• Title/Summary/Keyword: vascular biology

Search Result 539, Processing Time 0.025 seconds

The Analysis of the Plant Distributional Pattern in Yugu Stream (Gongju, Chungnam) (유구천(충남, 공주)의 식물 분포 현황분석)

  • Moon, Ae-Ra;Lee, Youl-Kyong;Park, Jeong-Mi;Jang, Chang-Gee
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
    • /
    • v.30 no.2
    • /
    • pp.107-120
    • /
    • 2012
  • This study was carried out to illiminate the diversity of vascular plants by making list of rheophyte and hydorphyte plants at Yugu stream. This study was conducted from Aug., 2009 to Sept. 2010 at 7 points. Based on the voucher specimens, vascular plants from investigated areas were 88 families 229 genera 290 species 3 subspecies 30 varieties 5 forms, totally 328 taxa. Korean endemic plants were 3 species such as Forsythia koreana (Rehder) Nakai (planted) and Paulownia coreana Uyeki (planted), and Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L.H. Bailey. The rare and endangered plants were designated by Korea Forest Service were 4 taxa, such as Penthorum chinense Pursh, Acorus calamus L., Lilium callosum Siebold & Zucc. and Iris ensata var. spontanea (Makino) Nakai. Floristic special plants were totally 26 taxa, which were grade V of 2 taxa, grade IV of 2 taxa and grade III of 9 taxa. Naturalized plants were 27 taxa, that was 8.3% of whole discovered vascular plants in this area. Even naturalized plants has not influence on the vegetation of Yugu stream. Since village was composed along the stream and the roads and banks were linked, naturalized plants were flowed continuously into this region. So, strategy of the conservation for this region should be designed. Based on flora, 3 types of group were discriminated such as main stream type (4 points), branch stream type (2 points) and reservior type (1 point). Each group has difference in composition of plants.

Phloroglucinol Inhibits the in vitro Differentiation Potential of CD34 Positive Cells into Endothelial Progenitor Cells

  • Kwon, Yi-Hong;Lee, Jun-Hee;Jung, Seok-Yun;Kim, Jae-Won;Lee, Sang-Hun;Lee, Dong-Hyung;Lee, Kyu-Sup;Lee, Boo-Yong;Kwon, Sang-Mo
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
    • /
    • v.20 no.2
    • /
    • pp.158-164
    • /
    • 2012
  • Inhibiting the bioactivities of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) results in significant inhibition of neovessel formation during tumor angiogenesis. To investigate the potential effect of phloroglucinol as an EPC inhibitor, we performed several in vitro functional assays using $CD34^+$ cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB). Although a high treatment dose of phloroglucinol did not show any cell toxicity, it specifically induced the cell death of EPCs under serum free conditions through apoptosis. In the EPC colony-forming assay (EPC-CFA), we observed a significant decreased in the small EPC-CFUs for the phloroglucinol group, implying that phloroglucinol inhibited the early stage of EPC commitment. In addition, in the in vitro expansion assay using $CD34^+$ cells, treatment with phloroglucinol was shown to inhibit endothelial lineage commitment, as demonstrated by the decrease in endothelial surface markers of EPCs including $CD34^+$, $CD34^+/CD133^+$, $CD34^+/CD31^+$ and $CD34^+/CXCR4^+$. This is the first report to demonstrate that phloroglucinol can inhibit the functional bioactivities of EPCs, indicating that phloroglucinol may be used as an EPC inhibitor in the development of biosafe anti-tumor drugs that target tumor angiogenesis.

The Role of Sirtuin-2 in Tubular Forming Activity of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (인간 제대혈 유래 혈관내피세포의 혈관 튜브 형성능에 미치는 Sirtuin-2 (SIRT2)의 역활)

  • Jung, Seok Yun;Kim, Chul Min;Kim, Da Yeon;Lee, Dong Hyung;Lee, Kyu Sup;Kwon, Sang-Mo
    • Journal of Life Science
    • /
    • v.23 no.1
    • /
    • pp.131-136
    • /
    • 2013
  • Sirtuin proteins have emerged as important modulators of several age-associated diseases. These include cancer and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Among the sirtuin family members, SIRT2 mRNA is strongly expressed. To investigate the pathophysiological significance of SIRT2 as a primary regulator of angiogenesis, we focused on the biological role of SIRT2 under hypoxic conditions, examining the gene expression pattern of sirtuin family members in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). SIRT2 was expressed primarily in the cytoplasm, but it was dynamically trans-localized in the nuclear by hypoxia stimuli. Interestingly, both SIRT2 and the pro-angiogenic factor, VEGF, were up- regulated by hypoxia. A Matrigel assay demonstrated that the HUVECs formed a tube-like structure under hypoxia. The SIRT2 inhibitor, AK-1, significantly decreased the tube-forming activity of the HUVECs under either normoxia or hypoxia conditions. These findings suggest that SIRT2 might be a key regulator of angiogenesis.

