• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2016

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of cardamonin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism(s) involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Cardamonin significantly relaxed fluoride-, phenylephrine-, and phorbol ester-induced vascular contractions, suggesting that it has an anti-hypertensive effect on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, cardamonin significantly inhibited the fluoride-induced increase in pMYPT1 level and phenylephrine-induced increase in pERK1/2 level, suggesting inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. This study provides evidence that the relaxing effect of cardamonin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function involves inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 1993

The endothelial cell of brain capillary called the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has carrier-mediated transport systems for nutrients and drugs. The mechanism of the BBB transport of basic and acidic drugs has been reviewed and examined for endogenous transport systems in BBB in WKY and SHRSP. Acidic drugs such as salicylic acid and basic drugs such as eperisone are taken up in a carrier mediated manner through the BBB via the monocarboxylic acid and amine transport systems. The specific dysfunction for the choline transport at the BBB in SHRSP would affect the function of the brain endothelial cell and brain parenchymal cell. The utilization of the endogenous transport systems of monocarboxylic acid and amine could be promising strategy for the effective drug delivery to the brain.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2015

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cannabis Fructus on exercise capacity and cognitive function in chronic hypoperfusion induced vascular dementia rat model. Methods Vascular dementia rat models were induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion through bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group; control group; CF I group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 100 mg/kg); CF II group (feeding Cannabis Fructus 300 mg/kg). In order to study the effects of oral administration of Cannabis Fructus on vascular dementia rat models, corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test were taken and Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level were measured. Also histological findings of the liver, kidney, brain and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus were observed. Results CF I and CF II showed significant improvement in corner turn test, hole board test, radial arm maze test, passive avoidance test, Acetylcholine (ACh) activity, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, the serum of Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein level and the change of Tau immunoreactive neurons in hippocampus. CF I showed more significant effect than CF II in these tests. However in histological observations of the liver and kidney both CF I and CF II showed glomerular injury and hepatotoxicity. Conclusions These results suggest that Cannabis Fructus was helpful in improving exercise capacity and cognitive function on Chronic hypoperfusion induced Vascular Dementia rats. However Cannabis Fructus affects the liver and kidney, therefore suggest that this is an area for further study.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권7호통권87호
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• pp.905-909
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• 2007

Redox Factor-1 (Ref-1)은 손상된 DNA의 복구 및 많은 세포내 산화환원에 민감한 transcription factors의 활성화에 기여하는 양면의 역할을 수행하는 단백질이다. 본 연구에서는 혈관내피세포에서의 nitric oxide (NO) 생성과정에서 Ref-1의 역할을 살펴보았다. Ref-1의 세포내 과발현을 위하여 adenoviral vector를 사용하였고 bradykinin으로 자극한 혈관내피세포에서 생성되는 NO 측정을 위하여 fluorophore DAF-2를 사용하였다. Ref-1 과 발현은 bradykinin으로 자극한 혈관내피세포의 NO 생성을 증가시켰다. 또한 자극되지 않은 Ref-1 과발현 세포는 viral vector로 감염되지 않은 그리고 control로 사용한 AdD1312로 감염된 세포보다 높은 fluorescence intensity를 나타내었다. 이와 비슷하게, Ref-1 과발현은 bradykinin으로 자극한 세포뿐만 아니라 자극하지 않은 세포에서도 감염되지 않은 그리고 AdD1312로 감염된 세포와 비교할 때 endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)의 활성을 크게 증가시켰다. 이는Ref-1 자신이 eNOS의 효소활성을 직접 조절할 수 있다는 것을 의미한다. 결론적으로 Ref-1이 혈관계에서 NO생성에 의해 기인되는 endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation에서 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 시사한다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.229-234
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• 2015

