• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.679-687
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• 2019

Litsea populifolia, a plant species of the Lauraceae family, is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia. The phylogenetic relationships and botanical characteristics of L. populifolia have been reported; however, its anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer effects of ethanol extracts of L. populifolia (EELP) together with the molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer activity in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. EELP showed significant anti-oxidative effects with a 50% inhibitory concentration at $11.71{\mu}g/ml$, which was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. EELP exhibited cytotoxic activity and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas EELP did not have the cytotoxic effect on the normal human lung cell line IMR90. Treatment with EELP also resulted in a decreased expression of G1/S transition-related molecules-including cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, CDK6, cyclin D1, and cyclin E-both for the transcription and translation levels. EELP-induced G1 arrest was associated with the phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), p53, cell division cycle 25 homolog A (CDC25A), and the reduction of CDC25A expression in A549 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that EELP may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase through both p53-dependent and p53-independent (ATM/CHK2/CDC25A/CDK2) pathways in A549 cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.282-287
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: Green algae (Chlorella spp.) has been widely used as a biofertilizer to improve the crop yield and quality. However, available information is not enough to verify the mechanism of green algae's beneficial impact on strawberry. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Chlorella fusca CHK005 application on the growth and nutrient status of strawberry plant and fruit characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 800 seedlings of strawberry variety 'Kuemsil' were planted. Once a week, C. fusca culture solution (1.0 × 10⁷ cells mL^-1) was applied into soil via irrigation in four different concentrations: no application (control), 1/1000 times (× 0.5), 1/500 times (× 1), and 1/250 times (× 2). Result showed that growth of strawberry plant was enhanced by Chlorella application and the highest impact on fresh weight (FW) and chlorophyll content of the plants were observed in × 2 treatment, followed by × 1, × 0.5, and control treatments. The phosphorus (P) concentration in the plant was significantly higher in × 1 and × 2 treatments compared to control. In case of fruit quality, sugar content (°Brix), hardness, and FW were lowest in control, but these values increased as application levels of Chlorella were higher. Also, P and K contents in the fruits increased with increasing the application levels and significant correlation between P content and oBrix in the fruits was found. CONCLUSION(S): Overall, Chlorella application seemed to improve plant growth and fruit quality by increasing the utilization efficiency of P and K in strawberries.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2006

To determine the anticancer effect of D-amygdalin (D-mandelinitrole-${\beta}$-D-gentiobioside) in human chronic myeloid leukemia cells K562, we profiled the gene expression between amygdalin treatment and control groups. Through 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, the cytotoxicity of D-amygdalin was $57.79{\pm}1.83%$ at the concentration of 5 mg/mL for 24 h. We performed cDNA microarray analysis and compared the gene expression profiles between D-amygdalin (5 mg/mL, 24 h) treatment and control groups. Among the genes changed by D-amygdalin, we paid attention to cell cycle-related genes, and particularly cell cycle regulator genes; because arrest of cell cycle processing was ideal tactic in remedy for cancer. In our data, expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (p27, Kip1) (CDKN1B), ataxia telangiectasia mutated (includes complementation groups A, C, and D) (ATM), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (p57, Kip2) (CDKN1C), and CHK1 checkpoint homolog (CHEK1, formally known as CHK1) were increased, while expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), cell division cycle 25A (CDC25A), and cyclin E1 (CCNE1) were decreased. The pattern of these gene expressions were confirmed through RT-PCR. Our results showed that D-amygdalin might control cell cycle regulator genes and arrest S phase of cell cycle in K562 cells as the useful anticancer drug.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.450-461
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• 2022

