• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2020

Background: Helicobacter pylori increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in gastric epithelial cells. DNA damage activates DNA damage response (DDR) which includes ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) activation. ATM increases alternative reading frame (ARF) but decreases mouse double minute 2 (Mdm2). Because p53 interacts with Mdm2, H. pylori-induced loss of Mdm2 stabilizes p53 and induces apoptosis. Previous study showed that Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRG) reduces ROS and prevents cell death in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells. Methods: We determined whether KRG inhibits apoptosis by suppressing DDRs and apoptotic indices in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial AGS cells. The infected cells were treated with or without KRG or an ATM kinase inhibitor KU-55933. ROS levels, apoptotic indices (cell death, DNA fragmentation, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 activity) and DDRs (activation and levels of ATM, checkpoint kinase 2, Mdm2, ARF, and p53) were determined. Results: H. pylori induced apoptosis by increasing apoptotic indices and ROS levels. H. pylori activated DDRs (increased p-ATM, p-checkpoint kinase 2, ARF, p-p53, and p53, but decreased Mdm2) in gastric epithelial cells. KRG reduced ROS and inhibited increase in apoptotic indices and DDRs in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells. KU-55933 suppressed DDRs and apoptosis in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells, similar to KRG. Conclusion: KRG suppressed ATM-mediated DDRs and apoptosis by reducing ROS in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells. Supplementation with KRG may prevent the oxidative stress-mediated gastric impairment associated with H. pylori infection.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.345-351
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• 2016

Wound healing is a complex physiological process necessitating the coordinated action of various cell types, signals and microRNAs (miRNAs). However, little is known regarding the role of miRNAs in mediating this process. In the present study, we show that let-7c miRNA is decreased in heat-denatured fibroblasts and that inhibiting let-7c expression leads to the increased proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts, whereas the overexpression of let-7c exerts an opposite effect. Further investigation has identified heat shock protein 70 as a direct target of let-7c and has demonstrated that the expression of HSP70 in fibroblasts is negatively correlated with let-7c levels. Moreover, down-regulation of let-7c expression is accompanied by up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of Bax expression, both of which are the downstream genes of HSP70. Notably, the knockdown of HSP70 by HSP70 siRNA apparently abrogates the stimulatory effect of let-7c inhibitor on heat-denatured fibroblasts proliferation and migration. Overall, we have identified let-7c as a key regulator that inhibits fibroblasts proliferation and migration during wound healing.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1437-1449
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• 2007

In this study, the effect of extract of Corydalis yanhusuo (ECT) used in Oriental medicine therapy was investigated on the cell growth and apoptosis of HepG2 human hepatoma cells. It was found that ECT could inhibit the cell growth effectively in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological change and apoptotic cell death such as formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. And we observed the effects of ECT on loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), using the JC-1 probe by DNA flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis of HepG2 cells by ECT was associated with a down-regulation of anti apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression and proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. However, ECT did not affect the pro-apoptotic Bax expression and activity of caspase-8. ECT treatment also concomitant degradation and /or inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), phospholipase C-1 ($PLC{\gamma}1$). Furthermore, ECT treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Additionally ECT have been implicated in the regulation of telomerase expression. ECT treatment induced the down-regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT) expression of HepG2 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that ECT may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of HepG2 human hepatoma cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1233-1240
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• 2006

We have recently demonstrated that Siegesbeckia glabrescens(SG), a herbal medicine, induces apoptosis via nitric oxide(NO) production in human aortic smooth muscle cells(HASMCS). However, the molecular pathways involved in SG-mediated apoptosis are not fully understand. In the present study, we investigated the cellular mechanisms of SG-induced apoptosis in HASMCS. SG induced NO production through inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) induction. The apoptotic effect of SG was attenuated by L-NNA, a NOS inhibitor. In the presence of L-NNA, the degradation of procaspase-3 by SG was inhibited. SG treatment induced a decrease in Bcl-2 expression but did not affect the expression of Bax. In addition, SG treatment evoked both down-regulation of PKC ${\alpha}$ and inhibition of PKC ${\alpha}$ phosphorylation. These downregulations were reversed by addition of L-NNA. It seems likely to De a downregulation of PKC${\alpha}$ due to long term treatment with PMA. Taken together, these results suggest that apoptotic effects of SG may be due to NO production via iNOS mRNA expression. Furthermore, Bcl-2 and PKC${\alpha}$ downregulation, and caspase-3 activation may be involved in the mechanisms for apoptotic effects by SG.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2000

Trichostatin A (TSA) is a Streptomyces product, which inhibits the enzyme activity of histone deacetylase. It is also known as an inducer of apoptosis in several human cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis induced by TSA in MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells. The cytotoxicity of TSA on MDA-MB-231 cells was assessed by MTT assay. The cell viability was decreased dose-dependently and the IC\ulcorner value was about 100 ng/ml after 48 h treatment with TSA. Morphological change and DNA ladder formation, the biochemical hallmarks of apoptotic cell death, were observed after treatment of TSA in a concentration-dependent manner, which was accompanied with cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and $\beta$-catenin, and activation of caspase-3. TSA treatment up-regulated the expression of a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (Wafl/Cip1) protein, a key regulatory protein of the cell cycle. However, there is no detectable change of both Bcl-2 and Bax expressions. These results demonstrated that TSA might inhibit cell growth through apoptosis in human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2004

