• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권9호
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• pp.1590-1598
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• 2008

Cell proliferation and differentiation are critical processes in a developing fetal rat brain, during which programmed cell death (PCD) also plays an important role. One of the decisive factors for PCD is Bcl-2 family proteins, where Bax induces cell death, whereas Bcl-2 acts as an inhibitor of PCD. As maternal drinking is known to cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or malformation of the fetal brain during pregnancy, the objective of the present study was to investigate whether maternal ethanol exposure alters the PCD-related Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression during fetal brain development. Pregnant female rats were orally treated with 10% ethanol and the subsequent expressions of the Bax and Bcl-2 proteins examined in the fetal brain, including the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, from gestational day (GD) 15.5 to GD 19.5, using Western blots, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. With regard to the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax proteins (Bcl-2/Bax), the Bax protein was dominant in the forebrain and midbrain of the control GD 15.5 fetuses, except for the hindbrain, when compared with the respective ethanol-treated groups. Moreover, Bcl-2 became dominant in the midbrain of the control GD 17.5 fetuses when compared with the ethanol-treated group, representing an alternation of the natural PCD process by ethanol. Furthermore, a differential expression of the Bcl-2 and Bax proteins was found in the differentiating and migrating zones of the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum. Thus, when taken together, the present results suggest that ethanol affects PCD in the cell differentiation and migration zones of the prenatal rat brain by modulating Bax and Bcl-2 expression in an age- and area-dependent manner. Therefore, this is the first evidence that ethanol may alter FAS-associated embryonic brain development through the alteration of Bax and Bc1-2 expression.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.167-178
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• 2002

Objective : The present study was performed to investigate whether apoptosis occur in human embryos by annexin staining and detect the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand (FasL), Bax, and Bcl-2 in human fragmented embryos derived from IVF-ET by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Materials and Methods: Using annexin staining, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis on normal and fragmented embryos, we were able to detect apoptotsis and apoptotic gene products in fragmented embryos. Result: Phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation, the marker for apoptosis, were detected frequently in fragmented embryos. Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected in both fragmented and non-fragmented embryos. When fragmented embryos compared to normal embryos, immunofluorescent intensity of Bcl-2 tended to be lower in fragmented embryos. Bax gene expression increased in the fragmented embryos compared to the normal embryos. This result supports a model in which the molar ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax determines whether apoptosis induced or inhibited in human embryo. Fas was highly expressed in human preimplantation embryos but not FasL. It suggests that embryo may undergo apoptosis by binding with FasL produced by follicular or immune cells. Conclusion: The over expression of Bax and Fas will trigger apoptosis to lead embryo fragmentation and change embryo to be nonviable.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.671-676
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• 2006

본 연구는 생강의 대표적인 비휘발성 매운맛 성분인 [6]-gingerol이 인체 유방암세포 MDA-MB-231에서 세포사멸에 미치는 영향을 살펴보았으며 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 세포사멸을 억제하는 단백질인 Bcl-2의 발현은 [6]-gingerol의 농도가 증가할수록 발현이 감소되었으며, mRNA 수준에서도 같은 양상을 보였다. 세포사멸을 유도하는 Bax의 단백질 발현은 [6]-gingerol의 농도가 증가되어도 유의적인 차이는 나타나지 않았으며 mRNA 수준에도 별 영향을 미치지 않았다. 그러나 세포사멸의 지표로 사용되는 Bcl-2/Bax의 비율은 [6]-gingerol의 농도가 증가할수록 감소를 보였다. 그리고 [6]-gingerol의 농도가 증가할수록 caspase-3의 활성이 증가하였다. 이상의 결과들로 볼 때, 인체 유방암 세포인 MDA-MB-231에서 [6]-gingerol은 암세포의 증식을 억제하고, 세포사멸을 유도하는 효과가 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.98-105
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• 2005

목적 : 진행된 자궁경부암 환자에서 bax와 p53의 발현 빈도를 방사선치료를 받은 환자를 대상으로 예후인자로서의 유용성을 알아보기 위하여 덜 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 본 연구는 1996년 6월부터 2003년 12월까지 근치적 방사선치료를 받은 FIGO stage IIb의 자궁 경부암 환자 65명을 대상으로 면역조직화학 염색을 시행하여 관찰된 bax와 p53의 발현과 환자의 5년 생존율과 무병생존율의 관계를 연구하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 대상환자 65명에 대한 5년 생존율과 무병생존율은 각각 $65.1\%$와 $62.9\%$였다. p53에 대한 면역조직화학염색은 $26.2\%$의 발현을 보였으며, 음성 환자 군과 양성 환자 군의 5년 생존율은 각각 $66.6\%$와 $61.1\%$ (p=0.176)였으나, 무병생존율은 각각 $72.1\%$와 $50.9\%$ (p=0.027)로 단변량분석에서 통계학적 차이를 보였다. 면역염색에 대한 bax의 발현은 $52.3\%$에서 양성을 보였으며, 음성 환자 군과 양성 환자 군의 5년 생존율은 각각 $68.8\%$와 $63.6\%$ (p=0.726)였으며, 무병생존율은 각각 $68.1\%$와 $64.1\%$ (p=0.505)로 통계학적 차이가 없었다. 다변량분석에서는 p53 단백의 발현과 bax의 발현이 생존율에 의미 있는 영향을 주지 못했다. 그러나 ps3+/bax-의 면역화학염색 결과를 보인 9명의 환자에서 의미 있는 가장 낮은 무병생존율을 관찰할 수 있었다. 결론 : p53과 bax의 발현은 단독적으로 방사선치료를 시행한 환자에서 유의성을 가지는 예후인자로 사용할 수 없었다. 그러나 p53과 bax의 발현을 동시에 평가할 경우 유용한 예후 인자로서 임상적 유용성이 있을 것으로 생각한다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권5호
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• pp.389-396
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• 2001

