• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9655-9660
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• 2014

Background: Nigella Sativa (NS) is an herb from the Ranunculaceae family that exhibits numerous medicinal properties and has been used as important constituent of many complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). The ability of NS to kill cancer cells such as PC3, HeLa and hepatoma cells is well established. However, our understanding of the mode of death caused by NS remains nebulous. The objective of this study was to gain further insight into the mode and mechanism of death caused by NS in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Materials and Methods: Human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were treated with a methanolic extract of NS, and a dose- and time-dependent study was performed. The $IC_{50}$ was calculated using a Cell Titer $Blue^{(R)}$ viability assay assay, and evidence for DNA fragmentation was obtained by fluorescence microscopy TUNEL assay. Gene expression was also profiled for a number of apoptosis-related genes (Caspase-3, -8, -9 and p53 genes) through qPCR. Results: The $IC_{50}$ of MCF-7 cells was $62.8{\mu}L/mL$. When MCF-7 cells were exposed to $50{\mu}L/mL$ and $100{\mu}L/mL$ NS for 24h, 48h and 72h, microscopic examination (TUNEL assay) revealed a dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptosis. Similarly, the expression of the Caspase-3, -8, -9 and p53 genes increased significantly according to the dose and time. Conclusions: NS induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through both the p53 and caspase pathways. NS could potentially represent an alternative source of medicine for breast cancer therapy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.111-111
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• 2003

Recently, cancer chemoprevention with strategies using foods and medicinal herbs has been regarded as one of the most visible fields for cancer control. The genistein in soy, the American ginseng and the resveratrol in a grape are well known as that has antiproliferative properties in human breast cancer.(omitted)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.3469-3472
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• 2011

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5191-5197
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• 2015

A partial response or resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is considered as a main obstacle in treatment of patients with cancer, including breast cancer. Refining taxane-based treatment procedures using adjuvant or combination treatment is a novel strategy to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy. PPM1D is a molecule activated by reactive oxygen species. whose expression is reported to modulate the recruitment of DNA repair molecules. In this study we examined the impact of arsenic trioxide on efficacy of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in paclitaxel-resistant MCF-7 cells. We also investigated the expression of PPM1D and TP53 genes in response to this combination treatment. Resistant cells were developed from the parent MCF-7 cell line by applying increasing concentrations of paclitaxel. MTT assays were applied to determine the rate of cell survival. DAPI staining using fluorescent microscopy was employed to study apoptotic bodies. Real-time RT-PCR analysis was also applied to determine PPM1D mRNA levels. Our results revealed that combination of arsenic trioxide and paclitaxel elevates the efficacy of the latter in induction of apoptosis in MCF-7/PAC resistant cells. Applying arsenic trioxide also caused significant decreases in PPM1D mRNA levels (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that arsenic trioxide increases paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by down regulation of PPM1D expression. PPM1D dependent signaling can be considered as a novel target to improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in resistant breast cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.23.2-23.2
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• 2008

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.424-428
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• 2003

In the present study, we have analyzed effects of the endocrine distruptors, such as bisphenol A, nonylphenol and pentachlorophenol, on cell proliferation in the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, and the human prostate cancer cell line, PC-3, with MTT method. A dose dependent analysis of the cell proliferation of MCF-7 cells after administration of bisphenol A, nonylphenol and pentachlorophenol revealed a significant induction of cell proliferation. Maximum induction of cell proliferation was observed at concentrations between 10$\^$-7/ and 10$\^$-6/ M. Whereas, these chemicals had little effect on proliferation of PC-3 cells. These results demonstrated that bisphenol A, nonylphenol and pentachlorophenol do not induce proliferation of PC-3 cells but exhibit a significant induction of MCF-7 cell proliferation, suggesting all these chemicals are a estrogen mimic.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.303-309
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• 2013

