• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제46권12호
• /
• pp.764-777
• /
• 2023

Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are fusion proteins consisting of a targeting domain linked to a toxin, offering a highly specific therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In this study, we engineered and characterized RITs aimed at mesothelin, a cell surface glycoprotein overexpressed in various malignancies. Through an extensive screening of a large nanobody library, four mesothelin-specific nanobodies were selected and genetically fused to a truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE24B). Various optimizations, including the incorporation of furin cleavage sites, maltose-binding protein tags, and tobacco etch virus protease cleavage sites, were implemented to improve protein expression, solubility, and purification. The RITs were successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli, achieving high solubility and purity post-purification. In vitro cytotoxicity assays on gastric carcinoma cell lines NCI-N87 and AGS revealed that Meso(Nb2)-PE24B demonstrated the highest cytotoxic efficacy, warranting further characterization. This RIT also displayed selective binding to human and monkey mesothelins but not to mouse mesothelin. The competitive binding assays between different RIT constructs revealed significant alterations in IC₅₀ values, emphasizing the importance of nanobody specificity. Finally, a modification in the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal at the C-terminus further augmented its cytotoxic activity. Our findings offer valuable insights into the design and optimization of RITs, showcasing the potential of Meso(Nb2)-PE24B as a promising therapeutic candidate for targeted cancer treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권8호
• /
• pp.3471-3476
• /
• 2014

Background: Aberrant expression of the microRNA-29 family is associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression. As transport carriers, tumor-derived exosomes are released into the extracellular space and regulate multiple functions of target cells. Thus, we assessed the possibility that exosomes could transport microRNA-29c as a carrier and correlations between microRNA-29c and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 cancer and adjacent tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect BCL-2 and MCL-1 expression. Disease was Ta-T1 in 12 patients, T2-T4 in 16, grade 1 in 8, 2 in 8 and 3 in 12. The expression of microRNA-29c in cancer tissues was detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (QRT-PCR). An adenovirus containing microRNA-29c was used to infect the BIU-87 human bladder cancer cell line. MicroRNA-29c in exosomes was measured by QRT-PCR. After BIU-87 cells were induced by exosomes-derived microRNA-29c, QRT-PCR was used to detect the level of microRNA-29c. Apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry and BCL-2 and MCL-1 mRNA expressions were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression of BCL-2 and MCL-1. Results: The expressions of BCL-2 and MCL-1 protein were remarkably increased in bladder carcinoma (p<0.05), but was found mainly in the basal and suprabasal layers in adjacent tissues. The expression of microRNA-29c in cancer tissues was negatively correlated with the BCL-2 and MCL-1. The expression level of microRNA-29c in exosomes and BIU-87 cells from the experiment group was higher than that in control groups (p<0.05). Exosome-derived microRNA-29c induced apoptosis (p<0.01). Although only BCL-2 was reduced at the mRNA level, both BCL-2 and MCL-1 were reduced at the protein level. Conclusions: Human bladder cancer cells infected by microRNA-29c adenovirus can transport microRNA-29c via exosomes. Moreover, exosome-derived microRNA29c induces apoptosis in bladder cancer cells by down-regulating BCL-2 and MCL-1.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권10호
• /
• pp.5965-5972
• /
• 2013

