• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.1572-1575
• /
• 2006

Water extract from Cnidii Rhizoma (CRW) was tested for colon cancer chemopreventive activity by measuring the induction of phase II detoxification enzyme activity [quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)] and glutathion (GSH) levels and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in cultured human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. CRW inhibited cell proliferation in cultured HT-29 cells. CRW induced QR activity in a dose-dependent manner in a concentration range of 0.1${\sim}$5.0 $mg/m{\ell}$. GST activity was also induced with the treatment of CRW in HT-29 cells. In addition GSH levels was increased with CRW. CRW inhibited ODC activity, a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumor promotion. These results suggest that CRW has colon cancer chemopreventive activity by increasing phase II enzyme activity and GSH levels and inhibiting ODC activity in vitro.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 1994

Experiments were performed to determine age-associated changes in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene and Ha-ras cellular oncogene expression in tissues of female rats. In the kidney, ODC mRNA levels did not show age-associated changes, while ODC enzyme activities were decreased with advancing age from 3 to 10 months. These results suggest that post-transcriptional mechanism (s) are involved in the age-dependent decrease in renal ODC enzyme activity. In addition, we found no correlation between testosterone-induced renal ODC expression and DNA methylation pattern. Ha-ras mRNA levels in brain decreased as animals aged from 3 to 6 months, while renal Ha-ras mRNA levels were not influenced by age. Results demonstrate the age-dependent expression of Ha-ras in a tissue-specific manner.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.85-89
• /
• 2019

Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder. HHH is caused by a deficiency of the mitochondrial ornithine transporter protein, which is encoded by the solute carrier family 25, member 15 (SLC25A15) gene. Recently, government supported Korean newborn screening has been expanded to include a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) measurement of ornithine level. We report a case of a neonate with HHH syndrome showing a normal MS/MS measurement of ornithine level. A female newborn was admitted to neonatal intensive unit due to familial history of HHH syndrome. Her parents were consanguineous Parkistani couple. The subject's older sister was diagnosed with HHH syndrome at age of 30 months based on altered mental status and liver dysfunction. Even though the subject displayed normal ammonia and ornithine levels based on MS/MS analysis, a molecular test confirmed the diagnosis of HHH syndrome. At 1 month of age, amino acid analysis of blood and urine showed high levels of ornithine and homocitrulline. After 11 months of follow up, she showed normal growth and development, whereas affected sister showed progressive cognitive impairment despite no further hyperammonemia after protein restriction and standard therapy. Our report is in agreement with a previous Canadian study, which showed that neonatal samples from HHH syndrome patients demonstrate normal ornithine levels despite having known mutations. Considering the delayed rise of ornithine in affected patients, genetic testing, and repetitive metabolic testing is needed to prevent patient loss in high risk patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.16
• /
• pp.7031-7038
• /
• 2015

Background: Arginine may play important roles in tumor progression by providing ornithine for polyamine biosynthesis, required for cell growth. The aim of this work was to determine the expression of arginine metabolic pathway enzymes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in northeast India. Materials and Methods: The expressions of arginase isoforms (ARG1 and ARG2), ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were examined in fifty paired HNSCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry. Immunocytochemistry, semiquantitative reverse transcription sq-PCR and quantitative real-time qPCR were used to assess protein and mRNA expressions in peripheral blood of fifty HNSCC patients and hundred controls. Results: ARG1 and ODC protein and mRNA were strongly expressed in peripheral blood from HNSCC patients. No ARG2 expression was observed. In vivo, expression of ARG1, ARG2 and ODC was significantly higher in tumor than in non-tumor tissues. Most tumors expressed low levels of OAT, with no difference in tissues or blood, compared to controls. The absolute extent of maximal ARG1 upregulation with qPCR showed 6.23 fold increase in HNSCC. Conclusions: These findings strongly suggest that in HNSCCs, the ARG1 pathway is stimulated leading to the formation of polyamines as indicated by higher ODC expression, which promote tumor growth.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.575-581
• /
• 2009

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines, which are essential for cell growth, differentiation, and proliferation. This report presents the characterization of an ODC-encoding cDNA (SlitODC) isolated from a moth species, the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera); its expression in a polyamine-deficient strain of yeast, S. cerevisiae; and the recovery in polyamine levels and proliferation rate with the introduction of the insect enzyme. SlitODC encodes 448 amino acid residues, 4 amino acids longer than B. mori ODC that has 71% identity, and has a longer C-terminus, consistent with B. mori ODC, than the reported dipteran enzymes. The null mutant yeast strain in the ODC gene, SPE1, showed remarkably depleted polyamine levels; in putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, the levels were > 7, > 1, and > 4%, respectively, of the levels in the wild-type strain. This consequently caused a significant arrest in cell proliferation of > 4% of the wild-type strain in polyamine-free media. The transformed strain, with the substituted SlitODC for the deleted endogenous ODC, grew and proliferated rapidly at even a higher rate than the wild-type strain. Furthermore, its polyamine content was significantly higher than even that in the wild-type strain as well as the spe1-null mutant, particularly with a very continuously enhanced putrescine level, reflecting no inhibition mechanism operating in the putrescine synthesis step by any corresponding insect ODC antizymes to SlitODC in this yeast system.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 1999

