• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.33-43
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the protective effects of acupuncture on the liver in the oxidative stress caused by cadmium accumulation. Sprague-Dawley male($150{\pm}30g$) rats were stabilized for a week and divided into 5 groups which is normal, control, $LR_3$ acupuncture, $BL_{23}$ acupuncture and sham acupuncture group. For three days experimental groups were received oral doses of cadmium 2 mg/kg twice a day. Acupuncture was given bilaterally at each point 10 times for two weeks. The depth of stimulation was 1 mm at right angles and torsion of acupuncture was produced 2 times per second for 1 minutes. The liver was shipped off and taken weight at the last day of two weeks, and hepatic functions was confirmed through alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate amino-transferase(AST). We measured reactive oxygen species of serum, liver and kidney, and compared expression levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase(Gpx), nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor 2(Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), Bax and Cytochrome c. $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly increased liver weight and decreased ALT compared to control group. For the oxidative stress, $LR_3$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species, and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group significantly reduced reactive oxygen species and inflammation-related protein compared to control group. But $LR_3$ acupuncture group and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group didn't significantly reduce apoptosis-related protein. Therefore $LR_3$ and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture showed the effects of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, especially $BL_{23}$ acupuncture was more effective than $LR_3$ acupuncture on the protection of liver in the oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1679-1684
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• 2009

Opuntia humifusa, widely distributed in the southern regions of the Korean peninsula, is known to have bioactive functions and medicinal benefits for treating various diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, gastritis, and hyperglycemia. In this study total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of fruit and its anticarcinogenic effects on human breast cancer were investigated. As expected, O. humifusa showed high concentrations of total polyphenol as well as flavonoid as compared to other kinds of cactus. Effects of the water extracts of O. humifusa on the proliferation, G1 arrest and apoptosis of the MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were also examined using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays, and G1 cycle arrest and apoptotic effect of O. humifusa were analyzed by flow cytometry. When MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of hexane, ethyl acetate and water extracts of O. humifusa, water extracts of the fruit significantly decreased viable cell numbers in a concentration dependent manner. A G1 arrest in MCF-7 cells was induced as well. The overall results indicate that water extracts of fruit of O. humifusa would inhibit MCF-7 human breast cancer cell proliferation and induce G1 arrest.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.255-260
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• 2018

Wntless/GPR177 functions as WNT ligand carrier protein and activator of $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling, however, its molecular role in gastric cancer (GC) has remained elusive. We investigated the role of GPR177 in gastric tumorigenesis and provided the therapeutic potential of a clinical development of anti-GPR177 monoclonal antibodies. GPR177 mRNA expression was assessed in GC transcriptome data sets (GSE15459, n = 184; GSE66229, n = 300); protein expression was assessed in independent patient tumor tissues (Yonsei TMA, n = 909). GPR177 expression were associated with unfavorable prognosis [log-rank test, GSE15459 (P = 0.00736), GSE66229 (P = 0.0142), and Yonsei TMA (P = 0.0334)] and identified as an independent risk predictor of clinical outcomes: GSE15459 [hazard ratio (HR) 1.731 (95% confidence interval; CI; 1.103-2.715), P = 0.017], GSE66229 [HR 1.54 (95% CI, 1.10-2.151), P = 0.011], and Yonsei TMA [HR 1.254 (95% CI, 1.049-1.500), P = 0.013]. Either antibody treatment or GPR177 knockdown suppressed proliferation of GC cells and sensitized cells to apoptosis. And also inhibition of GPR177 suppresses in vitro and in vivo tumorogenesis in GC cells and inhibits $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling. Finally, targeting and inhibition of GPR177 with antibody suppressed tumorigenesis in PDX model. Together, these results suggest GPR177 as a novel candidate for prognostic marker as well as a promising target for treatment of GC patients.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.567-575
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• 2014

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring stilbene which is safe and well-described compound with a potent anti-inflammatory activity. Recent studies suggested that resveratrol suppressed various inflammation mediated diseases such as asthma, chronic colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes. These studies indicated that resveratrol might directly modulate $CD4^+$ helper T cells (Th cells)-mediated immune responses. However, it is not fully elucidated whether resveratrol directly regulates $CD4^+$ Th cell activation and differentiation. In the present study, $CD4^+$ Th cells were purified from C57BL/6 and treated with various concentrations of resveratrol. We found that resveratrol directly suppressed $CD4^+$ Th cells activation, leading to a defect in T cell proliferation. When $CD4^+$ Th cells were treated with resveratrol, cytokine production was also significantly reduced in a dose dependent manner. In accordance with these results, resveratrol even inhibited $CD4^+$ Th cells differentiation into Th1, Th2 or Th17, which produces IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-4 or IL-17 respectively. We also found that resveratrol could induce apoptosis of $CD4^+$ T cells at a high concentration. Our data demonstrated that resveratrol inhibited directly $CD4^+$ Th cells activation and differentiation. It suggests that resveratrol could be an efficient therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases in which $CD4^+$ Th cells play a critical role.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3301-3306
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• 2015

