• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제18권3호
• /
• pp.880-886
• /
• 2004

Phellinus igniarius has been clinically used for the treatment of hemorrhoidal fistula, dysmenorrhea and the prevention of cancer in traditional oriental medicine. Recent studies showed that Phellinus igniarius produced anti-cancer, anti-metastasis and immuno-modulatory effects, There is lack of studies regarding the effects of Phellinus igniarius on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Phellinus igniarius on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264,7 cells. After the treatment of Phellinus igniarius water extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by Immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results provided evidence that Phellinus igniarius inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor κBα (p-IκBα) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These findings suggest that Phellinus igniarius can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• 한국패류학회지
• /
• 제31권4호
• /
• pp.267-272
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted in order to elucidate the dissemination mechanism of P. olseni using field and laboratory experiments. For this purpose, we quantified the level of P. olseni infection in buried (healthy) and surfaced (gapped) R. philippinarum from a clam bed on Wi-do Island on the west coast of Korea. In addition, the levels of internal and released P. olseni cells from artificially infected (and later dead) R. philippinarum were monitored for 8 days using the RFTM-2 M NaOH lysis method. Our results indicate that P. olseni cells in buried R. philippinarum was $2,655,625{\pm}1,536,936cells/clam$; the level in gapped R. philippinarum was considerably lower, $28,203{\pm}24,889cells/clam$ (p < 0.05). In the laboratory experiment, the P. olseni cells remained in the host tissue 2 days after death was approximately 50% lower than the level of infection measured in living clams. The level dropped to 20% 4 days after death and to 1.5% 6 days after death; eight days after death, P. olseni cells were undetectable since the R. philippinarum flesh had completely decomposed. The level of released cells on the day of death was only 0.05% of the internal level in live R. philippinarum; however, the level increased to 2.3% 5 days after death then gradually decreased and no released cells were detected 8 days after death. Therefore, our laboratory experiment suggest that the low level of P. olseni infection observed in gapped R. philippinarum at Wi-do Island could be caused by lysis of the most of P. olseni cells during the decomposition of dead R. philippinarum tissues. Until the end of decomposition of R. philippinarum, 6.68% of the total amount of P. olseni was released within 8 days. Our study showed that the amount of P. olseni cells from dead host is a considerably higher level than naturally released from healthy R. philippinarum, suggesting that death of the host plays an important role in the dissemination of P. olseni.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.118-127
• /
• 2003

Phenylalanine의 구조유사체인 p-fluotophenylalanine (FPA)은 인체 급성백혈병세포주인 Jurkat T 세포의 세포자살을 유도한다. FPA에 의한 세포자살에 미치는 Bcl-2 또는 Bcl-xL의 영향을 조사하기 위해, Bcl-2 또는 Bcl-xL을 stable transfection하거나 empty vectors만을 Transfection한 Jurkat 세포를 이용하여 FPA의 세포독성과 FPA에 의한 세포내 세포자살 신호전달경로를 비교 분석하였다. Jurkt T 세포에 0.63∼3.0 mLf의 FPA를 처리하였을 때 세포의 생육도는 농도에 비례하여 감소하였다. 또한 세포자살관련 DNA fragmentation, caspase-8 activatoin, Bid cleavage, mitochondria로 부터의 cytochrome c 방출, caspase-9 및 -3 activation, PARP degradation 등이 유도되었다. 한편, FPA에 의해 유도되는 이러한 일련의 생화학적 현상들은 Bcl-2 또는 Bcl-xL의 overexpression에 의해 현저히 저해되었다. 이상의 결과들은 caspase-8 activation, Bid cleavage, mitochondnal cytochrome c 방출에 의해 활성화되는 casuase cascade 등의 현상이, Bcl-2 또는 Bcl-xL에 의해 억제됨을 나타내며 FPA에 의해 유도되는 세포자살에 필요한 과정임을 시사한다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.41-55
• /
• 2004

Objective : To investigate the possible molecular mechanism (s) of melittin as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, we examined the effects of the compound on the growth of human lung carcinoma cell line A549. Methods : Growth inhibitory study, flow cytometry analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, RT-PCR and in vitro caspases activity assay were performed. Results : Melittin treatment declined the cell viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of apoptotic cell death. Melittin treatment down-regulated the levels of Bcl-XS/L mRNA and protein expression of A549 cells, an anti-apoptotic gene, however, the those of Bax, a pro-apoptotic gene, were up-regulated. Melittin induced the proteolytic cleavage and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 protease in a dose-dependent manner without alteration of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family and Akt expression. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR data revealed that the levels of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 were also remained unchanged. Conclusions : Taken together, these findings suggest that melittin-induced inhibition of human lung cancer cell growth is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products, and melittin may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• 한국산림과학회지
• /
• 제105권1호
• /
• pp.42-47
• /
• 2016