Lnk is an important modulator of insulin-like growth factor-1/Akt/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma axis during adipogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells

  • Lee, Jun Hee;Lee, Sang Hun;Lee, Hyang Seon;Ji, Seung Taek;Jung, Seok Yun;Kim, Jae Ho;Bae, Sun Sik;Kwon, Sang-Mo
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
    • /
    • v.20 no.5
    • /
    • pp.459-466
    • /
    • 2016
  • Adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is critical for metabolic homeostasis and nutrient signaling during development. However, limited information is available on the pivotal modulators of adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Adaptor protein Lnk (Src homology 2B3 [SH2B3]), which belongs to a family of SH2-containing proteins, modulates the bioactivities of different stem cells, including hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. In this study, we investigated whether an interaction between insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and Lnk regulated IGF-1-induced adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that wild-type MSCs showed greater adipogenic differentiation potential than $Lnk^{-/-}$ MSCs. An ex vivo adipogenic differentiation assay showed that $Lnk^{-/-}$ MSCs had decreased adipogenic differentiation potential compared with wild-type MSCs. Interestingly, we found that Lnk formed a complex with IGF-1R and that IGF-1 induced the dissociation of this complex. In addition, we observed that IGF-1-induced increase in the phosphorylation of Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin was triggered by the dissociation of the IGF-1R-Lnk complex. Expression levels of a pivotal transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) and its adipogenic target genes (LPL and FABP4) significantly decreased in $Lnk^{-/-}$ MSCs. These results suggested that Lnk adaptor protein regulated the adipogenesis of MSCs through the $IGF-1/Akt/PPAR-{\gamma}$ pathway.

The role of peroxidases in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

  • Park, Jong-Gil;Oh, Goo-Taeg
    • BMB Reports
    • /
    • v.44 no.8
    • /
    • pp.497-505
    • /
    • 2011
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which include superoxide anions and peroxides, induce oxidative stress, contributing to the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases involving atherosclerosis. The endogenous and exogenous factors hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and shear stress induce various enzyme systems such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and lipoxygenase in vascular and immune cells, which generate ROS. Besides inducing oxidative stress, ROS mediate signaling pathways involved in monocyte adhesion and infiltration, platelet activation, and smooth muscle cell migration. A number of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, and peroxiredoxins) regulate ROS in vascular and immune cells. Atherosclerosis results from a local imbalance between ROS production and these antioxidant enzymes. In this review, we will discuss 1) oxidative stress and atherosclerosis, 2) ROS-dependent atherogenic signaling in endothelial cells, macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells, 3) roles of peroxidases in atherosclerosis, and 4) antioxidant drugs and therapeutic perspectives.

Roles of YAP in mediating endothelial cell junctional stability and vascular remodeling

  • Choi, Hyun-Jung;Kwon, Young-Guen
    • BMB Reports
    • /
    • v.48 no.8
    • /
    • pp.429-430
    • /
    • 2015
  • Angiogenesis is a complex process involving dynamic interaction of various cell to cell interactions. Endothelial cell interactions regulated by growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, or hemodynamic stress are critical for balancing vascular quiescence and activation. Yes-associated protein (YAP), an effector of Hippo signaling, is known to play significant roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, its role in endothelial cells for angiogenic regulation remains relatively unexplored. We demonstrated the critical role of YAP in vascular endothelial cells and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenic regulation of YAP. YAP was expressed in active angiogenic regions where endothelial cell junctions were relatively loosened. Consistently, YAP subcellular localization and activity were regulated by VE-cadherin-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway. YAP thereby regulated endothelial sprouting via angiopoietin-2 expression. These results provide an insight into a model of coordinating endothelial junctional stability and angiogenic activation through YAP. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 429-430]

Flora and Distribution of Vascular Hygro- and Hydrophytes from the Estuary of Nagdong River (낙동강하구의 습생식물 및 수중식물 구계와 분포)

  • 정영호
    • Journal of Plant Biology
    • /
    • v.26 no.4
    • /
    • pp.197-206
    • /
    • 1983
  • Flora and distribution of vascular hygro- and hydrophytes were investigated from April to June, 1983 on the seven sampling sites along the estuary of Nagdong River. As the result, total 60 kinds of vascular plants are investigated, among them 13 kinds are aquatics; Rotala indica var. uliginosa, Myriophyllum spicatum, Allisma canalicultum, Vallisneria asiatica, Hydrilla verticillata, Potamogeton berchtoldii, P. crispus, Ruppia maritima, Phyllospadix iwatensis, Zostera marina, Juncus effusus, Phragmites communis, and Scirpus triqueter. Present hydrophytes are largely confined to the main-stream zone. The transition zone is poorly habitated by hydrophytes and considered for the distributconfined to the estuary and coastal zone. However, long-term conditions of salinity gradient appear to be primarily responsible for the present flora and distribution.

