• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.947-952
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• 2008

The unripe fruit of Momordica charantia (MC) has been shown to possess antidiabetic activity. However, the mechanism of its antidiabetic action has not been fully understood. In this study, the effects of the aqueous ethanolic extract of MC (AEE-MC) were evaluated on the apoptosis in pancreatic $\beta$-cells treated with a combination of the cytokines, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, and interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$. In MIN6N8 cells, the inhibitory effect of AEE-MC was significantly observed at 2 to 50 ${\mu}g/mL$: a 26.2 to 55.6% decrease of cytoplasmic DNA fragments quantified by an immunoassay. The molecular mechanisms, by which AEE-MC inhibited $\beta$-cell apoptosis, appeared to involve the inhibition on the expression of p21, Bax, and Bad, the up-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_L$, and the inhibition on the cleavage of caspase-9, -7, and -3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. This study suggests that MC may inhibit cytokine-induced apoptosis in $\beta$-cells and, thus, may contribute via this action to the antidiabetic influence in diabetes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

In all attempt to elucidate the role of apoptosis in drug resistance, cisplatin-resistant human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 cells (K562/CDDP) were established and compared with drug sensitive parent cells (K562) in the induction of apoptosis. K562/CDDP cells were 5-fold more resistant to cisplatin compared to K562 cells. In addition, K562/CDDP cells were significantly more resistant to apoptois as judged by DNA fragmentation and DAPI staining. K562/CDDP cells exhibited decreased proleolytic activity of caspase-3 and this was further demonstrated by decreased cleavage of its substrate poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARR- Western blot analysis showed that K562/CDDP cells had longer sustained levels of BCL-$X_L$ whereas no difference was noted in the level of Bcl-2. the translocation of Bax to mitochondria was significantly delayed in K562/CDDP cells. These results suggest that the reduced translocation of Bax and the sustained expression of BCL-$X_L$ may cause resistance to apoptosis through prevention of mitochondria release of cytochrome c, which subsequently induces reduction of caspase-3 activity and that this response is partly responsible for the acquired resistance to cisplatin ill K562 cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10483-10487
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• 2015

Heptaphylline derivatives are carbazoles in Clausena harmandiana, a medicinal plant that is utilized for headache, stomach ache, and other treatments of illness. The present study examined the effects of heptaphylline and 7-methoxyheptaphylline on apoptosis of human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29 cell line). Quantification of cell viability was performed using cell proliferation assay (MTT assay) and of protein expression through immunoblotting. The results showed that only heptaphylline, but not 7-methoxyheptaphylline, significantly significantly activated cleaved of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) which resulted in HT-29 cell death. We found that heptaphylline activated BH3 interacting-domain death agonist (Bid) and Bak, proapoptotic proteins. In contrast, it suppressed X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (XIAP), Bcl-xL and survivin, inhibitors of apoptosis. In addition, heptaphylline inhibited activation of NF-${\kappa}B$/p65 (rel), a regulator of apoptotic regulating proteins by suppressing the activation of Akt and $IKK{\alpha}$, upstream regulators of p65. The findings suggested that heptaphylline induces apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.405-410
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• 2003

Vitamin K-related analogs induce growth inhibition in various cancer cell lines. A naphthoquinone analog, termed 2,3-dichloro-5, 8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DDN), induces apoptosis in human promyeloid leukemic HL-60 cells, and shows antitumor activity in vivo. Following treatment with DDN, evidence of apoptosis, including DNA fragmentation and cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), was observed. DDN induced an upregulation of proapoptotic Bax protein, and Bid cleavage. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels were not changed by DDN, but the expression of Bcl-xL was decreased. In addition, DDN reduced the mass of solid tumor in the Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mouse model. These results indicate that DDN exerts antitumor activity, which appears to be related to the induction of apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 family proteins.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2020

