• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.161-166
• /
• 2011

Carbon black, a particulate form of pure elemental carbon, is an industrial chemical with the high potential of occupational exposure. Although the relationship between exposure to particulate matters (PM) and cardiovascular diseases is well established, the cardiovascular risk of carbon black has not been characterized clearly. In this study, the cytotoxicity of carbon black to vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells were examined to investigate the potential vascular toxicity of carbon black. Carbon black with distinct particle size, N330 (primary size, 28~36 nm) and N990 (250~350 nm) were treated to A-10, rat aortic smooth muscle cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cell line, ECV304, and cell viability was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay. Treatment of carbon black N990 resulted in the significant reduction of viability in A-10 cells at 100 ${\mu}g$/ml, the highest concentration tested, while N330 failed to cause cell death. Cytotoxicity to ECV304 cells was induced only by N330 at higher concentration, 200 ${\mu}g$/ml, suggesting that ECV304 cells were relatively resistant to carbon black. Treatment of 100 ${\mu}g$/ml N990 led to the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) detected by dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) in A-10 cells. Pretreatment of antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and sulforaphane restored decreased viability of N990-treated A-10 cells, and N-acetylcysteine, but not sulforaphane, attenuated N990-induced ROS generation in A-10 cells. Taken together, present study shows that carbon black is cytotoxic to vascular cells, and the generation of reactive oxygen contributes to the development of cytotoxicity. ROS scavenging antioxidant could be a potential strategy to attenuate the toxicity induced by carbon black exposure.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2011

Dimeric sesquiterpenoid shizukaol B (SKB) was isolated from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. Except that SKB inhibited adhesion molecule expression in monocytes and endothelial cells, no more biological and pharmacological activity of SKB had been reported until now. In this study, we examined immunosuppressive activity of SKB. SKB strongly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced B cell proliferation with $IC_{50}$ of 137 ng/ml, but slightly or not concanavalin A-induced T cell proliferation, LPS-induced macrophage NO production, and LPS-induced dendritic cell maturation. As a mechanism, SKB strongly induced apoptotic death of B cells, but not other cell types. These results suggested that SKB induced toxicity-mediated immunosuppression against B cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제36권9호
• /
• pp.908-917
• /
• 2003

It has been proposed that oxidative modification of LDL (oxLDL) plays a significant role in the pathogenicity of atherogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that chitin and chitosan may function as antioxidants with respect to 0.1 mg cholesterol/ml LDL incubated with 5 $\mu$ M Cu$^2$$^{+}$alone or in the P338Dl mouse macrophage system using L-ascorbic acid as a standard classical antioxidant. The degree of oxLDL formation was ascertained by the relative electrophoretic mobility (rEM) in the combination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and the cytotoxicity of oxLDL was detected by macrophage viability. The oxLDL uptake and foam cell formation of macrophages were measured by Oil Red O staining. Incubation with Cu$^2$$^{+}$and macrophages increased rEM of LDL and stimulated TBARS formation. Culture of macrophages with LDL in the presence 5 $\mu$ M Cu$^2$$^{+}$induced macrophage death. In cell-free system 200 $\mu$g/ml water-soluble chitosan and chitosan-oligosaccharide blocked oxLDL formation. Water-soluble chitosan and chitosan-oligosaccharide blocked oxLDL formation near-completely relative to L-ascorbic acid, whereas water-soluble chitin and chitin-oligosaccharide had no measurable antioxidant effect. In macrophage system water-soluble chitosan and chitosan-oligosaccharide blocked oxidation of LDL with a significant increase in cell viability, and decreased TBARS in medium. As for the inhibitory effect on macrophage foam cell formation, chitosan and its oligosaccharide, but not watersoluble chitin, revealed the effectiveness. The endothelial expression of lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) was tested by Western blot analysis, and chitosan, chitosan-oligosaccharide and chitin-oligosaccharide blocked LOX-1 expression. These results indicate that water-soluble chitosan and its oligosaccharide showed the inhibitory effect on Cu$^2$$^{+}$-induced LDL oxidation of macrophages, and chitosan, chitosan-oligosaccharide and chitin-oligosaccharide had blocking effect on oxLDL receptor expression in the human umbilical vein endothelial system. Thus, water-soluble chitosan and its oligosaccharides possess anti-atherogenic potentials possibly through the inhibition of macrophage LDL oxidation or endothelial oxLDL receptor expression depending on chemical types.l types.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.182-192
• /
• 2006