PIN1 is one member of the parvulin PPIase family. By controlling Pro-directed phosphorylation, PIN1 plays an important role in cell transformation and oncogenesis. There are many polymorphisms in the PIN1 gene, including rs2233678 and rs2233679 affecting the PIN1 promoter. Recently, a number of case-control studies were conducted to investigate the association between PIN1 gene rs2233678 and rs2233679 polymorphism and cancer risk. However, published data are still conflicting. In this paper, we summarized data for 5,427 cancer cases and 5,469 controls from 9 studies and attempted to assess the susceptibility of PIN1 gene polymorphism to cancers by a synthetic meta-analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the relationship. All analyses were performed using Stata software. Our results suggested that rs2233678 represented a protective factor in overall analysis (CC vs GG: OR= 0.697, 95%CI: 0.498-0.976; CG vs GG: OR=0.701, 95%CI: 0.572-0.858; Dominant model: OR= 0.707, 95%CI: 0.590-0.847; C allele vs G allele: OR=0.734, 95%CI: 0.623-0.867) and especially for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, lung cancer and breast cancer in Asians and Caucasians. The rs2233679 polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased cancer risk in overall analysis (CT vs CC: OR=0.893, 95%CI=0.812-0.981; Dominant model: OR=0.893, 95%CI=0.816-0.976; T allele vs C allele; OR=0.947, 95%CI=0.896-1.000) and especially in Asians. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggested that -842G>C (rs2233678) and -667C>T (rs2233679) may contribute to genetic susceptibility for cancer risks. Further prospective research with larger numbers of worldwide participants is warranted to draw comprehensive and firm conclusions.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제17권10호
• /
• pp.1447-1451
• /
• 2007

해양생물 유래 항암활성을 가지는 천연물의 탐색과정에서 해면동물에서 유래된 PTX-2는 p53 결손 암세포에서 세포독성 효과가 높은 것으로 보고된 바 있다. 본 연구에서는 인체 간암세포 모델을 이용하여 PTX-2의 효능을 조사한 결과는 p53 결손 Hep3B 세포에서 p53 정상 HepG2에 비하여 항암활성이 매우 높았으며, 이는 apoptosis 유발과 연관성이 있음을 확인하였다. PTX-2에 의한 Hep3B 세포의 apoptosis 유발은 DFF family의 발현 변화, pro-apoptotic Bax 및 Bcl-xS 단백질의 발현 증가, caspases (-3, -8 및 -9)의 활성화 등이 관여함을 알 수 있었다. PTX-2는 또한 Hep3B 세포에서 AKT 및 ERK1/2의 활성화를 유도하였으며, caspase-3, AKT 및 ERK1/2의 특이적 저해제에 의하여 PTX-2에 의한 세포증식 억제 효능이 유의적으로 감소되었다. 본 연구는 PTX-2에 의한 Hep3B 세포에서의 apoptosis 유도에 AKT 및 ERK1/2 신호 전달 경로가 중요한 역할을 하고 있음을 보여주는 결과이다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제27권11호
• /
• pp.1340-1348
• /
• 2017

Sanguinarine은 다양한 목적으로 사용되고 있는 Sanguinaria canadensis L.의 뿌리에서 유래된 benzophenanthridine alkaloid 계열 물질중의 하나이다. 그동안 sanguinarine의 다양한 약리학적인 효능이 알려져 왔고, 항암활성에 대한 연구도 여러 암세포들을 대상으로 수행되어 왔다. 그러나 sanguinarine에 의한 암세포의 apoptosis 유도에 대한 현상은 여전히 많은 부분에서 연구의 대상으로 남아 있다. 본 연구는 Hep3B 인체 간암세포를 대상으로 sanguinarine의 항암활성에 대한 추가적인 자료를 제시하기 위하여 수행되었다. 본 논문의 결과에 의하면, sanguinarine은 처리 농도 의존적으로 Hep3B 세포의 증식을 억제하였으며, 이는 apoptosis 유도와 연관성이 있었다. Sanguinarine은 두 가지 apoptosis 경로인 extrinsic 및 intrinsic 경로의 개시 initiator caspase인 caspase-8 및 caspase-9 뿐만 아니라 대표적인 effector caspase인 caspase-3의 활성을 증가시켰고, caspase-3의 기질인 PARP의 분절을 유발하였다. 아울러 sanguinarine은 DR-related 유전자들의 발현을 부분적으로 증가시켰으며, Bcl-2 family에 속하는 pro-apoptotic Bax의 발현을 증가시킨 반면, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2의 발현은 억제시켰다. 또한 sanguinarine은 Bid의 truncation을 촉진하였고, MMP의 소실에 따른 cytochrome c를 미토콘드리아에서 세포질로의 이동을 증가시켰다. 그리고 sanguinarine에 의한 apoptosis 유도 및 세포 증식율 억제 현상이 caspase의 활성을 인위적으로 억제하였을 경우, 모두 사라졌다. 따라서 sanguinarine에 의하여 유도하는 Hep3B 세포의 apoptosis 유발에는 caspase 의존적으로 extrinsic 및 intrinsic 경로가 모두 관여하고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.129-134
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although several recent studies have reported the anti-cancer effects of extracts or components of Citrus unshiu peel, which has been used for various purposes in traditional medicine, the molecular mechanisms for their effects remain unclear. In the present study, the anti-cancer activity of a water-soluble extract of C. unshiu peel (WECU) in MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells at the level of apoptosis induction was investigated. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected using DAPI staining and flow cytometry analyses. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, caspase activity and Western blotting were used to confirm the basis of apoptosis. RESULTS: The results indicated that WECU-induced apoptosis was related to the activation of caspase-8, and -9, representative initiator caspases of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, respectively, and caspase-3 accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and down-regulation of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family members. WECU also increased the pro-apoptotic BAX to anti-apoptotic BCL-2 ratio, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytoplasm. Furthermore, WECU provoked the generation of ROS, but the reduction of cell viability and induction of apoptosis by WECU were prevented when ROS production was blocked by antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that WECU suppressed proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells by activating extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways in a ROS-dependent manner.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제38권1호
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2009

