• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

Objective: Tributyltin (TBT), an endocrine disrupting chemical, has been reported to decrease ovarian function by causing apoptosis in the ovary, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, we examined whether TBT increases the expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary and the increased expression of these genes is associated with apoptosis induction. Methods: Three-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered TBT (1 or 10 mg/kg body weight) or sesame oil as a control for 7 days. The ovaries were obtained and weighed on day 8, and then they were fixed for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) or frozen for RNA extraction. Using the total RNA of the ovaries, adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The ovarian weight was significantly decreased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT compared to that in control rats. As determined by the TUNEL assay, the number of apoptotic follicles in ovary was significantly increased in rats administered 10 mg/kg TBT. The real-time PCR results showed that the expression of adipogenesis-related genes such as $PPAR{\gamma}$, ${\alpha}P2$, CD36, and PEPCK was increased after TBT administration. In addition, apoptosis-related genes such as $TNF{\alpha}$ and TNFR1 were expressed more in the TBT-administered rats compared with the control rats. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that TBT induces the expression of adipogenesis- and apoptosis-related genes in the ovary leading to apoptosis in the ovarian follicles. These results suggest that the increased expression of adipogenesis-related genes in the ovary by TBT exposure might induce apoptosis resulting in a loss of ovarian function.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.2943-2948
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• 2012

Arsenic exposure is a serious health hazard worldwide. We have previously established that it may result in immune suppression by upregulating Th2 cytokines while downregulating Th1 cytokines and causing lymphocytic death. Treatment modalities for arsenic poisoning have mainly been restricted to the use of chelating agents in the past. Only recently have combination therapies using a chelating agent in conjunction with other compounds such as anti-oxidants, micronutrients and various plant products, been introduced. In the present study, we used T11TS, a novel immune potentiating glycopeptide alone and in combination with the sulfhydryl-containing chelator, mono-iso-amyl-dimarcaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA) as a therapeutic regimen to combat arsenic toxicity in a mouse model. Results indicated that Th1 cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, $IFN{\gamma}$, IL12 and the Th2 cytokines such as IL4, IL6, IL10 which were respectively downregulated and upregulated following arsenic induction were more efficiently restored to their near normal levels by T11TS alone in comparison with the combined regimen. Similar results were obtained with the apoptotic proteins studied, FasL, BAX, BCL2 and the caspases 3, 8 and 9, where again T11TS proved more potent than in combination with MiADMSA in preventing lymphocyte death. The results thus indicate that T11TS alone is more efficient in immune re-establishment after arsenic exposureas compared to combination therapy with T11TS+MiADMSA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.449-454
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• 2014

Background: Extracts of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk has been reported to possess anticancer effects, but the active ingredients and the anti-cancer mechanisms are still unknown. Materials and Methods: The effects of a C mimosoides Lamk extract on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction in human cervical carcinoma cell lines, namely HeLa, SiHa, and C33A, as well as in normal Vero cells, were investigated. Results: Treatment with 5 active fractions (F17-F21) of C mimosoides Lamk methanol extracts inhibited cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Neutral red assays indicated that treatment with F21 significantly decreased the viability of all cervical cancer cell lines compared to F21-treated normal cells. In addition, HPLC analysis revealed that F21 contained multiple phenolic compounds, namely gallic acid, caffeine, vanillic acid, ferulic acid and resveratrol. F21 had the lowest IC50 and, therefore, a much higher cytotoxicity than F20, F17, F19, and F18 by 20-, 25-, 46- and 47- fold, respectively. Analysis of activation of the apoptosis pathway using a caspase 3/7 activity assay revealed that F21 treatment resulted in a considerable increase in caspase activation in all cancer cell lines tested. At the same concentration of F21, HeLa cells had the highest caspase activity (6.5-fold) compared to the control. Conclusion: C mimosoides Lamk may be of value as an alternative therapeutic agent, especially in combination with other compounds offering possible of synergy of action. Moreover, HPV- and non-HPV-related cervical cancer cells may differ in their responses to treatment regimens.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.4919-4923
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• 2014

