• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.521-523
• /
• 2002

5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been used to stimulate endogenous protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumor and then initiate PDT. Recently, ALA-Hexyl ester (He-ALA) was found much effective than ALA on producing PpIX in cancer cells. To clarify the transportation mechanism of ALA and He-ALA, the detection of them is the important step. ALA and its derivatives all don't emit fluorescence, so the Raman spectroscopy was used here for the direct detection of ALA and He-ALA. The results showed that ALA and He-ALA have the common strong Raman peaks at 2930, 2950 CM$\^$-1/, due to the CH$_2$ vibration. The peak 3050 CM$\^$-1/ appeared in ALA spectrum can be attributed to OH vibration, while the peaks of 2860, 2900 CM$\^$-1/ in He-ALA spectrum were assigned as the modes of CH$_3$. This Raman spectral characteristic is consistence with the structure difference of He-ALA and ALA. Thus, Raman spectroscopy provides a new way to detect and distinguish ALA and He-ALA, and could be explored further in biology system.

• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.512-514
• /
• 2002

S-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a new kind drug used in photodynamic therapy. ALA-PDT have successfully used in superficial malignancies and some skin diseases. Here the effects of ALA-PDT were studied on leukemia cells and hepatoma cells to explore the application on different kind cancers. It was found from the fluorescence emission spectra, that after ALA incubation the sensitizer - protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) was endogenously produced in both leukemia and hepatoma cells. The fluorescence images showed that the PpIX distribute in cytoplasm. However the efficiency of ALA photodynamic inactivation to two cell lines was different. The leukemia cells were more sensitive for ALA-PDT than hepatoma cells, revealing that the ALA-PDT effect is cell line dependent. However by using ALA-Hexyl ester (He-ALA) instead of ALA, the cell photo-inactivation was improved. The PDT efficiency of He-ALA was 10 times high than that of ALA, showing He-ALA is a very promising drug in ALA-PDT.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.171-174
• /
• 2006

To clarify the usefulness of fluorescent diagnosis for cancer, We investigated the optimal method of administrating 5-aminolevulinic acid(5-ALA) by analyzing fluorescence signal of Protoporphyrin IX(PpIX) in the cultured normal and cancer cells. 5-ALA was injected as a photosensitizer to the cervico-uterine cancer cell line(HeLa) and in normal liver cells(Chang). Chang and HeLa cells were incubated with various concentrations of 5-ALA($0-800{\mu}g/ml$). The accumulation of PpIX induced by 5-ALA was in HeLa and Chang cells. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The optimal concentration of ALA that induced maximum levels of PpIX was $50{\mu}g/ml$ in HeLa cell cultured for 24 hours after 5-ALA injection. Fluorescence of PpIX in HeLa cell was excited at a wavelength(${\lambda}$=410 nm) and showed an emission spectrum at 602.3 nm, 659.9 nm which could be related to the PpIX generation induced by the applied 5-ALA. The experimental results showed that fluorescence signal of PpIX was proportional to the concentration of 5-ALA in cancer cells, but measured with low concentration in normal cells.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.233-244
• /
• 2010

This experiment was conducted to evaluate two different types of feed additive as an alternative for antibiotics on growth performance and feed cost in growing and finishing pigs. One additive is an herb extract, with Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) as the main component, while the other feed additive contains aminolevulinic acid (ALA). In the first experiment, 128 grower pigs were allotted to 4 different treatment groups and replicated 4 times with 8 pigs per replicate; the trial lasted for 28 days. The positive control group (PC) which is the control group supplemented with antibiotics was significantly higher (p<0.05) in growth rate (580.6 g/d) followed by the ALA group (532.0 g/d), there was no significant differences in terms of feed intake and feed efficiency. There were marginal reductions in feed costs measured as feed cost per head in ALA and HE added diet. However, the feed cost per weight gain of ALA treatment was higher than the control group (PC) supplemented with antibiotics. In the second experiment, 80 finisher pigs were allotted to 4 treatment groups and replicated 4 times with 5 pigs per replicate; the trial lasted for 70 days. The treatment group supplemented with an herb extract (HE) had a significantly higher (p<0.05) feed intake (2,415.8 g/d) compared to the other treatment groups, but there was no significant differences in terms of growth rate and feed efficiency. Feed cost per head in HE and ALA treatments were higher than PC treatment, and feed cost per weight gain of HE was higher than PC treat (p<0.05). The results from these experiments suggests that these two types of feed additives can both be used as an alternative for antibiotics without having a negative effect on the performance of the animals. And aminolevulinic acid was good in performance and production cost of grower and finisher pigs.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.223-227
• /
• 2014

