• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2004

Background: Anti-cardiolipin antibody (Anti-CL Ab) is one of the various antiphospholipid antibodies (Anti-PL Abs) and found in the plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), atherosclerosis, and other infectious diseases. While anti-PL Abs found in the sera of patients with infectious diseases bind directly to CL, binding of anti-PL Abs to CL circulating in the sera of patients with autoimmune diseases is mediated by $\beta_2-$glycoprotein 1 ($\beta_2-GP1$). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of <$\beta_2-GP1$ on the antigen binding assay of anti-CL Abs present in the sera of patients with atherosclerosis, which has been known as one of autoimmune diseases. Methods: ELISA was performed with sera containing anti-CL Abs from three patients with atherosclerosis in the presence or absence of $\beta_2-GP1$ or FBS. Results: Reactivity of anti-CL Abs to CL was increased in the presence of $\beta_2-GP1$ or FBS in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: <$\beta_2-GP1$ or FBS could be used as co-factor in CL ELISA with anti-CL Abs present in the sera of patients with atherosclerosis. It is suggested that anti-CL Abs found in atherosclerosis patients are similar in terms of antigen binding property to those circulating in the patients with autoimmune diseases, not to infectious diseases.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.166-167
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• 2008

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1423-1430
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• 2009

Rosmarinic acid frequently found as a secondary metabolite in herbs and medicinal plants, has exhibited antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. The proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) in response to activation by various stimuli plays a critical role in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to examine the effects of Rosmarinic acid on the proliferation and migration of HASMC. Rosmarinic acid suppressed the proliferation of HASMC via induction of the expression of apoptotic proteins including cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and caspase-3. Rosmarinic acid decreased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and increased pro-apoptotic Bax. Moreover, treatment of rosmarinic acid decreased the G1/S cycle regulation proteins (cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6) and increased p21, p27 and p53. Rosmarinic acid also blocked HASMC migration via suppression of MMP-9 and MMP-2. Taken together, these results indicate that rosmarinic acid has the potential for use as an anti-atherosclerosis agent.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.851-858
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• 2015

Disturbed blood flow with low-oscillatory shear stress (OSS) is a predominant atherogenic factor leading to dysfunctional endothelial cells (ECs). Recently, it was found that disturbed flow can directly induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in ECs, thereby playing a critical role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a naturally occurring bile acid, has long been used to treat chronic cholestatic liver disease and is known to alleviate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress at the cellular level. However, its role in atherosclerosis remains unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated the anti-atherogenic activity of UDCA via inhibition of disturbed flow-induced ER stress in atherosclerosis. UDCA effectively reduced ER stress, resulting in a reduction in expression of X-box binding protein-1 (XBP-1) and CEBP-homologous protein (CHOP) in ECs. UDCA also inhibits the disturbed flow-induced inflammatory responses such as increases in adhesion molecules, monocyte adhesion to ECs, and apoptosis of ECs. In a mouse model of disturbed flow-induced atherosclerosis, UDCA inhibits atheromatous plaque formation through the alleviation of ER stress and a decrease in adhesion molecules. Taken together, our results revealed that UDCA exerts anti-atherogenic activity in disturbed flow-induced atherosclerosis by inhibiting ER stress and the inflammatory response. This study suggests that UDCA may be a therapeutic agent for prevention or treatment of atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.126-135
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cellular adhesion molecules effects of Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus, Artemisiae Capillaris Herba, Curcumae Radix, Crataegi Fructus, Salviae Militiorrhizae Radix complex extract(AMCP) on the inhibition of atherosclerosis in HUVEC. We measured DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity of AMCP to evaluate its antioxidant effect. And we also measured the expression level of NF-κB, IκBα, ERK, JNK, p38 proteins to evaluate its anti-inflammatory effect. Lastly, we measured the expression level of MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 mRNA and their level to evaluate its anti-celluar adhesion molecules. AMCP did not show any cytotoxicity in HUVEC within the concentraion tested except for a concentration of 400 ㎍/㎖. AMCP increased the DPPH radical scavenging activitiy and ABTS radical scavenging activity in HUVEC as the concentration of AMCP rises. AMCP significantly reduced NF-κB, IκBα, JNK, ERK and p38 protein expression in HUVEC compared to control group. AMCP significantly reduced MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 gene expresion in HUVEC compared to control group. AMCP significantly decreased the levels of MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 in HUVEC compared to control group. These results suggest that AMCP has effects on antioxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-cellular adhesion molecule, which helps the treatment and prevention of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.388-389
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• 2008

