• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECFTIVES: Artemisinin, a natural product isolated from Gaeddongssuk (artemisia annua L.) and its main active derivative, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), have long been used as antimalarial drugs. Recent studies reported that artemisinin is efficacious for curing diseases, including cancers, and for improving the immune system. Many researchers have shown the therapeutic effects of artemisinin on tumors such as breast cancer, liver cancer and kidney cancer, but there is still insufficient data regarding glioblastoma (GBM). Glioblastoma accounts for 12-15% of brain cancer, and the median survival is less than a year, despite medical treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of DHA and transferrin against glioblastoma (glioblastoma multiforme, GBM). MATERIALS/METHODS: This study was performed through in vitro experiments using C6 cells. The toxicity dependence of DHA and transferrin (TF) on time and concentration was analyzed by MTT assay and cell cycle assay. Observations of cellular morphology were recorded with an optical microscope and color digital camera. The anti-cancer mechanism of DHA and TF against GBM were studied by flow cytometry with Annexin V and caspase 3/7. RESULTS: MTT assay revealed that TF enhanced the cytotoxicity of DHA against C6 cells. An Annexin V immune-precipitation assay showed that the percentages of apoptosis of cells treated with TF, DHA alone, DHA in combination with TF, and the control group were $7.15{\pm}4.15%$, $34.3{\pm}5.15%$, $66.42{\pm}5.98%$, and $1.2{\pm}0.15%$, respectively. The results of the Annexin V assay were consistent with those of the MTT assay. DHA induced apoptosis in C6 cells through DNA damage, and TF enhanced the effects of DHA. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that DHA, the derivative of the active ingredient in Gaeddongssuk, is effective against GBM, apparently via inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by a pharmacological effect. The role of transferrin as an allosteric activator in the GBM therapeutic efficacy of DHA was also confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.299-305
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• 1988

The phenotypes of hemoglobin, albumin and transferrin of 3U2 Jindo dogs in Jindo area were studied by starch gel electrophoresis for hemoglobin and albumin, and by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis for transferrin. The results obtained were as follows: 1. In the hemoglobin phenotypes, three phenotypes, HbAA, HbAB and HbBB, which were controlled by two allelic genes, $Hb^A$ and $Hb^B$, were observed and their frequencies of appearance were 1.65%, 10.60% and 87.75% respectively. The distribution of gene frequency was calculated as 0.0695 in $Hb^A$ and 0.9305 in $Hb^B$. 2. In the albumin phenotypes, three phenotypes, Alb FF, Alb FS and Alb SS, which were controlled by two allelic genes, $AIb^F$ and $AIb^S$ were observed and their frequencies of appearance were 12.59%, 25.56% and 61.85% respectively. The distribution of gene frequency was calculated as 0.2537 in $AIb^F$ and 0.7463 in $AIb^S$. 3. Analysis of transferrin phenotypes showed 6 different types which were controlled by three allelic genes, $Tf^B$, $Tf^C$ and $Tf^D$ and their frequencies of appearance were 54.04% in TfBB, 17.54% in TfBC, 9.82% in TfBD, 8.07% in TfCC, 7.37% in TfCD and 3.16% in TfDD. The distribution of gene frequency was calculated as 0.6772 in $Tf^B$, 0.2053 in $Tf^C$ and 0.1175 in $Tf^D$.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2007

Efficient gene delivery to specific tissues, such as inflammatory and cancerous tissues, is currently a major concern in disease treatment. The human transferrin receptor (hTR) has been detected in the synovium and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), which raises the possibility that expression of hTR is associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To investigate whether the hTR is a useful target for gene transduction into the FLS of RA patients, recombinant adenoviruses with wildtype fiber (AdLac) and transferrin peptide-tagged fiber (Tf-AdLac) were used. The hTR expression level in FLS was notably increased by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Gene transduction to FLS was significantly higher by the hTR-targeted adenovirus than by the AdLac adenovirus, and treatment of the FLS with bFGF resulted in increased gene transduction by Tf-AdLac. Taken together, these data support Tf-AdLac as a new strategy for gene transduction in the treatment of RA patients.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.293-296
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• 2005

