• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2011

Objective : In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanol extract of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (EAR) on the proliferation and apoptosis induction of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Methods : Cell viability of HT-29 cells were measured by MTT assay and apoptisis-related proteins were assessed using western blotting. Chromatin condensation of HT-29 cells stained with Hoechst 33258. Results : In the present study, we demonstrated that EAR exhibited significant cytotoxicity in HT-29 cells. The induction of apoptosis in HT-29 cells by EAR treatment was characterized by chromatin condensation and the activation of caspase-3. EAR-induced apoptosis is accompanied by the release of cytochrome c and the specific proteolytic cleavage of PARP. EAR was appeared cytotoxic effect to HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Concomitantly, EAR treatment led to increase in the caspase-9. The reduction of Bcl-2 and truncation of Bid were induced by EAR. Conclusion : We studied that the EAR induced apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. These results indicated that EAR can cause apoptosis through mitochondria/caspase pathway in human HT-29 cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2016

Objectives : This study examined the effects of Bee venom on apoptosis in NCI-H157 human lung cancer cells and for promoting the apoptosis effects of Natural killer cell. Methods : Bee venom and Natural killer-92 cells were cultured either separately from or together with NCI-H157 cells for 24 hours. To figure out whether Bee venom enhances the cytotoxic effect of Natural Killer-92 cells, a cell viability assay was conducted. To observe the changes in Death receptors, apoptotic regulatory proteins and Nuclear $Factor-{\kappa}B$, western blot analysis was conducted. To observe the effect of Bee venom through an extrinsic mechanism, a transfection assay was conducted. Results : 1. Natural killer-92 cells and Bee venom significantly inhibited the growth of NCI-H157 cells and co-culture had more inhibitory effect than the separate culture. 2. Expressions of Fas, DR3, DR6, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-8 were increased, and expressions of Bcl-2 and cIAP were decreased. More efficacy was observed in co-culture than in separate culture. 3. Nuclear $Factor-{\kappa}B$ activation was clearly decreased. And co-culture showed much less activation than separate culture. 4. As a result of treatment for DR-siRNA, the reduced cell viability of NCI-H157 cells and the activity of Nuclear $Factor-{\kappa}B$ were increased. With this, it can be seen that Bee venom and Natural killer-92 cells have an effect on the cancer cells through the extrinsic mechanism. Conclusion : Bee venom is effective in inhibiting the growth of human lung cancer cells. Furthermore Bee venom effectively enhances the functions of Natural killer cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.45-51
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• 2012

Objectives : WHW is a polyherbal medicine for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF). WHW previously reported various biological property such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-renal fibrosis in CRF. This study aimed to investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of WHW on staurosporin(SSP)-induced apoptosis in canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCK). Methods : MDCK cells were treated with different concentrations of WHW (0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and $1mg/m{\ell}$) for 1 h, and then induced apoptosis by treatment of SSP ($1{\mu}M$) for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by WST-1 assay. The expression of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 was determined by Western blot. Caspase-3 activity and ROS levels were also measured by their commercial available assay kits. Cell apoptosis was observed by Hoechst and DNA fragmentation. Results : WHW significantly increased the cell viability on SSP-treated MDCK cells. WHW inhibited SSP-induced expression of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3 and Bax, and significantly decreased caspase-3 activity in MDCK cells. WHW significantly decreased SSP-induced production of ROS, and suppressed SSP-induced chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation in MDCK cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that WHW has an anti-apoptotic effect in renal cells through suppressing the expression of apoptotic proteins, ROS production and DNA damages.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1 s.65
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• pp.23-35
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of Gaejibokryunghwan on cell proliferation in HeLa cells. Methods : Human uterine cervical carcinoma HeLa cells were cultured in the 1%, 5% and 10% concentration of Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution. All three were cultured for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours each, to examine the inhibitory effects of Gaejibokryunghwan. Afterwards, we drew out the effect of Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution by making 5 analysis. First analysis was to measure the proliferation rate of cells. Second was FACS analysis. Third was to estimate the activity or caspase-3. Fourth, we used XTT assay to analyze the activation or cells. Ana lastly, a molecular biological method was used to determine activation of MAP kinase in the HeLa cells. Results : After 24, 48 and 72 hours cultivation, the proliferation of HeLa cells showed the dose-dependent decrease in all Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution groups compared to the control group. In the FACS analysis, Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution groups showed increased caspase expression compared to the control group, except for the group for 48 and 72 hours in 1 % concentrate. Caspase-3 activities were increased in all, except tile group cultured for 24 hours in 5% concentrate and the groups cultured for 48 hours in 1% and 5% concentrate. In the XTT study, 1% Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution groups showed increase compared to the control group, but other Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution containing groups showed significant decrease compared to the control after 24, 48 and 72 hours of cultivation. The expressions of MAP kinase were decreased in all Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution containing groups compared to the control group after 24, 48 and 72 hours of cultivation. Conclusions : From this study, we could suggest that Gaejibokryunghwan be available to the inhibition of proliferation of human cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa cells in vitro.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.559-563
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• 2009

