• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2006

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common benign tumor in older men; the etiology of this disease remains poorly understood. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) both act as androgen via a single androgen receptor. Testosterone is converted to DHT by $5{\alpha}$-reductase in prostatic stromal cells. Progesterone has been reported to inhibit DHT conversion; howevwe, its effect on prostatic stromal cells remains to be elucidated. Materials and Methods: In this experiment, we investigated the effect of progesterone on androgen receptor expression induced by DHT. We also tested the effect of progesterone on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, as well as prostate stromal cell proliferation using the cell count kit-8. Results: Progesterone did not cause an increase of prostate stromal cell proliferation. The mRNA expression of the androgen receptor and COX-2 were not changed by progesterone; the expressions of androgen receptor and COX-2 proteins were decreased by progesterone in prostate stromal cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that in prostate stromal cells, progesterone decreases androgen receptor protein expression, which results in decrement of COX-2 protein expression. This effect might be mediated by post-transcriptional regulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.559-565
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• 2022

In this study, we intend to develop a granulation tissue formation model. As a pilot experiment, a contrast agent was injected into the pylorus in 3 rats, the normal pylorus lumen size was confirmed, and a stent was placed. Stent migration was confirmed in to the duodenum within 1 week. In this experiment, stent was sutured and fixed to induce granulation tissue formation after gastrostomy under a fluoroscopic guidance. Twenty rats were divided into Healthy Group / Gastrostomy Group. After anesthesia of the Gastrostomy Group, an abdominal incision was performed, and gastrostomy was performed under a fluoroscopic guidance, and a stent was placed into the pylorus. In order to prevent stent migration due to peristalsis, suture between the pylorus and the proximal end of the stent was performed. Postoperative behavior and weight changes were monitored daily. Four weeks after surgery, gastrointestinal fluoroscopy imaging was performed and rats were sacrifices. To evaluate the degree of granulation formation, the stent was sectioned transversely. Gastrostomy group was statistically significantly higher than Healthy Group in granulation area ratio (all p<.001). In conclusion, it is considered that the level of tissue overgrowth formation for preclinical evaluation of the pylorus stricture model through gastrostomy is appropriate as a research evaluation tool.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.223-227
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• 2014

${\delta}$-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a compound which is widely present in the biosphere and plays an important role in the living body as an intermediate of the tetrapyrrole compound biosynthesis pathway that leads to heme in mammals and chlorophyll in plants. ALA is of interest as a biodegradable mediator, a growth regulator, a precursor of heme proteins, and an effective agent used in therapy of cancer. It has been recently reported that ALA is commonly used in dermatology, due to good effects of skin therapy. Although for the last few decades a substantial amount of research has been focused on the elucidation of the mechanism of ALA and the improvement of its therapeutic activity, it's effect on the cell functions and growth was not cleared. Here, we identified that ALA treatment could attenuate cell proliferation of HEK293T and HaCaT cells. In addition, ALA treatement could induce apoptosis of HeLa cells. These results suggest that apoptosis induced by ALA treatment might be responsible for inhibition of cell proliferation. These results propose the possibility of the improved therapeutic strategy making ALA one of the effective drugs used in human cancers.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2020

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a chemotherapy agent used for patients with ovarian cancers. CDDP activates multiple signaling pathways, which causes various cellular reactions according to the type of cancer cells. Therefore, it is difficult to clearly conclude its signaling pathways. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of the signal protein of Akt/ERK1/2 and MAPK by CDDP-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3). As a result, the number of apoptosis increased according to the TUNEL assay, and flow cytometric analysis confirmed that the percentage of sub-G1 early apoptosis was 8.73% higher than the control. The PARP and caspase-3 activity that appeared in the process of apoptosis was increased and the Bcl-2 expression was decreased. It was verified that the Akt and ERK1/2 activity was decreased, and p38 and JNK activity increased in a time dependent fashion. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that cisplatin inhibits the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting Akt activity and induces apoptosis by modulating the MAPK signaling pathway. However, a decrease in the ERK1/2 activity by CDDP was the opposite result to the result shown from the HeLa cells. For this reason, further research on signaling pathways is necessary. These results are expected to be useful for ovarian cancer treatment strategies targeting the MAPK pathway.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2019