천연활엽수림의 천연갱신 가능성을 파악하고자, 당단풍나무의 개화 결실, 종자낙하, 종자활력을 강원도 평창군 중왕산 지역에서 2009년부터 2015년까지 조사하였다. 당단풍나무 꽃은 산방화서에 양성화와 웅성화가 달렸으며, 화서 내에서 성형태간 개화시기가 달랐다. 양성화가 먼저 개화하는 개체에서는 암술이 수분되어 자라기 시작한 꽃에서는 수술은 더 이상 성숙하지 않고 소실되었으며, 웅성화가 먼저 개화하는 수술이 발달한 꽃에는 암술은 흔적으로만 존재하였다. 다른 개체에서의 화분이 꿀벌, 애꽃벌류 및 꽃등에류에 의하여 수분이 이루어지는 이형자웅이숙(heterodichogamy)의 성 형태로 자가수분을 회피하는 기작을 가지고 있었다. 종자 낙하량은 310~234,840 ea/ha의 범위로 평균은 70,780 ea/ha이었다. 종자생산에 있어 연년변동이 심하며, 최대치가 최소치의 760배 가량이었다. 당단풍나무의 연년종자생산은 정규분포하는 것이라 사료된다. 성숙한 종자 중에서 피해 또는 부후종자가 59.3%로 가장 많았고, 건전종자가 23.9%, 미발육 종자 9.2%, 쭉정이종자 7.6% 등으로 나타났다. 건전종자 생산량을 좌우하는 요인은 개화기인 5월 중,하순에 화분매개충의 활동과 어린 자방이 자라는 시기에 흡즙성 해충의 밀도와 활동성이 가장 중요한 요인이라 사료된다. 당단풍나무의 천연갱신은 종자풍년 이듬해에 발아와 생장에 유리한 조건을 갖춘 갭에서 이루어질 것으로 사료된다. 낙엽활엽수의 천연갱신을 이해하기 위해서 개화결실 특성과 비산 전후 종자 피식 문제에 대한 장기간의 연구가 필요할 것이라 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제42권7호
• /
• pp.444-449
• /
• 2009

Different neurodegenerative disorders like prion disease, is caused by protein misfolding conformers. Reverse-transfected cytosolic prion protein (PrP) and PrP expressed in the cytosol have been shown to be neurotoxic. To investigate the possible mechanism of neurotoxicity due to accumulation of PrP in cytosol, a PrP mutant lacking the signal and GPI (CytoPrP) was introduced into the SH-SY5Y cell. MTT and trypan blue assays indicated that the viability of cells expressing CytoPrP was remarkably reduced after treatment of MG-132. Obvious apoptosis phenomena were detected in the cells accumulated with CytoPrP, including loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, increase of caspase-3 activity, more annexin V/PI-double positive-stained cells and reduced Bcl-2 level. Moreover, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assays also revealed clear evidences of late apoptosis in the cells accumulated CytoPrP. These data suggest that the accumulation of CytoPrP in cytoplasm may trigger cell apoptosis, in which mitochondrial relative apoptosis pathway seems to play critical role.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제25권9호
• /
• pp.1000-1006
• /
• 2015

α-Asarone은 동양의 전통적인 약재로 잘 알려진 석창포(Acorus gramineus)의 주된 성분이다. 석창포는 항위궤양, 항알러지, 히스타민 방출 억제 그리고 항산화 효과와 같이 다양한 효과를 나타내는 것으로 잘 알려져 있다. 그러나 석창포 역할에 대한 기전연구는 아직 부족한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는, HT1080 세포주에서 α-asarone의 항산화 효과뿐만 아니라 matrix metalloproteinase에 대한 효과를 조사하였다. 가장 먼저 α-asarone의 세포 생존에 대한 효과를 조사하기 위해 MTT assay를 이용하여 16 μM이하에서 세포독성이 없음을 나타내었다. α-asarone이 환원력과 fenton reaction에 의해 유도된 DNA 산화로부터 보호효과를 나타내는 것을 확인하였다. 더욱이, α- asarone은 collagenase 활성을 증가시키고 phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)로 자극된 MMP-2 및 MMP-9의 활성을 증가시켰다. 한편 phenazine methosulfate (PMS) 로 자극된 경우 MMP-9의 활성은 α-asarone의 존재하에서 증가되었으나 MMP-2 활성에는 변화가 없었다. 그러므로 우리의 연구결과는 α-asarone이 산화적 스트레스 및 MMPs와 관련된 병리학적 질환의 예방 및 치료제로 개발이 기대된다고 제안한다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.8-14
• /
• 2017

