• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2005

Inhibition of inflammatory response, acceleration of basal cell growth, and balanced synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) are important in healing of cutaneous open wounds. In order to evaluate the healing effects of water extracts of Radix Astragali (the root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.)) on open wound at early stage, the experimental open wounds were generated on the dorsal sides of SD rats under anesthesia. The boiled-water extracts of Radix Astragali $(100{\mu}l)$, soaked into an occlusive film dressing were applied once a day for eleven consecutive days. The healing process was assessed by measuring macroscopic appearance and wound areas of the open wounds. The molecular aspects of healing process by Radix Astragali extracts were also investigated by Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) double staining and immunohistological staining of collagen type I in the healed skin area, implying cell density and linear alignment of the granulation tissue, and ECM synthesis and its remodeling, respectively. The Astragali radix extracts were found to significantly accelerate the cutaneous wound healing by suppressing the inflammation and stimulating the basal cell growth in wounded area, as compared to epidermal growth factor (EGF).

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.127-135
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• 2002

Anterior subcapsular cataract was developed by opacification with transdifferentiation and abnormal proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). After-cataract also be caused by a similar transdifferentiation of LECs remaining after surgery and the accompanying increase of ECM deposits. It is blown that prostaglandin E2 and cytokine, such as TGF-$\beta$, bFGF, and IL-1, were associated with abnormal proliferation and transdifferentiation of LECs. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of transforming growth factor-$\alpha$ (TGF-$\alpha$), transforming growth factor-$\beta_1$(TGF-$\beta_1$) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in LECs of senile and diabetic cataract. The expressions of these growth factors in lens epithelial cells were determined. The sample for growth factor determination were collected in senile cataract patients without metabolic disorder, especially diabetes mellitus and diabetic cataract patients. The mRNA expression of growth factors was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot analysis. Statistics were analysed using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR/southern analysis of RNA obtained from thirty surgical specimens demonstrated that the level of mRNA expression of TGF-$\alpha$, -$\beta_1$ and bFGF was increased in diabetic cataract lens tissues compared with senile cataract specimens but non-significant, bFGF and TGF-$\beta_1$ mRNA expression were detected in most patients, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$ was most high on the basis of normal ocular concentration. Detection rate of TGF-$\alpha$ in diabetic cataract was 1.5 fold higher than in senile cataract (P=0.098). TGF-$\alpha$, TGF-$\beta_1$, and bFGF mRNA expression of LECs were detected in senile and diabetic cataract. In both patient groups, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$, mRNA was high, so We suggest TGF-$\beta_1$ strong influence in development of senile cataract and of diabetic cataract also. TGF-$\alpha$ expression level was similar but more frequently detected in diabetic cataract than in senile cataract. In conclusion, TGF-$\alpha$ may be associated with early development of diabetic cataract.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.315-322
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• 2013

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effect of silk scaffolds on one-wall periodontal intrabony defects. We conjugated nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) onto a silk scaffold and then seeded periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) or dental pulp cells (DPCs) onto the scaffold. Methods: Five dogs were used in this study. Bilateral 4 mm${\times}$2 mm (depth${\times}$mesiodistal width), one-wall intrabony periodontal defects were surgically created on the distal side of the mandibular second premolar and the mesial side of the mandibular fourth premolar. In each dog, four of the defects were separately and randomly assigned to the following groups: the PDLCcultured scaffold transplantation group (PDLC group), the DPC-cultured scaffold transplantation group (DPC group), the normal saline-soaked scaffold transplantation group, and the control group. The animals were euthanized following an 8-week healing interval for clinical, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and histologic evaluations. Results: There was no sign of inflammation or other clinical signs of postoperative complications. The examination of cellseeded constructs by SEM provided visual confirmation of the favorable characteristics of nHA-coated silk scaffolds for tissue engineering. The scaffolds exhibited a firm connective porous structure in cross section, and after PDLCs and DPCs were seeded onto the scaffolds and cultured for 3 weeks, the attachment of well-spread cells and the formation of extracellular matrix (ECM) were observed. The histologic analysis revealed that a well-maintained grafted volume was present at all experimental sites for 8 weeks. Small amounts of inflammatory cells were seen within the scaffolds. The PDLC and DPC groups did not have remarkably different histologic appearances. Conclusions: These observations indicate that nHA-coated silk scaffolds can be considered to be potentially useful biomaterials for periodontal regeneration.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.205-208
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• 1999

