• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.117-125
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• 2019

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has recently been noted as a repositioning candidate for angiogenesis inhibition and cancer therapy. However, the definite anti-angiogenic mechanism of MBZ remains unclear. In this study, we explored the inhibitory mechanism of MBZ in endothelial cells (ECs) and developed a novel strategy to improve its anti-angiogenic therapy. Treatment of ECs with MBZ led to inhibition of EC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in several culture conditions in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or FBS, without selectivity of growth factors, although MBZ is known to inhibit VEGF receptor 2 kinase. Furthermore, MBZ inhibited EC migration and tube formation induced by either VEGF or bFGF. However, unexpectedly, treatment of MBZ did not affect FAK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by these factors. Treatment with MBZ induced shrinking of ECs and caused G2-M arrest and apoptosis with an increased Sub-G1 fraction. In addition, increased levels of nuclear fragmentation, p53 expression, and active form of caspase 3 were observed. The marked induction of autophagy by MBZ was also noted. Interestingly, inhibition of autophagy through knocking down of Beclin1 or ATG5/7, or treatment with autophagy inhibitors such as 3-methyladenine and chloroquine resulted in marked enhancement of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of MBZ in ECs. Consequently, we suggest that MBZ induces autophagy in ECs and that protective autophagy can be a novel target for enhancing the anti-angiogenic efficacy of MBZ in cancer treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제58권1호
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• pp.43-53
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• 2005

배 경 : 폐기종에서 발생하는 폐포 파괴의 원인으로서 전통적으로 protease/anti-protease 불균형과 산화성 스트레스가 주요 가설로 여겨져 왔으나 최근 폐포세포의 아포프토시스가 폐포파괴 및 폐기종의 원인이 된다는 이론이 제기되고 있어서 A549 폐상피세포에서 흡연추출물에 의한 세포사의 특성을 규명하고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : A549 폐상피세포주에서 여러 농도의 흡연추출물 및 억제제를 첨가한 후 MTT assay를 잉용하여 세포생존율을 측정하였다. 세포사 분석은 FACScan을 이용한 DNA 분절확인, 전자현미경 검사, Hoecst/PI 이중염색을 이용한 현광현미경 검사를 이용하였고 cyt-ochrome c 유리는 면역형광법을 이용하였다. Bcl-2 과발현세포주를 이용하여 bcl-2의 역할을 확인하였고 p53 Western blot 및 HPV-E6 과발현 세포주를 이용하여 p53의 역할을 확인하였다. 결 과 : A549 세포주에서 흡연추출물에 의한 세포사는 FACScan에서 DNA 분절에 의한 subG1 분획의 확인 및 Hoecst/PI 이중염색 및 현광현미경 소견 상 아포프토시스임이 확인되었고 전자현미경 소견상 저농도에서는 아포프토시스가 발생하지만 고농도에서는 괴사가 발생함을 확인하였다. Cytochrome c가 세포질로 유리됨을 확인하였으나 caspase 억제제에 의해서 세포사가 차단되지 않았다. 흡연추출물에 의한 세포사는 Bcl-2과발현에 의해 억제되었고 p53활성화를 유도하고 p53이 기능적으로 knock-out 된 세포주에서 억제되었다. 결 론 : 흡연추출물에 의한 폐상피세포의 세포사는 저농도에서는 아포프토시스를 고농도에서는 괴사를 유도하고 bcl-2 및 p53 경로가 중요한 역할을 담당하며 이는 폐기종 발생기전에 있어서 폐세포 세포사 이론을 뒷바침하는 자료로 활용될 수 있다고 생각된다.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2001년도 추계학술대회 및 정기총회
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• pp.107-107
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• 2001

During the last decade, enormous progress has been made on the biological significance of apoptosis. Since ras is among the most central molecule in signaling, we asked if ras regulates apoptotic pathway. We have previously shown that H-ras, but not N-ras, induces an invasiveness and motility in human breast epithelial cells (MCF10A), while both H-ras and N-ras induce transformed phenotype. In this study, we wished to seek a chemopreventive agent that effectively induces apoptosis in H-ras-activated cells. Here we show that capsaicin, the major pungent phytochemical in red pepper, induces caspase 3-involved apoptosis selectively in H-ras activated MCF10A cells while the parental MCF10A cells are not effected. In order to study the molecular mechanisms for the increased sensitivity of H-ras MCF10A cells to capsaicin-induced apoptosis, activation of ras downstream signaling molecules, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKinases), upon capsaicin treatment was investigated. Phosphorylated forms of JNK1 and p38 MAPKinase were prominently increased whereas activated ERK-1/2 was decreased by capsaicin in ras-activated cells. The parental cells did not respond to capsaicin, suggesting that capsaicin selectively induces apoptosis through modulating activities of ras downstream signaling molecules in H-ras-activated cells. Studies using chemical inhibitors (CPT-cAMP, SB203580 and PD98059) and dominant negative constructs of JNKl, p38 and MEK show that activation of JNK1 and p38 MAPKinase, but not ERK-1/2, is critical for ras-mediated apoptosis by capsaicin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.269-273
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• 2005