죽상경화는 선진국에서 사망의 주요 원인이 되고 있다. 현재, 사람배꼽정맥내피세포는 대부분의 내피세포의 연구에 사용되고 있다. 그래도 사람배꼽정맥내피세포는 동맥이 아닌 정맥에서 유래하는 근본적인 문제가 있다. 현재 내피세포를 분리하는 방법이 여러 가지 보고가 되어있으나 이들 방법 대부분은 민무늬근육세포에 의해 오염되는 것을 제거하기 위해 특별한 장비가 필요하다. 여기서 시행한 방법은 내피세포와 민무늬근육세포를 분리하는데 있어서 어떤 특별한 장비들을 요하지 않는다. 쥐 대동맥의 내막에 2mg/ml의 농도인 제2형 교원질분해효소 용액을 사용하여 내피세포를 분리하는데, 다른 세포의 오염을 막기 위해서 Medium G 배지를 사용하였다. 1주일 후가 되면 내피세포만이 분리가 된다. 교원질분해효소를 처리하고 남은 대동맥의 나머지는 길이방향으로 잘라 10일간 DMEM 용액에 배양하였다. 10일이 지나면 민무늬근육 세포가 분리된다. 순수도를 검증하기위해 면역형광염색과 투과전자현미경으로 분석을 하였다. 면역형광염색상 분리된 내피세포에서는 CD31, 민무늬근육세포에서는 ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin이 특이하게 발현되었다. 배양된 내피세포와 민무늬근육세포에서는 미세구조상 세포의 종류에 따른 특징적 소견을 보였다. 따라서 이 연구에서 시행한 내피세포와 민무늬근육세포를 분리하는 방법은 죽상경화를 연구하는데 있어 특히 유용하게 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제37권3호
• /
• pp.182-192
• /
• 2004

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is the mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid (LA), which is found abundantly in dairy products and meats. This study was performed to investigate the anticarcinogenic effect of CLA in HepG2 hepatoma cells. HepG2 cell were treated with LA and CLA at the various concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 80 uM each at different incubation times. After each incubation times, cell proliferation, fatty acids incorporation into cell, peroxidation and postaglandin E$_2$ (PGE$_2$) and thromboxane $A_2$ (TXA$_2$) for the eicosanoid metabolism were measured. LA treated HepG2 cells were increased cell growth 6 - 70％ of control whereas CLA increased cell death the half of those in LA group (p 〈 0.001). LA and CLA were incorporated very well into the cellular membranes four times higher than in control according to concentration and longer incubation times. Moreover, LA synthesized significantly arachidonic acids corresponding with LA concentration compared to CLA supplementation. The supplementation with LA increased intracellular lipid peroxides concentration corresponding with LA concentration and five times higher than those in CLA significantly at any incubation times (p 〈 0.001). PGE$_2$ and TXA$_2$ levels were three to twenty times lower in condition of CLA treatments than LA, respectively. Overall, the dietary CLA might change the HepG2 cell growth by the changes of cell composition, production of lipid peroxide. Since CLA have not changed the levels of arachidonic acid of cell membrane, which was sources of eicosanoids, eicosanoid synthesis was not increased in CLA compared to LA. Our results was suggest CLA has a possibility to protect the progress of atherosclerosis because CLA does not produce lipid production and endothelial contraction factors in liver.

• 대한한방내과학회지
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.182-198
• /
• 2005

Object : This study was designed to research whether the protection and inhibitory effects of cardiovascular diseases in L-NAME induced rat or ECV 304 cell lines through the Cell morphological pattern, Tunel assay, LDH activity, heart rate, blood pressure and immunohistochemistric analysis by Boonsimgieum water extract Methods : Nitric oxide(NO) play an important role in normal and pathophysiological cells including as a messenger molecule, neurotransmitter, microbiocidal agent, or dilator of blood vessels and artheriosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, respectively. Endothelial cell products can modulate the magnitude of a response to a vasoconstrictor, as evinced by the greater constriction after endothelium removal or NO synthesis blockade. To investigate that Boonsimgieum in the potential contribution of the levels of nitric oxide generated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and the mechanisms of protection against NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), human ECV 304 cells, which normally do not express eNOS, were expressed by L-NAME. L-NAME stimulated rat or cells were found to be resistant to injury and delayed death following the Boonsimgieum. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis abolished the protective effect against L-NAME, thrombin and collagen exposure. Interestingly, such effects have been observed during stimulation with agents such as phenylephrine and KCl on L-NAME mediate rats, were damaged by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. Result : As the result of this study, In group, the anti-apoptosis and necrosis in the cardiovascular system have a potential capacity for prevented, protected and treating the diseases of cardiovascular system, against the necrosis of rat and ECV 304 cells with Caspase 3 and calpain expression by L-NAME is promoted. Conclusion : these results demonstrate neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects of ZIBU, suggesting its beneficial actions for the treatment of AD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제50권5호
• /
• pp.403-408
• /
• 2011

