• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2015

In cardiovascular disorders, understanding of endothelial cell (EC) function is essential to elucidate the disease mechanism. Although the mouse model has many advantages for in vivo and in vitro research, efficient procedures for the isolation and propagation of primary mouse EC have been problematic. We describe a high yield process for isolation and in vitro culture of primary EC from mouse arteries (aorta, braches of superior mesenteric artery, and cerebral arteries from the circle of Willis). Mouse arteries were carefully dissected without damage under a light microscope, and small pieces of the vessels were transferred on/in a Matrigel matrix enriched with endothelial growth supplement. Primary cells that proliferated in Matrigel were propagated in advanced DMEM with fetal calf serum or platelet-derived serum, EC growth supplement, and heparin. To improve the purity of the cell culture, we applied shearing stress and anti-fibroblast antibody. EC were characterized by a monolayer cobble stone appearance, positive staining with acetylated low density lipoprotein labeled with 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate, RT-PCR using primers for von-Willebrand factor, and determination of the protein level endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Our simple, efficient method would facilitate in vitro functional investigations of EC from mouse vessels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1994.04a
• /
• pp.137-144
• /
• 1994

Spherical multicellular aggregates of adult rat hepatocytes (spheroid) which have tissue like structure, were formed and immobilized in the pores of polyurethane foam (PUF) which was used as a culture substratum. These hepatocyte/spheroids, about 100 $\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter, have maintained higher differentiated functions than those of hepatocyte/monolayer for about 3 weeks in serum-free medium. Then, we designed a prototype module of an artificial liver support system using a PUF/spheroid packed-bed, in which hepatocyte/spheroids were immobilized at high density. The urea synthesis activity of the artificial liver was maintained at least 10 days in 100% rat blood plasma. We start examining the performance of hybrid artificial liver in an ex vivo extracorporeal experiment with an acute hepatic failure rat.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.273-280
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study was to establish a three dimensional (3D) culture system of endometrial cells and to examine the plasminogen activators (PAs) activity in porcine uterine. The 3D culture system in porcine endometrial cells was composed to mixture 3D gel, stromal cells and epithelial cells. The 3D culture system was used to identify normal structure search as uterine tissue and PAs expression in this study. In results, porcine endometrium epithelial cells forming a top monolayer and endometrium stromal cells developed as fibroblast-like within 3D matrix scaffold. Expression of urokinase-type PA (uPA) and tissue-type PA (tPA) were observed during the 3D culture using immunofluorescence. PA activity in 3D-cultured endometrial cells was no significant difference between the tissue type, but 2D culture system were significantly lower than in 3D-cultured endometrial cells (P<0.05). Therefore, basic system and functional aspect of 3D culture could be established with similar system of endometrium tissue. We suggest that this study was assumed applicable as baseline data to investigate mechanism between porcine uterus cells in vitro.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.393-399
• /
• 2004

For the efficient determination of activity against solid tumors, an in vitro tumor model that resembles the condition of in vivo solid tumors, is required. The purpose of this study was to establish a rapid culture method and viability assay for an in vitro 3-dimensional tumor model, multicellular spheroid (MCS). Among 12 human cancer cell lines, a few cell lines including DLD-1 (human colorectal carcinoma cells) formed fully compact MCS which was adequate for in vitro viability assay. DLD-1 MCS showed steady growth reaching $700\;{\mu}m$ diameter after 11 day culture. DLD-1 cells grown as MCS showed significant increase in $G_0/G_1$ phase compared to the monolayer cells (73.9% vs 45.7%), but necrotic regions or apoptotic cells were not observed. The cells cultured as MCS showed resistance to 5-FU (10.3 fold higher $IC_{50}$) compared to monolayers, however, tirapazamine (a hypotoxin) showed similar activity in both culture systems. In summary, MCS may be a valid in vitro model for activity screening of anticancer agents against human solid tumors and also exploitable for studying molecular markers of drug resistance in human solid tumors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2012