The use of stem cells in cell-based therapy has attracted extensive interest in the field of regenerative medicine, and it has been applied to numerous incurable diseases due to the inherent abilities of self-renewal and differentiation. However, there still exist some severe obstacles, such as requirement of cell expansion before the treatment, and low survival at the treated site. To overcome these disadvantages of stem cells, we used the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM 6) gene, which functions to increase cell-cell interaction as well as anti-apoptosis. We first confirmed whether CEACAM 6 is expressed in various cell lines at the protein level (including in stem cells), followed by evaluating and selecting the optimal transfection conditions into stem cells. The CEACAM 6 gene was transfected into stem cells to prolong cell survival and preserve from damage by oxidative stress. After confirming the CEACAM 6 expression in transfected stem cells, the cell survival was assessed under oxidative condition by exposing to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to mimic the chronic environment-induced cellular damage. CEACAM 6 expressing stem cells show increased cell viability compared to the non-CEACAM 6 expressing cells. We propose that the application of the CEACAM 6 gene is a potential option, capable of expanding and enhancing the therapeutic effects of stem cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.418-425
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• 2024

Solid tumors are heterogeneous populations of multiple cell types. While the majority of the cells that comprise cancer are unable to divide, cancer stem cells have self-renewal and differentiation properties. Normal stem cell pathways that control self-renewal are overactivated in cancer stem cells, making cancer stem cells important for cancer cell expansion and progression. Dick first proposed the definition of cancer stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia, according to which cancer stem cells can be classified based on the expression of cell surface markers. Cancer stem cells maintain their potential in the tumor microenvironment. Multiple cell types in the tumor microenvironment maintain quiescent cancer stem cells and serve as regulators of cancer growth. Since current cancer treatments target proliferative cells, quiescent state cancer stem cells that are resistant to treatment increase the risk of recurrence or metastasis. Various signals of the tumor microenvironment induce changes to become a tumor-supportive environment by remodeling the vasculature and extracellular matrix. To effectively treat cancer, cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment must be targeted. Therefore, it is important to understand how the tumor microenvironment induces reprogramming of the immune response to promote cancer growth, immune resistance, and metastasis. In this review, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms that can enhance immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.408-417
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• 2024

It was confirmed whether PB-81, a 50% ethanol extract of Daphne genkwa (Siebold & Zucc), had an inhibitory effect on virus proliferation in bovine rotavirus and a therapeutic effect on bovine diarrhea disease. The results showed that PB-81 induced the interferon beta in A549 cells, an epithelial cell line and interferon gamma in NK92 cells, a blood cell line. Furthermore, to confirm the viral proliferation inhibitory effect of PB-81, PB-81 was administered to MBDK cell line before, during, and after infection. Result shows that the virus was suppressed in all cases where PB-81 was administered, and the best virus suppression effect was achieved when PB-81 was administered before virus infection. In the toxicity test in mice, no side effects due to toxicity were observed, even at a maximum dose of 20 mg/mL. To verify the therapeutic effect on 16 cattle with bovine rotavirus diarrhea and 4 cattle in the control group, PB-81 was administered at a dose of 20 mg/5 mL, and No fatality was observed during the treatment. The average recovery duration from the initial administration of PB-81 was 2.25 days in the PB-81 administration group and 6.5 days in the control group without PB-81 administration. No side effects were observed from the tested cattle with rotavirus diarrhea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.287-295
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. The chemotherapeutic agents used to treat HCC patients are toxic and have serious side effects. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of anticancer drugs that reduce side effects by targeting tumor cells without causing cytotoxicity in healthy hepatocytes. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from plant compounds, has emerged as a potential candidate for cancer treatment due to its diverse pharmacological properties. The effect of berberine on HepG2 cell viability was determined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. HepG2 cell proliferation was determined through a colony-forming assay. The effects of berberine on HepG2 cell migration were evaluated using a wound-healing assay. Berberine inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, as well as colony formation and migration. Berberine treatment increased the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins, including Beclin-1 and LC3-II, and elevated the activities and mRNA expression of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Additionally, in experiments utilizing the Cell-Derived Xenograft animal model, berberine treatment reduced tumor size and weight in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the potential of berberine as a versatile anticancer agent with efficacy in both cellular and animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings herein shed light on berberine's efficacy against HCC, presenting opportunities for targeted and personalized therapeutic interventions.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2001

