• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.6089-6094
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• 2013

Berberine, a common isoquinoline alkaloid, has been shown to possess anti-cancer activities. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not completely understood. In the current study, we investigated the effects of berberine on cell growth, colony formation, cell cycle distribution, and whether it improved the anticancer efficiency of cisplatin and doxorubicin in human breast cancer estrogen receptor positive (ER+) MCF-7 cells and estrogen receptor negative (ER-) MDA-MB-231 cells. Notably, berberine treatment significantly inhibited cell growth and colony formation in the two cell lines, berberine in combination with cisplatin exerting synergistic growth inhibitory effects. Accompanied by decreased growth, berberine induced G1 phase arrest in MCF-7 but not MDA-MB-231 cells. To provide a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of action of berberine, we performed genome-wide expression profiling of berberine-treated cells using cDNA microarrays. This revealed that there were 3,397 and 2,706 genes regulated by berberine in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Fene oncology (GO) analysis identified that many of the target genes were involved in regulation of the cell cycle, cell migration, apoptosis, and drug responses. To confirm the microarray data, qPCR analysis was conducted for 10 selected genes based on previously reported associations with breast cancer and GO analysis. In conclusion, berberine exhibits inhibitory effects on breast cancer cells proliferation, which is likely mediated by alteration of gene expression profiles.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.402-409
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• 2020

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) contains a bi-segmented viral genome, RNA1 (3.4 kb, RdRp), and RNA2 (1.4 kb, capsid protein) in a small particle (25 nm). Despite its extremely compact size, NNV has caused serious damage by infecting approximately 120 fish species worldwide since it was first reported in the late 1980s. In order to minimize the damage caused by NNV infection and develop effective vaccines, it is necessary to understand the intra cellular signaling system according to NNV infection. NNV infection induces cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase via the p53-dependent pathway to use the cellular system for its replication. Otherwise, host cells recognize NNV infection through the RIG-1-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway to control the virus and infected cells, and then ISGs required for antiviral action are activated via the IFN signaling pathway. Moreover, apoptosis of infected cells is triggered by the unfolded protein response (UPR) through ER stress and mitochondria-mediated cell death. Cell signaling studies on the NNV infection mechanisms are still at an early stage and many pathways have yet to be identified. Understanding the various disease-specific cellular signaling systems associated with NNV infection is essential for rapid and accurate diagnosis and vaccine development.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.1001-1007
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• 2004

Chloroform layer from methanol extract of Corni fructus (Cornaceae) showed strong antiproliferation effect on human cancer cell lines by SRB assay. Anticarcinogenic-active compound was isolated and purified by silica gel column and thin layer chromatograpies, and identified as ursolic acid ($3{\beta}$-hydroxyrus-12-ene-28-oic acid, MW:456) by mass and IR spectrophotometries, and $^1H-and\;^{13}C-NMRs$. The compound inhibited proliferation of A549 (human lung cancer cell line) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell line) cells in dose-dependant manner when treated for 48 hr. Inhibition rates of both cells were over 40% and 90% compared with control cells at the $30\;{\mu}g/mL\;and\;100\;{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Morphology of cells treated with the compound for 15 hr at $10\;{\mu}g/mL$ was distorted with shrinked cell mass, and cell number was lower than that of control cells. Cell cycle analysis showed sub-G1 phase arrest in both cell lines following 15 hr exposure to the compound; % of cell phase increased to 11.7 and 11.2% compared to the control of 4.0% and 2.1% in A549 and MCP-7 cells, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.200-209
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• 2023

Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification or sensitive mutations initially respond to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib, however, the treatment becomes less effective over time by resistance mechanism including mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) overexpression. A therapeutic strategy targeting MET and EGFR may be a means to overcoming resistance to gefitinib. In the present study, we found that picropodophyllotoxin (PPT), derived from the roots of Podophyllum hexandrum, inhibited both EGFR and MET in NSCLC cells. The antitumor efficacy of PPT in gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells (HCC827GR), was confirmed by suppression of cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony growth. In the targeting of EGFR and MET, PPT bound with EGFR and MET, ex vivo, and blocked both kinases activity. The binding sites between PPT and EGFR or MET in the computational docking model were predicted at Gly772/Met769 and Arg1086/Tyr1230 of each ATP-binding pocket, respectively. PPT treatment of HCC827GR cells increased the number of annexin V-positive and subG1 cells. PPT also caused G2/M cell-cycle arrest together with related protein regulation. The inhibition of EGFR and MET by PPT treatment led to decreases in the phosphorylation of the downstream-proteins, AKT and ERK. In addition, PPT induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and GRP78, CHOP, DR5, and DR4 expression, mitochondrial dysfunction, and regulated involving signal-proteins. Taken together, PPT alleviated gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell growth and induced apoptosis by reducing EGFR and MET activity. Therefore, our results suggest that PPT can be a promising therapeutic agent for gefitinib-resistant NSCLC.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2016

Objectives: The crude extracts of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) have traditionally demonstrated inhibitory effects on numerous human cancers both in vitro and in vivo. Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of cancer on world. The authors investigated the effects of an ethanol extract of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (ESB) on the growth and survival of MKN-45 cells (a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line). Methods: The MKN-45 cells were treated with different concentrations of ESB, and cell death was examined using an MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Analyses of sub-G1 peaks, caspase-3 and -9 activities, and mitochondrial membrane depolarizations were conducted to determine the anti-cancer effects of SB on MKN-45 cells. Also, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was investigated. Results: ESB inhibited the growth of MKN-45 cells, caused cell cycle arrest, and increased the sub-G1 population. In addition, ESB markedly increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization and the activities of caspase-3 and -9. ESB exerted anti-proliferative effects on MKN-45 cells by modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and by increasing the generation of ROS. Furthermore, combinations of anti-cancer drugs plus ESB suppressed cell growth more than treatments with an agent or ESB, and this was especially true for cisplatin, etoposide, and doxorubicin. Conclusion: ESB has a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on MKN-45 cells and this is closely associated with the induction of apoptosis. ESB-induced apoptosis is mediated by mitochondria-, caspase- and MAPK dependent pathways. In addition, ESB enhances ROS generation and increases the chemosensitivity of MKN-45 cells. These results suggest that treatment with ESB can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells by modulating the caspase-, MAPK- and ROS-dependent pathway.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.100.2-101
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• 2001

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.390-395
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• 2022

Objectives: Sweet bee venom (sBV) is purified from Apis mellifera, containing a high level of melittin-its main component. It has been used as a therapeutic agent for pain relief and anti-inflammation, as well as for treating neuronal abnormalities. Recently, there have been studies on the therapeutic application of sBV for anticancer treatment. In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological effect of sBV treatment in A549 human lung cancer cells. Methods: We used microscopic analysis to observe the morphological changes in A549 cells after sBV treatment. The MTT assay was used to examine the cytotoxic effect after dose-dependent sBV treatment. Molecular changes in sBV were evaluated by the expression of apoptosis marker proteins using western blot analysis. Results: Microscopic analysis suggested that the growth inhibitory effect occurred in a dose-dependent manner; however, cell lysis occurred at a concentration over 20 ㎍/mL of sBV. The MTT assay indicated that sBV treatment exhibited a growth inhibitory effect at a concentration over 5 ㎍/mL. On fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis, G0 dead cells were observed after G1 arrest at treatment concentrations up to 10 ㎍/mL. However, rapid cell rupture was observed at a concentration of 20 ㎍/mL. Western blot analysis demonstrated that sBV treatment modulated the expression of multiple cell death-related proteins, including cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase 9, p53, Bcl2, and Bax. Conclusion: sBV induced cell death in A549 human lung cancer cells at a pharmacological concentration, albeit causing hemolytic cell death at a high concentration.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.51-66
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• 2004

