathway during early infection remains to be elucidated. We reported that T. cruzi can dysregulate the expression of host PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) during early infection. Here, we aim to evaluate the dysregulation of IL-6 signaling and the piRNAs computationally predicted to target IL-6 molecules during early T. cruzi infection of primary human cardiac fibroblasts (PHCF). Using in silico analysis, we predict that piR_004506, piR_001356, and piR_017716 target IL6 and SOCS3 genes, respectively. We validated the piRNAs and target gene expression in T. cruzi challenged PHCF. Secreted IL-6, soluble gp-130, and sIL-6R in condition media were measured using a cytokine array and western blot analysis was used to measure pathway activation. We created a network of piRNAs, target genes, and genes within one degree of biological interaction. Our analysis revealed an inverse relationship between piRNA expression and the target transcripts during early infection, denoting the IL-6 pathway targeting piRNAs can be developed as potential therapeutics to mitigate T. cruzi cardiomyopathies.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.122-133
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to investigating whether lncRNA H19 promotes myocardial fibrosis by suppressing the miR-29a-3p/miR-29b-3p-VEGFA/TGF-β axis. Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and healthy volunteers were included in the study, and their biochemical parameters were collected. In addition, pcDNA3.1-H19, si-H19, and miR-29a/b-3p mimic/inhibitor were transfected into cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and proliferation of CFs was detected by MTT assay. Expression of H19 and miR-29a/b-3p were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, collagen II, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and elastin were measured by western blot analysis. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay was carried out to detect the sponging relationship between H19 and miR-29a/b-3p in CFs. Compared with healthy volunteers, the level of plasma H19 was significantly elevated in patients with AF, while miR-29a-3p and miR-29b-3p were markedly depressed (P < 0.05). Serum expression of lncRNA H19 was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-29a-3p and miR-29b-3p among patients with AF (r_s = -0.337, r_s = -0.236). Moreover, up-regulation of H19 expression and down-regulation of miR-29a/b-3p expression facilitated proliferation and synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins. SB431542 and si-VEGFA are able to reverse the promotion of miR-29a/b-3p on proliferation of CFs and ECM-related protein synthesis. The findings of the present study suggest that H19 promoted CF proliferation and collagen synthesis by suppressing the miR-29a-3p/miR-29b-3p-VEGFA/TGF-β axis, and provide support for a potential new direction for the treatment of AF.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2023

Background: Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is an advanced pathological manifestation of many cardiovascular diseases, which can induce heart failure and malignant arrhythmias. However, the current treatment of MF lacks specific drugs. Ginsenoside Re has anti-MF effect in rat, but its mechanism is still not clear. Therefore, we investigated the anti-MF effect of ginsenoside Re by constructing mouse acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model and AngII induced cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) model. Methods: The anti-MF effect of miR-489 was investigated by transfection of miR-489 mimic and inhibitor in CFs. Effect of ginsenoside Re on MF and its related mechanisms were investigated by ultrasonographic, ELISA, histopathologic staining, transwell test, immunofluorescence, Western blot and qPCR in the mouse model of AMI and the AngII-induced CFs model. Results: MiR-489 decreased the expression of α-SMA, collagenI, collagen III and myd88, and inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in normal CFs and CFs treated with AngII. Ginsenoside Re could improve cardiac function, inhibit collagen deposition and CFs migration, promote the transcription of miR-489, and reduce the expression of myd88 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Conclusion: MiR-489 can effectively inhibit the pathological process of MF, and the mechanism is at least partly related to the regulation of myd88/NF-κB pathway. Ginsenoside Re can ameliorate AMI and AngII induced MF, and the mechanism is at least partially related to the regulation of miR-489/myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, miR-489 may be a potential target of anti-MF and ginsenoside Re may be an effective drug for the treatment of MF.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 1983

The present studs was undertaken to observe the histopathological changes on the cardiac and skeletal muscles, and liver of rabbits fed a commercial ration, either alone or with supplements of Zinc (3,000mg/kg. of diet, as sulfate), Copper (1,500mg/kg. of diet, as sulfate), Linoleic acid (3% of diet), Zinc with Linoleic acid and Copper with Linoleic acid. In the skeletal muscle, light microscopic changes observed were cloudy swelling, hyaline degeneration, atrophy, fragmentation and coagulative necrosis of muscle fibers, and proliferation of fibroblasts and infiltration of mononuclear cells. Especially, in rabbits fed with supplements of Zinc with Linoleic acid and Copper with Linoleic acid, calcification with muscle fibers progressing to necrosis were often observed. In the myocardium, loss of muscle fibers with necrosis and vacuolization, hyaline degeneration, hemorrhage and congestion were observed. In the liver, congestion and necrosis of hepatocytes, and centrilobular necrosis were observed. Differences of histological changes among the experimental groups was not marked.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.341-354
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• 1998

