• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1999

The corneal epithelium is constantly shed and apoptosis may play an important role in this turn-over. We sought to define that serum-free medium was able to induce apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells. SV-40 transfected human corneal epithelial(HCE) cells were grown to 70% confluency in culture. Serum-free medium was added to cells and the cells incubated for 1, 2, 3, or 6 days. Apoptosis of cells at different times was assessed by staining cells with Giemsa or Hoechst 33342 and measuring DNA fragmentation using the TUNEL assay. HCE cells exposed to serum-free medium demonstrated a high incidence of apoptosis, which increased over time to $50{\pm}4%$ after 3 days. They also stained positively with TUNEL assay. Serum-free medium caused time dependent apoptosis of HCE cells. Thus, serum-like nutrient might be important in corneal epithelial cell homeostasis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2022

Ischemia-reperfusion results in excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) that affect myocardial cell damage. ROS production inhibition is effectively proposed in treating cardiovascular diseases including myocardial hypertrophy. Studies have shown that oxidizing cultured cells in in vitro experiments gradually decreases the permeability of mitochondrial membranes time- and concentration-dependent, resulting in increased mitochondrial membrane damage due to secondary ROS production and cardiolipin loss. However, recent studies have shown that 5-iodo-6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone (INH₂BP), an anticancer and antiviral drug, inhibited peroxynitrite-induced cell damage in in vitro and alleviated partial or overall inflammation in animal experiments. Therefore, in this paper, we studied the preventive effect of INH₂BP on H9c2 cells derived from mouse heart damaged by oxidative stress using 700 μM of hydrogen peroxide. As a result of oxidative stress to H9c2 cells by hydrogen peroxide whether the treatment of INH₂BP or not, hydrogen peroxide caused serious damage in H9c2 cells. These results were confirmed with cell viability and Hoechst 33342 assays. And this damage was through cell death. However, it was confirmed that H9c2 cells pretreated with INH₂BP significantly reduced cell death by hydrogen peroxide. In addition, measurements with DCF-DA assay to determine whether ROS is produced in H9c2 cells treated with only hydrogen peroxide produced ROS significantly, but H9c2 cells pretreated with INH₂BP significantly reduced ROS production by hydrogen peroxide. Taken together, it is believed that INH₂BP can be useful for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases induced through oxidative stress such as heart damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to investigate the action of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) used as a preservative in most ophthalmic topical solutions, on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells in vitro. HCE cell line was exposed to BAC solutions at various concentrations (0.01%~0.0001%) for 15 minutes followed by 24 hours of cell recovery. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay and chromatin condensation with a Hoechst 33342 test. The expression of membrane protein Fas and Fas ligand was examined by western blot and immunocytochemistry, and DNA fragmentation was studied by agarose gel electrophoresis. A significant decrease of membrane integrity with chromatin condensation was observed with BAC tested at concentrations of 0.005% and higher. BAC was cytotoxic preservatives in this study. An apoptotic mechanism appeared to be present at low concentrations of BAC, whereas a necrotic process appeared at higher concentrations. A functional Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway is present in cultured HCE cells and can be activated by upregulation of Fas expression with BAC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1257-1264
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• 2016

Extracts from Artemisia annua $Linn\acute{e}$ (AAE) have various functions (anti-malaria, anti-virus, and anti-oxidant). However, the mechanism of the effects of AAE is not well known. Thus, we determined the apoptotic effects of AAE in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. In this study, we suggested that AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-$3{\beta}$ signal pathway and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. Activation by Akt phosphorylation resulted in cell proliferation through phosphorylation of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), mTOR, and GSK-$3{\beta}$. Thus, de-phosphorylation of Akt inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through inhibition of Akt, mTOR, phosphorylation of GSK-$3{\beta}$ at serine9, and control of Bcl-2 family members. Inhibition of GSK-$3{\beta}$ attenuated loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome C. Bax and pro-apoptotic proteins were activated by their translocation into mitochondria from the cytosol. Translocation of Bax induced outer membrane transmission and generated apoptosis through cytochrome C release and caspase activity. We also measured 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, lactate dehydrogenase assay, Hoechst 33342 staining, Annexin V-PI staining, 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide staining, and Western blotting. Accordingly, our study showed that AAE treatment to AGS cells resulted in inhibition of Akt, TSC2, GSK-$3{\beta}$-phosphorylated, Bim, Bcl-2, and pro-caspase 3 as well as activation of Bax and Bak expression. These results indicate that AAE induced apoptosis via a mitochondrial event through regulation of the Akt/mTOR/GSK-$3{\beta}$ signaling pathways.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2003

