• 대한본초학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bo-du-san (BOS) on apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells, SNU-l cells. BOS, a drug preparation consisting of two herbs, that is, Crotonis Fructus (Strychni ignatii Semen, bodu in Korean) and Glycyrrhizae Radix (Glycyrrhizae uralensis FISCH, Gamcho in Korean). Methodss : In this study, methanol extract of BOS was examined for cytotoxic activity on human gastric cancer cells, SNU-1 cells, using XTT assay, with an IC50 value was 0.7 mg/ml and 0.3 mg/ml at 24 hrs and 48 hrs, respectively. Apoptosis induction by BDS in SNU-l cells was verified by the induction of DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. Inhibitors of caspase-3, -8 and -9 (Ac-DEVD-CHO, Z-IETD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK) efficiently blocked BOS-induced cell death of SNU-l. Resultss : BOS-induced cell death was via caspase dependent apoptosis. Moreover, treatment of BOS result in the decrease the G1/S cycle regulation proteins (cyclin D1 and E) expression and increase CDK inhibitor proteins (p21 and p27) expression, and increase apoptotic protein, p53 expression. Thus, BOS induces apoptosis in SNU-1 cells via cell cycle arrested in G1 phase. Conclusions : These results indicated that BOS has some potential for use as an anti-cancer agent.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.124-129
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• 2005

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 anti-oxident, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects, but its molecular mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of resveratrol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced growth inhibitory activity and cell growth-regulatory gene products in astroglioma C6 cells to elucidate its possible mechanism for anti-cytotoxicity. It is shown that LPS induced time-dependent growth inhibition and morphological changes of C6 cells, which were recovered by pre-treatment with resveratrol. The anti-proliferative effect of LPS was associated with the induction of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in time-dependent manner in C6 cells. In addition, the pro-apoptotic Bax expression was also up-regulated in LPS-treated C6 cells without alteration of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression. However, resveratrol significantly inhibited LPS-induced p53, p21 and Bax levels, suggesting that the modulation of p53, p21 and Bax levels could be one of the possible pathways by which resveratrol functions as anti-cytotoxic agent.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.305-311
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• 2008

After successful clinical application, arginine deiminase (ADI) has been proposed to be a new cancer therapeutic. In the present study, we examined the effect of ADI in combination with ionizing radiation (IR) on MCF-7 cell growth and clonogenic cell death. Cell growth was inhibited by IR in a dose-dependent manner and ADI enhanced the radiosensitivity. ADI itself did not suppress the growth of MCF-7 cells due to the high level of expression of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), which convert citrulline, a product of arginine degradation by ADI, to arginine. Previously, it was suggested that ammonia, another product of arginine degradation by ADI, is the main cause of the growth inhibition of irradiated hepatoma cells contaminated with ADI-expressing mycoplasma [van Rijn et al. (2003)]. However, we found that ammonia is not the only factor that enhances radiosensitivity, as enhancement was also observed in the absence of ammonia. In order to identify the enhancing effect, levels of ASS and proteins related to the cell cycle were examined. ASS was unchanged by ADI plus IR, but p21 (a CDK inhibitor) was upregulated and c-Myc downregulated. These findings indicate that changes in the expressions of cell cycle proteins are involved in the enhancement of radiosensitivity by ADI. We suggest that ADI is a potential adjunct to cancer therapy.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.452-458
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• 2005

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal fungus, which has been used for patient suffering from cancer in Oriental medicine. It was reported previously that C. militaris extracts are capable of inhibiting tumor growth, however, the anti-poliferative effects of human cancer cells have not been poorly understood. In this study, to elucidate the growth inhibitory mechanisms of human cancer cells by treatment of aqueous extract of C. militaris (AECM) we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of AECM in human leukemia U937 cell line. AECM treatment inhibited the growth of U937 cells and induced the apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological changes. We observed the up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1) by p53-independent manner and activation of caspase-3 in AECM-treated U937 cells, however, the activity of caspase-9 was remained unchanged. Additionally, AECM treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the expression of telomere regulatory gene products such as human telomere reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and telomerase-associated protein-1 (TEP-1). Taken together, these findings suggest that AECM-induced inhibition of human leukemic cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death via modulation of several major growth regulatory gene products, and C. militaris may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.319-325
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• 2006

