• 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 Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.413-424
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• 2013

Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) is a traditional herbal medicine utilized to prevent endothelium dysfunction in the cardiovascular system; however, its underlying mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. We here examined the pharmacological effect and molecular mechanism of KRGE on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a serum-deprived apoptosis model. KRGE protected HUVECs from serum-deprived apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-9/-3 activation. This protective effect was significantly higher than that of American ginseng extract. KRGE treatment increased antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_L$ protein expression and Akt-dependent Bad phosphorylation. Moreover, KRGE prevented serum deprivation-induced subcellular redistribution of these proteins between the mitochondrion and the cytosol, resulting in suppression of mitochondrial cytochrome c release. In addition, KRGE increased nitric oxide (NO) production via Akt-dependent activation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), as well as inhibited caspase-9/-3 activities. These increases were reversed by co-treatment of cells with inhibitors of eNOS and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and pre-incubation of cell lysates in dithiothreitol, indicating KRGE induces NO-mediated caspase modification. Indeed, KRGE inhibited caspase-3 activity via S-nitrosylation. These findings suggest that KRGE prevents serum deprivation-induced HUVEC apoptosis via increased Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_L$ protein expression, PI3K/Akt-dependent Bad phosphorylation, and eNOS/NO-mediated S-nitrosylation of caspases. The cytoprotective property of KRGE may be valuable for developing new pharmaceutical means that limit endothelial cell death induced during the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2003

Haploid parthenotes have been shown to be developmentally delayed compared with diploid parthenogenetic embryos in the mouse and pig. These developmental defects have been hypothesized to rusult from insufficient parthenogenetic activation, suboptimal in vitro culture conditions, or genemic imprinting. In the present study we compared the incidence of apoptosis and apoptosis related gene expression in pig haploid, diploid parthenotes and fertilized embryos. In vitro matured porcine oocytes were activated by electrical stimulation. Haploid activated oocytes with two polar bodies under stereomicroscopy were defined haploid parthenotes, oocytes with one polar body were defined as diploid parthenotes after 3h cycloheximide teatment. The morphological analysis of apoptosis in embryos was carried out using propidium iodide staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling. The expression of Bcl-xL, Bak and P53 in haploid, diploid and in vivo fertilized blastocysts was determined using RT-PCR. Lower number of the haploid pig parthenotes developed to the morulae and blastocysts compared to the diploid parthnotes. Number of cells significantly lower in the haploid-derived blastocysts than diploid-derived it. Developmentally retarded haploid parthenotes exibited apoptosis at a significantly higher frequency than did diploid parthenotes and fertilized embryos. Level of Bcl-xL expression, diploid parthenotes similar to in vivo-derived it was higher than haploid parthenotes. However, Bak and P53 mRNA expression were not different among haploid, diploid, and fertilized embryos. This result suggested that parthenogenetic activation and parthenogenesis themselves do not cause apoptosis, but haploid increases the incidence of apoptosis in preimplantation embryos. Apoptosis may be due to decrease expression of Bcl-xL in haploid parthenotes developing in vitro.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.73-73
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• 2004

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

In all attempt to elucidate the role of apoptosis in drug resistance, cisplatin-resistant human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 cells (K562/CDDP) were established and compared with drug sensitive parent cells (K562) in the induction of apoptosis. K562/CDDP cells were 5-fold more resistant to cisplatin compared to K562 cells. In addition, K562/CDDP cells were significantly more resistant to apoptois as judged by DNA fragmentation and DAPI staining. K562/CDDP cells exhibited decreased proleolytic activity of caspase-3 and this was further demonstrated by decreased cleavage of its substrate poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARR- Western blot analysis showed that K562/CDDP cells had longer sustained levels of BCL-$X_L$ whereas no difference was noted in the level of Bcl-2. the translocation of Bax to mitochondria was significantly delayed in K562/CDDP cells. These results suggest that the reduced translocation of Bax and the sustained expression of BCL-$X_L$ may cause resistance to apoptosis through prevention of mitochondria release of cytochrome c, which subsequently induces reduction of caspase-3 activity and that this response is partly responsible for the acquired resistance to cisplatin ill K562 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.358-364
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• 2006

To investigate the possible mechanism of Drynariae Rhizoma extracts as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, I examined the effects of Drynariae Rhizoma extracts on the apoptosis of U937 cell line. MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis, and RT-PCR were performed. Drynariae Rhizoma extracts treatment reduced the cell viablilty of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of apoptotic cell death. Drynariae Rhizoma extracts treatment also reduced the levels of Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic protein expression and increased the levels of caspase-3, p53, pro-apoptotic protein, in U937 cells. RT-PCR data revealed that the level of bcl-2, bcl-xL mRNA expressions decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Drynariae Rhizoma extracts may have induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several growth regulatory gene products. The abbreviations used are: FBS, fetal bovine serum; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; PI, propidium iodide; OD, optical density; DiOC6, 3,3-dihexyloxa carbcyanine iodide; MTT, 3 [4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] -2-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2003