The corneal epithelium is constantly being shed. The mechanism of corneal desquamation is not fully understood. Apoptosis, programmed cell death, may play a role. Apoptosis can be induced by a number of factors and different mechanisms. The study was performed to examine the apoptotic index induced in human corneal epithelial cells maintained in tissue culture by various apoptotic inducers. Various inducers, recombinant human cytokines($INF{\gamma}$, $TNF{\alpha}$, FASAb), actinomycin D. camptothecin, cycloheximide, dexamethasone and etoposide, were purchased from commercial suppliers. Inducers at manufacturer-recommended concentration were added to the corneal epithelial cells for 48 hours. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. The cells were then assessed for the level of apoptosis. Morphologic changes and quantification of apoptotic cells were determined and counted under fluorescence microscope after inducers-treated human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells for 48 hours with Hoechst 33342 staining. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and DePsipher assay. The expression of Fas protein was studied by immunocytochemistry. All inducers induced apoptosis in HCE cells in a dose dependent manner. Actinomycin D. camptothecin and etoposide induced apoptosis at lower than manufacturer-recommended concentration, while cytokines, cycloheximide and dexamethasone induced apoptosis at higher concentrations at the end of 48 hours. All inducers elicited typical apoptotic morphologic changes (chromatin condensation, nucleus fragmentations non-orange-red colored mitochondria) and expresses Fas protein highly. Apoptotic index of HCE cells by these inducers was different from the other cell lines. RNA synthesis inhibitor and topoisomerase inhibitors induced apoptosis at lower concentration than manufacturer-recommended concentration. Cytokines, cycloheximide and dexamethasone were able to produce apoptosis at 10 times higher concentrations. RNA synthesis inhibitor and topoisomerase inhibitors are more sensitive than intracellular receptor-activators in apoptotic induction of HCE cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2011

Background: It is known that cigarette smoke (CS) causes cell death. Apoptotic cell death is involved in the pathogenesis of CS-related lung diseases. Some members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family have roles in cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced apoptosis. This study was conducted to investigate the role of PKC epsilon in CSE-induced apoptosis in human lung fibroblast cell line, MRC-5. Methods: Lactate dehydrogenase release was measured using a cytotoxicity detection kit. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viability. Western immunoblot, Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry were used to demonstrate the effect of $PKC{\varepsilon}$. Caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities were determined using a colorimetric assay. To examine $PKC{\varepsilon}$ activation, Western blotting was performed using both fractions of membrane and cytosol. Results: We showed that CSE activated $PKC{\varepsilon}$ by demonstrating increased expression of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ in the plasma membrane fraction. Pre-treatment of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ peptide inhibitor attenuated CSE-induced apoptotic cell death, as demonstrated by the MTT assay (13.03% of control, 85.66% of CSE-treatment, and 53.73% of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ peptide inhibitor-pre-treatment, respectively), Hoechst 33342 staining, and flow cytometry (85.64% of CSE-treatment, 53.73% of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ peptide inhibitor-pre-treatment). Pre-treatment of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ peptide inhibitor reduced caspase-3 expression and attenuated caspase-3, caspase-8 activity compared with CSE treatment alone. Conclusion: $PKC{\varepsilon}$ seem to have pro-apoptotic function and exerts its function through the extrinsic apoptotic pathway in CSE-exposed MRC-5 cells. This study suggests that $PKC{\varepsilon}$ inhibition may be a therapeutic strategy in CS-related lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2020

