• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제17권2호
• /
• pp.169-186
• /
• 2000

To study anti-cancer effect and molecular biological mechanism of bee venom for aqua-acupuncture, the effects of bee venom on cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle were analyzed using MTT assay, tryphan blue assay, [3H]thymidine release assay, flow cytometric analysis, activity of caspase-3 protease activity assay, and immunocytometric analysis of PCNA. To explore whether anti-cancer effects of bee venom are associated with the transcriptional control of gene expression, quantitative RT-PCR analysis of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes was performed. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. The MTT assay demonstrated that cell viability was decreased by bee venom in a dose-dependant manner. 2. Significant induction of apoptosis was identified using tryphan blue assay, [$^3H$]thymidine release assay, and flow cytometric analysis of sub $G_1$ fraction. 3. In analysis of caspase-3 protease activity, the activity had increased significantly, in a dose-dependant manner. 4. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the apoptosis-related genes showed that Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ were down-regulated whereas Bax was up-regulated by bee venom treatment. 5. In flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle and immunocytometric analysis of PCNA expression, cell numbers of $G_1$ phase was increased by a dose-dependant manner. 6. In quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the cell cycle-related genes, p21, p27, and p57 were increased, while Cyclin D1, CDK4, c-Myc, c-Fos, and Histone H3 were decreased. In contrast, there were no remarkable changes in expression levels of CDC2 and c-Jun.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• 제29권5호
• /
• pp.394-404
• /
• 2007

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent oral cancer, which is characterized by its high metastasis and recurrent rates and poor prognosis. Taxol is an anticancer agent which is microbial products extracted from jew tree. It combines with the tubulin and induces apoptosis by inhibiting mitosis of cell with microtubule stabilization. Recently, it was reported to be effective in various solid tumors, but only very slight effect has been seen in oral squamous cell carcinomas due to its cell-specific potencies. Cyclosporin A is used as immune suppressant and is being applied in anticancer therapy as its mechanism of induction of change of apoptotic process in various cells have been known. In this study, oral squamous cell carcinoma HN22 cell line was used for in vitro experiment and as for the experimental group taxol and cyclosporin A were applied alone and to observe the synergistic effect of apoptosis, Taxol and cyclosporin A were coadministered with different concentration of taxol for comparison. The results were obtained as follow: 1. There was no difference in Bcl-2, Bax, caspase 3, 8, 9 mRNA expression when cyclosprin A or taxol was applied alone to HN 22 cell line. 2. Caspase 3, 9 mRNA expression was prominently increased when cyclosprin A and taxol were applied together to cancer cell. 3. No significant difference was observed when cyclosporin A and taxol($1{\mu}g/ml$ and $3{\mu}g/ml$) were applied together to cancer cell line. 4. No significant difference was seen in Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase 8 mRNA expression in all the groups of in vitro experiments. 5. When cyclosporin A was applied alone in vivo study on the nude mice, histopathologi cal findings was similar to those of the control group. Oral squamous cell carcinoma induced by inoculation of HN 22 cell line was not reduced after treatment of cyclosporin A. 6. When taxol was applied alone, the islands of squamous cell carcinoma still remained, which meant insignificant healing effect. There was a lesser volume increase compared with the cyclosporin A alone. 7. When taxol and cyclosporin A were applied together, the connective tissue and calcification were seen in the histopathologic findings. Oral squamous cell carcinoma was decreased and cancer cell was disappeared. In observing the tumor mass change with time, there was a gradual decreased size and healing features. As the results of the in vitro experiment, it could conclud that only when the two agents are applied together, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis occurred by considerable increase of caspase 3, 9 mRNA expression, irrespectable of the concentration of taxol. In vivo experiment, there was a discrete synergistic effect when the two agents were applied together. But single use of cyclosporin A was not effective in this study. Based on the results of this experiment, if further clinical studies are done, taxol and cyclosporin A could be effectively used in treatment of oral squamous cell carcinomas.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제28권11호
• /
• pp.1268-1276
• /
• 2018

Cytidine analog decitabine (DEC)은 핵산 합성의 억제제로서 골수이형성 증후군 및 급성 골수성 백혈병 치료제로 사용되고 있다. 산화질소 합성에서 번역 단계를 억제하는 것으로 알려진 ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)는 $NF-{\kappa}B$의 대표적인 억제제이다. 본 연구에서는 인체 위암 AGS 세포를 대상으로 DEC와 PDTC의 병용 처리에 따른 세포증식 억제 기전을 조사하였다. 본 연구의 결과에 따르면 PDTC에 의한 AGS 세포의 증식 억제 효과는 DEC에 의해 농도 의존적으로 유의하게 증가하였으며, 이는 G2/M기의 세포주기 정지 및 apoptosis 유도와 관련이 있었다. PDTC와 DEC의 병용 처리에 의한 세포 사멸의 유도는 DNA 손상 유도와 관련이 있음을 H2AX의 인산화 증가로 확인하였다. 아울러 PDTC와 DEC의 병용 처리는 미토콘드리아 막 전위의 파괴를 유도하고, 세포 내 활성산소종(ROS)의 생성과 Bax의 발현을 향상시키고, Bcl-2 발현을 감소시켰으며 미토콘드리아에서 세포질로의 cytochrome c 유출을 증가시켰다. 또한 PDTC과 DEC의 병용 처리는 외인성 및 내인성 apoptosis 개시 caspase에 해당하는 caspase-8과 caspase-9의 활성뿐만 아니라 caspase-3의 활성화와 PARP 단백질의 분해를 유도하였다. 결론적으로 본 연구의 결과는 PDTC와 DEC의 병용 처리가 DNA 손상을 유발하고, ROS 증가와 연계된 외인성 및 내인성 apoptosis 사멸 경로를 활성화시킴으로써 AGS 세포의 증식을 억제하였음을 의미한다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.321-329
• /
• 2021