This study was conducted to determine effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), fetal bovine serum (FBS) bovine serum albumin (BSA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on blastocoel formation, total cell number, apoptosis and apoptosis-related gene expression of porcine diploid parthenotes developing in vitro. The addition of 0.4% BSA to the culture medium enhanced the development of 2-cell stage parthenotes to the blastocysts stage (P<0.01). FBS reduced cell numbers of blastocysts (P<0.01) and increased percentage of apoptosis in the blastocysts (P<0.001). However, while BSA increased cell numbers, it did so only when EGF was present. Either agent on its own had no effect. Similarly, apoptosis in the blastocysts was not influenced by either agent on its own but was reduced when both BSA and EGF were present. Furthermore, semi-quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed that EGF enhanced the mRNA expression of Bcl-xL in the presence of 0.4% BSA but BSA and EGF alone had no effect, and EGF and/or BSA did not influence Bak gene expression in the blastocyst stage parthenotes. However FBS reduced Bcl-xL mRNA expression (P <0.05) and enhanced Bak expression. This result suggests that apoptosis related genes expression is significantly affected by supplements, which may result in alteration of apoptosis and embryo viability of porcine embryos developing in vitro.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2003

Purpose: Evidence exists that dysregulation of apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer development. The Bcl-$x_{L}$/Bcl-2-associated death promoter (BAD), a member of the Bcl-2 family, is a critical regulatory component of the intrinsic cell-death pathway that exerts its pro-apoptotic effect upon heterodimerization with anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_{L}$. Expression of the BAD protein has been reported in several cancer types, but not in stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the expression status of the BAD protein in gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: In the current study, we analyzed the expression of the BAD protein in 60 advanced gastric adenocarcinomas by using immunohistochemistry and a tissue microarray approach. Results: Immunopositivity (defined as $\geq\30\%$) was observed for the BAD protein in 57 ($95\%$) of the 60 cancers. Normal gastric mucosal cells showed weaker expressions of the BAD protein than gastric carcinomas. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that stomach cancer cells in vivo may need BAD protein expression for apoptosis. Also, the higher expression of the BAD protein in stomach cancer cells than in normal gastric mucosal cells suggests that apoptosis might be easily triggered in susceptible stomach cancer cells, thereby producing selective pressure to make more apoptosis-resistant cells during tumor development.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.450-464
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• 2004

Background : The FHIT (fragile histidine triad) gene is a frequent target of deletions associated with abnormal RNA and protein expression in lung cancer. Previous studies have shown FHIT gene transfer into lung cancer cell line lacking FHIT protein expression resulted in inhibition of tumor cell growth attributable to the induction of apoptosis and reversion of tumorigenecity. However, the mechanism of the tumor suppressor activity of the FHIT gene and the cellular pathways associated with its function are not completely understood. Methods : To gain insight into the biological function of FHIT, we compared the NCI-H358 cell line with its stable FHIT transfectants after treatment with cisplatin or paclitaxel. We investigated the effects of FHIT gene expression on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and activation of caspase system and Bcl-2 family. The induction of apoptosis was evaluated by using DAPI staining and flow cytometry. Activation of caspases and Bcl-2 members was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results : A significantly increased cell death was observed in FHIT transfectants after cisplatin or paclitaxel treatment and this was attributable to the induction of apoptosis. Remarkable changes in caspases and Bcl-2 family were observed in the transfected cells as compared with the control cells after treatment with paclitaxel. Activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 was markedly increased in cells expressing FHIT. Expression level of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein was significantly decreased and that of Bax and Bad protein was significantly increased in the transfected cells. Conclusion : FHIT gene delivery into lung cancer cells results in enhanced apoptosis induced by treatment with cisplatin or paclitaxel. The data suggest that apoptosis in FHIT-expressing cells could be related to activation of caspase pathway and Bcl-2 family.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.800-808
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• 2004

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin found at high levels in grapes and in grape products such as red wine, has been reported to possess a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities including antioxident, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects. According to recent studies, this compound is an effective inhibitor of cell growth in general, triggers partial arrest of the cell cycle and induce apoptosis. In this study, the anti-proliferative effects of resveratrol in A549 human lung carcinoma cells were investigated. It is shown that resveratrol induced the growth inhibition in a time-dependent manner and morphological changes of A549 cells, which were associated with induction of S phase arrest of the cell cycle and apoptotic cell death. The Bcl-$X_L$levels were markedly down-regulated in resveratrol treated cells, however, Bax and Bcl-2 were remained unchanged. Resveratrol treatment induced the proteolytic degradation of Sp-l and proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein, and inhibited the expression of $\beta$-catenin protein. Resveratrol treatment also induced a marked up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 and inhibited the kinase activities of Cdk2 and Cdk4. In addition, resveratrol treatment inhibited the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein, and the release of prostagladin E2 without alteration of COX-1 expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that resveratrol may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human lung carcinorma cells.