• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of cumulus cells and porcine follicular fluid (pFF) on plasminogen activator (PA) activity and oocytes maturation in vitro in the pig. The cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and denuded oocytes (DOs) were incubated in NCSU-23 medium with or without 10% pFF for 0, 24, or 48 hr. In the presence of cumulus cells, the proportions of oocytes matured to metaphase-II stage were significantly (P<0.05) higher in medium with pFF than without pFF (69.8 vs. 37.7%, respectively). When COCs and DOs were cultured in the presence of pFF, tissue-type PA (tPA), urokinase-type PA (uPA), and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI) were observed in COCs, and PA activities were higher at 48 hr than 24 hr. When COCs and DOs were cultured in the absence of pFF, tPA and tPA-PAI were observed in COCs, and PA activities were increased as duration of culture increased. No PA activities were detected in DOs regardless of pFF supplementation. When porcine oocytes were cultured in the presence of pFF for 24 and 48 hrs, the activities of tPA-PAI, tPA, and uPA were observed in both COCs and DOs. In medium of absence of pFF, PA activities were observed in oocytes with cumulus cells only. On the other hand, three plasminogen-dependent lytic bands (tPA-PAI, tPA, and uPA) were observed in pFF cultures. Particularly uPA activity was higher than the other kinds of PA activity. When oocytes and cumulus cells were separated from porcine COCs at 0 hr of culture, tPA-PAI, tPA, and uPA were detected in cumulus cells at 48 hr of culture, but no PA activities were in DOs. The presence of pFF and cumulus cells in maturation medium stimulated not only nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in porcine COCs, but also PA production by cumulus cells and COCs. It is possible that PAs produced by cumulus cells migrated through the gap junction between oocyte and cumulus cells. These results suggest that porcine oocytes have no ability to produce PA themselves.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.140-147
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• 2016

Objectives To determine the relationship between the Alu insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) gene and the clinical outcome of mirtazapine treatment in Korean major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. Methods We enrolled 422 patients in this study. Symptoms were evaluated using the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD-21) Scale. After 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of mirtazapine treatment, the association between the Alu I/D polymorphism in the tPA gene and remission/response outcomes were evaluated. Results The proportion of I/I homozygotes in responders was higher than that in non-responders, whereas the proportion of D/D homozygotes in responders was lower than that in non-responders at 8 weeks of treatment (p = 0.032, OR = 1.57). The percentage decline of HAMD-21 scores in I allele carriers was larger than that of D/D homozygotes at 2 and 8 weeks of treatment (p = 0.035 and 0.007, respectively). I allele carriers were associated with remission at 8 weeks of treatment (p = 0.047, OR = 2.2). Conclusions These results show that treatment response and remission to mirtazapine were associated with the Alu I/D polymorphism of the tPA gene. This suggests the Alu I/D polymorphism may be a potential genetic marker for the prediction of therapeutic response to mirtazapine treatment in patients with MDD.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2014

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine proteases that convert plasminogen to plasmin. Two type of PAs are urokinase-type PA (uPA) and tissue-type PA (tPA). Plasminogen is present in most extracellular fluids. PAs play in various reproductive processes including implantation, ovulation and fertilization. In the spermatozoa, PAs and PAIs play a role in sperm motility and fertilization. PAs in the sertoli cell are stimulated spermatozoa maturation and sperm activation through the phospholipase A2. The oocyte maturation is the process for fertilization and implantation. PAs in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) are related to oocyte maturation by protein kinase A and C. In the ovulatory process, PAs activity are changed and it are related to reducing the tensile strength of ovarian follicle wall. The uterine environment is important for reproduction and the uterus undergo tissue remodeling. In the uterus and oviduct of mammals, expression and activity of PAs are changed during estrous cycle. Thus, expression and activity of PAs are concerned to many reproductive functions. Therefore, PAs seem to important factor of regulator in reproductive events.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.695-703
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• 2006

