• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.847-854
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• 2016

Cordycepin, a derivative of the nucleoside adenosine, is one of the active components extracted from fungi of genus Cordyceps, and has been shown to have many pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of cordycepin on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer AGS cells, and its possible mechanism of action. Treatment of cordycepin resulted in significant decrease in cell viability of AGS cells in a concentration-dependent manner. A concentration-dependent apoptotic cell death was also measured by agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometery analysis. Molecular mechanistic studies of apoptosis unraveled cordycepin treatment resulted in an enhanced expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, death receptor 5 and Fas ligand. Furthermore, up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax, and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression were also observed in cordycepin-treated AGS cells. These were followed by activation of caspases (caspase-9, -8 and -3), subsequently leading to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Taken together, these findings indicate that cordycepin induces apoptosis in AGS cells through regulation of multiple apoptotic pathways, including death receptor and mitochondria. Although further mechanical studies are needed, our results revealed that cordycepin can be regarded as a new effective and chemopreventive compound for human gastric cancer treatment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.53-69
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• 2008

목적 : 이 연구는 Vipera lebetina turanica의 사독약침액(蛇毒藥鍼液)(Snake venom toxin, SVT)이 인간 신경아세포종의 암세포주인 SK-N-SH 세포에서 암세포성장의 억제 및 그 기전에 대하여 살펴보고자 하였다. 방법 : SVT를 처리한 후 SK-N-SH의 성장억제를 관찰하기 위해 CCK-8 assay와 LDH assay를 시행하였고, apoptosis 평가에는 세포형태의 관찰과 DAPI, TUNEL, Annexin V-PI double staining assay 및 cell detachment assay를 시행하였다. 세포자멸사 관련 세포기전을 보기 위하여 세포주기, 세포내 칼슘량, 세포내 활성산소량 및 미토콘드리아의 세포막전위 변화를 측정하였고, DNA fragmentation assay를 시행하였으며, 세포자멸사 조절 단백인 Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, -9의 발현 변화 관찰에는 western blot analysis를 시행하였다. 결과 : SK-N-SH 세포에 SVT를 처리한 후, 신경아세포종 세포의 성장, Apoptosis의 유발 및 기전의 영향을 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. SVT를 처리한 SK-N-SH 세포 관찰에서 세포독성은 농도의존적으로 증가하는 경향이 있는 반면 암세포성장의 유의한 억제는 $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ SVT에 의해서만 나타났다. 2. 세포자멸사 평가에서 SVT를 처리한 SK-N-SH 세포는 세포자멸사의 특징적 형태를 나타내었다. TUNEL assay에서는 세포자멸사 활성세포가 미약하게 나타난 반면 cell detachment assay와 Annexin V-PI double staining에서는 각각 세포박리와 세포자멸사 활성세포의 유의한 증가를 나타내었다. 3. 세포자멸사 관련 세포기전연구에서 SVT를 처리한 SK-N-SH 세포의 세포주기, 세포 내 칼슘양 및 DNA fragmentation에는 유의한 변화가 관찰되지 않은 반면 세포내 활성산소 양은 유의한 증가를 나타내었고, 그에 따른 미토콘드리아 세포막 전위의 유의한 변동이 관찰되었다. 4. SVT를 처리한 SK-N-SH는 세포자멸사 관련 단백 발현에서 Bax에 대해 유의한 증가를 나타내지 않았으나 caspase-3 및 caspase-9의 유의한 증가와 Bcl-2의 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 결론 : 이상의 결과는 SVT가 세포 내 활성산소를 증가시킴으로써 미토콘드리아의 세포막전위에 변화를 일으켜 인간 신경아세포종 세포주인 SK-N-SH의 세포박리와 유관한 세포자멸사를 유발함으로써 증식억제 효과가 있음을 입증한 것이다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.41-57
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• 2008

