• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2008

Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of Bcl-2 family proteins, plays a central role in the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Apoptotic signals induce the translocation of Bax from cytosol into the mitochondria, which triggers the release of apoptogenic molecules such as cytochrome C and apoptosis-inducing factor, AIF. Bax-inhibiting peptide(BIP) is a cell permeable peptide comprised of five amino acids designed from the Bax-interaction domain of Ku70. Because BIP inhibits Bax translocation and Bax-mediated release of cytochrome C, BIP suppresses Bax-dependent apoptosis. In this study, we observed that BIP inhibited staurosporine-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebral cortex and cerebellar granule cells, but BIP failed to rescue granule cells from trophic signal deprivation-induced neuronal death, although both staurosporine-induced and trophic signal deprivation-induced neuronal death are dependent on Bax. These findings suggest that the mechanisms of the Bax activation may differ depending on the type of cell death induction, and thus BIP exhibits selective suppression of a subtype of Bax-dependent neuronal death.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Human prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide, and its incidence rate continues to increase. Advanced prostate cancer is more difficult to treat than early forms due to its chemotherapy resistance. There is need for more effective agents that can inhibit the progression of advanced prostate cancer. Demethoxyfumitremorgin C (DMFTC) was isolated from the fermentation extract of the marine fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Antiproliferative activity of DMFTC against human prostate cancer PC3 cells was examined through cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, the fluorescent nuclear imaging analysis with propidium iodide (PI), and proteins expression related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were investigated via Western blotting. DMFTC inhibited PC3 cells growth through G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. It activated the tumor suppressor p53 and the Cdk inhibitor p21, which regulate the cell progression into the G1 phase. Additionally, PI-positive late apoptotic non-viable cells were increased and the expression levels of the G1-positive downstream regulators cyclin D, cyclin E, Cdk2, and Cdk4 were decreased by DMFTC treatment. These results suggest that DMFTC induces G1 arrest and apoptosis induction through regulation of p53/p21-dependent cyclin-Cdk complexes, and it may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of human advanced prostate cancer.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.152-161
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• 2020

D-pinitol is an analog of 3-methoxy-D-chiro-inositol found in beans and plants. D-pinitol has anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. Additionally, D-pinitol induces apoptosis and inhibits metastasis in breast and prostate cancers. However, to date, no study has investigated the anticancer effects of D-pinitol in oral cancer. Therefore, in this study, whether the anticancer effects of D-pinitol induce apoptosis, inhibit the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and arrest cell cycle was investigated in squamous epithelial cells. D-pinitol decreased the survival and cell proliferation rates of CAL-27 and Ca9-22 oral squamous carcinoma cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Evidence of apoptosis, including nuclear condensation, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and caspase-3 fragmentation, was also observed. D-pinitol inhibited the migration and invasion of both cell lines. In terms of EMT-related proteins, E-cadherin was increased, whereas N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug were decreased. D-pinitol also decreased the expression of cyclin D1, a protein involved in the cell cycle, but increased the expression of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Hence, D-pinitol induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in CAL-27 and Ca9-22 cells, demonstrating an anticancer effect by decreasing the EMT.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Bo-du-san (BOS) on apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells, SNU-l cells. BOS, a drug preparation consisting of two herbs, that is, Crotonis Fructus (Strychni ignatii Semen, bodu in Korean) and Glycyrrhizae Radix (Glycyrrhizae uralensis FISCH, Gamcho in Korean). Methodss : In this study, methanol extract of BOS was examined for cytotoxic activity on human gastric cancer cells, SNU-1 cells, using XTT assay, with an IC50 value was 0.7 mg/ml and 0.3 mg/ml at 24 hrs and 48 hrs, respectively. Apoptosis induction by BDS in SNU-l cells was verified by the induction of DNA fragmentation, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. Inhibitors of caspase-3, -8 and -9 (Ac-DEVD-CHO, Z-IETD-FMK and Z-LEHD-FMK) efficiently blocked BOS-induced cell death of SNU-l. Resultss : BOS-induced cell death was via caspase dependent apoptosis. Moreover, treatment of BOS result in the decrease the G1/S cycle regulation proteins (cyclin D1 and E) expression and increase CDK inhibitor proteins (p21 and p27) expression, and increase apoptotic protein, p53 expression. Thus, BOS induces apoptosis in SNU-1 cells via cell cycle arrested in G1 phase. Conclusions : These results indicated that BOS has some potential for use as an anti-cancer agent.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2001

Curcumin a yellow pigment from Curcuma Tonga, has been known to possess antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties, as well as to induce apoptosis in some cancer cells. There have been, however, several contradictory reports that hypothesized curcumin (a hydrophobic molecule) can bind a membrane Gpid bilayer and induce nonspecific cytotoxicity in some cell lines. Why curcumin shows these contradictory effects is unknown. In A-431 cells, growth inhibition by curcumin is due mostly to the specific inhibition of the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor, as reported earlier by Korutla et al. Thus, we assumed that the cell death of A-431 by curcumin might be due to the specific induction of apoptosis. In this paper we clearly show that curcumin induces apoptosis in A-431 cells. The cureumin-induced cell death of A-431 exhibited various apoptotic features, including DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation. Furthermore, the curcumin-induced apoptosis of A-431 cells involved activation of caspase-3-like cysteine protease. Involvement of caspase-3 was further confirmed by using a caspase-3 specific inhibitor, DEVD-CHO. In another study, decreased nitric oxide (NO) production was also shown in A-431 cells treated with curcumin, which seems to be the result of the inhibition of the iNOS expression by curcumin, as in other cell lines. However, 24 h after treatment of curcumin there was increased NO production in A-431 cells. This observation has not yet been clearly explained. We assumed that the increased NO production may be related to denitrosylation of the enzyme catalytic site in caspase-3 when activated. Taken together, this study shows that the cell death of A-431 by curcumin is due to the induction of apoptosis, which involves caspase-3 activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 2020