Objective : Contrary to some clinical belief, there were quite a few studies regarding animal models of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) $in$ $vivo$ suggesting that prior use of statins may improve outcome after ICH. This study reports the effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitor, simvastatin given before experimental ICH. Methods : Fifty-one rats were subjected to collagenase-induced ICH, subdivided in 3 groups according to simvastatin treatment modality, and behavioral tests were done. Hematoma volume, brain water content and hemispheric atrophy were analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining for microglia (OX-42) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was performed and caspase-3 activity was also measured. Results : Pre-simvastatin therapy decreased inflammatory reaction and perihematomal cell death, but resulted in no significant reduction of brain edema and no eNOS expression in the perihematomal region. Finally, prior use of simvastatin showed less significant improvement of neurological outcome after experimental ICH when compared to post-simvastatin therapy. Conclusion : The present study suggests that statins therapy after ICH improves neurological outcome, but prior use of statins before ICH might provide only histological improvement, providing no significant impact on neurological outcome against ICH.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제45권1호
• /
• pp.22-31
• /
• 2021

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and it results in a high rate of death worldwide, with an increased prevalence with age despite advances in lifestyle management and drug therapy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic progressive inflammatory process, and it mainly presents with lipid accumulation, foam cell proliferation, inflammatory response, atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture, thrombosis, and vascular calcification. Therefore, there is a great need for reliable therapeutic drugs or remedies to cure or alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce the societal burden. Ginsenosides are natural steroid glycosides and triterpene saponins obtained mainly from the plant ginseng. Several recent studies have reported that ginsenosides have a variety of pharmacological activities against several diseases including inflammation, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on describing the different pharmacological functions and underlying mechanisms of various active ginsenosides (Rb1,-Rd, -F, -Rg1, -Rg2, and -Rg3, and compound K) for atherosclerosis, which could provide useful insights for developing novel and effective anti-cardiovascular drugs.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제25권6호
• /
• pp.968-974
• /
• 2011

Saussurea lappa Clarke is a well-known transitional medicine in Asia including Korea, China and Japan. It has been reported that Clarke has diverse effects such as anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer in human gastric cells and human prostate cancer cells. However, the anti-cancer effects and the mechanism of actions of Saussurea lappa Clarke are still unknown in breast cancer. In this study, we observed that Saussurea lappa Clarke inhibits the cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner in highly-metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. In order to examine whether Saussurea lappa Clarke suppresses cell growth inducing apoptosis cell death or cell cycle arrest, we analyzed DNA contents and cell cycle distribution using a flow cytometer and western blotting in MDA-MB-231 cells. We suggest that Saussurea lappa Clarke dose not induced apoptosis and induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Moreover, Saussurea lappa Clarke also decreased the expression level of metastasis-angiogenesis releated protein such as VEGF. However, dose not changed the expression level of metastasis related protease MMP-1 in highly-metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Therefore, Saussurea lappa Clarke might be good and useful chemotherapy agent highly-metastatic breast cancer patients.

• 환경생물
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2009

당뇨망막병증은 서구에서 성인들의 실명을 일으키는 원인이다. 당뇨병이 있을 때 고혈당증은 여러 세포 형태에서 세포자연사를 유도하지만 그 기작은 명확하게 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구의 목적은 인간망막 내피세포에서 고혈당 포도당이 세포자연사에 미치는 영향에 대하여 알아보았다. 망막 내피세포는 5, 25, 50 mM 포도당이 포함된 IMDM배지에서 37$^{\circ}C$, 5% CO$_2$조정된 항온기에서 24, 36, 48시간 동안 배양하였다. 여러 농도의 포도당을 처리한 인간망막 내피세포 형태의 특징은 위상차현미경으로 관찰하였고, 세포의 생존은 MTT assay를 통해 산정하였다. 고농도 포도당에서 활성산소종인 세포 내의 H$_2$O$_2$는 FOX II assay와 caspase-3 assay에 의한 세포자연사를 통해 측정하였다. 고농도의 포도당을 처리한 세포에서의 DNA분절화는 아가펄스 겔 전기영동을 통해 관찰하였다. 25, 50mM 포도당을 포함한 배양액에 48시간 동안 배양한 세포는 형태가 변하고. 세포자연사에 의해 유도된 DNA 분절화를 관찰 할 수 있었다. 25, 50 mM의 포도당에서 배양한 세포와 5 mM 포도당에서 24, 36, 48 시간 배양한 세포와 비교했을 때 25, 50 mM에서 죽은 세포의 수가 더 많았다. 또한 과산화수소의 양과 caspase-3의 활성은 고농도 포도당을 처리한 세포에서 증가하였다. 결론적으로 고농도 포도당이 배양된 인간망막 내피세포에서 세포자연사를 유도하는 것을 증명하였고, 고혈당증의 유도로 caspase 활성에 의존적인 세포자연사는 증가하였다. 고농도의 포도당이 처리된 세포에서 활성산소종 유발과 caspase-3 활성간의 관계는 아직 조사되지않았다.