• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.759-766
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• 2004

In the present study, we investigated the effects of aqueous extract of the healthful decoction utilizing Phellinus linteus (HDPL) on the cell growth of human lung carcinoma tumor cell line A549. Exposure of A549 cells to HDPL resulted in growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by hemocytometer counts, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis. This increase in apoptosis was associated with inhibition and/or degradation of apoptotic target proteins such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), b-catenin and phospholipase C- 1 (PLC- 1) protein. HDPL treatment induced the down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, an anti-apoptotic gene, however, the level of Bax. a pro-apoptotic gene, was increased by HDPL treatment. In addition, HDPL-induced apoptotis of A549 cells was connected with activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 protease in a dose-dependent manner, however, the levels of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family were remained unchanged. Taken together, these results indicated that the anti-proliferative effects of HDPL were associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death through regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products such as Bcl-2 family expression and caspase protease activity, and HDPL may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.433-437
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• 2010

In the course of screening for novel modulators of cell cycle progression and apoptosis as anticancer drug candidates, we generated an analog of sangivamycin, MCS-C2, which was elucidated as 4-amino-6-bromo-7-cyclopentyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-5-carboxamide. In the present study, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms of MCSC2-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells. To investigate the effects of MCS-C2 on cell cycle progression in A549 cells, we measured the DNA content of A549 cells treated with $5\;{\mu}M$ MCS-C2 using flow cytometry. The analysis revealed an appreciable $G_2$ phase arrest in treated cells. This event was associated with significant upregulation of p53 and $p21^{Cip1}$. In addition, the TUNEL assay was used to examine apoptotic induction in treated cells, and the effects of MCS-C2 on the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins were examined by Western blot. Apoptotic induction in MCS-C2-treated A549 cells was associated with cytochrome c release from mitochondria, which in turn resulted in the activation of caspase-9 and -3 and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Based on these results, we conclude that MCS-C2 is a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of human lung cancer via upregulation and activation of p53.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2014

Objectives : We investigated whether bee venom(BV) inhibit cell growth through enhancement of death receptor expressions in the human cervix cancer C33A cells. Methods : BV($1{\sim}5{\mu}g/ml$) inhibited the growth of cervix cancer C33A cells by the induction of apoptotic cell death in a dose dependent manner. Results : Consistent with apoptotic cell death, expression of Fas, death receptor(DR) 3, 4, 5 and 6 was increased concentration dependently in the cells. Moreover, Fas, DR3 and DR6 revealed more sensitivity to BV. Thus, We reconfirmed whether they actually play a critical role in anti-proliferation of cervix cancer C33A cells. Consecutively, expression of DR downstream pro-apoptotic proteins including caspase-8, -3, -9 was upregulated and Bax was concomitantly overwhelmed the expression of Bcl-2. NF-${\kappa}B$ were also inhibited by treatment with BV in C33A cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that BV could exert anti-tumor effect through induction of apoptotic cell death in human cervix cancer C33A cells via enhancement of death receptor expression, and that BV could be a promising agent for preventing and treating cervix cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.358-364
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• 2006

To investigate the possible mechanism of Drynariae Rhizoma extracts as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, I examined the effects of Drynariae Rhizoma extracts on the apoptosis of U937 cell line. MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis, and RT-PCR were performed. Drynariae Rhizoma extracts treatment reduced the cell viablilty of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of apoptotic cell death. Drynariae Rhizoma extracts treatment also reduced the levels of Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic protein expression and increased the levels of caspase-3, p53, pro-apoptotic protein, in U937 cells. RT-PCR data revealed that the level of bcl-2, bcl-xL mRNA expressions decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Drynariae Rhizoma extracts may have induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several growth regulatory gene products. The abbreviations used are: FBS, fetal bovine serum; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; PI, propidium iodide; OD, optical density; DiOC6, 3,3-dihexyloxa carbcyanine iodide; MTT, 3 [4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] -2-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1513-1519
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• 2007

Yukwool-tang (YWT) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used for patients suffering from a uterine disease in Oriental medicine. In the present study, it was examined the biochemical mechanisms of apoptosis by YWT in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. It was found that YWT could inhibit the cell growth of HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with apoptotic cell death such as formation of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that YWT treatment increased populations of apoptotic-sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle. We observed the p53-independent induction of p21 proteins, down-regulation of anti apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and proteolytic activation of caspase-3 in YWT-treated HeLa cells. YWT treatment also concomitant degradation and/or inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), phospholipase C-1 ($PLC{\gamma}1$), ${\beta}-catenin$ and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (DFF45/ICAD). Taken together, these findings partially provide novel insights into the possible molecular mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of YWT.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2009

