• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.182-195
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• 2001

연구배경 : IPF에 의한 유병률과 사망률은 점차 증가하는 추세이나 좋은 치료는 없는 상태이다. 폐 섬유화 과정에서 TGF-${\beta}_1$, TNF-$\alpha$, ET-1, IFN-$\gamma$등의 사이토카인이 중요한 역할을 함이 알려져 있다. 본 실험은 파라콰트를 기관지 내로 주입하여 섬유화가 유발되는 과정의 백서의 폐 조직 내에서 ET-1과 TGF-${\beta}_1$의 발현을 살펴보고, 또한 비선택적 ET-1 receptor blocker인 Bosentan이 폐 섬유화의 치료에 효과가 있는지를 보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 웅성 7-8 주령의 백서 120 마리를 세 그룹으로 나누고 제 1그룹은 대조군으로 하여 기관지 내로 생리 식염수를 투여하였고, 제2그룹은 파라콰트를 투여하였으며, 제3그룹은 첫날 파라콰트를 투여한 후 매일 gastric gavage 방법으로 보센탄을 투여하였다. 파라콰트 혹은 생리식염수를 투여한 지 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14일째 각각 세 그룹의 일정 수를 희생하여 폐의 병리조직을 보고 면역세포화학염색으로 ET-1과 TGF-${\beta}_1$의 발현 율을 조사하여 분석하였다. 폐 섬유화의 정도는 H&E 염색과 Masson trichrome 염색을 하여 컴퓨터 영상분석을 시행하였고, 면역세포화학염색은 염색정도에 따라 반정량화하여 분석하였다. 결 과 : 파라콰트를 투여한 군이 대조군에 비해 콜라겐의 침착이 실험 3일째부터 현저히 증가하였고, ET-1과 TGF-${\beta}_1$의 발현이 주로 실험 초기에 증가하였다. 그러나 보센탄을 투여한 경우 콜라겐이 침착된 양에는 유의한 변화가 없었고 파라콰트군과 비교해서 ET-1과 TGF-${\beta}_1$의 발현에 뚜렷한 변화는 없었다. 결 론: 파라콰트를 투여한 경우 폐 섬유화가 증가하였다. 그리고 ET-1과 TGF-${\beta}_1$의 발현이 증가하였다. 그러나 ET-1 에 대한 receptor blocker인 보센탄이 폐 섬유화를 막지는 못하였다. 파라콰트에 의한 폐 섬유화에 ET-1이 연관성이 있으나 그 역할에 대해서는 추후 더 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.178-183
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• 2008

To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on regions remote from the application, we measured cellular, enzymatic, and transcriptional activities in various internal tissues of healthy rats. The EA was applied to the well-identified acupoint ST36 of the leg. After application, we measured the activity of natural killer cells in the spleen, gene expression in the hypothalamus, and the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the hypothalamus, liver and red blood cells. The EA treatment increased natural killer cell activity in the spleen by approximately 44%. It also induced genes related to pain, including 5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 3a (Htr3a) and Endothelin receptor type B (Ednrb) in the hypothalamus, and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in the hypothalamus, liver, and red blood cells. These findings indicate that EA mediates its effects through changes in cellular activity, gene expression, and enzymatic activity in multiple remote tissues. The sum of these alterations may explain the beneficial effects of EA.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.111-117
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• 2004

