• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2002

Objective : To investigate the expression of apoptosis related proteins and apoptotic cells on the human ovarian follicles. Materials and Methods: Thirty five Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human ovarian tissue blocks were selected from the surgical pathology files of the department of pathology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, for the period from 1996 to 1998. All specimen were from premenopausal women aged from $32{\sim}45$. Ovarian tissues were collected from the patients performing hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the detection of DNA fragmented cell, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-ligand. Results: Bcl-2 and bax were not expressed on the surrounding cells and oocyte of the primary, primordial and preantral follicles. Fas and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) were not expressed on the surrounding cells on the primordial and primary follicles. But expressed on the surrounding granulosa cells and oocyte in the primordial and primary follicles. In the healthy follicles, Bcl-2 was expressed on the granulosa cells, however, Bax was not expressed. DNA fragmented cells were expressed on the inner granulosa cell layer of atretic follicles. Conclusion: Fas, Fas-ligand, and Bax may be responsible for the follicular atresia and Bcl-2 may be involved in the follicular survival in the human ovary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4919-4923
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• 2014

Background: To investigate the effect of celecoxib on telomerase activity and apoptosis in a human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line (Hep-2 cells). Materials and Methods: The growth inhibition rate of Hep-2 cells in vitro was measured by MTT assay, and apoptosis by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry (FCM). The TRAP-ELISA method was used to determine telomerase activity in Hep-2 cells. The mRNA expression of human telomerase RNA component(hTR), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and human telomerase-associated protein(hTEP1) was determined by RT-PCR assay. Expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was assessed by Western blotting. Results: Celecoxib can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner, repress telomerase activity, decrease hTERT mRNA and Bcl-2 protein expression and increase Bax protein expression, PGE2 had no effect on telomerase. Conclusions: Celecoxib had the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effect in Hep-2 cells. Apoptosis was accompanied by a decrease in telomerase activity which was directly correlated with hTERT mRNA and up-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2. Bcl-2 may thus play an important role in telomerase activity as well as apoptosis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2002

The mechanism by which catechin-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells remains to be elusive. To elucidate the mechanical mights of anti-tumor effects, (-)epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) of catechin was applied to human prostate cancer DU 145 cells. Cell viability was measured by crystal violet staining. Cell lysates were wed to measure the catalytic activity of caspases by using fluorogenic peptide: Ac-DEVD-AMC for caspase-3 protease, Z-IETD-AFC for caspase-8 protease, Ac-LEHD-AFC for caspase-9 protease as substrates. The equal amounts of protein from cell lysate was separated on SDS-PAGE and analyzed by western blotting with anti-Fas antibody, anti-FasL antibody, anti-BCL2 antibody and anti-Bax antibody. (-)EGCG induced the death of DUl45 cells, which was revealed as apoptosis shown by DNA fragmentation. (-)EGCG induced the activation of caspase family cysteine proteases including caspase-3, -8 and -9 proteases in DU145 cells. Also, (-)EGCG increased the expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) protein in DU145 colls. The expression level of BCL2 was decreased in (-)EGCG treated DU145 cells, whereas Bax protein was increased in a time-dependent manner. We suggest that (-)EGCG-induced apoptosis of DU145 cells is mediated by signaling pathway involving caspase family cysteine protease, mitochondrial BCL2-family protein and Fas/FasL.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1507-1514
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• 2017

The purpose of this study aimed at examining the antiproliferative effect of kimchi (kimchi B) adding mistletoe extract known as an anticancer function to improve the functions of kimchi. The study investigated the antiproliferative effect through hemocytometer counts and MTT assay, apoptosis induction through DAPI staining, and mRNA expression through RT-PCR using human lung carcinoma A549 cells. The standardized kimchi (Kimchi A) was used as a control group. As a result of hemocytometer counts and the MTT assay, it was found that kimchi samples inhibited the growth of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Kimchi B induced apoptosis in A549 cells through DAPI staining. The apoptosis induced by kimchi B was associated with the increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and with the decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Also, kimchi B influenced the increase in the expression of p21 mRNA, but did not have the effect on the expression of p53 mRNA. In conclusion, the antiproliferative effect of kimchi B was due to apoptosis induced by increasing Bax and decreasing Bcl-2, and increasing p21. The findings will be utilized to develop kimchi with the improved function for the patients having cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.212-217
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Citrus Reticulata(CR) on the Cell Detachment and Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cancer SNU-668 Cells. The effect of CR on apoptosis was investigated through MTT assay, DAPI staining, and TUNEL assay. We also performed RT-PCR for apoptotic genes including BCL-2, BAX, and caspase-3, the caspase-3 activity assay, and western blotting for pro-CASP-3. Then, to detect that adhesion of cell to ECM was reduced by CR, we investigated mRNA expression of CDH1 and PTK2 using RT-PCR, and their protein expressions using western blotting, and immunocytochemistry in SNU-668 cells. In this study, the results showed that treatment of CR induced time and dose-dependent cell death in SNU-668 cells. Downregulated mRNA expression of BCL-2, and upregulated mRNA expressions of BAX and CASP-3 indicated that the cell death was due to apoptosis. Protein expression of inactivated CASP-3, and caspase-3 activity assay also showed that apoptosis was induced in CR-treated cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10381-10385
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• 2015