Cancer is an unfavorable human disease, and the treatment commonly have side effects and can be ineffective. Since exploration and development of cancer treatment drugs is particularly demanding, this study aimed to investigate the anticancer activities of Polysiponia morrowii extract s (PME) on CT-26 and HeLa cells. The results showed that PME inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 41.04% in CT-26 and 48.51% in HeLa cell cultures. Moreover, cytological observation using Hoechst 33342 staining assay showed typical apoptotic morphology in both cancer cells, and production of sub-G1 DNA was induced by PME treatment in a dose-dependent manner, with 34.41% in CT-26 and 46.01% in HeLa cell cultures. These findings suggest that PME may have potential preventive effects or medicinal value in the treatment of colorectal and cervical cancers.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.475-484
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• 2015

In this paper, we studied the anti-oxidative capacities and protective effects of water extract of Gagam-Danguieumja(GDE) against Ultraviolet B(UVB)-induced oxidative damage in human keratinocytes(HaCaT). To evaluate the anti-oxidative activities of GDE, we measured scavenging activities on DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation and reducing power of GDE. To detect the protective effects of GDE against UVB, we irradiated with 40 mJ/㎠`s UVB to HaCaT cells then we measured reactive oxygen species(ROS) generation, apoptotic bodies and cell viability using DCFH-DA assay, Hoechst 33342 staining and MTT assay. GDE showed the anti-oxidative activities by scavenging DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation. Also GDE showed high reducing values. GDE reduced oxidative stress conditions by inhibition of ROS expression. Also the cell apoptosis by UVB-induced oxidative conditions was decreased by GDE treatment. These results could suggest that GDE had anti-oxidative activities and exhibited protective effects against UVB on HaCaT cells. GDE would be useful for the development of cosmetics treating UVB-induced skin aging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2013

We investigated the effect of red cabbage extract (RCE) on cell death in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Cells were cultured in the presence 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/mL concentrations of RCE for 24 hours. MTT assays demonstrated that mitochondrial dehydrogenase activities decreased in a dose-dependent manner in cells (p<0.05). In contrast, the proportion of dual staining with Hoechst 33342/ethidium bromide (EtBr) for cell death increased in a dose-dependent manner in cells (p<0.05). Flow cytometry assays revealed that cell death caused by an apoptotic program increased in a dose-dependent (p<0.05). Also, increased ROS accumulation in cells, as revealed by DCF-DA staining, was observed in a dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05). The apoptosis suppressor gene Bcl-2 decreased significantly at the mRNA level. Pro-apoptotic genes Bax and caspase-3, genes that are related to the last stage of apoptosis significantly increased. The Bcl-2/Bax ratio which is an important indicator of apoptosis, was found to have significantly decreased dose dependence. These results taken together indicate that the effect of red cabbage extract induces cell death in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1827-1834
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• 2014

Colon cancer is the third highest cause of death in Korea. Known dietary causes of colon cancer include a diet rich in fat and red meat as well as inadequate intake of dietary fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Therefore, recent research has focused on the anticancer effects of natural products. Opuntia humifusa is a type of prickly pear that is known to contain biologically active compounds that can be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, and hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not O. humifusa extract affects proliferation, cell death, and DNA fragmentation in human carcinoma HT-29 cells. O. humifusa is rich in carbohydrates, minerals (Mg, K, and Ca), and total phenolics. HT-29 cells were treated with extracts of O. humifusa at concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL for 24 or 48 hours. O. humifusa extracts inhibited HT-29 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Hoechst 33342/PI double staining and Comet assay were performed to observe changes in nuclei of cancer cells undergoing cell death. The results of both tests showed that O. humifusa extract induced cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation, and chromatin condensation dose-dependently in HT-29 cells. The results of this study suggest that O. humifusa extract inhibits the growth of HT-29 via induction of DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation.