• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.448-459
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• 2019

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway is a promising target for gastric cancer (GC) treatment; however the efficacy of PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitors in GC has not yet been maximized. Additionally, the effect of autophagy regulation by PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitors has not been clearly elucidated in GC treatment. We aimed to show that our newly developed PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor, CMG002, when combined with an autophagy inhibitor, chloroquine (CQ), potently induces effective cancer cell death in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) cells, where both the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and autophagy pathways play important roles in disease pathogenesis. EBV- and mock-infected AGS and NUGC3 GC cell lines were treated with CMG002 +/- CQ. PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway mediators, cellular apoptosis and autophagy markers were confirmed by Western blot assay. Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. CMG002 effectively blocked the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by markedly decreasing phosphorylation of AKT and its downstream mediator S6. CMG002 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and enhanced apoptotic cell death in AGS and NUGC3 cells, particularly EBV-infected cells compared with mock-infected cells, as confirmed by flow cytometric analyses and TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assays. The combination of CMG002 plus CQ synergistically increased apoptotic cell death in EBV-infected GC cell lines when compared with CMG002 alone (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that the new PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor, CMG002, when used in combination with the autophagy inhibitor, CQ, provides enhanced therapeutic efficacy against EBVaGC.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bo-du-san (BOS) on apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells, SNU-l cells. BOS, a drug preparation consisting of two herbs, that is, Crotonis Fructus (Strychni ignatii Semen, bodu in Korean) and Glycyrrhizae Radix (Glycyrrhizae uralensis FISCH, Gamcho in Korean). Methodss : In this study, methanol extract of BOS was examined for cytotoxic activity on human gastric cancer cells, SNU-1 cells, using XTT assay, with an IC50 value was 0.7 mg/ml and 0.3 mg/ml at 24 hrs and 48 hrs, respectively. Apoptosis induction by BDS in SNU-l cells was verified by the induction of DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. Inhibitors of caspase-3, -8 and -9 (Ac-DEVD-CHO, Z-IETD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK) efficiently blocked BOS-induced cell death of SNU-l. Resultss : BOS-induced cell death was via caspase dependent apoptosis. Moreover, treatment of BOS result in the decrease the G1/S cycle regulation proteins (cyclin D1 and E) expression and increase CDK inhibitor proteins (p21 and p27) expression, and increase apoptotic protein, p53 expression. Thus, BOS induces apoptosis in SNU-1 cells via cell cycle arrested in G1 phase. Conclusions : These results indicated that BOS has some potential for use as an anti-cancer agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권10호
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• pp.5895-5900
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• 2013

Dictamnine (Dic) has the ability to exert cytotoxicity in human cervix, colon, and oral carcinoma cells and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) also has potent anticancer activity on various tumour cell lines. This report explores the molecular mechanisms by which Dic treatment and combination treatment with DHA and Dic cause apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Dic treatment induced concentration- and time-dependent cell death. FCM analysis showed that Dic induced S phase cell cycle arrest at low concentration and cell apoptosis at high concentration in which loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$) was not involved. In addition, inhibition of caspase-3 using the specific inhibitor, z-DQMD-fmk, did not attenuate Dic-induced apoptosis, implying that Dic-induced caspase-3-independent apoptosis. Combination treatment with DHA and Dic dramatically increased the apoptotic cell death compared to Dic alone. Interestingly, pretreatment with z-DQMD-fmk significantly attenuated DHA and Dic co-induced apoptosis, implying that caspase-3 plays an important role in Dic and DHA co-induced cell apoptosis. Collectively, we found that Dic induced S phase cell cycle arrest at low concentration and cell apoptosis at high concentration in which mitochondria and caspase were not involved and DHA enhanced Dic induced A549 cell apoptosis via a caspase-dependent pathway.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.175-181
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• 2015

