• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10819-10824
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• 2015

Aims: To explore the effect and probable mechanism of a synthetic retinoid 4-amino-2-tri-fluoromethylphenyl ester (ATPR) on apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: MTT assays were performed to measure the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with different concentrations of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and ATPR. Morphologic changes were observed by microscopy. The apoptosis rates and cell cycling of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ATRA or ATPR were assessed using flow cytometry analysis. Expression of retinoic acid receptor and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38 proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: Treatment of the cells with the addition of $15{\mu}mol/L$ ATPR for 48 h clearly demonstrated reduced cell numbers and deformed cells, whereas no changes in the number and morphology were observed after treatment with ATRA. The apoptosis rate was 33.2% after breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were treated by ATPR ($15{\mu}mol/L$) whereas ATRA ($15{\mu}mol/L$) had no apoptotic effect. ATPR inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 while ATRA had no significant effect. ATPR inhibited the expression of BiP and increased the expression of Chop at the protein level compared with control groups, ATRA and ATPR both decreased the protein expression of $RXR{\alpha}$, ATPR reduced the protein expression of $RAR{\beta}$ and $RXR{\beta}$ while ATRA did not decrease $RAR{\beta}$ or $RXR{\beta}$. Conclusions: ATPR could induce apoptosis of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, possible mechanisms being binding to $RAR{\beta}/RXR{\beta}$ heterodimers, then activation of ER stress involving the MAPK pathway.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2010

Gangliosides are a ubiquitous component of the membranes of mammalian cells that have been suggested to play important roles in various cell functions such as cell-cell interaction, adhesion, cell differentiation, growth control and signaling. However, the role that gangliosides play in the immune rejection response in xenotransplantation is not yet clearly understood. In this study, differential expression patterns of gangliosides in HEK293 (human embryonic kidney cells), PK15 (porcine kidney cells), NIH-kd (NIH-mini pig kidney cells, primary cultured) and the cortex, medulla and calyx of the NIH-mini pig kidney were investigated by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The results revealed that HEK293, PK15 and NIH-kd contained GM3, GM2 and GD3 as major gangliosides. Moreover, GM3, which are the gangliosides of NIH-kd, were expressed at higher levels than HEK293 and PK15. Especially, GT1b were expressed in HEK293 and NIH-kd but not in PK15. Finally, GM1 and GD1a were expressed in NIH-kd, but not in HEK293 or PK15. These results suggest that differential expression patterns of gangliosides from HEK293, PK15 and NIH-kd are related to the immune rejection response in xenotransplantation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2007

Although lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase, has been shown to have anti-cancer actions, the effect on human hepatoma cells was not investigated. Moreover, the exact mechanism of this action is not fully understood. In this study we investigated the mechanism by which lovastatin induces apoptosis using HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells. Lovastatin induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner in the cells, assessed by the flow cytometric analysis. Treatment with mevalonic acid, a precursor of cholesterol, did not significantly suppress the lovastatin-induced apoptosis. Lovastatin induced a rapid and sustained increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Treatment with EGTA, an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator did not significantly alter the lovastatin-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase and apoptosis, whereas intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ reduction with BAPTA/AM and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blockers (dantrolene and TMB-8) completely blocked these actions of lovastatin. In addition, the lovastatin-induced apoptosis was significantly reduced by a calpain inhibitor, a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and inhibitors specific for caspase-9 and caspase-3 (z-LEHD-fmk and z-DEVD-fmk, respectively), but not by an inhibitor specific for caspase-8 (z-IETD-fmk). Collectively, these results suggest that lovastatin induced apoptosis of HepG2 hepatoma cells through intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release and calpain activation, leading to triggering mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. These results further suggest that lovastatin may be valuable for the therapeutic management of human hepatoma.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.299-301
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• 1997

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) was the first described mammalian lectin that mediates the specific binding and internalization of galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-terminating glycoproteins by hepatic parenchymal cells. H1 and H2 are known as essential subunits of the functional ASGPR. There were close similarities in ASGPR H2 subunits between cultured cell line HepG2 and normal human liver cells including identical sequences at both termini. It was therefore expected that there may be some similarities between the subunits from normal liver cells and fetal liver cells. The two subunits of human fetal liver ASGPR. designated FL-H1 and FL-H2. were cloned from cDNA library by peR and the sequences were compared with the known HI and H2 sequences of HepG2, and the H1 sequence of nornal human liver cells. The results showed that FL-H1 was identical to H1 of HepG2. Whereas FL-H2 contains a 15-bp miniexon, but missing 57-bp at the near upstream from the membrane-spanning domain compared to H2 of HepG2 and normal human liver cells indicating that FL-H2 resulted from a differential splicing compared to HepG2 and normal liver cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 1993