본 연구는 잔대의 돌연변이원성, 항돌연변이원성, 세포독성, 항종양 효과를 조사하기 위해서 수행되었다. 잔대를 70% 에탄올로 추출하여 추출용매에 따라 핵산, 클로로포름, 에틸아세테이트, 부탄올과 물층으로 분획하였다. Ames test, SRB assay와 종양 억제실험 방법을 사용하여 실험하였다. Ames test결과, 잔대 에탄올 추출물과 그 분획물들은 돌연변이원성을 나타내지 않았을 뿐만 아니라, MNNG와 4NQO로 돌연변이를 일으켰을 때 높은 항돌연변이 효과를 나타내었다. 잔대 에틸아세테이트 분획물은 S. Typhimurium TA98를 4NQO로 돌연변이를 유도하였을 때 66.5%의 억제율을 나타내었으며, S. Typhimurium TA100에서 MNNG와 4NQO로 돌연변이를 유도했을 때는 83.3%와 75.1%의 억제율을 나타내었다. 잔대 추출물 및 그 분획물들의 암세포 성장 억제효과를 살펴보기 위해 인간 자궁암세포 (HeLa), 인간 간암세포(Hep3B), 인간 유방암세포(MCF-7), 인간 위암세포(AGS), 인간 폐암세포(A549)와 인간 신장정상세포(293)를 사용하였다. 잔대 에틸아세테이트 분획물을 1 mg/mL를 처리하였을 때 각각 79.9%(HeLa), 74.9% (Hep3B), 66.0%(MCF-7), 71.0%(AGS)와 74.3%(A549)의 가장 높은 억제활성을 나타내었다. 반면에 인간 정상 신장세포에서는 $3{\sim}36%$의 세포독성을 나타내었다. In vivo에서 잔대 추출물의 항암효과를 시험하기 위하여 Balb/c 마우스에 sarcoma-180 종양세포로 고형암을 유발시켰다. 그 결과 잔대 에틸아세테이트 층의 최고농도 50 mg/kg에서 37.2%의 고형암 성장 억제효과를 나타내었고, 이는 모든 처리군 중가장 높은 억제율이었다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제29권10호
• /
• pp.1062-1070
• /
• 2019