Hepatic microcirculatory failure is a major component of reperfusion injury in the liver. Recent data provided some evidence that endothelium-derived vasoconstrictors and vasodilators may be functionally important to the control of the total hepatic blood flow under these conditions of circulatory failure. Since Kupffer cells provide signals that regulate the hepatic response in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), the aim of this study was to investigate the role of Kupffer cells in the I/R-induced imbalance of vasoregulatory gene expression. Rats were subjected to 60 min hepatic ischemia, followed by 5 h of reperfusion. The Kupffer cells were inactivated by gadolinium chloride ($GdCl_3$, 7.5 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) 1 day prior to ischemia. Liver samples were obtained 5 hrs after reperfusion for RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA for genes of interest: endothelin-1 (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A and ET_B$, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). ET-1 mRNA expression was increased by I/R. mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptors showed no change, whereas $ET_B$ receptor transcripts increased in the I/R group. The increases in ET-1 and $ET_B$ mRNA were not prevented by the $GdCI_3$ pretreatment. The mRNA levels for iNOS and eNOS significantly increased within the I/R group with no significant difference between the I/R group and the $GdCl_3$-treated I/R group. HO-1 mRNA expression significantly increased in the I/R group and this increase was attenuated by $GdCI_3$. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that an imbalance in hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression occurs during I/R. Our findings suggest that the activation of Kupffer cells is not required for I/R-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권7호
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• pp.769-775
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• 2004

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (l/R) predisposes the liver to secondary stresses such as endotoxemia, possibly via dysregulation of the hepatic microcirculation secondary to an imbalanced regulation of the vascular stress genes. In this study, the effect of hepatic I/R on the hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression in response to endotoxin was determined. Rats were subjected to 90 min of hepatic ischemia and 6 h of reperfusion. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally after reperfusion. Plasma and liver samples were obtained 6 h after reperfusion for serum aminotransferase assays and RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA for the genes of interest： endothelin-1 (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A$ and $ET_B$, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), cyciooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-${\alpha}$). The activities of serum aminotransferases were significantly increased in the I/R group. This increase was markedly potentiated by LPS treatment. The ET-1 mRNA was increased by LPS alone, and this increase was significantly greater in both the I/R alone and I/R ＋ LPS groups compared to the sham. There were no significant differences in ETA receptor mRNA levels among any of the experimental groups. $ET_B$ mRNA was increased by both LPS alone and I/R alone, with no significant difference between the I/R alone and I/R ＋ LPS groups. The eN OS and HO-1 transcripts were increased by I/R alone and further increased by I/R ＋ LPS. The iNOS mRNA levels were increased by I/R alone, but increased significantly more by both LPS alone and I/R ＋ LPS compared to I/R alone. The TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA levels showed no change with I/R alone, but were increased by both LPS alone and I/R ＋ LPS. The COX-2 expression was increased significantly by I/R alone and significantly more by I/R ＋ LPS. Taken collectively, significantly greater induction of the vasodilator genes over the constriction forces was observed with I/R ＋ LPS. These results may partly explain the increased susceptibility of ischemic livers to injury as a result of endotoxemia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권6호
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• pp.262-270
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• 2016

Purpose: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) leads to right ventricular failure (RVF) as well as an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Our purpose was to study the effect of sildenafil on right ventricular remodeling in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced RVF. Methods: The rats were distributed randomly into 3 groups. The control (C) group, the monocrotaline (M) group (MCT 60 mg/kg) and the sildenafil (S) group (MCT 60 mg/kg+ sildenafil 30 mg/kg/day for 28 days). Masson Trichrome staining was used for heart tissues. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining were performed. Results: The mean right ventricular pressure (RVP) was significantly lower in the S group at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The number of intra-acinar arteries and the medial wall thickness of the pulmonary arterioles significantly lessened in the S group at week 4. The collagen content also decreased in heart tissues in the S group at week 4. Protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-associated X, caspase-3, Bcl-2, interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), endothelin (ET)-1 and ET receptor A (ERA) in lung tissues greatly decreased in the S group at week 4 according to immunohistochemical staining. According to Western blotting, protein expression levels of troponin I, brain natriuretic peptide, caspase-3, Bcl-2, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, IL-6, MMP-2, eNOS, ET-1, and ERA in heart tissues greatly diminished in the S group at week 4. Conclusion: Sildenafil alleviated right ventricular hypertrophy and mean RVP. These data suggest that sildenafil improves right ventricular function.