Zygosaccharomyces rouxii is a salt-tolerant yeast which plays an important role during the ripening stage of soy sauce fermentation. Z. rouxii used in the experiment could grow in YPD (1 % yeast extract, 2% peptone and 2% glucose, pH5.0) medium with 18% (w/v) NaCl, whereas Saccharomyces cerevisiae could only grow in YPD medium with less than 8% NaCl. In the presence of 15% NaCl, Z. rouxii accumulates a large amount of glycerol as a compatible solute within the cells in the exponential phase. It is a characteristic of salt-tolerant yeasts. From the chemical analyses on membrane lipid fluidity, the membrane structure of the cells grown in 15% NaCl was suggested to become more rigid and its fluidity was decreased to keep glycerol within the cells in response to surrounding medium with high concentrations of salt.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.358-363
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• 2018

To improve the polarization property of cathodes, which is the main factor limiting the performance of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs), $K_2NiF_4-type$ $Pr_2NiO_{4+{\delta}}$, which is expected to exhibit a triple conducting property (proton, oxygen ion, and hole conductions) was applied to PCFCs and its properties were investigated. Low-temperature microwave heat-treatment was used to achieve both sufficient interface adhesion between the electrolyte and the cathode layers and suppression of the secondary phase formation due to migration of elements such as barium and cerium. Through this fabrication method, a high performance of $0.82W{\cdot}cm^{-2}$ and low ohmic resistance of $0.06{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$ were obtained in an $Ni-BaCe_{0.55}Zr_{0.3}Y_{0.15}O_{3-{\delta}}$ | $BaCe_{0.55}Zr_{0.3}Y_{0.15}O_{3-{\delta}}$ | $Pr_2NiO_{4+{\delta}}$ single cell at $650^{\circ}C$. This result verifies that the $K_2NiF_{4+{\delta}}-type$ cathode shows good chemical compatibility which, in turn, will make it a potent candidate as a PCFC cathode.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.42-51
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• 2012

Objectives: This study used the basic principle of Oriental medicine, the sovereign, minister, assistant and courier principle (君臣佐使論) to investigate the effects of the component of ONGABO, which is composed of Ginseng Radix (Red Ginseng), Angelica Gigantis Radix, Schisandrae Fructus, Cuscuta Semen and Curcumae tuber on the viability of HepG2 cells. Methods: Single and mixed extracts of the component of ONGABO were prepared by lypohilizing powder of Red Ginseng (6-year root from Kanghwa), Angelica Gigantis Radix, Schisandrae Fructus, Cuscuta Semen, Curcumae Tuber (from Omniherb Co., Ltd., Korea) at the laboratory of herbal medicine in Woosuk University and were eluted after being macerated with 100% ethanol for three days. The cell viability of HepG2 was determined by using an absorptiometric analysis with PrestoBlue (Invitrogen) reagent after the plate had been incubated for 48 hours. All of the experiments were repeated three times to obtain the average value and standard deviation. The statistical analysis was done and the correlation factor was obtained by using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Origin 6.0 software. Results: Although Ginseng Radix (Red Ginseng) and Schisandrae Fructus did not enhance the viability of HepG2 cells, they were shown to provide protection of those cells. On the other hand, Angelica Gigantis Radix decreased the viability of HepG2 cells significantly, Cuscuta Semen and Curcumae Tuber had a small or no effect on the viability of HepG2 cells. Conclusions: In the sovereign, minister, assistant and courier principle (君臣佐使論), Ginseng Radix (Red Ginseng) corresponds to the sovereign component because it provides cell protection effects, Angelica Gigantis Radix corresponds to minister medicinal because it kills cells, Schisandrae Fructus corresponds to the assistant medicinal to help red ginseng having cell protect effects. Cuscuta Semen and Curcumae Tuber correspond to the courier medicinal having no effect in cell viability in HepG2. We hope this study provides motivation for advanced research on the sovereign, minister, assistant and courier principle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.795-803
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• 2013

