• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.290-297
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• 2018

We aimed to understand the molecular changes in host cells that accompany infection by the seasonal influenza A H1N1 virus because the initial response rapidly changes owing to the fact that the virus has a robust initial propagation phase. Human epithelial alveolar A549 cells were infected and total RNA was extracted at 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 48 h post infection (h.p.i.). The differentially expressed host genes were clustered into two distinct sets of genes as the infection progressed over time. The patterns of expression were significantly different at the early stages of infection. One of the responses showed roles similar to those associated with the enrichment gene sets to known 'gp120 pathway in HIV.' This gene set contains genes known to play roles in preventing the progress of apoptosis, which infected cells undergo as a response to viral infection. The other gene set showed enrichment of 'Drug Metabolism Enzymes (DMEs).' The identification of two distinct gene sets indicates that the virus regulates the cell's mechanisms to create a favorable environment for its stable replication and protection of gene metabolites within 8 h.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.797-810
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• 2023

Elaeagnus umbellata leaves have been reported to suppress inflammation, allergic responses, lung cancer proliferation and oral bacterial growth. Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that has been found to cause many toxicities, including liver toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of 70% ethanol extract of E. umbellata leaves (EUL) to protect human hepatocytes from Cd toxicity. After exposure of HepG2 cells to Cd at 10 𝜇M for 24 h, cell viability, expression levels of apoptosis- and antioxidant-related proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and Cd uptake were assessed. EUL protected HepG2 cells from Cd-induced apoptosis as determined by MTT assay. A decrease in caspase-3 and p-p53 protein levels was observed in cells pretreated with EUL prior to Cd exposure. Furthermore, the Cd-induced increase in intracellular DCF fluorescence was attenuated by EUL, indicating that the Cd-induced apoptosis preventing effect was associated with the suppression of ROS accumulation. Moreover, EUL's effects on the inhibition of p38, JNK, and AKT phosphorylation also appear to be associated with protection against Cd toxicity. Moreover, EUL upregulated Cd-depressed expression of Nrf2, HO-1, catalase, and MT-1,2 proteins, suggesting that Cd uptake-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells may be inhibited by EUL's antioxidative potential.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7719-7724
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• 2013

Background: Overexpression of survivin, a known inhibitor of apoptosis, is associated with tumor progression and drug resistance in numerous malignancies, including leukemias. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a specific survivin small interference RNA (siRNA) on proliferation and the sensitivity of HL-60 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells to the chemotherapeutic drug etoposide. Materials and Methods: The cells were transfected with siRNAs using Lipofectamine $^{TM}2000$ transfection reagent. Relative survivin mRNA and protein levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Trypan blue exclusion assays were performed to monitor tumor cell proliferation after siRNA transfection. The cytotoxic effects of etoposide and survivin siRNA, alone and in combination, on leukemic cells were determined using MTT assay. Apoptosis was assessed by ELISA cell death assay. Results: Survivin siRNA markedly reduced both mRNA and protein expression levels in a time-dependent manner, leading to distinct inhibition of cell proliferation and increased spontaneous apoptosis. Surprisingly, survivin siRNA synergistically increased the cell toxic effects of etoposide. Moreover, survivin down-regulation significantly enhanced its induction of apoptosis. Conclusions: Our study suggests that down-regulation of survivin by siRNA can trigger apoptosis and overcome drug resistance of leukemia cells. Therefore, survivin siRNA may be an effective adjuvant in AML chemotherapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.485-496
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• 2002

