• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.125-133
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• 2006

This study was conducted to detect the apoptosis incidence in blastocysts and to compare the abundance of Bax, Bcl2L1, VEGF and FGFR2 in in vitro fertilized (IVF), parthenogenetic (PAT) and nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. Oocytes matured for 40 hr were enucleated and reconstructed with confluenced fetal fibroblasts (FFs) derived from a ${\sim}45$ day fetus. Reconstructed eggs were then fused with 2 DC pulses (2.0 kV/cm, $30{\mu}sec$) and cultured with $7.5{\mu}g/ml$ cytochalasin B for 3 hr. Parthenotes (PAT) were produced with the same electric strength and culture for NT eggs. The embryos were cultured in NCSU-23 medium at $39^{\circ}C,\;5%\;CO_2,\;5%\l;O_2$ in air. In 3 runs, set of 10 embryos at the 4-cell to blastocyst stages were used to extract total RNA for analyzing the gene expression patterns of pro-apoptotic (Bax), anti-apoptotic (Bcl2L1), vasculogenesis (VEGF), implantation (FGFR2III) using real-time quantitative PCR. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher (P<0.05) in IVF and PAT ($79.3{\pm}8.5\;and\;25.5{\pm}6.1,\;and\;85.0{\pm}6.4\;and\;38.6{\pm}5.5$, respectively)than NT counterparts ($65.1{\pm}5.2\;and\;15.6{\pm}3.0$, respectively). Significantly higher (P<0.05) total cells were observed in IVF controls and PAT ($34.7{\pm}5.8\;and\;38.1{\pm}4.1$) than NT embryos ($24.8{\pm}3.2$). Apoptosis index was significantly lower (P<0.05) in IVF than NT embryos. The Relative abundances (RA) of Bax and VEGF were significantly higher (P<0.05) at blastocyst stage in NT than IVF control. The RA of Bcl2L1 and FGFR2III were significantly higher (P<0.05) at blastocyst stage in IVF than NT. The present study observed the abnormal gene expressions in NT embryos at various developmental stages, suggesting certain clues to find out the cause of the low efficiency of NT to term.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.114-121
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• 2007

배경: 종양 발생기전에 있어서 세포자멸사가 중요한 역할을 한다. 조직 내의 세포자멸사 측정은 TUNEL (terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end lagbelling), ISEL (in situ nick end labelling) 등의 방법을 쓰지만, 반응 세포의 비특이성 및 결과 판독의 주관성 등이 논란의 대상이 되어왔다. 최근 이러한 단점을 보완할 수 있는 단클론항체 M30이 소개되어, 인체 조직의 대장암, 가슴 샘종, 유방암, 자궁내막암 등에서 M30 면역염색을 이용한 세포자멸사 연구가 있었으나 폐암에 대한 연구는 없었다. 저자들은 비소세포 폐암에서 M30 면역염색에 의해 발현되는 세포자멸사 양상이 세포주기 핵심조절자인 p53 면역염색 발현양상 및 임상양상과 갖는 연관성을 살펴보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 비소세포 폐암으로 근치적 절제수술을 받은 환자 45명을 대상으로 하였다. M30과 P53 면역조직화학염색에 실시하여 각 항체의 발현양상과 임상 병리학적 특성을 비교 분석하였다. 술 후 생존기간과 무병 생존기간을 구하였고, 단변량 분석을 실시하여 생존기간에 영향을 미치는 인자를 알아보았다. 다변량 분석을 실시하여 M30과 p53 발현양상이 술 후 사망위험도 및 재발위험도에 미치는 영향을 알아보았다. 결과: M30 양성세포 수는 p53 양성군이 p53 음성군보다 유의하게 많았고(p53 양성군 $61.7{\pm}26.8$개 vs. p53 음성군 $45.6{\pm}29.6$개, p=0.005), 세포사멸사 지수가 1 이상(Apoptosis Index, $Al{\ge}1$)인 환자 수도 p53 양성군에서 유의하게 많았다(p53 양성군 52.4% (l1/21) vs. p53 음성군 16.7% (4/24), p=0.025). 단변량 분석에서는 흡연량, 활동도(Performance Status, PS), 그리고 AI가 술 후 생존기간에 유의한 차이를 보였다. 다변량 분석에서는 AI가 높은 군에서 수술 후 암사망 위험도(Relative risk, R.R 7.482; 95% Confidence Interval, CI $1.886{\sim}29.678$; p=0.004)와 재발 위험도(R.R 3.795; 95% CI $1.184{\sim}12.158$; p=0.025)가 유의하게 증가하였다. p53 발현양상은 수술 후 생존기간과 암사망 위험도 및 재발 위험도에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 결론: 이상의 연구에서 단클론 항체 M30을 이용한 면역조직화학염색이 비소세포 폐암의 세포자멸사를 관찰하는 데 매우 유용한 방법임을 확인하였으며, 환자의 예후를 예측하는 데에도 도움이 될 수 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.207-215
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• 2003

