ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were first identified in the peripheral blood and later in the cord blood and bone marrow (BM) with different vascularization capacity and different surface marker profiles. However, their identity and functional roles in neovascularization have not been clearly demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. @*METHODS@#Characterization of BM-EPC like cells were performed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunofluorescence staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Matrigel tube formation assay, and western blot analysis. @*RESULTS@#BM-EPC like cells were identified by selective adhesion to fibronectin and collagen from BM mononuclear cells, which generate fast-growing colonies with spindle morphology, express surface markers of CD105, vWF, UEA-I lectin binding, secrete HGF, VEGF, TGF-beta1 but can be distinguished from circulating EPC and endothelial cells by no expression of surface markers such as CD31, CD309, CD45, and CD34. These BM-EPC like cells shared many cell surface markers of BM-mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) but also can be distinguished by their vasculogenic property and other unique surface markers. Furthermore, the vasculogenic capacity of BM-EPC like cells were enhanced by co-culture of BMMSC or PDGF-BB priming. PDGF-BB stimulated cell migration, proliferation, and secretion of laminin b-1, which was proposed as one of the mechanisms involved in the better vascularization of BM-EPC like cells. @*CONCLUSION@#PDGF-BB priming may be applied to improve the potency and function of BM-EPC like cells as vasculogenic cell therapy for the ischemic vascular repair.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#While the use of food additives in food processing has become a common practice worldwide, consumers' worry about potential hazards has not diminished.The purpose of this study was to identify trends in South Korean parents' perceptions about food additives by analyzing the results of surveys conducted from 2014 to 2018. @*SUBJECTS/METHODS@#We conducted an off-line survey in Korea annually between 2014 and 2018 on perceptions about food additives. The numbers of survey respondents in each year from 2014 to 2018 were 381, 426, 301, 519, and 369, respectively. Our consumer respondents were parents of elementary-school-aged children. @*RESULTS@#The ratios of respondents perceiving “food safety” as the most important factor in purchasing processed foods and “food additives” as the biggest threat to food safety have decreased over the years. However, most consumers still have negative perceptions of food additives. Additionally, among consumers lower confidence in or trust of the Korean government continued throughout the study period and appeared to be the main problem that needs to be overcome. @*CONCLUSIONS@#This study found that Korean parents are still troubled by food additives.Consumers' confidence in the government needs to be increased through public communications. More multifaceted educational programs communicating scientific knowledge of food additives are needed in order to correct consumers' misperceptions.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#While the use of food additives in food processing has become a common practice worldwide, consumers' worry about potential hazards has not diminished.The purpose of this study was to identify trends in South Korean parents' perceptions about food additives by analyzing the results of surveys conducted from 2014 to 2018. @*SUBJECTS/METHODS@#We conducted an off-line survey in Korea annually between 2014 and 2018 on perceptions about food additives. The numbers of survey respondents in each year from 2014 to 2018 were 381, 426, 301, 519, and 369, respectively. Our consumer respondents were parents of elementary-school-aged children. @*RESULTS@#The ratios of respondents perceiving “food safety” as the most important factor in purchasing processed foods and “food additives” as the biggest threat to food safety have decreased over the years. However, most consumers still have negative perceptions of food additives. Additionally, among consumers lower confidence in or trust of the Korean government continued throughout the study period and appeared to be the main problem that needs to be overcome. @*CONCLUSIONS@#This study found that Korean parents are still troubled by food additives.Consumers' confidence in the government needs to be increased through public communications. More multifaceted educational programs communicating scientific knowledge of food additives are needed in order to correct consumers' misperceptions.
ABSTRACT
Intestinal inflammation alters immune responses in the mucosa and destroys colon architecture, leading to serious diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, the modulation of intestinal integrity and immune responses in IBD can be the critical factor to be considered to reduce the severity of damages. Substance-P (SP), endogenous peptide to be involved in cell proliferation, migration and immune modulation, can exert the therapeutic effect on diverse diseases including cornea damage, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic complications. SP was found to elevate expression of junctional molecule. Considering the function of SP reported previously, it was inferred that SP is capable of exert the beneficial effect of SP on intestinal diseases by controlling intestinal structure as well as immune responses. In this study, we explored the therapeutic effect of SP on dextran sodium sulfate-induced intestine damage by injecting SP. The effects of SP were evaluated by analyzing crypt structures, proliferating cell pool and infiltration of immune cells. DSS treatment provoked abnormal immune response and disruption of intestine epithelial barrier. However, co-treatment of SP obviously blocked the development of intestinal damages by declining inflammatory responses and sustaining intestinal structure more intact. The treatment of SP to chronic damages also promoted intestinal regeneration by preserving the integrity of colon tissue. Moreover, DSS-induced reduction of epithelial junctional molecule was obviously inhibited by SP treatment in vitro. Taken together, our data indicate that SP can reduce intestinal damages, possibly by modulating barrier structure and immune response. Our results propose SP as candidate therapeutics in intestinal damages.