• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2012

Honokiol, a naturally occurring neolignan mainly found in Magnolia species, has been shown to have the anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive and cancer chemopreventive activities, but the molecular mechanism of actions has not been fully elucidated yet. In the present study, we investigated the effect of honokiol on the growth inhibitory activity in cultured SNU-638 human gastric cancer cells. We found that honokiol exerted potent antiproliferative activity against SNU-638 cells. Honokiol also arrested the cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase and induced the apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. The cell cycle arrest was well correlated with the downregulation of Rb, cyclin D1, cyclin A, cyclin E, and CDK4 expression, and the induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. The increase of sub-G1 peak by honokiol was closely related to the induction of apoptosis, which was evidenced by the induction of DNA fragmentation, the cleavage of poly(ADPribose) polymerase, and the sequential activation of caspase cascade. These findings suggest the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis might be one possible mechanism of actions for the anti-proliferative activity of honokiol in human gastric cancer cell.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4223-4231
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• 2016

Background: Development of new apoptosis-inducing drugs is a promising trend in anticancer therapy. For this purpose several formamidinoderivatives of doxorubicin were synthesized. The aim of our study was to investigate effects of the five formamidinodoxorubicins in the ES-2 human ovarian clear cell carcinoma line, for comparison with data obtained previously for SKOV-3 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells, to answer the question of whether and to what extent the histological cell type is a possible determinant of sensitivity to tested anthracyclines. Materials and Methods: In our experimental work the following methods were used: spectrophotometric assays with MTT; fluorimetric assays - double staining with Hoechst 33258 and propidium iodide (PI), measurement of caspase-3, -8, -9 activity, intracellular accumulation of DOX and analogues, estimation of drug uptake, mitochondrial transmembrane potential; flow cytometry - phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization with annexin V-FITC and PI fluorochromes. Results: Effects of the derivatives of doxorubicin were partially linked with the specific type of cancer cell although intracellular accumulation and cellular uptake of DOX and derivatives were similar in both. All of the investigated derivatives were considerably more cytotoxic than DOX. Formamidinodoxorubicins were able to induce caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death in both cell types. Conclusions: All new formamidine derivatives of DOX were able to induce caspase - dependent apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV-3 and ES-2. Obtained results suggested that formamidine derivatives of DOX may be promising candidates for the prospective chemotherapeutic agents for the two different histological subtypes of ovarian cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8617-8622
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• 2014

The goal of this study was to establish paclitaxel resistant MCF-7 cells, as in vitro model, to identify the molecular mechanisms leading to acquired chemoresistance in breast cancer cells. Resistant cells were developed by stepwise increasing exposure to paclitaxel. Gene expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 along with protein levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 were evaluated in two resistant cell lines (MCF-7/Pac64 and MCF-7/Pac5 nM). Morphological modifications in paclitaxel resistance cells were examined by light microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). As an important indicator of resistance to chemotheraputic agents, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio showed a significant increase in both MCF-7/Pac5nM and MCF-7/Pac 64nM cells (p<0.001), while caspase-9 levels were decreased (p<0.001) and caspase-8 was increased (p<0.001). FACS analysis demonstrated that MCF-7/Pac64 cells were smaller than MCF-7 cells with no difference in their granularity. Our results support the idea that paclitaxel induces apoptosis in a mitochondrial-dependent manner. Identifying breast cancer patients with a higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio and caspase 9 level and then inhibiting the activity of these proteins may improve the efficacy of chemotheraputic agents.

• 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.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.630-641
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• 2008

Gamisamgibopae-tang (GMSGBPT) is a traditional Korean medicine, which has been used for patients suffering from a lung disease in Oriental medicine. In the present study, we examined the biochemical mechanisms of apoptosis by GMSGBPT in NCI-H460 and A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines. It was found that GMSGBPT could inhibit the cell proliferation of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, however GMSGBPT did not affect the cell proliferation of NCI-H460 cells. Apoptotic cell death in A549 cells were detected using DAPI staining and annexin V fluorescein methods. The induction of apoptotic cell death by GMSGBPT was connected with a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression, and proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in A549 cells. However, GMSGBPT did not affect the levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bad expression, and activity of caspase-8. GMSGBPT treatment also concomitant degradation and/or inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), ${\beta}$-catenin, phospholipase C-1 (PLC${\gamma}$1) and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (DFF45/ICAD). Taken together, these findings suggest that GMSGBPT may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human non-small-cell lung cancer cells and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-cancer activity of GMSGBPT.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2004

Spatholobus suberectus belonging the family Leguminosae has been used for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, tonifying the blood, relaxing tendons, stopping internal bleeding and eliminating dampness in oriental traditional medicine. This study investigates whether the water extracts of S. suberectus induce apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Jurkat cells were increased inhibitions of cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner by S. suberectus, as measured by cell morphology. The capability of S. suberectus to induce apoptosis was associated with proteolytic cleavage of specific target protein such as poly (ADP­ribose)polymerase protein suggesting the possible involvement of caspases. The purpose of the present study is also to investigate the effect of S. suberectus on cell cycle progression. G1 checkpoin related gene products tested (cyclin D1, cyclin dependent kinase 4, retinoblastoma, E2Fl) were decreased in their protein levels in a dose-dependent manners after treatment of the extract. These results indicate that the increase of apoptotic cell death by S. suberectus may be due to the inhibition of cell cycle progression in wild type p53-lacking Jurkat cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.903-907
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• 2005