목적: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)는 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade의 일원으로 다양한 세포독성 자극에 의해 유도되는 apoptosis에 반대되는 역할을 한다. 따라서 ERK의 억제는 항암제로서 유용하게 사용될 것으로 생각되어진다. 대상 및 방법: 마우스 간암인 HCa-I는 TCD50가 80 Gy 이상으로 강한 방사선 내성종양으로 알려져 있으며, 방사선 민감성의 증진을 위해 다양한 항암제가 실험되었으나 뚜렷한 효과를 나타내지 못했다. 이 실험을 통해 in vivo,, 특히 방사선 내성종양에서 ERK의 억제가 방사선에 의한 항암 작용을 증진시키는지 알아보고자 하였다. C3H/HeJ 마우스에 종양의 크기가 $7.5\~8\;mm$가 되었을 때 PD98059 ($0.16\;\mug/50\;\mul$로 종양에 직접 주사)를 처리하였다. 결과: 처리 1시간째에 p-ERK가 0.5배로 억제되었다. 종양 성장 지연 분석에서 증강 지수가 전 처리군과 후 처리군에서 각각 1.6과 1.87로 PD98059가 종양의 방사선 감수성을 증가시키는 것으로 관찰되었다. 25 Gy 방사선과 PD98059 복합처리 시 apoptosis가 크게 증가되었다. 각 실험군의 apoptosis 최대치는 방사선 조사군에서 $1.4\%$, PD98059 처리군에서 $0.9\%$ 복합처리군의 전 처리군과 후 처리군에서 각각 $4.9\%\;5.3\%$를 나타냈다. Apoptosis 조절 물질의 변화는, p53의 발현이 복합 처리군에서 PD98059 전 처리군과 후 처리군 모두에서 24시간까지 대조군에 비해 2.7배, 3.2배의 높은 발현 수준을 유지하여 처리 1시간째부터 발현 증가를 하여 24시간까지 지속되는 것이 관찰되었다. $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$의 발현은 p53 발현 변화와 유사한 양상으로 특히 PD98059 후 처리군에서 방사선 조사군이나 PD98059 전 처리군과 비교하여 높은 발현수준을 보였으며, 24시간까지 3.2배의 높은 발현 수준을 유지하는 것으로 나타났다. Bcl-Xs는 25 Gy 방사선 조사군이나 PD98059 처리군에서는 뚜렷한 변화를 보이지 않았으나 복합 처리군중 전 처리군에서 4시간 째 대조군에 비해 1.93배 증가를 보였으며, 후 처리군에서는 1시간 후에 1.83배의 증가를 보였다. 모든 실험군에서 Bcl-2, $Bcl-X_L$, BaX는 뚜렷한 발현 변화를 보이지 않았다. 결론: 방사선 내성 종양인 간암에 MEK 억제제를 방사선 조사와 복합 처리하여 방사선 감수성을 향상시켜 치료 효율의 상승을 유도 할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제38권10호
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• pp.807-816
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• 2005

본 연구에서는 Sprague Dawley종 수컷 쥐에서 DHM로 대장암을 유발시킨 후 식이에 첨가한 n-3 RUFA 함량에 따라 대장의 암화과정에 어떤영향을 미치는지 생화학적인 기전을 검토하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1) 식이에 n-3 RUFA를 6.2 mmole 첨가하여 먹인 경우에는 COX-2의 mRNA와 단백질의 발현 및 TBX2와 PGE2 합성이 유의하게 감소 되었으며, 이에 따라 세포증식도 억제되었다. 그러나 n-3 RUFA를 12.4 mmole 첨가한 식이로 사육한 경우에는 오히려 COX-2의 mRNA와 단백질의 발현 및 $TXB_2$ 와 $PGE_2$ 합성이 대조군 보다도 더 많이 증가되었고 세포증식도 대조군과 같은 수준으로 증가하여 암화과정을 촉진하였다. 2) 식이에 n-3 PUFA를 6.2 mmole 첨가한 경우 대장 점막의 인지질의 지방산조성중 arachidonic 함량은 유의하게 낮았고, EPA와 DHA 함량은 유의하게 높았으며 n-3 PUFA를 12.4 mmole 첨가한 경우에는 EPA와 DHA 함량은 2배 이상 유의하게 더 높았다. 3) 대장 상피세포의 apoptosis는 식이에 n-3 PUFA를 첨가한 함량과는 관계없이 대조군에 비해 유의하게 약 34$\sim$$42\%$ 증가하였다. 4) 식이에 n-3 PUFA를 6.2 mmole 첨가하였을 때 Bax의 mRNA와 단백질 발현은 각각 유의하게 증가되었으나 n-3 PUFA를 12.4mmole 첨가한 경우에는 유의하게 감소되었다. 반면에Bcl-2의 mRNA와 단백질 발현은 n-3 PUFA 6.2 mmole 첨가한 경우에는 오히려 증가하였다. 총괄해서 본 연구결과에 의하면 항암효과가 있가도 알려진 n-3 PUFA는 식이에 첨가한 함량에 따라 암화과정에 미치는 효과가 다르게 나타났다, 그러므로 앞으로 대장의 암화과정을 억제시키는 n-3 PUFA의 적절량 또는 섭취의 한계치를 정하는 연구가 필요하다고 본다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권11호
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• pp.4651-4657
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• 2014