마늘(Allium sativum)의 주요 생리활성 성분들은 다양한 종류의 암에 대해 항암효과가 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 활성추적분리방법(activity-guided purification)을 이용하여 마늘의 항암성분을 발굴하고자 하였다. 마늘 에탄올 추출물을 칼럼크로마토그래피로 얻은 각각의 분획물에 대해서 AGS세포의 증식 억제율을 검증하여 가장 효과가 좋은 분획물로부터 물질을 순수분리하여 구조를 동정한 결과 N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine (NBNMA)로 밝혀졌다. NBNMA의 암생장 억제효능을 검증하기 위해서 CT-26, AGS, HepG2, HCT-116, MCF7, B16F10 및 Sarcoma-180 세포에 대한 in vitro 효과와 CT-26 결장암 세포를 마우스에 이식한 다음 in vivo 효과를 조사하였다. NBNMA는 Bcl-2의 down-regulation과 Bad의 up-regulation을 유도하여 CT-26 세포의 세포사멸 촉진시켰다. 또한, NBNMA는 세포사멸의 외적 및 내적 경로에서 caspases 억제자인 caspase 3과 caspase 9의 활성을 약간 증가시켰다. CT-26세포를 이식한 쥐에 $19.13{\mu}M/kg$의 NBNMA를 21일 동안 경구투여한 결과 암종의 크기가 43% 감소하였다. NBNMA는 in vitro 및 in vivo에서 항암 효과를 나타내었는데, 이러한 결과는 마늘로부터 순수분리한 NBNMA가 대장암치료를 위한 항암제 후보물질로서 활용 가능성이 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• ALGAE
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2013

Marine microalgae are a promising source of organisms that can be cultured and targeted to isolate the broad spectrum of functional metabolites. In this study, two species of cyanobacteria, Chlorella ovalis Butcher and Nannchloropsis oculata Droop, one species of bacillariophyta, Phaeoductylum tricornutum Bohlin, and one species of Dinophyceae, Amphidinium carterae (Hulburt) were cultured and biomasses used to evaluate the proximate comical compositions. Among the determined proximate chemical compositions of the cultured marine microalgae, the highest content of crude proteins and lipids were exhibited in P. tricornutum and A. carterae, respectively. Solvent-solvent partition chromatography was subjected to fractionate each of the cultured species and separated n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions. Nitric oxide production inhibitory level (%) and cytotoxicity effect on lipo-polysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were performed to determine the anti-inflammatory activity. N. oculata hexane and chloroform fractions showed significantly the strongest anti-inflammatory activity at $6.25{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentration. The cancer cell growth inhibition (%) was determined on three different cell lines including HL-60 (a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line), A549 (a human lung carcinoma cell line), and B16F10 (a mouse melanoma cell line), respectively. Among the extracts, C. ovalis ethyl acetate and A. carterae chloroform fractions suppressed the growth of HL-60 cells significantly at 25 and $50{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentrations. Thus, the cultured marine microalgae solvent extracts may have potentiality to isolate pharmacologically active metabolites further using advance chromatographic steps. Hence, the cultured marine microalgae can be described as a good candidate for the future therapeutic uses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권6호
• /
• pp.2453-2458
• /
• 2015

Background: X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) associated factor 1 (XAF1) exhibits aberrantly low or absent expression in various human malignancies, closely associated with anti-apoptosis and overgrowth of cancer cells. However, limited attention has been directed towards the contribution of XAF1 to invasion, apoptosis, and cisplatin (DDP)-resistance of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of XAF1 on invasion, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cisplatin-resistance by overexpressing XAF1 in SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Methods and Results: The pEGFP-C1-XAF1 plasmid was transfected into SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells, and the expression of XAF1 at both mRNA and protein levels was analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. Overexpression of XAF1 suppressed XIAP expression in both SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Transwell invasion assays demonstrated that XAF1 exerted a strong anti-invasive effect in XAF1-overexpressing cells. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis revealed that XAF1 overexpression arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, and cell apoptosis analysis showed that overexpression of XAF1 enhanced apoptosis of SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells apparently by activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. Furthermore, MTT assay confirmed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of cisplatin in the tested tumor cells, and overexpression of XAF1 increased the sensitivity of SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells to cisplatin-mediated antiproliferative effects. Conclusions: In summary, our data indicated that overexpression of XAF1 could suppress XIAP expression, inhibit invasion, arrest cell cycle, promote apoptosis, and confer cisplatin-sensitivity in SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Therefore, XAF1 may be further assessed as a potential target for the treatment of both cisplatin-resistant and non-resistant EOCs.