The dissolved oxygen level of any cell culture environment has a critical effect on cellular metabolism. Specifically, hypoxia condition decreases cell viability and recombinant protein productivity. In this work, to develop CHO cells producing recombinant protein with high productivity, mammalian expression vectors containing a human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) gene with hypoxia response element (HRE) were constructed and stably transfected into CHO cells. CHO/2HRE-t-PA cells produced 2-folds higher recombinant t-PA production than CHO/t-PA cells in a $Ba^{2+}-alginate$ immobilized culture, and 16.8-folds in a repeated batch culture. In a non-aerated batch culture of suspension-adapted cells, t-PA productivity of CHO/2HRE/t-PA cells was 4.2-folds higher than that of CHO/t-PA cells. Our results indicate that HRE is a useful tool for the enhancement of protein productivity in mammalian cell cultures.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2006

Purpose: Renal irradiation can lead to the development of radiation nephropathy, and this is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix and final fibrosis. To determine the possible role of the glomerular epithelial cell, the radiation-induced changes in the expression of its genes associated with the extracellular matrix were analyzed. Materials and Methods: Rat glomerular epithelial cells (GEpC) were irradiated with a single dose of 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 Gy with using 6 MV LINAC (Siemens, USA), and the samples were collected 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours post-irradiation, respectively. Northern blotting, western blotting and zymography were used to measure the expression level of fibronectin (Fn), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (Pai-1), matrix metalloproteinases-2, 9 (MMP-2, 9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). Results: Irradiation with a single dose of 10 Gy resulted in a significant increase in Fn mRNA since 24 hours post-irradiation, and a single dose of 5 and 10 Gy significantly increased the Fn immunoreactive protein measured 48 hours post-irradiation. An increase in Pai-1 mRNA and protein was also observed and especially, a single dose of 10 Gy significantly increased the mRNA measured 24 and 48 hours post-irradiation. The active MMP-2 measured 24 hours post-irradiation slightly increased in a dose dependent manner, but this increase did not reach statistical significance. The levels of MMP-9, TIMP-2, t-PA and u-PA appeared unaltered after irradiation. Conclusion: Irradiation of the glomerular epithelial cells altered the expression of genes associated with the extracellular matrix, implying that the glomerular epithelial cell may be involved in the development of radiation nephropathy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.5
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• pp.405-415
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• 2011

Background: In an effort to find alternative therapeutic agents to prevent excessive fibrosis as a sequela to complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema, we examined the effect of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) as a fibrinolytic agent combined with talc or transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in a human pleural mesothelial cell line, MeT-5A. Methods: MeT-5A cells were stimulated with various doses of talc, doxycycline or TGF-${\beta}1$ for 24 h and then were treated with tPA for an additional 24 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The production of interleukin (IL)-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the culture supernatants was measured by ELISA. Real-time PCR was carried out for measurement of type I collagen mRNA. Results: MeT-5A cells treated with talc showed a dose-dependent increase in production of IL-8. Talc also increased production of type I collagen mRNA at low doses, but talc did not influence the induction of VEGF. Addition of tPA to talc-stimulated cells showed further increases in the production of IL-8, but tPA did not influence the production of VEGF or type I collagen mRNA. TGF-${\beta}1$ increased the production of both VEGF and collagen type I mRNA, both of which were effectively inhibited by additional tPA treatment in MeT-5A cells. Conclusion: TGF-${\beta}1$ is a potent inducer of collagen synthesis without induction of IL-8 in MeT-5A cells. Addition of tPA after TGF-${\beta}1$ stimulation inhibited further fibrosis by direct inhibition of collagen mRNA synthesis as well as by inhibition of VEGF production.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.140-148
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise at different intensities on the blood pressure, blood lipids and fibrinolytic markers in pre-hypertension college-aged males. Six subjects performed an acute running exercise at three different intensities(low intensity(LI): 50-60% heart rate reserve(HRR), moderate intensity(MI): 60-70%HRR, and high intensity(HI): 70-80%HRR). The blood pressure(systolic(SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP), blood lipids(total cholesterol(TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)) and fibrinolytic markers(tissue plasminogen activator(tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1)) were determined before(PRE), immediately after(POST) and 60minutes after the exercise(60 POST). Results: the SBP in the LI group was significantly increased at POST(p=0.013). The ES levels for the SBP in the MI and HI groups were reduced (-1.33 and -1.23, respectively), though the differences were not significant. The HDL in the MI(p=0.003) and HI(p=0.002) groups were significantly increased at 60 POST. Also, the tPA in the MI(p=0.021) and HI(p=0.042) groups were significantly increased at POST.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.376-381
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• 2014