Sesamin, a lipid-soluble lignin originally isolated from sesame seeds, which induces cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy. In the present study, has been reported that sesamin induces apoptosis via several pathways in human lung cancer cells. However, whether mitophagy is involved in sesamin induced lung cancer cell apotosis remains unclear. This study, the anticancer activity of sesamin in lung cancer was studied by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitophagy. A549 cells were treated with sesamin, and cell viability, migration ability, and cell cycle were assessed using the CCK8 assay, scratch-wound test, and flow cytometry, respectively. ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometric detection of DCFH-DA fluorescence and by using JC-1 and TUNEL assays. The results indicated that sesamin treatment inhibited the cell viability and migration ability of A549 cells and induced G₀/G₁ phase arrest. Furthermore, sesamin induced an increase in ROS levels, a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis accompanied by an increase in cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9. Additionally, sesamin triggered mitophagy and increased the expression of PINK1 and translocation of Parkin from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria. However, the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine clearly reduced the oxidative stress and mitophagy induced by sesamin. Furthermore, we found that cyclosporine A (an inhibitor of mitophagy) decreased the inhibitory effect of sesamin on A549 cell viability. Collectively, our data indicate that sesamin exerts lethal effects on lung cancer cells through the induction of ROS-mediated mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Background: ${\alpha}$-Lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) has been studied as an anticancer agent as well as a therapeutic agent for diabetes and obesity. We performed this study to evaluate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of ${\alpha}$-LA in a lung cancer cell line, A549. Materials and Methods: ${\alpha}$-LA-induced apoptosis of A549 cells was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and a DNA fragmentation assay. Expression of apoptosis-related genes was analyzed by western blot and reverse transcription.polymerase chain reaction analyses. Results: ${\alpha}$-LA induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. ${\alpha}$-LA increased caspase activity and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. It induced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes, such as glucose-regulated protein 78, C/EBP-homologous protein, and the short form of X-box binding protein-1, and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was induced by ${\alpha}$-LA, and the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine decreased the ${\alpha}$-LA-induced increase in expression of apoptosis and ER stress-related proteins. Conclusion: ${\alpha}$-LA induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis in A549 cells via ROS. ${\alpha}$-LA may therefore be clinically useful for treating lung cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2013

Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) apoptosis induced by hypoxia compromise intestinal epithelium barrier function. Both Akt and Hsp90 have cytoprotective function. However, the specific role of Akt and $Hsp90{\beta}$ in IEC apoptosis induced by hypoxia has not been explored. We confirmed that hypoxia-induced apoptosis was reduced by $Hsp90{\beta}$ overexpression but enhanced by decreasing $Hsp90{\beta}$ expression. $Hsp90{\beta}$ overexpression enhanced BAD phosphorylation and thus reduced mitochondrial release of cytochrome C. Reducing $Hsp90{\beta}$ expression had opposite effects. The protective effect of $Hsp90{\beta}$ against apoptosis was negated by LY294002, an Akt inhibitor. Further study showed that Akt phosphorylation was enhanced by $Hsp90{\beta}$, which was not due to the activation of upstream PI3K and PDK1 but because of stabilization of pAkt via direct interaction between $Hsp90{\beta}$ and pAkt. These results demonstrate that $Hsp90{\beta}$ may play a significant role in protecting IECs from hypoxia-induced apoptosis via stabilizing pAkt to phosphorylate BAD and reduce cytochrome C release.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3103-3107
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• 2012

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary mesenchymal malignant tumor, usually has bad prognosis in man, with cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) considered to play a critical role in tumorigenesis and drug-resistance. It is known that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is involved in regulation of tumor cell fates, such as proliferation, cell cycling, survival and apoptosis. Whether and how PI3K and inhibitors might cooperate in human osteosarcoma CSCs is still unknown. We therefore evaluated the effects of LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, on the cell cycle and apoptosis of osteosarcoma CSCs in vitro. LY294002 prevented phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) by inhibition of PI3K phosphorylation activity, thereby inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in osteosarcoma CSCs. Further studies also demonstrated that apoptosis induction by LY294002 is accompanied by activation of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP, which are involved in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Therefore, our results indicate PI3K inhibitors may represent a potential strategy for managing human osteosarcoma via affecting CSCs.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.111-123
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of Caesalpiniae Lignum (Somok) on HepG2 cells, a human liver cancer cell line. To study the cytotoxic effect of Caesalpiniae Lignum methanol extract (CL-MeOH) on HepG2 cells, the cells were treated with various concentrations of CL-MeOH and then cell viability was determined by XTT reduction method and trypan blue exclusion assay. CL-MeOH reduced proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To confirm the induction of apoptosis, HepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of CL-MeOH. The activation of caspase 3 and the cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), a substrate for caspase-3 and a typical sign of apoptosis, was examined by western blot analysis. CL-MeOH decreased procaspase 3 level in a dose-dependent manner and induced the clevage of PARP at concentration> $200{\mu}/ml$. Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling cascades are multi-functional signaling networks that influence cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and cellular responses to stress. CL-MeOH-induced MAPK activation was examined by Western blot for phosphorylated ERK, p38 and JNK. CL-MeOH significantly increased p38 phosphorylation and JNK phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of p38 function using the selective inhibitor SB20358O results in inhibition of apoptosis by CL-MeOH. These results suggest that CL-MeOH-induced apoptosis is MAP kinase-dependent apoptoric pathway. These results suggest that CL-MeOH is potentially useful as a chemotherapeutic agent in human liver cancer.