• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.247-252
• /
• 1985

In the present study, the effect of primary infection to reinfection with Ascaris suum larvae was experimented in mouse model. Mice were challenged with 1,000 infective stage eggs of Ascaris suum. The embryonated eggs were directly introduced into stomach of mice. Reinfection was performed at 50 days after the primary infection with same method as primary infection. Mice were sacrificed 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 days after infection in both groups respectively. Larvae collected from livers and lungs with Baermann's apparatus were enumerated and measured after sacrifice. Sera of mice were also collected at same time. The results of the experiment were as follows: With antigen prepared from coelomic fluid of adult Ascaris suum and sera collected from mice before reinfection, the production of antibody in experimental mice was confirmed by the gel-diffusion technique. In the livers of reinfected mice, the larvae were recovered up to 10 days after challenge, otherwhile in the primary infected mice, the larvae were observed up to 7 days. The maximum number of larvae were observed in the lungs of primary infected mice on 10 days after inoculation. In the lungs of reinfected mice, maximum number of larvae were recovered on 7 days after, only few larvae were recovered on 10 days after reinfection. As regards the growth of the larvae, the third stage larvae, over $500{\mu\textrm{m}}$ in length, appeared in livers at 5 days after reinfection, but it couldn't be found on 7 days and 10 days after challenge. The third stage larvae continuously developed were observed in lungs of mice from 5 days after reinfection. In conclusion, it was found that development of larvae in livers of immune mice were probably repressed by the immune mechanisms being rises in livers and defence mechanism is also acting by interfering with the process of larval penetration into the lung from the liver.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권16호
• /
• pp.6963-6966
• /
• 2015

Background: During the past few years, Hesa-A, a herbal-marine mixture, has been used to treat cancer as an alternative medicine in Iran. Based on a series of studies, it is speculated that Hesa-A possesses special cytotoxic effects on invasive tumors. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the selective anticancer effects of Hesa-A on several cancer cell lines with different metastatic potential. Materials and Methods: Hesa-A was prepared in normal saline as a stock solution of 10 mg/ml and further diluted to final concentrations of $100{\mu}/ml$, $200{\mu}g/ml$, $300{\mu}g/ml$ and $400{\mu}g/ml$. MTT-based cytotoxicity assays were performed with A549 (lung non small cancer), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer), and PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma) cells. Results: All treated cancer cells showed significant (P<0.01) or very significant (P<0.0001) differences in comparison to negative control at almost all of the tested doses ($100-400{\mu}g/ml$). At the lower dose ($100{\mu}g/ml$), Hesa-A reduced cell viability to 66%, 45.3%, 35.5%, 33.2% in SKOV3, A549, PC-3 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Moreover, at the highest dose ($400{\mu}g/ml$), Hesa-A resulted in 88.5%, 86.6%, 84.9% and 79.3% growth inhibition in A549, MCF-7, PC-3 and SKOV3 cells, respectively. Conclusions: Hesa-A exert potent cytotoxic effects on different human cancer cells, especially those with a high metastatic potential.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2006

The mammalian trematode Paragonimus westermani is a typical digenetic parasite, which can cause paragonimiasis in humans. Host tissues and blood cells are important sources of nutrients for development, growth and reproduction of P. westermani. In this study, a cDNA clone encoding a 47 kDa hemoglobinase of P. westermani was characterized by sequencing analysis, and its localization was investigated immunohistochemically. The phylogenetic tree prepared based on the hemoglobinase gene showed high homology with hemoglobinases of Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma spp. Moreover, recombinant P. westermani hemoglobinase degradaded human hemoglobin at acidic pH (from 3.0 to 5.5) and its activity was almost completely inhibited by E-64, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor. Immunohistochemical studies showed that P. westermani hemoglobinase was localized in the epithelium of the adult worm intestine implying that the protein has a specific function. These observations suggest that hemoglobinase may act as a digestive enzyme for acquisition of nutrients from host hemoglobin. Further investigations may provide insights into hemoglobin catabolism in P. westermani.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.314-320
• /
• 2000

