• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2015

The flower buds of Sophora japonica L (SF), as a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have been used to treat bleeding-related disorders such as hematochezia, hemorrhoidal bleeding, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and diarrhea. However, no specific anti-cancer effect and its molecular mechanism of SF have been described. Thus, we performed in vitro study to investigate if treatment of SF affects activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) expression and ATF3-mediated apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. The effects of SF on cell viability and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and Western blot analysis against cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). ATF3 activation induced by SF was evaluated using Western blot analysis, RT-PCR and ATF3 promoter assay. SF treatment caused decrease of cell viability and increase of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Exposure of SF activated the levels of ATF3 protein and mRNA via transcriptional regulation in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 by PD98059 and p38 by SB203580 attenuated SF-induced ATF3 expression and transcriptional activation. Ectopic ATF3 overexpression accelerated SF-induced cleavage of PARP. These findings suggest that SF-mediated apoptosis may be the result of ATF3 expression through ERK1/2 and p38-mediated transcriptional activation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 1998

The radiation-induced apoptosis was studied for two human cancer cell lines (KB cells, RPMI 2650 cells) and the human gingival fibroblast cell line (HGF-1 cells). The single irradiation of 2, 10, 20Gy was done with 241.5 cGylmin dose rate using the /sup 137/Cs MK cell irradiator. The cells were stained with propidium iodide and examined under the fluoro-microscope and assayed with the flow cytometry a day after irradiation. Also, the LDH assay was done to determine the amount of necrotic cells. The obtained results were as follows: 1. On the fluoro-microscope, many fragmented nuclei were detected in the KB, RPMI 2650, and HGF-1 cells after irradiation. 2. On the DNA content histogram obtained from the flow cytometry, the percentages of the pre-Gl peak of the control and 2, 10 and 20Gy irradiation group were 4.5, 55.0, 52.3, and 66.6％ on KB cells, 2.7, 3.3, 31.8, and 32.6％ on RPMI 2650 cells and 2.8, 21.8, 30.4, and 40.2％ on HGF-1 cells respectively. 3. The number of Gl-stage cells was abruptly decreased after 2Gy irradiation on KB cells and 10Gy irradiation on RPMI 2650 cells, But there was a slight decrease without regard to irradiation dose on HGF-1 cells. 4. There was no significantly different absorbance in extracellular LDH assay along the experimental cell lines.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

Trifolium pratense leaves (red clover) has been used in Oriental and European folk medicine for the treatment of whooping cough, asthma, and eczema, and is now being used to treat and alleviate the symptoms, such as hot flushes, cardiovascular health effects that occur in postmenopausal women. However, relatively little scientific data is available on the physiological activity of this plant. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of T. pratense leaves using methanol extract of T. pratense leaves (MeTP) on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeTP inhibited the viability of FaDu cells by inducing apoptosis through the cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, and -9 and poly (adenosine diphosphate ribose-ribose) polymerase (PARP), downregulation of Bcl-2, and upregulation of Bax, as determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, Live & dead assay, 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stain, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and Western blot analysis. In addition, colony formation was slightly inhibited when FaDu cells were treated with a non-cytotoxic concentration (0.125 mg/mL) of MeTP and almost completely inhibited when cells were treated with 0.25 mg/mL MeTP. Collectively, these results indicate that MeTP induced cell apoptosis via caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways, and inhibited colony formation of cancer cells in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. These findings suggest MeTP should be considered for clinical development as a chemotherapeutic option in oral cancer.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2023

