• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.31-37
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• 2004

Curcumin, a natural compound extracted from rhizomes of Curcuma longa, has been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity. The mechanism by which curcumin initiates apoptosis remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on caspase-3 activity and protein expression of procaspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, total Akt and phosphorylated Akt in SW480 human colon cancer cell. We cultured SW480 cells in the presence of various concentrations (0, 10, 20 or 30 uM) of curcumin. Curcumin inhibited colon cancer cell growth in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased dose-dependently in cells treated with curcumin (p < 0.05), concisely procaspase-3 expression was significantly decreased. Bcl-2 levels were decreased dose-dependently in cells treated with curcumin (p < 0.05), but Ben remained unchanged. In addition, phosphorylated Akt levels and total Akt levels were markedly lower in cells treated with 20 uM of curcumin treatment (p < 0.05), In conclusion, we have shown that curcumin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in SW480 human colon cancer cell lines via Akt signal pathway.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.81-108
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• 2010

Objective : Thujae Orientalis Folium (TOF) can cool the blood and stop bleeding, eliminate phlegm and relieve cough in Oriental medicine. In addition, the fresh is used alone externally. Recently, TOF is known to have anti-tumor component. And also known to have tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Method : For these reasons, this study was designed to investigate anti-cancer and whitening activities of TOF. In this experiment, effects of TOF on proliferation rates of melanoma cells and on changes in genetic profiles were investigated. The genetic profile for the effect on human derived melanoma cell, SK-MEL-2, was measured using microarray technique, and the functional analysis on these genes was conducted. Results : Total 541 genes were up-regulated and 1,079 genes down-regulated in cells treated with TOF. Genes induced by TOF were mainly concerned with anti-cancer effects and apoptosis. Genes suppresed by TOF were related in extracellular signalling pathway. The network of total protein interactions was measured using cytoscape program, and some key molecules, such as THAP1, MAX1, STAM2, SMAD6, CYCS, PEX5, PSEN1, NONO, MAP2K7 and CREB1 that can be used for elucidation of therapeutical mechanism of medicine in future were identified. Conculusion : These results suggest possibility of TOF as anti-cancer drug for human melanoma. In addition, the present author also suggest that related mechanisms are involved in inhibition of several cancer pathway, activation of apoptosis pathway and suppression of general metabolic pathway.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.206-213
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• 2003

Purpose: The clinical implication of p53 mutation in gastric cancer is still unclear, as shown by the discordant results that continue to be reported in the literature. Materials and Methods: To assess p53 gene mutation, tumor p53 overexpression, and serum anti-p53 antibody, we employed a polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis, an immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody DO-7, and an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Results: Of 169 surgical specimens of gastric cancer, mutation at exon $5\∼8$ of the p53 was identified in 33 ($19.5\%$) and was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of p53 was found in 62 specimens ($36.7\%$) and had a significant correlation with tumor differentiation. Serum anti-p53 antibody was positive in 18 patients ($10.7\%$). Twenty-three of the mutated tumors ($69.7\%$) and 39 of the non-mutated tumors ($28.7\%$) displayed immunoreactivity. Twelve of the immunopositive tumors ($19.4\%$) and 6 of the immunonegative tumors produced anti-p53 antibody. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.001 and P=0.005, respectively). There was no significant difference in survival according to the mutation of p53. Conclusion: Mutation and overexpression of p53 can be easily detected by immunohistochemistry. However, standardization of the immunohistochemical staining method, as well as guidelines for interpreting the stained result, will produce concordant results and thereby improve clinical application.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권16호
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• pp.6939-6944
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• 2014

Sulfasalazine (SSZ) is an anti-inflammatory drug that has been used to treat inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis for decades. Recently, some reports have suggested that SSZ also has anti-cancer properties against human tumors. However, little is known about the effects of SSZ on oral cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of SSZ in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells and to elucidate the mechanisms involved. The authors investigated the anti-proliferative effect of SSZ using the MTT method in HSC-4 cells (an OSCC cell line). Cell cycle analysis, acidic vesicular organelle (AVO) staining, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and Western blotting were also conducted to investigate the cytotoxic mechanism of SSZ. SSZ significantly inhibited the proliferation of HSC-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, SSZ induced autophagic cell death, increased microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain (MAP1-LC; also known as LC) 3-II levels, as well as induced punctate AVO and MDC staining, resulted in autophagic cell death. Furthermore, these observations were accompanied by the inhibition of the Akt pathway and the activation of ERK pathway. These results suggest that SSZ promotes autophagic cell death via Akt and ERK pathways and has chemotherapeutic potential for the treatment of oral cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.46-50
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• 1996