칡을 첨가하여 배양한 아가리쿠스버섯(Agaricus blaxei Murill)으로 부터 열수추출, gel filtration chromatography, DEAE ion exchange chromatography를 통하여 아가리쿠스 $\beta$-glucan (AG)을 추출하였다. 추출한 아가리쿠스 $\beta$-glucan에 Bacillus megaterium 유래의 endo-$\beta$-(1$\rightarrow$6)-glucanase를 처리하여 올리고당류(AO)를 얻었다. 이렇게 얻은 AG와 AO를 이용하여 HT-29 인체 대장암 세포에 대한 항암 활성을 조사한 결과, 암세포의 성장 억제 효과는 시료의 처리 농도에 의존적으로 증가하였으며, apoptosis assay에서 암세포의 apoptosis 유발이 농도에 의존적으로 증가되었다. 또한, 암세포의 세포 주기를 분석한 결과, apoptosis 발생을 뜻하는 G0 (sub-G1)기와 G1기의 비율이 증가한 반면 S기와 G2/M기는 대조군에 비해 감소되었다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 암세포의 apoptosis 증가에 대한 AO의 작용이 어떤 유전자와 연관이 있는지를 알아보기 위하여 cDNA microarray를 통해 유전자의 발현율을 검색한 결과, apoptosis의 내부 외부 경로에 영향을 주는 유전자(TNESE9, TNFRSF9, FADD, CASP8, BAD, CRADD, CASP9 등)의 발현이 증가되었고 세포 분열 주기의 진행과 관련된 유전자(CCND2와 CDK2)의 발현이 감소되었으며, 세포 분열 주기를 지체시키는 유전자 (CDKN2A)의 발현은 증가되었다. 또한, 사이토카인을 암호하는 유전자 (IL6, IL18, IL6R 등)와 tumor suppressor와 관련된 유전자 (CEACAM1, TP53BP2, IRF1및 PHB)의 발현이 2배 이상 증가된 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 HT-29 인체 대장암세포에 대한 AO의 성장 억제 작용은 G0/Gl기를 지체시켜 암세포 증식을 억제하고 apoptosis에 의해 암세포를 사멸시키는 항암 활성을 나타내는 것으로 확인되었으며, 특허 AO가 AG보다 현저한 활성을 보였다. 더 나아가 아가리쿠스 $\beta$-glucan (AG)과 올리고당류 (AO)는 항암 활성을 가진 대체 의약 소재로 개발될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.354-360
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• 2020

The hair cycle (anagen, catagen, and telogen) is regulated by the interaction between mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells in the hair follicles. The proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs), mesenchymal-derived fibroblasts, has emerged as a target for the regulation of the hair cycle. Here, we show that vanillic acid, a phenolic acid from wheat bran, promotes the proliferation of DPCs via a PI3K/Akt/Wnt/β-catenin dependent mechanism. Vanillic acid promoted the proliferation of DPCs, accompanied by increased levels of cell-cycle proteins cyclin D1, CDK6, and Cdc2 p34. Vanillic acid also increased the levels of phospho(ser473)-Akt, phospho(ser780)-pRB, and phospho(thr37/46)-4EBP1 in a time-dependent manner. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt pathway, attenuated the vanillic acid-mediated proliferation of DPCs. Vanillic acid-induced progression of the cell-cycle was also suppressed by wortmannin. Moreover, vanillic acid increased the levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as phospho(ser9)-glycogen synthase kinase-3β, phospho(ser552)-β-catenin, and phospho(ser675)-β-catenin. We found that vanillic acid increased the levels of cyclin D1 and Cox-2, which are target genes of β-catenin, and these changes were inhibited by wortmannin. To investigate whether vanillic acid affects the downregulation of β-catenin by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), implicated in the development of androgenetic alopecia, DPCs were stimulated with DHT in the presence and absence of vanillic acid for 24 h. Western blotting and confocal microscopy analyses showed that the decreased level of β-catenin after the incubation with DHT was reversed by vanillic acid. These results suggest that vanillic acid could stimulate anagen and alleviate hair loss by activating the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in DPCs.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.1226-1232
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• 2007

