• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 2013

We investigated the synergistic apoptotic effects of co-treatments with Chios gum mastic (CGM) and eugenol on G361 human melanoma cells. An MTT assay was conducted to investigate whether this co-treatment efficiently reduces the viability of G361 cells compared with each single treatment. The induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by DNA electrophoresis, Hoechst staining, and analyses of DNA hypoploidy. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining were also performed to evaluate expression and translocation of apoptosis-related proteins following CGM and eugenol co-treatment. Proteasome activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) changes were also assayed.The results indicated that the co-treatment of CGM and eugenol induces multiple pathways and processes associated with an apoptotic response in G361 cells. These include nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, a reduction in MMP and proteasome activity, an increase of Bax and decrease of Bcl-2, a decreased DNA content, cytochrome c release into the cytosol, the translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) into the nucleus, and the activation of caspase-9, caspase-7, caspase-3, PARP and DFF45 (ICAD). In contrast, separate treatments of $40{\mu}g/ml$ CGM or $300{\mu}M$ eugenol for 24 hours did not induce apoptosis. Our present data thus suggest that a combination therapy of CGM and eugenol is a potential treatment strategy for human melanoma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.47-62
• /
• 2009

Glenditsia spina (GS) can resolve carbuncle, relive swelling, dispel wind and destroy parasites. For these reasons, GS has been widely used as dermatologic agent clinically. In this study, the specific pathways of anti-proliferative effect of GS on human derived melanoma cells were identified. The molecular profile was measured using microarray technique to identify up- or down-regulated genes in SK-MEL-2 cell line. Pathway analysis was done by listing percentage of pathway involvement, and the represented pathways were obtained from KEGG. The transcription factor binding sequences were obtained by Transfac database. By the promoter analysis, up-regulated genes by GS were mainly associated with MAPK, Regulation of actin cytoskeleton, Wnt, Focal adhesion and Long term potentiation pathway. Down-regulated genes by GS were mainly associated with MAPK and Antigen processing and presentation pathway. And some of the transcription factors like Sp1 and NF-Y in up-regulated genes and Oct-1 in down-regulated genes by GS also identified.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.1611-1615
• /
• 2012

Triptolide, a diterpenoid obtained from Tripteryglum wilfordii Hook.f, has attracted interest for its antitumor activities against human tumor cell lines in recent years. This report focuses on anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities in human melanoma A375 cells assessed by CCK8 assay, Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. In addition, triptolide-induced arrest in the S phase was also observed. Caspase assays showed the apoptosis induced by triptolide was caspase-dependent and probably through intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, expression of NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) and its downstream factors such as Bcl-2, Bcl-$X_L$ was down-regulated. Taken together, the data indicate that triptolide inhibits A375 cells proliferation and induces apoptosis by a caspase-dependent pathway and through a NF-${\kappa}B$-mediated mechanism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.1204-1211
• /
• 2019

Fungal exopolysaccharides are important natural products having diverse biological functions. In this study, exopolysaccharides from Fomitopsis castanea mycelia (FEPS) were prepared, and the highest mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity was found. FEPS were prepared from cultivation broth by ethanol precipitation method. The extraction yield and protein concentration of FEPS were 213.1 mg/l and 0.03%, respectively. FEPS inhibited mushroom tyrosinase with the half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of 16.5 mg/ml and dose-dependently inhibited cellular tyrosinase activity (63.9% at $50{\mu}g/ml$, and 83.3% at $100{\mu}g/ml$) in the cell-free extract of SK-MEL-5 human melanoma cell and ${\alpha}$-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (${\alpha}-MSH$)-stimulated melanin formation in intact SK-MEL-5 human melanoma cell. The $IC_{50}$ of FEPS against NO production from RAW264.7 macrophage cells was $42.8{\pm}0.64{\mu}g/ml$. By in vivo study using a zebrafish model, exposure of FEPS at $400{\mu}g/ml$ to dechorionated zebrafish embryos for 18 h decreased the pigment density, compared to that without FEPS-treated control.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2009

In this work, a novel series of aminoisoquinolinylamide derivatives 1a-c and 2a-f were synthesized via several reaction steps, starting from 2-methyl-4-nitrobenzonitrile (3) and 1-chloro-5-nitroquinoline (8). And their antiproliferative activities were screened against A375 human melanoma cell line compared to Sorafenib as a reference compound. Among them, compound 1b and 1c exhibited meaningful inhibitory activities. These results demonstrated that aminoisoquinolinylamide scaffold possesses the possibility as the treatment for melanoma.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.321.1-321.1
• /
• 2002

To indentify inhibitors of melanogenesis. we compared the effect of some natural products on mushroom tyrosinase. human melanocytic tyrosinase activity and melanin content. The cytotoxicity of the component were also tested on cultured mouse melanoma cells, Each extract significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in vitro and B 16 melanoma cell lines. In B 16 cell lines, watermelon's inner shell extract inhibited tyrosinase activity as strong as kojic acid at 150${\um}g$/${\mu}\ell$ concentration. And morning glory'seed extract inhibited melanin synthesis more than kojic acid at 150${\um}g$/${\mu}\ell$ concentration. Each extract were strong inhibitors of tyrosinase activity and total melanin synthesis in B 16 mouse melanoma cell lines at less than 100${\um}g$/${\mu}\ell$ concetration. These result show that extract of watermelon's inner shell. lettuce. morning glory's seed and licorice root could be developed as skin whitening component of cosmetics.

• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.236-239
• /
• 2002

Sunscreens have been advocated as an important means of preventing skin cancer. UV-induced immunosuppression is important for skin cancer development, yet the effectiveness of sunscreens in protecting the human immune system from UV radiation is unclear. The only currently accepted method of sunscreen rating is the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) based on prevention of erythema. We developed an in vivo non-invasive method for evaluating protection of the human immune system from UV radiation based on recall contact sensitivity to nickel, a common allergen. Using this system we showed that broad-spectrum sunscreens provide greater protection to the immune system than sunscreens which protect from UVB only. UVA was found to be immunosuppressive. We developed this technique to enable the study of solar simulated UV radiation dose responses and determined Immune Protection Factors (IPFs) for six commercially available sunscreens based on limits of protection from the dose response data. We found that the IPF did not correlate with the SPF and that protection from erythema therefore cannot be used to predict protection of the immune system. However, IPF was significantly correlated to the UVA protective capability of the sunscreens, indicating that sunscreen protection from UVA is important for prevention of immunosuppression. We recommend that sunscreens should be rated against their immune protective capability to provide a better indication of their ability to protect against skin cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2014

Skin hyperpigmentation is one of the most common skin disorders caused by abnormal melanogenesis. The mechanism and key factors at play are not fully understood. Previous reports have indicated that cystamine (CTM) inhibits melanin synthesis, though its molecular mechanism in melanogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CTM on melanin production using ELISA reader and the expression of proteins involved in melanogenesis by Western blotting, and examined the involvement of transglutaminase-2 (Tgase-2) in SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells by gene silencing. In the results, CTM dose-dependently suppressed melanin production and dendrite extension in a-MSH-induced melanogenesis of SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells. CTM also suppressed a-MSH-induced chemotactic migration as well as the expressions of melanogenesis factors TRP-1, TRP-2 and MITF in a-MSH-treated SK-MEL-2 cells. Meanwhile, gene silencing of Tgase-2 suppressed dendrite extension and the expressions of TRP-1 and TRP-2 in a-MSH-treated SK-MEL-2 cells. Overall, these findings suggested that CTM suppresses a-MSH-induced melanogenesis via Tgase-2 inhibition and that therefore, Tgase-2 might be a new target in hyperpigmentation disorder therapy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.217-221
• /
• 2011

Purpose: FGF4 (fibroblast growth factor 4) is a newly characterized gene which was found to be a transforming gene in several cancerous cells. FGF4 expression and amplification has been subsequently observed in several human cancers including stomach cancer, breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer and bladder cancer. This study was designed to measure the protein expression of FGF4 in malignant skin cancers. Methods: We examined 8 normal skin tissues and 24 malignant skin tumor tissues which were 8 malignant melanomas, 8 squamous cell carcinomas and 8 basal cell carcinomas. The specimens were analyzed for the protein expression of FGF4 using immunohistochemical staining. To evaluate the amount of expression of FGF4, the histochemical score (HSCORE) was used. Results: FGF4 was expressed more intensely in malignant melanoma, followed by SCC and BCC in immunohistochemistry. The average HSCORE was 0.01 for normal skin, 2.02 for malignant melanoma, 1.28 for squamous cell carcinoma, and 0.27 for basal cell carcinoma, respectively. The expression of FGF4 in malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma was increased in comparison with normal tissues and basal cell cancer, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference between malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma was not statistically significant. Conclusion: These findings provide evidences that the expression of FGF4 plays an important role in malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma progressions. This article demonstrates expression of FGF4 in human skin malignant tumors, and suggests that FGF4 is more expressed in highly aggressive skin tumors.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2002

Quercetin is one of the bioflavonoid compounds and has multiple biological effects such as antioxidant and effective anti-inflammatory agent. Melanin has an important role in protecting human skin from the damaging effects of ultra-violet W) radiation. We studied the effect of quercetin on proliferation of B16/F10 melanoma cells. After 48h treatment of cells with quercetin, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptosis. Therefore, the decrease in cell numbers may be due to cell growth arrest, not due to cell death by cytotoxicity. We also investigated the effect of quercetin on melanogenesis of this cells. B16/F10 melanoma cells were grown for 48h in the presence of 0.01~50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml quercetin and the total melanin contents were measured. Quercetin stimulated melanization of the cells in low concentrations (0.01~20$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), whereas it inhibited melanization in high concentrations (30~50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml). It was observed that quercetin differently regulates melanogenesis of B16/F10 melanoma cells dependent on its concentrations.