• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.365-369
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• 2010

In this study, we examined whether melatonin promotes apoptotic cell death via p53 in prostate LNCaP cells. Melatonin treatment significantly curtailed the growth of LNCaP cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Melatonin treatment (0 to 3 mM) induced the fragmentation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. Moreover, melatonin markedly activated Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression in dose increments. To investigate p53 and p21 expression, LNCaP cells were treated with 0 to 3 mM melatonin. Melatonin increased the expressions of p53, p21, and p27. Treatment with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) and SB202190 (p38 inhibitor), confirmed that the melatonin-induced apoptosis was p21-dependent, but ERK-independent. With the co-treatment of PD98059 and melatonin, the expression of p-p53, p21, and MDM2 did not decrease. These effects were opposite to the expression of p-p53, p21, and MDM2 observed with SP600125 and SB202190 treatments. Together, these results suggest that p53-dependent induction of JNK/p38 MAPK directly participates in apoptosis induced by melatonin.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.321-329
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• 2021

본 연구에서는 매실 메탄올 추출물(maesil methanol fraction, MMF)을 제조하여 인체 전립선암세포 LNCaP, RC-58T 및 PC-3에 대한 증식억제 효과를 확인하였다. 인체 전립선암세포인 PC-3 및 RC-58T와 비교해보았을 때, LNCaP은 MMF의 처리에 따른 증식억제 효과에 가장 민감했다. LNCaP의 형태학적 관찰과 apoptotic body 형성을 관찰해보았으며, MMF의 처리로 인한 형태의 변화, 핵 손상 및 응축을 확인했다. MMF의 처리로 인한 인체 전립선암세포 LNCaP에서 성장억제 효과가 내인성 apoptosis 경로와 관련 있는지 확인한 결과, pro-apoptotic 단백질인 Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, PARP의 발현이 증가하였고, anti-apoptotic 단백질인 Bcl-2의 발현이 감소하는 것을 확인했다. MMF와 AIF inhibitor인 N-phenylmalemide (N-PM)의 병용처리군에 비해 MMF 단독처리군의 증식억제 효과가 유의적으로 나타났으며 AIF 및 Endo G의 발현 증가를 통해 외인성 apoptosis 경로에 영향을 미치는 것을 확인했다. 또한 PI3K inhibitor인 LY294002와 MMF의 병용처리군에 비해 MMF 단독처리군의 증식억제 효과가 유의적으로 나타났으며 PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR의 발현 감소를 통해 PI3K/Akt/mTOR 신호경로에 영향을 미치는 것을 확인했다. 결론적으로 인체 전립선암세포 LNCaP에서 MMF의 증식억제 효과는 천연물 유래 기능성 식품의 소재로써의 가능성을 보여준다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.68-72
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• 2005

Pseudolaric acid B is a major compound found in the bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon. In our study, pseudolaric acid B inhibited growth of human melanoma cells, A375-S2 in a time and dose-dependent manner. A375-S2 cells treated with pseudolaric acid B showed typical characteristics of apoptosis including morphologic changes, DNA fragmentation, sub-diploid peak in flow cytometry, cleavage of poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) and degradation of inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (ICAD). P53 protein expression was upregulated while cells were arrested at the $G_2/M$ phase of the cell cycle. There was a decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, whereas pro-apoptotic Bax was increased. The two classical caspase substrates, PARP and ICAD, were both decreased in a time-dependent manner, indicating the activation of downstream caspases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권12호
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• pp.884-892
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• 2019

Piperlongumine (PL), a natural alkaloid compound isolated from long pepper (Piper longum), can selectively kill cancer cells, but not normal cells, by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The objective of this study was to investigate functional roles of expression of SETDB1 and FosB during PL treatment in MCF7 breast cancer cells. PL downregulates SETDB1 expression, and decreased SETDB1 expression enhanced caspase 9 dependent-PARP cleavage during PL-induced cell death. PL treatment generated ROS. ROS inhibitor NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) recovered SETDB1 expression decreased by PL. Decreased SETDB1 expression induced transcriptional activity of FosB during PL treatment. PARP cleavage and positive annexin V level were increased during PL treatment with FosB overexpression whereas PARP cleavage and positive annexin V level were decreased during PL treatment with siFosB transfection, implying that FosB might be a pro-apoptotic protein for induction of cell death in PL-treated MCF7 breast cancer cells. PL induced cell death in A549 lung cancer cells, but molecular changes involved in the induction of these cell deaths might be different. These results suggest that SETDB1 mediated FosB expression may induce cell death in PL-treated MCF7 breast cancer cells.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1529-1537
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• 2009