Phellinus linteus is a well-known Oriental medicinal fungus that has various biological activities, including immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the anti-proliferative activity of the methanol extract of P. linteus-Barley corn (MEPLB) in human lekemic U937 cells. It was found that exposure of U937 cells to MEPLB resulted morphological change and growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner as measured by trypan blue count and MTT assay. Upon treatment with MEPLB, U937 cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including condensation of chromatin and an increase in the sub-G1 population suggesting that the anti-proliferative effect of MEPLB is associated with the induction of apoptosis. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of MEPLB were connected with a marked induction of the pro-apoptotic Bax and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 in a p53-independent manner. Additionally, MEPLB treatment significantly induced the caspase-3 activity in U937 cells. Taken together, the present results suggest that apoptotic signals evoked by MEPLB in human leukemic U937 cells may converge caspase-3 activation through an up-regulation of Bax rather than a down-regulation of Bcl-2 or Bel-xL.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.71-78
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• 2016

Objectives : Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal failure in the world. Mesangial cell proliferation is known as the major pathologic features such as glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis. Wiryeongtang (WRT) is a well-known traditional herbal formula as therapeutic agents for chronic edema and dysuresia of renal homeostasis. In the present study, we investigated whether WRT inhibits high glucose (HG)-induced renal dysfunction by TGF-β/Smads signal regulation in cultured mesangial cells.Methods : Inhibitory effect of WRT (10-50 ㎍/ml) on HG-stimulated mesangial cells proliferation and dysfunction were evaluated by [³H]-thymidine incorporation, Western blot, and RT-qPCR.Results : WRT significantly decreased HG-accelerated thymidine incorporation in human renal mesangial cell in a dose-dependent levels. WRT induced down-regulation of cyclins/CDKs and up-regulation of CDK inhibitor, p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 expression. In addition, HG enhanced expression of dysfunction biomarker such as collagen IV and CTGF, which was markedly attenuated by WRT. WRT decreased TGF-β1 and Smad-2/Smad-4 expression, whereas increased Smad-7 expression under HG. Furthermore, WRT inhibited HG-induced inflammatory factors level such as ICAM-1 and MCP-1 as well as NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and intracellular ROS production.Conclusions : These results suggested that WRT may alleviate mesangial proliferation and inflammation possibly involved in renal fibrotic process, further diabetic nephropathy through disturbing TGF-β1/Smad signaling and NF-κB/ROS pathway. Thus, WRT might prove to be effective in the treatment of renal dysfunction leading to diabetic nephropathy.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.137-147
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• 2014

