• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.447-456
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• 2022

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of Arctigenin on cell growth and the mechanism of cell death elicited by Arctigenin were examined in FaDu human pharyngeal carcinoma cells. To determine the apoptotic activity of Arctigenin in FaDu human pharyngeal carcinoma cells, cell viability assay, DAPI staining, caspase activation analysis, and immunoblotting were performed. Arctigenin inhibited the growth of cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation. Arctigenin-treated cells showed caspase-3/7 activation and increased apoptosis versus control cells. FasL, a death ligand associated with extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways, was up-regulated by Arctigenin treatment. Moreover, caspase-8, a part of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, was activated by Arctigenin treatments. Expressions of anti-apoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, components of the mitochondria-dependent intrinsic apoptosis pathway, significantly decreased following Arctigenin treatment. The expressions of pro-apoptotic factors such as BAX, BAD and caspase-9, and tumor suppressor -53 increased by Arctigenin treatments. In addition, Arctigenin activated caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) induced cell death. Arctigenin also inhibited the proliferation of FaDu cells by the suppression of p38, NF-κB, and Akt signaling pathways. These results suggest that Arctigenin may inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptotic cell death in FaDu human pharyngeal carcinoma cells through both the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway and the death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.382-393
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• 2023

Cell clusters are a histological hallmark feature of intervertebral disc degeneration. Clusters arise from cell proliferation, are associated with replicative senescence, and remain metabolically, but their precise role in various stages of disc degeneration remain obscure. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate small, medium, and large size cell-clusters. For this purpose, human disc samples were collected from 55 subjects, aged 37-72 years, 21 patients had disc herniation, 10 had degenerated non-herniated discs, and 9 had degenerative scoliosis with spinal curvature <45°. 15 non-degenerated control discs were from cadavers. Clusters and matrix changes were investigated with histology, immunohistochemistry, and Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Data obtained were analyzed with spearman rank correlation and ANOVA. Results revealed, small and medium-sized clusters were positive for cell proliferation markers Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in control and slightly degenerated human discs, while large cell clusters were typically more abundant in severely degenerated and herniated discs. Large clusters associated with matrix fissures, proteoglycan loss, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and Caspase-3. Spatial association findings were reconfirmed with SDS-PAGE that showed presence to these target markers based on its molecular weight. Controls, slightly degenerated discs showed smaller clusters, less proteoglycan loss, MMP-1, and Caspase-3. In conclusion, cell clusters in the early stages of degeneration could be indicative of repair, however sustained loading increases large cell clusters especially around microscopic fissures that accelerates inflammatory catabolism and alters cellular metabolism, thus attempted repair process initiated by cell clusters fails and is aborted at least in part via apoptosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.27.1-27.14
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• 2024

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is formed by several immune cells. Notably, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are existed in the TME that induce angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, a point-mutated variant of IL-32θ was discovered in breast cancer tissues, which suppressed migration and proliferation through intracellular pathways. Although the relationship between cancer and IL-32 has been previously studied, the effects of IL-32θ on TAMs remain elusive. Recombinant human IL-32θ (rhIL-32θ) was generated using an Escherichia coli expression system. To induce M0 macrophage polarization, THP-1 cells were stimulated with PMA. After PMA treatment, the cells were cultured with IL-4 and IL-13, or rhIL-32θ. The mRNA level of M1 macrophage markers (IL-1β, TNFα, inducible nitric oxide synthase) were increased by rhIL-32θ in M0 macrophages. On the other hand, the M2 macrophage markers (CCL17, CCL22, TGFβ, CD206) were decreased by rhIL-32θ in M2 macrophages. rhIL-32θ induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB via regulation of the MAPK (p38) pathway. In conclusion, point-mutated rhIL-32θ induced the polarization to M1-like macrophages through the MAPK (p38) and NF-κB (p65/p50) pathways.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.305-313
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• 2006

The primary goal of the wound healing is rapid wound closure. Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have greatly expanded our understanding of the biologic processes involved in wound repair and tissue regeneration. This study was conducted to develop a new sponge type of biomaterial to be used for either wound dressing or scaffold for tissue engineering. We designed to make a comparative study of the wound healing effect of silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid (SF/HA) blend sponge in full-thickness dermal injury model of rat. Two full-thickness excisions were made on the back of the experimental animals. The excised wound was covered with either the silk fibroin (SF), hyaluronic acid (HA) or SF/HA (7 : 3 or 5 : 5 ratio) blend sponge. On the postoperative days of 3, 7, 10 and 14, the wound area was calculated by image analysis software. Simultaneously, the tissues were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's trichrome methods to measure the area of regenerated epithelium and collagen deposition. In addition, we evaluated the degree of the epithelial cell proliferation using immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). We found that the half healing time ($HT_{50}$) of SF/HA blend sponge treated groups were significantly decreased as compared with either those of SF or HA treatment group. Furthermore, SF/HA blend sponges significantly increased the size of epithelialization and collagen deposition as well as the number of PCNA positive cells on epidermal basement membrane as compared with those of control treatment. Especially, the 5 : 5 ratio group of SF/HA among all treatment groups was most effective on wound healing rate and histological studies. These results suggest that SF/HA blend sponges could accelerate the wound healing process through the increase of epithelialization, collagen deposition and basal cell proliferation in full thickness skin injury.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권9호
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• pp.830-841
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• 2018

