• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.3-12
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• 2006

1 The present work was performed to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rh2 on proliferation, cell cycle-regulation and differentiation of human leukemia HL-60 cells as well as the underlying mechanisms for these effects. 2 Ginsenoside Rh2 potently inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells in both a dose- and time-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$, $20{\mu}M$. 3 DNA flow-cytometry indicated that ginsenoside Rh2 markedly induced a $G_1$ phase arrest of HL-60 cells. 4 Among the $G_1$ phase cell cycle-related proteins, the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK)4, 6 and cyclin D1, cyclin D2, cyclin D3 were reduced by ginsenoside Rh2, whereas the steadystate levels of CDK2 and cyclin E were unaffected. 5 The protein levels of a CDK inhibitor p16, $p21^{CIP1/WAF1}$ and $p27^{KIP1}$ were markedly increased by ginsenoside Rh2. 6 Ginsenoside Rh2 markedly enhanced the binding of $p21^{CIP1/WAF1}$ and $p27^{KIP1}$ with CDK2 and CDK6, resulting in the reduced activity of both kinases and the hypophosphorylation of Rb protein. 7 We furthermore suggest that ginsenoside Rh2 is a potent inducer of the differentiation of HL-60 cells, based on observations such as a reduction of the nitroblue tetrazolium level, an increase in the esterase activities and phagocytic activity, morphology changes, and the expression of CD11b, CD14, CD64 and CD66b surface antigens. 8 In conclusion, the onset of ginsenoside Rh2-induced the $G_0/G_1$ arrest of HL-60 cells prior to the differentiation is linked to a sharp up-regulation of the $p21^{CIP1/WAF1}$ level and a decrease in the CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6 activities. This is the first report demonstrating that ginsenoside Rh2 potently inhibits the proliferation of human promyelocytic HL-60 cells via the $G_1$ phase cell cycle arrest and differentiation induction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.821-828
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• 2008

Onchungeum, a herbal formula, which has been used for treatment of anemia due to bleeding, discharging blood and skin disease. In the present study, it was examined the effects of extract of Onchungeum (OCE) on the growth of human hepatocarcinoma cell lines Hep3B (p53 null type) and HepG2 (p53 wild type) in order to investigate the anti-proliferative mechanism by OCE. Treatment of Hep3B and HepG2 cells to OCE resulted in the growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner, however Hep3B cell line exhibited a relatively strong anti-proliferative activity to OEC. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that OCE treatment in Hep3B cells caused G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle, which was associated with various morphological changes in a dose-dependent fashion. RT-PCR and immunoblotting data revealed that treatment of OCE caused the down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression, however the levels of cyclin E expression were not changed by OCE. The G1 arrest of the cell cycle was also associated with the induction of Cdk inhibitor p27 by OCE. Because the p53 gene is null in Hep3B cells, it is most likely that the induction of p21 is mediated through a p53-independent pathway. Moreover, p27 detected in anti-Cdk4 and anti-Cdk2 immunoprecipitates from the OCE-treated cells, suggesting that OCE-induced p27 protein blocks Cdk kinase activities by directing binding to the cyclin/Cdk complexes. Furthermore, OCE treatment potently suppresses the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma proteins and the levels of the transcription factor E2F-1 expression. Taken together, these results indicated that the growth inhibitory effect of OCE in Hep3B hepatoma cells was associated with the induction of G1 arrest of the cell cycle through regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.413-417
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• 2015

Recently, we isolated HY253, a novel decahydrofluorene analog with a molecular structure of 7,8a-divinyl-2,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,8a,9,9a-decahydro-1H-fluorene-2,4a,4b,9a-tetraol from the roots of Aralia continentalis, which is known as Dokwhal (獨活), a traditional medicinal herb. Moreover, we previously reported its cytotoxic activity on cancer cell proliferation in human lung cancer A549 and cervical cancer HeLa cells. The current study aimed to evaluate its detailed molecular mechanisms in cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Flow cytometric analysis of HepG2 cells treated with $60{\mu}M$ HY253 revealed appreciable cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase via inhibition of Rb phosphorylation and down-regulation of cyclin D1. Furthermore, using western blots, we found that up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, such as p21^CIP1 and p27^KIP1, was associated with this G₁ phase arrest. Moreover, TUNEL assay and immunoblottings revealed apoptotic induction in HepG2 cells treated with $60{\mu}M$ HY253 for 24 h, which is associated with cytochrome c release from mitochondria, via down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, which in turn resulted in activation of caspase-9 and -3, and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Accordingly, we suggest that HY253 may be a potent chemotherapeutic hit compound for treating human liver cancer cells via up-regulation and activation of the p53 gene.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2005