Neuroprotective properties of lithium were investigated by using in vivo NMDA excitotoxicity model. The appearance of TUNEL positive cells was prominent within 24 h of NMDA (70 mg/kg, i.p.) injection in the regions of the cortex, hippocampal formation, and thalamus of mouse cerebrum. NMDA treatment resulted in the extensive enhancement of Bax immunoreactivity in the cortical and hippocampal regions. NMDA also increased the immunoreactivity of caspase 8 in the similar regions of the mouse cerebrum. However, the increased immunoreactivity of Bax and caspase 8 were dramatically attenuated by chronic lithium pretreatment (lithium chloride, 300 mg/kg/d, i.p. for $7{\sim}10$ days). At the same time, lithium ion blocked the appearance of TUNEL positive cells, and the morphological assessment indicated an effective neuroprotection by lithium against NMDA excitotoxicity. Although the exact action mechanism of lithium is not straightforward at this time, we propose that the inhibition of Bax and caspase cascade is involved in the neuroprotective action of lithium.

• 대한골관절종양학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.118-125
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• 2005

목적: 골육종에서 세포 사멸과 관련된 survivin, bcl-2, bax 유전자의 발현을 조사하여 임상적 결과와의 연관성에 대해 알아 보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 항암 약물 치료 전 절개 생검으로 얻은 50예의 골육종 조직을 면역조직화학 염색법을 통하여 survivin, bcl-2, bax의 발현을 관찰하였다. 임상적으로 항암 약물 치료에 대한 반응율, 국소재발, 원격전이, 종양학적 결과 등을 연구하여 surviving, bcl-2, bax 유전자 각각의 발현 또는 이들의 복합적인 발현과의 연관성에 대해 통계적으로 분석하였다. 결과: 면역조직화학염색법으로 검사한 survivin 유전자의 발현은 26예(52%)에서 관찰되었고, bcl-2는 23예 (46%), bax는 21예 (42%)에서 관찰되었다. Survivin과 bcl-2의 공동발현은 19예(38%), survivin과 bax의 공동 발현은 13예(26%), bcl-2와 bax의 공동 발현은 8예 (16%), 그리고 이들 3가지 모두의 발현은 총 8예 (16%)에서 관찰되었다. 검사한 3가지 세포 사멸 관련 유전자의 발현과 여러 임상적 변수와의 상관 관계를 조사 하였을 때 조직학적 분류, 나이, 성별, 국소 재발 등과는 유의한 연관성이 없었다. 항암 약물 반응율과 통계적으로 유의한 연관성을 보인 인자는 bcl-2 (P=0.04), 그리고 survivin과 bcl-2가 동시 발현된 경우 (P=0.044)였으며 나쁜 항암 약물 반응율을 나타냈다. 종양학적 결과 중 질병으로 인한 사망과의 연관성을 보인 인자 역시 bcl-2 (P=0.001), 그리고 survivin과 bcl-2가 동시발현된 경우 (P=0.027)였으며, 이들의 발현은 나쁜 종양학적 결과를 나타냈다. Kaplan-Meier 생존율 분석에서 bcl-2 (P=0.0012)의 발현과 survivin, bcl-2의 동시 발현 (P=0.0075)은 생존율과 역의 상관관계를 보였다. 결론: 골육종에서 세포 사멸 관련 유전자의 발현은 비교적 높게 보였으며, bcl-2의 발현은 항암 약물치료에 대한 불량한 반응과 낮은 생존율에 의미 있는 연관성을 보이며, survivin은 bcl-2와 동시에 발현되는 경우에만 이러한 종양학적 결과와 의미 있는 관련이 있었다. 따라서 세포 사멸 관련 유전자들의 면역조직화학염색법을 통한 관찰이 골육종의 예후 판정에 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.378-387
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• 2007

