• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 1991

Liver protective effects of ginsenosides as well as fractions of dammarane glycosides of Panax ginseng were studied using galactosamine (GalN)-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Preventing effects on GalN-induced hepatotoxicity were found both microscopic observation and determination of GPT level with total dammarane glycosides fraction and $20(S)-ginsenoside-Rb_1$ as well as $20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg_1$ at the concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml$. The syntheses of both protein and RNA were significantly increased by the treatment of $50{\mu}g/ml$ of total dammarane glycoside fraction, $20(S)-ginsenoside-Rb_1$, -Rc, -Re and $-Rg_1$, respectively in both normal and GalN-induced cytotoxic hepatocytes.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.198-206
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• 2009

Microarray and proteomic expression patterns in response to cadmium exposure were analyzed in human lung epithelial cells. Among 35,000 genes analyzed by cDNA microarray, 228 genes were up-regulated and 99 genes were down-regulated, based on a fold change cut-off value of ${\geq}2$. Combining two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS), 25 of 629 protein spots showed fold changes in expression ${\geq}2$ (17 up-regulated, 8 down-regulated). After comparing the cDNA microarray and proteomic analyses, only transglutaminase 2, translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase showed overlapping signals in the cDNA microarray and proteomic analyses, whereas the remaining differentially expressed proteins showed large discrepancies with respect to mRNA expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1716-1722
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• 2018

Immunosuppressive drugs are used to make the body less likely to reject transplanted organs or to treat autoimmune diseases. In this study, five immunosuppressive drugs including two glucocorticoids (dexamethasone and prednisolone), one calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporin A), one non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (aspirin), and one antimetabolite (methotrexate) were tested for their effects on viral proliferation using feline foamy virus (FFV). The five drugs had different cytotoxic effects on the Crandell-Ress feline kidney (CRFK) cells, the natural host cell of FFV. Dexamethasone-pretreated CRFK cells were susceptible to FFV infection, but pretreatment with prednisolone, cyclosporin A, aspirin, and methotrexate showed obvious inhibitory effects on FFV proliferation, by reducing viral production to 29.8-83.8% of that of an untreated control. These results were supported by western blot, which detected viral Gag structural protein in the infected cell lysate. As our results showed a correlation between immunosuppressive drugs and susceptibility to viral infections, it is proposed that immune-compromised individuals who are using immune-suppressive drugs may be especially vulnerable to viral infection originated from pets.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 1999

The anititumor and immunologic activities of the glycoproteins extracted from sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) on mice bearing sarcoma 180 cells were investigated . Maximum tumor suppression (64%) occurred at the dose of 100mg glycoprotein/kg. The highest prolongation ratio was achieved at the level of 100mg/kg an dincreased by 395 more than that of control. Glycoproteins from sea cucumber exhibited direct cytotoxic effect on the tumor cells. Dose dependent increase of leucocyte, peritoneal exudate cell and weights of immunoorgans revealed the improvement of immunity. When the glycoportein-administered group was compared with the control, a significant difference was not noted in the clinico-chemical values such as S-GOT, S-GPT , alkaline phoshatse activity, total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea nitrogen and glucose levels in blood. These results suggests that the antitumor activity of sea cucumber glycoprotein is associated with activation of cells in the immune system.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.411-415
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• 1998

In the present study, we were evaluated cytotoxic effects of epigallocatechin gallate in human skin melanoma cells such as HTB-69. The light microscopic study showed morphological changes of the treated cells. Disruptions in cell organelles were determined by colorimetric methods; 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, neutral red (NR) assay and sulforhodamine B protein (SRB) assay. These results suggest that epigallocatechin gallate retains a potential antitumor activity.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2024

Tissue-specific adult stem cells are pivotal in maintaining tissue homeostasis, especially in the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium. At the heart of this process are leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-expressing crypt base columnar cells (CBCs) that differentiate into various intestinal epithelial cells. However, while these CBCs are vital for tissue turnover, they are vulnerable to cytotoxic agents. Recent advances indicate that alternative stem cell sources drive the epithelial regeneration post-injury. Techniques like lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, combined with in vitro organoid systems, highlight the remarkable cellular adaptability of the intestinal epithelium during repair. These regenerative responses are mediated by the reactivation of conserved stem cells, predominantly quiescent stem cells and revival stem cells. With focus on these cells, this review unpacks underlying mechanisms governing intestinal regeneration and explores their potential clinical applications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4807-4814
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• 2012