Background : Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are useful in the chemoprevention of colon cancers. Continuous NSAID use results in a 40% to 50% reduction in the relative risk of colorectal cancer. The precise mechanism by which NSAIDs prevent and/or cause the regression of colorectal tumors is not known. Some investigators have reported that certain NSAIDs induce apoptosis and alter the expression of the cell cycle regulatory genes in some carcinoma cells when administered at a relatively high concentration. However, the possibility of NSAIDs application as chemopreventive agents in lung cancers remains to be elucidated. To address this question, the human lung cancer cell line NCI-H1299 was used to investigate whether or not NSAIDs might induce the apoptotic death of NCI-H1299 cells. Methods : A viability test was carried out using a MTT assay. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometric analysis and unclear staining(DAPI). The talytic activity of the caspase family was measured by the fluirigenic cleavage of biosubstrates. To define the mechanical basis of apoptosis, western blot was performed to analyze the expression of the death substrates(PARP and ICAD). Results : NaSaL significantly decreased the viability of the NCI-H1299 cells, which was revealed as apoptosis characterized by an increase in the $subG_0/G_1$ population and unclear fragmentation. The catalytic activity of caspase-3 protease began to increase after 24 Hr and reached a peak 30 Hr after treatment with 10 mM NaSaL. In contrast, caspase-6, 8, and 9 proteases did not have a significantly altered enzymatic activity. Consistent with activation of caspase-3 protease, NaSaL induced the cleavage of the protease biosubstrate. Conclusion : NaSaL induces the apoptotic death of NCI-H1299 human lung cancer cells via the activation of caspase-3 protease.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.304-310
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• 2014

The use of mushrooms has immense potential in many diverse applications. Until now, more than 3,000 species are consumed around the world, and more than 100 have shown promising clinical activity against cancer and other chronic diseases. Sparassis latifolia (formerly S. crispa) is an edible mushroom that harbors ${\beta}$-glucan reported to possess immunostimulatory and anticancer properties. However there have been no reports on the anticancer activity of hydrophobic fractions of S. latifolia. In this study, the anticancer activities of S. latifolia extract and hydrophobic fractions were investigated using AGS (stomach cancer), A529 (lung cancer), and HepG2 (liver cancer) cell lines. In cytotoxicity results of A529 cells, fractions of A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A8, A9, and A10 in all 12 fractions show low $IC_{50}$ values. For HepG2 cells, A7 fraction results in the lowest $IC_{50}$ value while A7, A8, and A11 fractions show low $IC_{50}$ values in AGS cells. S. latifolia extract lead to low cell viability in cancer cells, compared to positive control of paclitaxel. A compound with molecular weight of 181 were detected using HPLC-MS but not identified yet. As a result, the hydrophobic fractions of S. latifolia EtOH extract would be a possible candidate as natural anticancer agents in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.492-501
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• 1995

Background: Transforming growth factor- alpha(TGF-$\alpha$) may play important roles in carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and angiogenesis. Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-$\beta$) are known to be involved in cell-cycle control and regeneration. TGF-$\alpha$ positively acts on growth control of many epithelial cells in contrast to the negative role of TGF-$\beta$. Method: To evaluate the possible role of TGF-$\alpha$ and TGF-$\beta$ in human primary lung cancers, the expression of TGF-$\alpha$ and TGF-$\beta$ were immmunohistochemically investigated in tissue sections from forty seven cases with lung cancers and ten cases with non-cancerous lung tissues. Recombinant cloned monoclonal antibody of TGF-$\alpha$ and neutralizing antibody of TGF-$\beta$ were employed as primary antibodies after dewaxing the formalin-fixed, paraffinized tissue sections. Results: TGF-$\alpha$ was expressed in the cytoplasms of tumor cells in thirty five cases of forty seven(74.5%) primary lung cancers, whereas the control expressed in two of ten brochial epithelial cells. The expression of TGF-$\alpha$ was disclosed in four cases of eleven(36.4 %) small cell carcinomas and thirty one cases of thirty six(86.1%) non-small cell carcinomas of the lung. Expressions of TGF-$\beta$ was discernible in bronchial epithelium in eight of ten non-cancerous lung tissues. The expression of TGF-$\beta$ was noted in the cytoplasms of tumor cells in eight cases of forty seven(17.0%) primary lung cancers. The expression of TGF-$\beta$ disclosed in two cases of eleven(18.2%) small cell carcinomas and six cases of thirty six(16.7%) non- small cell carcinomas of the lung. Conclusion: These findings suggest that up-regulation of TGF-$\alpha$ and down-regulation of TGF-$\beta$ are involved during development and growth of primary lung cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.682-689
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• 2014