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) remains limited by restenosis that occurs in 30 to 50% of patients with coronary artery disease. During the last decade, numerous agents have been used to prevent restenosis. Despite positive results in animal models, no pharmacological therapy has been found to significantly decrease the risk of restenosis in humans. These discrepancies between animal models and clinical situation were probably related to an incomplete understanding of the mechanism of restenosis. Neointimal thickening occurs in response to experimental arterial injury with a balloon catheter. Neointimal formation involves different steps: smooth muscle cell activation, proliferation and migration, and the production of extracellular matrix. The factors that control neointimal hyperplasia include growth factors, humoral factors and mechanical factors. Arterial remodeling also plays a major role in the restenosis process. Studies performed in animal and human subjects have established the potentials for "constrictive remodeling" to reduce the post-angioplasty vessel area, thereby indirectly narrowing the vessel lumen and thus contributing to restenosis. The reduction of restenosis rate in patients with intracoronary stent implantation has been attributed to the preventive effect of stent itself for this negative remodeling. In addition to these mochanisms for restenosis, intraluminal or intra-plaque thrombus formation, reendothelialization and apoptosis theories have been introduced and confirmed at least in part.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2015

Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC) is a known to modulate the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in 3T3-L1. However, the possible role of DPHC in integument stability during obesity induction is not clear yet. We evaluated the effects of DPHC on collagen or elastic fiber quantity in integument during obesity induction with high-fat diet. The dorsal back integument sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson trichrome, and Verhoff-Van Gieson. The intensities of collagen fibers and elastin fibers were analyzed with ImageJ. The number of fibroblasts was counted at ${\times}1,000$ fields. The number of fibroblast was increased by obesity induction, but DPHC suppressed it in a concentration-dependent manner both in lean and obese mice. On the other hand, the intensities of collagen fibers were increased by DPHC treatment in obese mice groups but not in lean mice groups. The intensities of collagen fibers of obese mice were lower than that of the lean mice in 0% group. However, the number became similar between lean and obese mice by the treatment of DPHC. The intensity of elastic fibers was increased in the lean mice with the concentration of DPHC. In the obese mice group, there were increasing patterns but only significant at 10% DPHC group. The intensity of elastic fibers of obese mice was higher than lean mice in 0%, 1%, and 10% groups. Histologically epithelial cells and follicle cells which were diffused nuclear staining forms were increased by DPHC treatment. The results suggest that the activity of integument cells during obesity induction can be modulated by DPHC.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.9-17
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• 2004

Objective : Mesangial cell proliferation and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is the common pathologic feature of glomerulosclerosis, and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB-chain, transforming growth factor betal $(TGF-{\beta}1)$, cyclin dependent kinases (CDK) and CDK inhibitors mediated in these pathophysiological processes. Bupleurum falcatum which is one of the most widely used components in traditional oriental medicines, has multiple pharmacological effects, such as antipyretic, analgesic, immune modulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-thrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic, and antitussive effects. Methods : In this study, we evaluated the influence of Bupleurum falcatum on mesangial cell proliferation, DNA synthesis and expression of PDGF-BB chain, $TGF-{\beta}1$, CDKI, CDK2, CDK4, p21 and p27 in fetal bovine serum (FBS)-activated human mesangial cell. Results : Bupleurum falcatum reduced the mesangial cell proliferation and DNA synthesis more than control and captopril. And in the ELISA analysis of $TGF-{\beta}1$, and RT-PCR of PDGF-BB chain, CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, p21, and p27, Bupleurum falcatum inhibited the expression of $TGF-{\beta}1$ protein and PDGF-BB, CDK1, CDK2 gene and promoted that of p21 gene in a dose-dependent manner in comparing with control and captopril. Conclusions: These results suggest that Bupleurum falcatum may inhibit the mesangial cell proliferation and DNA synthesis by regulation of PDGF-BB and $TGF-{\beta}1$ expressions, and by modulation of CDK1, CDK2 and p21 expression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.499-506
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• 2002

