• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.120-120
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• 2001

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.542-549
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• 2017

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is initiated by various cellular insults and accumulated cardiomyocyte apoptosis leads to the pathogenesis of heart failure. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) provoke apoptotic cascades. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is an important antioxidant enzyme that converts cellular ROS into harmless products. In this study, we demonstrate that MnSOD is down-regulated upon hydrogen peroxide treatment or ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Enhanced expression of MnSOD attenuates cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infarction induced by I/R injury. Further, we show that miR-23a directly regulates the expression of MnSOD. miR-23a regulates cardiomyocyte apoptosis by suppressing the expression of MnSOD. Our study reveals a novel model regulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis which is composed of miR-23a and MnSOD. Our study provides a new method to tackling apoptosis related cardiac diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.684-694
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• 2018

Upregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression is an important factor in the cellular survival and cancer. Although growing evidence suggests that hTERT inhibits cellular apoptosis by telomere-independent functions, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Here, we show that hTERT contains a BH3-like motif, a short peptide sequence found in BCL-2 family proteins, and interacts with anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins MCL-1 and BCL-xL, suggesting a functional link between hTERT and the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Additionally, we propose that hTERT can be categorized into the atypical BH3-only proteins that promote cellular survival, possibly due to the non-canonical interaction between hTERT and antiapoptotic proteins. Although the detailed mechanisms underlying the hTERT BH3-like motif functions and interactions between hTERT and BCL-2 family proteins have not been elucidated, this work proposes a possible connection between hTERT and BCL-2 family members and reconsiders the role of the BH3-like motif as an interaction motif.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 2005

Objective : Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn stems, Chinese vine plants, have been used for the relief of menstrual disorders and rheumatic arthralgia. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn on cervical cancer in vitro. Methods : HeLA cervical cancer cell lines were used as targets. We examined the effect of water extract from Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn on cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation and cell cycle-regulating gene expression. Further, we investigated the apoptotic effects of Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn on cervical cancer cell lines. Results : Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn significantly inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent and time dependent manner. Fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis indicated that Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn induced G1 cell cycle arrest. Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn enhanced the expression of $p21^{waf1}$ and $p27^{kip1}$ with cell cycle arrest. Further, Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn stimulated apoptosis via caspase3 pathway. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn is a candidate agent for the treatment of cervical cancer. p21waf1 and $p21^{waf1}$ and $p27^{kip1}$ may play an important role in Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn-induced cell cycle arrest and cell growth inhibition.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1246-1253
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• 2008

Phyllosticta melochiae, an endophytic fungus isolated from the healthy leaves of Melochia corchorifolia, was screened for the production of an anticancer drug, taxol on modified liquid medium and potato dextrose broth medium in culture for the first time. The presence of taxol was confirmed by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods of analysis. The amount of taxol produced by this fungus was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. The maximum amount of fungal taxol production was recorded as $274{\mu}g/L$. The production rate was increased to $5.5{\times}1,000$ fold than that found in the culture broth of earlier reported fungus, Taxomyces andreanae. The fungal taxol extracted also showed a strong cytotoxic activity in the in vitro culture of tested human cancer cells by apoptotic assay. The results designate that the fungal endophyte, P. melochiae is an excellent candidate for an alternate source of taxol supply and can serve as a potential species for genetic engineering to enhance the production of taxol to a higher level.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.199-210
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• 2012

It can be hypothesized that dietary fatty acids can modulate immune responses in fish by inducing apoptosis of immune cells since dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) increase apoptosis by oxygen radicals generated by peroxidation. Thus we examined the effects of deferent dietary lipid sources such as squid liver oil (FO), linseed oil (LO) and soybean oil (SO) on oxidation (Cytochrome C oxidase; COS), apoptosis (TNF-${\alpha}$ Scinderin like) and immune (IL-$1{\beta}$ and NKEF) gene expression in the main immune organ (head kidney) in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) by Q-PCR analysis after feeding diets containing each oil (5%) for 15 weeks. Linseed oil and soybean oil were chosen to compare n-3 or n-6 enriched vegetable oils, respectively. Consequently, COS, TNF-${\alpha}$ and Scinderin like gene expression was increased in SO group, indicating the induction of oxidation and apoptosis. Meanwhile, no significant difference was found in immune gene expression. In conclusion vegetable oils containing n-3 PUFA like linseed oil seems to be more suitable lipid source than soybean oil for replacement of fish oil in flounder since n-6 PUFA in SO leads to activation of apoptosis pathways within the cellular damage in head kidney.