Nafamostat mesilate (NM) is a serine protease inhibitor with anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory effects. NM has been used in Asia for anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation. Oxidative stress is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease and is associated with vascular endothelial function. We investigated whether NM could inhibit endothelial dysfunction induced by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$ ). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ for 24 h. The effects of NM on monocyte adhesion, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein expression, p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, and intracellular superoxide production were then examined. NM ($0.01{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect HUVEC viability; however, it inhibited the increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and p66shc expression elicited by TNF-${\alpha}$ (3 ng/mL), and it dose dependently prevented the TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced upregulation of endothelial VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. In addition, it mitigated TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and the adhesion of U937 monocytes. These data suggest that NM mitigates TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced monocyte adhesion and the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, and that the anti-adhesive effect of NM is mediated through the inhibition of p66shc, ROS production, and p38 MAPK activation.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권7호
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• pp.1093-1099
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• 2010

항암 효과와 항산화 기능을 가지는 것으로 알려진 lycopene은 심혈관에서의 기능이 현재까지 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 lycopene의 심혈관 기능을 알기 위해 혈관내피세포를 이용해 다양한 세포실험을 수행하였다. 그 결과, lycopene은 내피세포의 성장 및 이동을 촉진하였으나 세포사멸에는 영향이 없었다. 또한, 백혈구의 혈관내피세포 부착을 억제하였고 내피세포 내 신호전달물질인 MAPK들의 활성을 촉발하였다. MAPK의 활성 억제제를 이용한 신호전달기전 연구실험 결과, ERK와 p38 MAPK의 활성은 세포성장에 관여하고, JNK의 활성은 세포이동에 관여함을 확인하였다. 종합하면, lycopene은 혈관내피세포의 신호전달 물질인 MAPK들를 통해 세포성장 및 이동을 촉진시키며, LPS에 의한 THP-1의 내피세포 부착을 억제 하는 등 혈관내피세포의 다양한 생리활성을 조절한다. Lycopene의 이러한 혈관내피세포 기능들은 lycopene이 혈관질환 치료제로 응용될 가능성이 있음을 의미한다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권10호
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• pp.595-600
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• 2019

Cardiac fibrosis is a common feature in chronic hypertension patients with advanced heart failure, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is known to promote Angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated cardiac fibrosis. Previous studies have suggested a potential role for the transcription factor, ETS-1, in Ang II-mediated cardiac remodeling, however the mechanism are not well defined. In this study, we found that mice with endothelial Ets-1 deletion showed reduced cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy following Ang II infusion. The reduced cardiac fibrosis was accompanied by decreased expression of fibrotic matrix genes, reduced EndMT with decreased Snail, Slug, Twist, and ZEB1 expression, as well as reduced cardiac hypertrophy and expression of hypertrophy-associated genes was observed. In vitro studies using cultured H5V cells further confirmed that ETS-1 knockdown inhibited $TGF-{\beta}1$-induced EndMT. This study revealed that deletion of endothelial Ets-1 attenuated Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis via inhibition of EndMT, indicating an important ETS-1 function in mediating EndMT. Inhibition of ETS-1 could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treatment of heart failure secondary to chronic hypertension.

• International Journal of Oncology
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.1327-1336
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• 2019

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are bone marrow (BM)-derived progenitor cells that can differentiate into mature endothelial cells, contributing to vasculogenesis in the blood vessel formation process. Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) belongs to the Runt domain family and is required for the differentiation of specific immune cells and neurons. The tumor suppressive role of RUNX3, via the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a variety of cancers, and its deletion or frequent silencing by epigenetic mechanisms have been studied extensively; however, its role in the differentiation of EPCs is yet to be investigated. Therefore, in the present study, adult BM-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were isolated from Runx3 heterozygous (Rx3^+/-) or wild-type (WT) mice. The differentiation of EPCs from the BM-derived HSCs of Rx3^+/- mice was found to be significantly increased compared with those of the WT mice, as determined by the number of small or large colony-forming units. The migration and tube formation abilities of Rx3^+/- EPCs were also observed to be significantly increased compared with those of WT EPCs. Furthermore, the number of circulating EPCs, defined as CD34⁺/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)⁺ cells, was also significantly increased in Rx3^+/- mice. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α was upregulated in Rx3^+/- EPCs compared with WT EPCs, even under normoxic conditions. Furthermore, in a hindlimb ischemic mouse models, the recovery of blood flow was observed to be highly stimulated in Rx3^+/- mice compared with WT mice. Also, in a Lewis lung carcinoma cell allograft model, the tumor size in Rx3^+/- mice was significantly larger than that in WT mice, and the EPC cell population (CD34⁺/VEGFR2⁺ cells) recruited to the tumor was greater in the Rx3^+/- mice compared with the WT mice. In conclusion, the present study revealed that Runx3 inhibits vasculogenesis via the inhibition of EPC differentiation and functions via the suppression of HIF-1α activity.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.174-180
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• 2006