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic and anti-hypertensive effects of six different plant extracts using a N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced rat model of hypertension. All extracts were administered orally for six weeks. At the end of the study period blood pressure, blood flow, aortic histopathology, and hepatic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression were measured. Subsequently, we also measured the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide (NO), and anti-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Based on these screening results, we selected extracts of Cinnamomum cassia (C. cassia) and Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) for further evaluation. C. cassia and S. miltiorrhiza extracts ameliorated hypertension and atherosclerosis in L-NAME-treated rats in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, a mixture of C. cassia and S. miltiorrhiza had an additive effect to reduce blood pressure, increase blood flow, and normalize aortic tissue. This mixture demonstrated anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. In conclusion, although further analysis of the therapeutic mechanism is required, the anti-hypertensive and anti-atherosclerotic effects of this mixture are likely mediated by increased eNOS expression, and its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1187-1195
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• 2006

Panax notoginseng exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-oxidant effects. P. notoginseng is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promoted health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the main P. notoginseng are still not accurately investigated. The exact mechanism of the anti-oxidant activitys of water extracts of P. notoginseng, however, has not been determined. in present study, I examined the effects of water extracts of P. notoginseng on high cholesterol diet atherosclerosis-induced rats in serum and abdominal aorta. A total of 3-week old 9 male rats of Sprague-Dawley were divided into 3 groups and fed with the basal diet (normal group), high cholesterol diet (atherosclerosis induced group) for 8 weeks, high cholesterol diet supplemented with water extracts of P. notoginseng (P. notoginseng group) for 4 weeks. And rats were sacrificed, serum lipid level, abodominal aortic anti-oxidant activities and lipid peroxide were measured. These results indicated that serum total cholesterl, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides concentration significently lowered in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol diet group. But HDL-cholesterol concentraion significently higher in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol feed group. And abdominal aortic xanthine oxidase activity was significantly reduced by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Also abdominal aortic superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Especially, abdominal aortic level of lipid peroxide tended to increase in high cholesterol feed group, but water extract of P. notoginseng intake reduced the value (p<0.05).

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.237-240
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• 2014

Endoglin (also known as CD105 or TGF-${\beta}$ type III receptor) is a co-receptor involved in TGF-${\beta}$ signaling. In atherosclerosis, TGF-${\beta}$ signaling is crucial in regulating disease progression owing to its anti-inflammatory effects as well as its inhibitory effects on smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. Endoglin is a regulator of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling, but its role in atherosclerosis has yet to be defined. This review focuses on the roles of the various forms of endoglin in atherosclerosis. The expression of the two isoforms of endoglin (long-form and short-form) is increased in atherosclerotic lesions, and the expression of the soluble forms of endoglin is upregulated in sera of patients with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Interestingly, long-form endoglin shows an atheroprotective effect via the induction of eNOS expression, while short-form and soluble endoglin enhance atherogenesis by inhibiting eNOS expression and TGF-${\beta}$ signaling. This review summarizes evidence suggesting that the different forms of endoglin have distinct roles in atherosclerosis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2008

Zinc plays a protective role in anti-atherosclerosis but the clear mechanism has not been proposed yet. In the present study, we evaluated whether zinc modulates atherosclerotic markers, VACM-1 and ICAM-1 and cell viability both in endothelial cells in vitro and mouse aortic cell viability ex vivo. In study 1, as in vitro model, endothelial EA.hy926 cells were treated with $TNF{\alpha}$ for 5 hours for inducing oxidative stress, and then treated with Zn-adequacy ($15\;{\mu}M$ Zn) or Zn-deficiency ($0\;{\mu}M$ Zn) for 6 hours. Pro-atherosclerosis factors, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression and cell viability was measured. In study 2, as ex vivo model, mouse aorta ring was used. Mourse aorta was removed and cut in ring then, cultured in a 96-well plate. Aortic ring was treated with various $TNF{\alpha}$ (0-30 mg/ml) and intracellular zinc chelator, N, N, N', N', -tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN, $0-30\;{\mu}M$) for cellular zinc depletion for 2 days and then cell viability was measured. The results showed that in in vitro study, Zn-adequate group induced more VCAM-1 & ICAM-1 mRNA expression than Zn-deficient group during 6-hour zinc treatment post-5 hour TNF-$\alpha$ treatment, unexpectedly. These results might be cautiously interpreted that zinc would biologically induce the early expression of anti-oxidative stress through the increased adhesion molecule expression for reducing atherosclerotic action, particularly under the present 6-hour zinc treatment. In ex vivo, mouse aortic ring cell viability was decreased as TNF-$\alpha$ and TPEN levels increased, which suggests that mouse aortic blood vessel cell viability was decreased, when oxidative stress increases and cellular zinc level decreases. Taken together, it can be suggested that zinc may have a protective role in anti-atherosclerosis by cell viability in endothelial cells and aorta tissue. Further study is needed to clarify how pro-atherosclerosis molecule expression is modulated by zinc.