• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.46-54
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• 2010

Ceramide induces cell death in a variety of cell types however, the underlying molecular mechanisms related to renal epithelial cells remain unclear. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in ceramide-induced cell death in renal epithelial cells. An established renal proximal tubular cell line of opossum kidney (OK) cells was used for this research. Ceramide induced apoptotic cell death in these cells. Western blot analysis showed that ceramide induced activation of ERK. The ERK activation and cell death induced by ceramide were prevented by the ERK inhibitor PD98059. Ceramide caused cytochrome C release from mitochondria into the cytosol as well as activation of caspase-3. Both effects were prevented by PD98059. The ceramide-induced cell death was also prevented by a caspase inhibitor. These results suggest that ceramide induces cell death through an ERK-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in OK cells.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.403-409
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• 2008

In Oriental medicine daeseungki-tang is one of the prescription that is used clinically for constipation of paralytics. The objective of the study was to observe the effect of daeseungki-tang on apoptotic neuronal cell death. In the present study, middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) rats were treated with daeseungi-tang for 5 days and the edema percentage of cerebral hemisphere of MCAO rats were investigated primary. Secondary, appearances of Bax, Bcl-2,-factors that is related to apoptotic neuronal cell death - and HSP72 in the brain of MCAO rats were investigated via immunohistochemistry. Daeseungki-tang significantly decreased edema percentage of the cerebral hemisphere of MCAO rats. Daeseungki-tang significantly decreased Bax positive cells, but did not change the apperances of Bcl-2 positive cells in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex and the caudoputamen of MCAO rats. Daeseungki-tang significantly decreased HSP72 positive cells in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex, but not in the caudoputamen of MCAO rats. Based on the present results, it can be suggested that treatment with daeseungki-tang may decrease edema of the cerebral hemisphere and restrain apoptotic neuronal cell death in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

To verify the inhibitory or protective effects of light-emitting diode(LED) irradiation on apoptotic cell death induced by $CoCl_2$, human SH-SY5Y cells were treated with $CoCl_2$ and LED were used to irradiate the cells. In the cell viability assay, cells were died slowly from $50{\mu}M$ to $250{\mu}M$ and about 50% of cells died after 12 hours at $400{\mu}M$ of $CoCl_2$. The Diff-Quik staining revealed that cells showed condensation of DNA and blebbing of the cell membrane. The DNA fragmentation assay revealed the DNA fragmentation, which is another apoptosis marker, occurred in cells treated with $400{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$ for 16 hours. In the western blot for HIF-$1{\alpha}$, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ was expressed after 3 hours from induction and peaked maximally at 16 hours. In the cell viability assay of the effects of LED irradiation (at 590 nm for 1 hour 20 minutes), the cells showed more proliferation (about 20%) than the control group. The RPA assay of various apoptosis-related molecules showed that pro-apoptosis molecules such as Bax, Bak, and Bid were upregulated in the $CoCl_2$ treatment group. This means that the apoptotic cell population was increased. However there was some significant changes in LED irradiated cells. In the $CoCl_2$-treated LED irradiation group, those molecules were down-regulated more than in the only $CoCl_2$-treated group. These results have shown that $CoCl_2$ may induce apoptotic cell death in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. And LED irradiation has a positive effect on apoptotic cells by down-regulation of pro-apoptotic molecules.

• BMB Reports
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.391-394
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• 2001

The balance between life and death of a cell regulates essential developmental processes in multicellular organisms. Apoptotic cell death is a complex, stepwise program involving multiple protein components that trigger and execute the demise of the cell. Of the many triggers of apoptosis, most are not well understood, but some key components have been identified, such as those of the Bcl-2 family, which function as anti-apoptotic or proapoptotic factors. Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of this family, has been shown to serve as a component of many apoptotic triggering cascades and its mechanism of action is the focus of intense study. Herein we discuss current, differing ideas on the function of Bax and its structure, and suggest novel mechanisms for how this death protein targets mitochondria, triggering apoptosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.349-355
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• 2015

