• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.171-174
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• 2007

Neuronal death is a common characteristic hallmark of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, there have been no effective drugs to successfully prevent neuronal death in those diseases, whereas oriental medicinal plants have to possess valuable therapeutic potentials to treat neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, in an attempt to provide neuroprotective agents from natural plants, 80% methanol extracts of a wide range of medicinal plants, which are native to Jeju Island in Korea, were prepared and their protective effects on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death were examined. Among those tested, extracts from Smilax china and Saururus chinesis significantly decreased hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptotic cell death. The extracts attenuated hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$)-induced caspase-3 activation in a dose-dependent manner. Further, plant extracts restored $H_2O_2$-induced depletion of intracellular glutathione, a major endogenous antioxidant. The data suggest that Jeju native medicinal plants could potentially be used as therapeutic agents for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress is implicated.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.367-374
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• 2002

목적 : 인체 대장암 세포주인 HT-29에 새로운 CDCA 합성유도체인 HS-1200을 처치하여 암세포의 증식에 미치는 영향과 아포토시스 유도 활성을 관찰하고 기전을 연구하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 지수증식기의 HT-29 세포에 다양한 농도의 CDCA 합성유도체인 HS-1200을 투약하여 $IC_{50}$를 구하였다. $IC_{50}$의 농도를 참조하여, 세포 생존능의 실험은 frypan blue exclusion assay를 이용하였고, 아포토시스 유도에 관한 관찰 실험은 agarose gel electrophoresis, TUNEL assay 및 Hoechst staining을 이용하였다. Western blotting을 통한 PARP [poly (ADP-ribose) polymerasel, caspase-3 및 DFF (DNA fragmentation factor)의 degradation 및 cleavage 등을 관찰하였다. Immunofluorescent method를 통한 cytochrome c 방출 측정 및 미토콘드리아 막전위 측정을 실시하였다. 결과 : HS-1200은 agarose gel electrophoresis 실험에서 DNA ladder의 관찰, TUNEL assay 및 Hoechst staining 에서 아포토시스 세포들이 대량으로 관찰되는 결과로 미루어 아포토시스에 의한 세포 사망을 유도하는 것으로 사료되었다. 아포토시스에 의한 세포 사망을 검증하기 위한 Western blotting을 통한 PARP cleavage, caspase-3 및 DFF 발현 관찰에서 공히 HS-1200 처치 후 4시간 째부터 PARP, caspase-3 및 DFF의 degradation 및 cleavage가 관찰되었다. HS-1200의 아포토시스 유도에 이르는 기전연구에서 미토콘드리아의 역할에 주목하고 시행한 cytochrome c 방출 측정 및 미토콘드리아막 전위 $(\Delta\Psi_m)$ 측정에서 공히 cytochrome c 방출 및 미토콘드리아막 전위 $(\Delta\Psi_m)$의 감소가 관찰되었다. 결론 : 인체 대장암 세포주(HT-29)에서 CDCA 합성유도체인 HS-1200을 이용한 세포 증식억제 및 세포사망 기전 연구에서, 아포토시스의 유도가 HS-1200의 세포 사망 기전에 중요한 역할을 하는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 아포토시스의 유도에는 미토콘드리아의 역할이 중요하게 관련되는 것으로 관찰되었다. 상기 결과를 토대로 HS-1200의 항암 치료제로서의 역할에 관한 기초 자료로 서의 유용성을 제시할 수 있었다.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.11-22
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• 2013

Objectives: The present investigation aimed at examining if post-cancer treatment with a potentized homeopathic drug, Condurango 30C, which is generally used to treat oesophageal cancer, could also show an ameliorating effect through apoptosis induction on lung cancer induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in white rats (Rattus norvegicus). Methods: Lung cancer was induced after four months by chronic feeding of BaP to rats through gavage at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for one month. After four months, the lung-cancer-bearing rats were treated with Condurango 30C for the next one ($5^{th}$), two ($5^{th}-6^{th}$) and three ($5^{th}-7^{th}$) months, respectively, and were sacrificed at the corresponding time-points. The ameliorating effect, if any, after Condurango 30C treatment for the various periods was evaluated by using protocols such as histology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), annexinV-FITC/PI assay, flow cytometry of the apoptosis marker, DNA fragmentation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and western blot analyses of lung tissue samples. Results: Striking recovery of lung tissue to a near normal status was noticed after post-cancerous drug treatment, as evidenced by SEM and histology, especially after one and two months of drug treatment. Data from the annexinV-FITC/PI and DNA fragmentation assays revealed that Condurango 30C could induce apoptosis in cancer cells after post-cancer treatment. A critical analysis of signalling cascade, evidenced through a RT-PCR study, demonstrated up-regulation and down-regulation of different pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, respectively, related to a caspase-3-mediated apoptotic pathway, which was especially discernible after one-month and two-month drug treatments. Correspondingly, Western blot and immunohistochemistry studies confirmed the ameliorative potential of Condurango 30C by its ability to down-regulate the elevated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, a hallmark of lung cancer. Conclusion: The overall result validated a positive effect of Condurango 30C in ameliorating lung cancer through caspase-3-mediated apoptosis induction and EGFR down-regulation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8177-8186
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• 2016