목적 : 이 연구는 Vipera lebetina turanica의 사독약침액(蛇毒藥鍼液)(Snake venom toxin, SVT)이 인간 신경아세포종의 암세포주인 SK-N-MC 세포에서 암세포성장의 억제 및 그 기전에 대하여 살펴보고자 하였다. 방법 : SVT를 처리한 후 SK-N-MC의 성장억제를 관찰하기 위해 CCK-8 assay와 LDH assay를 시행하였고, apoptosis 평가에는 세포형태의 관찰과 DAPI, TUNEL, Annexin V-PI double staining assay 및 cell detachment assay를 시행하였다. 세포자멸사 관련 세포기전을 보기 위하여 세포주기, 세포내 칼슘량, 세포내 활성산소량 및 미토콘드리아의 세포막전위 변화를 측정하였고, DNA fragmentation assay를 시행하였으며, 세포자멸사 조절 단백인 Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, -9의 발현 변화 관찰에는 western blot analysis를 시행하였다. 결과 : SK-N-MC 세포에 SVT를 처리한 후, 신경아세포종 세포의 성장, Apoptosis의 유발 및 기전에 영향을 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. SVT를 처리한 SK-N-MC 세포 관찰에서 $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ SVT 처리가 암세포성장의 유의한 억제를 나타내었다. 세포독성 관찰에서 SVT처리는 처리하지 않은 것에 비하여 증가를 나타내었다. 2. 세포자멸사 평가에서 SVT를 처리한 SK-N-MC 세포는 세포자멸사의 특징적 형태를 나타내었다. TUNEL assay에서는 세포자멸사 활성세포가 미약하게 나타난 반면 cell detachment assay와 Annexin V-PI double staining에서는 각각 세포박리와 세포자멸사 활성세포의 유의한 증가를 나타내었다. 3. 세포자멸사 관련 세포기전연구에서 SVT를 처리한 SK-N-MC 세포의 세포주기, 세포내 칼슘량 및 DNA fragmentation에는 유의한 변화가 관찰되지 않은 반면 세포내 활성산소 양은 유의한 증가를 나타내었고, 그에 따른 미토콘드리아 세포막 전위의 유의한 변동이 관찰되었다. 4. SVT를 처리한 SK-N-MC는 세포자멸사 관련 단백 발현에서 caspase-9에 대해 유의한 증가를 나타내지 않았으나 Bax 및 caspase-3의 유의한 증가와 Bcl-2의 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 결론 : 이상의 결과는 SVT가 세포내 활성산소를 증가시키므로 미토콘드리아의 세포막전위에 변화를 일으켜 인간 신경아세포종 세포주인 SK-N-MC의 세포박리와 유관한 세포자멸사를 유발하므로 증식억제 효과가 있음을 입증한 것이다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.587-598
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to elucidate the pro-apoptotic effect of Artemisiae capillaris herba extracted with ethanol on biliary tract cancer cells. Materials and Methods : The biliary tract cancer cell line SNU-1196 was used in this study. Cells were treated with different concentrations of Artemisiae capillaris herba for 24, 48 and 72 hours. After the treatment, cell viability, apoptosis, caspase activities and the mRNA expressions of the Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and P21 were measured by using MTT assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assay, and RT-PCR. The cell cycle analysis was done by flow cytometry and apoptosis assay by cell death detection ELISA kit. Results : Artemisiae capillaris herba inhibited proliferation of SNU-1196 in long-time culture group with dose-dependent manner. All cells treated with Artemisiae capillaris herba showed increased apoptosis with dose- and time-dependent manner. Exposure of SNU-1196 to Artemisiae capillaris herba induced caspase-3 activation. However, apeoptosis was blocked when SNU-1196 was treated together with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK and the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVE-FMK. After the treatment of Artemisiae capillaris herba, the mRNA expressions of caspase -3, -8, -9, p53, and p21 was increased in all cells. Artemisiae capillaris herba resulted in a significant decrease in Bcl-2 and an increase in Bax mRNA levels. Conclusions : These results suggest that Artemisiae capillaris herba would be beneficial in the treatment of biliary tract cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-24
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• 2007

Purpose : These experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effect of adminis tration of JokyungSan on ovarian functions and differential gene expressions related cell viabilities caspase-3, MAPK and MPG in female mice. Methods : We administered the JokyungSan to 6-week-old female ICR mice for 4, 8, or 12 days. The female mice were injected PMSG and hCG for ovarian hyperstimulation. We chose the caspase-3 for cell apoptosis, MAPK and MPG genes for cell viability and DNA repair. To compare the differences, we set a control group treated with plain water at the same volume by the same way. Results : In case of 4-day administration of JokyungSan, the mean number of total ovulated oocytes and the number of morphologically normal oocytes increased significantly compared to a control group. The administration of JokyungSan, were beneficial effect of embryonic development in preimplantation period and play a role of prevention of cell apoptosis and DNA damages and also increased cell proliferation resulted in ovarian functions. Conclusion : From our results suggested that the medication of JokyungSan has beneficial effect on reproductive functions of female mice via prevention of cell apoptosis and DNA damaging and promotion of cell proliferation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.267-285
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• 2017

Angiostrongylus cantonensis invades the central nervous system (CNS) of humans to induce eosinophilic meningitis and meningoencephalitis and leads to persistent headache, cognitive dysfunction, and ataxic gait. Infected mice (nonpermissive host), admittedly, suffer more serious pathological injuries than rats (permissive host). However, the pathological basis of these manifestations is incompletely elucidated. In this study, the behavioral test, histological and immunohistochemical techniques, and analysis of apoptotic gene expression, especially caspase-3, were conducted. The movement and motor coordination were investigated at week 2 post infection (PI) and week 3 PI in mice and rats, respectively. The cognitive impairs could be found in mice at week 2 PI but not in rats. The plaque-like lesion, perivascular cuffing of inflammatory cells, and dilated vessels within the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were more serious in mice than in rats at week 3 PI. Transcriptomic analysis showed activated extrinsic apoptotic pathway through increased expression of TNFR1 and caspase-8 in mice CNS. Immunohistochemical and double-labeling for NeuN and caspase-3 indicated the dramatically increased expression of caspase-3 in neuron of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in mice but not in rats. Furthermore, western-blotting results showed high expression of cleaved caspase-3 proteins in mice but relatively low expression in rats. Thus, extrinsic apoptotic pathway participated in neuronal apoptosis might be the pathological basis of distinct behavioral dysfunctions in rodents with A. cantonensis infection. It provides the evidences of a primary molecular mechanism for the behavioral dysfunction and paves the ways to clinical diagnosis and therapy for A. cantonensis infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3223-3228
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• 2016