${\delta}$-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a compound which is widely present in the biosphere and plays an important role in the living body as an intermediate of the tetrapyrrole compound biosynthesis pathway that leads to heme in mammals and chlorophyll in plants. ALA is of interest as a biodegradable mediator, a growth regulator, a precursor of heme proteins, and an effective agent used in therapy of cancer. It has been recently reported that ALA is commonly used in dermatology, due to good effects of skin therapy. Although for the last few decades a substantial amount of research has been focused on the elucidation of the mechanism of ALA and the improvement of its therapeutic activity, it's effect on the cell functions and growth was not cleared. Here, we identified that ALA treatment could attenuate cell proliferation of HEK293T and HaCaT cells. In addition, ALA treatement could induce apoptosis of HeLa cells. These results suggest that apoptosis induced by ALA treatment might be responsible for inhibition of cell proliferation. These results propose the possibility of the improved therapeutic strategy making ALA one of the effective drugs used in human cancers.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.313-318
• /
• 2015

${\delta}$-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is an endogenous metabolite formed in the mitochondria from succinyl-CoA and glycine, and plays a key role in the living body as an intermediate of the compound in the porphyrin biosynthesis pathway. ALA has been commonly used in photodynamic therapy for several years, because ALA is of interest as a biodegradable mediator, a growth regulator, and an effective agent used in dermatology. Here, we determined which ALA derivatives were the most effective for the inhibition of the cell proliferation and growth of human fibroblast. As a result, we found that the treatment of ALA derivatives including ALA, ALAP (ALA phosphate salt), MAL (Methyl 5-aminolevulinate hydrochloride salt), PBGL (phophobilinogen lactam) and PBGH (phophobilinogen-HCl) could attenuate cell proliferation of human fibroblast cells. Among them, PBGH was the most effective derivative. In addition, PBGH treatment could induce mitochondrial membrane depolarization, leading to cell death of human fibroblast. These results suggest that mitochondrial membrane depolarization induced by ALA and PBGH treatment might be responsible for inhibition of cell proliferation and death. Taken together, our results propose the possibility that PBGH can be used as one of the effective drugs in human skin disease, psoriasis.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.67-72
• /
• 2007

This study investigates the optimal method of administrating 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in the context of fluorescence detection by analyzing protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence in the cultured normal and cancer cells. 5-ALA was injected as a photosensitizer to the lung cancer cells (A549, NCI-H460) and normal lung cells (HeI299). Hel299, A549, and NCI-H460 cells were incubated with various concentrations of 5-ALA ($0\sim800{\mu}g/mL$). The accumulation of PpIX induced by 5-ALA was observed in A549, NCI-H460 and Hel299 cells. The cell viability was estimated by means of the MTT assay. Formation of PpIX was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. Especially, formation of PpIX in cancer cells was higher than normal cells. This study suggests that the difference of PpIX induced in normal and cancer cells treated with 5-ALA may use by means of fluorescence diagnosis for cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.2139-2144
• /
• 2012