Objective : Gardeniae Fructus (GF) is the ripe fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellisa with a bitter taste and cold properties. Ingredient compounds including geniposide are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of GF on tBHP-induced PC12 cells. Methods : Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay, and apoptosis was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression level of each protein was monitored by Western blot analysis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed using DCFH-DA. Results : In PC12 cells, tBHP induced cell death through apoptosis with caspase activation and PARP inactivation. Cells treated with tBHP showed an increase in intracellular ROS and depletion of GSH. Pretreatment with GF prevented tBHP-induced apoptosis, reduced ROS, and increased GSH. GF also maintained increased Nrf2 expression in the presence of tBHP. Phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAPK was increased by tBHP, whereas phosphorylation of ERK was decreased. GF restored changes in ERK and p38 phosphorylation, but not JNK phosphorylation. Conclusion : These results indicate that GF has neuroprotective effects through anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects mediated by regulation of Nrf2 expression and phosphorylation of ERK and p38. It also demonstrates the potential use of GF as a source of antioxidant and neuroprotective substances.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.233-252
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) refers to the damage of cardiac function caused by restoration of blood flow perfusion in ischemic myocardium. However, long non-coding RNA prostate androgen regulated transcript 1 (PART1)'s role in MIRI remain unclear. Methods: Immunofluorescence detected LC3 expression. Intermolecular relationships were verified by dual luciferase reporter assay. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, flow cytometry and transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays analyzed cell viability and apoptosis. The release of lactate dehydrogenase was tested via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Left anterior descending coronary artery surgery induced a MIRI mouse model. Infarct area was detected by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Hematoxylin and eosin staining examined myocardial injury. ELISA evaluated myocardial marker (creatine kinase MB) level. Results: PART1 was decreased in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced AC16 cells and MIRI mice. PART1 upregulation attenuated the increased levels of Bax, beclin-1 and the ratio of LC3II/I, and enhanced the decrease of Bcl-2 and p62 expression in H/R-treated cells. PART1 upregulation alleviated H/R-triggered autophagy and apoptosis via miR-302a-3p. Mechanically, PART1 targeted miR-302a-3p to upregulate transcription factor activating enhancer-binding protein 2C (TFAP2C). TFAP2C silencing reversed the protected effects of miR-302a-3p inhibitor on H/R treated AC16 cells. We further established TFAP2C combined to dual-specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) promoter and activated DUSP5. TFAP2C upregulation suppressed H/R-stimulated autophagy and apoptosis through upregulating DUSP5. Overexpressed PART1 reduced myocardial infarction area and attenuated MIRI in mice. Conclusion: PART1 improved the autophagy and apoptosis in H/R-exposed AC16 cells through miR-302a-3p/TFAP2C/DUSP5 axis, which might provide novel targets for MIRI treatment.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.169.1-169.1
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• 2003

Recently development of cell-based assay systems which are useful in molecular cell biology and drug discovery attracts significant attention. Here, we introduce a new technologies for monitoring enzyme activity and its inhibition inside living cells. Among various enzymes, proteases are important targets for studying various biological and disease-related processes such as viral infections, apoptosis and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, a sensitive cell-based protease detection system that enables direct fluorescence detection of a target protease and its inhibition inside living cells is introduced. (omitted)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 2004

Background : Nitric Oxide (NO) is a multi-faceted molecule with dichotomous regulatory roles in many areas of biology. NO can promote apoptosis in some cells, whereas it inhibits apoptosis in other cell types. This study was performed to characterize NO-induced cell death in lung epithelial cells and to investigate the roles of cell death regulators including iron, bcl-2 and p53. Methods : A549 cells were used for lung epithelial cells. SNP (sodium nitroprusside) and SNAP (S-nitroso-N-acetyl- penicillamine) were used for NO donor. Cytoxicity assay was done by MTT assay and crystal violet assay. Apoptotic assay was done by fluorescent microscopy after double staining with propidium iodide and hoecst 33342. Iron inhibition study was done with RBCs and FeSO4. For bcl-2 study, bcl-2 overexpressing cells (A549-bcl-2) were used and for p53 study, Western blot analysis and p53 functionally knock-out cells (A549-E6) were used. Results : SNP and SNAP induced dose-dependent cell death in A549 cells and fluorescent microscopy revealed that SNAP induced apoptosis in low doses but necrosis in high doses while SNP induced exclusively necrotic cell death. Iron inhibition study using RBCs and FeSO4 significantly blocked SNAP-induced cell death. And also SNAP-induced cell death was blocked by bcl-2 overexpression. Finally, we found that SNAP activate p53 by Western blot analysis and that SNAP-induced cell death was decreased in the abscence of p53. Conclusion : In lung epithelial cells, NO can induce cell death, more precisely apoptosis in low doses and necrosis in high doses. And iron, bcl-2, and p53 play important roles in NO-induced cell death.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2006

