• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1471-1476
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• 2012

Background and Aim: Currently available systemic therapies for malignant melanoma produce low response rates in patients, and more effective treatment modalities are clearly needed. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand has a significant impact on therapy for patients with X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein-downregulation malignant melanoma. The primary objective of this study was to assess its therapeutic potential. Materials and Methods: We employed a conditionally replicating oncolytic adenoviral vector, named CRAd5.TRAIL/siXIAP, with the characteristics of over-expression of the therapeutic gene TRAIL and downregulation of XIAP in one vector. B16F10-luc cells were employed to detect anti-tumor activity of CRAd5.TRAIL/siXIAP in vitro and in vivo. Results: CRAd5.TRAIL/siXIAP enhanced caspase-8 activation and caspase-3 maturation in B16F10 cells in vitro. Furthermore, it more effectively infected and killed melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo than other adenoviruses. Conclusion: Taken together, the combination of upregulation of TRAIL and downregulation of siXIAP with one oncolytic adenoviral vector holds promise for development of an effective therapy for melanomas and other common cancers.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2021

In this study, to analyze whether artificial regulation of apoptosis in the development of somatic cells can affect the stable growth and development of cells, 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) and rapamycin were treated to induce apoptosis and autophagy in the both skin and muscle cells. Respectively, and 3-methyladenine was supplemented to inhibit cell death. Our results show that stimulation with rapamycin activated autophagy in both types of cells, but increased apoptosis more than autophagy in the case of skin cells. These results indicate that there was a difference in the expression of survival factors and cell development depending on the type of cell. In particular, in the expression of autophagy-related gene (MAP1LC3A) was higher than that of Casp-3, an apoptosis factor. Furthermore, cell development was the highest in all cell groups cultured by artificially inducing autophagy, however the lowest in the apoptosis-inhibited group. Especially, the noteworthy result of this study was that when apoptosis was induced using 20α-HSD, it was possible to induce apoptosis in both skin and muscle cells. Therefore, the main point of this study is that apoptosis induced during cell culture plays a pivotal role in cell remodeling.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.709-716
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• 2005

Apoptosis and necrosis are distinguished by modality primarily. Here we show an apoptosis occurred instantly, induced by $300\;{\mu}M$ W-7 ((N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride), inhibitor of calmodulin), which demonstrated necrotic modality. As early as 30 min after W-7 addition, apoptotic (sub-diploid) peak could be detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), “DNA ladders” began to emerge also at this time point, activity of caspase-3 elevated obviously within this period. Absence of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) reduction and cytochrome c, AIF (apoptosis inducing factor) release, verified that this rapid apoptosis did not proceed through mitochondria pathway. Activation of caspase-12 and changes of other endoplasmic reticulum (ER) located proteins ascertained that ER pathway mediated this necrosis-like apoptosis. Our findings suggest that it is not credible to judge apoptosis by modality. Elucidation of ER pathway is helpful to comprehend the pathology of diseases associated with ER stress, and may offer a new approach to the therapy of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1277-1285
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• 2012

The tumor necrosis, factor-related, apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is regarded as a potentially useful anticancer agent with excellent selectivity for cancer cells. However, a considerable number of cancer cells are resistant to apoptosis induction by TRAIL. Developing strategies to overcome this resistance are important for the successful use of TRAIL for cancer therapy. Here, we revealed that siRNA-mediated downregulation of SIRT1 or SIRT1 inhibitor Amurensin G upregulated DR5 and c-Myc and downregulated c-$FLIP_{L/S}$ and Mcl-1, which was associated with sensitization of TRAIL-resistant MCF-7 cells to TRAIL. This result was followed by the activation of caspases, PARP cleavage, and downregulation of Bcl-2 in both TRAIL-treated MCF-7 cells transfected with SIRT1 siRNA and cells co-treated with Amurensin G and TRAIL. Our results suggest that the induction of DR5 and downregulation of c-FLIP via suppression of SIRT1 expression may be a useful strategy to increase the susceptibility of TRAIL-resistant cancer cells to TRAIL-induced cell death.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.519-524
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• 2014

We have previously shown that 2,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene (TMS), a trans-stilbene analogue, induces apoptosis in human cancer cells. However, the detailed mechanisms of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis induced by TMS are not fully understood. In the present study, the possible roles of annexin A5 in TMS-mediated apoptosis were investigated in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis and Western blot analysis showed that the expression of annexin A5 was strongly increased in TMS-treated cells. TMS caused a strong translocation of annexin A5 from cytosol into mitochondria. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis clearly showed that TMS induced translocation of annexin A5 into mitochondria. TMS increased the expression and oligomerization of voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) 1, which may promote mitochondria-dependent apoptosis through disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. When cells were treated with TMS, the levels of Bax, and Bak as well as annexin A5 were strongly enhanced. Moreover, we found that the cytosolic release of apoptogenic factors such as cytochrome c, or apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in mitochondria was markedly increased. Annexin A5 depletion by siRNA led to decreased proapoptotic factors such as Bax, Bak, and annexin A5. Taken together, our results indicate that annexin A5 may play an important role in TMS-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis through the regulation of proapoptotic proteins and VDAC1 expression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2012

Our previous study demonstrated that CopA3, a disulfide dimer of the coprisin peptide analogue (LLCIALRKK), has antibacterial activity. In this study, we assessed whether CopA3 caused cellular toxicity in various mammalian cell lines. CopA3 selectively caused a marked decrease in cell viability in Jurkat T, U937, and AML-2 cells (human leukemia cells), but was not cytotoxic to Caki or Hela cells. Fragmentation of DNA, a marker of apoptosis, was also confirmed in the leukemia cell lines, but not in the other cells. CopA3-induced apoptosis in leukemia cells was mediated by apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), indicating induction of a caspase-independent signaling pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3865-3869
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• 2016

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound isolated from the rhizomes of an herbaceous perennial plant, Curcuma longa, is known to possess anticancerous activity. However, the mechanism of apoptosis induction in cancers differs. In this study, we have (1) investigated the anticancerous activity of curcumin on REH and RS4;11 leukemia cells and (2) studied the chemo-sensitizing potential of curcumin for doxorubicin, a drug presently used for leukemia treatment. It was found that curcumin induced a dose dependent decrease in cell viability because of apoptosis induction as visualized by annexin V-FITC/ PI staining. Curcumin-induced apoptosis of leukemia cells was mediated by PARP-1 cleavage. An increased level of caspase-3, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), cleaved PARP-1 and decreased level of Bcl2 was observed in leukemia cells after 24h of curcumin treatment. In addition, curcumin at doses lower than the $IC_{50}$ value significantly enhanced doxorubicin induced cell death. Therefore, we conclude that curcumin induces apoptosis in leukemia cells via PARP-1 mediated caspase-3 dependent pathway and further may act as a potential chemo-sensitizing agent for doxorubicin. Our study highlights the chemo-preventive and chemo-sensitizing role of curcumin.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2012

The present study showed that Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-${\beta}_1$) can induce apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells. This apoptosis was also observed with phosphorylation of Smad2/3 within 0.5-2 h. Afterwards the signal transferred into the nucleus. Moreover, intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration was significantly elevated as well as Caspase-3 activated and DNA lysised, thereby inducing the programmed cell death. This signaling pathway of TGF-${\beta}_1$ was blocked by SB-431542 ($10^{-2}{\mu}M$) via inhibiting ALK-5 kinase activity, which thus reversed the anti-proliferation and apoptosis effect of TGF-${\beta}_1$ in mammary epithelial cells. These results indicated that TGF-${\beta}_1$ induced apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells through the ALK-5-Smad2/3 pathway, which plays an important role in inhibiting survival of mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ also played a critical role in TGF-${\beta}_1$-induced cell apoptosis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2011

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) is one of the promising anti-cancer agent because of its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in tumor cell lines but not in normal cells. However, TRAIL resistance has been reported in some cancer cells including hepatocarcinoma cells. Therefore, studies of agents that sensitize TRAIL-resistant cancer cells could be a effective therapeutic approach in cancer management. In our study, we examined the effect of combination of TRAIL with apigenin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. As a result, the combined use of TRAIL and apigenin significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity in PLC-PRF5 cells. Flow cytometry analysis after annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining showed that this increase of cell cytotoxicity was related to enhanced apoptosis in combined treatment of TRAIL with apigenin. Furthermore, synergistic induction of apoptosis was also confirmed by observation of morphological changes and annexin V-FITC/PI fluorescence. Our findings suggests that apigenin has the potential to improve the efficiency of TRAIL-based therapies in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Further study is needed to reveal the molecular mechanisms of this combined therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2013

I investigated whether snake venom toxin(SVT) from Vipera lebetina turanica enhances the apoptosis ability of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) in cancer cells. TRAIL inhibited HCT116 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with cell growth inhibition, the expression of TRAIL receptors; DR4 and DR5 was significantly increased as well as apoptosis related proteins such as cleaved caspase-3, 8, 9 and Bax. However, the expression of survival proteins(eg, cFLIP, survivin, XIAP and Bcl2) was suppressed by the combination treatment of SVT and TRAIL. Pretreatment with the reactive oxygen species(ROS) scavenger N-acetylcysteine reduced the SVT and TRAIL-induced upregulation of DR4 and DR5 expression and expression of the apoptosis related protein such as caspase-3 and-9 as well as cell growth inhibitory effects. The collective results suggest that SVT facilitates TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells through up-regulation of the TRAIL receptors; DR4 and DR5 via ROS pathway signals.