• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.47-59
• /
• 2006

We previously found that cobrotoxin inhibited $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity by reacting with signal molecules of $NF-{\kappa}B$ which is critical contributor in cancer cell growth by induction of apoptotic cell death. We here investigated whether cobrotoxin inhibits cell growth of human prostate cancer cells through induction of apoptotic cell death, which is related with the suppression of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity. Cobrotoxin $(0{\sim}8\;nM)$ inhibited prostate cancer cell growth through increased apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. Cobrotoxin inhibited DNA binding activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$, an anti-apoptotic transcriptional factor. Consistent with the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$, cobrotoxin increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins caspase 3. Cobrotoxin, a venom of Vipera lebetina turanica, is a group of basicpeptides composed of 233 amino acids with six disulfide bonds formed by twelve cysteins. NF-kB is activated by subsequent release of inhibitory IkB and translocation of p50. Since sulfhydryl group is present in kinase domain of p50 subunit of NF-kB, cobrotoxin could modify NF-kB activity by protein-protein interaction. And Cobrotoxin down regulated Akt signals. Salicylic acid as a reducing agent of Sulf-hydryl group and LY294002 as a Akt inhibitor abrogated cobrotoxin-induced cell growth and DNA binding activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$. These findings suggest that nano to pico molar range of cobrotoxin could inhibit prostate cancer cell growth, and the effect may be related with the induction of apoptotic cell death through Akt dependent inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signal.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.399-402
• /
• 2012

Bufalin is a traditional oriental medicines which induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. It constitutes the major digoxin-like immunoreactive component of Chan Su, obtained from the skin and parotid venom glands of toads. Bufalin is cardioactive C-24 steroids that exhibits a variety of biological activities, such as cardiotonic, anaesthetic, blood pressure stimulatory, respiratory and antineoplastic effects. In terms of its anti-tumor activity, bufalin has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of tumors, such as endometrial and ovarian cancers. This commentary introduces biologic and therapeutic effects of bufalin in treating some cancers. The compound is able to mediate inhibition of cell growth, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and expression of genes related to the malignant phenotype in human cancer cells.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.721-727
• /
• 2007

Scorpion (SCP) has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, clearing away toxins, resolving hard masses and removing obstruction in the collaterals to relieve pain. Recent studies showed that scorpion toxins that affect the activating mechanism of sodium channels and indian black scorpion venom induced anti-proliferative and apoptogenic activity against human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of SCP on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SCP on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of SCP MeOH extract dissolved in media for 1 h prior to the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 1 ${\mu}$g/ml), cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. As results, SCP inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), iNOS and p-$I_KB_{\alpha}$ protein, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml) and interleukin-6 (1.0mg/ml) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that SCP can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제17권2호
• /
• pp.7-17
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Condurango is widely used in various systems of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) against oesophageal and stomach ailments including certain types of cancer. However, until now no systematic study has been conducted to verify its efficacy and dose with proper experimental support. Therefore, we examined if ethanolic extract of Condurango could ameliorate benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-induced lung cancer in rats, in vivo to validate its use as traditional medicine. Methods: Fifteen male and 15 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 0.28 mg/kg of Sweet Bee Venom (SBV) (high-dosage group) and the same numbers of male and female SD rats were treated with 0.2 mL/kg of normal saline (control group) for 13 weeks. We selected five male and five female SD rats from the high-dosage group and the same numbers of male and female SD rats from the control group, and we observed these rats for four weeks. We conducted body-weight measurements, ophthalmic examinations, urinalyses and hematology, biochemistry, histology tests. Results: A histological study revealed gradual progress in lung tissue-repair activity in Condurango-fed cancer-bearing rats, showing gradual tissue recovery after three months of drug administration. Condurango has the capacity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may contribute to a reduction in anti-oxidative activity and to an induction of oxidative stress-mediated cancer cell-death. Condurango-activated pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, p53, cytochrome-c, apaf-1, ICAD and PARP) and down-regulated antiapoptotic-Bcl-2 expression were noted both at mRNA and protein levels. Studies on caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage by western blot analysis revealed that Condurango induced apoptosis through a caspase-3-dependent pathway. Conclusion: The anticancer efficacy of an ethanolic extract of Condurango for treating BaP-induced lung cancer in rats lends support for its use in various traditional systems of medicine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.155-167
• /
• 2005