• Translational and Clinical Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2018

The human microbiome is known to play an essential role in influencing host health. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have also been reported to act on a variety of signaling pathways, distally transport cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid, and have immunomodulatory effects. Here we shall review the current understanding of the intersectionality of the human microbiome and EVs in the emerging field of microbiota-derived EVs and their pharmacological potential. Microbes secrete several classes of EVs: outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), membrane vesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies. EV biogenesis is unique to each cell and regulated by sophisticated signaling pathways. EVs are primarily composed of lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and recent evidence suggests they may also carry metabolites. These components interact with host cells and control various cellular processes by transferring their constituents. The pharmacological potential of microbiome-derived EVs as vaccine candidates, biomarkers, and a smart drug delivery system is a promising area of future research. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate in detail the mechanisms of microbiome-derived EV action in host health in a multi-disciplinary manner.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.2-8
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• 2021

Dimethachlor is a synthetic herbicide, belonging to the chloroacetanilide group, that inhibits the undesirable growth of weeds via the suppression of very long-chain fatty acid synthesis. Although dimethachlor has been shown to run off from agricultural fields into aquatic ecosystems, the toxicity of dimethachlor on aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates is unknown. In our study, we assessed the toxicity of dimethachlor on developing zebrafish embryos by analyzing viability, hatching ability, and phenotypic changes. Embryonic viability decreased from 48 h post-fertilization (hpf) at the highest concentration of dimethachlor. Decreased hatching ratio, shortened body length, and pathological changes in the eye, heart, and yolk sac were observed at sub-lethal concentrations. Additionally, dimethachlor increased the number of apoptotic cells and level of reactive oxygen species 120 hpf. Our results indicate that dimethachlor may act as an anti-developmental toxicant when accumulated in an aquatic environment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.576-584
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• 2022

Colorectal cancer is diagnosed as the third most prevalent cancer; thus, effective therapeutic agents are urgently required. In this study, we synthesized six homoisoflavane derivatives of cremastranone and investigated their cytotoxic effects on the human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and LoVo. We further examined the related mechanisms of action using two of the potent compounds, SH-19027 and SHA-035. They substantially reduced the cell viability and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with SH-19027 and SHA-035 induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and increased expression of p21 both of which are implicated in cell cycle control. In addition, the apoptotic cell population and apoptosis-associated marker expression were accordingly increased. These results suggest that the synthesized cremastranone derivatives have anticancer effects through the suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Therefore, the synthesized cremastranone derivatives could be applied as novel therapeutic agents against colorectal cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.330-339
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• 2023

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is a crucial tumor suppressor involved in various cellular processes, including embryonic development, tumor initiation and progression, cell adhesion, apoptosis, and metabolism. However, the precise mechanisms underlying its functions remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that LKB1 interacts directly with malic enzyme 3 (ME3) through the N-terminus of the enzyme and identified the binding regions necessary for this interaction. The binding activity was confirmed to promote the expression of ME3 in an LKB1-dependent manner and was also shown to induce apoptosis activity. Furthermore, LKB1 and ME3 overexpression upregulated the expression of tumour suppressor proteins (p53 and p21) and downregulated the expression of antiapoptotic proteins (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)). Additionally, LKB1 and ME3 enhanced the transcription of p21 and p53 and inhibited the transcription of NF-κB. Moreover, LKB1 and ME3 suppressed the phosphorylation of various components of the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway. Overall, these results suggest that LKB1 promotes pro-apoptotic activities by inducing ME3 expression.