• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.201-211
• /
• 2024

Background: Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters are widely used in sunscreen products and have been identified as an emerging contaminant. Organic UV filters co-exist with multiple components, but their mixture toxicity remains largely unknown. Objectives: We investigated the toxicity of single and binary mixtures of commonly used UV-filters using the human adrenocarcinoma (H295R) cell line. Methods: After exposure to non-cytotoxic concentrations of avobenzone (AVO), homosalate (HS), octisalate (OS), octinoxate (OMC), and octocrylene (OC), the levels of testosterone (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2) were measured. The median effective concentration (EC₅₀) values for the E2 of the individual substances were used to determine the mixture effect of four binary combinations: OMC+AVB, OMC+HS, OMC+OS, and OMC+OC. The synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects of the mixture were determined by calculating toxic units (TU). To examine the mechanism of mixture toxicity, eight genes involved in steroidogenesis were analyzed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The significant increase in E2 in H295R cells exposed to AVO, HS, OS, OMC, and OC suggest an estrogenic effect of the tested UV-filters. A significant decrease in T was observed in cells exposed to HS and OS. EC₅₀ values for E2 increase were 105 nM for AVO, 110 nM for HS, 120 nM for OS, 55 nM for OMC, and 80 nM for OC. Both binary mixtures consisting of OMC+HS and OMC+OS have synergistic effects. Conclusions: Our results showed that five types of UV-filter substances increase E2 in H295R cells. We examined the mixture toxicity in terms of increased estrogenicity and confirmed that E2 significantly increased when OMC was mixed with a salicylate-based UV-filters. These findings highlight the importance of determining the impact of UV filter mixtures.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.31
• /
• pp.10.1-10.8
• /
• 2016

Objectives Aromatase inhibitors that block estrogen synthesis are a proven first-line hormonal therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer. Although it is known that standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) induces anti-carcinogenic effects like the aromatase inhibitors, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis have not been studied yet. Therefore, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis and aromatase activity was studied using a H295R cell model, which was a good in vitro model to predict effects on human adrenal steroidogenesis. Methods Cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, and $17{\beta}$-estradiol were evaluated in the H295R cells by competitive enzyme-linked immunospecific assay after exposure to EGb761. Real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate effects on critical genes in steroid hormone production, specifically cytochrome P450 (CYP11/ 17/19/21) and the hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases ($3{\beta}$-HSD2 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1/4). Finally, aromatase activities were measured with a tritiated water-release assay and by western blotting analysis. Results H295R cells exposed to EGb761 (10 and $100{\mu}g/mL$) showed a significant decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone, but no change in aldosterone or cortisol. Genes (CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1) related to the estrogen steroidogenesis were significantly decreased by EGb761. EGb761 treatment of H295R cells resulted in a significant decrease of aromatase activity as measured by the direct and indirect assays. The coding sequence/Exon PII of CYP19 gene transcript and protein level of CYP19 were significantly decreased by EGb761. Conclusions These results suggest that EGb761 could regulate steroidogenesis-related genes such as CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1, and lead to a decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone. The present study provides good information on potential therapeutic effects of EGb761 on estrogen dependent breast cancer.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 1995

Continuous deodorization of malodorous sulfur compounds by Thiobaillus neapolitanusts R-10 immobilized onto a polypropylene pellet was studied using a column reactor at 30$^{\circ}$C. The maximum amounts of immobilized cells was 5.3 gall polypropylene with 5$\times$7.5mm in pellet size, and the amounts of immobilized cells in the higher part of the column was as twice as in the lower part. The optimum pH and temperature for removal of dimethyl sulfide were 6.0 and 30$^{\circ}$C, respectively. When 5-20 ${mu}ell$/l of hydrogen sulfide and methylmercaptan were employed 98% of removal efficiency were achieved. In contrast, lower concentrations of dimethyl sulfide and dimethyldisulfide should be supplied to meet satisfactory deodorization efficiency. The immobilized cell column was successfully operated for the deodorization of mixture of sulfur compounds over 15 days without significant loss of initial activity achieving high efficiency.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.72-80
• /
• 2022

In this study, the survival capacity (acid and bile salt tolerance, and adhesion to gut epithelial cells) and probiotic properties (enzyme activity-inhibition and anti-inflammatory activities, inhibition of adipogenesis, and stress hormone level reduction) of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LRCC5314, isolated from kimchi (Korean traditional fermented cabbage), were investigated. LRCC5314 exhibited very stable survival at ph 2.0 and in 0.2% bile acid with 89.9% adhesion to Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells after treatment for 2 h. LRCC5314 also inhibited the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which are involved in elevating postprandial blood glucose levels, by approximately 72.9% and 51.2%, respectively. Treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with the LRCC5314 lysate decreased the levels of the inflammatory factors nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and interferon-γ by 88.5%, 49.3%, 97.2%, and 99.8%, respectively, relative to those of the cells treated with LPS alone. LRCC5314 also inhibited adipogenesis in differentiating preadipocytes (3T3-L1 cells), showing a 14.7% decrease in lipid droplet levels and a 74.0% decrease in triglyceride levels, as well as distinct reductions in the mRNA expression levels of adiponectin, FAS, PPAR/γ, C/EBPα, TNF-α, and IL-6. Moreover, LRCC5314 reduced the level of cortisol, a hormone with important effect on stress, by approximately 35.6% in H295R cells. L. plantarum LRCC5314 is identified as a new probiotic with excellent in vitro multifunctional properties. Subsequent in vivo studies may further demonstrate its potential as a functional food or pharmabiotic.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 1999