Nucleolin (C23) is an important anti-apoptotic protein that is ubiquitously expressed in exponentially growing eukaryotic cells. In order to understand the impact of C23 in radiation therapy, we attempted to investigate the relationship of C23 expression with the radiosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. We investigated the role of C23 in activating the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs), which is a critical protein for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair. As a result, we found that the expression of C23 was negatively correlated with the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cell lines. In vitro clonogenic survival assays revealed that C23 knockdown increased the radiosensitivity of a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, potentially through the promotion of radiation-induced apoptosis and adjusting the cell cycle to a more radiosensitive stage. Immunofluorescence data revealed an increasing quantity of ${gamma}$-H2AX foci and decreasing radiation-induced DNA damage repair following knockdown of C23. To further clarify the mechanism of C23 in DNA DSBs repair, we detected the expression of DNA-PKcs and C23 proteins in NSCLC cell lines. C23 might participate in DNA DSBs repair for the reason that the expression of DNA-PKcs decreased at 30, 60, 120 and 360 minutes after irradiation in C23 knockdown cells. Especially, the activity of DNA-PKcs phosphorylation sites at the S2056 and T2609 was significantly suppressed. Therefore we concluded that C23 knockdown can inhibit DNA-PKcs phosphorylation activity at the S2056 and T2609 sites, thus reducing the radiation damage repair and increasing the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells. Taken together, the inhibition of C23 expression was shown to increase the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells, as implied by the relevance to the notably decreased DNA-PKcs phosphorylation activity at the S2056 and T2609 clusters. Further research on targeted C23 treatment may promote effectiveness of radiotherapy and provide new targets for NSCLC patients.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2006

Background: Calcineurin plays a crucial role in T cell activation, cell growth, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, and its over-expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and stroke. However, the expression and function of calcineurin in the pathologic lesion of chronic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid synovium, remain to be defined. This study was aimed to determine the role of calcineurin in inflammatory arthritis and investigate the expression and function of calcineurin in the rheumatoid synovium and synoviocytes, the actual site of chronic inflammation. Methods: Immuno-histochemical staining using specific antibody to calcineurin was perfomed in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were isolated from RA and OA patients, and cultured with IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the presence or absence of cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor. The calcineurin expression was assessed by phosphatase assay and Western blotting analysis. IL-6, -10, -17, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, and -9 released into the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. After transfection with GFP-Cabin 1 gene into synoviocytes, the levels of IL-6 and MMPs were measured by ELISA. Results: Calcineurin was highly expressed in the lining layer of synovium and cultured synoviocytes of RA patients. The elevated calcineurin activity in the rheumatoid synoviocytes was triggered by proin flammatory cytokines such as IL-1${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$. In contrast, IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, failed to increase the calcineurin activity. The targeted inhibition of calcineurin by the over-expression of Cabin 1, a natural calcineurin antagonist, inhibited the production of IL-6 and MMP-2 by rheumatoid synoviocytes in a similar manner to the calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporin A. Conclusion: These data suggest that abnormal activation of calcineurin in the synoviocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic arthritis, and thus provide a potential target for controlling inflammatory arthritis.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.245-257
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• 1999

