• BMB Reports
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• 제57권8호
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• pp.375-380
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• 2024

Early proatherogenic inflammation constitutes a significant risk factor for atherogenesis development. Despite this, the precise molecular mechanisms driving this pathological progression largely remain elusive. Our study unveils a pivotal role for the microRNA miR-328-5p in dampening endothelial inflammation by modulating the stability of JUNB (JunB proto-oncogene). Perturbation of miR-328-5p levels results in heightened monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells and enhanced transendothelial migration, while its overexpression mitigates these inflammatory processes. Furthermore, miR-328-5p hinders macrophage polarization toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, and exerts a negative influence on atherosclerotic plaque formation in vivo. By pinpointing JUNB as a direct miR-328-5p target, our research underscores the potential of miR-328-5p as a therapeutic target for inflammatory atherosclerosis. Reintroduction of JUNB effectively counteracts the anti-atherosclerotic effects of miR-328-5p, highlighting the promise of pharmacological miR-328-5p targeting in managing inflammatory atherosclerosis.

• BMB Reports
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• 제43권9호
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• pp.604-608
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• 2010

Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) mediates proinflammatory responses in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and it upregulates the expression of secretory group IIA phospholipase $A_2$ ($sPLA_2$-IIA). $sPLA_2$-IIA plays a pivotal role in inflammation, and antithrombin (AT) possesses properties that are beneficial to endothelial cells. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AT on the expression of $sPLA_2$-IIA in TNF-$\alpha$-stimulated HUVECs. TNF-$\alpha$ potently upregulated the expression of $sPLA_2$-IIA, and prior treatment of cells with AT inhibited the expression of $sPLA_2$-IIA in HUVECs. Also, antibodies or siRNA for syndecan-4 blocked the protective effect of AT. Furthermore, PI3-kinase and the AKT pathway are significantly involved in the AT-mediated inhibition of the expression of $sPLA_2$-IIA. These results show that AT effectively suppresses the upregulated $sPLA_2$-IIA expression, which might contribute to the cytoprotective effects of AT in the treatment of severe inflammatory diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.182-186
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• 2014

Lymphatic vessels are routes for leukocyte migration and fluid drainage. In addition to their passive roles in migration of leukocytes, increasing evidence indicates their active roles in immune regulation. Tissue inflammation rapidly induces lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation and chemokine production, thereby resulting in lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, lymphatic endothelial cells induce T cell tolerance through various mechanisms. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge on how inflammatory cytokines affect lymphangiogenesis and the roles of lymphatic vessels in modulating immune responses.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.1132-1138
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• 2009

Vascular inflammation is an important event in the development of vascular diseases such as tumor progression and atherosclerosis. This study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of WK-38, a new herbal prescription for the treatment of atherosclerosis, on vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). WK-38 is composed of Rhei Rhizoma, Magonoliae Cortex, Moutan Cortez Radicis. Pretreatment with WK-38 was significantly blocked TNF-$\alpha$-induced expression level of cell adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and endothelial cell selectin (E-selectin) in a dose-dependent manner. TNF-$\alpha$-induced cell adhesion in co-cultured U937 and HUVEC was also blocked by pretreatment with WK-38. Moreover, WK-38 significantly suppressed p65 NF-${\kappa}B$ translocation into the nucleus by TNF-$\alpha$ as well as the phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. In conclusion, the present data suggested that WK-38 could suppress TNF-$\alpha$-induced vascular inflammatory process, though inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in HUVEC.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.42.1-42.21
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• 2023

When the lungs are infected with bacteria, alveolar macrophages (AMs) are recruited to the site and play a crucial role in protecting the host by reducing excessive lung inflammation. However, the regulatory mechanisms that trigger the recruitment of AMs to lung alveoli during an infection are still not fully understood. In this study, we identified a critical role for NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) in the recruitment of AMs during Staphylococcus aureus lung infection. We found that NOX4 knockout (KO) mice showed decreased recruitment of AMs and increased lung neutrophils and injury in response to S. aureus infection compared to wildtype (WT) mice. Interestingly, the burden of S. aureus in the lungs was not different between NOX4 KO and WT mice. Furthermore, we observed that depletion of AMs in WT mice during S. aureus infection increased the number of neutrophils and lung injury to a similar level as that observed in NOX4 KO mice. Additionally, we found that expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) in NOX4 KO mice-derived lung endothelial cells was lower than that in WT mice-derived endothelial cells. Therefore, we conclude that NOX4 plays a crucial role in inducing the recruitment of AMs by controlling ICAM1 expression in lung endothelial cells, which is responsible for resolving lung inflammation during acute S. aureus infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.244-249
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• 2008

Vascular inflammation is an important step in the development of cardiovascular disorder. Since it has not been known whether Korean red ginseng has a role to play on the vascular inflammation, we investigated the effects of Korean red ginseng extract (KRGE) on monocyte adhesion and its underlying signaling mechanism. Monocyte adhesion assay and Western blot were conducted on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells to study monocyte adhesion and the expression of adhesion molecules. Intracellular calcium was measured with Fura-2 fluorescent staining, and superoxide production was measured with lucigenin chemiluminescence in the endothelial cells. KRGE inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion on the endothelial cells at the range of $0.03{\sim}1$ mg/ml. TNF-alpha-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression were inhibited by the pretreatment of KRGE in the endothelial cells. KRGE also inhibits TNF-alpha-induced intracellular calcium and the superoxide production in the endothelial cells. This study first demonstrated that KRGE inhibits TNF-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion by inhibiting the adhesion molecule expression, intracellular calcium and superoxide production in the endothelial cells. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory function of KRGE may be contributed to protecting the endothelial dysfunction in the vascular inflammatory disorders.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.127-134
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• 2018