Transferrin ($T_{f}$) has been used as a targeting ligand for delivering liposome/interleukin-12 (IL-12) pDNA complexes to cancer cells mostly due to the greater number of transferrin receptors ($T_{f}R$) found on tumor cells than on normal cells. $T_{f}$ was conjugated to liposomes via the reaction of MPB-PE with thiol groups of $T_{f}$ introduced by a heterobifunctional cross-linking agent, N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP). Four days after C26 inoculation when the tumor volume reached ${\sim}100mm^{3}$, tumor-bearing Balb/c mice were injected intravenously with $T_{f}-liposome/IL-12 pDNA$complexes twice a week for 3 weeks. Significant suppression of tumor growth was achieved in the group treated with the $T_{f}-liposome/IL-12 pDNA$ complexes, with a dose of $10{\mu}g$ of IL-12 pDNA showing the highest suppression effect among the tested doses. Similar results were obtained when the therapy was initiated one day after tumor inoculation, although in this case $30{\mu}g$ IL-12 pDNA/$T_{f}-liposome$ complexes showed a significant suppression of tumor growth between 19 and 23 days after tumor inoculation. This result indicates that the transferrin receptor-targeted liposomal system is an efficient delivery agent of therapeutic genes, such as IL-12, in mice and that its potential clinical use warrants further research investigation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 1994

Clinical study was carried out on the 64 hemodialysis patients(HD) with chronic renal failure who had been treated from December 1992 to July 1993 in Yeungnam University Hospital. The following results were obitained. In hematologic parameters, MCH was $28.8{\pm}2.0pg$, and MCV was $92.4{\pm}4.7fl$. Result revealed normochromic and normocytic anemia. Mean values of serum ferritin were $657.4{\pm}292.0ng/ml$ in men and $511.5{\pm}370g$ in women. Mean valuses of serum iron were $145.5{\pm}63.7{\mu}g/dl$. Mean values of transferrin saturation was $61.6{\pm}28.4%$. Serum frerritin, serum iron and transferrin saturation were higher in HD group than normal reference. In erythropoeitin treatment group, Hb and Hct were significantly higher than non-erythropoietin treatment group. Amount of transfusion was significantly higher in non-erythropoietin treatment group than erythropoeitin treatment group(p<0.05). Values of iron, transferrin saturation were significantly higher in abnormal liver function test(LFT) hemodialysis group than normal LFT group(p<0.05). Transfusion amounts revealed positive correlation with ferritin(r=0.4675), transferrin satruation (r=0.3823) and iron(r=0.3386)(p<0.05). In conclusion, erythropoietin treatment cna reduce requirement of blood transfusion and transfusion related side effects such as iron overload, hemosiderosis and hemochromatosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 1974

