• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.392-402
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• 2017

Background: Previously, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng inhibited liver fibrosis in mice and reduced the expressions of fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The present study was undertaken to identify the major ginsenoside responsible for reducing the numbers of HSCs and the underlying mechanism involved. Methods: Using LX-2 cells (a human immortalized HSC line) and primary activated HSCs, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assays were conducted to examine the cytotoxic effects of ginsenosides. $H_2O_2$ productions, glutathione contents, lactate dehydrogenase activities, mitochondrial membrane permeabilities, apoptotic cell subpopulations, caspase-3/-7 activities, transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunoblot analysis were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for ginsenoside-mediated cytotoxicity. Involvement of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related signaling pathway was examined using a chemical inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Results and conclusion: Of the 11 ginsenosides tested, 20S-protopanaxadiol (PPD) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity in both LX-2 cells and primary activated HSCs. Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis induced by 20S-PPD was blocked by N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine pretreatment. In addition, 20S-PPD concentration-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, and compound C prevented 20S-PPD-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, 20S-PPD increased the phosphorylation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK. Likewise, transfection of LX-2 cells with LKB1 siRNA reduced the cytotoxic effect of 20S-PPD. Thus, 20S-PPD appears to induce HSC apoptosis by activating LKB1-AMPK and to be a therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.11-20
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• 2011

Valproic acid(VPA)는 아주 잘 알려진 항경련제로서, 30년 동안 간질치료제로서 사용되어져 왔다. VPA는 1997년에 최초로 항암제의 효능이 밝혀졌으며, VPA의 항암효과는 히스톤탈아세틸화효소 억제제의 기전에 기인한다고 규명되었다. 17AAG(17-Allyamnio-17-demethoxygeldanamycin)는 HSP90의 억제제이며, HSP90은 세포증식과 세포생존에 관여하며, 최근 17AAG가 세포자멸사를 유도한다는 연구들이 보고되어지고 있다. 본 연구는 히스톤탈아세틸화효소억제제인 VPA와 HSP90 억제제인 17AAG의 병용처리가 사람골육종세포에 상승 세포자멸사 효과가 있는지를 알기 위해서 수행되었다. VPA과 17AAG의 병용처리가 단독처리에 비해서 효과적인 세포생존율 감소가 있는지 확인하기 위해서 trypan-blue법을 시행하였고, 세포자멸사의 유도와 증가를 확인하기 위해서 Hoechst 염색법, flow cytometry(DNA hypoploidy와 MMP 측정), Western bot 분석법 그리고 면역형광염색법을 수행하였다. 병용처리 된 사람골육종세포는 단독처리 된 사람골육종세포에서 거의 관찰할 수 없었던 핵 응축과 조각남, 사립체막 전위와 DNA 양의 감소, cytochrome c의 세포질로의 유리, AIF의 핵으로의 이동, caspase-3과 caspase-7의 파괴 및 PARP의 분절화와 같은 세포자멸사 증거를 보였다. 48시간 동안 1 mM의 VPA와 0.5 ${\mu}M$ 17AAG을 각기 단독처리 한 결과에서는 세포자멸사를 유도 못했으나, 병용처리한 결과에는 아주 탁월한 세포자멸사의 유도를 보였다. 이러한 병용처리 결과는 사람골육종의 새로운 치료적 전략으로 응용될 수 있다고 생각한다.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.337-346
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 버섯으로부터 항치매성 건강소재를 개발하고자 주요 식용 및 약용 버섯들의 물과 에탄올 추출물들을 제조한 후 이들의 수율과 acetylcholinesterase 저해활성을 측정하여 우수 버섯을 선발하였다. 또한 선발된 우수버섯에 함유되어있는 항치매성 acetylcholinesterase 저해 물질의 추출 최적조건을 검토하였고, 이 저해물질을 부분정제한 후 PC12 신경세포사 저해 활성을 측정하여 항치매 효능을 검증하였다. 시료 버섯들의 물 추출물과 70% 에탄올 추출물을 각각 제조하여 이들의 acetylcholinesterase 저해 활성을 측정한 결과 물 추출물의 수율이 40%로 높고 acetylcholinesterase 저해 활성도 20.2% (IC₅₀: 12.4 mg)로 우수한 흑타리버섯을 acetylcholinesterase 저해물질을 함유한 우수 버섯으로 최종 선발하였다. 흑타리버섯 자실체중의 항치매성 acetylcholinesterase 저해물질의 추출 최적 조건은 흑타리버섯 분말을 1:30으로 증류수에 현탁 시킨 후 30℃에서 6시간 추출하는 조건이었다. 흑타리버섯 자실체의 항치매성 acetylcholinesterase 저해물질을 한외여과와 gel 여과 등으로 부분정제한 후 신경세포 PC12의 세포치사 억제에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과 부분정제 물질을 50 ㎍/mL 처리했을 때 세포치사율이 17.0%로 낮아져서 흑타리버섯 부분정제물이 치매 진행과정을 억제하거나 지연시키는 효과를 보이는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.259-268
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• 2016