Purpose: DNA damage and repair responses are induced by metabolic diseases and environmental stress. The balance of DNA repair response and the antioxidant system play a role in modulating the entire body's health. This study uses a high-fat and high-calorie (HFC) drink to examine the new roles of a plant-based multivitamin/mineral supplement with phytonutrients (PMP) for regulating the antioxidant system and cellular DNA repair signaling in the body resulting from metabolic stress. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, parallel-arm, and placebo-controlled trial, healthy adults received a capsule containing either a PMP supplement (n = 12) or a placebo control (n = 12) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at 0, 1, and 3 hours after consuming a HFC drink (900 kcal). The blood samples were analyzed for the following oxidative stress makers: areas under the curve reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocytes MDA, urinary MDA, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and the glutathione:oxidized glutathione ratio at the time points. We further examined the related protein levels of DNA repair signaling (pCHK1 (Serine 345), p-P53 (Serine 15), and 𝛄H2AX expression) in the plasma of subjects to evaluate the time-dependent effects of a HFC drink. Results: In a previous study, we showed that PMP supplementation for eight weeks reduces the ROS and endogenous DNA damage in human blood plasma. Results of the current study further show that PMP supplementation is significantly correlated with antioxidant defense. Compared to the placebo samples, the blood plasma obtained after PMP supplementation showed enhanced DNA damage response genes such as pCHK1(Serine 345) (a transducer of DNA response) and 𝛄H2AX (a hallmark of DNA damage) during the 8 weeks trial on metabolic challenges. Conclusion: Our results indicate that PMP supplementation for 8 weeks enhances the antioxidant system against oxidative stress and prevents DNA damage signaling in humans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 2016

The effect of kaempferol (3,5,7,4-tetrahydroxyflavone), a flavonoid compound that was identified in barnyard millet (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea) grains, on G₂-checkpoint and apoptotic pathways was investigated in human acute leukemia Jurkat T cell clones stably transfected with an empty vector (J/Neo) or a Bcl-xL expression vector (J/Bcl-xL). Exposure of J/Neo cells to kaempeferol caused cytotoxicity and activation of the ATM/ATR-Chk1/Chk2 pathway, activating the phosphorylation of p53 (Ser-15), inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc25C (Ser-216), and inactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1), with resultant G₂-arrest of the cell cycle. Under these conditions, apoptotic events, including upregulation of Bak and PUMA levels, Bak activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) loss, activation of caspase-9, -8, and -3, anti-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and accumulation of apoptotic sub-G₁ cells, were induced without accompanying necrosis. However, these apoptotic events, except for upregulation of Bak and PUMA levels, were completely abrogated in J/Bcl-xL cells overexpressing Bcl-xL, suggesting that the G₂-arrest and the Bcl-xL-sensitive mitochondrial apoptotic events were induced, in parallel, as downstream events of the DNA-damage-mediated G₂-checkpoint activation. Together these results demonstrate that kaempferol-mediated antitumor activity toward Jurkat T cells was attributable to G₂-checkpoint activation, which caused not only G₂-arrest of the cell cycle but also activating phosphorylation of p53 (Ser-15) and subsequent induction of mitochondria-dependent apoptotic events, including Bak and PUMA upregulation, Bak activation, Δψm loss, and caspase cascade activation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.567-576
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• 2017

The $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger is responsible for maintaining the acidic tumor microenvironment through its promotion of the reabsorption of extracellular $Na^+$ and the extrusion of intracellular $H^+$. The resultant increase in the extracellular acidity contributes to the chemoresistance of malignant tumors. In this study, the chemosensitizing effects of cariporide, a potent $Na^+/H^+-exchange$ inhibitor, were evaluated in human malignant mesothelioma H-2452 cells preadapted with lactic acid. A higher basal level of phosphorylated (p)-AKT protein was found in the acid-tolerable H-2452AcT cells compared with their parental acid-sensitive H-2452 cells. When introduced in H-2452AcT cells with a concentration that shows only a slight toxicity in H-2452 cells, cariporide exhibited growth-suppressive and apoptosis-promoting activities, as demonstrated by an increase in the cells with pyknotic and fragmented nuclei, annexin V-PE(+) staining, a $sub-G_0/G_1$ peak, and a $G_2/M$ phase-transition delay in the cell cycle. Preceding these changes, a cariporide-induced p-AKT down-regulation, a p53 up-regulation, an ROS accumulation, and the depolarization of the mitochondrial-membrane potential were observed. A pretreatment with the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 markedly augmented the DNA damage caused by the cariporide, as indicated by a much greater extent of comet tails and a tail moment with increased levels of the p-histone H2A.X, $p-ATM^{Ser1981}$, $p-ATR^{Ser428}$, $p-CHK1^{Ser345}$, and $p-CHK2^{Thr68}$, as well as a series of pro-apoptotic events. The data suggest that an inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling is necessary to enhance the cytotoxicity toward the acidtolerable H-2452AcT cells, and it underlines the significance of proton-pump targeting as a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome the acidic-microenvironment-associated chemotherapeutic resistance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.624-627
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• 2003