Two of the essential processes required for metastasis are neoangiogenesis and tumor cell invasion of basement membranes (BM) and extracellular matrix (ECM). Recently, data showed that herbs removing blood stasis has an anti-angiogenic effects. Tonifying vital Qi and eliminating pathogenic factor was a basic modality in Oriental oncology. In this study, we investigated several Qi and Blood tonics for potent angiogenic inhibitors. Methanol extracts of samples inhibited the proliferation of ECV-304 at the concentration of 100 ㎍/㎖. Zizyphi Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix decreased the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 from ECV-3Q4, at the concentration of 100 ㎍/㎖ in gelatin zymography. In in vitro invasion assay, herbs inhibited the invasion activity of ECV-304 by 53% of control (Ginseng Radix), 39% (Zizyphi Fructus), 36% (Angelicae Gigantis Radix), 25% (Glycyrrhizae Radix). Ginseng Radix inhibited the capillary-like tube formation of ECV-304 at the concentration of 160 ㎍/㎖, Angelicae Gigantis Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba inhibited at the concentration of 320 ㎍/㎖. These results indicated that Ginseng Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix, and Angelicae Gigantis Radix could be considered as potent angiogenic inhibitiors.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2007

The mechanism of cytotoxicity of doxifluridine, a prodrug fluorouracil (5-FU), has been ascribed to the misincorporation of fluoropyrimidine into RNA and DNA and to the inhibition of the nucleotide synthetic enzyme thymidylate synthase. Increased understanding of the mechanism of 5-FU has led to the development of strategies that increases its anticancer activity or predicts its sensitivity to patients. Using GeneChip?? Rhesus Macaque Genome arrays, we analyzed gene expression profiles of doxifluridine after two weeks repeated administration in cynomolgus monkey. Kegg pathway analysis suggested that cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell adhesion remodeling were commonly occurred in colon, jejunum, and liver. However, expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix was distinguished colon from others. In colon, COL6A2, COL18A1, ELN, and LAMA5 were over-expressed. In contrast, genes included in same category were down-regulated in jejunum and liver. Interestingly, MMP7 and TIMP1, the key enzymes responsible for ECM regulation, were overexpressed in colon. Several studies were reported that both gene reduced cell sensitivity to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Therefore, we suggest they have potential as target for modulation of 5-FU action. In addition, the expression of genes which have been previously known to involve in 5-FU pathway, were examined in three organs. Particularly, there were more remarkable changes in colon than in others. In colon, ECGF1, DYPD, TYMS, DHFR, FPGS, DUT, BCL2, BAX, and BAK1 except CAD were expressed in the direction that was good response to doxifluridine. These results may provide that colon is a prominent target of doxifluridine and transcriptional profiling is useful to find new targets affecting the response to the drug.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.555-559
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• 2016

A biodegradable nanofiber scaffolds using electrospining provide fibrous guidance cues for controlling cell fate that mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM). It can create a pattern using conventional electrospining method, but has a difficulty to generate one or more pattern structures. Femtosecond(fs) laser ablation has much interested in patterning on biomaterials in order to distinguish the fundamental or systemic interaction between cell and material surface. The ablated materials with a short pulse duration using femtosecond laser that allows for precise removal of materials without transition of the inherent material properties. In this study, linear grooves and circular craters were fabricated on electrospun nanofiber scaffolds (poly-L-lactide(PLLA)) by femtosecond laser patterning processes. As parametric studies, pulse energy and beam spot size were varied to determine the effects of the laser pulse on groove size. We confirmed controlling pulse energy to $5{\mu}J-20{\mu}J$ and variation of lens maginfication of 2X, 5X, 10X, 20X created grooves of width to approximately $5{\mu}m-50{\mu}m$. Our results demonstrate that femtosecond laser processing is an effective means for flexibly structuring the surface of electrospun PLLA nanofibers.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-59
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• 2015

A bioactive and multifunctional elastin-like polymer (ELP) was produced by genetic engineering techniques to develop new artificial matrices with the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). The basic composition of this ELP is a thermo- and pH-sensitive elastin pentapeptide which has been enriched with RGD-containing domains, the RGD loop of fibronectin, for recognition by integrin receptors on their sequence to promote efficient cell attachment. Hydrogels of this RGD-containing polymer were obtained by crosslinking with hexamethylene diisocyanate, a lysine-targeted crosslinker. These materials retain the "smart" nature and temperature-responsive character, and the desired mechanical behavior of the elastin-like polymer family. The influence of the degree of crosslinking on the morphology and properties of the matrices were tested by calorimetric techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their mechanical behavior was studied by dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA). These results show the potential of these materials in biomedical applications, especially in the development of smart systems for tissue engineering.