• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2003

Bax, a mammalian pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family induces cell death when expressed in yeast. To investigate whether Bax expression can induce cell death in plant, we produced transgenic Arabidopsis plants that contained murine Bax cDNA under control of a glucocorticoid-inducible promoter. Transgenic plants treated with dexamethasone, a strong synthetic glucocorticoid, induced Bax accumulation and cell death, suggesting that some elements of cell death mechanism by Bax may be conserved among various organisms. Therefore, we developed novel yeast genetic system, and cloned several Plant Bax Inhibitors (PBIs). Here, we report the function of two PBIs in detail. PBI1 is ascorbate peroxidase (sAPX). Fluorescence method of dihydrorhodamine123 oxidation revealed that expression of Bax in yeast cells generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and which was greatly reduced by co-expression with sAPX. These results suggest that sAPX inhibits the generation of ROS by Bax, which in turn suppresses Baxinduced cell death in yeast. PBI2 encodes nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK). ROS stress strongly induces the expression of the NDPK2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana (AtNDPK2). Transgenic plants overexpressing AtNDPK2 have lower levels of ROS than wildtype plants. Mutants lacking AtNDPK2 had higher levels of ROS than wildtype. $H_2O_2$ treatment induced the phosphorylation of two endogenous proteins whose molecular weights suggested they are AtMPK3 and AtMPK6. In the absence of $H_2O_2$ treatment, phosphorylation of these proteins was slightly elevated in plants overexpressing AtNDPK2 but markedly decreased in the AtNDPK2 deletion mutant. Yeast two-hybrid and in vitro protein pull-down assays revealed that AtNDPK2 specifically interacts with AtMPK3 and AtMPK6. Furthermore, AtNDPK2 also enhances the MSP phosphorylation activity of AtMPK3 in vitro. Finally, constitutive overexpression of AtNDPK2 in Arabidopsis plants conferred an enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses that elicit ROS accumulation in situ. Thus, AtNDPK2 appears to playa novel regulatory role in $H_2O_2$-mediated MAPK signaling in plants.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.703-712
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• 2016

Monoclonal antibodies with specific antigens have been widely used as targeted therapy for cancer. Hep88 mAb is a monoclonal antibody which shows specific binding with anti-cancer effects against the HepG2 cell line. However, its mechanisms of action are still not completely understood. We examined cell cycling and apoptosis by flow cytometry and mRNA expression of factors involved in apoptosis and paraptosis in Hep88 mAb-treated HepG2 cells by real-time PCR. The cell-cycle analysis demonstrated that growth-inhibitory activity was associated with G2/M cell cycle arrest. Hep88 mAb induced a significant increase in apoptotic cell populations in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The mRNA expression results also suggested that the process triggered by Hep88 mAb involved up-regulation of tumor suppressor p53, pro-apoptotic Bax, Cathepsin B, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, with a decrease of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 - thus confirming paraptosis and apoptosis programmed cell death. These findings represent new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of Hep88 mAb in liver cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1999

In the mammalian ovary, follicular development and atresia continuously occur during the reproductive cycles. Follicular atresia occurs through granulosa cell apoptosis. Apoptosis is known as the physiological cell death, which is regulated by bcl-2 gene family. In the bcl-2 gene family, bcl-2 and bcl-xLong are known as inhibitors of apoptosis, whereas bax and bcl-xShort are known as inducer of apoptosis. We thought that bcl-2 protein is associated with follicular development and atresia. But it is not known that the distribution of cells containing bcl-2 protein during follicular development and atresia. Therefore, to examine the distribution of cells with bcl-2 protein during ovarian follicular development and atresia, the immunohistochemistry was used in the rat ovary. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was localized in the interstitial cells, theca externa cells and granulosa cells around of antrum. All positive signals were observed in the cytoplasm of these cells. Positive signals were strongly observed in the interstitial and theca externa cells of growing antral follicles. While, positive signals were weakly observed in these cells from atretic antral follicles. Positive signals were very weakly observed in the granulosa cells of growing and atretic antral follicles. According to these data, we suggested that bcl-2 proteins which were strongly expressed in the interstitial cells and theca externa cells of growing antral follicles inhibit follicular atresia. And we purposed that bcl-2 proteins regulated follicular development and atresia through the action of bcl-2 gene family.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Objectives: Amygdalin is abundant in the seeds of bitter almond and apricots of the Prunus genus and other rosaceous plants. Amygdalin is known to have antitussive and anticancer activities. Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is an important mechanism in cancer treatment. Methods: In the present study, we investigated whether the aqueous extract of Amygdalin induces apoptotic cell death in ME-180 cervical cancer cells. For this study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, terminal deoxynuclotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, flow cytometric analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, Western blot, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed on ME-180 cervical cancer cells. Results: Through morphological and biochemical analyses, it was demonstrated that ME-180 cells treated with Amygdalin exhibit several apoptotic features. The treatment of Amygdalin increased the Bax expression and caspase-3 enzyme activity and decreased Bcl-2 expression. Here, we have shown that Amygdalin induces apoptotic cell death in ME-180 cervical cancer cells through Bax-dependent caspase-3 activation. These results suggest the possibility that Amygdalin exerts anti-tumor effect on human cervical cancer.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate neuroprotective effects of Neutral Pharmacopuncture for Blood Stasis(NPBS) into SP10 and Tangguisusangami-tang (dangguixusanjiawei-tang)(TGT) in the experimental Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI)rats. Methods : Male rats were divided into 4 groups. Group I was no treatment after TBI. Group II was treatment with NPBS into SP10 after TBI. Group III was treatment with TGT after TBI. Group IV was NPBS into SP10 and TGT after TBI. The author carried out neurological motor behavioral, histological assessment test. Results : 1. In neurological motor behavior tests, motor and cognitive function recovery was significantly increased in the Group II, III, IV. Also Group IV was increased as compared with Group II, III. 2. In BAX expression, according to priority Group IV, III, II, I were decresed in 7 and 14 days later. Especially Group IV was significantly decreased in 14 days later. 3. In BCL-2 expression, Group IV was increased slightly in 7 days later. Most incresed expression was experimented in the Group IV in 14 days later. 4. In TUNEL expression, IV was decreased as compared with each Group I, II, III in 7 days later. Group IV, III were decreased as compared with each Group I, II, III in 14 days later. Conclusions : According to the results, NPBS and TGT can inhibit apoptosis of cells after TBI in rats by contol of BAX and BCL-2, TUNEL expression. And also can help neurological motor behavioral function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2003