Ficus carica L. (fig) is one of the first cultivated crops and is as old as humans. This plant has been extensively used as a traditional medicine for treating diseases, such as cough, indigestion, nutritional anemia, and tuberculosis. However, the physiological activity of fig leaves on oral cancer is as yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effect of methanol extracts of Ficus carica (MeFC) and the mechanism of cell death in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeFC decreased the viability of oral cancer (FaDu) cells but did not affect the viability of normal (L929) cells, as determined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and Live and Dead assay. In addition, MeFC induced apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -9, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), downregulation of Bcl-2, and upregulation of Bax, as determined by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride staining and western blot analysis. Moreover, a concentration of MeFC without cytotoxicity (0.25 mg/mL) significantly suppressed colony formation, a hallmark of cancer development, and completely inhibited the colony formation at 1 mg/mL. Collectively, these results suggest that MeFC exhibits a potent anticancer effect by suppressing the growth of oral cancer cells and colony formation via caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, the methanol extract of Ficus carcica leaves provide a natural chemotherapeutic drug for human oral cancer.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2007

Cellulomanas sp. CS 1-1 was studied for its morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, together with DNA homology and fatty acid pattern to elucidate its taxonomical position in the species level. Colony morphology of CS1-1 exhibited circular form, opaque, convex, entire edge and pale yellow. Cells were of rod with the size of $0.3{\sim}0.5{\times}0.8{\sim}1.2{\mu}m$, while coryneforms were formed at the early stage of culture. D-ribose, raffinose, rhamnose, acetate, propionate, L-lactate, D-gluconate, aspartate and proline were not utilized as a sole source of carbon, whereas saccharose, arabinose, and amlyose were utilized. Biochemical characteristics of CS1-1 were Gram positive, catalase positive, oxidase negative, nonmotile, facultative anaerobic, mesophilic and G+C content of 74.7 mol %. The major fatty acid and menaquinone were 12-methyltetradecanoic acid(anteiso-$C_{15:1}$) and MK-$9(H_4)$, respectively. These results were correspondent with the characteristics reported for member of the genus Cellulomonas. The strain CS 1-1 exhibited a high level of DNA homology as 70% with C. uda ATCC491, compared to those of 54~59% with C. fimi ATCC 15724, 46~48% with C. biazotea, C. gelida and C. bibula. Finally, strain CS1-1 could be classified as a novel species belongs to C. uda.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 1980

A source of D-xylose was required for the enhanced production of D-glucose isomerase of Streptomyces sp. strain K-17. D-glucose supported the luxuriant growth of the organism as well as D-xylose, but D-glucose isomerase activity was hardly detected in the D-glucose-grown cells. When the D-glucose-grown cells were incubated aerobically for a few hours in 0.5% xylose solution in 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, it was found that inductive formation of D-glucose isomerase occurred in the cells without multiplication. In the non-growth phase of cells the inductive formation of D-glucose isomerase occurred because a source of nitrogen for the synthesis of enzymes was obtained from turnover of protein accumulated in cells. D-ribose, L-arabinose, D-glucose, D-mannose, citrate, succinate and tartrate could not induce the formation of D-glucose isomerase, but D-xylose could induce. Inductinn of D-glucose isomerase was repressed by D-glucose and its catabolites : glycerol, succinate and citrate. Inductive formation of the enzymes in the non-growth phase was stimulated by $Ba^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$, and inhibited by C $u^{2+}$, C $d^{2+}$, A $g^{+}$and H $g^{2+}$. The synthesis of enzymes in the induction system composed of 0.5% xylose solution was disrupted by actinomycin D, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, tetracycline, p-chloromercuribenzo ate, arsenate and 2, 4-dinitrophenol, but not disrupted by mitomycin C and penicillin G.icillin G.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2002