Cells proliferate via repeating process that growth and division. This process is G1, S, G2 and M four phases consists. Monitoring the progression of the cell cycle is a specific step that to be a continuous process is repeated to adjust the start of the next step. At this time, this process is called a Checkpoint. Currently, there are three known checkpoints that G1-S phase, G2-M phase, and the M phase. In this study, we confirmed that cell cycle arrest effects by ethanol extracts of Artemisia annua Linne (AAE) in Hep3B liver cancer cells. AAE was regulated proteins which involved in cell cycle such as pAkt, pMDM2, p53, p21, pCDK2 (T14/Y15). AAE induced cell cycle arrest in G1 checkpoint through phosphorylation of CDK2. Akt and p53 upstream is inhibited by AAE and p53 activated by non-activated pMDM2, p53 inhibitor. Thereby, activated p53 is transcript to p21 and activated p21 protein is combined with Cyclin E-pCDK2 complex. Therefore, we confirmed that AAE-induced cell cycle arrest was occurred by p21-Cyclin E-pCDK2 complex by inhibition of pAkt signal. Because of this cell cycle can't pass to S phase from G1 phase.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.51-60
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• 2005

목적 : 분자 표적의 선택적 억제가 방사선 세포 살상 효과를 증진시키는 것으로 알려져 있으므로 선택적 COX-2 억제제와 EGF 수용체 차단제를 HeLa 세포주에 처리한 후 방사선 효과의 상승작용을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 자궁경부암 세포주인 HeLa세포에서 EGF 수용체 차단제 AG 1478, 선택적 COX-2 억제제 NS 398과 방사선을 복합 투여하여 세포성장 억제 분석(cell graph inhibition assay)과 세포사멸 분석(apoptosis assay)을 시행하였고, 방사선 감수성 변화를 살펴보기 위해 세포생존 분석(clonogenic survival assay)을 시행하였다. 방사선 감수성 인자로는 2 Gy에서의 세포생존분획($SF_2$)과 linear-quadratic model을 이용한 dose enhancement ratio (DER)를 사용하였다. 방사선 감수성에 대한 작용기전 분석을 위해 flow cytometry로 세포주기 분석(cell cycle analysls)을 시행하였고, western blot 분석을 통하여 bcl-2와 bax 단백질의 발현 변화를 살펴보았다. 결과 : HeLa세포에 NS 398과 AG 1478을 방사선과 함께 복합 투여한 실험 군에서 세포사멸 정도가 가장 높게 나타났다($8.49\%$ vs. $22.70\%$). 세포주기 분석 결과, 방사선과 복합 약물 처리군에서 $G_0/G_l$ 세포주기 정체와 5 세포 분획 소실이 나타났으며 이러한 변화는 72시간 이후까지 지속되었다 세포생존 분석 결과로는 방사선과 AG 1478군에서 $SF_{2}0.68{\pm}0.07$, DER 1.12를 보인 반면, 방사선과 복합약물처리군에서는 $SF_{2}0.12{\pm}0.01,\;DER\;3.00$으로 나타났다. Western blot분석에서는 방사선과 복합약물처리군에서 bcl-2와 bax 단백질 발현이 모두 감소하는 양상을 보였다. 결론 : 신호전달 체계를 억제하는 분자 표적 약제인 선택적 COX-2 억제제와 EGF 수용체 차단제를 방사선과 복합투여함으로써 HeLa세포의 방사선 감수성이 증가됨을 확인하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권7호
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• pp.3471-3476
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• 2012

Background and Objective: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a promising class of potential anticancer agents for treatment of human malignancies. In this study, we investigated the effect of trichostatin A (TSA), one such HDAC inhibitor, in combination with docetaxel (TXT), a cytotoxic chemotherapy agent or erlotinib, a novel molecular target therapy drug, on lung cancer A549 cells. Methods: A549 cells were treated with TXT, erlotinib alone or in combination with TSA, respectively. Cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution were evaluated using MTT (3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, Hochst33258 staining and flow cytometry. Moreover, immunofluorescent staining and Western blot analysis were employed to examine alterations of ${\alpha}$-tubulin, heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and caspase-3 in response to the different exogenous stimuli. Results: Compared with single-agent treatment, co-treatment of A549 cells with TSA/TXT or TSA/erlotinib synergistically inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and caused cell cycle delay at the $G_2/M$ transition. Treatment with TSA/TXT or TSA/erlotinib led to a significant increase of cleaved caspase-3 expression, also resulting in elevated acetylation of ${\alpha}$-tubulin or hsp90 and decreased expression of EGFR, which was negatively associated with the level of acetylated hsp90. Conclusions: Synergistic anti-tumor effects are observed between TXT or erlotinib and TSA on lung cancer cells. Such combinations may provide a more effective strategy for treating human lung cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10381-10385
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• 2015