Five dibenzylbutyrolactones were isolated from a methanol extract of Arctii fructus (Arctium lappa L.) by bioassay-guided isolation, using the interleukin-l $\beta$ converting enzyme (caspase-l, ICE) production inhibitory assay in vitro. These compounds were spectroscopically identified as lappaol E (1), lappaol A (2), matairesinol (3), arctigenin (4), and arctiin (5). Among the compounds tested, arctigenin (4) showed the strongest inhibitory activity for ICE production in IL-$\beta$-induced proliferation of D 1 OS cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the arctigenin suppressed the expression of ICE protein in a dose-dependent manner. To estimate the biotransformation of Arctii fructus in vivo by human intestinal bacteria, we carried out an anaerobic incubation of the Arctii fructus extract with a human fecal suspension. From the HPLC analysis of metabolites, Arctiin (IC$_{50}$=74.2$\mu$g/ml), a major component of Arctii fructus, was transformed to aglycone, arctigenin (IC$_{50}$=12.5$\mu$g/ml), by human intestinal bacteria. The ICE production inhibitory activity of Arctii fructus would be much stronger in vivo than in vitro due to the biotransformation by human intestinal bacteria.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.473-481
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• 2020

Axl receptor tyrosine kinase has been implicated in cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis in various cancer types. Axl overexpression has been observed in many cancers, and selective inhibitors of Axl, including R428, may be promising therapeutic agents for several human cancers, such as breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Here, we examined the cell growth inhibition mediated by R428 and auranofin individually as well as in combination in the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 to identify new advanced combination treatments for human breast cancer. Our data showed that combination therapy with R428 and auranofin markedly inhibited cancer cell proliferation. Isobologram analyses of these cells indicated a clear synergism between R428 and auranofin with a combination index value of 0.73. The combination treatment promoted apoptosis as indicated by caspase 3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Cancer cell migration was also significantly inhibited by this combination treatment. Moreover, we found that combination therapy significantly increased the expression level of Bax, a mitochondrial proapoptotic factor, but decreased that of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Furthermore, the suppression of cell viability and induction of Bax expression by the combination treatment were recovered by treatment with N-acetylcysteine. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that combined treatment with R428 and auranofin synergistically induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and may thus serve as a novel and valuable approach for cancer therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.559-569
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• 2021

As one of the major types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Treatments for NSCLC includes surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Among the targeted therapies, resistance to inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is common and remains a problem to be solved. MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) amplification is one of the major causes of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. Therefore, there exists a need to find new and more efficacious therapies. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) extracted from Anthriscus sylvestris roots exhibits various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects. In this study we sought to determine the anti-cancer effects of DPT on HCC827GR cells, which are resistant to gefitinib (EGFR-TKI) due to regulation of EGFR and MET and their related signaling pathways. To identify the direct binding of DPT to EGFR and MET, we performed pull-down, ATP-binding, and kinase assays. DPT exhibited competitive binding with ATP against the network kinases EGFR and MET and reduced their activities. Also, DPT suppressed the expression of p-EGFR and p-MET as well as their downstreat proteins p-ErbB3, p-AKT, and p-ERK. The treatment of HCC827GR cells with DPT induced high ROS generation that led to endoplasmic-reticulum stress. Accordingly, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis by multi-caspase activation were observed. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the apoptotic effects of DPT on HCC827GR cells and signify the potential of DPT to serve as an adjuvant anti-cancer drug by simultaneously inhibiting EGFR and MET.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.553-561
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• 2022

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slowly progressing hematopoietic cell disorder. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) plays established roles in tumor initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance in a wide range of cancers, including leukemia. However, small-molecule inhibitors targeting SPHK1 in CML still need to be developed. This study revealed the role of SPHK1 in CML and investigated the potential anti-leukemic activity of hirsuteine (HST), an indole alkaloid obtained from the oriental plant Uncaria rhynchophylla, in CML cells. These results suggest that SPHK1 is highly expressed in CML cells and that overexpression of SPHK1 represents poor clinical outcomes in CML patients. HST exposure led to G2/M phase arrest, cellular apoptosis, and downregulation of Cyclin B1 and CDC2 and cleavage of Caspase 3 and PARP in CML cells. HST shifted sphingolipid rheostat from sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) towards the ceramide coupled with a marked inhibition of SPHK1. Mechanistically, HST significantly blocked SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways. In addition, HST can be docked with residues of SPHK1 and shifts the SPHK1 melting curve, indicating the potential protein-ligand interactions between SPHK1 and HST in both CML cells. SPHK1 overexpression impaired apoptosis and proliferation of CML cells induced by HST alone. These results suggest that HST, which may serve as a novel and specific SPHK1 inhibitor, exerts anti-leukemic activity by inhibiting the SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways in CML cells, thus conferring HST as a promising anti-leukemic drug for CML therapy in the future.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권11호
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• pp.1244-1251
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• 2014