Deazaadenosine analogs such as 3-deazaadenosine (DZA), 3-deazaaristeromycin (DZAri) and ara-3-deazaadenine (DZAra-A) were developed as inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine (Ado-Hcy) hydrolase (EC 3.3.1.1). These analogs were reported to induce apoptosis in human and murine leukemic cells. But, the mechanism involved in this apoptosis was not clarified yet. In the present study, we analyze the apoptosis induced by deazaadenosine analogs in human cervival cancer cell line, HeLa and the effect of Bcl-2 on this apoptosis. Whereas neither DZAri nor DZAra-A showed inhibitory effect on HeLa cell growth, DZA induced apoptosis in HeLa cells accompanied by cytochrome c release and activation of various caspases such as caspase-2,-8,-9 and -3. In HeLa-bcl-2 cell line, a stable transfectant of HeLa cell to overexpress Bcl-2, cytochrome c release, activation of all these caspases and the resulted apoptosis by DZA were completely prevented. By in vitro assay of cytochrome c release, in addition, DZA induced cytochrome c release from purified mitochondria of HeLa-pcDNA3 cells, but not HeLa-bcl-2 cells, even in the absence of cytosolic fraction. Therefore, it can be suggested that DZA might damage directly mitochondria leading to activate intrinsic pathway of caspase and thus induce apoptosis. DZA-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells may be in a bcl-2-inhibitable manner and irrelative of Ado-Hcy hydrolase.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

Objective: Tributyltin (TBT), an endocrine disrupting chemical, has been reported to decrease ovarian function by causing apoptosis in the ovary, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, we examined whether TBT increases the expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary and the increased expression of these genes is associated with apoptosis induction. Methods: Three-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered TBT (1 or 10 mg/kg body weight) or sesame oil as a control for 7 days. The ovaries were obtained and weighed on day 8, and then they were fixed for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) or frozen for RNA extraction. Using the total RNA of the ovaries, adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The ovarian weight was significantly decreased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT compared to that in control rats. As determined by the TUNEL assay, the number of apoptotic follicles in ovary was significantly increased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT. The real-time PCR results showed that the expression of adipogenesis-related genes such as $PPAR{\gamma}$, ${\alpha}P2$, CD36, and PEPCK was increased after TBT administration. In addition, apoptosis-related genes such as $TNF{\alpha}$ and TNFR1 were expressed more in the TBT-administered rats compared with the control rats. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that TBT induces the expression of adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes in the ovary leading to apoptosis in the ovarian follicles. These results suggest that the increased expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary by TBT exposure might induce apoptosis resulting in a loss of ovarian function.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2001

Objective : Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein adds telomere repeats to the ends of telomeres to compensate for the progressive loss. A favorable prognosis associated with low or no telomerase activity in some tumors, and cells transfected with antisense human telomerase lost telomeric repeats and die. We studied about the relationship between telomerase activity and apoptosis in the human brain tumors. Material and Methods : Between July 1998 and December 1999, 62 patients with brain tumors underwent surgery and their surgical specimens were obtained. Telomerase activity was investigated by telomeric repeats amplification protocol(TRAP) assay. Apoptosis was also evaluated by DNA fragmentation analysis. Differences and correlation in data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon-signed rank test. Results : Expression rate of telomerase activity and apoptosis were 80% and 30% in malignant gliomas, 33% and 0% in low grade gliomas, 63% and 38% in meningiomas, 67% and 33% in pituitary adenomas, 33% and 33% in metastatic tumors, 67% and 17% in acoustic neurinomas, 100% and 100% in pineoblastomas, 100% and 0% in the hemangioblastoma, respectively. There was no significant difference of telomerase activity and apoptosis between histological types. But a significant difference was noted in the expression of telomerase activity between malignant gliomas and low grade gliomas(p = 0.022). Brain tumors with telomerase activity expressed the lower rate of apoptosis. A significant correlation was also found between telomerase activity and absence of apoptosis in the human brain tumors(p = 0.005). Conclusions : Our data suggests that telomerase may protect from apoptosis of the human brain tumors and also may play an important role in the biological malignancy of the gliomas.