EphA7 has been implicated in the regulation of apoptotic cell death in neural epithelial cells. In this report, we provide evidence that EphA7 interacts with caspase-8 to induce apoptotic cell signaling. First, a pull-down assay using biotinylated ephrinA5-Fc showed that EphA7 co-precipitated with wild type caspase-8 or catalytically inactive caspase-8 mutant. Second, co-transfection of EphA7 with caspase-8 significantly increased the number of cleaved caspase-3 positive apoptotic cells under an experimental condition where transfection of EphA7 or caspase-8 alone did not affect cell viability or apoptosis. EphA4 also had a causative role in inducing apoptotic cell death with caspase-8, whereas EphA8 did not. Third, caspase-8 catalytic activity was essential for the apoptotic signaling cascade, whereas tyrosine kinase activity of the EphA4 receptor was not. Interestingly, we found that kinase-inactive EphA4 was well co-localized at the plasma membrane with catalytically inactive caspase-8, suggesting that an interaction between these mutant proteins was more stable. Finally, we observed that the extracellular region of the EphA7 receptor was critical for interacting with caspase-8, whereas the cytoplasmic region of EphA7 was not. Therefore, we propose that Eph receptors physically associate with a transmembrane protein to form an apoptotic signaling complex and that this unidentified receptor-like protein acts as a biochemical linker between the Eph receptor and caspase-8.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.45-62
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• 2003

Objective : To examine the effects of Beevenom on the cell proliferation of human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7, we performed various experiments such as does-dependent effect of Beevenom on cell proliferation and viability, morphological changes, and alterations of apoptosis/cell cycle-regulatory gene products. Methods : Beevenom induced cell viability and proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The anti-proliferative effect by Beevenom treatment in MCF-7 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrance shrinking and cell rounding up. Results : Beevenom induced apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manager, which was associated with degradation of ${\beta}$-catenin, an apoptotic target protein. Beevenom induced the Bax expressions, a pro-apoptotic gene, both in protein and mRNA levels, however, the levels of Bcl-$X_{S/L}$ expression, an anti-apoptotic gene, were down-regulated in Beevenom-treated cells. Western blot analysis and RT-PCT data revealed that the levels of cyclin of B1 protein and cyclin E mRNA were reduced by Beevenom treatment in MCF-7 cells, respectively, where as the expression of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21 mRNA were markedly increased in a concentration-dependent fashion. Conclusions : Taken together, these findings suggest that Beevenom induced inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death and Beevenom may have therapeutic potential in human breast cancer.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.571-578
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• 2001

방사선 피폭선량의 예측을 위한 방사선 민감 지표 모델 개발의 일환으로 apoptotic fragment assay법이 방사선에 피폭된 후 체내 피폭선량을 예측할 수 있는 지표로의 이용 가능성을 평가하기 위하여 코발트-60 감마선과 의료용 싸이크로트론 50MeV($p{\rightarrow}Be^+$) fast neutron 을 0.25Gy에서 1Gy의 선량을 마우스에 각각 전신 조사한 후 소장 음와세포내 apoptotic crypt cell의 수적 변화를 관찰하였다. 저선량 조사군에서 apoptotic crypt cell의 출현 빈도가 1Gy까지 급격하게 증가한 것으로 보아 방사선이 stem cell 지역에 있는 crypt cell의 형태학적 변화를 유발하는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과는 아포토시스가 손상된 세포를 제거하므로 손상된 방사선 민감 표적 장기의 항상성 유지에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 판단되었다. Apoptotic fragments의 발생빈도에 대한 선량-반응 곡선에 있어서 음와세포는 중성자조사군이 $y=0.18+(9.728{\pm}0.887)D+(-4.727{\pm}1.033)D^2$ ($r^2=0.984$)으로, 반면에 감마선조사군은 $y=0.18+(5.125{\pm}0.601)D+(-2.652{\pm}0.7000)D^2$ ($r^2=0.970$)의 식을 얻었다. 이와 같이 중성자조사군과 감마선조사군은 공히 linear quadratic model 로 관찰되었다. apoptotic fragments 의 발생빈도와 조사 선량간에 유의한 효과가 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 이상의 결과에서 조사선량의 증가에 비례하여 방사선 민감 세포의apoptotic fragments 가 수적으로 증가하였으며, 고준위 방사선과 저준위 방사선은 선량 반응 관계식과 시간 경과에 따른 영향이 매우 유사하였으며, 마우스 음와세포의 apoptosis 유도에 대한 중성자선의 방사선 생물학적 효과비(RBE)는 2.072이였다. 그리고 모든 방사선조사군에서 방사선피폭 후 4시간과 6시간에 apoptosis 유도가 가장 많았으며, 음와세포의 형태학적 소견은 정상 대조군에서 관찰되지 않는 전형적인 apoptotic fragments 가 나타났다. 따라서 음와 세포에서의 아포토시스 유도는 방사선 피폭으로 발생된 세포 손상의 생물학적 영향 평가검색, 방사선 방호제의 민감도 검사, 방사성 동위원소의 체내 오염에 대한 체내 피폭선량 예측의 지표 및 방사선 민감 표적장기의 손상정도 파악에 이용 가능할 것임. Apoptotic fragment assay 법은 0.25Gy에서 1Gy 까지의 선량에서 간편하고 빠르며 재현성이 있는 지표로서 방사선 민감 표적 장기의 선량 반응 평가와 방사선 피폭후 조기 피폭선량 예측을 위한 방사선 생물학적 선량측정법의 좋은 지표로 사용할 수 있을 것으로 사료됨.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.79-91
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• 2014

