• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.111-121
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• 2006

Neuroprotective properties of lithium were evaluated by using in vivo NMDA excitotoxicity model. Systemic injection of NMDA to young mice induced neuronal apoptosis mediated by both TNFR-l and Fas ligand, and long-term lithium treatment showed noticeable neuroprotection against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity: NMDA-damaged neurons expressed several apoptosis-related gene products such as TNFR-l, Fas ligand, and caspase-3, and these gene expressions were not found in the brain of mice chronically treated with lithium. Therefore, it is highly likely that the protection offered by chronic lithium treatment occurred at far upstream of caspase activation, since the chronic lithium treatment increased the expression of Bcl-2, an important antiapoptotic gene known to act upstream of caspase cascade. Timm's histochemistry indicated the complete blockade of the NMDA insults by the treatment. There was no indication of axonal regeneration, which follows synaptic degeneration induced by neuronal damage. Furthermore, this study reports for the first time that TNFR-l and Fas ligand are involved in neuroprotective effects of lithium in NMDA-induced neuronal apoptosis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.132-137
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In this study, the apoptogenic activity and mechanisms of cell death induced by hexane extract of aged black garlic (HEABG) were investigated in human leukemic U937 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide) assay. Apoptosis was detected using 4,6-diamidino-2-phenyllindile (DAPI) staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis. Caspase activity was measured using a colorimetric assay. RESULTS: Exposure to HEABG was found to result in a concentration- and time-dependent growth inhibition by induction of apoptosis, which was associated with an up-regulation of death receptor 4 and Fas legend, and an increase in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression. Apoptosis-inducing concentrations of HEABG induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochodrial mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase. HEABG 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. However, pre-treatment of U937 cells with the caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, significantly blocked the HEABG-induced apoptosis of these cells, and increased the survival rate of HEABG-treated cells, confirming that HEABG-induced apoptosis is mediated through activation of caspase cascade. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the overall results, we suggest that HEABG reduces leukemic cell growth by inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, implying its potential therapeutic value in the treatment of leukemia.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.114-117
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• 2002

연교의 메탄올 추출물로부터 caspase 저해물질을 분리하였으며, ESI-MS, $^1H-NMR$, $^13C-NMR$, DEPT 등의 기기분석 자료에 의하여 rengyolone으로 동정하였다. 이 물질은 $IC_{50}\;6.25\;{\mu}g/mL$의 농도에서 etoposide가 처리된 U937 세포주의 caspase-3 유도 저해를 나타내었다. 또한 rengyolone은 $Interleukin-1{\beta}$가 처리된 D10S 세포에서 caspase-1의 유도저해활성을 나타내었으며, $IC_{50}$값은 $7.5\;{\mu}g/mL$이었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권21호
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• pp.9153-9157
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• 2014

Background: Capparis spinosa L., a Uygur medicine, had been shown to have anti-tumor activity in our early experiments with an N-butanol extract (CSBE) as its active fraction. However, the mechanisms responsible for its effects are not clearly understood. Here, we report that treatment of SGC-7901 cells with CSBE resulted in dose-dependent reduction of cell viability and induction of apoptosis. Materials and Methods: To observe the inhibitory and killing effects of CSBE on SGC-7901, the SRB method was adopted, apoptosis being observed by electron microscopy. To clarify the mechanisms of apoptosis, Western blot and enzyme-labeled methods were used to examine the release of cytochrome c (Cyt c) and the activation of the caspase cascade. Results: By electron microscopy, apoptotic morphologic changes were detectable after CSBE administration. In this study, it was also demonstrated that CSBE induced apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells by inhibiting mPTP open, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation. Conclusions: The findings indicated that CSBE induces aap optosis through mitochondrial pathway.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.125-139
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• 2002