Arteriosclerosis is the major cause of coronary artery and cerebrovascular disease, which are leading causes of death. Pro-inflammatory cytokines induce injury to vascular endothelial cells by increasing cell adhesion molecules, leading to vascular inflammation, a major risk factor for the development of arteriosclerosis. In the current study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of enzymatic hydrolysate from Japanese mud shrimp Upogebia major on the inflammation of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We first evaluated the antioxidant and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of eight U. major enzymatic hydrolysates: alcalase, papain, ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin (${\alpha}-Chy$), trypsin, pepsin, neutrase, protamex and flavourzyme. Of these, ${\alpha}-Chy$ exhibited potent antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities. The ${\alpha}-Chy$ hydrolysate was fractionated by two ultrafiltration membranes of 3 and 10 kDa. The ${\alpha}-Chy$ hydrolysate of U. major and its molecular weight cut-off fractions resulted in a significant reduction in NO production and a decrease in cell adhesion molecules [vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and endothelial-selectin (E-selectin)] and pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] in $TNF-{\alpha}$-stimulated HUVECs. These results suggest that enzymatic hydrolysate from U. major can be used in the control and prevention of vascular inflammation and arteriosclerosis.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.20-31
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• 2019

Objectives: The seeds from Arctium lappa have been considered for its various pharmacological properties, which include anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-viral activities. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanol extract from the seeds of Arctium lappa L (EAL) on cytokine-induced vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Results: Pretreatment with EAL significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$)-induced cell adhesion molecules expression such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial-selectin (E-selectin) in a dose-dependent manner. Cell adhesion assay showed that pretreatment with EAL suppressed HUVEC-monocyte adhesion by $TNF-{\alpha}$ over $1{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. We investigated the involvement of nuclear transcription factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) in $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced vascular inflammation. $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 nuclear expression was induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$, however, pretreatment with EAL was attenuated that nuclear translocation. In cytoplasm, EAL was also attenuated $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced decrease of inhibitor of ${\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$) expression. Moreover, EAL significantly decreased $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggest that seeds of Arctium lappa L could be a therapeutic herb for prevention of cardiovascular diseases throughout the inhibition of vascular endothelial inflammation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.469-478
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• 2006

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, a major regulator for angiogenesis, binds and activates two tyrosine kinase receptors, VEGFR1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR2 (KDR/Flk-1). These receptors regulate physiological as well as pathological angiogenesis. VEGFR2 has strong tyrosine kinase activity, and transduces the major signals for angiogenesis. However, unlike other representative tyrosine kinase receptors which use the Ras pathway, VEGFR2 mostly uses the Phospholipase-$C{\gamma}$-Protein kinase-C pathway to activate MAP-kinase and DNA synthesis. VEGFR2 is a direct signal transducer for pathological angiogenesis including cancer and diabetic retinopathy, thus, VEGFR2 itself and the signaling appear to be critical targets for the suppression of these diseases. VEGFR1 plays dual role, a negative role in angiogenesis in the embryo most likely by trapping VEGF-A, and a positive role in adulthood in a tyrosine kinase-dependent manner. VEGFR1 is expressed not only in endothelial cells but also in macrophage-lineage cells, and promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and inflammation. Furthermore, a soluble form of VEGFR1 was found to be present at abnormally high levels in the serum of preeclampsia patients, and induces proteinurea and renal dysfunction. Therefore, VEGFR1 is also an important target in the treatment of human diseases. Recently, the VEGFR2-specific ligand VEGF-E (Orf-VEGF) was extensively characterized. Interestingly, the activation of VEGFR2 via VEGF-E in vivo results in a strong angiogenic response in mice with minor side effects such as inflammation compared with VEGF-A, suggesting VEGF-E to be a novel material for pro-angiogenic therapy.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.169-174
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• 2008

This study examined the mechanisms underlying the effects of the vasorelaxation active substance(VAS), dimethyladenosine-5'-L-arabinose, and its partial purification fraction on nitric oxide synthase in improving erectile dysfunction with particular focus on the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathways. Two rat models, 9-month-old SD rats and 11-month-old SD rats, were given VAS(40 mg/kg per day) for 4 days, The aqueous fraction of silworm male pupae extract; semi-purified VAS(100 mg/kg per day) for 10 days, respectively. The NOS activities of the following three enzymes were examined: neuronal NO synthase(nNOS), inducible NOS(iNOS), endothelial NOS(eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor on endothelial cells(VEGF) and anti-inflammation effect of Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$. The results showed increases in the nitric oxide synthase activities. Western blotting of the tissue homogenate showed an increase in the nNOS level in the brain and tongue, and an increase in the endothelial NO synthase(eNOS) level in penis. However, there was little association with VEGF production in HUVEC endothelial cells and no relationship with TNF-$\alpha$ which showed low levels.