Purpose: The chemoresistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to cytotoxic drugs, especially intrinsic or acquired multidrug resistance (MDR), still remains a major challenge in the management of HCC. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in MDR of HCC were identified using a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human HCC cell line. Methods: BEL-7402/5-FU cells were established through continuous culturing parental BEL-7402 cells, imitating the pattern of chemotherapy clinically. Growth curves and chemosensitivity to cytotoxic drugs were determined by MTT assay. Doubling times, colony formation and adherence rates were calculated after cell counting. Morphological alteration, karyotype morphology, and untrastructure were assessed under optical and electron microscopes. The distribution in the cell cycle and drug efflux pump activity were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, expression of potential genes involved in MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU cells were detected by immunocytochemistry. Results: Compared to its parental cells, BEL-7402/5-FU cells had a prolonged doubling time, a lower mitotic index, colony efficiency and adhesive ability, and a decreased drug efflux pump activity. The resistant cells tended to grow in clusters and apparent changes of ultrastructures occurred. BEL-7402/5-FU cells presented with an increased proportion in S and G2/M phases with a concomitant decrease in G0/G1 phase. The MDR phenotype of BEL-7402/5-FU might be partly attributed to increased drug efflux pump activity via multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), overexpression of thymidylate synthase (TS), resistance to apoptosis by augmentation of the Bcl-xl/Bax ratio, and intracellular adhesion medicated by E-cadherin (E-cad). P-glycoprotein (P-gp) might play a limited role in the MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU. Conclusion: Increased activity or expression of MRP1, Bcl-xl, TS, and E-cad appear to be involved in the MDR mechanism of BEL-7402/5-FU.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.417-423
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• 2018

Extracellular interleukin 1 alpha (IL-$1{\alpha}$) released from keratinocytes is one of the endpoints for in vitro assessments of skin irritancy. Although cells dying via primary skin irritation undergo apoptosis as well as necrosis, IL-$1{\alpha}$ is not released in apoptotic cells. On the other hand, active secretion has been identified in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), which was discovered to be a common, upregulated, differentially-expressed gene in a microarray analysis performed with keratinocytes treated using cytotoxic doses of chemicals. This study examined whether and how IL-1ra, particularly extracellularly released IL-1ra, was involved in chemically-induced keratinocyte cytotoxicity and skin irritation. Primary cultured normal adult skin keratinocytes were treated with cytotoxic doses of chemicals (hydroquinone, retinoic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, or urshiol) with or without recombinant IL-1ra treatment. Mouse skin was administered irritant concentrations of hydroquinone or retinoic acid. IL-1ra (mRNA and/or intracellular/extracellularly released protein) levels increased in the chemically treated cultured keratinocytes with IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNAs and in the chemically exposed epidermis of the mouse skin. Recombinant IL-1ra treatment significantly reduced the chemically-induced apoptotic death and intracellular/extracellularly released IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in keratinocytes. Collectively, extracellular IL-1ra released from keratinocytes could be a compensatory mechanism to reduce the chemically-induced keratinocyte apoptosis by antagonism to IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, suggesting potential applications to predict skin irritation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 1997

Previous studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress involving generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is responsible for the cytotoxic action of $TNF{\alpha}$. Protective effect of small heat shock proteins (small HSP) against diverse oxidative stress conditions has been suggeted. Although overexpression of small hsp was shown to provide an enhanced survival of $TNF{\alpha}$-sensitive cells when challenged with $TNF{\alpha}$, neither the nature of $TNF{\alpha}$-induced cytotoxicity nor the protective mechanism of small HSP has not been completely understood. In this study, we have attempted to determine whether $TNF{\alpha}$ induces oxidative DNA damage in $TNF{\alpha}$-sensitive L929 cells. We chose to measure the level of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8 ohdG), which has been increasingly recognized as one of the most sensitive markers of oxidative DNA damage. Our results clearly demonstrated that the level of 8 ohdG increased in L929 cells in a $TNF{\alpha}$ dose-dependent manner. Subsequently, we asked whether small HSP has a protective effect on $TNF{\alpha}$-induced oxidative DNA damage. To accomplish this goal, we have stably transfected L929 cells with mouse small hsp cDNA (hsp25) since these cells are devoid of endogenous small hsps. We found that $TNF{\alpha}$-induced 8 ohdG was decreased in cells overexpressing exogenous small hsp. We also found that the cell killing activity of $TNF{\alpha}$ was decreased in these cells as measured by clonogenic survival. Taken together, results from the current study show that cytotoxic mechanism of $TNF{\alpha}$ involves oxidative damage of DNA and that overexpression of the small hsp reduces this oxidative damage. We suggest that the reduction of oxidative DNA damage is one of the most important protective mechanisms of small HSP against $TNF{\alpha}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2014

Lung cancer is still the number one cause of death from cancer worldwide. The clinical effect of platinum-based chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer is constrained by the resistance to drug. To overcome chemo-resistance, various modified treatment including combination therapy has been used, but overall survival has not been improved yet. In this study, chemo-resistant lung cancer cells, A549/Cis and H460/Cis, were developed by long-term exposure of cells to cisplatin and the proliferative capability of these resistant cells was verified to be reduced. We found cytotoxic effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major catechin derived from green tea, on both the parental lung cancer cells, A549 and H460, and their cisplatin resistant cells, A549/Cis and H460/Cis. ELISA and Western blot analysis revealed that EGCG was able to increase interlukine-6 (IL-6) production per cell, whereas its downstream effector Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation was not changed by EGCG, indicating that IL-6/STAT3 axis is not the critical signaling to be inhibited by EGCG. We next found that EGCG suppresses the expression of both Axl and Tyro 3 receptor tyrosine kinases at mRNA and protein level, explaining the cytotoxic effect of EGCG on lung cancer cells, especially, regardless of cisplatin resistance. Taken together, these data suggest that EGCG impedes proliferation of lung cancer cells including their chemo-resistant variants through downregulation of Axl and Tyro 3 expression.