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won and to study the mechanism for neuronal death protection in OGD (oxygen-glucose deprivation) model with embryonic day 20 (E20) cortical cells of a rat (Sprague Dawley). Methods: E20 cortical cells were dissociated in neurobasal media and grown for 14 days in vitro (DIV). On 14 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won was added to the culture media for 72 hrs. On 17 DIV, cells were given an oxygen-glucose deprivation shock (2hrs and 4hrs) and further incubated in normoxia for another three days. On 20 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection were evaluated by LDH assay and the mechanisms were studied by Bcl-2, Bak, Bax, caspase family. Results & Conclusions: 1. This study indicates that Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection in OGD model is confirmed by LDH assay in culture method of embryonic day 20(E20) cortical neuroblasts. 2. Woohwangcheongsim-won's mechanisms for neuronal death protection in OGD model are to restrain inflow of cytochrome c into cellularity caused by Bcl-2 increase (2hrs and 4hrs), to reduce the caspase cascade initiator caspase-8 (4hrs).

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.680-683
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• 2003

한약재로부터 U937 세포주를 사용한 caspase-3 유도저해물질을 탐색한 결과 소목(Caesalpiniae sappan)을 선발하였다. 소목의 메탄올 추출물로부터 silica gel column chromatography, HPLC 등을 사용하여 저해물질을 분리하였으며, ESI-MS, $^1H-NMR,\;^{13}C-NMR$ 등의 기기분석을 실시하여 brazilin이 동정되었다. 이 물질은 $IC_{50}\;4.5\;{\mu}g/mL$의 농도로 U937세포주의 etoposide에 의한 caspase-3 유도를 저해하였으며, DPPH 라디칼 소거능도 나타내었다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.126-135
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• 2001

Quinacrine (QU), a phospholipase-A2 (PLA-2) inhibitor has been used clinically as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant. To understand the mechanisms leading to its chemotherapeutic effect, we have investigated QU-induced apoptotic signaling pathways in human cervical squamous carcinoma HeLa cells. In this study, we found that QU induced cytochrome c-dependent apoptotic signaling. The release of pro-apoptotic cytochrome c was QU concentration- and time-dependent, and preceded activation of caspase-9 and -3. Flow cytometric FACScan analysis using fluorescence intensities of $DiOC_6$/ demonstrated that QU-induced cytochrome c release was independent of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), since the concentrations of QU that induced cytochrome c release did not alter mitochondrial membrane potential (${\blacktriangle}{\Psi}_m$). Moreover, kinetic analysis of caspase activities showed that cytochrome c release led to the activation of caspase-9 and downstream death effector caspase-3, Caspase-3 inhibitor (Ac-DEVD-CHO) partially blocked QU-induced apoptosis, suggesting the importance of caspase-3 in this apoptotic signaling mechanism. Supplementation with arachidonic acid (AA) sustained caspase-3 activation induced by QU. Using inhibitors against cellular arachidonate metabolism of lipooxygenase (Nordihydroxyguaiaretic Acid, NDGA) and cyclooxygenase (5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid, ETYA) demonstrated that QU-induced apoptotic signaling may be dependent on its role as a PLA-2 inhibitor. Interestingly, NDCA attenuated QU-induced cytochrome c release, caspase activity as well as apoptotic cell death. The blockade of cytochrome c release by NDCA was much more effective than that attained with cyclosporin A (CsA), a MPT inhibitor. ETYA was not effective in blocking cytochrome c release, except under very high concentrations. Caspase inhibitor z-VAD blocked the release of cytochrome c suggesting that this signaling event is caspase dependent, and caspase-8 activation may be upstream of the mitochondrial events. In summary, we report that QU induced cytochrome c-dependent apoptotic signaling cascade, which may be dependent on its role as a PLA-2 inhibitor. This apoptotic mechanism induced by QU may contribute to its known chemotherapeutic effects.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권7호
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• pp.405-410
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• 2014

ZBTB3 belongs to the Zinc finger and BTB/POZ domain containing transcription factor family; however, its biological role has rarely been studied. We demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that ZBTB3 is an essential factor for cancer cell growth via the regulation of the ROS detoxification pathway. Suppression of ZBTB3 using two different short hairpin RNAs in human melanoma, lung carcinoma, and breast carcinoma results in diminished cell growth. In addition, we found that suppression of ZBTB3 activates a caspase cascade, including caspase-9, -3, and PARP leading to cellular apoptosis, resulting from failed ROS detoxification. We identified that ZBTB3 plays an important role in the gene expression of ROS detoxification enzymes. Our results reveal that ZBTB3 may play a critical role in cancer cell growth via the ROS detoxification system. Therefore, therapeutic strategies that target ZBTB3 could be used in selective cancer treatments.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권11호
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• pp.1499-1506
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• 2008