Background: To investigate the effect of celecoxib on telomerase activity and apoptosis in a human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line (Hep-2 cells). Materials and Methods: The growth inhibition rate of Hep-2 cells in vitro was measured by MTT assay, and apoptosis by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry (FCM). The TRAP-ELISA method was used to determine telomerase activity in Hep-2 cells. The mRNA expression of human telomerase RNA component(hTR), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and human telomerase-associated protein(hTEP1) was determined by RT-PCR assay. Expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was assessed by Western blotting. Results: Celecoxib can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner, repress telomerase activity, decrease hTERT mRNA and Bcl-2 protein expression and increase Bax protein expression, PGE2 had no effect on telomerase. Conclusions: Celecoxib had the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effect in Hep-2 cells. Apoptosis was accompanied by a decrease in telomerase activity which was directly correlated with hTERT mRNA and up-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2. Bcl-2 may thus play an important role in telomerase activity as well as apoptosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.334-342
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• 2015

4-O-Methylhonokiol (MH), a bioactive compound derived from Magnolia officinalis, is known to exhibit antitumor effects in various cancer cells. However, the precise mechanism of its anticancer activity in cervical cancer cells has not yet been studied. In this study, we demonstrated that MH induces apoptosis in SiHa cervical cancer cells by enhancing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) activation, followed by inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway and intrinsic pathway induction. MH upregulated PPARγ and PTEN expression levels while it decreased p-Akt in the MH-induced apoptotic process, thereby supporting the fact that MH is a PPARγ activator. Additionally, MH decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, inducing the intrinsic pathway in MH-treated SiHa cells. Furthermore, MH treatment led to the activation of caspase-3/caspase-9 and proteolytic cleavage of polyADP ribose polymerase. The expression levels of Fas (CD95) and E6/E7 oncogenes were not altered by MH treatment. Taken together, MH activates PPARγ/PTEN expression and induces apoptosis via suppression of the PI3K/Akt pathway and mitochondria-dependent pathways in SiHa cells. These findings suggest that MH has potential for development as a therapeutic agent for human cervical cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.315-322
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• 2005

In this study, the authors investigated whether death of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) had a pathological pertinence. Conditioned media obtained from rat aorta smooth muscle cell (SMC) that were induced death by expressing FADD in the absence of tetracycline (FADD-SMC) triggered death of normal SMC. DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation were observed in dying SMC by conditioned media. FADD-SMC showed transcriptional activation of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. Conditioned medium contained $TNF-{\alpha}$, indicating secretion of the cytokine from dying FADD-SMC. It was investigated if secreted $TNF-{\alpha}$ was functional. Conditioned medium activated ERK and p38 MAPK pathways and induced MMP-9 expression, whereas depletion of the cytokine with its soluble receptor (sTNFR) remarkably inhibited induction of MMP-9 by conditioned medium. These findings suggest that $TNF-{\alpha}$ in conditioned medium seems to be active. Then, contribution of $TNF-{\alpha}$ on death-inducing activity of conditioned medium was examined. Depletion of $TNF-{\alpha}$ with soluble $TNF-{\alpha}$ receptor decreased the death activity of conditioned medium by 35%, suggesting that $TNF-{\alpha}$ play a partial role in the death activity. Boiling of medium almost completely abolished the death-inducing activity, suggesting that other heat labile death inducing proteins existed in conditioned medium. Taken together, these results indicate that SMC undergoing death could contribute to inflammation by expressing inflammatory cytokines and pathological complications by inducing death of neighboring cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1830-1840
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• 2019