The relative state of human iron storage may be ascertained more reliably through determination of the serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation and absorption of radioactive iron in conjunction with studies of red cell morphology than from the study of red cell morphology alone. Recent investigations have shown that there is an increase in red cell protoporphyrin concentration in iron deficiency anemia. The significance of the red cell protoporphyrin has been discussed greatly during the years since its discovery. Two of the main factors which appear to influence the amaunt of protoporphyrin are increased erythropoiesis and factors interfering with the utilization of iron in the synthesis of hemoglobin, and iron deficiency. Recently Heller et al. have described a simplified method for blood protoporphyrin assay and this technique could be used assess nutritional iron status, wherein even minor insufficiencies are detectable as increased protoporphyrin concentrations. Based on the evaluation of the relationship between nutritional iron status and red cell protoporphyrin as an index suitable for the detection of the iron deficiency is described in this paper. RESULTS 1. Hemoglobin Concentrations and Anthropometric Measurements. The mean and standard deviations of the various anthropometric measurements of different age and sex groups are shown in table 1. There measurements have been compared with the Korean Standard. In the absence of local standards for arm circumference and skin-fold thickness over triceps, they have been compared with the standard from Jelliffe. Table 2,3, and 4 give anthropometric measurements and frequency (%) of anemia in children surveyed. The mean height of the children studid was 10 to 20 percent; below the Korean Standard. The distribution of height below 80 percent of the Standard was 21.2 percent, however, among anemic group this percentage was 27.7 percent. In general, the mean weight of the children was 10 to 15 percent below the Korean Standard. The percentage of children with weight less than 80 percent of the Standard was about 35 percent. But in the anemic group of the children, this percentage was 44 percent. The mean arm circumference was about 15 percent lower than the Jelliffe's standard. 61.2 percent of the children had values of arm circumference below 80 percent of the standard. Children with low hemoglobin levels, this percentage was 80 percent. The mean skinfold thickness over the triceps of the children studied was about 25 Percent lower than the Jelliffe's standard and 61.2 percent of the children had the value less than 80 percent of the standard. Among anemic children, this percentage was 70.8%. As may be seen from table 5, the mean hemoglobin concentration of the total group was 11.3g/100ml. Hemoglobin concentration was less than 11.0g/100ml. in 65(36.5%) of the 178 children. The degree of anemia in most of these children was mild with a hemoglobin level of less than 8.0g/100ml. found in only one child. In general, the prevalence of anemia was high in female children than male and decreased its frequency with increasing age. Relatively close relationship was observed between hemoglobin level and anthrophometric measurements especially high between arm circumference and skinfold thickness and hemoglobin but very low in height and low in weight and hemoglobin level, estimated by chi-square value. II. Serum iron, Transferrin saturation (1) Serum iron, and transferrin saturation Serum iron, transferrin saturation and red cell protoporphyrin concentrations were estimated in sub-sample of 84 children from 1 to 6 years and 24 older children between 7 and 13 years of age. The findings are presented in table 6. The mean serum iron concentration of the total group was 59ug/100ml. However, the level incrased with age from 36.6ug/100ml. (1-3years) to 80.8ug/100ml. (7-13 years). 60 percent of these children had a serum iron level less than 50ug/10ml. in the 1-3 years age group and 31.4 percent for 4-6 years group. These contrast with the finding of 12.5 percent anemic children in the 7-13 years age group. The mean transferrin saturation for the total group was 18.1 percent and frequency of anemia by transferrin saturation was observed same pattern as serum iron concentration. (2) Red cell protoporphyrin concentrations. (a) Red cell protoporphrin levels of children: Red cell protoporphyrin and other biochemical data are shown in table 4. The mean concentration in red cell of all children was fround 46.3ug/100ml. RBC. and differences with age groups were observed; in the age group 1-3 years, the mean concentration was $59.5{\pm}32.14$ ug/100ml. RBC; 4-6 years $44.1{\pm}22.57$ ug/100ml. RBC. and 7-13 years, $39.0{\pm}13.56$ ug/100ml. RBC. (b) Normal protoporphyrin values in adults: It was observed that in 10 normal adult males studied here the level of protoporphyrin in red cell ranged from 18 to 54 ug/100ml. RBC. and the mean concentration was $47.5{\sim}14.47$ ug/100ml. RBC. Other biochemical determination made on the same subjects are presented in table 8. (c) Red tell protoporphyrin concentration of occupational blood donors: The results of analyses for red cell protoporphyrin as well as serum iron, transferrin saturation and hemoglobin in the 76 blood donors are presented in table 7 and 8. In this experiment, donors were selected at random, however, most of them bled repeatedly because of poor economic situation, I doubt. Table 9 shows the distribution of red cell protoporphyrin concentration and hemoglobin concentration of occupational donors. The mean hemoglobin value for the total was 11.9 g/100 ml. When iron deficiency anemia is defined as a transferrin saturation below 15%, prevalence of anemia was 47.4 percent and the mean serum iron was 27.1ug/100ml. and red cell protoporphyrin, 168.3ug/100ml. RBC. However, mean serum iron and protoporphyrin concentration of above 15% transferrin saturation were 11.6 ug/100 ml. and 58.8 ug/100 ml. RBC. respectively. The mean Protoporphyrin concentration of non-anemic (above 15% transferrin saturation) donors was slightly higher than the results of normal adult males.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.231-234
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• 1991

