• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.1056-1061
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the effects of valproic acid on the survival of cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFBs). Methods: Primary cultured HTFBs were exposed to 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mM valproic acid with or without 0, 1.0, $2.5{\mu}g/mL$ mitomycin C, and incubated for 5 days. Cell survival was assessed using an MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and the degree of apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry using annexin-V/propidium iodide double staining. Results: Valproic acid decreased the survival of HTFBs in a dose-dependent manner, and survival was further decreased by adding mitomycin C to valproic acid. Both valproic acid and mitomycin C induced apoptosis of HTFBs. Valproic acid induced less apoptosis than mitomycin C. Conclusions: Valproic acid decreased the cellular survival of HTFBs and induced apoptosis. The antiproliferative effects of valproic acid were further enhanced by the addition of mitomycin C.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7919-7923
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• 2014

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a ginsenoside isolated from Pananx quinquefolium L., has been shown to inhibit growth and proliferation in several cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to evaluate its anticancer activity in human breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells were incubated with different concentrations of 20(S)-PPD and cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Occurrence of apoptosis was detected by DAPI and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured with Rhodamine 123. The Bcl-2 and Bax expression were determined by Western blot analysis. Caspase activity was measured by colorimetric assay. 20(S)-PPD dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $33.3{\mu}M$ at 24h. MCF-7 cells treated with 20(S)-PPD presented typical apoptosis, as observed by morphological analysis in cell stained with DAPI. The percentages of annexin V-FITC positive cells were 8.92%, 17.8%, 24.5% and 30.5% in MCF-7 cells treated with 0, 15, 30 and $60{\mu}M$ of 20(S)-PPD, respectively. Moreover, 20(S)-PPD could induce mitochondrial membrane potential loss, up-regulate Bax expression and down-regulate Bcl-2 expression. These events paralleled activation of caspase-9, -3 and PARP cleavage. Apoptosis induced by 20(S)-PPD was blocked by z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, suggesting induction of caspase-mediated apoptotic cell death. In conclusion, the 20(S)-PPD investigated is able to inhibit cell proliferation and to induce cancer cell death by a caspase-mediated apoptosis pathway.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2017

Gamma (${\gamma}$)-oryzanol is a substance abundant in rice, which is widely cultivated in Asian countries. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ${\gamma}$-oryzanol treatment on proliferation and apoptosis of AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. AGS cells were treated with ${\gamma}$-oryzanol for 72 h in a dose dependent manner. Treatment of ${\gamma}$-oryzanol (50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/mL$) resulted in decreased AGS cell proliferation and increased number of cells in the sub-G1 population. Additionally, apoptotic cells were investigated by annexin V staining and mitochondrial membrane potential assays. Our results indicated that ${\gamma}$-oryzanol treatment increased the number of annexin V-positive cells and depolarized cells. This demonstrated that ${\gamma}$-oryzanol is effective for the induction of apoptosis in AGS cells. We next examined the expression of promising anticancer drug target molecules, including PTEN and HSP90. We found that treatment of ${\gamma}$-oryzanol induced the expression of PTEN in AGS cells. Under the same treatment conditions, ${\gamma}$-oryzanol reduced the expression of HSP90 in AGS cells. These results suggest that ${\gamma}$-oryzanol-induced apoptosis was accompanied by changes in regulation of PTEN and HSP90 in AGS cells. Taken together, ${\gamma}$-oryzanol could be used as a functional substance for the prevention of gastric cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2006

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin (IN) can exert anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) activity through cyclooxygenase independent mechanism, but the exactly biological mechanism is not completely known. Here we use proteomic tools to investigate the molecular mechanism of this action. First, nude mice bearing tumors derived from subcutaneous injection with human CRC cell line HCT116 were randomly allocated to groups treated with or without indomethacin. Later, tumor lumps were incised and then total proteins extracted. After separated with two-dimensional electrophoresis, thirty-one differently expressed spots were found between IN-treated and non-IN-treated groups, of which 25 spots decreased and 6 spots increased in abundance in IN-treated group. Through matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry and then NCBInr and SWISS-PROT databases searching, 12 protein spots were finally identified including galectin-1, annexin A1, annexin IV, trancription factor BTF3A, calreticulin. Most of the identified proteins are correlated with tumor's biological prosperities of proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and immunity, or take part in cell's signal transduction. From above we thought that indomethacin can exert its effect on colorectal cancer through regulating several proteins' expression directly or indirectly. Further study of these proteins may be helpful in founding new targets of drugs for cancer chemotherapy.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.77-86
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• 2009

Objectives : 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 Nelumbo nucifera leaves (NNL) on the proliferation and migration of HASMC. Additionally, the mechanisms involved in any observed effects were also evaluated. Methods : Apoptotic cells were measured by staining with FITC-labeled annexin V, followed by flow cytometric analysis. The expression level of apoptosis related proteins was confirmed by western blot. And MMP-9 activity was measured by gelatin zymography and MMP-9 expression was measured by ELISA Results : NNL completely inhibited the proliferation of HASMC via induction of the expression of apoptotic proteins including annexin V, cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and caspase-3 and -8. NNL treatment resulted in the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, a decrease in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and an increase in Bax expression. NNL also blocked HASMC migration via suppression of MMP-9. Conclusions : Taken together, these results indicate that NNL has the potential for use as an anti-artherosclerosis agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2014