The development of chemopreventive approaches using a concoction of phytochemicals is potentially viable for combating many types of cancer including colon carcinogenesis. This study evaluated the anti-proliferative effects of ginger and Gelam honey and its efficacy in enhancing the anti-cancer effects of 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) against a colorectal cancer cell line, HCT 116. Cell viability was measured via MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulphenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay showing ginger inhibiting the growth of HCT 116 cells more potently ($IC_{50}$ of 3mg/mL) in comparison to Gelam honey ($IC_{50}$ of 75mg/mL). Combined treatment of the two compounds (3mg/mL ginger+75mg/mL Gelam honey) synergistically lowered the $IC_{50}$ of Gelam honey to 22mg/mL. Combination with 35 mg/mL Gelam honey markedly enhanced 5-FU inhibiting effects on the growth of HCT 116 cells. Subsequent analysis on the induction of cellular apoptosis suggested that individual treatment of ginger and Gelam honey produced higher apoptosis than 5-FU alone. In addition, treatment with the combination of two natural compounds increased the apoptotic rate of HCT 116 cells dose-dependently while treatment of either ginger or Gelam honey combined with 5-FU only showed modest changes. Combination index analysis showed the combination effect of both natural compounds to be synergistic in their inhibitory action against HCT 116 colon cancer cells (CI 0.96 < 1). In conclusion, combined treatment of Gelam honey and ginger extract could potentially enhance the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-FU against colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.3429-3436
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• 2013

Cervical cancer is a major health problem worldwide and is the most frequent cause of cancer in women in India. Early detection and affordable drugs with clinical efficacy have to go hand-in-hand in order to comprehensibly address this serious health challenge. Plant-based drugs with potent anticancer effects should add to the efforts to find a cheap drug with limited clinical side effects. Keeping this very purpose in mind, an attempt has been made in this review to explore the potential of plant extracts or constituents known to exhibit antitumorigenic activity or exert cytotoxic effect in human cervical carcinoma cells. Alkaloids such as those isolated from C. vincetoxicum and T. Tanakae, naucleaorals A and B, isolated from the roots of N. orientalis, (6aR)-normecambroline, isolated from the bark of N. dealbata appear promising in different human cervical carcinoma cells with the $IC_{50}$ of 4.0-8 ${\mu}g/mL$. However, other compounds such as rhinacanthone and neolignans isolated from different plants are not far behind and kill cervical cancer cells at a very low concentrations. Among plant extracts or its constituents that enhance the effect of known anticancer drugs, noni, derived from the plant M. citrifolia perhaps is the best candidate. The cytotoxic potency and apoptotic index of cisplatin was found to significantly enhanced in combination with noni in different human cervical carcinoma cells and it therefore holds significance as promising herbal-based anticancer agent. However, efficacy needs to be further investigated in various cervical cell lines and more importantly, in in vivo cervical cancer models for possible use as an alternative and safe anticancer drug.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.101-111
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• 2008

