• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to evaluate the anticancer effects of the isoflavone extract from Chungkukjang in human breast cancer, MDA-MB-453 cells. For this study, MDA-MB-453 cells were treated with 12.5, 25, and $50{\mu}g$ isoflavone extract for 24, 48, and 72 hr. Cell proliferations were decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Reduced cell proliferation was suspected by apoptosis or cell cycle arrest. Therefore, after treatment of $50{\mu}g$ isoflavone extract, apoptotic cells were investigated by annexin V staining. The results indicated that isoflavone extract increased the number of early apoptotic cells compared with control. Cleaved PARP was also increased. Next, we investigated the cell cycle and related proteins. The isoflavone extract leads to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Moreover isoflavone extract had influenced cell cycle relate proteins such as cyclin B1, cyclin A, and p21. These results suggest that isoflavone extract from Chungkukjang induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase via regulation of cell cycle-related proteins in MDA-MB-453 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.871-877
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• 2009

We investigated the effects of sodium butyrate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the cell cycle progression in human monocytic leukemia U937 cells. Exposure of U937 cells to sodium butyrate resulted in growth inhibition, G1 arrest of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. The increase in G1 arrest was associated with the down-regulation in cyclin D1, E, A, cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 4 and 6 expression, and up-regulation of Cdk inhibitors such as p21 and p27. Sodium butyrate treatment also inhibited the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and p130, however, the levels of transcription factors E2F-1 and E2F-4 were not markedly modulated. Furthermore, the down-regulation of phosphorylation of pRB and p130 by this compound was associated with enhanced binding of pRB and E2F-1, as well as p130 and E2F-4, respectively. Overall, the present results demonstrate a combined mechanism involving the inhibition of pRBjp130 phosphorylation and induction of Cdk inhibitors as targets for sodium butyrate that may explain some of its anti-cancer effects in U937 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

Caesalpinia sappan L. (C. sappan) has long been used in traditional medicine as an emmenagogue, hemostatic and anti-inflammatory agent. The present study investigated the effects of water extract of C. sappan in human lymphoma U937 cells. The proliferation of U937 cells was decreased by C. sappan in a dose-dependently manner. Anti-proliferative effect of C. sappan on U937 cells was associated with G2/M phase arrest, which was mediated by regulating the expression of p21 protein. Moreover, phosphorylation of JNK and p38 was increased by C. sappan. Blockade of JNK and p38 was significantly inhibited C. sappan-induced G2/M phase arrest. Taken together, these results suggest that Anti-proliferative effect of C. sappan on U937 is assocated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest by expression of p21 protein and, JNK and p38 activation.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.622-628
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• 2013

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), one of the major organosulfur components of garlic (Allium sativum), has various biological effects such as anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of growth inhibition related to cell cycle arrest are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of DATS on cell cycle progression in U937 human leukemia cells. Treatment with DATS in U937 cells resulted in inhibition of cell viability through G2/M arrest and apoptosis. DATS-induced G2/M arrest was associated with up-regulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). DATS also significantly increased levels of phospho-histone H3, which is a mitosis-specific marker, indicating that DATS induced mitotic arrest but not G2 arrest in U937 cells. DATS treatment also generated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in U937 cells; however, pretreatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, significantly attenuated DATS-induced mitotic arrest and apoptosis. Taken together, our data indicate that DATS exhibits anti-cancer effects through mitotic arrest and apoptosis in a ROS-dependent manner.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 2011

Eugenol is an essential oil found in cloves and cinnamon that is used widely in perfumes. However, the significant anesthetic and sedative effects of this compound have led to its use also in dental procedures. Recently, it was reported that eugenol induces apoptosis in several cancer cell types but the mechanism underlying this effect has remained unknown. In our current study, we examined whether the cytotoxic effects of eugenol upon human melanoma G361 cells are associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis using a range of methods including an XTT assay, Hoechst staining, immunocyto-chemistry, western blotting and flow cytometry. Eugenol treatment was found to decrease the viability of the G361 cells in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis in eugenol-treated G361 cells was confirmed by the appearance of nuclear condensation, the release of both cytochrome c and AIF into the cytosol, the cleavage of PARP and DFF45, and the downregulation of procaspase-3 and -9. With regard to cell cycle arrest, a time-dependent decrease in cyclin A, cyclin D3, cyclin E, cdk2, cdk4, and cdc2 expression was observed in the cells after eugenol treatment. Flow cytometry using a FACScan further demonstrated that eugenol induces a cell cycle arrest at S phase. Our results thus suggest that the inhibition of G361 cell proliferation by eugenol is the result of an apoptotic response and an S phase arrest that is linked to the decreased expression of key cell cycle-related molecules.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2015

