• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

Objective: Over the last several years, immunotherapy has become one of the most promising therapeutic options for cancer. This study aims to summarize the updates on cancer immunotherapy focusing on immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, which have received attention as new anticancer therapeutic agents. Methods: A literature survey was carried out on PubMed to identify high-impact papers on cancer immunotherapy from 2010. The most recent data on clinical efficacy and safety have been included highlighting the response characteristics to recently approved immunotherapeutic agents. Results: In various cancers, immune checkpoints are a means for cancer cells to evade the immune system. Furthermore, CTLA-4 and PD-L1 can be overexpressed, allowing malignant cells to evade T-cells. Numerous clinical trials have been performed to seek appropriate indication of these products in various cancer types. Among them, the most conspicuous types are melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and head and neck cancer. The approval of ipilimumab by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commenced a new era of cancer immunotherapy. This was followed by the approval of nivolumab and pembrolizumab. Currently, combination therapies are being investigated for various cancer types. Conclusion: In this study, we reviewed recently reported scientific and clinical evidence for currently approved immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although these novel checkpoint inhibitors are ever evolving for cancer therapies, there exist limitations that need to be overcome, indicating the necessity for further studies aiming to improve their efficacy, toxicity, and cost.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxic effects of various concentrations of miltefosine on Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) and L. tropica (MHOM/IR/02/Mash10) promastigotes and to observe the programmed cell death features. The colorimetric MTT assay was used to find L. major and L. tropica viability and the obtained results were expressed as 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50). Also, 50% effective doses (ED50) for L. major and L. tropica amastigotes were also determined, Annexin-V FLUOS staining was performed to study the cell death properties of miltefosine using FAGS analysis. Qualitative analysis of the total genomic DNA fragmentation was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, to observe changes in cell morphology, promastigotes were examined using light microscopy. In both strains of L. major and L. tropica, miltefosine induced dose-dependent death with features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, DNA laddering, and externalization of phosphatidylserine. The IC50 was achieved at 22 ${\mu}M$ and 11 ${\mu}M$ for L. major and L. tropica after 48 hr of incubation, respectively. ED50 of L. major and L. tropica amastigotes were 5.7 ${\mu}M$ and 4.2 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Our results indicate that miltefosine induces apoptosis of the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, L. major did not display any apoptotic changes when it was exposed to miltefosine in concentrations sufficient to kill L. tropica.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2013

인간면역결핍바이러스(Human immunodeficiency virus; HIV), B형 간염 바이러스(Hepatitis B virus; HBV), 그리고 C형 간염 바이러스(Hepatitis C virus; HCV)는 만성 감염질환을 일으키는 대표적인 바이러스들이다. 인체내 감염시 임상적 진행경과에 따른 바이러스 특이 T림프구의 항바이러스 기능변화 및 바이러스의 체내 지속성과 T림프구에 발현되는 다양한 면역인자(e.g., CD28, CD25, FoxP3, PD-1, CTLA-4)들과의 구체적인 상관관계는 최근 많은 국내외 연구진들을 통해 연구되고 있다. 그 중 FoxP3 (forkhead box P3), PD-1 (programmed death-1) 그리고 CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4)는 T림프구에서 발현되는 면역조절인자로 만성 바이러스성 감염시 그 발현이 증가되는 것으로 관찰되었으며, 항바이러스 작용을 가지는 T림프구의 기능결핍과 밀접한 상관관계가 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 총설에서는 만성적인 HIV, HBV, 그리고 HCV 감염에서 바이러스 특이 T림프구에서 발현되는 FoxP3, PD1, 그리고 CTLA-4의 발현변화와 각 질환의 임상적 진행경과와의 상관성, 그리고 이들 발현이 T림프구의 항바이러스 기능에 미치는 영향 등을 중심으로 기술하였다.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.476-486
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• 2023