The effects of agmatine on the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of polyamines, the resultant levels of polyamines, and their effect on the growth of DU145 human prostate tumor cells were investigated. When agmatine was added to the medium, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, EC 4.1.1.17) activity was substantially reduced, but S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC, EC 4.1.1.50) activity increased markedly. These changes in ODC and SAMDC activities were the result of an induction of ODC-antizyme and a decreased turnover rate of SAMDC in the presence of agmatine. Accordingly, there was a decrease in the intracellular levels of putrescine and spermidine but an increase in the intracellular level of spermine. Cell growth was markedly inhibited by agmatine treatment and this inhibition was not recovered by the addition of putrescine or spermidine. Our results suggest that agmatine alters the intracellular amounts of polyamine in the cells, closely related to the inhibition of cell growth.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.945-951
• /
• 2013

Changes in fermentation properties and ornithine levels of Baechu Kimchi by storage conditions were investigated. After making and fermenting Kimchi at $15^{\circ}C$ for 32 hr (S1), 36 hr (S2), 40 hr (S3), 44 hr (S4), and 48 hr (S5) during the first 10 days of storage. The Kimchi samples are subsequently stored in the -$1^{\circ}C$ Kimchi refrigerator for up to 60 days. Changes in the pH values and lactic acid contents of S4 and S5 samples are slightly bigger than the S1, S2 and S3 samples which have no significance differences. According to lactic acid bacteria (LAB) number, all samples show the largest augmentation according to the number of Lactobacilli during the first 20 days of storage. After 20 days of storage, the S4 and S5 samples show larger accumulations of LAB than S1, S2 and S3 samples. The Weissella genus is predominated at the 40 day of storage in the S5 sample. Ornithine levels are increased up to 170mg per 100 g during the storage period of 40~50 days in the S5 sample. However, the increase of ornithine levels in S1, S2 and S3 samples is smaller than those of the S4 and S5 samples. These results indicate that the conditions of Kimchi fermentation, which is 48 hr at $15^{\circ}C$ before storage, is proved to be the most superior for ornithine levels within the Kimchi refrigerator.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.129-142
• /
• 2000

Gamdutang aqua-acupuncture solution(GAS), Gamdutang water-extracted solution(GWS) and Degamdutang aqua-acupuncture solution(DGAS) were prepared and tested for potential antitumor activities. It was used three biomarkers (quinone reductase, omithine decarboxylase, glutathione) to test chemopreventive potentials of GAS, GWS, DGAS. GAS was potent inducer of quinone reductase activity in Hepalclc7 murine hepatoma cells in culture, whereas GWS is less potent. GAS, GWS and DGAS were significantly induced quinone reductase activity in cultured rat normal liver cell, Ac2F. Glutathione levels were increased about 1.8-fold with GAS, 1.0-1.1 fold with GWS, DGAS in cultured murine hepatoma hepaiclc7 cells. In addition glutathione s-transferase levels were increased with GAS, GWS and DGAS. The effects of GAS, GWS and DGAS were tested on the growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii was inhibited by GAS, GWS and DGAS at concentradons of $1{\times}$ and $5{\times}$. These results suggest that GAS has chemopreventive potential by inducing quinone reductase and quinone reductase activities, inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase activity, and increasing glutathione levels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.9
• /
• pp.1546-1549
• /
• 2007

Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS, 3 kDa

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.261-268
• /
• 1999

Lonicerae flos aqua-acupuncture solution (LFAS) and Lonicerae flos water-extracted solution (LFWS) were prepared and tested for chemopreventive potentials. Three biomarkers [quinone reductase (QR), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), glutathione(GSH)] were used to test chemopreventive potential of LFAS. LFAS was potent inducer of QR activity in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells, whereas LFWS is less potent. LFAS and LFWS were also induced QR activities in cultured human hepatoma Hep3B cells. The effect of LFAS and LFWS were tested on the growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii was inhibited by LFAS and LFWS at concentrations of $0.1{\times},\;0.5{\times}\;1{\times},\;and\;3{\times}.$ In addition, GSH levels were increased about 2-fold with LFAS and 1.5-fold with LFWS in cultured murine hepa1c1c7 cells. LFAS and LFWS were also shown to increase GSH levels in human Hep3B cells. These results suggest that LFAS has chemopreventive potential by inducing QR activity, inhibition of ODC activity and increasing GSH levels.