The present study was aimed at determining the effects of alkylating and oxidative stress inducing agents on a newly identified variant of DNA polymerase beta ($pol{\beta}{\Delta}_{208-304}$) specific for ovarian cancer. $Pol{\beta}{\Delta}_{208-304}$ has a deletion of exons 11-13 which lie in the catalytic part of enzyme. We compared the effect of these chemicals on HeLa cells and HeLa cells stably transfected with this variant cloned into in pcDNAI/neo vector by MTT, colony forming and apoptosis assays. $Pol{\beta}{\Delta}_{208-304}$ cells exhibited greater sensitivity to an alkylating agent and less sensitivity towards $H_2O_2$ and UV when compared with HeLa cells alone. It has been shown that cell death in $Pol{\beta}{\Delta}_{208-304}$ transfected HeLa cells is mediated by the caspase 9 cascade. Exon 11 has nucleotidyl selection activity, while exons 12 and 13 have dNTP selection activity. Hence deletion of this part may affect polymerizing activity although single strand binding and double strand binding activity may remain same. The lack of this part may adversely affect catalytic activity of DNA polymerase beta so that the variant may act as a dominant negative mutant. This would represent clinical significance if translated into a clinical setting because resistance to radiation or chemotherapy during the relapse of the disease could be potentially overcome by this approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6273-6280
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• 2013

Goniothalamin, a natural compound extracted from Goniothalamus sp. belonging to the Annonacae family, possesses anticancer properties towards several tumor cell lines. This study focused on apoptosis induction by goniothalamin (GTN) in the Hela cervical cancer cell line. Cell growth inhibition was measured by MTT assay and the $IC_{50}$ value of goniothalamin was $3.2{\pm}0.72{\mu}g/ml$. Morphological changes and biochemical processes associated with apoptosis were evident on phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. DNA fragmentation, DNA damage, caspase-9 activation and a large increase in the sub-G1 and S cell cycle phases confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. It could be concluded that goniothalamin show a promising cytotoxicity effect against cervical cancer cells (Hela) and the cell death mode induced by goniothalamin was apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6481-6486
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• 2013

Background: Our previous study demonstrated cytotoxicity of a crude extract from Patrinia heterophylla Bunge (PHEB). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of isovaltrate acetoxyhydrin (IA) isolated from PHEB on the gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, in order to explore a potential treatment for gastric cancer. Methods: MTT assays were employed to determine the effects of IA on cell vitality and proliferation, with monitoring of cell morphology changes and examination of apoptosis with Annexin V-PI staining. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell cycle progression and mitochondrial membrane potential. The activity of caspase 3, 9 was evaluated by spectrophotometry, and the protein levels of Bax, Bcl2 and Cyclin B1 were analyzed with Western blotting of total proteins extracted from cultured cells. Results: The results demonstrated direct toxicity of IA towards SGC-7901 cells. Evidence of apoptosis included blebbing and chromatin condensation. Annexin V-PI assays revealed early apoptosis, involving rapid depolarization of mitochondrial membranes and activity of caspase 3, 9 signaling pathways. Western blotting showed that Bcl2 and Bax proteins was down- and up-regulated, respectively, and cyclin B1 was up-regulated. Cell cycle analysis further indicated that IA could induce G2/M phase arrest in SGC-7901 cells. Conclusions: In conclusion, we believe that IA induces apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells, therefore providing a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of gastric cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권11호
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• pp.665-670
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• 2019