본 연구에서는 매실 메탄올 추출물(maesil methanol fraction, MMF)을 제조하여 인체 전립선암세포 LNCaP, RC-58T 및 PC-3에 대한 증식억제 효과를 확인하였다. 인체 전립선암세포인 PC-3 및 RC-58T와 비교해보았을 때, LNCaP은 MMF의 처리에 따른 증식억제 효과에 가장 민감했다. LNCaP의 형태학적 관찰과 apoptotic body 형성을 관찰해보았으며, MMF의 처리로 인한 형태의 변화, 핵 손상 및 응축을 확인했다. MMF의 처리로 인한 인체 전립선암세포 LNCaP에서 성장억제 효과가 내인성 apoptosis 경로와 관련 있는지 확인한 결과, pro-apoptotic 단백질인 Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, PARP의 발현이 증가하였고, anti-apoptotic 단백질인 Bcl-2의 발현이 감소하는 것을 확인했다. MMF와 AIF inhibitor인 N-phenylmalemide (N-PM)의 병용처리군에 비해 MMF 단독처리군의 증식억제 효과가 유의적으로 나타났으며 AIF 및 Endo G의 발현 증가를 통해 외인성 apoptosis 경로에 영향을 미치는 것을 확인했다. 또한 PI3K inhibitor인 LY294002와 MMF의 병용처리군에 비해 MMF 단독처리군의 증식억제 효과가 유의적으로 나타났으며 PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR의 발현 감소를 통해 PI3K/Akt/mTOR 신호경로에 영향을 미치는 것을 확인했다. 결론적으로 인체 전립선암세포 LNCaP에서 MMF의 증식억제 효과는 천연물 유래 기능성 식품의 소재로써의 가능성을 보여준다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.169-183
• /
• 2005

Cobrotoxin의 항암효과를 알아보고자 암세포인 PC-3 cell에 cobrotoxin을 처리한 후 cell viability, cell death, apoptosis, cell cycle 및 관련단백질, Adk, 및 MAP kinase 관련 단백질의 변화를 관찰하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. PC-3 세포에 각각 cobrotoxin을 각각 0-16 nM까지 투여시 대조군에 비하여 모두 농도 의존적으로 세포들의 모양이 길죽한 나선형 모양에서 둥글게 응축되는 모습으로 변하였으며 고농도로 갈수록 세포들의 성장이 억제를 보였다. 2. MTT assay를 이용하여 세포 생존력을 측정 한 결과, 0.1, 1 및 4nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군은 정상군에 비하여 세포활성의 감소를 나타내었고, 8, 16nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군은 정상군에 비하여 세포활성의 유의한 감소를 보였다. 3. PC3-cell에 cobrotoxin을 처리한후 FACS analysis를 통하여 세포주기를 측정한 결과 세포주기 중 S phase에서 0.0lnM cobrotoxin 처리군은 변함이 없지만, 1, 2, 4, 8 및 16 nM 의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서는 정상군에 비해 감소를 보였다. G2-M phase에서 0.1, 1, 2, 4, 8 및 16M의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군 에 비하여 증가를 보였다. 4. Cobrotoxin 처리후 Cox-2의 발현을 48시간 관찰한 결과 12시간에서 최대치를 이루었고, 6, 12 및 24시간후에서 대조군에 비하여 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 5. G1 phase에서 활성을 이루는 Cdk4, cyclin Dl의 발현을 살펴본 결과 Cdk4는 cobrotoxin 1, 2, 4 및 8nM 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 농도 의존적으로 감소하였고, cobrotoxin 4, 8nM 처리군은 정상군에 비하여 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. Cyclin Dl은 cobrotoxin 1, 2, 4 및 8nM 처리 군에서 정상군에 비하여 농도 의존적으로 감소하였다. Cycline E는 cobrotoxin 1, 2, 4 및 8nM 처리 군에서 정상군에 비해 큰 변화가 없었다. G2/M phase에 관여하는 단백질인 Cyclin Bl 은 cobrotoxin 1, 2, 4 및 8nM 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 농도 의존적으로 감소하였고, cobrotoxin 2, 4, 8M 처리군은 정상군에 비하여 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 6. 세포성장 단백질인 Akt의 발현을 살펴본 결과 1, 2, 4 및 8nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 농도 의존적으로 감소하였고, 4, 8nM친 cobrotoxln 처리군은 정상에 비하여 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 7. MAP kinase에 관여하는 단백질인 ERK, p-ERK, JNK, p-JNK p38, p-p38에 미치는 영향을 살펴본 결과, ERK은 1, 2nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 증가를, 4, 8nM의 cobrotokin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 감소를 나타내었다. p-ERK은 1, 2, 4nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 증가를, 8nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 감소를 나타내었다. JNK와 p-JNK는 1, 2, 4 및 8nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 증가를 나타내었다. p38는 1, 4, 8nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 감소를, 2nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서는 정상군에 비하여 감소를 나타내었다. p-p38는 1nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 증가를, 2, 4, 8nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서는 정상군에 비하여 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 8. PC 3-cells 성장의 억제 역시 세포사멸을 유도한 세포성장억제 인지를 알아보기 위해 DAPI staining을 통한 세포의 핵을 염색하여 그 모양을 관찰한 결과, 정상세포가 동글동글 하고 균일한데 비하여 세포사멸이 일어난 세 포는 핵이 응축되고, 여러 조각으로 나뉜 모습을 관찰할 수 있었다. 또한, 세포사멸을 살펴본 결과 1, 2, 4, 8 및 16nM cobrotoxin 처 8nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 유의한 변동을 나타내지 않았다. Bcl-2 는 1, 2, 4 및 8nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비해 농도 의존적으로 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 9. 세포사멸 관련 유전자인 caspase family (caspase 3, 9)와 Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2, Bax), p53의 발현을 살펴본 결과, Bax는 1, 2, 4 및 Caspase 3과 9는 1, 2, 4nM의 cobrotoxin 처리군에서 정상군에 비하여 유의한 변동을 나타내지 않았으나, 8nM cobrotoxin 처리군에서는 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 이상의 결과를 종합해보면, 일정수준(pico 또는 namo molar 수준)의 cobrotoxin이 prostate cancer cell의 성장을 억제하고, 세포사멸을 유도 하여 항암 효과가 있음을 확인할 수 있었으며 향후 cobrotoxin의 항암 효과를 실제 임상에 활용할 수 있게 되기를 기대한다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.745-755
• /
• 2002

