• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.77-91
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• 2005

Purpose : Trichosanthis Radix is traditional medical herb which has been shown to inhibit tumor cell proliferation. In this study, the effects of Trichosanthis Radix extract were investigated on inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human uterine cervical carcinoma cells. Methods : Human uterine cervical carcinoma cells line, ME-180, was used for the study. The cells were treated with varying concentrations of Trichosanthis Radix extract. Cell growth and inhibitory rate were measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis induction was detected by fluorescence microscopy, DNA ladder formation and flow cytometry. Results : Trichosanthis Radix extract inhibited the growth of human uterine cervical carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. It induced ME-180 cells to undergo apoptosis including fragmented nuclei and nucleosome-sized DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometric analysis showed the increasing rate of apoptotic cells by Trichosanthis Radix extract. Reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and increase in caspase-3 activity and were found in ME-180 cells treated with Trichosanthis Radix extract. Conclusion : Our data suggest that Trichosanthis Radix extract inhibit the growth and proliferation of ME-180 cells by apoptotic induction and facilitates its activity via caspase-3 activation initiated by depolarization of mitochondria.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.161-173
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• 2000

컴퓨터 세포동결기를 이용하여 생쥐 배아를 동결할 때 액체질소 (L$N_2$)의 분사속도가 해빙 후 배아의 미세구조, 기능 및 발달에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 이를 위해 배아는 동결을 하지 않은 대조군 (control) 및 동결군에서 L$N_2$의 분사속도에 따라 고속분사군 (120 infusion/min group 1), 저속분사군 (50 infusion/min; group 2)으로 나누었다. ICR 계열의 생쥐의 2 세포기 배아를 사용하였으며, 동결 및 해빙은 저속동결-급속해빙 방법을 사용하였다. 각 군에 따라 해빙 후 배아의 생존율과 세포질이 양호하고 분절화가 없는 2세포기 배아를 대상으로 포배 발달율 및 할구수를 측정하였다. 공초점 현미경을 이용하여 배아 내에서의 $H_2O$$_2$, 활성 미토콘드리아의 분포, 막전위차 및 actin filament를 측정하였으며, TUNEL 방법을 이용하여 DNA 분절화를 확인하였다. 동결-해빙 후 건강한 2 세포기 배아의 회수율은 group 1 (50.7%)에 비해 group 2 (34.6%)에서 현저히 감소했다 (p<0.05). 포배기 배아의 발생율 (86.7%, 76.7% vs. 44.0%)과 할구수 (79.5$\pm$12.9, 71.6$\pm$8.0 vs. 62.5$\pm$4.7)는 대조군 혹은 group 1에 비해 group 2에서 유의한 차이를 보였다 (p<0.05). H$_2$0$_2$의 상대적 강도는 group 2에서 유의하게 증가하였다 (15.3$\pm$3.0, 16.6$\pm$1.6 vs. 23.4$\pm$1.8, p<0.05). 활성 미토콘드리아의 분포는 정상적인 배아에서는 균등하게 분포하는 반면 배발달이 정지된 배아에서는 원형질막 주위에 몰리고 응집된 양상을 보였다. 그러나 대조군, group 1, group 2에서는 모두 균등하게 분포하여 각 군간에 차이가 없었다. 미토콘드리아의 JC-1 염색 결과는 대조군과 group 1의 경우 590 nm의 파장으로 발산되는 미토콘드리아가 group 2에 비하여 유의하게 증가하였다 (17.2$\pm$3.8, 17.4$\pm$1.3 vs. 13.2$\pm$2.0, p<0.05). 2세포기 배아내 미세섬유 (actin filament)는 대조군 및 group 1의 경우 균일하게 분포하는 반면, group 2에서는 부분적인 결손과 응집현상이 관찰되었다. DNA 분절율 (30.8%, 36.0% vs. 65.6%; p<0.05)은 group 2에서 유의하게 증가하였다. 동결시 액체질소의 분사속도는 해빙 후 배아 발달에 매우 중요한 요인으로 작용하며, L$N_2$의 분사속도의 증가는 동결과 정에서 하강 온도의 미세한 변화를 감소시켜 세포내 골격구조와 미토콘드리아의 상해를 감소시켜 $H_2O$$_2$의 발생과 DNA 분절화를 감소시켜 배아 발생을 호전시키는 것으로 사료된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권10호
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• pp.742-749
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• 2016