Transferrin polymorphisms and growth rate up to 12 weeks of age were observed in RIR. crossbreds and native chickens. $Tf^{BB}$ genotype was observed in all types of bird. $Tf^{BC}$ occurred only in crossbred and native chickens. Frequency of $Tf^B$ was the highest in all types. Mean body weights at 8- and 12- weeks of age were the highest in RIR ($292{\pm}37.77$ and $612{\pm}75.69g$ respectively) and the lowest in natives for $Tf^{BC}$ ($180{\pm}11.54$ and $308{\pm}4.94g$ respectively). The difference in 12 week body weigh t of crossbreds between $Tf^{BB}$ and $Tf^{BC}$ was found to be significant (p<0.05). The results indicate that crossbreds ($Tf^{BB}$) may be grown effectively upto 12 weeks of age under Bangladesh conditions.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.489-493
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• 1989

The role of each supplement in serum-free medium KM3 for the growth of hybridoma and the production of monoclonal antibody was investigated. Transferrin, ethanolamine and bovine serum albumin were shown to be indispensable for the growth of four kinds of hybridoma tested in this work, especially transferrin for Alps 25-3, and ethanolamine for A4W and KW hybridoma. The addition of $\beta$-mercaptoethanol to the culture medium of HCGK showed a good influence of both the cell growth and the production of monoclonal antibody. Upon the experimental results, we suggested a serum-free medium containing a minimum composition for the culture of hybridoma.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.971-980
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• 1996

The soluble transferrin receptor(TfR) in human serum has been shown recently to be a truncated form of intact membrane bound receptor containing most of the extracellular domain. We purfied the transferin-free TfR from human serum by immounoaffinity chromatography which produced the single protein identity in high resolution gel chormatography. The monoclonal antibodies(MAb) against purifed serum TfR were produced by fusion of spleen cells o fimmunized Balb/c mice and SP2 cells. Ten hybrids producing MAb specific for serum TfR were identifed and determine their iostypes. A immunoraddiometric assay (IRMA) for serum TfR was established using two monoclonal IgG1 antibodies as the coating and indicator antibodies on the bosis of their suitability in sandwich IRMA of serum TfR. The mean serum TfR levels in the 15 normal male, 15 normal female, and 19 iron-deficient subjects were 5.4$\pm$0.98, 4.6$\pm$0/76, and 18.0$\pm$12.8mg/1, respectively, and the difference in mean values between normal and iron deficient subjects was significant(p=0.0005). There existed the inverse logarithmic relationship(r=-0.9336, p<0.0001) between the serum TfR and ferritin levels.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2006

Ability of iron acquisition of pathogenic microorganisms functions as a virulence factor. Candida albicans, a fungal pathogen that requires iron for growth, is susceptible to growth retardation by high-affinity iron binding proteins such as transferrin. Recently, we reported that C. albicans could utilize the heme as a part of heme-containing proteins dissociated by heme oxygenase, CaHMX1. In search of another pathway that C. albicans can use to bypass the growth regulation produced by iron limitation, this present study examined utilization of non-candidal siderophores such as Desferal and rhodotorulic acid (RA) for acquisition of inorganic iron by the fungus. C. albicans secreting no siderophores was cultured in iron-free (pretreated with apotransferrin for 24 h) (culture medium). Once growth of the yeast reached stasis from iron starvation, a siderophore was added to the culture media. Results showed that cultures containing apotransferrin within a dialysis membrane recovered growth to the level of untreated controls, whereas C. albicans yeast cells in direct contact with soluble iron-free (apo) transferrin recovered growth only partially. When static growth from iron limitation was reached, the addition of siderophore-apotransferrin complex to culture medium also permitted the yeast to recover growth from apotransferrin growth regulation. All the data show that C. albicans can utilize the non-candidal siderophores for iron acquisition under transferrin regulation as can pathogenic bacteria.