• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.937-942
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• 2003

Nitric oxide(NO) induces apoptosis in human osteoblasts. Treatment with exogenous NO donors, SNAP (S-Nitroso-N-acelylpenicillamine) and SNP (sodium nitroprusside), to MG-63 osteoblasts resulted in apoptotic morphological changes, as shown by a bright blue-fluorescent condensed nuclei and chromatin fragmentation by fluorescence microscope of Hoechst 33258-staining. The activities of caspase-9 and the subsequent caspase-3-like cysteine proteases were increased during NO-induced cell death. Pretreatment with Z-VAD-FMK (a pancaspase inhibitor) or Ac-DEVD-CHO (a specific caspase-3 inhibitor) abrogated the NO-induced cell death. The NO donor markedly activated JNK, a stress-activated protein kinase in the human osteoblasts. This study showed that the inhibition of the JNK pathway markedly reduced NO-induced cell death. But neither PD98059 (MEK inhibitor) nor SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) had any effect on NO-induced death. Taken together, these results suggest that JNK/SAPK may be related to NO-induced apoptosis in MG-63 human osteoblasts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권11호
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• pp.1627-1635
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• 2013

Mitochondria often play central roles in apoptotic pathways, and disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}m$) has been observed in various cells undergoing apoptosis. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection induces apoptosis in permissive cells; however, investigations of mitochondria-targeted apoptosis in HCMV-infected human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells have been limited. Here, we investigated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in HCMV-infected HFF cells. Flow cytometry analysis using JC-1 revealed that HCMV infection induces disruption of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ in HFF cells when administered 24 h post-infection (hpi), and this disruption was maximized at 48 hpi. Moreover, cytochrome c, normally a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, was detected in cytoplasmic extracts of HCMV-infected cells, but not mock-infected cells, by western blot analysis at 24 hpi. A caspase activity assay based on fluorescence spectrophotometry using a fluorogenic substrate revealed an increase in caspase-3 activity at 48 hpi in HCMV-infected cells. Caspase-8 activity was increased at 72 hpi in HCMV-infected cells. These results imply that HCMV infection induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in HFF cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.1147-1153
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• 2004

Bladder cancer is a common cancer with high risk of recurrence and mortality. Intravesicle chemotherapy after trans-urethral resection is required to prevent tumor recurrence and progression. It has been known that antioxidants enhance the antitumor effect of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), the most effective intravesical bladder cancer treatment. Capsaicin, the major pungent ingredient in genus Capsicum, has recently been tried as an intravesical drug for overactive bladder and it has also been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in many cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effect and alterations in the cellular redox state of capsaicin in MBT-2 murine bladder tumor cells. Capsaicin induced apoptotic MBT-2 cell death in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The capsaicin-induced apoptosis was blocked by the pretreatment with Z-VAD-fmk, a broad-range caspase inhibitor, or Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor. In addition to the caspase-3 activation, capsaicin also induced cytochrome c release and decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression with no changes in the level of Bax. Furthermore, capsaicin at the concentration of inducing apoptosis also markedly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, implying that capsaicin may enhance the antitumor effect of BCG in bladder cancer treatment. These results further suggest that capsaicin may be a valuable intravesical chemotherapeutic agent for bladder cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6379-6384
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• 2013

S-benzyl-cysteine (SBC) is a structural analog of S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is one of the major water-soluble compounds in aged garlic extract. In this study, anticancer activities and the underlying mechanisms of SBC action were investigated and compared these with those of SAC using human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. SBC significantly suppressed the survival rate of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory activities of SBC were stronger than those of SAC. Flow cytometry revealed that SBC induced G2-phase arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. SBC-treatment dramatically induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$), and enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 whilst hardly affecting caspase-8 activity. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that SBC-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of the expression of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggested that SBC exerts cytotoxic activity involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 pathways in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권11호
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• pp.713-718
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• 2009

Apoptotic DNA fragmentation, the hallmark of apoptosis, is mediated primarily by caspase-activated DFF40 (CAD) nuclease. DFF40 exists as a heterodimer with DFF45 (ICAD), which is a specific chaperone and inhibitor of DFF40 under normal conditions. To understand the mechanism through which the DFF40/DFF45 system is regulated, we analyzed the structural and biochemical properties of apoptotic DNA fragmentation mediated by DFF40/DFF45. Using limited proteolysis, we show that residues 1-281 of DFF45 form a rigid, crystallized domain, whereas the loop formed by residues 277-281 is accessible by trypsin. These results show that the C-terminal helix formed by residues 281-300 is dynamic and necessary for the chaperone activity of DFF45, but not for inhibition of DFF40.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.168-174
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• 2006

Enhanced apoptosis has been observed in the placentas of women with preeclampsia, but few studies have examined changes at the molecular level. This study was designed to detect genes specifically expressed in full-term preeclamptic placentas. Tissue samples were collected immediately after cesarean delivery from 11 normal and 8 preeclamptic placentas at 35-40 weeks of gestation. Total RNAs were extracted and hybridized to a cDNA microarray. Results were confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining were also performed to confirm apoptosis in preeclamptic placentas. Among 205 genes, three were up- or downregulated in preeclamptic placentas. The expression of caspase-10 and death receptor 3 (DR-3) was significantly increased, whereas insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) was strongly downregulated. RT-PCR analysis and Western blotting confirmed these effects. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the DR-3, caspase-10 and IGFBP-3 proteins were localized in the syncytial membrane. Apoptosis in the trophoblast was also increased in term placentas from women with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. These results suggest that caspase-10, DR-3 and IGFBP-3 are involved in apoptosis in the preeclamptic placenta.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.171-180
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• 2002