GMI (Fibrel${(R)}$) is one of the dermal filling substances which have been successfully used for the treatment of depressed cutaneous scar and wrinkles. It's major components are; Gelatin powder, which provides a framework for the clot to form and remains stable under the scar, and ${\varepsilon}$-aminocaproic acid, which inhibits the production of fibrinolysin, and Plasma, which provides the necessary ingredients for collagen synthesis. GMI has advantages of low immunogenicity and increased longevity. It has been known to induce fibroblast activity and promote new collagen synthesis. We used 34 Sprague-Dawley rats which were bred under the same condition and duration. 18 of experimental animals were undergone cardiac puncture, and their blood were collected, centrifugated, and stored in freezer. Out of 16 animals, control group were injected with 2ml plasma into the subcutaneous tissue of Lt. scapular, while experimental group were implanted of 2 ml GMI into the Rt. same area. Experimental animals were sacrificed at the 3rd day, 5th day, 1st week and 2nd week respectively after implantation of GMI. To observe the histopathologic change of GMI and surrounding tissue reaction of GMI, we had examined with H&E staining, immunohistochemical staining with vimentin, ${\alpha}$-SMA, S-100 under LM and SEM. The obtained results were as follows ; 1. In LM study, the inflammatory cell infiltrations and granulation tissue formation were observed, and muscle tissues were well attached with adipose tissues in the control group. In the experimental group, inflammatory cell infiltrations had been observed by the 2nd week and irregular adipiose tissues and well differentiated mesenchymal tissues were examined. 2. In immunohistochemical study, the experimental group of ${\alpha}$-SMA study, there were a prominent positive response on endothelial development of granulation tissues and mesenchymal tissues compare with the control group. In vimentin study, positive response on mescenchymal fibroblast continued to 2nd week, but negative in the control group. In S-100 study, both groups were positively responded on irregular adipose tissues. 3. In SEM study, collagen fibers were embedded by the plasma by the 5th day in the control group, and in the 3rd day experiment GMI were resorved but communited with collagen fiber till the 1st week. Collagen fibers were infilt-rated into GMI at the 2nd week and the infilltrated GMI were conglomerated with the mature adipose cells and the collagen fibers. From the above results, GMI implantation in the subcutaneous tissue of Sprague-Dawley rat, the mild infiltration of inflammatory cells were showed till 2nd week and the granulation tissues were observed. GMI were nearly resorbed till 2nd week, but well attached with adipose tissue and collagen fibers. The endothelium and fibroblasts were actively proliferated. Adipose tissues and mesenchymal tissue cells were observed. As already expressed, GMI showed resorptive change in course of time without any early immune reaction, and seemed to induce fibroblast activity and promote new collagen synthesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.7 s.264
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• pp.511-519
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• 2006

Background: Loss of cardiomyocytes in the myocardial infarction leads to regional contractile dysfunction, and necrotized cardiomyocytes in infracted ventricular tissues are progressively replaced by fibroblasts forming scar tissue. Although cardiomyoplasty, or implantation of ventricular assist device or artificial heart was tried in refractory heart failure, the cardiac transplantation was the only therapeutic modality because these other therapeutic strategies were not permanent. Cell transplantation is tried instead of cardiac transplantation, especially bone marrow is the most popular donated organ. But because bone marrow aspiration procedure is invasive and painful, and it had the fewer amounts of cellular population, the adipose tissue is recommended for harvesting of mesenchymal stem cells. Material and Method: After adipose tissues were extracted from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and intra-abdominal adipose tissue individually, the cellular components were obtained by same method. These cellular components were tried to transformation with the various titers of 5-azacytidine to descript the appropriate concentration of 5-azacytidine and possibility of transformation ability of adipose tissue. Group 1 is abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and Group 2 is intra-abdominal adipose tissue-retroperitoneal adipose tissue and omentum. Cellular components were extracted by collagenase and $NH_4Cl$ et al, and these components were cultured by non-induction media - DMEM media containing 10% FBS and inducted by none, $3{\mu}mol/L,\;6{\mu}mol/L,\;and\;9{\mu}mol/L$ 5-azacytidine after the 1st and 2nd subculture. After 4 weeks incubation, tile cell blocks were made, immunostaining was done with the antibodies of CD34, heavy myosin chain, troponin T, and SMA. Result: Immunostaining of the transformed cells for troponin T was positive in the $6{\mu}mol/L\;&\;9{\mu}mol/L$ 5-azacytidine of Group 1 & 2, but CD34 and heavy myosin chain antibodies were negative and SMA antibody was positive in the $3{\mu}mol/L\;&\;6{\mu}mol/L$ 5-azacytidne of Group 2. Conclusion: These observations confirm that adult mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues and intra-abdominal adipose tissues can be chemically transformed into cardiomyocytes. This can potentially be a source of autologous cells for myocardial repair.