• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.405-410
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• 2003

Vitamin K-related analogs induce growth inhibition in various cancer cell lines. A naphthoquinone analog, termed 2,3-dichloro-5, 8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DDN), induces apoptosis in human promyeloid leukemic HL-60 cells, and shows antitumor activity in vivo. Following treatment with DDN, evidence of apoptosis, including DNA fragmentation and cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), was observed. DDN induced an upregulation of proapoptotic Bax protein, and Bid cleavage. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels were not changed by DDN, but the expression of Bcl-xL was decreased. In addition, DDN reduced the mass of solid tumor in the Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mouse model. These results indicate that DDN exerts antitumor activity, which appears to be related to the induction of apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 family proteins.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2003

An increased understanding of apoptosis makes anti-apoptosis engineering possible, which is an approach used to inhibit apoptosis for the purpose of therapeutic, or industrial applications in the treatment of the diseases associated with increased apoptosis, or to improve the productivity of animal cell cultures, respectively. Some known anti-apoptosis proteins are the Bcl-2 family, IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) and Hsps (heat shock proteins), with which anti-apoptosis engineering has progressed. This article reviews anti-apoptosis engineering using known anti-apoptosis compounds, and introduces a 30 K protein, isolated from silkworm hemolymph, as a novel anti-apoptotic protein, that Shows no homology with other known anti-apoptotic proteins. The regulation of apoptosis, using anti-apoptotic proteins and genes originating from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, may provide a new strategy in this field.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3131-3138
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• 2016

Several studies have addressed the possible role of hepatitis C virus genotype-4 (HCV GT4) in apoptosis. However, this still not fully understood. In the current study a re-constructed clone of E1/E2 polyprotein region of the HCV GT4 was transfected into the Huh7 cell line and a human apoptotic PCR array of 84 genes was used to investigate its possible significance for apoptosis. Out of the 84 genes, only 35 showed significant differential expression, 12 genes being up-regulated and 23 down-regulated. The highest-up regulated genes were APAF1 (apoptotic peptidase-activating factor 1), BID (BH3 interacting domain death agonist) and BCL 10 (B-cell CLL/lymphoma protein 10) with fold regulation of 33.2, 30.1 and 18.9, respectively. The most down-regulated were FAS (TNF receptor super family), TNFRSF10B (tumor necrosis factor receptor super-family member 10b) and FADD (FAS-associated death domain) with fold regulation of -30.2, -27.7 and -14.9, respectively. These results suggest that the E1/E2 proteins may be involved in HCV-induced pathogenesis by modulating apoptosis through the induction of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway and disruption of the BCL2 gene family.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.5
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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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.185-185
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• 2005

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2012

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising agent for management of cancer because of its selective cytotoxicity to cancer cells. However, some cancer cells have resistance to TRAIL. Accordingly, novel treatment strategies are required to overcome TRAIL resistance. Here, we examined the synergistic apoptotic effect of apigenin in combination with TRAIL in Huh-7 cells. We found that combined treatment of TRAIL and apigenin markedly inhibited Huh-7 cell growth compared to either agent alone by inducing apoptosis. Combined treatment with apigenin and TRAIL induced chromatin condensation and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, enhanced apoptosis by TRAIL/apigenin combination was quantified by annexin V/PI flow cytometry analysis. Western blot analysis suggested that apigenin sensitizes cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by activating both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway-related caspases. The augmented apoptotic effect by TRAIL/apigenin combination was accompanied by triggering mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway, as indicated by Bax/Bcl-2 ratio up-regulation. Our results demonstrate that combination of TRAIL and apigenin facilitates apoptosis in Huh-7 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2014

Reactivating the p53 pathway in tumors is an important strategy for anticancer therapy. In response to diverse cellular stresses, the tumor suppressor p53 mediates apoptosis in a transcription-independent and transcription-dependent manner. Although extensive studies have focused on the transcription-dependent apoptotic pathway of p53, the transcription-independent apoptotic pathway of p53 has only recently been discovered. Molecular interactions between p53 and Bcl-2 family proteins in the mitochondria play an essential role in the transcription-independent apoptosis of p53. This review describes the structural basis for the transcription-independent apoptotic pathway of p53 and discusses its potential application to anticancer therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.33-51
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to assess the protective effect of Saengmaek-san (SM) on UVB-induced HaCaT cell damage. Methods: The protective effects of Saengmaek-san(SM) were determined by UVB-induced HaCaT assay. We assessed protective effects of Saengmaek-san (SM) on LDH release and nitrite release from HaCaT. And COX-2, Bcl-2, Bax, $TNF{\alpha}$, c-jun, c-fos, NF-kB, iNOS, Bcl-xL gene expression were determined in HaCaT using real-time PCR method. Results: 1. SM inhibited LDH-release, nitrite production in UVB-exposed HaCaT. 2. SM suppressed the gene expression of COX-2, $TNF{\alpha}$ in UVB-exposed HaCaT. 3. SM increased the gene expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xL family protein in UVB-exposed HaCaT. 4. SM suppressed the gene expression of c-jun, c-fos, NF-kB in UVB-exposed HaCaT. Conclusions: The study showed SM inhibited the cell damage in UVB-exposed HaCaT.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.807-818
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• 2004