Objectives : In Korea, Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases such as back pain, syndromes of the blood system in women, gastrointestinal disease, and cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer activity have not been clearly elucidated yet. Methods : This study investigated the possible mechanisms by which RVS extract (RVE) exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Results : Treatment with RVE in MCF-7 cells resulted in inhibition of cell viability through G1 arrest of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, as determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. The induction of G1 arrest by RVE treatment was associated with the inhibition of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 2, retinoblastoma protein (pRB), and mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) expression. Moreover, RVE treatment concentration dependently increased the levels of tumor suppressor p53, which was associated with the marked induction of Cdk inhibitors such as p21 (Waf1/Cip1) and p27 (Kip1). However, the inhibition of p53 function by the wild-type p53-specific inhibitor, pifithrin-α, abolished the above-mentioned effects of RVE, showing that p53 was responsible for the cytotoxicity of RVE Conclusions : These data indicate that a molecular pathway involving p53-dependent G1 cell cycle arrest plays a pivotal role in the cellular response to RVE, and demonstrate the potential applications of RVE as an anti-cancer drug for breast cancer treatment.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.4101-4107
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• 2014

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) is a major serine/threonine phosphatase that controls gene expression and cell cycle progression. The active mutant IPP5 ($8-60hIPP5^m$), the latest member of the inhibitory molecules for PP1, has been shown to inhibit the growth of human cervix carcinoma cells (HeLa). In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, the present study assessed overexpression of $8-60hIPP5^m$ in HeLa cells. Flow cytometric and biochemical analyses showed that overexpression of $8-60hIPP5^m$ induced G2/M-phase arrest, which was accompanied by the upregulation of cyclin B1 and phosphorylation of G2/M-phase proteins ATM, p53, $p21^{cip1/waf1}$ and Cdc2, suggesting that $8-60hIPP5^m$ induces G2/M arrest through activation of the ATM/p53/$p21^{cip1/waf1}$/Cdc2/cyclin B1 pathways. We further showed that overexpression of $8-60hIPP5^m$ led to delayed nuclear translocation of cyclin B1. $8-60hIPP5^m$ also could translocate to the nucleus in G2/M phase and interact with $pp1{\alpha}$ and Cdc2 as demonstrated by co-precipitation assay. Taken together, our data demonstrate a novel role for $8-60hIPP5^m$ in regulation of cell cycle in HeLa cells, possibly contributing to the development of new therapeutic strategies for cervix carcinoma.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1250-1255
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• 2008

Onchungeum(OCE), a herbal formula, has been used for treatment of anemia, discharging blood and skin diseases. In the previous study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of OCE by G1 arrest of the cell cycle in human hepatocarcinoma cells, Hep3B cells. In this study, it was examined that the difference of anti-proliferative mechanisms by change in the ratio of OCE composition (OCE I) in Hep3B cells. Treatment of OCE I exhibited a relatively strong anti-proliferative activity and caused various morphological changes such as membrane shrinkage and cell floating. In addition, OCE-I arrests the cell cycle at G1 phase, which was associated with the down-regulation of cyclin D1 and Cdk6 expressions. The G1 arrest was also associated with the induction of Cdk inhibitors p27 and p21. Moreover, both p21 and p27 were detected by immunoprecipitation with anti-Cdk4 and anti-Cdk2 antibodies in OCE I-treated cells but in case of OCE, p21 did not make any complexes with Cdk4 and Cdk2. These results suggest that the change in the ratio of OCE composition might induce different mechanisms in anti-cancer efficacy of OCE, which may confer characteristic principles in oriental medical formula.