• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2017

Background: KG-135, a standardized formulation enriched with Rk1, Rg3, and Rg5 ginsenosides, has been shown to inhibit various types of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we explored its effects in A549 human lung cancer cells to investigate the induction of Forkhead Class box O3a (FOXO3a) and autophagy. Methods: Cell viability was determined by sulforhodamine B staining. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed using flow cytometry. The changes of protein levels were determined using Western blot analysis. Autophagy induction was monitored by the formation of acidic vesicular organelles stained with acridine orange. Results: KG-135 effectively arrested the cells in G1 phase with limited apoptosis. Accordingly, a decrease of cyclin-dependent kinase-4, cyclin-dependent kinase-6, cyclin D1, and phospho-retinoblastoma protein, and an increase of p27 and p18 proteins were observed. Intriguingly, KG-135 increased the tumor suppressor FOXO3a and induced the accumulation of autophagy hallmark LC3-II and acidic vesicular organelles without an increase of the upstream marker Beclin-1. Unconventionally, the autophagy adaptor protein p62 (sequestosome 1) was increased rather than decreased. Blockade of autophagy by hydroxychloroquine dramatically potentiated KG-135-induced FOXO3a and its downstream (FasL) ligand accompanied by the cleavage of caspase-8. Meanwhile, the decrease of Bcl-2 and survivin, as well as the cleavage of caspase-9, were also drastically enhanced, resulting in massive apoptosis. Conclusion: Besides arresting the cells in G1 phase, KG-135 increased FOXO3a and induced an unconventional autophagy in A549 cells. Both the KG-135-activated extrinsic FOXO3a/FasL/caspase-8 and intrinsic caspase-9 apoptotic pathways were potentiated by blockade of autophagy. Combination of KG-135 and autophagy inhibitor may be a novel strategy as an integrative treatment for cancers.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.553-560
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• 2004

In the present study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of aqueous extract of Wikyung-tang(WKT) on the growth of human lung carcinoma cell line A549. WKT treatment declined the cell viability and proliferation of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The anti-proliferative effects by WKT treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. WKT treatment induced an inhibition and/or degradation of apoptotic target proteins such poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1). WKT treatment did not affect the levels of other Bcl-2 family gene products, such as Bcl-2, Bax and Bad. Western blot analysis and RT-PCT data revealed that the levels of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 were induced by WKT treatment in A549 cells. Additionally, WKT treatment induced the down-regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT) expression of A549 cells, however, the levels of other telomere-regulatory gene products were not affected. Taken together, these findings suggest that WKT-induced inhibition of human lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products and WKT may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.523-528
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• 2008

BMI-1026 is a synthetic aminopyrimidine compound that targets cyclin dependent kinases (cdks) and was initially designed as a potential anticancer drug. Even though it has been well documented that BMI-1026 is a potent cdk inhibitor, little is known about the cellular effects of this compound. In this study, we examined the effects of BMI-1026 treatment on inducing premature senescence and then evaluated the biochemical features of BMI-1026-induced premature senescence. From these experiments we determined that BMI-1026 treatment produced several biochemical features of premature senescence and also stimulated expression of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family proteins. BMI-1026 treatment caused nuclear translocation of activated Erk1/2 and the formation of senescence associated heterochromatin foci in 5 days. The heterochromatin foci formation was perturbed by inhibition of Erk1/2 activation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 2021

Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive pathological condition characterized by excessive proliferation of the prostate. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Corni Fructus water extract (CF) on the promotion of prostate cell proliferation by dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Methods: The effect of CF on the proliferation of LNCaP prostate cells was evaluated, and DHT was treated to induce an in vitro BPH model. To study the mechanism of inhibition of cell proliferation and BPH by CF, changes in the expression of key factors related to cell cycle and BPH were investigated. We further investigated the effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy of CF. Results: Inhibition of LNCaP cell proliferation by CF was associated with decreased expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin A and increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. CF also suppressed expression of BPH inducing factors such as 5α-reductase type 2 and androgen receptor (AR) as well as prostate specific antigen (PSA). Furthermore, CF significantly blocked DHT-induced LNCaP cell proliferation and effectively attenuated DHT-induced expression of BPH mediators and cyclins. In addition, CF inhibited DHT-induced oxidative and inflammatory reactions by inhibiting production of ROS and NO. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that CF probably acted as 5α-reductase type 2 inhibitor, preventing the 5α-reductase type 2-AR signaling pathway, thereby reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT and the expression of PSA, which is at least correlated with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of CF.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.690-696
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• 2006

Houttuynia cordata Thunb, well known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, is a traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. In the present study, we investigated the effect of water extract of H. cordafa (WEHC) on the growth of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to WEHC resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay and fluorescent microscope. The anti-proliferative effect of WEHC was associated with a dose-dependent up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in a p53-independent fashion. We found WEHC decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1 , which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin $E_2{\;}(PGE_2)$ synthesis. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. cordata.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.500-506
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• 2004