We examine the effect of Geiji-Bokryung-Hwan(GBH) on erectile function in a rat model of hypercholesterolemic erectile dysfunction. GBH, a drug preparation consisting of five herbs of Cinnamomi Ramulus (Geiji), Poria Cocos (Bokryun), Mountan Cortex Radicis (Mokdanpi), Paeoniae Radix (Jakyak), and Persicae Semen (Doin) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is widely used in the treatment of atherosclerosis-related disorders. In this study, 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The 6 rats control animals were fed a normal diet and the other 18 rats were fed 1% cholesterol diet for 3 months. After 1 months, GBH was added to the drinking water of the treatment group of 12 rats but not the cholesterol only group of 6 rats. Of the 12 rats 6 received 30 mg/kg per day (group 1) and 6 received 60 mg/kg per day (group 2) of GBH. At 3 months erectile function was evaluated with cavernous nerve electrostimulation in all animals. Penile tissues were collected for electron microscopy, and to perform Western blot for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and caveolin-1. Systemic arterial pressure was not significantly different between the animals that were fed the 1% cholesterol diet and the controls. Conversely erectile function was not impaired in the herbal medicine treated rats. Electron microscopy showed many caveolae with fingerlike processes in the cavernous smooth muscle and endothelial cell membranes in control and treated rats but not in the cholesterol only group of rats. Western blot showed differences among groups in protein expression for eNOS, nNOS, caveolin-1 and bFGF protein expression in penile tissue. Increased eNOS and nNOS protein expressions dy high cholesterol diet were significantly decreased in group 1 and group 2. Interestingly, caveolin-1 and bFGF protein expression was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in the cholesterol only and control groups.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• 제59권9호
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• pp.1138-1142
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• 2018

This study aimed to analyze the impact of sleep deprivation (SD) on cardiac, hemodynamic, and endothelial parameters and to determine whether these are sustained with increased periods of SD. The study included 60 healthy men (mean: age $31.2{\pm}6.3years$; body mass index $24.6{\pm}2.6kg/m^2$). Hemodynamic parameters, parameters of myocardial contractility, spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability, and the sensitivity of arterial baroreflex function were evaluated. Biochemical tests were performed to assess L-arginine (L-Arg) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in reflection of endothelial nitric oxide synthase ability. Measurements of cardiovascular system parameters were obtained at 9 a.m. (baseline) on the first day of the study and 9 a.m. (24-h SD), 1 p.m. (28-h SD), and 5 p.m. (32-h SD) on the second day. Blood samples for evaluating biochemical parameters were obtained at baseline and after 24-h SD. ANOVA Friedman's test revealed a significant effect for time in relation to HR (${\chi}^2=26.04$, df=5, p=0.000), systolic BP (${\chi}^2=35.98$, df=5, p=0.000), diastolic BP (${\chi}^2=18.01$, df=5, p=0.003), and mean BP (${\chi}^2=28.32$, df=5, p=0.000). L-Arg and ADMA levels changed from $78.2{\pm}12.9$ and $0.3{\pm}0.1$ at baseline to $68.8{\pm}10.2$ and $0.4{\pm}0.1$ after 24-hr SD, respectively (p=0.001, p=0.004). SD in healthy men is associated with increases in BP, which appear to occur after 24 hours of SD and are maintained over increasing periods of SD. The observed hemodynamic changes may have resulted due to disordered vascular endothelial function, as reflected in alterations in L-Arg and ADMA levels.