백혈병은 조혈계통의 악성 증식성 질환으로서 현재까지 주로 화학약물요법에 의존하고 있는 실정이다. 화학약물요법은 백혈병 세포를 소멸시킬 수 있지만 또한 인체에 여러 가지 독성 반응 및 부작용을 일으키기도 한다. 따라서 중서의결합으로 백혈병 치료에 접근하는 것은 중요한 의미를 갖는다. 중의학에서 소아 백혈병을 치료하는 경우 청열해독법(淸熱解毒法), 부정보허법(扶正補虛法), 활혈화어법(活血化瘀法)을 주로 사용한다. 청열해독법은 백혈병의 조기치료에 주로 활용되는데, 인체의 저항력을 증강시켜 화학약물요법을 실시하는 동안 흔히 나타날 수 있는 감염증상을 예방하는 효과를 얻을 수 있다. 부정보허법(扶正補虛法)은 주로 화학약물요법의 유도 완화기 및 치료효과의 유지를 위하여 활용되는데, 이는 인체의 면역력을 향상시켜 화학약물요법이 인체에 미치는 손상을 경감시킬 수 있다. 활혈화어법(活血化瘀法)은 미세순환을 개선시키는 작용을 하며 골수의 조혈기능을 촉진하고 면역기능을 조절하며 또한 일부 활혈화어제(活血化瘀劑)는 백혈병 세포에 직접적인 억제효과를 보인다. 소아백혈병에 대하여 화학약물요법을 진행하는 동안 중약을 같이 병행하는 경우 다음과 같은 과정으로 나누어 실시할 수 있다. 1. 유도완화치료(화학요법)단계: 이와 같은 치료과정은 대개 화학약물요법으로 인한 극심한 독성반응이나 주작용을 나타내게 되는데, 이 과정에서 중약치료를 병행하면 신속하게 증상을 개선시킬 수 있다. 만약 구토나 설사와 같은 소화계 부작용이 나타나면 화위강역법(和胃降逆法)을 활용하고, 감염 증상이 나타나면 부정(扶正)과 거사법(祛邪法)을 병행할 수 있다. 화학약물요법을 진행한 후 신체가 극도로 허약해지고 골수의 기능이 심하게 억제되는 경우는 주로 부정(扶正)시키는 중약을 사용하면서 익기양혈제(益氣養血劑)를 곁들이고 보조적으로 단삼(丹蔘), 당귀(當歸), 천궁(川芎), 계혈등(鷄血藤) 등과 같은 활혈화어제(活血化瘀劑)를 사용하여 골수의 조혈기능을 회복시킨다. 2. 치료효과의 유지단계: 본 과정에서는 중약치료에 있어서 부정(扶正)과 거사법(祛邪法)을 병행한다. 화학약물요법을 실시하는 동시에 거사제(祛邪劑)를 중용(重用)함으로써 화학약물요법의 효과를 강화시킨다. 화학약물요법이 끝난 뒤 부정(扶正)시키는 약물을 중용(重用)하여 인체의 면역기능을 증강시키고 백혈병세포를 억제시킨다. 3. 치료효과의 유지 및 강화단계: 치료효과의 유지단계에서는 변증논치(辨證論治)의 원칙에 입각하여 항암효과가 있는 중약을 활용할 수 있는데, 예를 들어 백화사설초(白花蛇舌草), 산자고(山慈?), 청대(靑黛), 용규(龍葵) 등을 사용할 수 있고, 육신환(六神丸)을 장기적으로 복용하여도 된다. 소아백혈병 치료에 있어서 중서의결합의 치료법을 활용하는 경우 다음과 같은 내용에 주안점을 둘 수 있다. 화학약물요법을 진행하는 과정에서 중약을 병행하여 투여하는 경우 사진합삼(四診合參)을 근간으로 종합적인 분석을 통하여 병인(病因)을 살피어 치료에 임하도록 한다. 약물의 선택과 처방의 구성은 반드시 변증논치(辨證論治)의 원칙하에 이루어져야 한다. 화학약물요법과 중약치료를 병행하는 과정에서 변증(辨證)과 변병(辨病)이 서로 결합되고 부정(扶正)과 거사법(祛邪法)을 병행하여 활용한다. 정체관(整體觀)에서 출발하여 환자를 관찰하는 동시에 특징적인 증후(證候)에 대한 변증논치(辨證論治)도 중요하며, 또한 백혈병 환자의 유형(類型)이나 임상 혈액검사 소견, 골수의 양상, 화학요법의 진행단계 및 환자의 연령과 체질 등을 충분히 가만하여 종합적인 분석을 토대로 치료법을 선택하여야 중약요법과 화학약물요법의 협동적인 효과를 증폭시키고 백혈병치료에 새로운 전기를 마련할 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2008

Saussurea lappa (SL) has been used to reduce abdominal pain and tenesmus in traditional oriental medicine. SL and major compounds of SL, sesquiterpene lactones, have been suggested to possess various biological effects, including anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and cardiotonic activities. Recently, it has been reported that ethanol extracts from roots of SL have antiproliferative effects on gastric cancer cells. To explore the possibility that SL has chemopreventive effects on prostate cancer, we examined whether the hexane extract of SL (HESL) inhibits the growth of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Cells were incubated with various concentrations ($0{\sim}4$ mg/L) of HESL in DMEM/F12 containing 5% charcoal stripped fetal bovine serum. HESL substantially decreased viable cell numbers and induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells in dose-dependent manners. HESL increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, -9, -7 and -3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. HESL increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic Bak and truncated-Bid proteins whereas it had no effect on the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, or Mcl-1. The present results indicate that HESL inhibits the growth of human prostate cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, which involves the activation of the caspase cascades.