식용 및 약용으로 이용되는 산초(Zanthoxylum schinifolium)의 줄기로부터 항암활성 성분을 분리하기 위하여, 산초 줄기를 유기용매로 추출하고 각 추출물의 인체 급성백혈병 암세포에 대한 독성 및 세포자살 유도 활성을 조사하였다. Methanol (SS-7), methylene chloride (SS-8), ethyl acetate (SS-9), n-butanol (SS-10)로 추출한 각 시료와 유기용매 추출 후 잔여분획 (SL-14)의 세포 독성을 인체 급성백혈병 Jurkat T 세포주를 대상으로 조사한 결과, 암세포에 대한 세포독성이 주로 methylene chloride 추출분획인 (SS-8)에서 확인되었다. Methylene chloride 추출물 (SS-8)의 Jurkat T 세포주에 대한 세포독성의 기전은 mitochondria로부터cytochrome c 방출, caspase-9 및 caspase-3의 활성화, PARP 분해, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation 등의 일련의 생화학적 반응을 수반하며, 항 세포자살단백질인 Bcl-xL단백질의 과발현에 의해 억제되는 세포자살 기전임을 확인하였다. FADD가 disruption된 Jurkat T cell clone I2.1 ($FADD^{-/-}$) 및 caspase-8가 결핍된 Jurkat T cell clone I9.2 (caspase-$8^{-/-}$)와 함께 the wild-type Jurkat T cell clone A3에 미치는 SS-8의 세포독성작용을 비교 분석한 결과, wild-type Jurkat A3, FADD-deficient Jurkat clone I2.1및 caspase-8-deficient Jurkat clone I9.2 모두는 SS-8의 세포독성에 대해 유사한 정도의 감수성을 나타내었다. 이는 SS-8에 의해 유도되는 apoptosis에 있어서, Fas/FasL system이 관계되지 않음을 시사한다. 한편, SS-8를 GC-MS 분석하여, 9,12-octadecanoic acid (18.62%), 2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)- 3H-pyrazol-3-one (14.97%), hexadecanoic acid (14.23%), (z,z)-6,9-pentadecadien-1-ol (13.73%), 5,6-dimethoxy- 2-methyl benzofuran (10.95%), 그리고 4-methoxy-2-methylcinnamic acid (5.38%) 등을 포함한 16가지의 구성 성분과 그 조성비를 확인하였다. 이상의 연구결과는 산초 줄기에 함유된 항암 활성에 대한 규명과 이해를 증진시킨다.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.38-43
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• 2003

Purpose: Caspase 2, a member of the family of ICE-like proteases, is activated by the Fas pathway and induces apoptosis by triggering the caspase cascade. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the expression pattern of caspase 2 might be associated with gastric cancer development and if so, to determine to which pathologic parameter it is linked. Materials and Methods: For the construction of the gastric cancer tissue microarray, 78 paraffin-embedded tissues containing gastric cancer areas were cored 3 times and transferred to the recipient master block. The expression pattern of caspase 2 was examined on tissue microarray slides by using immunohistochemistry and was compared with pathologic parameters, including histologic type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and peritoneal dissemination. Results: Caspase 2 was expressed on superficial and foveolar epithelial cells and lymphocytes in the gastric mucosa, mainly in cytoplasm. We found loss of caspase 2 expression in 41 ($52.6\%$) of the 78 gastric cancer tissues. Statistically, histologic type and other pathologic parameters were not related with loss of caspase 2 expression Conclusion: Our findings provide enough evidence that loss of caspase 2 expression may contribute to the development of Korean gastric cancer and that it might be one of the possible escape mechanisms from apoptosis in gastric cancer.