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is an environmental pollutant that has been implicated in carcinogenesis. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was treated with B[a]P, and the responses of its cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme and DNA-damage checkpoint genes were examined through gene expression profiles using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The DNA-damage checkpoint genes tested were the chk1 and pds1 genes, involved in a metaphase arrest, the swi6 gene targeted by G1 arrest, the pol2 gene related to S phase arrest, and the cln2 gene encoding a cyclin protein, all of which are based on rad9 and rad24. Among these genes, no noticeable effect was found when the cells were exposed to various concentrations of B[a]P. However, the transcriptional activity of CYP51 was significantly different when the cells were exposed to B[a]P. Accordingly, the present results indicate that cytochrome P450 plays a more significant role than DNA-damage checkpoint genes in the response of S. cerevisiae to B[a]P.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1343-1348
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• 2015

Human UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like PHD and RING finger domain-containing 1) has been reported to be over-expressed in many cancers, but its role in ovarian cancer remains elusive. Here, we determined whether knockdown of UHRF1 by lentivirus-mediated shRNA could inhibit ovarian cancer cell growth. Lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNAs (lv-shRNAs-UHRF1) were designed to trigger the gene silencing RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. The efficiency of lentivirus-mediated shRNA infection into HO-8910 and HO-8910 PM cells was determined using fluorescence microscopy to observe lentivirus-mediated GFP expression and was confirmed to be over 80 percent. UHRF1 expression in infected HO-8910 and HO-8910 PM was evaluated by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to measure cell viability; flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 assay was applied to measure cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Cell invasion was assessed using transwell chambers. Our results demonstrated that the loss of UHRF1 promoted HO-8910 and HO-8910 PM cell apoptosis, while inhibiting cell proliferation. In addition, UHRF1 knockdown significantly inhibited the invasion of human ovarian cancer cells. In the present study, we also showed that depleting HO-8910 cells of UHRF1 caused activation of the DNA damage response pathway, with the cell cycle arrested in G2/M-phase. The DNA damage response in cells depleted of UHRF1 was illustrated by phosphorylation of CHK (checkpoint kinase) 2 on Thr68, phosphorylation of CDC25 (cell division control 25) on Ser 216 and phosphorylation of CDK1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1) on Tyr 15.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.282-287
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• 2011

Sirt1, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ($NAD^+$)-dependent histone deacetylase, is known to deacetylate a number of proteins that are involved in various cellular pathways such as the stress response, apoptosis and cell growth. Modulation of the stress response by Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) is achieved by the deacetylation of key proteins in a cellular pathway, and leads to a delay in the onset of cancer or aging. In particular, Sirt1 is known to play an important role in maintaining genomic stability, which may be strongly associated with a protective effect during tumorigenesis and during the onset of aging. In these studies, Sirt1 was generated in stably expressing cells and during the stimulation of DNA damage to examine whether it promotes survival. Sirt1 expressing cells facilitated the repair of DNA damage induced by either ionizing radiation (IR) or bleomycin (BLM) treatment. Fastened damaged DNA repair in Sirt1 expressing cells corresponded to prompt activation of Chk2 and ${\gamma}$-H2AX foci formation and promoted survival. Inhibition of Sirt1 enzymatic activity by a chemical inhibitor, nicotinamide (NIC), delayed DNA damage repair, indicating that promoted DNA damage repair by Sirt1 functions to induce survival when DNA damage occurs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.857-862
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-proliferative mechanism by Trichosanthes kirilowii (TCK) in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cell. In this study, we used human breast cancer cell line, Michigan cancer foundation-7 cells (MCF-7 cells). They were co-incubated with 30~200 ${\mu}g$/ml TCK for 48 hours, and cell viability was measured by Water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 (WST-1) assay. After MCF-7 cells were exposed to 60 ${\mu}g$/ml of TCK for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours, We performed flow analysis cytometry sorting(FACS) and western blot analysis. We investigated the effect of dose-dependent cell growth inhibition by TCK, which could be proved by WST-1 assay. Also, flow cytometry analysis showed that TCK increased percentage of subG1 phase and G2/M phase cell cycle. In addition, TCK induced apoptosis through the expression of caspase-9, -3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) activation. Moreover, we showed that ATM-dependent G2/M phase arrest by DNA damage and phosphorylation of chk2, cdc25C, cdc2(Tyr15). Taken together, these results suggest that by G2/M phase arrest through DNA damage and inducing of apoptosis through intrinsic pathway, TCK may have potential tumor suppressor in breast cancer.