SKI-II has been reported as an inhibitor of sphingosine kinase 1 and has been extensively used to prove the involvement of sphingosine kinase and sphingosine-1-phosphate (Sphk1) in cellular processes. In the current study, we investigated the effects of SKI-II and its potential mechanisms in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells. After treatment with SKI-II, cell growth, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, expression of Sphk1, NF-${\kappa}B$, Bcl-2, Bax and p27 were assessed by MTT assay, flow cytometry, electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and Western-blot assay, respectively. Our results showed that SKI-II markedly inhibited SGC7901 cell survival in a dose-dependent manner, reduced cell proliferation with accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase and induced apoptosis in the tumor cells. Furthermore, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry showed that the expression of p27 and Bax was increased significantly, but the expression of NF-${\kappa}B$, Bcl-2 and Sphk1 decreased by different degrees. These results indicate that SKI-II induced cell growth arrest and apoptosis. The increased apoptotic sensitivity of SGC7901 was correlated with NF-${\kappa}B$ or Bcl-2/Bax activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.617-625
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• 2018

Neddylation is a post-translational protein modification process. MLN4924 is a newly discovered pharmaceutical neddylation inhibitor that suppresses cancer growth with several cancer types. In our study, we first investigated the effect of MLN4924 on colon cancer cells (HCT116 and HT29). MLN4924 significantly inhibited the neddylation of cullin-1 and colon cancer cell growth in a time and dose-dependent manner. MLN4924 induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCT116 and HT29 cells. Moreover, MLN4924 also triggered autophagy in HCT116 and HT29 cells via suppressing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Inhibiting autophagy by autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or ATG5 knockdown reversed the function of MLN4924 in suppressing colon cancer cell growth and cell death. Interestingly, MLN4924 suppresses colon cell growth in a xenograft model. Together, our finding revealed that blocking neddylation is an attractive colon cancer therapy strategy, and autophagy might act as a novel anti-cancer mechanism for the treatment of colon cancer by MLN4924.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.267-272
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• 2009

우리 몸에 필수적인 미량원소인 셀레늄은 항암활성이 있는 것으로 알려져 있고, 역학적, 생태학적 그리고 임상시험을 종합해보면, 셀레늄은 종양, 특히 전립선암, 폐암, 대장암에 대한 위험성을 낮출 수 있을 것으로 생각되어진다. 기전연구에 따르면 셀레늄은 DNA single strand breaks와 활성산소종을 유도함으로써 종양을 억제하는 예방효능이 있는 것으로 밝혀지고 있다. 하지만, 아직까지 전립선암세포주에서 methylseloenol 대사체 중에 하나인 MSeA와 세포주기억제와의 관계에 대해서는 명확하게 밝혀져 있지 않은 실정이다. 따라서, 이번 연구에서는 전립선암세포주에서 셀레늄의 세포주기에 관한 효능을 확인해 보고자 하였다. 결과를 종합해보면, MSeA는 전립선암세포주에서 G1/S기 세포주기를 억제하고 DNA 합성을 방해하는 것으로 나타났고, 이러한 현상은 cyclin의존성 키나아제를 길항하는 단백질 중에 하나인 p27단백질의 발현을 증가시킴으로써 일어남을 확인하였다. 따라서, MSeA에 의해 유발되는 세포주기 억제가 전립선암 세포의 성장억제에 기여하는 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.139-150
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• 2017

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drug with relatively minor side effect. Substantial evidence has suggested that metformin is associated with decreased cancer risk and anticancer activity against diverse cancer cells. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib has shown powerful activity for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and also induces growth arrest and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. In this study, we tested the combination of imatinib and metformin against HCT15 colorectal cancer cells for effects on cell viability, cell cycle and autophagy. Our data show that metformin synergistically enhances the imatinib cytotoxicity in HCT15 cells as indicated by combination and drug reduction indices. We also demonstrate that the combination causes synergistic down-regulation of pERK, cell cycle arrest in S and $G_2/M$ phases via reduction of cyclin B1 level. Moreover, the combination resulted in autophagy induction as revealed by increased acidic vesicular organelles and cleaved form of LC3-II. Inhibition of autophagic process by chloroquine led to decreased cell viability, suggesting that induction of autophagy seems to play a cell protective role that may act against anticancer effects. In conclusion, our present data suggest that metformin in combination with imatinib might be a promising therapeutic option in colorectal cancer.