• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.294-298
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• 2016

Natural products are attractive as the source of new drug development. Especially, numerous unknown marine bioresources are an object of attention because the ocean occupies three fourth of the earth. Survival of marine bioresources in extreme environment may induce the production of biological active compounds. As previous study, we examined over 40 specimens of marine sponges collected from Micronesia and screened their anti-proliferative activities in various cancer cell lines. Among them, we investigated Coscinoderma sp.'s activity and mechanism in human colon carcinoma HCT116 and RKO cells. Furthermore, we also used the p53-knockout of HCT116 cells and the p53 loss of RKO cells for elucidating the role of p53. Coscinoderma sp. inhibited cellular viability independently of the p53 status. Therefore, we compared the expression level of cell death-related proteins by Coscinoderma sp. in HCT16 and in HCT116 p53KO cells. Coscinoderma sp. increased p53 level and NOXA levels and induced apoptosis under the condition of p53 existence. On the other hand, Coscinoderma sp. increased p21 and mTOR levels in HCT116 p53KO cells. These results suggest that Coscinoderma sp. induced anti-proliferation effect through different pathway depending on p53 status.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.130-148
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• 2008

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the effect of the water extract of Gamisamgibopae-tang(GMSGBPT), an oriental herbal formulation, on the growth of NCI-H460 and A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines. Methods : Cytotoxicity and cell morphology were evaluated by MTT assay and inverted microscope, respectively. Apoptosis was detected using agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometer. The expression levels of mRNAs and proteins of target genes were determined by RT-PCR and western blot analyses, respectively Result and Conclusion : We found that exposure of A549 cells to GMSGBPT resulted in the growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay, but GMSGBPTdid not affect the growth of NCI-H460 cells. The anti-proliferative effect of GMSGBPT treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes, formation of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry analysis confirmed that GMSGBPT treatment increased the populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. Growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death by GMSGBPT were connected with a up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) mRNA and protein in a tumor suppressor p53-independent fashion. However GMSGBPT treatment did not affect other growth regulation-related genes such as early growth response-1 (Egr-1), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-activated gene-1 (NAG-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenases (COXs), telomere-regulatory factors in A549 orNCI-H460 cells. Taken together, these findings partially provide novel insights into the possible molecular mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of GMSGBPT.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2003

We investigated the effects of Oak smoke flavoring (OSF, Holyessing) on the growth of DU145 and PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells. OSF treatment resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition in both DU145 and PC3 cell lines. The anti-proliferative effect of OSF treatment was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death which was confirmed by morphological change such as membrane shrinking, rounding up and chromatin condensation in DU145 and PC-3 cells. DNA flow cytometry analysis confirmed that OSF treatment increased population of apoptotic sub-G1 phase. Furthermore, we observed an increase of pro-apoptotic protein Bax expression and a decrease of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 by OSF treatment in a dose-dependent manner. OSF also induced a proteolytic cleavage of specific target proteins such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and β-catenin proteins. The present results indicated that OSF-induced inhibition of human prostate carcinoma cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2007

We previously reported the anti-proliferative effect of Chungjogupae-tang (CJGPT) in human lung carcinoma A549 cells, which was associated with the induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in a tumor suppressor p53-independent manner. CJGPT treatment also resulted in the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 release A549 cells by the down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2. In the present study, we investigated the pathway of the induction of apoptotic cell death by CJGPT in A549 cells. It was found that CJGPT could inhibit the cell viability and induce the apoptotic cell death of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner as measured by hemocytometer counts, flow cytometry analysis and agarose gel electrophoresis. Apoptosis of A549 cells by CJGPT was associated with a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression. Additionally, DNA fragmentation by CJGPT was connected with the activation of inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase/DNA fragmentation factor 45 (ICAD/DFF45) protein expression.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.93-106
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• 2003

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: MTT, morphological changes, DAPI staining, Western blot, RT-PCR and in vitro prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) accumulation assays were performed. Results: The anti-proliferative effect by melittin treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. Melittin induced apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with inhibition or degradation of apoptotic target proteins such as ${\beta}$-catenin, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) and phospholipase $C-{\gamma}1(PLC-{\gamma}1)$. Melittin treatment inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and accumulation of PGE2 in aconcentration-dependent fashion. In addition, Melittin treatment induced the down-regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) and proto-oncogene c-myc expression of A549 cells. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that melittin-induced inhibition of human lung cancer cell proliferation 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.683-688
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• 2003

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine), a central nervous system stimulant, is contained in various foods, beverages and over-the-counter medications. Sulfadimethoxine (SDM) is one of the anti-thyroid agents and induces proliferation of thyroid capsule in two stage thyroid carcinogenesis model using N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN). In this study, we examined the effect of caffeine on fibrous proliferation of thyroid capsule in DHPN and SDM-treated rats. Five-week-old male F344 rats were given a single subcutaneous injection of DHPN (2,800 mg/kg, body weight). Starting one week thereafter, SDM (1,000 ppm in drinking water) with or without caffeine (1,500 ppm in diet) was administered for 12 weeks. All animals were autopsied and histopathological examination of the thyroid glands was performed. Thyroid follicular proliferative changes were induced in all rats treated with DHPN+SDM. In addition, the proliferation of perithyroidal fibrous tissue and pleomorphic thyroid follicular cells within the capsule were observed in DHPN+SDM treated group. Caffeine would not be related to these lesions in this experimental condition. although pentoxifylline, a methyl xanthine derivative, has an anti fibrotic effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7995-8001
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• 2014

Interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) has been used to treat various malignant tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the direct anti-proliferative activity of IFN-${\gamma}$ are poorly understood. In the present study, we examined the in vitro antitumor activity of IFN-${\gamma}$ on two human non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines, H322M and H226. Our findings indicated that IFN-${\gamma}$ treatment caused a time-dependent reduction in cell viability and induced apoptosis through a FADD-mediated caspase-8/tBid/mitochondria-dependent pathway in both cell lines. Notably, we also postulated that IFN-${\gamma}$ increased indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression and enzymatic activity in H322M and H226 cells. In addition, inhibition of IDO activity by the IDO inhibitor 1-MT or tryptophan significantly reduced IFN-${\gamma}$-induced apoptosis and death receptor 5 (DR5) expression, which suggests that IDO enzymatic activity plays an important role in the anti-NSCLC cancer effect of IFN-${\gamma}$. These results provide new mechanistic insights into interferon-${\gamma}$ antitumor activity and further support IFN-${\gamma}$ as a potential therapeutic adjuvant for the treatment of NCSLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4267-4273
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• 2016

Previous studies suggested that dithio-carbamates are potent apoptosis and anti-apoptosis inducing agents in various cancer cells. Here, the anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing effects of a new derivative (2-NDC) from the dithio-carbamate family was examined in human leukemia K562 cells. We use thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) to measure viability and cell growth inhibition. The 2-NDC showed effects on viability in a dose and time-dependent manner, inhibiting proliferation at concentrations of $10-30{\mu}M$ after 24-48 hours of treatment and increasing values after 72 hours at $40-120{\mu}M$. The cytotoxic effect of the compound was calculated with an $IC_{50}$ of $30{\mu}M$ after 24-hour. Apoptosis induction was confirmed by acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) staining, DNA fragmentation assay, flow cytometric assessment and also caspase-3 activation assay. Furthermore, enzymes level such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) involved in oxidative stress were evaluated. The results of this study demonstrated insignificant increase of intracellular ROS levels for 24 hours and reduction after 48-72 hours. In addition to reduction of intracellular thiol, caspase-3 like activity was also decreased in a time-dependent manner in cells treated with 2-NDC. Thus 2-NDC can be considered as a good candidate for further pharmaceutical evaluations.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.243-251
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• 2006

Dideoxypetrosynol A, a polyacetylene from the marine sponge Petrosia sp., is known to exhibit significant selective cytotoxic activity against a small panel of human tumor cell lines, however, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, it was investigated the further possible mechanisms by which dideoxytetrosynol A exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human leukemia cell line U937. We observed that the proliferation-inhibitory effect of dideoxypetrosynol A was due to the induction of G1 arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis, which effects were associated with up-regulation of cyclin D1 and down-regulation of cyclin E without any change in cyclin-dependent-kinases (Cdks) expression. Dideoxypetrosynol A markedly induced the levels of Cdk inhibitor p16/INK4a expression. Furthermore, down-regulation of phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) by this compound was associated with enhanced binding of pRB and the transcription factor E2F-1. The increase in apoptosis was associated with a dose-dependent up-regulation in pro-apoptotic Bax expression and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Dideoxytetrosynol A decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the levels of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. Furthermore, dideoxytetrosynol A treatment markedly inhibited the activity of telomerase, and the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a main determinant of the telomerase enzymatic activity, was progressively down-regulated by dideoxytetrosynol A treatment in a dose-dependent fashion. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of dideoxytetrosynol A.

• Food preservation and processing industry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2008

The health benefits of garlic (Allium sativum L.) are derived from a wide variety of components and from the different ways it is administered. The known health benefits of garlic include cardiovascular protective effects, stimulation of immune function, reduction of blood glucose level, protection against microbial, viral and fungal infections, as well as anticancer effects. In the present study, it was examined the effects of water extract of A. sativum (WEAS) on the growth of cultured human tumor cells in order to investigate its anti-proliferative mechanism. Treatment of WEAS to tumor cells resulted in the growth inhibition, especially in leukemia cells, which was associated with induction of G2/M arrest of the cell cycle and apoptosis. In order to further explore the critical events leading to apoptosis in WEAS-treated U937 human leukemia cells, the following effects of WEAS on components of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway were examined: generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the expression changes of Bcl-2 and IAP family proteins. The cytotoxic effect of WEAS was mediated by its induction of apoptosis as characterized by the occurrence of DNA ladders, apoptotic bodies and chromosome condensation in U937 cells. The WEAS-induced apoptosis in U937 cells was correlated with the generation of intracellular ROS, collapse of MMP, activation of caspase-3 and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. The quenching of ROS generation with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine conferred significant protection against WEAS-elicited ROS generation, caspase-3 activation, G2/M arrest and apoptosis. In conclusion, the present study reveals that the cellular ROS generation plays a pivotal role in the initiation of WEAS-triggered apoptotic death in U937 cells.