Various endometrial genes in ruminant ungulates are regulated by conceptus interferon tau (IFNT). However, the effect of each IFNT isoform has not been carefully evaluated. In this study, the effects of 2 IFNT isoforms, paralogs found in utero, and interferon alpha (IFNA) on uterine epithelial and Mardin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells were evaluated. Expression vectors of the bovine interferon (bIFNT) genes bIFNT1, bIFNTc1, and bIFNA were constructed, and recombinant bIFNs (rbIFNs) were produced by 293 cells. Bovine uterine epithelial or MDBK cells were cultured in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of each rbIFN for 24, 48, or 72 h. Transcript levels of the IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) ISG12, ISG15, MX1, and MX2 were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These messenger RNAs were up-regulated by rbIFN in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In the epithelial cells, the ISG12 transcript level increased at 48 h after rbIFN treatment but slightly decreased at 72 h, whereas the transcript level of ISG15 increased at 24 h and was maintained through 72 h. Expressions of MX1 and MX2 increased at 72 h after rbIFN treatment. MX1 expression increased in all treatment groups, but MX2 increased only by bIFNTc1. In MDBK cells, the expression of ISG12 was increased by bIFNT1 and bIFNTc1 after 24 and 72 h; however, it was unchanged by rbIFNA. ISG15 increased following the same pattern as that seen in uterine epithelial cells, and MX1 showed a similar expression pattern. MX2 expression was increased by bIFNTc1 treatment in uterine epithelial cells, and its expression was increased by both bIFNT1 and bIFNTc1 in MDBK cells. These results show that epithelial and MDBK cell responses to IFNs differ, suggesting that IFNs possess common functions, but may have acquired different functions following gene duplication.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-59
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• 1991

This study was performed to elucidate the distribution and correlation of immunoglobulin G subclasses with the degree of inflammation in the experimentally induced rat pulp and periapical pathoses. The pulp exposures were made in 108 mandibular 1st molars of 54 rats and the teeth were left open to the oral environment The animals were sacrified at 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after pulp exposure, and examined microscopically and radiographically Seventy one specimens were routinely sectioned at the thickness of 4 - $6{\mu}$ and stained with Hematoxylin - eosin for histologic examination, with toluidine blue for mast cells, and with the primary antibodies against rat IgG subclasses by using the Avidin - Biotin complex method. The following results were obtained: 1. As the degree of inflammation of rat pulp and periapeces intensified, the number of IgG subclass containing cells per unit area, especially IgG2a and IgG2c, decresased. 2. The IgG2c cells were most predominantly found in the lesions with slight inflammation, IgG1 cells in mild or severe inflammation, and IgG2a cells in moderate inflammation. 3. IgG subclass containg cells were more predominantly observed in the periapical granuloma than periapical abscess or cyst(p<0.01). 4. IgG2a containing cells were predominant in pulp inflammation, IgG1 containing cells in periapical granuloma, IgG2a cells and IgG1 cells in periapical abscess, and IgG2a cells were significantly predominant in periapical cyst. 5. The number of IgG subclass containing cells and mast cells in periapical tissue decreased with time lapse after pulp exposure. And correlation index between mast cells and IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b was stastically high.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2453-2459
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• 2014

Ginsenoside Rg1 is one effective anticancer and antioxidant constituent of total saponins of Panax ginseng (TSPG), which has been shown to have various pharmacological effects. Our previous study demonstrated that Rg1 had anti-tumor activity in K562 leukemia cells. The aim of this study was designed to investigate whether Rg1 could induce apoptosis in TF-1/Epo cells and further to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here we found that Rg1 could inhibit TF-1/Epo cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in vitro in a concentration and time dependent manner. It also suppressed the expression of EpoR on the surface membrane and inhibited JAK2/STAT5 pathway activity. Rg1 induced up-regulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and C-PAPR protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and AG490, a JAK2 specific inhibitor, could enhance the effects of Rg1. Our studies showed that EpoR-mediated JAK2/STAT5 signaling played a key role in Rg1-induced apoptosis in TF-1/Epo cells. These results may provide new insights of Rg1 protective roles in the prevention a nd treatment of leukemia.