Cordycepin, an active component originally isolated from the traditional medicine Cordyceps militaris, is a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, which has been shown to possess a number of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, immunological stimulation, and antitumor effects. This study was conducted on cultured human prostate carcinoma LNCap cells to elucidate the possible mechanisms by which cordycepin exerts its anticancer activity, which, until now, has remained poorly understood. Cordycepin treatment of LNCap cells resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and the induction of apoptotic cell death as detected by an MTT assay, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase, and annexin V-FITC staining. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cordycepin resulted in G2/M arrest in cell cycle progression and downregulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin A expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the incubation of cells with cordycepin caused a striking induction in the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 without affecting the expression of the tumor suppressor p53. It also resulted in a significant increase in the binding of CDK2 and CDC2 to p21. These findings suggest that cordycepin-induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in human prostate carcinoma cells is mediated through p53-independent upregulation of the CDK inhibitor p21.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2018

Millettia erythrocalyx, a species of plant in the Fabaceae family, is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, such as the Indies, China, and Thailand. The antiviral activity of flavonoids from M. erythrocalyx has been reported; however, the antioxidative and anticancer activities of M. erythrocalyx remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative and anticancer effects of ethanol extract of M. erythrocalyx (EEME) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. EEME exhibited significant antioxidative effects, with a concentration at 50% inhibition ($IC_{50}$) value of $2.74{\mu}g/ml$, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay; moreover, it inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Cell cycle analyses showed that EEME induced HepG2 cell accumulation in the subG1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. EEME also induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells, with increases in apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, as detected by Annexin V and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. Treatment with EEME resulted in increased expression of First apoptosis signal (Fas), a death receptor, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), a proapoptotic protein, and the activation of caspase-3, 8, and 9, resulting in the cleavage of poly (Adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that EEME may exert an anticancer effect in HepG2 cells by inducing apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.366-373
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• 2006

Background: Paraquat is extremely toxic chemical material, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing multiple organ failure. In particular, paraquat leads to irreversible progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Exaggerated cell deaths exceeding the normal repair of type II pneumocytes leads to mesenchymal cells proliferation and fibrosis. This study examined the followings; i) whether or not paraquat induces cell death in lung epithelial cells; ii) whether or not paraquat-induced cell deaths are apoptosis or necrosis; and iii) the effects of N-acetylcysteine, dexamethasone, and bcl-2 on paraquat-induced cell deaths. Methods: A549 and BEAS-2B lung epithelial cell lines were used. The cell viability and apoptosis were evalluated using a MTT assay, Annexin V staining was monitored by fluorescence microscopy, The level of bcl-2 inhibition was examined by establishing stable A549 pcDNA3-bcl-2 cell lines throung the transfection of pcDNA3-bcl-2 with the mock. Results: Paraquat decreased the cell viability in A549 and BEAS-2B cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The Annexin V assay showed that apoptosis was the type of paraquat-induced cell death. Paraquat-induced cell deaths was significantly inhibited by N-acetylcysteine, dexamethasone, and bcl-2 overexpression. The cell viability of A549 cells treated with N-acetylcysteine, and dexamethasone on the paraquat-induced cell deaths were increased significantly by 10 ~ 20%, particularly at high doses. In addition, the cell viability of A549 pcDNA3-bcl-2 cells overexpressing bcl-2 was significantly higher than the untransfected A549 cells. Conclusion: Paraquat induces apoptotic cell deaths in lung epithelial cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The paraquat-induced apoptosis of lung epithelial cells might occur through the mitochondrial pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.891-894
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• 2013

The present study was performed to assess the activity of the botulinum toxin A on breast cancer cells. The T47D cell line was exposed to diverse concentrations of the botulinum toxin A and cell viability and apoptosis were estimated using MTT and propidium iodine/annexin V methods, respectively. Botulinum toxin A exerted greater cytotoxic activity in T47D cells in comparison with MCF10A normal cells; this appeared to be via apoptotic processes caspase-3 and -7. In conclusion, botulinum toxin A induces caspase-3 and -7 dependent apoptotic processes in the T47D breast cancer cell line.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2019

From the pericarps of Litsea japonica (Thunb.) Jussieu, eighteen butanolide derivatives (1 - 18) were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HeLa, HL-60, and MCF-7 cells. Compounds 1-9 with 2-alkylidene-3-hydroxy-4-methylbutanolides structure exhibited cytotoxic activities against cancer-cell lines. Among them, compound 8 (litsenolide $D_2$) exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines, including HeLa, HL-60, and MCF-7, with $IC_{50}$ values of $17.6{\pm}1.3$, $4.2{\pm}0.2$, and $12.8{\pm}0.0{\mu}M$, respectively. Compound 8 induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Annexin V/Propidium Iodide (PI) double staining confirmed that 8 effectively induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. To the best of our knowledge, we have reported cytotoxic activity of butanolides from L. japonica against these cancer-cell lines for the first time.