Recent studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. In this study, we showed that miR-766-3p was decreased in approximately 72% of HCC tissues and cell lines, and its low expression level was significantly correlated with tumour size, TNM stage, metastasis, and poor prognosis in HCC. Ectopic miR-766-3p expression inhibited HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion. In addition, we showed that miR-766-3p repressed Wnt3a expression. A luciferase reporter assay revealed that Wnt3a was a direct target of miR-766-3p, and an inverse correlation between miR-766-3p and Wnt3a expression was observed. Moreover, Wnt3a up-regulation reversed the effects of miR766-3p on HCC progression. In addition, our study showed that miR-766-3p up-regulation decreased the nuclear ${\beta}-catenin$ level and expression of Wnt targets (TCF1 and Survivin) and reduced the level of MAP protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 (PRC1). However, these effects of miR-766-3p were reversed by Wnt3a up-regulation. In addition, PRC1 upregulation increased the nuclear ${\beta}-catenin$ level and protein expression of TCF1 and Survivin. iCRT3, which disrupts the ${\beta}-catenin-TCF4$ interaction, repressed the TCF1, Survivin and PRC1 protein levels. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-766-3p down-regulation promotes HCC cell progression, probably by targeting the Wnt3a/PRC1 pathway, and miR-766-3p may serve as a potential therapeutic target in HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.2325-2331
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• 2013

Objective: To detect effects of plumbagin on proliferation and apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines A549, H292 and H460 were treated with various concentrations of plumbagin. Cell proliferation rates was determined using both cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and clonogenic assays. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V/propidium iodide double-labeled flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry. Activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ was examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and luciferase reporter assay. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of both NF-${\kappa}B$ regulated apoptotic-related gene and activation of p65 and $I{\kappa}B{\kappa}$. Results: Plumbagin dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of the lung cancer cells. The IC50 values of plumbagin in A549, H292, and H460 cells were 10.3 ${\mu}mol/L$, 7.3 ${\mu}mol/L$, and 6.1 ${\mu}mol/L$ for 12 hours, respectively. The compound concentration-dependently induced apoptosis of the three cell lines. Treatment with plumbagin increased the intracellular level of ROS, and inhibited the activation of NK-${\kappa}B$. In addition to inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$/p65 nuclear translocation, the compound also suppressed the degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\kappa}$. ROS scavenger NAC highly reversed the effect of plumbagin on apoptosis and inactivation of NK-${\kappa}B$ in H460 cell line. Treatment with plumbagin also increased the activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3, downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, upregulated the expression of Bax, Bak, and CytC. Conclusions: Plumbagin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in human lung cancer cells through an NF-${\kappa}B$-regulated mitochondrial-mediated pathway, involving activation of ROS.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.4809-4813
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• 2014

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been reported to interfere with estrogen signaling. Exposure to these chemicals decreases the immune response and causes a wide range of diseases in animals and humans. Recently, many studies showed that licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (LRE) commonly called "gamcho" in Korea exhibits antioxidative, chemoprotective, and detoxifying properties. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of LRE and to determine if and how LRE can alleviate the toxicity of EDCs. LRE was prepared by vacuum evaporation and freeze-drying after homogenization of licorice root powder that was soaked in 80% ethanol for 72 h. We used 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a representative EDC, which is known to induce tumors or cancers; MCF-7 breast cancer cells, used as a tumor model, were treated with TCDD and various concentrations of LRE (0, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$) for 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, TCDD stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation, but LRE significantly inhibited TCDD-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of TCDD toxicity-related genes, i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), AhR nuclear translocator, and cytochrome P450 1A1, was also down-regulated by LRE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of cell cycle distribution after treatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD showed that LRE inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells via G2/M phase arrest. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis also revealed that LRE dose-dependently increased the expression of the tumor suppressor genes p53 and p27 and down-regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data suggest that LRE can mitigate the tumorigenic effects of TCDD in breast cancer cells by suppression of AhR expression and cell cycle arrest. Thus, LRE can be used as a potential toxicity-alleviating agent against EDC-mediated diseases.