치자 열매는 아시아에서 음식과 옷의 염료로 사용되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 BV-2 소교세포에서 치자열매 열수추출물(GJ)의 항염증 효과를 관찰하고 그 작용 기전을 연구하였다. GJ는 세포에 독성을 유도하지 않으면서 lipopolysaccharide로 인한 nitric oxide (NO) 분비와 inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) 생성 및 활성산소 생성을 억제하였다. 또한 GJ는 농도의존적으로 heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)의 발현을 유도하였다. 더군다나 HO-1 siRNA를 처리했을 때는 GJ가 iNOS의 발현을 억제하지 못하였다. GJ는 HO-1의 발현에 관여하는 전사인자인 nuclear factor E2-related factor 2를 핵으로 이동시켰다. 또한 GJ에 의한 HO-1의 발현은 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI-3K) 및 p38 kinase 억제제에 의해 감소되었으며, GJ가 Akt와 p38 kinase의 인산화를 유도하였다. 이상의 결과를 종합해보면, GJ는 PI3K/Akt 및 p38 신호전달과정을 통해 HO-1의 발현을 유도함으로써 NO와 같은 염증매개물질의 생성을 억제한다는 것을 알 수 있다. 이러한 연구결과는 치자열매가 신경염증을 억제하는 새로운 기전을 밝힌 것이다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제43권10호
• /
• pp.856-869
• /
• 2020

To elucidate the mechanism of action of HOXA11-AS in modulating the cisplatin resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. HOXA11-AS and miR-454-3p expression in NPC tissue and cisplatin-resistant NPC cells were measured via quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. NPC parental cells (C666-1 and HNE1) and cisplatin-resistant cells (C666-1/DDP and HNE1/DDP) were transfected and divided into different groups, after which the MTT method was used to determine the inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀) of cells treated with different concentrations of cisplatin. Additionally, a clone formation assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting were used to detect DDP-induced changes. Thereafter, xenograft mouse models were constructed to verify the in vitro results. Obviously elevated HOXA11-AS and reduced miR-454-3p were found in NPC tissue and cisplatin-resistant NPC cells. Compared to the control cells, cells in the si-HOXA11-AS group showed sharp decreases in cell viability and IC₅₀, and these results were reversed in the miR-454-3p inhibitor group. Furthermore, HOXA11-AS targeted miR-454-3p, which further targeted c-Met. In comparison with cells in the control group, HNE1/DDP and C666-1/DDP cells in the si-HOXA11-AS group demonstrated fewer colonies, with an increase in the apoptotic rate, while the expression levels of c-Met, p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR decreased. Moreover, the si-HOXA11-AS-induced enhancement in sensitivity to cisplatin was abolished by miR-454-3p inhibitor transfection. The in vivo experiment showed that DDP in combination with si-HOXA11-AS treatment could inhibit the growth of xenograft tumors. Silencing HOXA11-AS can inhibit the c-Met/AKT/mTOR pathway by specifically upregulating miR-454-3p, thus promoting cell apoptosis and enhancing the sensitivity of cisplatin-resistant NPC cells to cisplatin.

• 대한미생물학회지
• /
• 제34권6호
• /
• pp.501-512
• /
• 1999

Gliotoxin, a fungal metabolite, is one of the epipolythiodioxopiperazine classes and has a variety of effects including immunomodulatory and apoptotic agents. This study is designed to evaluate the effect of zinc on gliotoxin-induced death of HL-60 cells. Here, we demonstrated that treatment of gliotoxin decreased cell viability in a dose and time-dependent manner. Gliotoxin-induced cell death was confirmed as apoptosis characterized by chromatin margination, fragmentation and ladder-pattern digestion of genomic DNA. Gliotoxin increased the proteolytic activities of caspase 3, 6, 8, and 9. Caspase-3 activation was further confirmed by the degradation of procaspase-3 and PARP in gliotoxin-treated HL-60 cells. Zinc compounds including $ZnCl_2$ and $ZnSO_4$ markedly inhibited gliotoxin-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells (from 30% to 90%). Consistent with anti-apoptotic effects, zinc also suppressed the enzymatic activities of caspase-3 and -9 proteases. In addition, cleavage of both PARP and procaspase 3 in gliotoxin-treated HL-60 cells was inhibited by the addition of zinc compounds. We further demonstrated that expression of Fas ligand by gliotoxin was suppressed by zinc compounds. These data suggest that zinc may prevent gliotoxin-induced apoptosis via inhibition of Fas ligand expression as well as suppression of caspase family cysteine proteases-3 and -9 in HL-60 cells.