The cancer chemo-preventive effects of equol have been demonstrated for a wide variety of experimental tumours. In a previous study, we found that equol inhibited proliferation and induced apoptotic death of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. However, the mechanisms underlying equol-mediated apoptosis have not been well understood. In the present study, the dual AO (acridine orange)/EB (ethidium bromide) fluorescent assay, the comet assay, MTS, western blotting and flow cytometric assays were performed to further investigate the pro-apoptotic effect of equol and its associated mechanisms in MGC-803 cells. The results demonstrated that equol induced an apoptotic nuclear morphology revealed by AO/EB staining, the presence of a comet tail, the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP and the depletion of cIAP1, indicating its pro-apoptotic effect. In addition, equol-induced apoptosis involves the mitochondria-dependent cell-death pathway, evidenced by the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, the cleavage of caspase-9 and the depletion of Bcl-xL and full-length Bid. Moreover, treating MGC-803 cells with equol induced the sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and inhibiting ERK by U0126, a MEK/ERK pathway inhibitor, significantly attenuated the equol-induced cell apoptosis. These results suggest that equol induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells via the sustained activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Therefore, equol may be a novel candidate for the chemoprevention and therapy of gastric cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권7호
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• pp.354-359
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• 2022

MitoNEET, a mitochondrial outer membrane protein containing the Asn-Glu-Glu-Thr (NEET) sequence, controls the formation of intermitochondrial junctions and confers autophagy resistance. Moreover, mitoNEET as a mitochondrial substrate undergoes ubiquitination by activated Parkin during the initiation of mitophagy. Therefore, mitoNEET is linked to the regulation of autophagy and mitophagy. Mitophagy is the selective removal of the damaged or unnecessary mitochondria, which is crucial to sustaining mitochondrial quality control. In numerous human diseases, the accumulation of damaged mitochondria by impaired mitophagy has been observed. However, the therapeutic strategy targeting of mitoNEET as a mitophagy-enhancing mediator requires further research. Herein, we confirmed that mitophagy is indeed activated by mitoNEET inhibition. CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone), which leads to mitochondrial depolarization, induces mitochondrial dysfunction and superoxide production. This, in turn, contributes to the induction of mitophagy; mitoNEET protein levels were initially increased before an increase in LC3-II protein following CCCP treatment. Pharmacological inhibition of mitoNEET using mitoNEET Ligand-1 (NL-1) promoted accumulation of Pink1 and Parkin, which are mitophagy-associated proteins, and activation of mitochondria-lysosome crosstalk, in comparison to CCCP alone. Inhibition of mitoNEET using NL-1, or mitoNEET shRNA transfected into RAW264.7 cells, abrogated CCCP-induced ROS and mitochondrial cell death; additionally, it activated the expression of PGC-1α and SOD2, regulators of oxidative metabolism. In particular, the increase in PGC-1α, which is a major regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, promotes mitochondrial quality control. These results indicated that mitoNEET is a potential therapeutic target in numerous human diseases to enhance mitophagy and protect cells by maintaining a network of healthy mitochondria.

• 대한한의진단학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.275-286
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• 2013

In the present study, antioxidant activity and protective effect of extracts from Sambucus williamsii var. coreana stems (SWC) were evaluated on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative stress in human liver (Chang) cells. Antioxidant activities of the SWC extracts were determined by various radical scavenging activities, such as DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. SWC extracts showed strong antioxidant effect on various assay. To determine the hepatoprotective effects of SWC on t-BHP induced oxidative damage, cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Pretreatment of SWC extracts showed increasing cell viability, decreasing ROS and restoring mitochondria membrane potential on t-BHP induced oxidative stress in Chang cells. Our findings suggest that SWC extracts may be considered a potential agent for therapeutic protective effect from oxidative stress through its antioxidant activity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.95-104
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• 2007

The mechanism of acacetin-induced apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells was investigated. Acacetin caused 50% growth inhibition ($IC_{50}$) of MCF-7 cells at $26.4{\pm}0.7{\mu}M$ over 24 h in the MTT assay. Apoptosis was characterized by DNA fragmentation and an increase of sub-G1 cells and involved activation of caspase-7 and PARP (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase). Maximum caspase 7 activity was observed with $100{\mu}M$ acacetin for 24 h. Caspase 8 and 9 activation cascades mediated the activation of caspase 7. Acacetin caused a reduction of Bcl-2 expression leading to an increase of the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio. It also caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential that induced release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) into the cytoplasm, enhancing ROS generation and subsequently resulting in apoptosis. Pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced ROS generation and cell growth inhibition, and pretreatment with NAC or a caspase 8 inhibitor (Z-IETD-FMK) inhibited the acacetin-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c and AIF. Stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun $NH_4$-terminal kinase 1/2 (SAPK/JNK1/2) and c-Jun were activated by acacetin but extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) nor p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were not. Our results show that acacetin-induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells is mediated by caspase activation cascades, ROS generation, mitochondria-mediated cell death signaling and the SAPK/JNK1/2-c-Jun signaling pathway, activated by acacetin-induced ROS generation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.223-232
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• 2020