L-arginine 구조유사체인 L-canavanine의 인체 급성백혈병 Jurkat T 세포에 대한 apoptosis 유도활성이 단백질 티로신키나아제 $p56^{lck}$에 어떻게 조절되는지를 규명하기 위해 $p56^{lck}$를 발현하는 Jurkat T 세포주 E6.1과 $p56^{lck}$-결손 Jurkat T 세포주 JCaM1.6에 있어서 L-canavanine의 세포독성, L-canavanine에 의해 유도되는 apoptotic DNA fragmentation 및 apoptotic sub-$G_1$ peak를 비교하여 본 바, $p56^{lck}$-negative JCaM1.6 세포가 $p56^{lck}$-positive E6.1 세포에 비해 L-canavanine의 apoptotis 유도활성에 훨씬 더 민감한 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 $p56^{lck}$-negative JCaM1.6 세포의 민감성은 JCaM1.6 세포에 $p56^{lck}$ 유전자를 transfection시켜 발현시키면 현저히 감소되었다. L-Canavanine에 의해 유도되는 apoptosis관련 현상들을 $p56^{lck}$-stable transfectant인 JCaM1.6/lck 세포와 empty vector-transfectant 인 $p56^{lck}$-negaive JCaM1.6/vector 세포에서 Western blot analysis로 비교한 결과, L-canavanine에 의해 유도되는 mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta\Psi}m$)의 감소, caspase-9, -8, -7 및 -3의 활성화, 그리고 PARP 및 $PLC{\gamma}$-1의 분해가 JCaM1.6/vector 세포에 비해 JCaM1.6/lck 세포에서 더 약하게 나타났다. JCaM1.6/lck 세포를 2.5 mM L-canavanine으로 처리한 다음 세포 내 $p56^{lck}$ kinase 활성의 변화를 $\alpha$-casein을 기질로 하여 시간 별로 측정한 결과, L-canavanine의 처리 후 15분만에 $p56^{lck}$ kinase의 활성이 약 1.6배 증가되었으며 이후 6시간 동안은 약 1.3~1.4 배정도 증가된 수준으로 kinase 활성이 유지되는 것으로 확인되었다. L-Canavanine에 의한 apoptosis의 개시에 Fas/FasL 상호작용이 관련되는지를 규명하기 위해 FADD-negative Jurkat T 세포주 I2.1, caspase-8-negative Jurkat T 세포주 I9.2 및 wild-type Jurkat T 세포주 A3에 대한 L-canavanine의 세포독성을 비교한 결과, A3와 I2.1 세포의 경우는 L-canavanine의 세포독성이 동일하게 나타났고, 특히 caspase-8가 결손된 I9.2 세포의 경우는 L-canavanine의 세포독성에 대한 민감성이 A3와 I2.1 세포에 비해 단지 미약하게만 완화되는 것으로 나타나, L-canavanine의한 apoptosis에는 Fas/FasL 상호작용이 관련되어 있지 않으며, 또한 caspase-8의 역할이 필수적이지 않음을 시사하였다. Jurkat T 세포에 있어서 L-canavanie에 의해 유도되는 sub-$G_1$ peak 및 caspases 활성화에 미치는 pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk), caspase-9 inhibitor (z-LEHD-fmk), caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk), caspase-4 inhibitor (z-LEVD-fmk) 및 caspase-12 inhibitor (z-ATAD-fmk)의 영향을 조사한 결과, L-canavanie에 의한 apoptosis는 ${\Delta\Psi}m$의 감소, caspase-9 및 caspase -3의 활성화에 뒤따른 caspase-8 및 caspase-7의 활성화, 그리고 PARP의 분해의 순서로 유도되는 것으로 나타났으며, 아울러 caspase-9의 활성화와 함께 caspase-12의 활성화가 L-canavanine 처리에 따른 caspase-3의 활성화에 요구되는 것으로 확인되었다. 결론적으로, L-canavanine 처리에 의한 Jurkat T 세포의 apoptosis는 ${\Delta\Psi}m$ 감소, caspase-9, caspase-3 및 caspase-7의 활성화에 의해 유도되며, 이들 apoptosis 현상들은 $p56^{lck}$에 의해 negative regulation되었다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.109-114
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• 2015

The COX-2/$PGE_2$ pathway has been implicated in the occurrence and progression of cancer. The underlying mechanisms facilitating the production of COX-2 and its mediator, $PGE_2$, in cancer survival remain unknown. Herein, we investigated $PGE_2$-induced COX-2 expression and signaling in HL-60 cells following menadione treatment. Treatment with $PGE_2$ activated anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL while reducing pro-apoptotic proteins, thereby enhancing cell survival. $PGE_2$ not only induced COX-2 expression, but also prevented casapse-3, PARP, and lamin B cleavage. Silencing and inhibition of COX-2 with siRNA transfection or treatment with indomethacin led to a pronounced reduction of the extracellular levels of $PGE_2$, and restored the menadione- induced cell death. In addition, pretreatment of cells with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 and the PKA inhibitor H89 abrogated the $PGE_2$-induced expression of COX-2, suggesting involvement of the MAPK and PKA pathways. These results demonstrate that $PGE_2$ signaling acts in an autocrine manner, and specific inhibition of $PGE_2$ will provide a novel approach for the treatment of leukemia.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.331-336
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• 2010