The effects of 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN) on viability of IMR32 neuroblastoma cells in the presence of ATP or $NAD^+$ have been investigated. 6-AN caused marked reduction in cell viability and similar observations were also made with cells treated with 6-AN+ATP. However, cells treated with $6-AN+NAD^+$ showed cell viability similar to untreated cells. Morphologically, 6-AN and 6-AN+ATP treated cells showed loss of neurites, polyhedric shapes, shrinkage of cell bodies and formation of lysed cells, while $6-AN+NAD^+$ cells did not show any such changes. The flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that 6-AN increased cell population in $G_0/G_1$ phase and decreased cell population in Sand $G_2/M$ phase following a 72 h exposure. Western blot analysis showed that 6-AN stimulated a substantial increase in the level of the cdk inhibitor $p27^{kip1}$, but lowered the levels of cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb. However, cdc25A and p53R2 were not significantly affected. Immunofluorscence staining of $p27^{kip1}$, cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb revealed close correlation between the signal observed in the Western blot analysis. 6AN+ATP treated cells showed similar results obtained with 6-AN treated cells in expression of cdk2, cyclin E, p-Rb proteins and $p27^{kip1}$, $6-AN+NAD^+$ cells showed greater expression of cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb than those in 6-AN and 6-AN+ATP treated cells. The results suggest that 6-AN induced the $G_0/G_1$ phase arrest in IMR32 neuroblastoma cell lines through the increase of $p27^{kip1}$ and the decrease of cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8313-8319
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• 2016

We have recently shown that thymoquinone (TQ) has a potent cytotoxic effect and induces apoptosis via caspase-3 activation with down-regulation of XIAP in mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cells. Interestingly, our results showed that TQ was significantly more cytotoxic towards Neuro-2a cells when compared with primary normal neuronal cells. In this study, the effects of TQ on cell-cycle regulation and the mechanisms that contribute to this effect were investigated using Neuro-2a cells. Cell-cycle analysis performed by flow cytometry revealed cell-cycle arrest at G2/M phase and a significant increase in the accumulation of TQ-treated cells at sub-G1 phase, indicating induction of apoptosis by the compound. Moreover, TQ increased the expression of p53, p21 mRNA and protein levels, whereas it decreased the protein expression of PCNA, cyclin B1 and Cdc2 in a dose-dependent manner. Our finding suggests that TQ could suppress cell growth and cell survival via arresting the cell-cycle in the G2/M phase and inducing apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.48-59
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of WS on HepG2 cell cycle and expression of related genes. Methods : The MTT assay, Cell counting analysis, $[^3H]-Thymidine$ Incorporation Assay, Flow cytometric analysis, Quantitative RT-PCR were studied. Results : WS inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation in low concentration$(1-10\;{\mu]g/ml)$ which did not cause direct cytotoxicity, with dose-dependant manner. WS in-hibited DNA synthesis as well. Flow cytometric analysis on the HepG2 cell showed G2/M phase arrest. Conclusion : These results suggest that WS inhibits HepG2 cell proliferation not by the gene regulation but by G2/M phase arrest in the cell cycle. Thus further studies on the effect of WS in G2/M phase regulation are thought to be needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.607-612
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• 2003

