• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.521-528
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• 2017

과도한 음주는 치매 및 알츠하이머 병과 같은 여러 신경계 질환을 일으키는 주요원인 중 하나로 알려져 있으며 이를 해결하기 위한 많은 노력인 진행 중이다. 또한, 홍삼은 신경 세포의 생존, 세포 자멸사의 억제 및 신경 세포의 신경 재생을 향상시키는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 Rg3 풍부 고려홍삼 추출액(KRG)이 알코올 유발성 신경독성으로 인하여 일어나는 PC12 세포의 세포 사멸을 억제 할 수 있는지, 그리고 KRG가 caspase 매개 경로와 관련된 몇 가지 인자들을 어떻게 조절하는지 확인하는 것이다. 그 방법으로, 우리는 PC12 세포에서의 세포 생존율과 세포 사멸율은 EZ-Cytox 세포 생존율 측정 kit와 유세포 분석기로 측정하였고, 세포 자멸 관련 단백질(Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3)의 발현 정도를 Western blot기법으로 측정하였으며, 측정된 결과의 유의성을 ANOVA 분석법으로 확인하였다. 그 결과, KRG는 Bcl-2의 발현을 증가시키고, Bid와 Bax 및 caspase-3 발현을 저해하였고, 이를 통해 알코올로 유도된 PC12 세포의 세포 사멸을 억제하였다. 이러한 결과를 통해, KRG에 의해 유도된 Bcl-2 발현의 증가와 Bid 및 Bax 발현의 하향 조절이 caspase-3 발현을 하향 조절하고, 결국 미토콘드리아 세포 사멸 경로를 억제한다는 것을 결론내릴 수 있었다. 본 연구는 향 후, KRG가 신경 보호제 후보로서 개발할 가치가 있음을 제시하였다.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제43권12호
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• pp.1827-1834
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• 2014

천년초 에탄올 추출물이 인체 대장암 세포 HT-29의 세포사멸에 미치는 영향과 기능성 식품 소재로서의 가능성을 시사하고자 본 연구를 수행하였다. 연구 내용은 천년초의 일반성분 분석과 천년초 에탄올 추출물의 처리 농도에 따른 인체대장암 세포의 증식과 세포사멸 현상을 비교 관찰하고 항암효과의 가능성을 확인하고자 하였다. 천년초 분말의 일반성분 분석을 진행한 결과 탄수화물의 함량과 마그네슘 등의 양이온의 함량이 높았고 Na/K의 비율과 P:Ca의 비율이 매우 낮았다. 천년초 70% 에탄올, 메탄올, 열수 추출물을 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 mg/mL의 농도로 HT-29 세포에 48시간 처리하고 WST를 이용한 세포 생존율을 측정한 결과는 모든 군에서 세포증식이 억제되었으며(P<0.05), 특히 에탄올 추출물이 농도 의존적으로 유의한 효능을 보였다. Hoechst 33342 & PI로 이중으로 핵을 염색해서 세포사를 관찰한 결과 시료농도가 증가할수록 apoptotic body가 증가하였으며, 특히 1 mg/mL의 농도 이상에서 급격히 증가하여 2 mg/mL에서는 세포사를 관찰할 수 있었다. Annexin V & PI double staining을 통하여 저농도(0.25~0.5 mg/mL) 시료 처치군에서는 전반적으로 apoptosis의 비율이 증가하였고 고농도(1~2 mg/mL)로 처리한 군에서는 dead cell이 84.7%, 89.3% 나타나 세포가 세포 사멸과정을 거쳐 세포괴사로 진행된 것으로 추측되었다. 또한 comet assay를 통해 용매 대조군에 비해 1~2 mg/mL 농도에서 유의하게 DNA가 분절되었음을 확인하였다(P<0.05). 따라서 천년초 에탄올 추출물은 인체 유래 대장암 세포 HT-29의 세포증식을 억제하고 항산화 효과가 있는 것으로 나타나 천년초의 항암 가능성을 보여 주었으나, 확실한 효과와 기전을 파악하기 위하여 심도 있는 연구가 필요로 된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.392-402
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• 2017