The fungal genus Alternaria is comprised of many saprophytic and endophytic species, but is most well known as containing many notoriously destructive plant pathogens. There are over 4,000 Alternaria/host associations recorded in the USDA Fungal Host Index ranking the genus 10th among nearly 2,000 fungal genera based on the total number of host records. While few Alternaria species appear to have a sexual stage to their life cycles, the majority lack sexuality altogether. Many pathogenic species of Alternaria are prolific toxin producers, which facilitates their necrotrophic lifestyle. Necrotrophs must kill host cells prior to colonization, and thus these toxins are secreted to facilitate host cell death often by triggering genetically programmed apoptotic pathways or by directly causing cell damage resulting in necrosis. While many species of Alternaria produce toxins with rather broad host ranges, a closely-related group of agronomically important Alternaria species produce selective toxins with a very narrow range often to the cultivar level. Genes that code for and direct the biosynthesis of these host-specific toxins for the Alternaria alternata sensu lato lineages are often contained on small, mostly conditionally dispensable, chromosomes. Besides the role of toxins in Alternaria pathogenesis, relatively few genes and/or gene products have been identified that contribute to or are required for pathogenicity. Recently, the completion of the A. brassicicola genome sequencing project has facilitated the examination of a substantial subset of genes for their role in pathogenicity. In this review, we will highlight the role of toxins in Alternaria pathogenesis and the use of A. brassicicola as a model representative for basic virulence studies for the genus as a whole. The current status of these research efforts will be discussed.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.207-213
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• 2020

Cryopreservation is used for blastocyst preservation of most mammalian embryos and is an important technique for breeding. We aimed to compare the efficiency of the cryopreservation method using the standard Cryotop device and the ReproCarrier device, a domestic product manufactured in Korea. The efficacy of the two devices was analyzed based on the survival rate, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis of the vitrified bovine blastocysts. The survival rates of the vitrified-warmed blastocysts were similar between the ReproCarrier group (58.4 ± 17.7%) and Cryotop group (59.9 ± 14.1%). Intracellular ROS levels and apoptotic index were determined by DCFDA staining and TUNEL assay. Changes in intracellular ROS levels, number of total nuclei, and cellular apoptosis of vitrified blastocysts after cryopreservation were not significantly different between the two groups. These results indicate that the ReproCarrier device method is as effective as the standard Cryotop method for vitrification of bovine blastocysts in vitro.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2939-2946
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• 2015

Many of the anti-cancer agents currently used have an origin in natural sources including plants. Aloe vera is one such plant being studied extensively for its diverse health benefits, including cancer prevention. In this study, the cytotoxic potential of Aloe vera crude extract (ACE) alone or in combination with cisplatin in human breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells was studied by cell viability assay, nuclear morphological examination and cell cycle analysis. Effects were correlated with modulation of expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and drug metabolism by RT-PCR. Exposure of cells to ACE resulted in considerable loss of cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, which was found to be mediated by through the apoptotic pathway as evidenced by changes in the nuclear morphology and the distribution of cells in the different phases of the cell cycle. Interestingly, ACE did not have any significant cytotoxicity towards normal cells, thus placing it in the category of safe chemopreventive agent. Further, the effects were correlated with the downregulation of cyclin D1, CYP 1A1, CYP 1A2 and increased expression of bax and p21 in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. In addition, low dose combination of ACE and cisplatin showed a combination index less than 1, indicating synergistic growth inhibition compared to the agents applied individually. In conclusion, these results signify that Aloe vera may be an effective anti-neoplastic agent to inhibit cancer cell growth and increase the therapeutic efficacy of conventional drugs like cispolatin. Thus promoting the development of plant-derived therapeutic agents appears warranted for novel cancer treatment strategies.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.189-196
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• 2019

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of different oxygen conditions (20% [high O₂], 5% [low O₂] and 5% decreased to 2% [dynamic O₂]) on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development using a novel double-channel gas supply (DCGS) incubator (CNC Biotech Inc.) to alter the oxygen concentration during in vitro culture. Methods: The high-O₂ and low-O₂ groups were cultured from the one-cell to the blastocyst stage under 20% and 5% oxygen concentrations, respectively. In the dynamic-O₂ group, mouse embryos were cultured from the one-cell to the morula stage under 5% O₂ for 3 days, followed by culture under 2% O₂ to the blastocyst stage. To evaluate peri-implantation development, the blastocysts from the three groups were individually transferred to a fibronectin-coated dish and cultured to the outgrowth stage in droplets. Results: The blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The total cell number was significantly higher in the dynamic-O₂ group than in the low-O₂ and high-O₂ groups. Additionally, the apoptotic index was significantly lower in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. The trophoblast outgrowth rate and spread area were significantly higher in the low-O₂ and dynamic-O₂ groups than in the high-O₂ group. Conclusion: Our results showed that a dynamic oxygen concentration (decreasing from 5% to 2%) had beneficial effects on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development. Optimized, dynamic changing of oxygen concentrations using the novel DCGS incubator could improve the developmental competence of in vitro cultured embryos in a human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program.