Effect of whole body vibration exercise on intracerebral hemorrhage in rats. Intracerebral hemorrhage is one of the most devastating types of stroke. This disease is known to cause severe neurological damage and also has a very high mortality rate. In the present study, the effects of whole body vibration exercise on memory capability and apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats were investigated. Intracerebral hemorrhage was induced by injection of collagenase into the hippocampal CA1 region using a stereotaxic instrument. The rats were divided into 5 groups: the sham-operation group, the hemorrhage-induction group, the hemorrhage-induction and 8 Hz vibration exercise group, the hemorrhage-induction and 16 Hz vibration exercise group, and the hemorrhage-induction and 24 Hz vibration exercise group. The animals in the whole body vibration exercise groups received whole body vibration at 8 Hz, 16 Hz, and 24 Hz, respectively for 30 min once a day during 14 consecutive days. In the present results, the apoptotic neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region was significantly increased following induction of intracerebral hemorrhage, resulting in memory impairment. Whole body vibration exercise suppressed hemorrhage-induced apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region. This suppressive effect of whole body vibration exercise also alleviated hemorrhage-induced memory impairment. Here in this study, we have shown that whole body vibration exercise inhibited intracerebral hemorrhage-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death and thus facilitated recovery of brain function following intracerebral hemorrhage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2015

Pachymic acid (PA) is a lanostane-type triterpenoid derived from the Poria cocos mushroom. Several beneficial biological features of PA provide medicine with a wide variety of valuable effects, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity; it also has antioxidant effects against oxidative stress. Nonetheless, the biological properties and mechanisms that produce this anti-cancer action of PA remain largely undetermined. In this study, we investigated the pro-apoptotic effects of PA in T24 human bladder cancer cells. It was found that PA could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies and chromatin condensation and accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. The induction of apoptotic cell death by PA was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bad protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins. In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of PA induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase. PA also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the truncation of Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that PA may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.565-583
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• 2011

Objectives : This study investigated the biochemical mechanisms of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of the water extract of Dan-Seon-Tang (DST) in human leukemia U937 cells. Methods : U937 cells were exposed to DST and growth inhibition was measured by MTT assay. Results : Exposure of U937 cells to DST resulted in the growth inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was associated with morphological changes and apoptotic cell death such as formation of apoptotic bodies, increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase and induction of DNA fragmentation. The induction of apoptotic cell death in U937 cells by DST was associated with up-regulation of death receptor 4 (DR4) and down-regulation of Bid, surviving and cellular inhibition of apoptosis protein-2 (cIAP-2) expression. DST treatment also induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, and a concomitant degradation of caspase-3 substrate proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), phospholipase (PLC)-${\gamma}1$, ${\beta}$-catenin and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibotor of caspase activated DNAse (DFF45/ICAD). Furthermore, apoptotic cell death by DST was significantly inhibited by caspase-3 specific inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk, demonstrating the important role of caspase-3. Conclusions : These findings suggest that herb prescription DST may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human leukemia U937 cells; further study is needed to identify the active compounds.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1050-1054
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• 2005

Recently, arsenic compounds were considered as novel agents for treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and malignant tumors. However, it showed severe toxicity effect on normal tissue at the same time. In this study, to investigate the possible molecular mechanism (s) of arsenic compounds as candidate of anti-cancer drugs, we compared the abilities of two arsenic compounds, tetraarsenic oxide $(AS_4O_6)$ and arsenic trioxide (diarsenic oxide, $As_2O_3$), to induce cell growth inhibition as well as apoptosis induction in A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Both $As_4O_6\;and\;As_2O_3$ treatment declined the cell growth and viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of G1 arrest of the cell cycle and apoptotic cell death. However, $As_4O_6$ induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in A549 cells at much lower concentrations than $As_2O_3.\;As_4O_6$ down-regulated the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, however, the levels of Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, $As_4O_6$ might be a new arsenic compound which may induce apoptosis in A549 cells by modulation the Bcl-2 family and deserves further evaluation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.696-700
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• 2009

Purpose : We screened more than 350 compounds with an endoperoxide ring structure in search of an anti-leukemic drug and found that compound 127 (c-127) could induce significant cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of compound 127-induced antitumor activity on HL-60 cells. Methods : HL-60 cells were cultured in Rosewell Park Memorial Institute 1640 and cell viability was measured by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide], a tetrazole assay. Apoptosis was assessed by a DNA fragmentation test. Apoptotic machineries were determined by Western blot analysis. Results : C-127 could induce a cytotoxic effect at 24 h and apoptosis at 6 h, which was demonstrated with MTT assay and DNA fragmentation test, respectively. The apoptotic effect of this drug was caused by the activation of the intracellular caspase-8,3 activation, the cleavage of pro-apoptotic Bid, and the increase of c-Jun expression accompanied with JNK (Jun N-terminal kinases) phosphorylation. On the contrary, it increased the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 levels, leading to the induction of the induction of anti-apoptotic effect. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that c-127 was a potent inducer of cytotoxicity on HL-60 cells through apoptotic mechanisms, which included the activation of caspase family, the regulation of Bcl-2 family, and the activation of JNK signaling pathway. Conclusion : Our results suggest that c-127 has a strong antitumor activity through the regulation of various apoptotic machineries on HL-60 cells. The compound may be utilized as an effective and potentially therapeutic drug in leukemia.