Sesamin, a lipid-soluble lignin originally isolated from sesame seeds, which induces cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy. In the present study, has been reported that sesamin induces apoptosis via several pathways in human lung cancer cells. However, whether mitophagy is involved in sesamin induced lung cancer cell apotosis remains unclear. This study, the anticancer activity of sesamin in lung cancer was studied by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitophagy. A549 cells were treated with sesamin, and cell viability, migration ability, and cell cycle were assessed using the CCK8 assay, scratch-wound test, and flow cytometry, respectively. ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometric detection of DCFH-DA fluorescence and by using JC-1 and TUNEL assays. The results indicated that sesamin treatment inhibited the cell viability and migration ability of A549 cells and induced G₀/G₁ phase arrest. Furthermore, sesamin induced an increase in ROS levels, a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis accompanied by an increase in cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9. Additionally, sesamin triggered mitophagy and increased the expression of PINK1 and translocation of Parkin from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria. However, the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine clearly reduced the oxidative stress and mitophagy induced by sesamin. Furthermore, we found that cyclosporine A (an inhibitor of mitophagy) decreased the inhibitory effect of sesamin on A549 cell viability. Collectively, our data indicate that sesamin exerts lethal effects on lung cancer cells through the induction of ROS-mediated mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.331-337
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• 2009

We investigate the correlation between the glycosylation modified prion proteins and apoptosis. The wild-type PRNP gene and four PRNP gene glycosylated mutants were transiently expressed in HeLa cells. The effect of apoptosis induced by PrP mutants was confirmed by MTT assay, Hochest staining, Annexin-V staining and PI staining. ROS test detected ROS generation within the cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed by the flow cytometry. The expression levels of Bcl-xL, Bax, cleaved Caspase-9 proteins were analyzed by Western Blot. The results indicated that the expressed non-glycosylated PrP in HeLa cells obviously induced apoptosis, inhibited the growth of cells and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential, and more ROS generation and low levels of the apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-xL, the activated the cleaved Caspase-9 proteins were found. The apoptosis induced by non-glycosylated PrP demonstrates that its underlying mechanism correlates with the mitochondria-mediated signal transduction pathway.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.60-66
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• 1999

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is known as a potential hepatic carcinogen by single administration. This study was designed to measure the effects of DEN-induced cell damage on the triglyceride and cholesterol concentration in the liver, excluding dietary effects. Fertilized chicken eggs, 10 days before hatching, were randomly divided into three groups (n=20) and each egg was injected 10 ${mu}ell$ of corn oil (vehicle control), 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$ of DEN/10 ${mu}ell$ of DEN/10 ${mu}ell$ into yolk via air sac. After 48 hr and 96 hr incubation, the damage of the chick-embryo liver cell was investigated by electron microscopy and by measuring the concentration of lipid components (total cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride). For eggs administered 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$ of DEN and incuvated 96 hr, in hepatocyte, the nucleus membrane was roughed, the size of nucleolus was apparently increased and euchromatin was accumulated. Mitochondria were condensed and cristae, located mitochondiral inner membrane, were obscured. Additionally, the leaves of triglyceride and cholesterol classes were significantly increased depend on the amount treated with 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$ DEN at 96 hr, but phospholipids component of cell membrane, were decreased with significance. As a conclusion, carcinogen induced hepatic lesion was correlated with the changes in lipid component of liver.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

Recent studies indicate that mitochondria are an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the spinal dorsal horn. In our previous study, application of malate, a mitochondrial electron transport complex I substrate, induced a membrane depolarization, which was inhibited by pretreatment with ROS scavengers. In the present study, we used patch clamp recording in the substantia geletinosa (SG) neurons of spinal slices, to investigate the cellular mechanism of mitochondrial ROS on neuronal excitability. DNQX (an AMPA receptor antagonist) and AP5 (an NMDA receptor antagonist) decreased the malate-induced depolarization. In an external calcium free solution and addition of tetrodotoxin (TTX) for blockade of synaptic transmission, the malate-induced depolarization remained unchanged. In the presence of DNQX, AP5 and AP3 (a group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist), glutamate depolarized the membrane potential, which was suppressed by PBN. However, oligomycin (a mitochondrial ATP synthase inhibitor) or PPADS (a P2 receptor inhibitor) did not affect the substrates-induced depolarization. These results suggest that mitochondrial substrate-induced ROS in SG neuron directly acts on the postsynaptic neuron, therefore increasing the ion influx via glutamate receptors.