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of aqueous extract from the healthful decoction utilizing Phellinus linteus (HDPL) on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. HDPL treatment declined the cell viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and the anti-proliferative effects by HDPL treatment were associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. HDPL treatment did not affect the distribution of the cell cycle. Western blot analysis and RT-PCT data revealed that the levels of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 in HDPL-treated A549 cells were remained unchanged. However, HDPL treatment inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and protein in a concentration-dependent fashion. Additionally, the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a main determinant of the telomerase enzymatic activity, was progressively down-regulated by HDPL treatment. Taken together, these findings suggest that HDPL-induced inhibition of human lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the inhibition of several major growth regulatory gene products, such as COX-2 and hTERT, and HDPL may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2023

Objective: Muscle acetylcholine receptors have five alpha subunits (α, β, δ, ε, or γ), and cholinergic receptor nicotinic gamma subunit (CHRNG) is the γ subunit. It may also play an essential role in biological processes, including cell differentiation, growth, and survival, while the role of CHRNG has not been studied in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of CHRNG on the proliferation and differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. Methods: We constructed a CHRNG overexpression adenovirus vector and successfully overexpressed it on bovine preadipocytes. The effects of CHRNG on bovine preadipocyte proliferation were detected by Edu assay, cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot and other techniques. We also performed oil red O, RT-qPCR, Western blot to explore its effect on the differentiation of preadipocytes. Results: The results of Edu proliferation experiments showed that the number of EDU-positive cells in the overexpression group was significantly less. CCK-8 experiments found that the optical density values of the cells in the overexpression group were lower than those of the control group, the mRNA levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A2 (CCNA2), cyclin B1 (CCNB1), cyclin D2 (CCND2) decreased significantly after CHRNG gene overexpression, the mRNA levels of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) increased significantly, and the protein levels of PCNA, CCNB1, CCND2 decreased significantly. Overexpression of CHRNG inhibited the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. The results of oil red O and triglyceride determination showed that the size and speed of lipid droplets accumulation in the overexpression group were significantly lower. The mRNA and protein levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR class="checkNonKBPoint">γ), CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPα), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid synthase (FASN) decreased significantly. Conclusion: Overexpression of CHRNG in bovine preadipocytes inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of bovine preadipocytes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.183-189
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• 2003

Platycodi Radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji, is used as a traditional oriental medicine. Extracts from the roots of P. grandiflorum have been reported to have wide ranging health benefits. We investigated the effects of an aqueous extract from the roots of P. grandiflorum (AEPG) on the cell proliferation of human lung carcinoma A549 cells in order to understand its anti-proliferative mechanism. AEPG treatment resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. This anti-proliferative effect of A549 cells by AEPG treatment was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking, cell rounding up and inhibition of cell migration. DNA flow cytometric histograms showed that populations of both Sand G2/M phase of the cell cycle were increased by AEPG treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. AEPG treatment induced a marked accumulation of tumor suppressor p53 and a concomitant induction of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 and p27. In addition, SSS treatment resulted in down-regulation of Cdk2 and Cdk4 expression. The present results indicated that AEPG-induced inhibition of lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the blockage of S to G2/M phase progression the induction of apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that P. grandiflorum has strong potential for development as an agent for prevention against human lung cancer.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2007

Mitomycin C (MMC), an antitumor antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces caespitosus, is used in chemotherapy of gastric, bladder and colorectal cancer. MMC is activated in vivo to alkylate and crosslink DNA, via G-G interstrand bonds, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis and transcription. This study investigates gene expression changes in response to MMC treatment in order to elucidate the mechanisms of MMC-induced toxicity. MMC was admistered with single dose (0.32 and 1.6 ${\mu}M$) to TK6 cells. Applied Biosystem's DNA chips were used for identifying the gene expression profile by MMC-induced toxicity. We identified up- or down-regulated 90 genes including cyclin M2, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21, cip1), programmed cell death 1, tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 9, et al. The regulated genes by MMC associated with the biological pathways apoptosis signaling pathway. Further characterization of these candidate markers related to the toxicity will be useful to understand the detailed mechanism of action of MMC.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.907-915
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• 2007

In this study the effect of water extract of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep (RST) was investigated on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Exposure of A549 cells to RST resulted in the growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay. The antiproliferative effect by RST treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. RST treatment did not induce the cell cycle arrest and the levels of tumor suppressor p53 as well as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1). It was found that RST treatment decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX) -2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. RST treatment also slightly inhibited the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and protein expression, and the activity of telomerase. Taken together, these findings suggested that RST-induced inhibition of human lung carcinoma A549 cell growth was aoosciated with the inhibition of COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. These results provided important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of RST.