Mistletoe lectin has been reported to induce apoptosis in different cancer cell lines in vitro and to show antitumor activity against a variety of tumors in animal models. We previously demonstrated the Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album var. coloratum, VCA)-induced apoptosis by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and telomerase activity and by up-regulation of Bax through p53- and p21-independent pathway in hepatoma cells. In the present study, we observed the induction of apoptotic cell death through activation of caspase-3 and the inhibition of telomerase activity through transcriptional down-regulation of hTERT in the VCA-treated A253 cells. We also observed the inhibition of telomerase activity and induction of apoptosis resulted from dephosphorylation of Akt in the survival signaling pathways. In addition, combining VCA with the inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) upstream of Akt, wortmannin and LY294002 showed an additive inhibitory effect of telomerase activity. In contrast, the inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), okadaic acid inhibited VCA-induced dephosphorylation of Akt and inhibition of telomerase activity. Taken together, VCA induces apoptotic cell death through Akt signaling pathway in correlated with the inhibition of telomerase activity and the activation of caspase-3. From these results, together with our previous studies, we suggest that VCA triggers molecular changes that resulting in the inhibition of cell growth and the induction of apoptotic cell death of cancer cells, which suggest that VCA may be useful as chemotherapeutic agent for cancer cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.458-463
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• 2021

Cytokines activate inflammatory signals and are major mediators in progressive β-cell damage, which leads to type 1 diabetes mellitus. We recently showed that the cell-permeable Tat-CIAPIN1 fusion protein inhibits neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress. However, how the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein affects cytokine-induced β-cell damage has not been investigated yet. Thus, we assessed whether the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein can protect RINm5F β-cells against cytokine-induced cytotoxicity. In cytokine-exposed RINm5F β-cells, the transduced Tat-CIAPIN1 protein elevated cell survivals and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA fragmentation levels. The Tat-CIAPIN1 protein reduced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB activation levels and elevated Bcl-2 protein, whereas Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 proteins were decreased by this fusion protein. Thus, the protection of RINm5F β-cells by the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein against cytokine-induced cytotoxicity can suggest that the Tat-CIAPIN1 protein might be used as a therapeutic inhibitor against RINm5F β-cell damage.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.380-388
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• 2022

Snail is implicated in tumour growth and metastasis and is up-regulated in various human tumours. Although the role of Snails in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which is particularly important in cancer metastasis, is well known, how they regulate tumour growth is poorly described. In this study, the possible molecular mechanisms of Snail in tumour growth were explored. Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) repeat-containing protein 3 (BIRC3), a co-activator of cell proliferation during tumourigenesis, was identified as a Snail-binding protein via a yeast two-hybrid system. Since BIRC3 is important for cell survival, the effect of BIRC3 binding partner Snail on cell survival was investigated in ovarian cancer cell lines. Results revealed that Bax expression was activated, while the expression levels of anti-apoptotic proteins were markedly decreased by small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for Snail (siSnail). siSnail, the binding partner of siBIRC3, activated the tumour suppressor function of p53 by promoting p53 protein stability. Conversely, BIRC3 could interact with Snail, for this reason, the possibility of BIRC3 involvement in EMT was investigated. BIRC3 overexpression resulted in a decreased expression of the epithelial marker and an increased expression of the mesenchymal markers. siSnail or siBIRC3 reduced the mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. These results provide evidence that Snail promotes cell proliferation by interacting with BIRC3 and that BIRC3 might be involved in EMT via binding to Snail in ovarian cancer cells. Therefore, our results suggested the novel relevance of BIRC3, the binding partner of Snail, in ovarian cancer development.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.682-691
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• 2023

Cell transformation induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a critical event in cancer initiation and progression, and understanding the underlying mechanisms is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Licorice extract contains various bioactive compounds, which have been reported to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the cancer preventive efficacy of licochalcone D (LicoD), a chalcone derivative in licorice extract, in EGF and TPA-induced transformed skin keratinocyte cells. LicoD effectively suppressed EGF-induced cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony growth. EGF and TPA promoted the S phase of cell cycle, while LicoD treatment caused G1 phase arrest and down-regulated cyclin D1 and up-regulated p21 expression associated with the G1 phase. LicoD also induced apoptosis and increased apoptosis-related proteins such as cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-7, and Bax (Bcl2-associated X protein). We further investigated the effect of LicoD on the AKT signaling pathway involved in various cellular processes and found decreased p-AKT, p-GSK3β, and p-NFκB expression. Treatment with MK-2206, an AKT pharmacological inhibitor, suppressed EGF-induced cell proliferation and transformed colony growth. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential of LicoD as a preventive agent for skin carcinogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2020

Purple loosestrife-Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Lythraceae family. It has been used for centuries in Korea and other Asian traditional medicine. It has been showed pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effects. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer mechanisms are not yet understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis signaling pathways by ethanol extract of Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino (ELM) in human leukemia U937 cells. Treatment with ELM significantly inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs), DNA fragmentation and increased populations of sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptosis by ELM was connected with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1, survivin), depending on dosage. This induction was associated with Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspases (-3, -8 and -9) and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. Therefore, our data indicate that ELM suppresses U937 cell growth by activating the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways, and thus may have applications as a potential source for an anti-leukemic chemotherapeutic agent.