The nucleotide sequence of a 447 base pair fragment in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the complete sequence of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene, 938 bp, were analyzed to infer inter- and intraspecific genetic relationships of Hyla japonica and H. suweonensis from Korea and H, japonica from Japan. In the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, genetic differentiation among H. japonica populations were 9.62% and 15.66% between H. japonica and H. suweonensis. Based on the Tamura-Nei distance, the level of sequence divergence ranged from 0.45% to 2.75% within Korean H. japonica, while 8.31%-8.87% between Korean and Japanese H. japonica and 11.51%-12.46% between H. japonica and H. suweonensis. In the neigh-bor-joining tree, Korean populations of H. japonica were clustered first at 2.22% and followed by Japanese H. japonica and H. suweonensis at 8.51% and 12.29%, respectively. In mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, genetic differentiation between H. japonica and H. suweonensis nras 7.17% (68 bp) including 7 gaps. Based on Tamura-Nei distance, the level of sequence divergence ranged 3.53% between Korean and Japanese H. japonica and from 4.93% to 5.41% between H. japonica and H. suweonensis. Phenogram pattern of the 12S rRNA gene sequence corresponded with that of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 1982

Streptomyces bobili (YS-40) isolated from soil was tested that it had drug resistance against penicillin, cephalosporin series antibiotics and other antibiotics in the previous paper. The treatment of Streptomyces bobili, (YS-40) with ethidium bromide (EtBr), acriflavine and sodium dodecyl sulfate. (SDS) resulted in the elimination of R-plasmid from the host strain. Minimum growth inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of Hg, Ag, penicillin-G, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, streptomycin and kanamycin were found to be 15, 10, > 3, 000, > 100, > 1, 000, > 100, < 5 and < 5$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ respectively. Among the curing agents, EtBr was proved to be the most powerful compound for the elimination of R-plasmid in the strain and the elimination rate with EtBr(10$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$) was about 98%. Optimal pH to. the elimination of R-plasmid was pH 7.0 and the R-plasmid in the cells incubated for 24 hrs was proved to be eliminated most effectively. Aerial mass color, soluble pigment formation and reverse side color were reported to be often the plasmid associated characteristics of the R-plasmid bearing bacteria. But these characteristics of the uncured and cured Streptomyces bobili, (YS-40) showed no changes in the most of the pigment formation media tested in this work.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.295-305
• /
• 2001

Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to play a pivotal role in neoplastic transformation cells and its high expression is often found in a variety of types of tumors including oral cancer. While PKC is associated with the altered signal transduction pathway of the tumor cells, it is still unclear which isoform is involved in the carcinogenesis process. Since the cellular distributions and the roles of PKC are isoform-specific, it is very important to identify the specific target molecules to improve our understanding of the carcinogenesis processes. Thus, the present study attempted to perform chemical carcinogen-induced neoplastic transformation of human epithelial cells and analyze the specific isoform of PKCs involved in the cellular transformation. The study analyzed overall PKC responses upon MNNG(N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso guanidine) exposure with [$^3H$] PDBu binding assay. PKC translocation was observed at high doses of MNNG treatment in the presence of extracellular calcium. Such effects were not observed in the absence of extracellular calcium. Translocational effects with exposure of MNNG was further enhanced in the presence of hydrocortisone. The result suggests that the type of PKC involved may be $Ca^{2+}$-dependent classical isoform and steroid hormone enhances PKC activation. Among cPKC isoforms examined, only $PKC-{\alpha}$ and r showed significant translocation of protein levels from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction, as analyzed by immunoblot. $PKC-{\varepsilon}$ in nPKC class showed an inch·eased translocation, but other forms in this class did not show the effect. None of isoforms in aPKC class was affected by MNNG treatment. The study demonstrated that there was a certain specificity in the patterns of isoform induction follwong chemical carcinogen exposure and helped identify all the types of PKC isoforms expressed in human epithelial cells. It was revealed that PKC isoforms were activated in an early resonse to chemical carcinogen, suggesting that PKC be associated with carcinogenesis process from an early stage in this particular cell system. The study will contribute to improving our understanding of chemical-induced carcinogenesis in human cells and may provide a scientific basis to introduce the specific PKC inhibitors as an anticancer drug of epithelial cell-origin cancers including oral cancer.