Inhibition of the growth of human cancer cells by proteins secreted from 373-L1 cells was investigated in the present study. The growth of human cancer cells was inhibited by co-culture with 373-L1 cells under 10% FBS and DME, DME, GIT and serumless medium, respectively. The conditioned medium of cultured 373-L1 cells under serumless medium was concentrated 100-fold through an ultrafiltration cell with a 10,000 molecular weight cutoff at 4$^{\circ}C$ under positive pressure using nitrogen(373-L1 EM). 373-L1 EM inhibited the growth of HeLa, Hep G 2, KHOS-Np, A43l and MCF-7 cells. 3T3-L1 EM was purified with FPLC, DEAE-ion exchange chromatography and phenyl-sepharose chromatography. The major protein of 373-L1 EM has a molecular weight of 66,000-68,000 in SDS-PAGE analysis. The results suggest that the inhibitory activity of 373-L1 EM appears to be due to some protein(m.w.66,000-68,000) secreted by 373-L1 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2019

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) initiates the extrinsic apoptotic pathway through formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), followed by activation of effector caspases. TRAIL receptors are composed of death receptors (DR4 and DR5), decoy receptors (DcR1 and DcR2), and osteoprotegerin. Among them, only DRs activate apoptotic signaling by TRAIL. Since the levels of DR expressions are higher in cancer cells than in normal cells, TRAIL selectively activates apoptotic signaling pathway in cancer cells. However, multiple mechanisms, including down-regulation of DR expression and pro-apoptotic proteins, and up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, make cancer cells TRAIL-resistant. Therefore, many researchers have investigated strategies to overcome TRAIL resistance. In this review, we focus on protein regulation in relation to extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways via ubiquitination. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is an important process in control of protein degradation and stabilization, and regulates proliferation and apoptosis in cancer cells. The level of ubiquitination of proteins is determined by the balance of E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases (DUBs), which determine protein stability. Regulation of the UPS may be an attractive target for enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Our review provides insight to increasing sensitivity to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis through control of post-translational protein expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1097-1104
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• 2012

Background/Aim: Pristimerin isolated from Celastrus and Maytenus spp can inhibit proteasome activity. However, whether pristimerin can modulate cancer metastasis is unknown. Methods: The impacts of pristimerin on the purified and intracellular chymotrypsin proteasomal activity, the levels of regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS 4) expression and breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, and the migration and invasion were determined by enzymatic, Western blot, immunofluorescent, and transwell assays, respectively. Results: We found that pristimerin inhibited human chymotrypsin proteasomal activity in MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pristimerin also inhibited breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, migration, and invasion in vitro by up-regulating RGS4 expression. Thus, knockdown of RGS4 attenuated pristimerin-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, pristimerin inhibited growth and invasion of implanted breast tumors in mice. Conclusion: Pristmerin inhibits proteasomal activity and increases the levels of RGS4, inhibiting the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.391-394
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• 2001

The balance between life and death of a cell regulates essential developmental processes in multicellular organisms. Apoptotic cell death is a complex, stepwise program involving multiple protein components that trigger and execute the demise of the cell. Of the many triggers of apoptosis, most are not well understood, but some key components have been identified, such as those of the Bcl-2 family, which function as anti-apoptotic or proapoptotic factors. Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of this family, has been shown to serve as a component of many apoptotic triggering cascades and its mechanism of action is the focus of intense study. Herein we discuss current, differing ideas on the function of Bax and its structure, and suggest novel mechanisms for how this death protein targets mitochondria, triggering apoptosis.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of Damina 909 in human cancer cell lines and tumor-xenografted nude mice to elucidate its potential in treating many cancers. Damina 909 treatment resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells. Our in vivo study showed that the weight of pancreatic tumors in Damina 909-treated group were the lighter than control group. Consequently, the intake of food and water in Damina 909-treated group did not change, while those in control group were steadily decreased over a period of treatment. Moreover, Damina 909 treatment elevated the protein expression of p53 and p21 in pancreatic tumor of xenografted nude mice. In summary, compare to other human cancer cells such as prostate and hepatocyte, Damina 909 is most effectively inhibited proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by increasing the expression of tumor suppressor genes. This led us to speculate that a candidate substance for effective cancer therapy of pancreatic cancer might be contained in Damina 909.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권8호
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• pp.411-416
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• 2017

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein complex subunit 6 (EMC6) is a novel human autophagy-related molecule. Here, using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry, we report that EMC6 protein is lost or reduced in glandular cells of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, compared to normal stomach mucosa. Overexpression of EMC6 in gastric cancer cells inhibited cell growth, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at S-phase. Further investigation suggested that EMC6 overexpression in BGC823 human adenocarcinoma gastric cancer cells reduced tumorigenicity in a xenograft model, demonstrating that EMC6 has the characteristics of a tumor suppressor. This is the first study to show that EMC6 induces cell death in gastric cancer cells. The molecular mechanism of how EMC6 functions as a tumor suppressor needs to be further explored.