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2 (NOD2), an intracellular pattern recognition receptor, plays important roles in inflammation and cell death. Previously, we have shown that NOD2 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and that NOD2 deficiency promotes VSMC proliferation, migration, and neointimal formation after vascular injury. However, its role in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cell death in VSMCs remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate ER stress-induced viability of mouse primary VSMCs. NOD2 deficiency increased ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) in VSMCs in the presence of tunicamycin (TM), an ER stress inducer. In contrast, ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) were decreased in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs. We found that the $IRE-1{\alpha}-XBP1$ pathway, one of unfolded protein response branches, was decreased in NOD2-deficient VSMCs and reversed in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs in the presence of TM. Furthermore, NOD2 deficiency reduced the expression of XBP1 target genes such as GRP78, PDI-1, and Herpud1, thus improving cell survival. Taken together, these data suggest that the induction of ER stress through NOD2 expression can protect against TM-induced cell death in VSMCs. These results may contribute to a new paradigm in vascular homeostasis.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.33-42
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor effects of Cheongpyesagan-tang(CST) and YKK012 on colon cancer. Methods : MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Single herbs and combinations of CST and YKK012 on murine colon cancer cells, Colon 38. To explain effects of apoptosis in colon cancer, we performed the western blot. Effects of CST and YKK012 on antitumor activity of CPT-11 using the murine colon38 allograft tumor in BDF1 mice. Results : Single herbs and combinations of CST and YKK012 was tested in vitro, Rhei Radix (RH) and Scutellariae Radix (SC) and YKK012 showed dose-response cytotoxicity on Colon 38. This might be due to the apoptosis, as we see Bax and Caspase-3, which are apoptotic factors, was expressed in RH and SC treated cells. YKK012 also showed increased expression of Caspase-3. In mouse colorectal cancer xenograft model of colon38 cells, herbal combinations showed tendencies of tumor regression, but was not significant. Furthermore, because toxicity was observed in CST group, we reduced the dose of CST for the next experiment. The anti-tumor effects of herbal combinations were insufficient to be used as single anti-tumor agent. With simultaneous usage of CPT-11, contrary to that CST showed no synergistic effects, YKK012 which was composed by the combination of four $ER{\beta}$ selective herbs, significantly reduced the size of tumor and Bax expression was increased. Conclusions : We suggest YKK012 can be a effective cancer adjuvant therapy with CPT-11 on colon cancer.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.546-554
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• 2006

식용 및 약용으로 이용되는 산초 (Zanthoxylum schinifolium) 잎에 함유된 항암활성 성분을 분리하기 위하여 산초잎을 유기용매로 추출하여, 각 추출물의 암세포에 대한 독성 및 세포자살 유도 활성을 조사하였다. Methanol, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol로 추출한 각 추출물의 세포 독성을 인체 급성백혈병 Jurkat T 세포주, estrogen receptor-positive 유방암 세포주 MDA 361과 estrogen receptor-negative 세포주 MDA 438를 대상으로 조사한 결과, 이들 암세포주에 대한 세포독성이 methylene chloride 추출물 (SL-14)에서 주로 확인되었다. Methylene chloride 추출물 (SL-14)의 Jurkat T세포주에 대한 세포독성의 기전은 mitochondria로부터cytochrome c 방출, 이에 뒤이은 caspase-9 및 caspase-3의 활성화, PARP 분해, jnternucleosomal DNAfragmentation등의 일련의 생화학적 과정을 통해 유도되며 또한 Bcl-xL의 ectopic overexpression에 의해서는 negative regulation되는 세포자살임을 확인하였다. 또한 SL-14를 GC-MS 분석하여, 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol (15.1%), 2-a-methyl-17, b-hop-21-ene (15.1%), 15-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H benzazepin (11.95%), phytol (10.38%), lupeol (9.92%), 12-methylbenzofuran (8.23%) 등을 포함한 22가지의 구성성분과 그 조성비를 확인하였다. 이상의 연구결과들은 식용 산초잎에 함유된 항암 활성으로서의 세포자살유도 활성의 규명과 이해에 유익하게 활용될 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국전자통신학회논문지
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• 제8권12호
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• pp.1949-1958
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• 2013

본 연구는 온목동맥의 일시적 폐색에 의해 유발된 전뇌허혈로 인해 발생한 SD 랫드 소뇌 부위의 세포자멸사에 대한 침전극저주파자극(Needle Electrode Electrical Stimulation : NEES) 적용의 효과를 알아보기 위하여 면역조직화학적검사법을 통하여 조직을 관찰하였다. 연구를 통하여 대조군과 전뇌허혈유발군, 침전극저주파자극시행군의 세포자멸사 관련 인자의 발현정도를 비교하여 분석한 결과 전뇌허혈 후 침전극저주파의 적용은 SD 랫드 소뇌 부위의 c-fos 발현 감소에 유의한 효과를 보였으며, bax, caspase-3의 발현 감소에는 유의한 영향이 없는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 보아 전뇌허혈 후 침전극저주파자극의 적용은 세포자멸사 관련 인자의 발현 억제에 일부분 효과성이 있는 것으로 사료된다.