Cobrotoxin의 항염증 치료 기전에 대해 연구하기 위하여 성상세포에 LPS 및 SNP로 염증을 유도한 후 NF-${\kappa}B$와 DNA의 결합 능력, NF-kB Dependent Luciferase 발현, Astrocyte의 세포활성, NF-${\kappa}B$ 구성 단백질인 P50, P-$1{\kappa}B$, $1{\kappa}BB$ 및 염증(炎症)관련 유전자(遺傳子)인 Cox-2, iNOS, cPLA2의 발현과 GSH와 DTT로 sulf-hydryl기를 환원시 NF-${\kappa}B$와 DNA의 결합 능력, NF-${\kappa}B$ 구성 단백질인 P50 발현에 미치는 영향과 Cobrotoxin의 성상세포 내 유입 등을 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. LPS 로 염증을 유발한 후 NF-${\kappa}B$와 DNA의 결합 능력을 관찰한 결과 Cobrotoxin 0.1${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군, Astrocyte 내에서의 Cobrotoxin 0.1, 0.5${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에서 모두 대조군에 비하여 유의한 억제를 나타내었다. 2. LPS로 염증을 유발한 후 Astrocyte 내에서 NF-${\kappa}B$ Dependent Luciferase 발현을 살펴본 결과 Cobrotoxin 모든 처리군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의한 억제를 나타내었다. 3. SNP로 염증을 유발한 후 Cobrotoxin이 NF-${\kappa}B$ 구성 단백질인 P50, P-$1{\kappa}B$, $1{\kappa}B$ 발현에 미치는 영향을 살펴본 결과 P50와 $1{\kappa}B$는 Cobrotoxin 0.1, 0.5 및 $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 모든 처리군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의한 억제를 나타내었고, P-$1{\kappa}B$는 Cobrotoxin $0.1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에서 대조군에 비하여 억제를, Cobrotoxin 0.5, $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에서 각각 대조군에 비하여 유의한 억제를 나타내었다. 4. LPS로 염증을 유발한 후 Cobrotoxin이 NF-${\kappa}B$ 구성 단백질인 P50, P-$1{\kappa}B$, $1{\kappa}B$ 발현에 미치는 영향을 살펴본 결과 P50와 $1{\kappa}B$는 Cobrotoxin 0.5, $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에서 각각 대조군에 비하여 유의한 억제를 나타내었다. 5. SNP로 염증을 유발한 후 Cobrotoxin이 염증(炎症) 관련 유전자(遺傳子)인 Cox-2, iNOS, cPLA2 발현에 미치는 영향을 살펴본 결과 Cox-2, iNOS, cPLA2 모두 Cobrotoxin $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의한 억제를 나타내었다. 6. LPS로 염증을 유발한 후 Cobrotoxin이 염증(炎症) 관련 견전자(遣傳子)인 Cox-2, iNOS, cPLA2 발현에 미치는 영향을 살펴본 결과 Cox-2와 cPLA2의 경우 Cobrotoxin 0.1, 0.5 및 $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 모든 처리군에서, iNOS의 경우 Cobrotoxin 0.5, $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의한 억제를 나타내었다. 7. Astrocyte내에서 SNP로 염증을 유발한 후 GSH와 DTT로 sulf-hydryl기를 환원하여 NF-${\kappa}B$와 BNA의 결합 능력을 관찰한 결과 Cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$과 DTT 1mM Cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$과 DTT 5mM의 동시처리군은 각각 Cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에 비하여 유의한 증가를 나타내었다. 8. Astrocyte 내에서 LPS로 염증을 유발한 후 GSH와 DTT로 sulf-hydryl기를 환원하여 NF-${\kappa}B$와 DNA의 결합 능력을 관찰한 결과 cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$과 DTT 1mM Cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$과 DTT 5mM의 동시처리군과 Cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$과 GSH 1mM Cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$과 GSH 5mM의 동시처리군 모두에서 Cobrotoxin $0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에 비하여 유의한 증가를 나타내었다. 9. Astrocyte 내에서 SNP로 염증을 유발한 후 GSH와 DTT로 sulf-hydryl기 환원시 NF-${\kappa}B$ 구성 단백질인 P50 발현에 미치는 영향을 관찰한 결과 SNP, Cobrotoxin $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$와 DTT 1 또는 5mM 동시처리군과 SNP, Cobrotoxin $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$와 GSH 1 또는 5mM 동시처리군 모두에서 Cobrotoxin $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ 처리군에 비하여 발현의 유의한 증가를 나타내었다. 10. Cobrotoxin의 세포 내 유입 확인을 살펴본 결과 Astrocyte 내에서 Cobrotoxin이 세포내로 유입되는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 보아 Cobrotoxin 처리는 성상 세포 들을 대상을 LPS 및 SNP로 유도된 NF-${\kappa}B$ 관련 염증 기전과 iNOS, COX-2, cPLA2와 같은 염증관련 유전자의 발현 및 NO, PGE2,에 유의한 변동을 나타내었고, 이들 결과는 Cobrotoxin의 항염증 효과 및 그 치료기전에 대하여 입증한 것이며, 향후 안전성 연구를 바탕으로 신경계 및 심혈관계 염증치료에 약침개발과 같은 적극적인 활용이 기대된다.