Reports indicate that 15-deoxy-delta-12,14-prostaglandin-J2 (15d-PGJ2) has anticancer activities, but its mechanisms of action have yet to be fully elucidated. We therefore investigated the effects of 15d-PGJ2 on the human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 (estrogen receptor $ER{\alpha}+/ER{\beta}+$) and MDA-MB-231 ($ER{\alpha}-/ER{\beta}+$). Cellular proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays while apoptosis was determined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry using annexin V-propidium iodide (PI) staining. ER expression was determined by Western blotting. Intracellular calcium was stained with Fluo-4 AM while intracellular caspase activities were detected with Caspase-$FLICA(R)$ and measured by flow cytometry. We showed that 15d-PGJ2 caused a significant increase in apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. $ER{\alpha}$ protein expression was reduced in treated MCF-7 cells but pre-incubation with the $ER{\alpha}$ inhibitor' ICI 182 780' did not affect the percentage of apoptotic cells. The expression of $ER{\beta}$ was unchanged in both cell lines. In addition, 15d-PGJ2 increased intracellular calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) staining and caspase 8, 9 and 3/7 activities. We therefore conclude that 15d-PGJ2 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis that is associated with an influx of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ with no involvement of ER signaling.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.145-149
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• 2007

We have previously shown that 2,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene (TMS), a synthetic trans-stilbene analogue acting as a potent inhibitor of human cytochrome P450 1B1, induces apoptotic cell death in human cancer cells. In the present studies, we report the mechanisms of apoptotic cell death by TMS in human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells. We found that treatment of HL-60 cells with TMS suppressed the cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ value of about 0.8 ${\mu}M$. Immunoblot experiments revealed that DMHS-induced apoptosis was associated with cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol was significantly increased in response to TMS. TMS caused activation of caspase-3 in a concentration-dependent manner and TMS-mediated caspase-3 activation was partially prevented by the caspase inhibitor, zVAD-fmk. Interestingly, we found that the cytotoxic effect of anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel, docetaxel, or etoposide was enhanced in the presence of TMS. Simultaneous treatment with TCDD also significantly increased cytotoxic effects of TMS alone or TMS and anti-cancer agents. Taken together, our present results indicated that TMS leads to apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells through activation of caspase-3 activity and release of cytochrome c into cytosol. The ability of TMS to increase cytotoxic effect of anticancer drugs may contribute to its usefulness for cancer chemotherapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 2006

Enhanced apoptosis has been observed in the placentas of women with preeclampsia, but few studies have examined changes at the molecular level. This study was designed to detect genes specifically expressed in full-term preeclamptic placentas. Tissue samples were collected immediately after cesarean delivery from 11 normal and 8 preeclamptic placentas at 35-40 weeks of gestation. Total RNAs were extracted and hybridized to a cDNA microarray. Results were confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining were also performed to confirm apoptosis in preeclamptic placentas. Among 205 genes, three were up- or downregulated in preeclamptic placentas. The expression of caspase-10 and death receptor 3 (DR-3) was significantly increased, whereas insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) was strongly downregulated. RT-PCR analysis and Western blotting confirmed these effects. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the DR-3, caspase-10 and IGFBP-3 proteins were localized in the syncytial membrane. Apoptosis in the trophoblast was also increased in term placentas from women with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. These results suggest that caspase-10, DR-3 and IGFBP-3 are involved in apoptosis in the preeclamptic placenta.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.91-110
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• 2007

Purpose : These experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effect of administration of Palmultang on ovarian functions and differential gene expressions related cell viabilities caspase-3, MAPK and MPG in female mice. Materials and Methods : We administered the Palmultang to 6-week-old female ICR mice for 4, 8, or 12 days. The female mice were injected PMSG and hCG for ovarian hyperstimulation. And then recovered ovaries were minced and extracted mRNA and analyzed cell viability related gene expression. We chose the caspase-3 for cell apoptosis, MAPK and MPG genes for cell viability and DNA repair. To compare the differences, we set a control group treated with plain water at the same volume by the same way. Results : In case of administration of Palmultang, the mean number of total ovulated oocytes and the number of morphologically normal oocytes increased significantly compared to a control group. We were also examined the embryonic developmental competence in vitro. The administration of Palmultang in a concentration with 10 and 100 mg/ml were beneficial effect of embryonic development in preimplantation period. The administration of Palmultang play a role of prevention of cell apoptosis and DNA damages and also increased cell proliferation resulted in ovarian functions. Conclusion : From our results suggested that the medication of Palmultang has beneficial effect on reproductive functions of female mice via prevention of cell apoptosis and DNA damaging and promotion of cell proliferation.