Objectives : To investigate the anti-cancer effect of Palbohoichoon-tang (PBHCT) extracts. Methods : The cell viability was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MMT) assay and cell morphological changes were microscopically analyzed after staining with $10{\mu}M$ 2-[4-amidinophenyl]-6-indolecarbamidine dihydrochloride (DAPI) and TUNEL. We also analyzed expression of Bcl2, $Bcl_{xL}$, Bax, procaspase-3, procaspase-9, and procyclic acidic repetitive protein (PARP) by western blot method. Results : Observations showed that PBHCT induced the apoptotic cell death proved by increased sub-G1 phase cell population, apoptotic body formation and chromatin condensation. Western blot analysis of total cell lysates revealed that the PBHCT induced cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, PBHCT dose-dependently increased the activity of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP-1. Furthermore, PBHCT reduced anti-apoptotic Bcl2, $Bcl_{xL}$ expression which contributed to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the activations of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Conclusions : These findings suggest that PBHCT exerts anti-cancer effects on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inducing apoptotic death via down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl2 and $Bcl_{xL}$, up-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax, and activation of caspase cascades and PARP-1.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.147-155
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• 2016

Chaetominine is a quinazoline alkaloid originating from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus CY018. In this study, we showed evidence that chaetominine has cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on human leukemia K562 cells and investigated the pathway involved in chaetominine-induced apoptosis in detail. Chaetominine inhibited K562 cell growth, with an $IC_{50}$ value of 35 nM, but showed little inhibitory effect on the growth of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The high apoptosis rates, morphological apoptotic features, and DNA fragmentation caused by chaetominine indicated that the cytotoxicity was partially caused by its pro-apoptotic effect. Under chaetominine treatment, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was upregulated (from 0.3 to 8), which was followed by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, and stimulation of Apaf-1. Furthermore, activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, which are the main executers of the apoptotic process, was observed. These results demonstrated that chaetominine induced cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Chaetominine inhibited K562 cell growth and induced apoptotic cell death through the intrinsic pathway, which suggests that chaetominine might be a promising therapeutic for leukemia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.163-169
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• 2007

The neurotoxicity of amyloid $\beta(A\beta)$ is associated with an increased production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis, and it has been implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease. While(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG) suppresses $A\beta$-induced apoptosis, the mechanisms underlying this process have yet to be completely clarified. This study was designed to investigate whether EGCG plays a neuroprotective role by activating cell survival system such as protein kinase C(PKC), extracellular-signal-related kinase(ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK), and anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic genes in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. One ${\mu}M\;A{\beta}_{1-42}$ decreased cell viability, which was correlated with increased DNA fragmentation evidenced by DAPI staining. Pre-treatment of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with EGCG($1{\mu}M$) significantly attenuated $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-induced cytotoxicity. Potential cell signaling candidates involved in this neuroprotective effects were further examined. EGCG restored the reduced PKC, ERK, and JNK activities caused by $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ toxicity. In addition, gene expression analysis revealed that EGCG prevented both the $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-induced expression of a pro-apoptotic gene mRNA, Bad and Bax, and the decrease of an anti-apoptotic gene mRNA, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. These results suggest that the neuroprotective mechanism of EGCG against $A{\beta}_{1-42}$-induced apoptotic cell death includes stimulation of PKC, ERK, and JNK, and modulation of cell survival and death genes.