목적 :폐암으로 확진되어 근치적 방사선 치료를 받은 환자에서 방사선페렴이 발생할 수 있는 위험군을 사전에 예측해 보고자 혈장내 TGF-$\beta$1, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6의 농도를 측정하여 페렴 발생과의 상관관계를 분석하고자 하였다. 재료 및 방법 : 1998년 5월부터 1999년 7월까지 폐암으로 확진되어 근치적 방사선 치료를 받은 17명의 환자(비소세포암 11명, 소세포암 6명)을 대상으로 하였다. 방사선 치료는 주 5회 매일 1.8 Gy씩 실시하였고 비소세포암과 소세포암에서 각각 평균 60 Gy와 져 Gy를 조사하였다. 모든 환자에서 방사선치료 전, 방사선치료 중 주 1회, 치료 후 추적관찰로 내원시마다 혈액을 채취하여 혈장 TGF-$\beta$1, TNF-$\alpha$ 및 IL-6의 양을 ELISA법으로 측정하였다. 모든 환자에서 단순흉부촬영(치료중 주1회, 치료 후 추적관찰 시마다 촬영) 및 방사선 폐렴과 연관된 증세를 관찰하여 방사선 페렴의 징후가 발견되면 즉시 고해상도 컴퓨터 단층 촬영(HRCT)를 촬영하여 방사선 폐렴 발생여부를 확진하고자 하였다. 결과: 17명의 환자 중 13명에서 방사선 폐렴과 연관된 증세가 발현되었고 단순 흉부 촬영과 고해상도 컴퓨터 단층 찰영에서 이를 확인할 수 있었다. 방사선 폐렴이 발생한 환자에서 측정한 TGF-$\beta$1의 경우 특징적인 수치 변화를 보여 치료 전 평균값은 38.45 ng/ml로 방사선 페렴이 발생하지 않은 군에 비해 상승되어 나타났고(0.7T ng/ml) 방사선치료 중 13.66 ng/ml의 평균값을 보인 후 다시 점진적으로 상승하여 치료 2$\~$4주 후까지 평균 60.63 ng/ml로 상승되어 유지되었고 이 수치는 폐렴이 발생하지 않은 군과 비교할 때(12.77 ng/ml) 통계적으로 의미가 있었다(p<0.05). TNF-$\alpha$와 IL-6의 수치도 방사선 폐렴군에서 더 높게 측정되었으나 수치변화의 양상은 특징적이지 못하였으며 통계학적 의미도 찾을 수 없었다. 결론: 방사선 치료를 받은 폐암환자에서 치료 전과 치료 기간 중 및 치료 후 측정한 혈장 TGF-$\beta$1,의 수치는 향후 방사선 페렴이 발생할 위험군을 예측할 수 있는 지표로 사용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제28권6호
• /
• pp.1007-1021
• /
• 2018

Cancer represents one of the most significant threats to human health on a global scale. Hence, the development of effective cancer prevention strategies, as well as the discovery of novel therapeutic agents against cancer, is urgently required. In light of this challenge, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of several potent bioactive peptides and proteins contained in crocodile white blood cell extract (cWBC) against LU-1, LNCaP, PC-3, MCF-7, and CaCo-2 cancer cell lines. The results demonstrate that 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/ml$ cWBC exhibits a strong cytotoxic effect against all investigated cell lines ($IC_{50}$ $70.34-101.0{\mu}g/ml$), while showing no signs of cytotoxicity towards noncancerous Vero and HaCaT cells. Specifically, cWBC treatment caused a significant reduction in the cancerous cells' colony forming ability. A remarkable suppression of cancerous cell migration was observed after treatment with cWBC, indicating potent antimetastatic properties. The mechanism involved in the cancer cell cytotoxicity of cWBC may be related to apoptosis induction, as evidenced by typical apoptotic morphology features. Moreover, certain cWBC concentrations induced significant overproduction of ROS and significantly inhibited the $S-G_2/M$ transition in the cancer cell. The molecular mechanisms of cWBC in apoptosis induction were to decrease Bcl-2 and XIAP expression levels and increase the expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, and p53. These led to a decrease in the expression level of the cell cycle-associated gene cyclin-B1 and the arrest of cell population growth. Consequently, these findings demonstrate the prospect of the use of cWBC for cancer therapy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제21권11호
• /
• pp.1544-1550
• /
• 2008