길경(桔梗, Platycodon grandiflorum)은 도라지의 뿌리로 항염증, 항알러지, 면역 반응, 당뇨, 고지혈증 및 항암 효과 등을 가지고 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 하지만 길경의 항암 효과에 대한 연구는 미미하며, 길경이 유발하는 autophagy에 대한 연구는 되어 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 HCT-116 대장암 세포주에서 길경 추출물이 autophagy와 apoptosis를 유발하면서 세포 성장을 억제하는지의 여부를 조사하였다. 길경 추출물은 농도 및 시간의존적으로 세포의 증식을 억제하였으며, 길경 추출물에 의해 나타나는 apoptosis는 caspase의 활성이 부분적으로 관여되어 있음을 알 수 있었다. 또한, 길경 추출물의 처리는 autophagy에 의해 나타나는 공포를 형성하면서 autophagy와 관련되어 있는 여러 단백질의 발현 조절 및 LC3 단백질의 축적이 동반되었다. 길경 추출물에 의해 유도되는 autophay와 apoptosis의 관계를 알아보기 위해서 3-MA나 bafilomycin A1을 처리하여 autophagy를 억제하였을 때 apoptosis가 유의적으로 증가됨을 알 수 있었다. 흥미롭게도 bafilomycin A1을 처리한 결과에서 길경 추출물에 의한 세포성장 억제가 뚜렷하게 회복되는 양상을 보였다. 따라서 본 연구의 결과는 HCT-116 세포에서 길경 추출물에 의해 유도된 autophagy는 세포 보호적인 작용이 아닌 autophagic cell death이며, 길경 추출물이 대장암 세포주에서 암세포의 사멸을 유도하는 효과적인 대안이 될 수 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.713-723
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• 2023

폐암은 전 세계적으로 사망률이 높은 암으로서 소세포성 폐암(small cell lung cancer, SCLC)과 비소세포성 폐암(non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC)으로 분류된다. 오늘날까지 폐암 치료를 위해 많은 화학요법이 사용되어 왔으나 장기간 화학요법에 의한 부작용 및 항암제 내성 유발로 인해 항암 치료에 한계가 있으므로, 이와 같은 문제점을 해결하기 위해 현재는 천연물로부터 유래한 항암물질을 탐색하는 추세이다. Curcumin은 강황의 뿌리에서 추출된 polyphenol 화합물로서 항균, 항암, 항산화 및 항염증 작용이 보고되어 현재까지 꾸준히 항암 연구가 진행되어 왔으나 인간 폐암 세포주의 종류에 따른 항암 효과는 거의 연구되지 않았다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 여러 종류의 인간 폐암 세포주에 대한 curcumin의 항암 효과를 조사하고자 하였다. 그 결과, 10, 30, 50 μM 농도의 curcumin은 폐암 세포주에 따라 경미한 차이가 나타내면서 농도 의존적으로 세포 생존을 저해하였다. 또한 A549 (NSCLC) 및 DMS53 (SCLC) 세포주를 대상으로 apoptosis, autophagy, reactive oxygen species (ROS)를 flow cytometry로 측정한 결과, 농도 의존적으로 이러한 현상들이 증가되었으며 각각의 저해제를 처리했을 때 이러한 현상들이 회복되는 것이 관찰되었다. Apoptosis와 관련된 단백질인 Bax, PARP, pro-caspase-3 및 Bcl-2의 발현이 curcumin 농도 의존적으로 조절되었으며, 특히 DMS53에서 Bax/Bcl-2 비율이 더 높았다. 또한, autophagy 단백질인 p-AKT, p62 및 LC3B도 curcumin 농도 의존적으로 조절되었다. 한편, ROS 저해제인 diphenyleneiodonium 처리 시, curcumin에 의해 유도된 apoptosis와 autophagy 수준이 저해되었으며 관련 단백질의 발현도 조절되었다. 이를 통해 curcumin의 항암 작용은 curcumin에 의해 생산된 ROS를 매개로 하여 폐암 세포주의 apoptosis 및 autophagy의 유도를 통해 나타나는 것으로 확인되었다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제75권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2013

Background: In cancer cells, autophagy is generally induced as a pro-survival mechanism in response to treatment-associated genotoxic and metabolic stress. Thus, concurrent autophagy inhibition can be expected to have a synergistic effect with chemotherapy on cancer cell death. Monensin, a polyether antibiotic, is known as an autophagy inhibitor, which interferes with the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome. There have been a few reports of its effect in combination with anticancer drugs. We performed this study to investigate whether erlotinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, or rapamycin, an mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, is effective in combination therapy with monensin in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Methods: NCI-H1299 cells were treated with rapamycin or erlotinib, with or without monensin pretreatment, and then subjected to growth inhibition assay, apoptosis analysis by flow cytometry, and cell cycle analysis on the basis of the DNA contents histogram. Finally, a Western blot analysis was done to examine the changes of proteins related to apoptosis and cell cycle control. Results: Monensin synergistically increases growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by rapamycin or erlotinib. The number of cells in the sub-$G_1$ phase increases noticeably after the combination treatment. Increase of proapoptotic proteins, including bax, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and decrease of anti-apoptotic proteins, bcl-2 and bcl-xL, are augmented by the combination treatment with monensin. The promoters of cell cycle progression, notch3 and skp2, decrease and p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, accumulates within the cell during this process. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that concurrent autophagy inhibition could have a role in lung cancer treatment.