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) stand at the frontier of nanotechnology and are destined to stimulate the next industrial revolution. Rapid increase in their production and use in the technology industry have led to concerns over the effects of CNT on human health and the environment. The prominent use of CNTs in biomedical applications also increases the possibility of human exposure, while properties such as their high aspect ratio (fiber-like shape) and large surface area raise safety concerns for human health if exposure does occur. It is crucial to develop viable alternatives to in vivo tests in order to evaluate the toxicity of engineered CNTs and develop validated experimental models capable of identifying CNTs' toxic effects and predicting their level of toxicity in the human respiratory system. Human lung epithelial cells serve as a barrier at the interface between the surrounding air and lung tissues in response to exogenous particles such as air-pollutants, including CNTs. Monolayer culture of the key individual cell types has provided abundant fundamental information on the response of these cells to external perturbations. However, such systems are limited by the absence of cell-cell interactions and their dynamic nature, which are both present in vivo. In this review, we suggested two viable alternatives to in vivo tests to evaluate the health risk of human exposure to CNTs.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
• /
• 2003.09a
• /
• pp.659-659
• /
• 2003

In this study, we have investigated the potent anti-aging effect of DA-3711, a cosmetic ingredient derived from artificial skin culture. The artificial skin was originally developed as a skin replacement for the treatment of chronic skin wounds. To produce DA-3711, neonatal human fibroblasts were seeded into biocompatible collagen/chitosan/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) scaffolds and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum and nonessential amino acids. Analysis of the culture broth (DA-3711) showed that growth factors such as VEGF, TGF-$\beta$, KGF were present at significantly higher levels that in the culture broth of fibroblasts cultured in monolayer. The biological activity of DA-3711 was assessed by measuring in vitro cell proliferation and collagen synthesis of normal human fibroblasts. Fibroblasts treated with 10％ DA-3711 showed a 2-fold higher proliferation and 2 to 4-fold higher collagen synthesis than untreated cells. DA-3711 also exhibited anti-oxidative effects, since cells under peroxide-induced oxidative stress showed a 30％ higher viability in DA-3711-containing medium than in medium without DA-3711 addition. The results suggest that DA-3711 may have anti-aging effects by stimulating skin regeneration and protecting against oxidative stress.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.201-210
• /
• 1996

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of early mouse embryonic development in vitro by co-culture with bovine and porcine oviductal epithelial cells (BOEC and POEC). The 2-cell embryos were collected from the oviducts of the superovulated and mated cultured in D-PBS /15% FCS at 48 hours after hCG injection. The in vitro developmental rate of blastocyst formation in the embryos were examined under the fllowing treatments; 1) TCM 199 added 15% HCS, 2) Ham's F-10 added 15% HCS, 3) MediCult IVF medium, 4) TCM 199 added 15% HCS + BOEC, 5) TCM 199 added 15% HCS + POEC, 6) Ham's F40 added 15% HCS + BOEC, 7) Ham's F-10 added 15% HCS + POEC,8) MediCult IVF medium + BOEC, 9) MediCult IVF medium + POEC. For a comparative study of in vitro development for 96 hours after hCG injection, were cultured with oviductal epithelial cell and media only. The obtained results were 2-cell embryos developed to the blastocyst stage in TCM 199, Ham's F-10 and MediCult IVF medium at the rates of 84.4,83.2 and 81.6%. respectively. The higher developmental rates(91~97%) of blastocyst formation was appeared when the embryos were co-cultured with a monolayer of bovine or porcine oviductal epithelial cells in TCM 199 or Ham's F-10 and MediCult IVF media. No significant difference in developmental rates was shown between bovine and porcine oviductal epithelial cells but significant difference in co-culture system in comparison between media only system and co-cultures. In conclusions, oviductal epithelial cells, BOEC and POEC, when co-culture with mouse early embryos improved the rates of development, blastocyst and hatching. Therefore, it is suggested that co-culture system using oviductal epithelial cells improve early embryonic developtnent in mouse.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2011