SKI-II has been reported as an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase 1 and has been extensively used to prove the involvement of sphingosine kinase and sphingosine-1-phosphate (Sphk1) in cellular processes. In the current study, we investigated the effects of SKI-II and its potential mechanisms in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells. After treatment with SKI-II, cell growth, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, expression of Sphk1, NF-${\kappa}B$, Bcl-2, Bax and p27 were assessed by MTT assay, flow cytometry, electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and Western-blot assay, respectively. Our results showed that SKI-II markedly inhibited SGC7901 cell survival in a dose-dependent manner, reduced cell proliferation with accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase and induced apoptosis in the tumor cells. Furthermore, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry showed that the expression of p27 and Bax was increased significantly, but the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$, Bcl-2 and Sphk1 decreased by different degrees. These results indicate that SKI-II induced cell growth arrest and apoptosis. The increased apoptotic sensitivity of SGC7901 was correlated with NF-${\kappa}B$ or Bcl-2/Bax activation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.207-213
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Dokhwalgisaeng-tang on immobilization-induced muscle atrophy. Methods: Twenty young male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups. The rats in Dokhwalgisaeng-tang group were orally administered Dokhwalgisaeng-tang water extract, and the rats in the control group were given saline only. Hind limb immobilization was performed with casting tape to keep the left ankle joint in a fully extended position. No intervention was performed on the right leg which was used as an intact region. After 2 weeks of immobilization, all animals were sacrificed, and the gastrocnemius muscle was dissected from both legs and weighed. The morphology of the right and the left gastrocnemius muscle in both the Dokhwalgisaeng-tang and the control group was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The muscle cross sectional area was examined by image analysis (Axiovision LE software). In addition, immunohistochemical staining was carried out using the free-floating method, and the number of apoptotic related proteins were counted (anti-BAX, anti-Bcl-2). Results: Dokhwalgisaeng-tang showed a significant protective effect against the reduction of the left gastrocnemius muscle (weight and muscle cross sectional area) compared with the control group. Moreover, the treatment with Dokhwalgisaeng-tang significantly reduced protein expression of BAX and increased protein expression of Bcl-2 in the gastrocnemius muscle compared with the control group. Conclusion: Dokhwalgisaeng-tang showed protective effects against disuse muscle atrophy, potentially through altered BAX and Bcl-2 protein expression in the gastrocnemius muscle.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.146-155
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• 2019

Background/Aims: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin and an important causative factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Recently, paricalcitol (19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2) was shown to exhibit protective effects in kidney injury. Here, we investigated the effects of paricalcitol treatment on IS-induced renal tubular injury. Methods: The fluorescent dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) following IS administration in human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. The effects of IS on cell viability were determined using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays and levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2-associated protein X [Bax] and B-cell lymphoma 2 [Bcl-2]), nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65, and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) were determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting. The promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured by luciferase assays and apoptosis was determined by f low cytometry of cells stained with f luorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V protein. Results: IS treatment increased ROS production, decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells. IS treatment increased the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, decreased Bcl-2 expression, and activated phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt. In contrast, paricalcitol treatment decreased Bax expression, increased Bcl-2 expression, and inhibited phosphorylation of MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65, and Akt in HK-2 cells. $NF-{\kappa}B$ promoter activity was increased following IS, administration and was counteracted by pretreatment with paricalcitol. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that IS-induced apoptosis was attenuated by paricalcitol treatment, which resulted in decreased numbers of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Annexin V positive cells. Conclusions: Treatment with paricalcitol inhibited IS-induced apoptosis by regulating MAPK, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Akt signaling pathway in HK-2 cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2019

The corpus luteum (CL) is composed to various cells, such as luteal steroidogenic cells (LSCs), luteal thecal steroidogenic cells (LTCs), luteal endothelial cells (LECs), fibroblast, immune cells and blood cells. The life span of CL is controlled by proliferation and apoptosis of luteal cells. Therefore, this study investigated apoptotic factors in luteal cells derived from bovine CL. The CL tissues were collected from bovine ovaries and luteal cells were isolated from middle phase CL. Then, LTCs and LECs were separated according to cellular morphology from LSCs. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Fas and tumor necrosis factor 1 receptor (TNF1R) mRNA and protein were analyzed using quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. Results show that, Bax and TNFR1 mRNA expression were significantly increased at late group than early and middle groups, otherwise Bcl-2 were significantly decreased at late group than early group (P<0.05). Fas mRNA expression were significantly decreased in middle group compared to early and late groups (P<0.05). In addition, Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA in LTCs was lower than LSCs, Fas mRNA was higher than LSCs. The Bcl-2 protein expression was lower at LTCs than LSCs, especially Fas protein in LTCs was significantly lower than LSCs and LECs (P<0.05). Otherwise, TNFR1 protein of LTCs were similar with LSCs but higher compared with LECs. In conclusion, we suggest that the results may help understanding of apoptosis ability in luteal cells according to cell type during CL regression of estrous cycle.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2008

Purpose: The modification of radiation-induced apoptosis by EGCG, known as antioxidants or oxidants, was studied in mice spleens irradiated with a lethal dose. Materials and Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control, irradiation-only, and EGCG (100 mg/kg i.p. 1 h before irradiation) pretreatment groups. The mice were irradiated with a single whole-body dose of 7 Gy. The apoptosis in the spleens after irradiation of the lethal dose were analyzed by TUNEL assay. In addition, the expression levels of the Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were quantified using a Western blotting method. Results: The induction of apoptosis was detected in the splenic white pulp. The highest level of apoptosis was detected at 8 hours after irradiation. No significant difference was identified by the apoptotic index (53.9% vs. 52.1%, p=0.328) and relative Bax protein expression (0.86 vs. 0.81, p=0.335), between the irradiation-only and EGCG pretreatment group, respectively. However, a lower Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (1.64 vs. 0.97, p=0.037) and higher relative expression level of Bcl-2 protein (0.57 vs. 0.82, p=0.037) was measured in the EGCG pretreatment group. Conclusion: The EGCG pretreatment neither decreased the radiation-induced apoptosis in mice splenocytes, nor induced additional apoptosis.