To elucidate the action mechanism of MCS-C2, a novel analogue of toyocamycin and sangivamycin, its effect on the expression of cell cycle-related proteins in the human myelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 was examined using Western blotting and a flow cytometric analysis. MCS-C2, a selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, was found to inhibit cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and inhibits cell cycle progression by inducing the arrest at G1 and G2/M phases, in HL-60 cells. The flow cytometric analysis revealed an appreciable arrest of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle after treatment with MCS-C2. The HL-60 cell population increased gradually from 13% at 0 h, to 28% at 12 h in the G2/M phase, after exposure to $2{\;}\mu\textrm{M}$ MCS-C2. Furthermore, Western blot analysis demonstrated that MCS-C2 induced the cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through the inhibition of pRb phosphorylation. Hypophosphorylated pRb accumulated after treatment with $5{\;}\mu\textrm{M}$ MCS-C2 for 12 h, whereas, the level of hyperphosphorylated pRb was reduced. Thus, treatment of the cell with MCS-C2 suppressed the hyperphosphorylated form of pRb with a commensurate increase in the hypophosphorylated form.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the anticancer effect of biological substances of ethylacetate(EtOAc) fraction from Orostachys japonicus(OJEF), their effect on human melanoma A375 cells and the related molecular mechanisms. Methods : The MTS assay was used to confirm the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in A375 cells. And the $MUSE^{TM}$ analyzer was used to determine the ability of OJEF to induce cell cycle arrest. Western blotting was used to determine the changes in protein expression in A375 cells after treatment with OJEF. Results : OJEF showed cytotoxicity to A375 cells. And cell cycle arrest occurred in G1 phase and G2/M phase owing to inhibition of CDK1, cyclin B1, CDK4, and cyclin D, which are related to cell cycle regulation and cell division control. Conclusion : OJEF is effective in regulating cell cycle of human melanoma cells and thus can be a good theraputic agent to treat patients with melanoma.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.223-229
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• 2015

In this study, extract from Artemisia annua in L. (AAE) is known as a medicinal herb that is effective against cancer. The cell cycle is regulated by the activation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)/cyclin complex. We will focus on regulation of CDK2 by cyclin E. cyclin E is associated with CDK2 to regulate progression from G1 into S phase. Akt is known to play an important role in cell proliferation and cell survival. Activation of Akt increases mTOR activity that promotes cell proliferation and cancer growth. In this study, we investigated that AAE-induced cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase in HCT116 colon cancer. Treatment of AAE shows that reduced activation of Akt decreases mTOR/Mdm2 activity and then leads to increase the activation of p53. The active p53 promotes activation of p21. p21 induces inactivation of CDK2/cyclin E complex and occurs cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase. We treated LY294002 (Akt inhibitor) and Rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) to know the relationship between the signal transduction of proteins associated with cell cycle arrest. These results suggest that AAE induces cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase by Akt/mTOR pathway in HCT116 colon cancer cell.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 1998

Purpose : The relationship between environmental PH on the radiation induced-apoptosis in SCK mammary adenocarcinoma cells and cell cycle dependence was investigated. Material and Methods : Mammary adenocarcinoma cells of A/J mice(SCK cells) in exponential growth phase were irradiated with a $l37^Cs$ irradiator at room temperature. The cells were irradiated 1 hour after the media was replaced with fresh media at a different pHs. After incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 0-48 h, the extent of apoptosis was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The progression of cells through the cell cycle after irradiation in different pHs was also determined with flow cytometry. Bssults : The induction of apoptosis by irradiation in pH 6.6 medium was markedly less than that in pH 7.5 medium. When the cells were irradiated and maintained in pH 7.5 medium, the percentage of cells in $G_2/M$ phase rapidly increased to about $70\%$ at 12 h after an exposure to 120y and returned to control level by 36 h. The percentage of cells in G1 phase decreased as the percentage of cells in $G_2/M$ increased. On the other hand, in pH 6.6 medium the percentage of cells in G2/M phases gradually increased to about $45\%$ at 24 h after 12Gy irradiation and then slowly recessed and consequently, as much as $30-35\%$ of the cells were still in the Ga/M phase 48 h after irradiation. The percentage of cells in G1 phase then increased as the Ga/M arrest began to recede. The radiation-induced Ga/M arrest in PH 0.0 medium lasted markedly longer than that in pH 7.5 medium. Conclusion : Radiation-induced apoptosis in SCK tumor cells are reversely suppressed in an acidic environment. Radiation-induced Ga/M arrest is prolonged in an acidic environment indicating that the suppression of radiation-induced apoptosis and prolongation of radiation-induced Ga/M arrest in an acidic environment are related.