This study was carried out to discriminate the effects of the ramie leaf according to the drying methods (hot air drying and freeze drying) on antioxidative activity in vitro and antiproliferation in human cancer cells. There were no significant differences in total polyphenol content of ramie leaf ethanol extracts depending on the drying methods, but total flavonoid content was significantly higher in hot air dried ramie leaf (HR) than in freeze dried ramie leaf (FR). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of HR and FR ethanol extracts were found to be 77.74%, and 77.29% in 1000 ppm, respectively. Antioxidative index of HR and FR ethanol extracts measured by Rancimat were lower than those in BHT, BHA, and ascorbic acid, but were higher than that in control. The antiproliferation effect of 80% ethanol extracts of HR and FR on liver cancer cell line (H460), stomach cancer cell line (AGS), and lung cancer cell line (A549) were increased with a dose-dependent manner. The cancer cell growth inhibition activities of HR and FR ethanol extracts at the concentration of $800{\mu}g/mL$ showed greater than 80% on Hep G2 and A549 cell line, and greater than 75% on AGS cell line. These results suggest that HR and FR ethanol extracts possess potential antioxidative effect and antiproliferation in human cancer cells, and those activities of ramie leaf ethanol extracts depending on the drying methods were similar.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5577-5582
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• 2014

Objective: To observe the effects of metastasis-associated tumor gene family 2 (MTA2) depletion on human breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Methods: A short-hairpin RNA targeting MTA2 was chemically synthesized and transfected into a lentivirus to construct Lv-shMTA2 for infection into the MDA-MB231 human breast cancer cell line. At 48 hours after infection cells were harvested and mRNA and protein levels of MTA2 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. Cell viability and metastasis were assessed by CCK-8, wound-healing assay and Transwell assay, respectively. In addition, a xenograft model of human breast cancer was constructed to investigate cancerous cell growth and capacity for metastasis. Results: After infection with Lv-shMTA2, mRNA and protein levels of MTA2 was significantly reduced (p<0.05) and MDA-MB231 cell proliferation and metastasis were inhibited (p<0.05). In addition, mean tumor size was smaller than that in control group nude mice (p<0.05) and numbers of metastatic deposits in lung were lower than in control group mice (p<0.05). Depletion of MTA2 affected MMP-2 and apoptosis-related protein expression. Conclusions: For the first time to our knowledge we showed that MTA2 depletion could significantly inhibit human breast cancer cell growth and metastasis, implying that MTA2 might be involved in the progression of breast cancer. The role of MTA2 in breast cancer growth and metastasis might be linked with regulation of matrix metalloproteinase and apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.320-324
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• 2000

Methanol extracts of 94 Korean plants were screened for angiogenesis inhibitors using the tube-like formation assay of HUVEC (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell) and evaluated for growth inhibitory activity on A549 cells, human lung cancer cells. Extracts of Euphorbia sieboldiana, Adonis amurensis, and Anthriscus sylvestris showed antiangiogenic and growth inhibitory activity at $50\;{mu}g/ml$. Aristolochia manshuriens and Styrax obassia expressed antiangiogenic activity without growth inhibitory action.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2011

Celastrus orbiculatus has been widely used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and odontalgia. In the present study, anti-metastatic activity of a methanolic extract from C. orbiculatus (MCO) was studied. A gelatin zymographic assay revealed that MCO has potent inhibitory effects on MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in B16F10 melanoma cells. Moreover, MCO attenuated MMP expression via down-regulation of NF-${\kappa}$B translocation to the nucleus. Melanoma cell migration and invasion were also down-regulated by MCO. In addition, MCO significantly suppressed lung metastasis in an in vivo model. These results strongly suggest that MCO may possibly be used as a valuable anti-metastatic agent for cancer treatment.