• 치과방사선
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.67-77
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to investigate the irradiatiion effects on the capillary and endothelial cell in the submandibular gland. Sprague-Dawley strain male rats were singly irradiated to their neck region with the dose of 5Gy by 6MV X-irradiation and sacrificed on the 6 hours, 12 hours, 1, 3, 7, and 14days after irradiation. The authors observed the histological changes of the capillary at H & E and PAS staining under a light microscope, and also observed the ultrastructural changes of the endothelial cell using a transmission electron microscope. The obtaining results were as follows: 1. In the light microscopic examination, the capillary density was slightly increased on the 1day after irradiation, and increased until the 7 days after irradiatiion. After then, capillary density was apparently decreased. 2. The reaction to PAS staining at acinar cells was decreased on the 6 hours after irradiation, and recovered on the 7days after irradiation. But reaction was decreased on the 14days after irradiation agan, after then, gradually recovered with days. 3. In the transmission electron microscopic examination, mild proliferation of cytoplasmic process of the endothelial cell and reduction in luminal size were observed just after irradiation. After then, nuclear degeneration, marked proliferation of cytoplasmic process, thickened basal lamina, and numerous cytoplasmic vesicles were observed on the 1day after irradiation. These changes were recovered to normal on the 14days after 5Gy group, but not with 10Gy irradiation group. And destruction of endothelial cell and loss of basal lamina were not observed in both groups. 4. From the above results, reduction in luminal size, proliferation of cytoplasmic process and thickening of basal lamina were observed as the irradiation effects on the capillary and endothelial cell of the submandibular gland. And also, these changes may induce increase in capillary number and endothelial permeability by means of increase of cytoplasmic vesicle formation. The changes appeared earlier and more prominent in 10Gy irradiated group than in 5Gy irradiated group.

• 식물조직배양학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.477-485
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• 1998

감자 plastid 형질전찬을 위한 새로운 DNA 절편을 확보하고자, 감자의 trnK-matK 유전자를 PCR 방법으로 클로닝하고 특성을 조사하였다. 염기서열 분석을 통하여 trnK-matK 유전자에는 두 종류의 polymerase 인지부위[Prokaryotic site(plastid encoded polymerase)와 eukaryotic site (nuclear-encoded polymerase)]가 족재함을 알 수 있었다. 이 사실은 trnK-matK 유전자의 발현이 광합성조직과 비광합성조직에서 서로 다른 polymerase에 의하여 조절됨을 시사하였다. 한편 MatK의 아미노산서열을 분석한 결과 식물에 따라 아미노산 identity가 39-75%로 다양하였으나, 감자와 담배는 98%의 아주 높은 identity를 보였다. Northern분석을 통하여 포장과 기내에서 생육된 감자 식물체 모두에서, trnK-matK 의 전사 수준이 잎에서 높고 괴경에서는 낮음을 알 수 있었다. 한편 잎에서의 16s rDNA의 전사수준은 괴경에 비해 약 50배 높았다. 이것으로 미루어보아 괴경에서 수준이 낮을 것은, 괴경에서는 plastid genome copy 수가 적거나 plastid 수가 적기 때문으로 추정된다. 이상의 결과로서 엽록체와 amyloplst 모두에서 trunK-matK 유전자가 활발하게 발현되고 있음을 알 수 있었다. Plastid genomic DNA의 Southern 분석을 통하여 trnK는 1 copy로 존재하고, matK는 trnK intron을 포함하고 있음을 확인하였다. 따라서 감자 plastid형질전환의 새로운homologous recombination 부위로 trnK-matK유전자를 이용할 수 있을 것이다.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.367-373
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• 2014

본 연구에서는 MG의 RC-58T/h/SA#4 인체 전립선 암세포에 대한 증식 억제 및 apoptosis 유도효과에 대하여 확인하였다. MG는 RC-58T/h/SA#4 세포의 증식을 농도 의존적으로 억제하였다. 이러한 MG에 의한 RC-58T/h/SA#4 세포의 사멸이 apoptosis에 의해 일어나는지를 sub-G1 함량 측정 및 Hoechst 33258 염색을 이용하여 확인하였다. 그 결과 MG를 처리한 군의 sub-G1의 함량이 대조군에 비하여 증가하였으며, methyl gallate를 처리한 군에서 핵의 응축과 apoptotic body 형성을 Hoechst 33258 염색을 통하여 관찰할 수 있었다. 또한 RC-58T/h/SA#4 세포에서 MG가 유도하는 apoptosis의 기전을 확인하기 위하여 다양한 실험을 실시하였다. MG는 DNA의 분절량 증가 및 caspase 활성을 유도하였으며, 활성화된 caspase-8, -9 및 -3에 의해 PARP와 Bid 단백질의 분절을 발현시켰으며, Bcl-2 family 단백질의 발현에 영향을 미쳐 apoptosis를 유도하였음을 확인하였다. 한편 환경호르몬인 dioxin과 bisphenol A를 다양한 농도로 처리한 결과 각각 1 nM, $0.1{\mu}M$ 농도에서 가장 높은 전립선 암세포 과다증식을 유도하였으며, 이를 바탕으로 MG를 농도별로 처리한 결과 환경호르몬에 의해 유도된 인체 전립선 암세포의 증식을 농도 의존적으로 억제시켰다. 본 연구 결과 MG는 RC-58T/h/SA#4 전립선 암세포에서 apoptosis 유도를 통한 암세포 성장 억제효과를 가지고 있음을 확인하였으며, 환경호르몬에 의해 유발될 수 있는 암에 대해서도 유사한 보호효과를 가지고 있음을 증명하였다.