The Bcl-2 family of proteins interacts at the mitochondria to regulate apoptosis. However, the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ are not completely localized to the mitochondria. In an attempt to generate Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ chimeras that are constitutively localized to the mitochondria, we substituted their C-terminal transmembrane tail or both the C-terminal transmembrane tail and the adjacent loop with the equivalent regions from Bak or Bax mutant (BaxS184V) as these regions determine the mitochondrial localization of Bak and Bax. The effects of these substitutions on subcellular localization and their activities were assessed following expression in HeLa and CHO K1 cells. The substitution of the C-terminal tail or the C-terminal tail and the adjacent loop of Bcl-2 with the equivalent regions from Bak or the Bax mutant resulted in its association with the mitochondria. This change in subcellular localization of Bcl-2 chimeras triggered cells to undergo apoptotic-like cell death. The localization of this Bcl-2 chimera to the mitochondria may be associated with the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Unlike Bcl-2, the loop structure adjacent to the C-terminal tail in $Bcl-X_L$ is crucial for its localization. To localize the $Bcl-X_L$ chimeras to the mitochondria, the loop structure next to the C-terminal tail in $Bcl-X_L$ protein must remain intact and cannot be substituted by the loop from Bax or Bak. The chimeric $Bcl-X_L$ with both its C-terminal tail and the loop structure replaced by the equivalent regions of Bak or Bax mutant localized throughout the entire cytosol. The $Bcl-X_L$ chimeras that are targeted to the mitochondria and the wild type $Bcl-X_L$ provided same protection against cell death under several death inducing conditions.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2010

Objectives : Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood is a famous pharmacopuncture treatment that treated disease caused by static blood. Hyolhae(Sp10) is also a famous point of acupuncture that treated that. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood into Hyolhae(Sp10) on BAX and BCL-2 expression in the experimental traumatic brain injury(TBI) rats. Methods : Male rats were divided into 3 groups. I was no treatment after TBI. II was treatment with needle-prick acupuncture after TBI. III was treatment with Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood into Hyolhae(Sp10) after TBI. The author carried out neurological motor behavioral test, histological assessment test. Neurological motor behavior tests consist of rotarod test, beam-walking test and postural reflex test. In the histological assessment test, BAX and BCL-2 expression, hematoxylin & eosin staining were experimented. Results : In neurological motor behavior tests, motor and cognitive function recovery was significantly increased in the II, III as compared with I (p<0.05). Especially III was significantly increased as compared with II (p<0.05). BAX expression was significantly decresed in order of the III, II, I after 7 and 14 days later. BCL-2 expression was investigated in the III, II as compared with I. Especially Most incresed expression was experimented in the III. Conclusions : According to the above results, Cool Pharmacopuncture for static blood can inhibit apoptosis of cells after TBI in rats by contol of BAX and BCL expression.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.161-166
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• 2000

Objective: The nm23 gene has been identified as a potential metastasis suppressor gene in various human neoplasms. Both Bcl-2, which promotes cell survival, and Bax, which promotes cell death, have been considered as major factors in controlling the apoptotic pathway. This study was carried out to determine whether these markers are useful in distinguishing potential intrinsic differences in tumor virulence of papillary thyroid cancers. Material and Method: The expressions of nm23, Bcl-2 and Bax have been evaluated using immunohistochemical techniques in 100 pure papillary thyroid cancers and 20 metastatic lymphnodes. The intensity of immnunoreactivity was graded on arbitrary four point scale(grade 0 or 1 : negative reactivity, grade 2 or 3 positive reactivity). The immunoreactivities were analyzed in relation to TNM atage, AMES score, local recurrence and distant metastasis, and that of metastatic LNs was compared with the tumors. Results: The expression of Bcl-2 and bax did not show any statistical differences by TNM stage, AMES score, recurrence, distant metastasis and also between the tumor and metastatic LN. However, the nm23 showed higher expression of Ki67 in distant metastasis than in control group and in metastatic LNs than in the tumors(p<0.05). Conclusion: Although the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein showed no correlation with clinical parameters representing tumor virulence, the nm23 expression could be an useful prognostic factor, especially in predicting nodal or distant metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.155-160
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• 2020

Objective: The genes Bcl-2 and Bax play important roles in apoptosis. Many studies have shown that formalin has a strong deleterious effect on male fertility and can induce apoptosis. L-carnitine has been reported to potentially reverse the negative effects of formalin, leading to improved spermatogenesis. In this study, we examined the levels of expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in mice treated with formalin and L-carnitine. Methods: Thirty adult BALB/c mice were categorized into three groups. The mice in the control group (n = 10) were not injected with any substance. The mice in the second group (n = 10) received 10 mg/kg of formalin daily via an intraperitoneal injection, while those in the final group (n = 10) were intraperitoneally injected daily with a dose of 10 mg/kg of formalin and 100 mg/kg of L-carnitine. All mice were kept in isolated cages for 31 days. Results: The expression of Bax was significantly higher in the formalin-treated mice than in the mice of the control group, while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly lower in the formalin-treated mice than in the control mice. Additionally, relative to control mice, Bcl-2 expression increased and Bax expression decreased in the mice administered both formalin and L-carnitine. Conclusion: In this study, L-carnitine was shown to augment Bcl-2 expression and to reduce Bax expression, indicating that this compound may inhibit apoptosis. Due to its positive effects, L-carnitine can be used as a prophylactic treatment for people who routinely come into direct contact with formalin as an occupational hazard.