산화질소는 생리적 농도에서 세포내 신호전달자로 작용하지만 높은 농도에서는 세포독성을 일으킨다. 최근 치은 섬유아세포와 치주인대 섬유아세포는 산화질소 합성효소를 가지고 있고 세균의 lipopolysaccharide나 cytokine에 의해 대량의 높은 농도의 산화질소가 합성된다는 보고가 있음에도 지금까지 치은 조직에서 산화질소의 세포독성에 대한 연구는 아직 이루어 지지않고 있다. 본 연구는 사람의 치은 섬유아세포에서, 산화질소유도세포 고사기전을 밝히는데 목적이 있다. 세포 생장력은 MTT 방법으로 측정하였고, 세포의 형태적 변화는 Diff-Quick 염색법으로 조사하였다. Bcl-2 famly와 Fas 발현 정도는 RT-PCR 방법에 의해 확인하였으며, caspase-3, -8 와 -9의 활성은 spectrophotometer로 reactive oxygen species (ROS)는 형광분광계에 의해 측정되었다. 미토콘드리아에서 세포질로 분비된 cytochrome c는 western blot으로 조사하였다. 산화질소 유리제인 sodium nitroprusside (SNP) 처리는 사람 섬유아세포의 생존률을 시간과 농도 의존적으로 감소시켰고, 세포용적축소, 염색사 용축, DNA 절편화를 일으켰다. 또한, SNP 처리로 미토콘드리아에서 세포질로 유리되는 cytochrome c 양이 증가되었고, caspase-9 과 caspase-3 의 활성이 증가되었다. 한편, SNP 처리에 의해 death receptor 구성요소인 Fas 발현이 증가되었고, caspase-8의 활성이 증가되었다. Bcl-2 family 에 대한 RT-PCR 분석결과, 세포고사를 억제하는 Bcl-2 발현은 감소되었으나 세포고사를 자극하는 Bax와 Bid의 발현은 증가되었다. Soluble guanylate cyclase 억제제인 ODQ는 SNP에 의한 세포 생존율 감소를 차단하지 못했다. 따라서, 본 실험의 결과들은 사람 섬유아세포에서 산화질소유도 세포고사에 Bcl-2 family나 ROS가 매개하는 미토콘드리아 의존 및 death receptor 의존 세포고사기전이 관여함을 시사하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.89-96
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• 2002

The importance of apoptosis in normal development and pathogenesis has been well recognized, and explosive progress towards dissecting its commitment step has been made during the past decade. Mitochondria, Apaf-1, caspase, and bcl-2 family members play central roles in the commitment step. However, it is still unclear how upstream cell survival pathways regulate apoptosis. It is also unknown whether the bcl-2 family members have any effect on the upstream survival pathways. We have demonstrated that the anti-apoptotic gene product bcl-2 greatly induces expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in human breast epithelial cells. Surprisingly, we found that TIMP-1, like bcl-2, is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli. Functional studies indicate that TIMP-1 inhibits a classical apoptotic pathway mediated by caspases, and that focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Pl 3-kinase and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) are critical for TIMP- 1 -mediated cell survival. We also showed specific association of TIMP-1 with the cell surface. Consistently, a 150-H)a surface protein was identified in MCF10A cells that specifically binds TIMP-1. Taken together, we hypothesize that TIMP-I binding on the cell surface induces a cell survival pathway that regulates the common apoptosis commitment step. The results of these studies will address a new paradigm in the regulation of apoptosis by an extracellular molecule TIMP-1, and also greatly enhance our understanding of TIMP-1's pleiotropic activity in many physiological and pathological processes. This information may also be useful in designing more rational therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the anti-apoptotic activity of TIMP-1 .