Phylogenetically conserved Bcl-2 family proteins play a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis from virus to human. Members of the Bcl-2 family consist of antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-w, and proapoptotic proteins such as BAD, Bax, BOD, and Bok. It has been proposed that anti- and proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins regulate cell death by binding to each other and forming heterodimers. A delicate balance between anti- and proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members exists in each cell and the relative concentration of these two groups of proteins determines whether the cell survives or undergoes apoptosis. Mcl-1 (Myeloid cell :leukemia-1) is a member of the Bcl-2 family proteins and was originally cloned as a differentiation-induced early gene that was activated in the human myeloblastic leukemia cell line, ML-1 . Mcl-1 is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and cells including neoplastic ones. We recently identified a short splicing variant of Mcl-1 short (Mcl-IS) and designated the known Mcl-1 as Mcl-1 long (Mcl-lL). Mcl-lL protein exhibits antiapoptotic activity and possesses the BH (Bcl-2 homology) 1, BH2, BH3, and transmembrane (TM) domains found in related Bcl-2 proteins. In contrast, Mcl-1 S is a BH3 domain-only proapoptotic protein that heterodimerizes with Mcl-lL. Although both Mc1-lL and Mcl-lS proteins contain BH domains fecund in other Bcl-2 family proteins, they are distinguished by their unusually long N-terminal sequences containing PEST (proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine) motifs, four pairs of arginine residues, and alanine- and glycine-rich regions. In addition, the expression pattern of Mcl-1 protein is different from that of Bcl-2 suggesting a unique role (or Mcl-1 in apoptosis regulation. Tankyrasel (TRF1-interacting, ankyrin-related ADP-related polymerasel) was originally isolated based on its binding to TRF 1 (telomeric repeat binding factor-1) and contains the sterile alpha motif (SAM) module, 24 ankyrin (ANK) repeats, and the catalytic domain of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Previous studies showed that tankyrasel promotes telomere elongation in human cells presumably by inhibiting TRFI though its poly(ADP-ribosyl)action by tankyrasel . In addition, tankyrasel poly(ADP-ribosyl)ates Insulin-responsive amino peptidase (IRAP), a resident protein of GLUT4 vesicles, and insulin stimulates the PARP activity of tankyrase1 through its phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). ADP-ribosylation is a posttranslational modification that usually results in a loss of protein activity presumably by enhancing protein turnover. However, little information is available regarding the physiological function(s) of tankyrase1 other than as a PARP enzyme. In the present study, we found tankyrasel as a specific-binding protein of Mcl-1 Overexpression of tankyrasel led to the inhibition of both the apoptotic activity of Mel-lS and the survival action of Mcl-lL in mammalian cells. Unlike other known tankyrasel-interacting proteins, tankyrasel did not poly(ADP-ribosyl)ate either of the Mcl-1 proteins despite its ability to decrease Mcl-1 proteins expression following coexpression. Therefore, this study provides a novel mechanism to regulate Mcl-1-modulated apoptosis in which tankyrasel downregulates the expression of Mcl-1 proteins without the involvement of its ADP-ribosylation activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2015

Histone acetylation plays a critical role in the regulation of transcription by altering the structure of chromatin, and it may influence the resistance of some tumor cells to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) by regulating the gene expression of components of the TRAIL signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in sensitizing TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Caki human renal carcinoma cells. Our results indicate that nontoxic concentrations of TSA substantially enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis compared with treatment with either agent alone. Cotreatment with TSA and TRAIL effectively induced cleavage of Bid and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which was associated with the activation of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), contributing toward the sensitization to TRAIL. Combined treatment with TSA and TRAIL significantly reduced the levels of the cellular Fas-associated death domain (FADD)-like interleukin-$1{\beta}$-converting enzyme (FLICE) inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), whereas those of death receptor (DR) 4, DR5, and FADD remained unchanged. The synergistic effect of TAS and TRAIL was perfectly attenuated in c-$FLIP_L$-overexpressing Caki cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that down-regulation of c-FLIP contributes to TSA-facilitated TRAIL-induced apoptosis, amplifying the death receptor, as well as mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling pathways.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bo-du-san (BOS) on apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells, SNU-l cells. BOS, a drug preparation consisting of two herbs, that is, Crotonis Fructus (Strychni ignatii Semen, bodu in Korean) and Glycyrrhizae Radix (Glycyrrhizae uralensis FISCH, Gamcho in Korean). Methodss : In this study, methanol extract of BOS was examined for cytotoxic activity on human gastric cancer cells, SNU-1 cells, using XTT assay, with an IC50 value was 0.7 mg/ml and 0.3 mg/ml at 24 hrs and 48 hrs, respectively. Apoptosis induction by BDS in SNU-l cells was verified by the induction of DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. Inhibitors of caspase-3, -8 and -9 (Ac-DEVD-CHO, Z-IETD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK) efficiently blocked BOS-induced cell death of SNU-l. Resultss : BOS-induced cell death was via caspase dependent apoptosis. Moreover, treatment of BOS result in the decrease the G1/S cycle regulation proteins (cyclin D1 and E) expression and increase CDK inhibitor proteins (p21 and p27) expression, and increase apoptotic protein, p53 expression. Thus, BOS induces apoptosis in SNU-1 cells via cell cycle arrested in G1 phase. Conclusions : These results indicated that BOS has some potential for use as an anti-cancer agent.