The extract from Lysimachia foenum-graecum (LFE) has been known to possess various instructive characters including anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, fungicidal activities. However, the accurate mechanism of those effects of LFE is not well known. In that respect, we evaluated the apoptotic effect and anti-cancer efficacy of extracts of LFE in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In this study, we hypothesized that LFE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through regulating p53 and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. And this substance can generate ROS to cause free radical-induced apoptosis. Accordingly, the generation of ROS by LFE triggers the activation of p53 which are accompanied by pro-apoptotic protein activation and suppression of pro-survival proteins. We determined with MTT assay, flow cytometry for detection of intracellular ROS and Annexin V-PI staining, Western blotting. Consequently, our researches demonstrated that the treatment of LFE to breast cancer cells resulted in an activation of p53, Puma, Bax, cleaved-PARP and an inhibition of Bcl-2 expressions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.494-498
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• 2014

It is well known that Desomodii Herba (DH) has an effect to eliminate dampness, relieve jaundice and to clear away toxic material, relieve swelling in Korean Medicine. However, the effect of DH on breast cancer invasion is unknown. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of DH extracts (DHE) on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and cell invasion, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in MCF-7, human breast cancer cells. DHE inhibits TPA-induced MMP-9 protein and mRNA expressions in a dose-dependent fashion. DHE also inhibited the TPA-induced transcriptional activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). These results indicate that DHE-mediated inhibition of TPA-induced MMP-9 expression and cell invasion involves the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway in MCF-7 cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.754-762
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2, a major saponin derivative in ginseng extract, is recognized for its anti-cancer activities. Compared to coding genes, studies on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) that are regulated by Rh2 in cancer cells, especially on competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) are sparse. Methods: LncRNAs whose promoter DNA methylation level was significantly altered by Rh2 were screened from methylation array data. The effect of STXBP5-AS1, miR-4425, and RNF217 on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells was monitored in the presence of Rh2 after deregulating the corresponding gene. The ceRNA relationship between STXBP5-AS1 and miR-4425 was examined by measuring the luciferase activity of a recombinant luciferase/STXBP5-AS1 plasmid construct in the presence of mimic miR-4425. Results: Inhibition of STXBP5-AS1 decreased apoptosis but stimulated growth of the MCF-7 cells, suggesting tumor-suppressive activity of the lncRNA. MiR-4425 was identified to have a binding site on STXBP5-AS1 and proven to be downregulated by STXBP5-AS1 as well as by Rh2. In contrast to STXBP5-AS1, miR-4425 showed pro-proliferation activity by inducing a decrease in apoptosis but increased growth of the MCF-7 cells. MiR-4425 decreased luciferase activity from the luciferase/STXBP5-AS1 construct by 26%. Screening the target genes of miR-4425 and Rh2 revealed that Rh2, STXBP5-AS1, and miR-4425 consistently regulated tumor suppressor RNF217 at both the RNA and protein level. Conclusion: LncRNA STXBP5-AS1 is upregulated by Rh2 via promoter hypomethylation and acts as a ceRNA, sponging the oncogenic miR-4425. Therefore, Rh2 controls the STXBP5-AS1/miR-4425/RNF217 axis to suppress breast cancer cell growth.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2019

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the most common industrial brominated flame retardant, acts as a cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and immunotoxicant, causing inflammation and tumors. However, the mechanism of TBBPA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in human breast cancer cells is not clear. In human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, treatment with TBBPA significantly induced the expression and promoter activity of MMP-9. Transient transfection with MMP-9 mutation promoter constructs verified that $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 response elements are responsible for the effects of TBBPA. Furthermore, TBBPA-induced MMP-9 expression was mediated by $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 transcription activation as a result of the phosphorylation of the Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, TBBPA-induced activation of Akt/MAPK pathways and MMP-9 expression were attenuated by a specific NADPH oxidase inhibitor, and the ROS scavenger. These results suggest that TBBPA can induce cancer cell metastasis by releasing MMP-9 via ROS-dependent MAPK, and Akt pathways in MCF-7 cells.