Purpose: The optimal tumor mutational burden (TMB) value for predicting treatment response to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) checkpoint inhibitors in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the optimal TMB cutoff value that could predict the efficacy of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors in AGC. Materials and Methods: Patients with AGC who received pembrolizumab or nivolumab between October 1, 2020, and July 27, 2021, at Samsung Medical Center in Korea were retrospectively analyzed. The TMB levels were measured using a next-generation sequencing assay. Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the TMB cutoff value was determined. Results: A total 53 patients were analyzed. The TMB cutoff value for predicting the overall response rate (ORR) to PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors was defined as 13.31 mutations per megabase (mt/Mb) with 56% sensitivity and 95% specificity. Based on this definition, 7 (13.2%) patients were TMB-high (TMB-H). The ORR differed between the TMB-low (TMB-L) and TMB-H (8.7% vs. 71.4%, P=0.001). The progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) for 53 patients were 1.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.600-2.268) and 4.26 months (95% CI, 2.992-5.532). The median OS was longer in the TMB-H (20.8 months; 95% CI, 2.292-39.281) than in the TMB-L (3.31 months; 95% CI, 1.604-5.019; P=0.049). Conclusions: The TMB cutoff value for predicting treatment response in AGC patients who received PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy as salvage treatment was 13.31 mt/Mb. When applying the programmed death ligand-1 status to TMB-H, patients who would benefit from PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors can be selected.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.411-416
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• 2002

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a genetically regulated pathway that is altered in many cancers. Overexpression of bcl-2 leads to resistance to apoptosis and promotes tumorigenesis. To determine the effect of bcl-2 antisense treatment in human lung cancer cell lines, a 20 mer full phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (ODN) targeted at the coding region of the bcl-2 mRNA was synthesized. Western blot analyses were used to examine bcl-2 protein level in five human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines (NCI-H226, SK-MES-1 NCI-H358, NCI-H522 and NCI-Hl 299) and four human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines (NCI-H69, NCI-H4l7, HCC-2108 and SW2). Three out of five NSCLC (NCI-H226, SK-MES-1 and NCI-Hl 299) and all of SCLC cell lines expressed Bcl-2 protein. Treatment of these cell with antisense ODN for 48 hours reduced their viability and Bcl-2 protein level. As a conclusion, bcl-2 antisense treatment appears reduction of the Bcl-2 protein levels and cytotoxic effect including apoptosis in human lung cancer cell lines.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Objectives: Amygdalin is abundant in the seeds of bitter almond and apricots of the Prunus genus and other rosaceous plants. Amygdalin is known to have antitussive and anticancer activities. Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is an important mechanism in cancer treatment. Methods: In the present study, we investigated whether the aqueous extract of Amygdalin induces apoptotic cell death in ME-180 cervical cancer cells. For this study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, terminal deoxynuclotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, flow cytometric analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, Western blot, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed on ME-180 cervical cancer cells. Results: Through morphological and biochemical analyses, it was demonstrated that ME-180 cells treated with Amygdalin exhibit several apoptotic features. The treatment of Amygdalin increased the Bax expression and caspase-3 enzyme activity and decreased Bcl-2 expression. Here, we have shown that Amygdalin induces apoptotic cell death in ME-180 cervical cancer cells through Bax-dependent caspase-3 activation. These results suggest the possibility that Amygdalin exerts anti-tumor effect on human cervical cancer.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.120-125
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• 2010

Dysfunction of the virus-specific T cells is a cardinal feature in chronic persistent viral infections such as one caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In chronic HCV infection, virus-specific dysfunctional CD8 T cells often overexpress various inhibitory receptors. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) was the first among these inhibitory receptors that were identified to be overexpressed in functionally impaired T cells. The roles of other inhibitory receptors such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) have also been demonstrated in T-cell dysfunctions that occur in chronic HCV patients. Blocking these inhibitory receptors in vitro restores the functions of HCV-specific CD8 T cells and allows enhanced proliferation, cytolytic activity and cytokine production. Therefore, the blockade of the inhibitory receptors is considered as a novel strategy for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.243-251
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• 2010