The retinoids (vitamin A and its derivatives) play a critical role in vision, growth, reproduction, cell differentiation and embryonic development. Using the IMpRH panel, porcine cellular retinol binding protein genes 5 and 7 (RBP5 and RBP7) were assigned to porcine chromosomes 5 and 6, respectively. The complete coding sequences (CDS) of the RBP5 and RBP7 genes were amplified using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, and the deduced amino acid sequences of both genes were compared to human corresponding proteins. The mRNA distributions of the two genes in adult Wuzhishan pig tissues (lung, skeletal muscle, spleen, heart, stomach, large intestine, lymph node, small intestine, liver, brain, kidney and fat) were examined. A total of nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in two genes. Three of these SNPs were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction-fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in Laiwu, Wuzhishan, Guizhou, Bama, Tongcheng, Yorkshire and Landrace pig breeds. Association analysis of genotypes of these SNP loci with economic traits was done in our experimental populations. Significant associations of different genotypes of $RBP5-A/G^{63}$, $RBP5-A/G^{517}$ and $RPB5-T/C^{intron1-90}$ loci with traits including maximum carcass length (LM), minimum carcass length (LN), marbling score (MS), back fat thickness at shoulder (SBF), meat color score (MCS) and hematocrit (HCT) were detected. These SNPs may be useful as genetic markers in genetic improvement for porcine production.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제35권2호
• /
• pp.167-179
• /
• 2019

Ovarian cancer is the fifth main cause of pre-senescent death in women. Although chemotherapy is generally an efficient treatment, its side effects and the occurrence of chemotherapeutic resistance have prompted the need for alternative treatments. In this study, ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin were evaluated as possible anticancer alternatives to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, used herein as a positive control. The ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV-3 (ATCC No. HTB77) was used as model ovarian cancer cells, whereas the skin fibroblast line CCD-986Sk (ATCC No. CRL-1947) and lung fibroblast line WI-38 (ATCC No. CCL-75) were used as model untransformed cells. Apigenin and doxorubicin inhibited the growth of SKOV-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After 72 hr exposure, doxorubicin was mostly toxic to SKOV-3 cells, whereas apigenin was toxic to SKOV-3 cells but not CCD-986Sk and WI-38 cells. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin was more toxic to SKOV-3 cells than to CCD-986Sk cells. A lower cell density, cell shrinkage, and more unattached (floating round) cells were observed in all treated SKOV-3 cells, but the greatest effects were observed with ${\alpha}$-mangostin. With regard to programmed cell death, apigenin caused early apoptosis within 24 hr, whereas ${\alpha}$-mangostin and doxorubicin caused late apoptosis and necrosis after 72 hr of exposure. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells after 12 hr of exposure, whereas only caspase-9 activity was significantly increased in apigenin-treated SKOV-3 cells at 24 hr. Both ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin arrested the cell cycle at the $G_2/M$ phase, but after 24 and 48 hr, respectively. Significant upregulation of BCL2 (apoptosis-associated gene) and COX2 (inflammation-associated gene) transcripts was observed in apigenin- and ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells, respectively. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin and apigenin are therefore alternative options for SKOV-3 cell inhibition, with apigenin causing rapid early apoptosis related to the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and ${\alpha}$-mangostin likely being involved with inflammation.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제27권4호
• /
• pp.12-29
• /
• 2006

Background and Aims : Even though various strategies for cancer treatment have advanced with the remarkable development of genomic information and technology, it is far from giving relief to cancer patients. Recently there is accumulating evidence that the immune system is closely connected to anti-tumor defense mechanisms in a multistage process. This includes tumorigenesis, invasion, growth and metastasis. Cordyceps Militaris, a well-known oriental herbal medicine, is a parasitic fungus that has been used as an immune enhancing agent for a long period of time. However, little is known about the cancer-related immunomodulatory effects and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Cordyceps Militaris extract (CME) on immune modulating and anti-tumor activity. Materials and Methods : To elucidate the effects of CME on macrophage and natural killer (NK) cell activity, we analyzed nitric oxide (NO) production, NK cytotoxicity and gene expression of cytokines related with macrophages and NK cell activity. Results and Conclusions : CME activated and promoted macrophage production of NO. It also enhanced gene expression of IL-1 and iNOS in RAW 264.7 cells. CME promoted cytotoxicity of NK cells against YAC-1 cells and enhanced NK cell related gene expression such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-12, iNOS, IFN-${\gamma}$ and　TNF-${\alpha}$ in mice splenocytes. It also Promoted protein expression of IL-10, IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in mice splenocytes and inhibited lung tumor metastasis induced by CT-26 cell line compared with the control group. From these results, it could be concluded that CME is an effective herbal drug for modulating the immune system and anti-cancer treatment by promoting macrophage and NK cell activity.