유근피(Cortex ulmi pumilae)는 항산화, 항염증, 항균, 항암 등 다양한 생리활성이 보고되어 있으며, 뛰어난 소염효과로 예로부터 약재로 사용되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 3T3-L1 지방전구세포를 이용하여 유근피 추출물의 지방세포 분화에 미치는 영향과 그 기전을 검토하였다. 유근피 추출물을 분화유도제와 동시에 처리한 결과, 3T3-L1 지방전구세포의 세포질 내 triglyceride 생성을 농도의존적으로 감소시켰으며, 지방세포분화 관련 전사인자인 $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $C/EBP{\beta}$ 및 $PPAR{\gamma}$의 발현을 유의적으로 저하시켰다. 다음으로 유근피 추출물을 지방세포 분화 유도 단계별로 처리한 결과, 분화유도제와 동시에 처리한 경우 즉 분화 초기에 처리한 경우가 가장 효과적인 지방세포 분화 억제효능을 보였으며, 이 때 분화초기에 발현되는 $C/EBP{\beta}$의 발현량은 현저하게 감소되었다. 또한 유근피 추출물에 의해 mitotic clonal expansion 단계의 세포증식이 농도의존적으로 억제되는 것을 확인하였으며, 세포주기분석을 통해 G1 arrest를 유발함으로써 증식이 억제 된다는 것을 확인하였다. 또한, G1 arrest는 G1/S 전이 관련 단백질인 p21의 발현 증가, cyclin E의 발현 감소 및 Rb의 인산화 감소에 의한 것임을 확인하였다. 이러한 연구결과들로부터 유근피 추출물은 지방세포 분화 초기 단계에 작용하여 지방세포 분화 관련 전사인자의 발현을 억제하고 mitotic clonal expansion을 저해하여, 지방전구세포의 지방세포로의 분화를 억제하는 항비만 효능을 가지는 천연소재임을 확인하였으며, 따라서 본 연구는 향후 이를 활용한 지속적인 연구를 위한 기초자료로 그 가치가 매우 높을 것이라 생각된다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.163-170
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• 2006

Nardostachyos Rhizoma (N. Rhizoma) belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been anti-arrhythmic effect, and sedation to the central nerve and a smooth muscle. We reported that the water extract of N. Rhizoma induced apoptotic cell death and differentiation in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Cytotoxicity of N. Rhizoma was detected only in HL-60 cells (IC50 is about 200 ${\mu}g/ml$). The cytotoxic activity of N. Rhizoma in HL-60 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. We used several measures of apoptosis to determine whether these processes were involved in N. Rhizoma-induced apoptotic cell death. The high-dose (200 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment of N. Rhizoma to HL-60 cells showed cell shrinkage, cell membrane blobbing, apoptotic bodies, and the fragmentation of DNA, suggesting that these cells underwent apoptosis. Treatment of HL-60 cells with N. Rhizoma time-dependently induced activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Also, we investigated the effect of N. Rhizoma on cellular differentiation and proliferation in HL-60 cells. Differentiation and proliferation of HL-60 cells was determined through expression of CD11b and CD14 surface antigens using flow cytometry and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, and through analysis of cell cycle using propidium iodide assay, respectively. N. Rhizoma induced the differentiation of HL-60 at the low-dose (100 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment, as shown by increased expression of differentiation surface antigen CD11b, but not CDl4 and increased reducing activity of NBT. When HL-60 cells were treated with N. Rhizoma at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml\;and\;100{\mu}g/ml$, NBT-reducing activities induced approximately 1.5-fold and 20.0-fold as compared with the control. In contrast, HL-60 cells treated with the N. Rhizoma-ATRA combination showed markedly elevated levels of 26.3-fold at $50{\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.1 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination and 27.5-fold at 50 ${\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.2 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination than when treated with N. Rhizoma alone or ATRA alone. It may be that N. Rhizoma plays important roles in synergy with ATRA during differentiation of HL-60 cells. DNA flow-cytometry indicated that N. Rhizoma markedly induced a G1 phase arrest of HL-60 cells. N. Rhizoma-treated HL-60 cells increased the cell population in G1 phase from 32.71% to 42.26%, whereas cell population in G2/M and S phases decreased from 23.61% to 10.33% and from 37.78% to 33.98%, respectively. We examined the change in the $p21^{WAF1/Cip1}\;and\;p27^{Kip1}$ proteins, which are the CKIs related with the G1 phase arrest. The expression of the CDK inhibitor $p27^{Kip1},\;but\;not\;p21^{WAF1/Cip1}$ were markedly increased by N. Rhizoma. Taken together, these results demonstrated that N. Rhizoma induces apoptotic cell death through activation of caspase-3, and potently inhibits the proliferation of HL-60 cells via the G1 phase cell cycle arrest in association with $p27^{Kip1}$ and granulocytic differentiation induction .