Loliolide is one of the most ubiquitous monoterpenoid compounds found in algae, and its potential therapeutic effect on various dermatological conditions via agent-induced biological functions, including anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, was demonstrated. Here, we investigated the effects of loliolide on hair growth in dermal papilla (DP) cells, the main components regulating hair growth and loss conditions. For this purpose, we used a three-dimensional (3D) DP spheroid model that mimics the in vivo hair follicle system. Biochemical assays showed that low doses of loliolide increased the viability and size of 3D DP spheroids in a dose-dependent manner. This result correlated with increases in expression levels of hair growth-related autocrine factors including VEGF, IGF-1, and KGF. Immunoblotting and luciferase-reporter assays further revealed that loliolide induced AKT phosphorylation, and this effect led to stabilization of β-catenin, which plays a crucial role in the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Further experiments showed that loliolide increased the expression levels of the DP signature genes, ALP, BMP2, VCAN, and HEY1. Furthermore, conditioned media from loliolide-treated DP spheroids significantly enhanced proliferation and the expression of hair growth regulatory genes in keratinocytes. These results suggested that loliolide could function in the hair growth inductivity of DP cells via the AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.259-265
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• 2013

The anti-apoptotic effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) during unilateral testicular torsion and detorsion (TT/D) was established in our previous study. In mice, the smallest inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin, is alternatively spliced into three variants, each suggested to have a unique function. Here, we assessed how EGCG exerts its protective effect through the expression of the different survivin splice variants and determined its effect on the morphology of the seminiferous tubules during TT/D. Three mouse groups were used: sham, TT/D+vehicle and TT/D treated with EGCG. The expression of the survivin variants (140 and 40) and other apoptosis genes (p53, Bax and Bcl-2) was measured with semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Histological analysis was performed to assess DNA fragmentation, damage to spermatogenesis and morphometric changes in the seminiferous tubules. In the TT/D+vehicle group, survivin 140 expression was markedly decreased, whereas survivin 40 expression was not significantly different. In parallel, there was an increase in the mRNA level of p53 and the Bax to Bcl-2 ratio in support of apoptosis induction. Histological analyses revealed increased DNA fragmentation and increased damage to spermatogenesis associated with decreased seminiferous tubular diameter and decreased germinal epithelial cell thickness in the TT/D+vehicle group. These changes were reversed to almost sham levels upon EGCG treatment. Our data indicate that EGCG protects the testis from TT/D-induced damage by protecting the morphology of the seminiferous tubules and modulating survivin 140 expression.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.26-39
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• 2006

Objective : The effect of water extract of Chungjogupae-tang (CJGPT) was investigated on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Methods : MTT assay and fluorescent microscope performed to compare and examine the efficacy of CJGPT treatment on the cytostaticity of lung cancer cells in proportion to time and doses, and DAPI staining and Western blot analysis were used to examine their effect on apoptosis. In addition the quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine to lung cancer cells growth and Progtaglandin E2 and Telomerase activity were measured Results : Exposure of A549 cells to CJGPT resulted in the growth inhibition and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay and fluorescent microscope. The antiuoliferative effect by CJGPT treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. CJGPT treatment resulted in an up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIPl) in a p53-independent fashion. We found that CJGPT treatment decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in protaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. CJGPT treatment also inhibited the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and telomerase-associated protein (TEP)-1 mRNA expression, however the activity of telomerase was slightly increased by CJGPT treatment. Conclusion : These findings suggested that CJGPT-induced inhibition of human lung carcinoma A549 cell growth was connected with the induction of apoptotic cell death and the results provided important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of CJGPT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Background: ${\alpha}$-Lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) has been studied as an anticancer agent as well as a therapeutic agent for diabetes and obesity. We performed this study to evaluate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of ${\alpha}$-LA in a lung cancer cell line, A549. Materials and Methods: ${\alpha}$-LA-induced apoptosis of A549 cells was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and a DNA fragmentation assay. Expression of apoptosis-related genes was analyzed by western blot and reverse transcription.polymerase chain reaction analyses. Results: ${\alpha}$-LA induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. ${\alpha}$-LA increased caspase activity and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. It induced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes, such as glucose-regulated protein 78, C/EBP-homologous protein, and the short form of X-box binding protein-1, and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was induced by ${\alpha}$-LA, and the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine decreased the ${\alpha}$-LA-induced increase in expression of apoptosis and ER stress-related proteins. Conclusion: ${\alpha}$-LA induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis in A549 cells via ROS. ${\alpha}$-LA may therefore be clinically useful for treating lung cancer.