In rapidly growing tumors, hypoxia commonly develops due to the imbalance between $O_2$ consumption and supply. Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-$1{\alpha}$ is a transcription factor responsible for tumor growth and angiogenesis in the hypoxic microenvironment; thus, its inhibition is regarded as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Given that CamKII or PARP inhibitors are emerging anticancer agents, we investigated if they have the potential to be developed as new HIF-$1{\alpha}$-targeting drugs. When treating various cancer cells with the inhibitors, we found that a CamKII inhibitor, KN-62, effectively suppressed HIF-$1{\alpha}$ specifically in hepatoma cells. To examine the effect of KN-62 on HIF-$1{\alpha}$-driven gene expression, we analyzed the EPO-enhancer reporter activity and mRNA levels of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ downstream genes, such as EPO, LOX and CA9. Both the reporter activity and the mRNA expression were repressed by KN-62. We also found that KN-62 suppressed HIF-$1{\alpha}$ by impairing synthesis of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ protein. Based on these results, we propose that KN-62 is a candidate as a HIF-$1{\alpha}$-targeting anticancer agent.

• BMB Reports
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• 제56권8호
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• pp.451-456
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• 2023

Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are an essential component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). They trim ubiquitin from substrate proteins, thereby preventing them from degradation, and modulate different cellular processes. Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) is a DUB that has mainly been studied for its role in tumorigenesis in several cancers. In the present study, we found that the protein levels of USP14 were remarkably higher in gastric cancer tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues. We also demonstrated that the inhibition of USP14 activity using IU1 (an USP14 inhibitor) or the inhibition of USP14 expression using USP14-specific siRNA markedly reduced the viability of gastric cancer cells and suppressed their migratory and invasive abilities. The reduction in gastric cancer cell proliferation due to the inhibition of USP14 activity was a result of the increase in the degree of apoptosis, as evidenced by the increased expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP. Furthermore, an experiment using the USP14 inhibitor IU1 revealed that the inhibition of USP14 activity suppressed 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance in GC cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that USP14 plays critical roles in gastric cancer progression and suggest its potential to serve as a novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제41권7호
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• pp.901-906
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• 2012

본 연구에서는 넓패 메탄올 추출물의 농도별 처리가 인체 자궁암 세포 HeLa의 세포사멸에 미치는 영향을 확인하기 위하여 세포독성 측정, Hoechst 33258 staining, flow cytometry 분석을 통하여 세포사멸을 확인하였다. 넓패 메탄올 추출물 처리 시 HeLa 세포에서 농도 의존적으로 세포의 증식을 억제하였으며, 또한 넓패 메탄올 추출물은 농도 의존적으로 핵을 응축하고 apoptotic bodies을 생성하였다. 유세포 분석을 통하여 apoptosis를 측정한 결과, 넓패 메탄올 추출물의 농도가 증가함에 따라 유의적으로 apoptotic 세포가 증가하였다. Western blot을 통해 PARP 단백질의 절단 현상을 분석한 결과, 넓패 메탄올 추출물의 처리 농도와 시간에 따라 PARP 단백질의 절단 현상이 증가하였다. 또한 넓패 메탄올 추출물은 caspase-8, caspase-9 및 caspase-3 활성을 농도와 시간에 따라 증가시켰으며, caspase 저해제인 z-VAD-fmk로 처리 시 넓패 메탄올 추출물에 의한 세포사멸이 유의적으로 감소되어 넓패 메탄올 추출물에 의한 HeLa 세포의 apoptosis 유도에 caspase가 중요한 역할을 하고 있음을 확인하였다. 따라서 넓패 메탄올 추출물은 HeLa 자궁암 세포의 apoptosis를 유도하는 것으로 나타나 넓패의 항암효과 가능성을 제시하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권11호
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• pp.4519-4525
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• 2014

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a nutritional component widely distributed in various vegetables. Although it has been well recognized for decades that OA exerts certain anti-tumor activity by inducing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, it is still unclear that what molecular signaling is responsible for this effect. In this study, we employed cancer cell lines, A549, BXPC-3, PANC-1 and U2OS to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying OA anti-tumor activity. We found that activation of MAPK pathways, including p-38 MAPK, JNK and ERK, was triggered by OA in both a dose and time-dependent fashion in all the tested cancer cells. Activation was accompanied by cleavage of caspases and PARP as well as cytochrome C release. SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor), but not SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) and U0126 (ERK inhibitor), rescued the pro-apoptotic effect of OA on A549 and BXPC-3 cells. OA induced p38 MAPK activation promoted mitochondrial translocation of Bax and Bim, and inhibited Bcl-2 function by enhancing their phosphorylation. OA can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent ASK1 activation, and this event was indispensable for p38 MAPK-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells. In vivo, p38 MAPK knockdown A549 tumors proved resistant to the growth-inhibitory effect of OA. Collectively, we elucidated that activation of ROS/ASK1/p38 MAPK pathways is responsible for the apoptosis stimulated by OA in cancer cells. Our finding can contribute to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor activity of nutritional components.