일상 생활에서 우리는 스트레스에 항상 노출되어 있으며, 스트레스는 생체의 신경계, 내분비계 및 면역계의 변화를 수반한 항상성의 파괴로 수많은 정신적, 육체적 질병을 야기시킨다. 특히 구강안면영역에서도 다양한 구강점막질환과 구강건조증 등을 발생시킨다. 스트레스를 제거하는 방법으로는 약물요법 및 상담, 명상요법, 종교요법 등 다양한 방법이 제시되고 있는데, 다소의 부작용이 나타나거나 꾸준히 시행하기가 쉽지 않으며 스트레스의 원인을 근본적으로 제거하기가 현실적으로 용이하지 않은 경우가 많아 스트레스에 대한 해결책에 대하여 많은 관심이 집중되고 있다. 이에 본인은 스트레스가 가해졌을 때 백서 악하선에서 관철되며 apoptosis에 대하여 세포보호작용을 하는 clusterin(SGP-2)을 이용하여 구속스트레스를 가하기에 앞서 오랫동안 경험적으로 사용되어 왔고 부작용이 적은 전통약물인 보혈안신탕을 투여하고 스트레스에 의한 타액선의 조직변화를 관찰하여 그 효과를 확인해 보고자하였다. Sprague-Dawley계 응성 백서(200-230g/bw) 33마리를 정상 대조군(3마리), 구속스트레스군(15마리) 및 보혈안신탕 투여 후 구속스트레스군(15마리)으로 나누고 이틀을 각각 구속장치에 구속한 후 0, 1, 3, 5, 7일에 회생시켜 악하선을 적출하였으며, 면역조직화학법 및 Northern Blot을 이용하여 clusterin의 변화를 관찰하였다. 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 구속스트레스군의 악하선 조직에서 clusterin 단백질과 mRNA는 실험 즉일군에서만 미약하게 관찰되었으며 실험 3일과 5일 후에 핵붕괴 및 핵농축 등의 핵변화를 동반한 apoptosis가 관찰 되었다. 2. 보혈안신탕 투여 후 구속스트레스군의 악하선 조직에서 실험 5일군까지 clusterin 이 증가한 후 실험 7일군에서는 감소하였다. 3. 보혈안신탕 투여 후 구속스트레스군의 악하선 조직에서는 apoptosis가 관찰되지 않았다. 4. 보혈안신탕 투여 후 구속스트레스군의 악하선 조직에서 clusterin mRNA가 실험 전군에 걸쳐 미약하게 관찰되었다. 이상의 결과로 타액선 조직은 스트레스 단백질인 clusterin을 생산하여 세포를 보호함으로써 스트레스 상황에 적응하지만, 생리적 적용한계를 넘는 스트레스에 노출될 때는 apoptosis됨이 확인되었다. 그리고 보혈안신탕은 스트레스 상황에서 세포의 생리적 적응력을 높여 세포의 apoptosis를 억제하는 효과를 나타냄이 확인되었다. 따라서 본 연구결과는 구강건조증등의 스트레스성 타액선 질환의 병리기전을 규명하는데 도움이되리라 생각되며, 향후 항스트레스 효과를 가진 보혈안신탕등의 한약재를 임상에 적용함으로써 스트레스로 인한 신체의 병리적 변화를 다소나마 차단할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.297-302
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• 2016

Loss of pancreatic β-cells by oxidative stress or cytokines is associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). DJ-1 is known to as a multifunctional protein, which plays an important role in cell survival. We prepared cell permeable wild type (WT) and mutant type (M26I) Tat-DJ-1 proteins to investigate the effects of DJ-1 against combined cytokines (IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α)-induced RINm5F cell death. Both Tat-DJ-1 proteins were transduced into RINm5F cells. WT Tat-DJ-1 proteins significantly protected against cell death from cytokines by reducing intracellular toxicities. Also, WT Tat-DJ-1 proteins markedly regulated cytokines-induced pro- and anti-apoptosis proteins. However, M26I Tat-DJ-1 protein showed relatively low protective effects, as compared to WT Tat-DJ-1 protein. Our experiments demonstrated that WT Tat-DJ-1 protein protects against cytokine-induced RINm5F cell death by suppressing intracellular toxicities and regulating apoptosisrelated protein expression. Thus, WT Tat-DJ-1 protein could potentially serve as a therapeutic agent for DM and cytokine related diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.884-890
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• 2008

Genistein, an isoflavone in soybean products, is a potential chemopreventive agent against various types of cancer. There are several studies documenting molecular alterations leading to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induction of apoptosis; however, its mechanism of action and its molecular targets on the prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production and telomere length regulation in human cancer remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of genistein on the levels of cyclooxygenases (COXs) and telomere regulatory components of several human cancer cell lines (T24, human bladder carcinoma cells; U937, human leukemic cells; AGS, human stomach adenocarcinoma cells and SK-MEL-2, human skin melanoma cells). Genistein treatment resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. It was found that genistein treatment markedly decreased the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in $PGE_2$ synthesis. Genistein treatment also partly inhibited the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as well as human telomerase RNA (hTR) and telomerase-associated protein (TEP)-1, and the activity of telomerase. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of genistein.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.451-459
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• 2016

The development of radioprotector is being actively conducted in order to reduce the damage from over radiation exposure at radiation accident or radiation therapy. So this study was confirmed for radiation protective effects using the Cynanchi wilfordii Radix that has been known to be effective for antioxidant activity, anti-cancer, immune enhancing effects. The method of this study was administered orally Cynanchi wilfordii Radix ethanol extracts to Sprague Dawley Rat(SD Rat) for 14 days once a day, while measuring changed blood cell, spleen index, liver and uterus tissue along the change in time of 1, 4, 7 and 21 days after X-ray beam of 7 Gy irradiation. As the result of the experiment, the experimental group's rats which are administered with Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix ethanol extracts showed a rapid recovery in white blood cell count(p < 0.05) and spleen index(p < 0.05). In addition, condensation of nuclei, cytoplasmic swelling, and inflammatory cell infiltration in experimental group's liver cell was decreased more than in irradiation group's component. Further, experimental group's Uterine gland decreased the apoptosis more than irradiation group's components did. It is expected that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix extracts will be useful as a new radioprotector. With above in mind, this paper may provide appropriate implications with the field of emergency management such as radiation accident.