Enzymatic oxidation of pyrogallol was efficiently transformed to an oxidative product, purpurogallin (PPG). Here, the anticoagulant activities of PPG were examined by monitoring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and the activities of thrombin and activated factor X (FXa). And, the effects of PPG on expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were evaluated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Treatment with PPG resulted in prolonged aPTT and PT and inhibition of the activities of thrombin and FXa, as well as inhibited production of thrombin and FXa in HUVECs. In addition, PPG inhibited thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization and platelet aggregation. PPG also elicited anticoagulant effects in mice. In addition, treatment with PPG resulted in significant reduction of the PAI-1 to t-PA ratio. Collectively, PPG possesses antithrombotic activities and offers a basis for development of a novel anticoagulant.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2007

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease catalyzing the proteolytic conversion of plasminogen into plasmin, which is involved in thrombolysis. During last two decades, the role of tPA in brain physiology and pathology has been extensively investigated. tPA is expressed in brain regions such as cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebellum, and major neural cell types such as neuron, astrocyte, microglia and endothelial cells express tPA in basal status. After strong neural stimulation such as seizure, tPA behaves as an immediate early gene increasing the expression level within an hour. Neural activity and/or postsynaptic stimulation increased the release of tPA from axonal terminal and presumably from dendritic compartment. Neuronal tPA regulates plastic changes in neuronal function and structure mediating key neurologic processes such as visual cortex plasticity, seizure spreading, cerebellar motor learning, long term potentiation and addictive or withdrawal behavior after morphine discontinuance. In addition to these physiological roles, tPA mediates excitotoxicity leading to the neurodegeneration in several pathological conditions including ischemic stroke. Increasing amount of evidence also suggest the role of tPA in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis even though beneficial effects was also reported in case of Alzheimer's disease based on the observation of tPA-induced degradation of $A{\beta}$ aggregates. Target proteins of tPA action include extracellular matrix protein laminin, proteoglycans and NMDA receptor. In addition, several receptors (or binding partners) for tPA has been reported such as low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and annexin II, even though intracellular signaling mechanism underlying tPA action is not clear yet. Interestingly, the action of tPA comprises both proteolytic and non-proteolytic mechanism. In case of microglial activation, tPA showed non-proteolytic cytokine-like function. The search for exact target proteins and receptor molecules for tPA along with the identification of the mechanism regulating tPA expression and release in the nervous system will enable us to better understand several key neurological processes like teaming and memory as well as to obtain therapeutic tools against neurodegenerative diseases.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2008

The present study was undertaken to identify changes of plasminogen activators (PAs) in porcine oviductal epithelial cells (POECs) during the estrous cycle classified with post-ovulatory stages (Post-Ov), early to mid-luteal stages (Early-mid L) and pre-ovulatory (Pre-Ov) stages. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was only observed on day 5 and day 7 of culture in the POECs on all the estrous cycles and gradually increased according to increasing culture times, but not Early-mid L. In POECs-conditioned medium, uPA, tissue-type (tPA) and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI) activity were observed at all culture times during estrous cycles. The uPA activity of POECs-conditioned medium on Post-Ov stage were significantly (p<0.05) decreased during prolonged cultures. On the other hand, the tPA activity of POECs-conditioned medium at Post-Ov stage was significantly (p<0.05) higher on day 5 than compared to the other days. Although was higher on day 1 at Post-Ov stage, the tPA-PAI activity of POECs-conditioned medium was significantly (p<0.05) higher on day 7 at all stage than that of day 5 of the culture. Taken together, these results suggest that uPA, tPA and tPA-PAI are produced by POECs, and the variations of the PAs activity are regulated in the different stages of the estrous cycle.