Objective : Accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) and mitochondrial glycation is importantly implicated in the pathological changes of the brain associated with diabetic complications, Alzheimer disease, and aging. The present study was undertaken to determine whether sildenafil, a type 5 phosphodiesterase type (PDE-5) inhibitor, has beneficial effect on neuronal cells challenged with AGE-induced oxidative stress to preserve their mitochondrial functional integrity. Methods : HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells were exposed to AGE and changes in the mitochondrial functional parameters were determined. Pretreatment of cells with sildenafil effectively ameliorated these AGE-induced deterioration of mitochondrial functional integrity. Results : AGE-treated cells lost their mitochondrial functional integrity which was estimated by their MTT reduction ability and intracellular ATP concentration. These cells exhibited stimulated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, induction of mitochondrial permeability transition, and release of the cytochrome C, activation of the caspase-3 accompanied by apoptosis. Western blot analyses and qRT-PCR demonstrated that sildenafil increased the expression level of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). CoPP and bilirubin, an inducer of HO-1 and a metabolic product of HO-1, respectively, provided a similar protective effects. On the contrary, the HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP IX blocked the effect of sildenafil. Transfection with HO-1 siRNA significantly reduced the protective effect of sildenafil on the loss of MTT reduction ability and MPT induction in AGE-treated cells. Conclusion : Taken together, our results suggested that sildenafil provides beneficial effect to protect the HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells against AGE-induced deterioration of mitochondrial integrity, and upregulation of HO-1 is involved in the underlying mechanism.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2009

L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (PDC) is a potent inhibitor of glutamate transporters. In our current study, we investigated whether the neuronal death induced by PDC involves mechanisms other than excitotoxicity in mixed mouse cortical cultures. Cortical cultures at 13-14 days in vitro were used and cell death was assessed by measuring the lactate dehydrogenase efflux into bathing media. Glutamate and PDC both induced neuronal death in a concentration-dependent manner but the neurotoxic effects of glutamate were found to be more potent than those of PDC. Treatment with 10, 100 and 200 ${\mu}$M PDC equally potentiated 50 ${\mu}$M glutamate-induced neuronal death. The neuronal death induced by 75 ${\mu}$M glutamate was almost abolished by treatment with the NMDA antagonists, MK-801 and AP-5, but was unaffected by NBQX (an AMPA antagonist), trolox (antioxidant), BDNF or ZVAD-FMK (a pan-caspase inhibitor). However, the neuronal death induced by 200 ${\mu}$M PDC was partially but significantly attenuated by single treatments with MK-801, AP-5, trolox, BDNF or ZVAD-FMK but not NBQX. Combined treatments with MK-801 plus trolox, MK-801 plus ZVAD-FMK or MK-801 plus BDNF almost abolished neuronal death, whereas combined treatments with trolox plus ZVADFMK, trolox plus BDNF or ZVAD-FMK plus BDNF did not enhance the inhibitory action of any single treatment with these drugs. These results demonstrate that the neuronal death induced by PDC involves not only in the excitotoxicity induced by the accumulation of glutamate but also the oxidative stress induced by free radical generation. This suggests that apoptotic neuronal death plays a role in PDCinduced oxidative neuronal injury.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.145-149
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• 2007

We have previously shown that 2,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene (TMS), a synthetic trans-stilbene analogue acting as a potent inhibitor of human cytochrome P450 1B1, induces apoptotic cell death in human cancer cells. In the present studies, we report the mechanisms of apoptotic cell death by TMS in human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells. We found that treatment of HL-60 cells with TMS suppressed the cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ value of about 0.8 ${\mu}M$. Immunoblot experiments revealed that DMHS-induced apoptosis was associated with cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol was significantly increased in response to TMS. TMS caused activation of caspase-3 in a concentration-dependent manner and TMS-mediated caspase-3 activation was partially prevented by the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk. Interestingly, we found that the cytotoxic effect of anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel, docetaxel, or etoposide was enhanced in the presence of TMS. Simultaneous treatment with TCDD also significantly increased cytotoxic effects of TMS alone or TMS and anti-cancer agents. Taken together, our present results indicated that TMS leads to apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells through activation of caspase-3 activity and release of cytochrome c into cytosol. The ability of TMS to increase cytotoxic effect of anticancer drugs may contribute to its usefulness for cancer chemotherapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.93-100
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• 2022

