• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 1993

Synthetic and biosynthetic vascular grafts of small diameter have long been considered to be prone to thrombosis, ultimately leading to the complete graft occlusion. Endothelial cell seeding onto synthetic blood-contacting surfaces has been suggested to be an ideal means to solve this problem. This study described a culture method of bovine endothelial cells and evaluated blood-compatibility and seeding efficiency of cultured endothelial cells. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were harvested enzymatically and grown to confluence on polystyrene culture flask surfaces using established techniques. The identification of endothelial cells was made through the demonstration of expression of factor VIII R:Ag by immunofluorescent technique. To quantitate the effect of improvement in blood-compatibility of viable endothelial cells, endothelial monolayers were exposed to blood containing $\^$111/In-oxine labeled platelets. Viable endothelial monolayers retained less labeled platelets than control surfaces. The Indium-labeled endothelial cells were seeded onto three different blood-contacting surfaces of Dacron vascular graft immobilized in specially equipped wells and incubated for specific time intervals (t=15, 30, 60, 120 minutes). Longer incubation times showed improved cell adherence in collagen-coated and fibrin-coated Dacron vascular graft groups. However in untreated Dacron grafts, no direct relationship was observed between incubation time and endothelial cell seeding efficiency. This may be due to leakage of endothelial cells through porosity of Dacron grafts in this in-vitro experimental condition.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 1998

In this study, we cultured bovine capillary endothelial cells from adrenal cortex and compared these cells with capillary endothelial cells obtained from bovine adrenal medulla on morphological and cytokinetic properties. We demonstrated that bFGF and gelatin matrix were required for the growth of adrenal cortex-derived capillary endothelial cells over middle passage, but not for the growth of adrenal medulla-derived capillary endothelial cells. Also, we showed that the growth of adrenal cortex-derived capillary endothelial cells must be stimulated by bFGF and the gelatin matrix for the measurement of in vitro angiostatin activity. These data indicate that adrenal cortex-derived capillary endothelial cells over middle passage are more suitable than adrenal medulla-derived capillary endothelial cells for in vitro angiogenesis assay.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 1996

Histopathological vascular changes in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantaan virus include increased vascular permeability, disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenia and changes in coagulation activity. Although vascular endothelial cells of main target organs such as kidney infected with Hantaan virus are not damaged but swelling of endothelial cells, perivascular exudates and infiltration of mononuclear cells and fresh interstitial hemorrhages are common. However, the pathogenesis of cell infiltration and hemorrhages around vascular endothelial cells are not well understood. Some endothelial cell molecules or vascular adhesins that acts as adhesion moleulces for leukocyte are expressed on endothelial cells close to site of inflammation. However, whether the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM) on vascular endothelial cells are increased by infection with Hantaan virus has not been studied. In this study, the relationship between the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and ELAM and adhesion of mononuclear cells on endothelial cells of human blood vessels infected with Hantaan virus was investigated. The endothelial cells of umbilical vein was passaged three times in culture medium and the monolayered cells were infected with $10^5\;pfu/ml$ of Hantaan virus grown in Vera E6 cell cultures. The multiplication of virus in cultured endothelial cells was monitored by immunohistochemistry and the expression of adhesion molecules was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and ELAM. And in situ hybriditation against ICAM-1 was also performed. The endothelial adhesion molecules, VCAM and ICAM, were expressed after 6 hours postinfection, respectively, and their expressions lasted for 72 hours. Similar expression of VCAM and ICAM appeared on endothelial cells by infection with virus, but the expression of ELAM was not recognized up to 72 hours postinfection. Microscopically, it was noted that many monocuclear cells adhered on endothelial cells infected with viruses. In an electronmicroscopic study, the transendothelial migration of mononuclear cells was observed on monolayered endothelial cells infected with virus. This results suggested that the endothelial adhesion molecules, particulary VCAM and ICAM, might be expressed on endothelial cells by infection with Hantaan virus and these molecules play a key role in the adhesion and extravasation of inflammatory cells around blood vessels.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2006

Objective : Activated endothelial cells mediate the cascade of reactions in response to hypoxia for adaptation to the stress. It has been suggested that hypoxia, by itself, without reperfusion, can activate the endothelial cells and initiate complex responses. In this study, we investigated whether hypoxia-induced endothelial products alter the endothelial permeability and have a direct cytotoxic effect on nerve cells. Methods : Hypoxic condition of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells[HUVEC] was induced by $CoCl_2$ treatment in culture medium. Cell growth was evaluated by 3,4,5-dimethyl thiazole-3,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay Hypoxia-induced products [$IL-1{\beta},\;TGF-{\beta}1,\;IFN-{\gamma},\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-10, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-l and VEGF] were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Endothelial permeability was evaluated by Western blotting. Results : Prolonged hypoxia caused endothelial cells to secrete IL -6, IL -8, MCP-1 and VEGF. However, the levels of IL -1, IL -10, $TNF-{\alpha},\;TGF-{\beta},\;IFN-{\gamma}$ and nitric oxide remained unchanged over 48 h hypoxia. Hypoxic exposure to endothelial cells induced the time-dependent down regulation of the expression of cadherin and catenin protein. The conditioned medium taken from hypoxic HUVECs had the cytotoxic effect selectively on neuroblastoma cells, but not on astroglioma cells. Conclusion : These results suggest the possibility that endothelial cell derived cytokines or other secreted products with the increased endothelial permeability might directly contribute to nerve cell injury followed by hypoxia.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.429-430
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• 2015