Background: Previously, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng inhibited liver fibrosis in mice and reduced the expressions of fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The present study was undertaken to identify the major ginsenoside responsible for reducing the numbers of HSCs and the underlying mechanism involved. Methods: Using LX-2 cells (a human immortalized HSC line) and primary activated HSCs, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assays were conducted to examine the cytotoxic effects of ginsenosides. $H_2O_2$ productions, glutathione contents, lactate dehydrogenase activities, mitochondrial membrane permeabilities, apoptotic cell subpopulations, caspase-3/-7 activities, transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunoblot analysis were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for ginsenoside-mediated cytotoxicity. Involvement of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related signaling pathway was examined using a chemical inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Results and conclusion: Of the 11 ginsenosides tested, 20S-protopanaxadiol (PPD) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity in both LX-2 cells and primary activated HSCs. Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis induced by 20S-PPD was blocked by N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine pretreatment. In addition, 20S-PPD concentration-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, and compound C prevented 20S-PPD-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, 20S-PPD increased the phosphorylation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK. Likewise, transfection of LX-2 cells with LKB1 siRNA reduced the cytotoxic effect of 20S-PPD. Thus, 20S-PPD appears to induce HSC apoptosis by activating LKB1-AMPK and to be a therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권7호
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• pp.1121-1126
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• 2010

활성산소에 의해 유도되는 산화적 스트레스가 노화와 관련된 각종 퇴행성 신경질환의 원인으로 밝혀짐에 따라 본 연구에서는 활성산소종인 $H_2O_2$가 유도하는 강력한 산화적 스트레스로부터 신경세포를 보호하는 물질을 탐색하기 위하여 하고초 추출물(PSE)에 관하여 연구하였다. PC12 세포를 이용하여 MTT reduction assay, LDH release assay 및 colony formation assay 등 여러 가지 생물학적인 assay를 통하여 PSE의 세포 보호효과를 확인하였다. 그리고 광학 현미경을 이용한 형태학적 변화 관찰에서도 $H_2O_2$ 처리군에 비해 높은 세포 보호효과를 확인할 수 있었으며, Hoechst 33342 염색과 세포주기 분석을 통하여 PSE의 높은 apoptosis 억제효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 이상의 결과로부터 하고초는 $H_2O_2$에 의해 유도된 세포독성으로부터 PC12 세포손상을 강력하게 억제하는 효과가 있다는 것을 확인할 수 있었으며, 퇴행성 신경질환에 대한 새로운 치료제로서의 가능성을 제시하였다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.249-255
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• 2014

Programmed cell death or apoptosis is associated with changes in $K^+$ concentration in many cell types. Recent studies have demonstrated that two-pore domain $K^+$ ($K_{2P}$) channels are involved in mouse embryonic development and apoptotic volume decrease of mammalian cells. In cerebellar granule neurons that normally undergo apoptosis during the early developmental stage, TASK-1 and TASK-3, members of $K_{2P}$ channels, were found to be critical for cell death. This study was performed to identify the role of $K^+$ channels in the $H_2O_2$-induced or cryo-induced cell death of mouse and bovine embryos. Mouse and bovine two-cell stage embryos (2-cells) exposed to $H_2O_2$ for 4 h suffered from apoptosis. The 2-cells showed positive TUNEL staining. Treatment with high concentration of KCl (25mM) inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis of 2-cells by 19%. Cryo-induced death in bovine blastocysts showed positive TUNEL staining only in the cells near the plasma membrane. Cryoprotectant supplemented with 25 mM KCl reduced apoptosis slightly compared to cryoprotectant supplemented with 5 mM KCl. However, the combination of antioxidants (${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol) with 25 mM KCl significantly decreased the rate of $H_2O_2$-induced and cryo-induced apoptosis compared to treatments with only antioxidants or 25 mM KCl. These results show that blockage of $K^+$ channel efflux for a short-time reduces $H_2O_2$- and cryo-induced apoptosis in mouse and bovine embryos. Our findings suggest that apoptosis in mouse and bovine embryos might be controlled by modulation of $K^+$ channels which are highly expressed in a given cell type.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.443-455
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• 2020

The thioredoxin (Trx) system plays critical roles in regulating intracellular redox levels and defending organisms against oxidative stress. Recent studies indicated that Trx reductase (TrxR) was overexpressed in various types of human cancer cells indicating that the Trx-TrxR system may be a potential target for anti-cancer drug development. This study investigated the synergistic effect of auranofin, a TrxR-specific inhibitor, on sulforaphane-mediated apoptotic cell death using Hep3B cells. The results showed that sulforaphane significantly enhanced auranofin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting TrxR activity and cell proliferation compared to either single treatment. The synergistic effect of sulforaphane and auranofin on apoptosis was evidenced by an increased annexin-V-positive cells and Sub-G1 cells. The induction of apoptosis by the combined treatment caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and upregulation of Bax. In addition, the proteolytic activities of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, a substrate protein of activated caspase-3, were also higher in the combined treatment. Moreover, combined treatment induced excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, reduced combined treatment-induced ROS production and apoptosis. Thereby, these results deduce that ROS played a pivotal role in apoptosis induced by auranofin and sulforaphane. Furthermore, apoptosis induced by auranofin and sulforaphane was significantly increased through inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that down-regulation of TrxR activity contributed to the synergistic effect of auranofin and sulforaphane on apoptosis through ROS production and inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.46-53
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• 2015

Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used in many chemotherapeutic protocols and play an important role in the normal regulation of bone remodeling. However, the prolonged use of GCs results in osteoporosis, which is partially due to apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes. In this study, effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on GC-treated murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and a GC-induced osteoporosis mouse model were investigated. Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to dexamethasone (Dex) with or without KRG and cell viability was measured by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Realtime polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the apoptotic gene expression; osteogenic gene expression and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were also measured. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins. A GC-induced osteoporosis animal model was used for in vivo study. Results and conclusion: The MTT assay revealed that Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) prevents loss of cell viability caused by Dex-induced apoptosis in MC3T3E1 cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction data showed that groups treated with both Dex and KRG exhibited lower mRNA levels of caspase-3 and -9, whereas the mRNA levels of Bcl2, IAPs, and XIAP increased. Moreover, groups treated with both Dex and KRG demonstrated increased mRNA levels of ALP, RUNX2, and bone morphogenic proteins as well as increased ALP activity in MC3T3-E1 cells, compared to cells treated with Dex only. In addition, KRG increased protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation and decreased c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. Moreover, microcomputed tomography analysis of the femurs showed that GC implantation caused trabecular bone loss. However, a significant reduction of bone loss was observed in the KRG-treated group. These results suggest that the molecular mechanism of KRG in the GC-induced apoptosis may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or delay osteoporosis.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.514-523
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• 2019

인삼(Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer)의 사포닌 진세노사이드 Rb1이 처리된 인간 피부각질세포 HaCaT에서 microarray 분석 및 발현이 증가된 세포사멸 반응에 대한 작용기전을 연구하였다. HaCaT 세포에 진세노사이드 Rb1의 처리로 세포사멸, 유사분열 세포주기의 G2/M 전이, 세포분열, 핵분열, 그리고 단백질 수송 등의 작용기전에 관여하는 유전자들이 2 배 이상 발현이 증가된 것으로 나타났으며, DNA 수선, 감수 핵분열, 그리고 세포외기질 체계 등의 작용기전에 관여하는 유전자들은 2 배 이상 발현이 감소된 것으로 나타났다. 특히 세포사멸 신호전달은 FAS와 PLA2G4A를 경유하는 것으로 나타났으며, 이들 유전자의 상위 조절자로 STAT3가 예측되었다. 세포사멸 반응 경유 유전자 FAS와 PLA2G4A의 활성을 qPCR로 확인한 결과, FAS 유전자는 $10{\mu}g/ml$의 진세노사이드 Rb1를 24시간 동안 처리하였을 경우 약 2 배의 발현 증가와, PLA2G4A 유전자는 6시간 처리부터 약 2 배로 증가되어 24시간 동안 처리시 2 배 이상의 유전자 발현이 증가되었다. 한편 STAT3-siRNA를 이용한 knock-down 실험에서 FAS의 발현 감소와 PLA2G4A의 발현 증가로 상위 조절자 STAT3로부터 FAS 만을 경유하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이상의 결과 진세노사이드 Rb1의 처리에 의해 상위 조절자인 STAT3는 FAS를 경유하여 세포사멸을 유도하는 것임을 알 수 있다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.73-81
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• 2023

Sirtuins (SIRTs) belong to the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent class III histone deacetylase family. They are key regulators of cellular and physiological processes, such as cell survival, senescence, differentiation, DNA damage and stress response, cellular metabolism, and aging. SIRTs also influence carcinogenesis, making them potential targets for anticancer therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties and underlying molecular mechanisms of a novel SIRT1 inhibitor, MHY2251, in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. MHY2251 reduced the viability of various human CRC cell lines, especially those with wild-type TP53. MHY2251 inhibited SIRT1 activity and SIRT1/2 protein expression, while promoting p53 acetylation, which is a target of SIRT1 in HCT116 cells. MHY2251 treatment triggered apoptosis in HCT116 cells. It increased the percentage of late apoptotic cells and the sub-G1 fraction (as detected by flow cytometric analysis) and induced DNA fragmentation. In addition, MHY2251 upregulated the expression of FasL and Fas, altered the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, downregulated the levels of pro-caspase-8, -9, and -3 proteins, and induced subsequent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. The induction of apoptosis by MHY2251 was related to the activation of the caspase cascade, which was significantly attenuated by pre-treatment with Z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor. Furthermore, MHY2251 stimulated the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and MHY2251-triggered apoptosis was blocked by pre-treatment with SP600125, a JNK inhibitor. This finding indicated the specific involvement of JNK in MHY2251-induced apoptosis. MHY2251 shows considerable potential as a therapeutic agent for targeting human CRC via the inhibition of SIRT1 and activation of JNK/p53 pathway.