Nitric oxide has high affinity for iron, and thus it can cause intracellular iron loss. We tested the idea that intracellular iron can be the primary target of NO toxicity by comparing the signaling mechanisms involved in cell death caused by iron depletion and that caused by NO. Treatment of HL-60 cells with a NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), decreased the intracellular iron level rapidly as that observed with the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO). Iron chelators such as DFO and mimosine could induce death of human leukemic HL-60 cells by a mechanism requiring activation of p38 kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, caspase-3 and caspase-8. DFO and SNAP also caused release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Inhibition of p38 kinase by a selective inhibitor, SB203580, abolished the NO and DFO-induced cell death, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8, thus indicating that p38 kinase lies upstream in the cell death processes. In a parallel situation, the cells that are sensitive to NO showed similar sensitivity to DFO. Moreover, simultaneous addition of ferric citrate, an iron-containing compound, inhibited the SNAP and DFO-induced activation of caspases and also blocked the NO-mediated cell cycle arrest at $G_1$ phase. Collectively, our data implicate that the NO-induced cell death of tumor cells including HL-60 cells is mediated by depletion of iron and further suggest that activation of p38 kinase lies upstream of cytochrome c release and caspase activation involved in this apoptotic process.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권11호
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• pp.1513-1520
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• 2008

4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)는 세포내 레독스의 균형을 깨뜨려 혈관 기능 손상을 일으킨다. 본 연구자들은 HNE의 축적이 야기하는 혈관 기능 손상기전을 더 잘 이해하기 위하여 혈관 내피 세포의 미토콘드리아 세포사 메커니즘을 규명하였다. HNE를 처리한 세포에서는 미토콘드리아 막전위 소실과 그에 따른 cytochrome C의 방출이 유도되었으며, Bax의 증가 및 Bcl-2의 감소가 관찰되었다. ROS 제거제인 NAC와 peroxynitrite 제거제인 페니실라민은 HNE가 유도하는 ROS 생성을 차단하여 cytochrome C 방출과 세포사를 억제하였다. 세포에 HNE와 zVAD-fmk (caspase 저해제)를 같이 처리하면 HNE가 유도하는 세포사를 억제하지 못하는데 이는 HNE에 의한 세포사가 caspase에 비의존적 단계일 가능성을 시사하였다. 위의 결과들은 HNE가 유도하는 혈관 내피 세포의 세포사 매커니즘은 미토콘드리아 막전위의 탈분극에 의해 촉발되며 이는 혈관계 항상성의 악화와 노화에 의해 수반되는 혈관기능 손상을 유도할 것으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.1596-1600
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• 2007

본 연구에서 봉독의 apoptosis 유도에 의한 항암기전 효능을 A549 인체폐암세포를 대상으로 조사하였으며, apoptosis 유발에 관여할 것으로 예상되는 중요한 유전자들의 발현 및 활성에 미치는 봉독의 영향을 조사하였다. A549 세포의 생존율은 봉독의 처리 농도 증가에 따라 강력하게 억제되었으며, 이는 염색질 응축 현상을 동반한 apoptosis 유발에 의한 것임을 알 수 있었다. 봉독 처리에 의한 apoptosis 유발은 Bax 및 Bcl-xL의 발현 변화 없이 Bcl-2의 발현 감소에 따른 상대적인 Bax의 발현 증가와 IAP family에 속하는 인자들의 발현 감소 및 caspase의 활성화와 연관성이 있었다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권11호
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• pp.1321-1331
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• 2018

본 연구에서 N. commune으로부터 U937과 SK-HEP-1 세포에 대해 apoptosis를 유도하는 광과민성물질을 순수 분리하였다. N. commune을 dichloromethane : Methanol (1:1)로 추출하여 Hexane, EtOAc, MeOH로 분획하였다. 높은 광역학활성을 나타내는 EtOAc 분획물에서 NC-1을 분리하였으며, 분자량 870의 pheophytin a ($C_{55}H_{74}N_4O_5$)인 것으로 구조를 동정하였다. 광역학활성 조사는 NC-1을 $1.15{\mu}M$에서 $23.00{\mu}M$까지 5개의 농도를 처리하여 광을 조사하는 것과 조사하지 않는 조건으로 나누어 평가하였다. U937과 SK-HEP-1 두 세포에서 apoptotic body 형성, cell blebbing 등의 형태적 변화와 세포독성, caspase 활성, 세포핵의 응축, DNA 단편화 등이 광 의존적이며 농도 의존적으로 활성이 증가하였다. 추가적으로 유세포분석을 통한 apoptosis 유도의 정량적 분석 결과에서도 광조건에서 농도가 증가할수록 apoptosis 유도가 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과를 통해 NC-1의 U937과 SK-HEP-1 세포에 대한 사멸은 광역학적 apoptosis에 의한 것임을 확인하였다. 본 연구 내용을 N. commune으로부터 광감각제 개발의 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것이다.