Objective: Gastric cancer remains a major health problem in China. We hypothesized that XRCC1 Arg194Trp and ADPRT Val762Ala may be associated with risk. Methods: We designed a multicenter 1:1 matched case-control study of 307 pairs of gastric cancers and controls between October 2010 and August 2011. XRCC1 Arg194Trp and ADPRT Val762Ala were sequenced, and demographic data as well as lifestyle factors were collected using a self-designed questionnaire. Results: Individuals carrying XRCC1 Trp/Trp or Arg/Trp variant genotype had a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer (OR, 1.718; 95% CI, 1.190-2.479), while the OR for ADPRT Val762Ala variant genotype (Ala/Ala or Val/Ala) was 1.175 (95% CI, 0.796-1.737). No gene-gene or gene-environment interactions were found. In addition, family history of cancer and drinkers proportion were higher among cases than among controls (P<0.05). Conclusions: XRCC1 194 Arg/Trp or Trp/Trp genotype, family history of cancer, and drinking are suspected risk factors of gastric cancer from our study. Our findings may offer insight into further similar large gene-environment and gene-gene studies in this region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.5637-5642
• /
• 2012

Objective: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and its mortality ranks third among all cancers in China. We previously noted that XRCC1 Arg194Trp was associated with GC risk in Western China in a study on XRCC1 Arg194Trp and ADPRT Val762Ala. We aimed to further explore the association of these polymorphisms with risk of the noncardia subtype. Methods: We enrolled 176 noncardia GC patients and 308 controls from four hospitals and a community between October 2010 and August 2011. Genotyping was performed in a 384-well plate format on the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. A self-designed questionnaire was utilized to collect epidemiological data from the subjects regarding demographic factors and potential risk factors. Results: Subjects were aged $56.8{\pm}11.8$ (mean ${\pm}$ standard deviation) and $57.6{\pm}11.1$ years in the case and control groups, respectively. Individuals carrying the XRCC1 Trp/Trp or Arg/Trp variant genotype were at significantly increased risk of noncardia GC (adjusted OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00-2.17), after adjustment for family history of cancer, drinking, and smoking. The increased risk of XRCC1 Arg194Trp variant genotype was more pronounced among subjects below 60 years old (adjusted OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.96), compared to older individuals. ADPRT Val762Ala variants (Ala/Ala or Val/Ala) were not associated with noncardia GC (adjusted OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.69-1.54). Conclusions: Our study suggests that XRCC1 Arg194Trp is a genetic susceptibility factor for developing noncardia GC in Han Chinese in Western China. In particular, individuals with the XRCC1 Arg194Trp variant genotype are at increased risk for GC below 60 years old.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.149-156
• /
• 1997

We have employed comparative RFL,P(Restriction Fragment Ixngth Pol~iniorphism) analysis and molecular phylogenetic techniques to investigate the diversity of uncultured microorganisms associated with the anaerobic PCP degradation in PCP-adapted enrichment cultures inoculated by samples from anaerobic cewage sludgc(Jangrim, Pusan) and leachate of landfill site(Kimhae). 16s rDNA cloncs were obtairted by PCR amplification of mixed population DNAs extracted directly from the nonactive and active stage ol each PCP-adapted culture. After three rounds of comparative RFLP analyses. two RFLP types. designated as Ala and Hld, were found prevalent and common in both active stage samples. Thc analysis of phylogenctic diversity bawd on the 5'-terminal 180 nt of sequences from whole clones of the Ala and Bld RFLP types showed close similarity among themselves. In case of Bld clones, 7XQ of them shared identical sequences. Thcse resuliq suggest that the clones of both RFLP types wcre originated from highly affiliated microorganisms which are e~iriched as a result of metabolic activity to PCP. The full-length 16s rRNA sequence of each representative clone from both RFLP types was determined. and an Ala clone w i n found to he related to Clo.strrdiurn ulfutzac~(Genk~ank No. Z69203) and a Bld clone to Thermobacteroides proteolyticus(Genbank No. X09335), with sequence similarities of 89%' and 97%. respectively.