  • PDF

Study of vascular hydrophyte vegetation and biomass in Bigumdo, Shinangun, Korea (신안군 비금도의 관속수생식물의 식생 및 생산량(Biomass)에 관한 연구)

  • Yang, Hyo-Sik
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
    • /
    • v.8 no.2
    • /
    • pp.65-74
    • /
    • 2006
  • A study of the vascular hydrophyte communities and biomass was undertaken in the Bigumdo wetlands, Shinangun, from March to November, 2005. As a result, the vegetation was divided into 14 communities. Among them, emergent hydrophytes consisted of 6 communities, including Miscanthus sacchariflorus community, Phragmites communis community, Typha angustata community, Leersia japonica community, Paspalum disticum var. indutum community, and Persicaria thunbergii community, floating hydrophytes 5 communities including Hydrocharis dubia community, Nelumbo nucifera community, Euryale ferox community, Trapa japonica community and Nymphaea tetragona var. angusta community, free-floating hydrophytes 2 commuinties including Lemna paucicostata community and Spirodela polyrhiza community, and submergent hydrophyte 1 community, including Myriophyllum verticillatum community. Biomass was the highest at emergent hydrophytes and decreased along the life form, in the order like floating hydrophytes, submergent hydrophyte and free-floating hydrophytes. In addition, hydrophytes in the Bigumdo wetland showed the typical vertical zonation pattern like a natural swamp. These results were considered that the wetland of Bigumdo was characterized by the typical structure of aquatic plant ecosystem.

  • PDF

Vascular anatomy and their variations in Situs inversus totalis using postmortem computed tomographic angiography

  • Dawa Zangpo;Hironobu Nakane;Morio Iino
    • Anatomy and Cell Biology
    • /
    • v.56 no.1
    • /
    • pp.155-159
    • /
    • 2023
  • Studies describing the vascular systems and their variations in Situs inversus totalis (SIT) from a whole-body computed tomographic (CT) angiography perspective are lacking. We report a case of SIT in which postmortem CT angiography (PMCTA) was performed as a part of the forensic death investigation and incidentally detected several vascular variations in it. The PMCTA procedure was performed using the multiphase PMCTA protocol. Almost all major vessels were visualized, indeed in a completely reversed pattern. Contrast mixture flow interruptions were noted in the right coronary arterial branches suggesting possible blockage, upon which autopsy revealed >90% vessel occlusions at several locations. As such the cause of death was due to ischemic heart disease. Anomalous origins of the right internal mammary artery; abnormal left thyrocervical trunk and variations in the drainage of testicular veins were noted. Our findings might be helpful to clinicians and add to the body of literature on SIT.

A Study on resource plants around the provincial park in Mt. Unmun(Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do) (운문산(경북 청도) 군립공원 일대의 자원식물상 연구)

  • Park, Seon-Joo;Song, Im-Geun;Park, Seong-Jun;Lee, Won-Hyoung;Jang, Soon-Young;An, Bo-Ram
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
    • /
    • v.23 no.4
    • /
    • pp.327-349
    • /
    • 2010
  • This study was carried out to investigate the distribution of vascular plants and their use from 2007 to 2009 in Mt. Unmum(Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-Do). The vascular plants were summarized as 605 taxa including 98 families, 304 genus, 514 species, 3 subspecies, 68 varieties, and 20 forma. Among the investigated 605 taxa, 21 rare and endangered plants, 29 Korean endemic plants were included. Based on the list of specially designated plants by Ministry of Environment, 70 taxa included Iris odaesanensis and Gastrodia elata were recorded in the investigated area. The naturalized plants were identified as 23 taxa and the percent of naturalized index(NI) was 3.8% of total 605 taxa vascular plants. Usage of 605 taxa were consists of 225 taxa(37.2%) of edible plants, 191 taxa(31.6%) of medicinal plants, 64 taxa(10.6%) of ornamental plants, 46 taxa(7.6%) of pasture plants, 18 taxa(3.0%) of timber plants, 14 taxa(2.3%) of fiber plants, and 3 taxa(0.5%) of industrial plants. To management of natural resource, we suppose that it is required to establish an ecological learning area to minimize human disturbance and an effective managemet strategy by continuous monitoring for ecosystem change.