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is a key intermediate in several central metabolic pathways of all organisms. Aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase are involved in the production or elimination of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate during glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, and are differentially expressed under various physiological conditions, including cancer, hypoxia, and apoptosis. In this study, we examine the effects of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate on cell survival and apoptosis. Overexpression of aldolase protected cells against apoptosis, and addition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to cells delayed apoptosis. Additionally, delayed apoptotic phenomena were observed when glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate was added to a cell-free system, in which artificial apoptotic process was induced by adding dATP and cytochrome c. Surprisingly, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate directly suppressed caspase-3 activity in a reversible noncompetitive mode, preventing caspase-dependent proteolysis. Based on these results, we suggest that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, a key molecule in several central metabolic pathways, functions as a molecule switch between cell survival and apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1511-1515
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• 2014

Background and Aims: To explore the molecular mechanisms of miR-886-5p in breast cancer., we examined roles in inhibiting growth and migration of MCF-7 cells. Methods: MiR-886-5p mimics and inhibitors were used to express or inhibit MiR-886-5p, respectively, and MTT and clone formation assays were used to determine the survival and proliferation. Hoechst 33342/ PI double staining was applied to detect apoptosis. The expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, MT1-MMP, VEGF-C and VEGF-D was detected by Western blotting, and the levels of MMP2 and MMP9 secreted from MCF-7 cells were assessed by ELISA. MCF-7 cell migration was determined by wound healing and Transwell assays. Results: We found that the growth of MCF-7 cells was inhibited upon decreasing miR-886-5p levels. Inhibiting miR-866-5p also significantly induced apoptosis and decreased the migratory capacity of these cells. The expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, MT1-MMP, MMP2, and MMP9 was also found to be decreased as compared to controls. Conclusions: Our data show that downregulation of miR-886-5p expression in MCF-7 cells could significantly inhibit cell growth and migration. This might imply that inhibiting miR-886-5p could be a therapeutic strategy in breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6379-6384
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• 2013

S-benzyl-cysteine (SBC) is a structural analog of S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is one of the major water-soluble compounds in aged garlic extract. In this study, anticancer activities and the underlying mechanisms of SBC action were investigated and compared these with those of SAC using human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. SBC significantly suppressed the survival rate of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory activities of SBC were stronger than those of SAC. Flow cytometry revealed that SBC induced G2-phase arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. SBC-treatment dramatically induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$), and enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 whilst hardly affecting caspase-8 activity. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that SBC-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of the expression of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggested that SBC exerts cytotoxic activity involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 pathways in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5883-5887
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• 2015

Despite recent advances in therapeutic strategies for lung cancer, mortality still is increasing. In the present study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of KMU-193, 2-(4-Ethoxy-phenyl)-N-{5-[2-fluoro-4-(4-methylpiperazine-1-carbonyl)-phenylamino]-1H-indazol-3-yl}-acetamide in a human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549. KMU-193 strongly inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells, but it did not have anti-proliferative effect in other types of cancer cell lines. KMU-193 further induced apoptosis in association with activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PLC-${\gamma}1$. However, KMU-193 had no apoptotic effect in untransformed cells such as TMCK-1 and BEAS-2B. Interestingly, pretreatment with z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, strongly abrogated KMU-193-induced apoptosis. KMU-193 treatment enhanced the expression levels of p53 and PUMA. Importantly, p53 siRNA transfection attenuated KMU-193-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results for the first time demonstrate that KMU-193 has strong apoptotic effects on A549 cells and these are largely mediated through caspase-3- and p53-dependent pathways.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1887-1890
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• 2016

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women in the whole world. MiR- 34a and let-7a are well known tumor suppressors that participate in the regulation of apoptosis, invasion and other cellular functions. In this study, expression of miR-34a, let-7a and apoptosis pathway genes such as Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and P53 were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR in 45 paired samples of normal margin and tumor tissue collected from breast cancer patient at advanced stage (3-4). MiR-34a, let-7a, caspase-3 and P53 expression are reduced and Bcl-2 expression is increased within tumoral tissues in comparison with normal margin tissues. P53 expression directly or indirectly was correlated with miR-34a, let-7a, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression. In This study we found that MiR-34a and let-7a expression are reduced in the tumoral tissues. Down-regulation of these two molecules correlated with expression of genes associated with apoptosis. These results suggest that due to the correlation of miR-34a and let-7a with apoptotic and anti-apoptotic pathways these molecules could participate as regulators in advanced clinical stages of breast cancer and should be considered as markers for diagnosis, prognostic assessment and targeted therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1823-1828
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• 2016

Background: Biological and pharmacological activities of dryocrassin ABBA, a phloroglucinol derivative extracted from Dryopteris crassirhizoma, have attracted attention. In this study, the apoptotic effect of dryocrassin ABBA on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells was investigated. Materials and Methods: We tested the effects of dryocrassin ABBA on HepG2 in vitro by MTT, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and Western blotting. KM male mice were used to detect the effect of dryocrassin ABBA on H22 cells in vivo. Results: Dryocrassin ABBA inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. After treatment with 25, 50, and $75{\mu}g/mL$ dryocrassin ABBA, the cell viability was 68%, 60% and 49%, respectively. Dryocrassin ABBA was able to induce apoptosis, measured by propidium iodide (PI)/annexin V-FITC double staining. The results of real-time PCR and Western ting showed that dryocrassin ABBA up-regulated p53 and Bax expression and inhibited Bcl-2 expression which led to an activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 in the cytosol, and then induction of cell apoptosis. In vivo experiments also showed that dryocrassin ABBA treatment significantly suppressed tumor growth, without major side effects. Conclusions: Overall, these findings provide evidence that dryocrassin ABBA may induce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through a caspase-mediated mitochondrial pathway.