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be involved in diverse physiological processes in microbes, animals and plants. In this study, the involvement of NO in the development and possible roles in oxidative stress protection of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis cv. Samrack-ulgari) seedlings were investigated. Exogenous application of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) retarded root elongation, while increasing lateral root formation of Chinese cabbage. Plants showed no signs of external stress due to SNP application in true leaves. Cotyledons of 3-week-old Chinese cabbage plants were found to be highly sensitive to SNP application. Treated cotyledons displayed rapid tissue collapse and associated cell death. Although SNP application reduced root growth under normal growth conditions, it also enhanced methyl viologen (MV)-mediated oxidative stress tolerance. Analysis of SNP application to Chinese cabbage leaf disks, revealed SNP-induced tolerance against oxidative stresses by MV and $H_2O_2$, and evidence includes prevention of chlorophyll loss, superoxide anion (${O_2}^-$) accumulation and lipid peroxidation. This report supports a role for nitric oxide in modulating early seedling development, programmed cell death and stress tolerance in Chinese cabbage.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.366-370
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• 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the main drugs for programmed cell death receptor-1 or ligand-1 expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) combined with conventional chemotherapy. ICIs are generally more tolerable than cytotoxic chemotherapies in terms of toxicity, and ICI-related adverse events are mild and manageable. However, these drugs may lead to unexpected severe adverse events such as immune-related hematologic toxicities, which could be life-threatening. Here, a rare case of a pembrolizumab-related adverse event in a patient with NSCLC who showed early-onset hemolytic anemia and recovered by high-dose steroid and a series of plasma exchanges is reported.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.709-727
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• 2001

세포자기사(programmed cell death)는 배자발생과정에서 중요한 역할을 하는 정상적인 생리적현상으로 알려져왔다. 생쥐 배자에서 세포자기사에 관한 많은 연구가 있었지만 초기 형태발생기동안의 전반적이고 구체적인 세포자기사 양상에 관한 보고는 없었다. 이에 본 연구에서는 발생 4.5일$\sim$11.5일째의 Balb/c생쥐배자에서 생쥐발생초기의 세포자기사가 일어나는 양상을 알아보았다. 세포자기사가 일어나는 양상은 배자 조직절편과 온전한 배자에 in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) 반응을 시켜 알아보았다. 주머니포배시기 (발생 4.5일째)에는 세포자기사 과정에 있는 세포가 극히 드물게 속세포명이에서 관찰되었다. Egg cylinder시기 초기(발생 $5.0\sim5.5$일째)에는 소수의 세포자기사 세포가 배자외배엽과 배자내배엽, 원시양막공간에서 나타났다. Egg cylinder시기 후반부(발생 $5.5\sim6.5$일)에는 세포자기사 세포가 배자외배엽, 배자내배엽, 원시양막공간 뿐만 아니라 바깥배자외배엽과 바깥배자내배엽 에서도 관찰되었다. Streak 시기 (발생 $6.75\sim7.75$일)에는 많은 세포자기사 세포가 ectoplacental cone부위에서 관찰된 반면에, 배자바깥 부위에서는 융모막과 바깥배자내배엽에서 매우 적은 수의 세포자기사 세포가 관찰되었고, 배자부위에서는 소수의 세포자기사 세포가 무작위적으로 배자외배엽과 중배엽, 그리고 배자내배엽 부위에서 관찰되었다. 체절형성기 초기 (발생 $8.0\sim8.5$일)에는 많은 수의 세포자기사 세포가 신경주름(neural fold)의 가장 앞쪽(머리쪽)에 주로 분포하는 것이 관찰되었다. 체절형성기 중기(발생 $9.0\sim9.5$일)에 귀기원판(otic placode)부위에서 처음으로 세포자기사 세포가 관찰되었고, 적은 수의 세포자기사 세포들이 또한 눈기원판(optic placode)과 아가미궁에서도 관찰되기 시작하였다. 발생 $9.5\sim9.75$일째에 크게 세가지 흐름의 세포자기사 세포들이 머리쪽 부위에서 관찰되었다. 발생 10.5일째에는 세포자기사 세포들이 발생중인 눈 부위와 안쪽코돌기와 바깥쪽코돌기 그리고 상악돌기가 만나는 부위, 아가미궁의 가쪽부위, 양쪽 하악돌기가 만나는 중앙부위, 그리고 팔다리싹의 꼭대기외배엽능선에 국한되어 관찰되었다. 발생 11.5일째에는 세포자기사 세포가 발생중인 팔다리부위와 꼬리부위를 제외한 나머지 부위에서는 현저히 감소되어 나타났다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐 발생초기 동안에 나타나는 세포자기사 세포가 발생시기에 따라 어느 부위에 발현되는 가는 알아보았는데, 이러한 연구 결과는 배자의 형태발생을 연구하는데 기초적인 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.