Angiogenesis is a complex process involving dynamic interaction of various cell to cell interactions. Endothelial cell interactions regulated by growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, or hemodynamic stress are critical for balancing vascular quiescence and activation. Yes-associated protein (YAP), an effector of Hippo signaling, is known to play significant roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, its role in endothelial cells for angiogenic regulation remains relatively unexplored. We demonstrated the critical role of YAP in vascular endothelial cells and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenic regulation of YAP. YAP was expressed in active angiogenic regions where endothelial cell junctions were relatively loosened. Consistently, YAP subcellular localization and activity were regulated by VE-cadherin-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway. YAP thereby regulated endothelial sprouting via angiopoietin-2 expression. These results provide an insight into a model of coordinating endothelial junctional stability and angiogenic activation through YAP. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 429-430]

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1521-1529
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• 1998

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of the hemodynamics on the morphological changes of the human endothelial cells due to the blood flow by in vitro experiment and computer simulation. The morphological changes of the endothelial cells due to the t10w shear stress were observed in the laminar t10w chamber as a function of the exposure time. The observed shapes of the endothelial cells are used to the model shapes of the endothelial cells for numerical study and the pressure and the wall shear stress variations around the endothelial cells are calculated from the numerical results. The endothelial cells elongate along the t10w direction and lessen their heights in the flow field to reduce the pressure and the wall shear stress on the surface.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.193-203
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• 2000

Objectives : Hindered barrier function of vascular endothelium has been implicated in the initiation and progression of degenerative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. In this study, the effect of Sunghyangchungisan(SHCS) as a protectant against oxidant-induced destruction of endothelial barrier function was assessed. Methods : Toward this end, endothelial cells derived from the human umbilical vein were cultured as monolayers on permeable membrane filters. Endothelial permeability was monitored by measuring transendothelial electrical resistance and movement of low density lipoprotein (LDL) across the endothelial monolayer. Results : Along with increased movement of LDL, $H_2O_2$-induced increase in endothelial permeability was paralleled by a decrease in transendotheliaI electrical resistance. The effect of $H_2O_2$ was mimicked by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent activator of proteinkinase C. Calphostin-C, a protein kinase C inhibitor, effectively blocked the increase in endothelial permeability induced by $H_2O_2$ or PMA, indicating that activation of protein kinase C is associated with the $H_2O_2-induced$ permeability change. SHCS effectively protected the endothelial monolayer against $H_2O_2-induced$ increase in permeability, whereas, it did not affect PMA-induced change. Forskolin, a potent activator of adenylyl cyclase, antagonized $H_2O_2$ to increase endothelial permeability. In addition, in ${H_2O_2}-treated$ cens, intracenular cAMP concentration was significantly decreased, indicating that impaired cAMP production as well as activation of proteinkinase C is a mechanism underlying ${H_2O_2}>-induced$$H_2O_2$ with regard to its effect on intracellular cAMP content. However, SHCS itself did not affect resting cAMP concentration in endothelial cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that SHCS might operate as an effective protectant against oxidant-induced destruction of endothelial barrier function. The mechanism does not appear to involve direct interaction with protein kinase C- or cAMP-associated signaling mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2012

We evaluated the role of Tat-mediated p66shc transduction on the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in cultured mouse endothelial cells. To construct the Tat-p66shc fusion protein, human full length p66shc cDNA was fused with the Tat-protein transduction domain. Transduction of TAT-p66shc showed a concentration- and time-dependent manner in endothelial cells. Tat-mediated p66shc transduction showed increased hydrogen peroxide and superoxide production, compared with Tat-p66shc (S/A), serine 36 residue mutant of p66shc. Tat-mediated p66shc transduction decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation in endothelial cells. Furthermore, Tat-mediated p66shc transduction augmented TNF-${\alpha}$-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation in endothelial cells. These results suggest that Tat-mediated p66shc transduction efficiently inhibited endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation in endothelial cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2013

Hypoxia is an integral part of the environment during luteolysis. In this study we examined whether hypoxia could directly stimulate endothelial cells to produce nitric oxide (NO). Endothelial cells were cultured in hypoxic (5% $O_2$) or normoxic (20% $O_2$) conditions and the levels of total NO, inducible NO and endothelial NO was measured. We found that hypoxia but not normoxia upregulated NO production. The increased NO levels correlated with increased inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression whereas expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS) expression remained constant. Addition of the iNOS specific inhibitor 1400W to hypoxic cultures prevented NO production suggesting that hypoxia-induced NO production in endothelial cells was due mainly to upregulation of iNOS. We also found that prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ (PGF) production was unaffected by hypoxia suggesting that upregulation of NO was not due to increased synthesis of PGF. In summary, we report that endothelial cells cultured under hypoxic conditions produce NO via the iNOS pathway. This study provides the importance of the relation between the hypoxic environment and the induction of NO by endothelial cells during regression of the corpus luteum in the ovary.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.75-81
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• 2008

Background: Platelets take part in repairing the lesions of endothelial damage. To understand the molecular mechanism of this process, we tested the hypothesis that CD154 expressed on activated platelets stimulates proliferation of human endothelial cells. Methods: The expression levels of CD154 and CD40 on platelets and endothelial cells, respectively, were measured by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Function-blocking monoclonal antibody against CD154 was developed after immunization with CD154-transfected L cells. Results: An anti-CD40 agonist antibody and soluble CD154 both induced significant proliferation of endothelial cells. In addition, a function-blocking anti-CD154 antibody inhibited the platelet-induced proliferation of endothelial cells, indicating that the CD154-CD40 pathway is involved in these cellular interactions. An anti-VEGF antibody failed to inhibit the proliferation. This, in addition to the fact that very small amounts of VEGF are released from platelets or endothelial cells, suggests that VEGF does not play an important role in the platelet-stimulated proliferation of endothelial cells. Conclusion: Our results indicate that platelets induce proliferation of endothelial cells by CD154-CD40 interactions independently of VEGF.