• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권20호
• /
• pp.8829-8836
• /
• 2014

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), considered to have tumor-promoting potential, is highly expressed in a variety of tumors, including breast cancer. Since the functions and action mechanisms of COX-2 in breast cancer have not been fully elucidated, in the present study, the effects of target inhibiting COX-2 with recombinant adenovirus Ad-COX-2-shRNA on malignant biological behavior were investigated in representative cell lines. Materials and Methods: Breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were transfected with Ad-COX-2-shRNA and COX-2 expression was tested by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Changes in proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of breast cancer cells were detected with various assays including MTT, colony forming, flowcytometry and Transwell invasion tests. The expression of related proteins involved in the cell cycle, apoptosis, invasion and signaling pathways was assessed by Western blotting. Results: COX-2 expression was significantly reduced in both breast cancer cell lines infected with Ad-COX-2-shRNA, with obvious inhibition of proliferation, colony forming rate, G2/M phase passage and invasion, as well as induction of apoptosis, in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. At the same time, proteins related to the cell cycle, anti-apoptosis and invasion were significantly downregulated. In addition, c-myc expression and phosphorylation activation of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin and p38MAPK pathways were reduced by the Ad-COX-2-shRNA. Conclusions: COX-2 expression is associated with proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of breast cancer cells, and its mechanisms of action involve regulating expression of c-myc through the p38MAPK and Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin pathways.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제34권2호
• /
• pp.138-144
• /
• 2010

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has been shown to have anti-stress effects in animal studies. However, most studies have only managed to detect altered levels of biomarkers or enzymes in blood or tissue, and the actual molecular mechanisms by which ginseng exerts these effects remain unknown. In this study, the anti-oxidative effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) was examined in human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Incubation of SK-N-SH cells with the oxidative stressor hydrogen peroxide resulted in significant induction of cell death. In contrast, pre-treatment of cells with KRG decreased cell death significantly. To elucidate underlying mechanisms by which KRG inhibited cell death, the expression of apoptosis-related proteins was examined by Western blot analysis. KRG pre-treatment decreased the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene caspase-3, whereas it increased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2. Consistent with this, immunoblot analysis showed that pre-treatment of the SK-N-SH cells with KRG inhibited expression of the pro-inflammatory gene cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). RT-PCR analysis revealed that the repression of COX-2 expression by KRG pre-treatment occurred at the mRNA level. Taken together, our data indicate that KRG can protect against oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death by repressing genes that mediate apoptosis and inflammation.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제34권8호
• /
• pp.558-566
• /
• 2024

Kaempferia parviflora ethanol extract (KPE)의 골관절염 유도 연골세포 모델에서의 관절염 개선 효과에 대한 기전을 확인하고 골관절을 보호하는 건강기능성식품의 유효소재로써의 역할을 할 수 있는지 확인하고자 하였다. 사람 연골세포주인 CHON-001에 KPE 1 또는 5 ㎍/ml을 선처리하여 배양한 후 IL-1β 10 ng/ml을 첨가하여 관절염이 유도되는 경로를 확인하였다. 그 결과 KPE 처리군에서 염증성 사이토카인 TNF-α의 생성량이 관절염 유도군 대비 SL군과 SH군 각각 약 66%와 50%로 감소하였고, COX-2의 발현량 역시 관절염 유도군 대비 SL군과 SH군에서 약 26%와 34%가 감소하여 염증수준이 감소되는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 연골세포의 matrix protein인 aggrecan의 단백질 발현이 관절염 유도군 대비 각각 SL군은 5%, SH군은 8% 증가하였고, mRNA 발현량은 SL군에서 2%, SH군에서 12% 증가된 것을 확인하였다. Collagen II는 관절염 유도군 대비 단백질 발현량이 SL와 SH군 각각 62%, 47% 증가, mRNA발현량은 SL군과 SH군 각각 12%와 15%가 증가된 것을 확인하였다. 이는 MMP-1과 MMP-13의 발현이 관절염 KPE 처리군에서 유도군 대비 각각 39%와 38%, 27%와 48% 그리고 mRNA발현에서 10%와 14%, 20%와 18%가 억제됨을 통해 aggrecan과 collagen II의 분해가 억제되는 것을 확인하여 연골세포 matrix 보호에 대한 가능성을 확인하였다. 본 연구를 통해 KPE는 연골의 염증억제와 연골구성성분의 분해억제를 통해 연골세포 손상으로 인한 관절염으로부터의 개선 효과가 있음을 확인하였고 이를 바탕으로 기능성식품 원료로써 개발가능성을 시사하고 있다.