Platycodi Radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji, is used as a traditional oriental medicine. Extracts from the roots of P grandiflorum have been reported to have wide ranging health benefits. In the present study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract from the roots of P. grandiflorum (AEPG) on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Upon treatment with AEPG, a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell growth was observed and cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including condensation of chromatin. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that AEPG increased populations of apoptotic-sub Gl phase. Immunoblot and quantitative RT-PCR analyses indicated that the expressions of Bcl-2 was down-regulated but Bax was up-regulated in AEPG-treated A549 cells. The expression of active form of caspase-3 by AEPG treatment was markedly increased, and the levels of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and $\beta$-catenin, its target proteins, were decreased in a concentration dependent manner. Taken together, these findings suggest that P. grandiflorum has strong potential for development as an agent for prevention against human lung cancer.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was carried out in order to examine the effects of Gastrodiae rhizoma(GR) ethanol extract on neuronal apoptosis in intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)-induced rats. Methods: ICH was induced by the stereotaxic intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase type VII in Sprague-Dawley rats. GR was orally given once a day for 3 days after ICH. Histological changes of the peri-hematoma regions were observed by cresyl vioIet staining. Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), B-cell blastoma 2(BcI-2) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) expressions in the affected regions were performed by immunohistochemistry. Results: 1. GR reduced apoptotic bodies and swelling neurons in the peri-hematoma regions of ICH-induced rats. 2. GR significantly reduced TUNEL positive cells in the peri-hematoma regions of ICH-induced rats. 3. GR significantly reduced Bax positive cells in the peri-hematoma regions of ICH-induced rats. 4. GR did not influence Bcl-2 expression in the peri-hematoma regions of ICH-induced rats. Conclusions: These results suggest that GR has neuroprotective effects against ICH-induced apoptosis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1047-1052
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• 2005

Two phenolic glucosides, eutigoside Band eutigoside C were isolated from the fresh leaves of Eurya emarginata. These two phenolic glucosides exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Furthermore, when the HL-60 cells were treated with eutigoside C, several apoptotic characteristics such as DNA fragmentation, morphologic changes, and increase of the population of sub-G1 hypodiploid cells were observed. In order to understand the mechanism of apoptosis induction by eutigoside C, we examined the changes of Bcl-2 and Bax expression levels. The eutigoside C reduced BcI-2 protein and mRNA levels, but slightly increased Bax protein and mRNA levels in a time-dependent manner. When we examined the activation of caspase-3, an effector of apoptosis, the eutigoside C increased the expression of active form (19-kDa) of caspase-3 and the increase of their activities was demonstrated by the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a substrate of caspase-3, to 85-kDa. The results suggest that the inhibitory effect of eutigoside C from E. emarginata on the growth of HL-60 appears to arise from the induction of apoptosis via the down-regulation of BcI-2 and the activation of caspase.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.73-81
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• 2016

Objectives : $18{\beta}$-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18betaGA) is an metabolite of glycyrrhizin in Glycyrrhiza (licorice). The present study investigated anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis effect of 18betaGA on the brain tissue of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Methods : 18betaGA was administered orally with low (30 mg/kg) and high (100 mg/kg) doses for 3 days prior to LPS (3 mg/kg) injection. Pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA were measured in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus tissue using real-time polymerase chain reaction at 24 h after the LPS injection. Histological changes of Cornu ammonis area 1 (CA1) neurons, Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 expression in the hippocampus was also evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting method. Results : 18betaGA significantly attenuated the up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 mRNA, and COX-2 mRNA expression in the brain tissues induced by the LPS injection. 18betaGA also significantly attenuated the reductions of the thickness of CA1 and the number of CA1 neurons. The up-regulation of Bax protein expression in the hippocampal tissue by the LPS injection was significantly attenuated, while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax expression was increased by 18betaGA treatment. 18betaGA also significantly attenuated the up-regulation of Bax and caspase-3 expression in the CA1 of the hippocampus. Conclusion : This results indicate that 18betaGA has anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis effect under neuroinflammation induced by the LPS injection and suggest that 18betaGA may be a beneficial drug for various brain diseases accompanied with the brain tissue inflammation.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense. It has a wide spectrum of clinical applications such as in anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is still unknown that berberine related with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In the present study, we are examined the molecular mechanism of ROS- and p38 MAP kinase-mediated apoptosis by berberine in HepG2 cells. Berberine increased cytotoxicity effects by time- and does-dependent manner. $LD_{50}$ was detected 50 ${\mu}M$ at 48h of exposure to berberine. Nuclei cleavage and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were observed in cells treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ of berberine for 48h. Moreover, berberine induced the activating of caspase-3, p53, p38 and Bax expression, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, Bcl-2, was decreased. Additionally, berberine-treated cells had an increased level of generation of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicated that berberine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream change, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation, p38 and p53 activation, caspase-3 activation, and consequent leading to apoptosis.