• 대한약리학회지
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 1982

It has been known that retinoids are intrinsically of critical importance for control of premalignant epithelial cell differentiation. In the absence of retinoids, normal cellular differentiation and growth does not occur in epithelia such as those of trachea and bronchi. Furthermore, it was also reported that retinoid deficiency enhanced susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis in the respiratory system, in the bladder, and in the colon of the experimental animal. In 1974, Bollag examined the effects of synthetic retinoids in prevention of development of cancer and demonstrated synthetic retinoids to have more favorable therapeutic index than retinoic acid for causing regression of skin papilloma in mice. Therefore, it was assumed that this anticarcinogenic effect of vitamin A derivatives could be due to modification of the metabolism of the carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbon, which must first be activated to exert their effect. Hill and Shih reported that vitamin A compounds and analogs had inhibitory effect on drug metabolizing enzyme from liver and lung tissue of mouse and hamster. Lucy suggested that the chemoprevention effect of vitamin A derivatives is due to reaction with molecular oxygen, and it is possible that inhibition of hydroxybenzpyrene formation is a result of this property. On the other hand, butylated hydroxytoluene which is a potent antioxidant strongly inhibited the formation of mammary tumor induced by dimethylbenranthracene. Also, it was observed that this antioxidant inhibited cancer induction in rats by N-2-fluo-renylacetamide. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of vitamin A derivatives such as retinoic acid and retinoid on drug-metabolizing enzyme and to determine whether riboflavin tetrabutylate or vitamin E could prevent of modify any changes induced by vitamin A delivatives in the rats. The results obtained were as followings. 1) Body weight was significantly reduced by retinoic acid, but not by retinoid. 2) Retinoic acid markedly increased liver weight while retincid showed no effect on liver weight. Treatment of riboflavin tetrabutylate did not affect retinoic acid-induced change in both body weight and liver weight. 3) Both retinoic acid and retinoid remarkably decreased the activity of aminopyrine demethylase. Pretreatment of riboflavin tetrabutylate, however, prevented inhibitory effect of retinoic acid on the enzyme activity. 4) No significant effect of vitamin E on aminopyrine demethylase was observed in both groups treated with retinoic acid and retinoid.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.42-49
• /
• 2016

레티노산(RA)는 많은 유형의 세포에서 성장 및 발달에 중요한 역할을 수행하며 생체 활성화에 적합한 RA의 농도는 CYP26A1 등 여러 가지 효소에 의해 조절된다. CYP26A1의 발현은 RA에 의해서 조절되며 CYP26A1는 RA에 반응하는 유전자 중 하나이다. CYP26A1 유전자 클로닝은 여러 동물에서 보고되어 있지만, 소에서 CYP26A1 유전자의 클로닝은 아직 보고되지 않았다. 소로부터 CYP26A1의 프로모터 부위를 중합효소 연쇄반응을 이용하여 클로닝 한 후 다른 동물과 염기 서열 비교분석 결과 RARE DR-5 (ttggg)의 존재를 확인하였고, DR-5의 염기서열은 분석한 종 에서 완전히 일치하였다. DR-5 motif를 함유한 소의 CYP26A1 프로모터 부위를luciferase리포터 유전자에 결합한 후 transient transfection에 의해 promoter 발현을 분석하였다. 폐 유래 세포주인 MTCC 세포에서 CYP26A1 promoter의 발현은 ATRA의 처리에 의하여 촉진되었다. CYP26A1 유전자의 발현은 ATRA 의존적으로 RAR-α 및 RAR-β에 의하여 현저하게 촉진되었다. 그러나 RAR-γ나 RXR-γ는 CYP26A1 발현에 별다른 영향을 미치지는 않았다. 또한 MTCC 세포주가 생산하는 내인성 CYP26A1 유전자 발현을 Q-RT-PCR로 분석한 결과 1-2일간의 ATRA 처리에 의해서는 현저한 영향을 받지 않으나, 3일 동안 ATRA를 처리한 샘플에서는 CYP26A1의 발현이 현저하게 감소하였다. 결론적으로, 소의 CYP26A1유전자의 프로모터 부위에 존재하는 DR-5 RARE는 RAR-α 및 RAR-β의 결합부위로 작용하여 MTCC 세포에서 CYP26A1 유전자 발현 조절과 RA signal의 조절에 관여하는 것을 확인하였다.