Many naturally occurring plant extracts are studied for their beneficial effects for health and particularly on cancer. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, occurs in both normal and pathological conditions, including cancer Dysregulation of apoptosis allows transformed cells to continually and uninhibitedly enter the cell cycle, thus perpetuating the sequence of mutation, genomic instability and, finally, oncogenesis. To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of the extract of Fructus Trichosanthis (EFT) on leukemic HL-60 cells and its mechanism, HL-60 cells in vitro in culture medium were given different doses of the extract. The inhibitory rate of cells were measured by microculture tetrazolium assay, cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry, morphology of cell apoptosis was observed by DAPI fluorescence staining, and the activations of caspases and PARP were detected using Western blotting analysis. The extract could activate the caspase-3 and caspase-8, induce PARP cleavage, inhibit growth of HL-60 cells, and cause apoptosis significantly The suppression was in dose-dependent manner. Marked morphological changes of cell apoptosis including condensation of chromatin and nuclear fragmentation were observed clearly by DAPI fluorescence staining especially. These results will provide strong laboratory evidence of EFT for clinical treatment of acute leukemia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.772-778
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• 2005

The chloromethyl-2-dihydroxyphosphinyl-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- isoquinoline (CDDT) is a newly synthesized derivative from 1,2,3,4-Tetra- hydroisoquinoline (THIQ). The THIQs include potent cytotoxic agents that display a range of antitumor activities, antimicrobial activity, and other biological properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of CDDT on the cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60 cells). CDDT showed a significant cytotoxic activity in HL-60 cells ($IC_{50}$ = approximately $37\;{\mu}g/ml$) at a 24 hr incubation. Treatment of HL-60 cells with CDDT displayed several features of apoptosis, including formation of DNA ladders in agarose gel electrophoresis, morphological changes of HL-60 cells with DAPI stain. Here we observed that CDDT caused activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. The most efficacious time on the activation of caspases-3 was achieved at 12 hr. Further molecular analysis demonstrated that CDDT led to cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), increase of hypodiploid (Sub-G1) population in the flow cytometric analysis. In conclusion, these above results indicate that CDDT dramatically suppresses HL-60 cell growth by activation of caspase-3 with caspase-8, -9 activity. These data may support a pivotal mechanism for the use of CDDT in the prevention and treatment of leukemia.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.89-96
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• 2002

The importance of apoptosis in normal development and pathogenesis has been well recognized, and explosive progress towards dissecting its commitment step has been made during the past decade. Mitochondria, Apaf-1, caspase, and bcl-2 family members play central roles in the commitment step. However, it is still unclear how upstream cell survival pathways regulate apoptosis. It is also unknown whether the bcl-2 family members have any effect on the upstream survival pathways. We have demonstrated that the anti-apoptotic gene product bcl-2 greatly induces expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in human breast epithelial cells. Surprisingly, we found that TIMP-1, like bcl-2, is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli. Functional studies indicate that TIMP-1 inhibits a classical apoptotic pathway mediated by caspases, and that focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Pl 3-kinase and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) are critical for TIMP- 1 -mediated cell survival. We also showed specific association of TIMP-1 with the cell surface. Consistently, a 150-H)a surface protein was identified in MCF10A cells that specifically binds TIMP-1. Taken together, we hypothesize that TIMP-I binding on the cell surface induces a cell survival pathway that regulates the common apoptosis commitment step. The results of these studies will address a new paradigm in the regulation of apoptosis by an extracellular molecule TIMP-1, and also greatly enhance our understanding of TIMP-1's pleiotropic activity in many physiological and pathological processes. This information may also be useful in designing more rational therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the anti-apoptotic activity of TIMP-1 .

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.158-172
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• 2017

Nigella sativa (N. sativa, family Ranunculaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been widely used for centuries throughout the world as a natural remedy. A wide range of chemical compounds found in N. sativa expresses its vast therapeutic effects. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component (up to 50%) in the essential oil of N. sativa. Also, pinene (up to 15%), p-cymene (40%), thymohydroquinone (THQ), thymol (THY), and dithymoquinone (DTQ) are other pharmacologically active compounds of its oil. Other terpenoid compounds, such as carvacrol, carvone, 4-terpineol, limonenes, and citronellol, are also found in small quantities in its oil. The main pharmacological characteristics of this plant are immune system stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, anti-tussive, milk production, uricosuric, choleretic, anti-fertility, and spasmolytic properties. In this regard, we have searched the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with keywords of N. sativa, anti-cancer, apoptotic effect, antitumor, antioxidant, and malignancy over the period from 2000 to 2017. The effectiveness of N. sativa against cancer in the blood system, kidneys, lungs, prostate, liver, and breast and on many malignant cell lines has been shown in many studies, but the molecular mechanisms behind that anti-cancer role are still not clearly understood. From among the many effects of N. sativa, including its anti-proliferative effect, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, ROS generation, anti-metastasis/anti-angiogenesis effects, Akt pathway control, modulation of multiple molecular targets, including p53, p73, STAT-3, PTEN, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$, and activation of caspases, the main suggestive anti-cancer mechanisms of N. sativa are its free radical scavenger activity and the preservation of various anti-oxidant enzyme activities, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and the anti-cancer effects of N. sativa, with a focus on its molecular targets in apoptosis pathways.