The functional cardiovascular system is comprised of distinct mesoderm-derived lineages including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and other mesenchymal cells. Recent studies in the human embryonic stem cell differentiation model have provided evidence indicating that these cell lineages are developed from the common progenitors such as hemangioblasts and cardiovascular progenitor cells. Also, the studies have suggested that these progenitors have a common primordial progenitor, which expresses KDR (human Flk-1, also known as VEGFR2, CD309). We demonstrate here that sustained activation of BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein 4) in hESC line, CHA15 hESC results in $KDR^+$ mesoderm specific differentiation. To determine whether the $KDR^+$ population derived from hESCs enhances potential to differentiate along multipotential mesodermal lineages than undifferentiated hESCs, we analyzed the development of the mesodermal cell types in human embryonic stem cell differentiation cultures. In embryoid body (EB) differentiation culture conditions, we identified an increased expression of $KDR^+$ population from BMP4-stimulated hESC-derived EBs. After induction with additional growth factors, the $KDR^+$ population sorted from hESCs-derived EBs displays mesenchymal, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle potential in matrix-coated monolayer culture systems. The populations plated in monolayer cultures expressed increased levels of related markers and exhibit a stable/homologous phenotype in culture terms. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the $KDR^+$ population is stably isolated from CHA15 hESC-derived EBs using BMP4 and growth factors, and sorted $KDR^+$ population can be utilized to generate multipotential mesodermal progenitors in vitro, which can be further differentiated into cardiovascular specific cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.7
• /
• pp.980-987
• /
• 2008

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of cell status of BOEC on development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos and gene expression in BOEC before or after culturing of embryos. The developmental rates beyond morula stage in the BOEC co-culture group was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). In particular, blastocyst production in the BOEC co-culture group (28.3%) was dramatically increased compared with the control group (7.2%). In the in vitro development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos according to cell status, the developmental rates beyond morula stage in the primary culture cell (PCC) co-culture group were the highest of all experimental groups. Expression of genes related to growth (TGF-${\beta}$ EGF and IGFBP), apoptosis (Bax, Caspase-3 and p53) and antioxidation (CuZnSOD, MnSOD, Catalase and GPx) in different status cells of BOEC for embryo culture was detected by RT-PCR. While EGF gene was detected in isolated fresh cells (IFC) and PCC, TGF-${\beta}$ and IGFBP were found in IFC or PCC after use in the embryo culture, respectively. Caspase-3 and Bax genes were detected in all experimental groups regardless of whether the BOEC was used or not used in the embryo culture. However, p53 gene was found in IFC of both conditions for embryo culture and in frozen/thawed culture cells (FPCC) after use in the embryo culture. Although antioxidant genes examined were detected in all experimental groups before using for the embryo culture, these genes were not detected after use. This study indicated that the BOEC co-culture system used for in vitro culture of bovine IVF embryos can increase the developmental rates, and cell generations and status of BOEC might affect the in vitro development of bovine embryos. The BOEC monolayer used in the embryo culture did not express the growth factors (TGF-${\beta}$ and EGF) and enzymatic antioxidant genes, thereby improving embryo development in vitro.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 2005

Periosteum and periosteum-derived progenitor cells have demonstrated the potential for stimulative applications in repairs of various musculoskeletal tissues. It has been found that the periosteum contains mesenchymal progenitor cells capable of differentiating into either osteoblasts or chondrocytes depending on the culture conditions. Anatomically, the periosteum is a heterogeneous multi-layered membrane, consisting of an inner cambium and an outer fibrous layer. The present study was designed to elucidate the cellular phenotypic characteristics of cambium and fibrous layer cells in vitro, and to assess whether structural integrity of the tendon in the bone tunnel can be improved by periosteal augmentation of the tendon­bone interface. It was found the cells from each layer showed distinct phenotypic characteristics in a primary monolayer culture system. Specifically, the cambium cells demonstrated higher osteogenic characteristics (higher alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels), as compared to the fibrous cells. Also in vivo animal model showed that a periosteal augmentation of a tendon graft could enhance the structural integrity of the tendon-bone interface, when the periosteum is placed between the tendon and bone interface with the cambium layer facing toward the bone. These findings suggest that extra care needs to be taken in order to identify and maintain the intrinsic phenotypes of the heterogeneous cell types within the periosteum. This will improve our understanding of periosteum in applications for musculoskeletal tissue repairs and tissue engineering.