Retinoids, better known as vitamin A, have been reported to inhibit the growth of several breast cancer cell lines in culture and to reduce breast tumor growth in animal models. Furthermore, retinoids can augment the action of other breast cancer cell growth inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, interest has increased in the potential use of retinoids for the prevention and treatment of human breast cancer. We have examine the effect of all-trans retinoic acid(tRA) and 9-cis retinoic acid(9-cis RA) on human breast cancer cell(MCF-10A, T47-D, MCF-7) proliferation using MTT assay and cell cycle analysis(FACS). Overexpression of cyclin D1 protein is observed in the majority of breast cancers, suggesting that dysregulated expression of cyclin D1 might be a critical event in breast cancer carcinogenesis. We investigated whether tRA and 9-cis RA might affect expression of cyclin D1 on human breast cancer cells(MCF-10A, T47-D, MCF-7) using RT-PCR and west-ern bolt. In MCF-10A cells, either tRA or 9-cis RA treatment did not affect the cell proliferation. In T47-D cells and MCF-7 cells, either tRA or 9-cis RA treatment showed the inhibition of the cell proliferation over control cells and also inhibit the estrogen stimulated cell proliferation when it was given together with estrogen. The effect of retinoids was dose- and time- dependent. T47-D cells treated with 1.0 $\muM$ tRA undergo G0/G1-phase arrest by Day 5. MCF-7 cells treated with 1.0 $\muM$ tRA undergo S-phase arrest by Day 5. All-trans retinoic acid(tRA) and 9-cis retinoic acid(9-cis RA) inhibited the cyelin D1 mRNA and protein expression levels of human MCF-7 and T47-D breast carcinoma cells in vitro. The data indicate that retinoids can reduce cyclin D1 expression levels in a variety of breast cell lines in vitro and result in inhibition of cell proliferation. tRA-mediated growth inhibition and cyclin D1 expression inhibition is more potent than 9-cis RA mediated that. tRA-mediated inhibition effect is more potent on T47-D cells than on MCF-7 cells. Our data suggest that retinoids activity is different according to property of cell lines. Future chemoprevention of breast cancer studies using retinoids will be necessary to determine the mechanism of the retinoids-mediated growth inhibition.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.25.1-25.16
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• 2021

Background: Malignant lymphoma is the most common hematopoietic malignancy in dogs, and relapse is frequently seen despite aggressive initial treatment. In order for the treatment of these recurrent lymphomas in dogs to be effective, it is important to choose a personalized and sensitive anticancer agent. To provide a reliable tool for drug development and for personalized cancer therapy, it is critical to maintain key characteristics of the original tumor. Objectives: In this study, we established a model of hybrid tumor/stromal spheroids and investigated the association between canine lymphoma cell line (GL-1) and canine lymph node (LN)-derived stromal cells (SCs). Methods: A hybrid spheroid model consisting of GL-1 cells and LN-derived SC was created using ultra low attachment plate. The relationship between SCs and tumor cells (TCs) was investigated using a coculture system. Results: TCs cocultured with SCs were found to have significantly upregulated multidrug resistance genes, such as P-qp, MRP1, and BCRP, compared with TC monocultures. Additionally, it was revealed that coculture with SCs reduced doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest of GL-1 cells. Conclusions: SCs upregulated multidrug resistance genes in TCs and influenced apoptosis and the cell cycle of TCs in the presence of anticancer drugs. This study revealed that understanding the interaction between the tumor microenvironment and TCs is essential in designing experimental approaches to personalized medicine and to predict the effect of drugs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.216-224
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• 2011

Capsosiphon fulvescens is well-known green sea algae that, in recent years, has been proposed as a potential anticancer drug. In this study, we found that C. fulvescens glycoprotein (Cf-GP) had pro-apoptotic effects on human gastric carcinoma cells. By SDS-PAGE, we confirmed that C. fulvescens extract contained a glycoprotein. Using H33342 staining, we found that the Cf-GP caused cell death in a does-dependent manner, while an MTS assay showed decreased cellular viability due to induction of apoptosis. To determine the effect of Cf-GP on apoptosis-related cellular events, cells were treated with Cf-GP and the expression of several apoptosis-related protein was determined by Western blotting. Our results indicate that Cf-GP activated both a caspase cascade and PARP, which is a substrate of caspase-3, caspase-8 and the Bcl-2 family proteins. In addition, we assessed caspase-3, and -8 activation and annexin V staining. Our results revealed a cell cycle arrest, itself leading to an increased percentage of sub-G1 cells. Our findings indicate that Cf-GP may be a source of bio-functional material with therapeutic effects on human gastrointestinal cancer.