Objective: The impact of imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on ovarian follicles and several proteins related to follicular function and apoptosis was investigated in mice. Methods: Saline, cyclophosphamide (Cp; 50 or 75 mg/kg), or imatinib (7.5 or 15 mg/kg) was injected once intraperitoneally into female B6D2F1 mice (18 mice in each group). In multiple ovarian sections, the number of various types of follicles and the proportion of good-quality (G1) follicles were counted. The levels of six proteins (anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], BCL-xL, BAX, acid sphingomyelinase [A-SMase], caspase-3, and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) within the whole ovaries were quantified using Western blots. Results: Compared to the saline group, a significant reduction of the primordial follicle count was observed in the group treated with imatinib 7.5 and 15 mg/kg, as well as in the group treated with Cp 75 mg/kg. Administration of Cp significantly decreased the proportion of G1 primordial follicles, but administration of imatinib did not. No differences in the AMH, anti-apoptotic BCLX-L, pro-apoptotic BAX, and A-SMase levels in the ovarian tissues were observed among the five groups. However, caspase-3 and α-SMA levels were significantly higher in the imatinib and Cp groups than in the saline group. Conclusion: The administration of imatinib to mice significantly reduced the primordial follicle count and increased the protein levels of caspase-3 and α-SMA. Our findings suggest that imatinib potentially exerts ovarian toxicity via apoptotic processes, similarly to Cp.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.726-733
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• 2005

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) 억제제가 새로운 항암치료제 후보물질로서 유용성이 높은 것으로 평가되지만, 아직까지 인체폐암세포에 관한 연구는 상대적으로 미미한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 폐암세포에 미치는 HDAC 억제제의 항암작용 기전을 조사하기 위하여 A549 인체폐암세포주를 대상으로 암세포의 증식에 미치는 대표적인 HDAC 억제제인 tichostatin A (TSA)에 의한 영향을 세포주기 조절관련인자 중심으로 조사하였다. TSA의 처리에 의하여 A549 폐암세포의 증식은 처리 농도 의존적으로 억제되었으며, 심한 형태적 변형을 동반하였다. 저농도 처리군에서는 TSA 농도가 증가할수록 세포주기 G1기의 빈도가 증가하였으나, 고농도 처리군에서는 G2/M기에 속하는 세포의 빈도가 증가되었다. 또한 apoptosis 유발의 간접적인 지표가 되는 sub-G1기에 속하는 세포의 빈도 역시 TSA 처리 농도 의존적으로 매우 증가되었다. 이러한 TSA의 A549 폐암세포 증식억제 효과는 cyclins 및 CdkS의 발현 억제, 종양억제유전자인 p53 및 Cdks 억제제인 p21과 p27의 발현 증가와도 연관성이 있었다. TSA의 항암 기전을 규명하기 위해서는 더 많은 연구가 부가적으로 필요하겠지만, 본 연구의 결과들에 의하면 TSA는 강력한 인체폐암세포의 증식 억제 및 항암작용이 있음을 시사하여 준다고 할 수 있다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.3187-3190
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• 2013

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor which contributes to many processes involved in cell survival, proliferation and inhibits apoptosis, that may lead to cancer development. Gastric cancer is one of the most common diseases of digestive system that has low 5-year-survival. The aim of this research was to determine the significance of EGFR tyrosine kinase domain gene polymorphisms in gastric cancer in Iran. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 83 patients with gastric cancer and 40 normal subjects were investigated for EGFR gene polymorphisms in exons 18-21 by PCR-SSCP. Then, DNA sequencing was conducted for different mobility shift bands. Finally the data were statistically analyzed using the chi-2 test and the SPSSver.16 program. Results: Exon 18 of EGFR gene showed three different bands in SSCP pattern and DNA sequencing displayed one mutation. SSCP pattern of Exons 19 and 21 did not show different migration bands. Exon 20 of EGFR gene revealed multiple migrate bands in SSCP pattern. DNA sequencing displayed 2 mutations in this exon: one mutation was caused amino acid change and another mutation was silent. Conclusion: It may be that EGFR tyrosine kinase gene polymorphisms differ between populations and screening could be useful in gastric cancer patients who might benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.65-76
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• 2024

Bortezomib (BTZ) is a proteasome inhibitor used to treat multiple myeloma (MM). However, the induction of peripheral neuropathy is one of the major concerns in using BTZ to treat MM. In the current study, we have explored the effects of BTZ (0.01-5 nM) on rat neural stem cells (NSCs). BTZ (5 nM) induced cell death; however, the percentage of neurons was increased in the presence of mitogens. BTZ reduced the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 associated X protein ratio in proliferating NSCs and differentiated cells. Inhibition of βIII-tubulin (TUBB3) degradation was observed, but not inhibition of glial fibrillary acidic protein degradation, and a potential PEST sequence was solely found in TUBB3. In the presence of growth factors, BTZ increased cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) transcription, BDNF expression, and Tubb3 transcription in NSCs. However, in the neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, BTZ (1-20 nM) only increased cell death without increasing CREB phosphorylation, Bdnf transcription, or TUBB3 induction. These results suggest that although BTZ induces cell death, it activates neurogenic signals and induces neurogenesis in NSCs.