To examine the effects of Yunpyesan on the cell proliferation of A549 human lung carcinoma cell line, we performed various experiments such as dose-dependent effect of Yunpyesan on cell proliferation and viability, morphological changes, quantification of apoptotic cell death and alterations of apoptosis/cell cycle-regulatory gene products. Yunpyesan declined cell viability and proliferation in both a dose- and a time-dependent manner. The anti-proliferative effect by Yunpyesan treatment in A459 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. Yunpyesan Induced apoptotic cell death in a time-dependent manner, which was associated with degradation of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), an apoptotic target protein, without alterations of the balance between Bcl-2 and Bax expressions. DNA flow cytometric histograms showed that population of G1 phase of the cell cycle was increased by Yunpyesan treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that cyclin D1 and A were reduced by Yunpyesan treatment, whereas cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27 was markedly increased in a time-dependent fashion. The level of tumor suppressor p53 proteins was also increased by Yunpyesan treatment and its increase might be linked to increase of Cdk inhibitor p27. In addition, Mdm2, negative regulator of p53, was down-regulated by Yunpyesan treatment. Since the expression of retinoblastome protein (pRB), a key regulator of G1/S progression, was reduced by Yunpyesan treatment, we supposed that phosphorylation of pRB might be also blocked. The present results indicated that Yunpyesan-induced inhibition of lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptosis and the blockage of G1/S progression.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권12호
• /
• pp.857-864
• /
• 2014

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is a recently discovered oncogene that has been reported to be highly expressed in various types of malignant tumors, including renal cell carcinoma. However, the precise role of AEG-1 in renal cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis has not been clarified. In this study, we transfected the renal cancer cell line Caki-1 with a plasmid expressing AEG-1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and obtained cell colonies with stable knockdown of AEG-1. We found that AEG-1 down-regulation inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation and arrested cell cycle progression at the sub-G1 and G0/G1 phase. Western blot analysis indicated that the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1 and cyclin E were significantly reduced following AEG-1 down-regulation. In addition, AEG-1 knockdown led to the appearance of apoptotic bodies in renal cancer cells, and the ratio of apoptotic cells significantly increased. Expression of the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2 was dramatically reduced, whereas the pro-apoptotic factors Bax, caspase-3 and poly (ADPribose) polymerase (PARP) were significantly activated. Finally, AEG-1 knockdown in Caki-1 cells remarkably suppressed cell proliferation and enhanced cell apoptosis in response to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment, suggesting that AEG-1 inhibition sensitizes Caki-1 cells to 5-FU. Taken together, our data suggest that AEG-1 plays an important role in renal cancer formation and development and may be a potential target for future gene therapy for renal cell carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권17호
• /
• pp.7575-7582
• /
• 2015

Cyclin E, a key coordinator of the G1 to S transition in the cell cycle, may be deregulated in several malignancies, including breast cancer. The most significant aberration in cyclin E is its elastase mediated proteolytic cleavage into tumor specific low molecular weight isoforms (LMW-Es). LMW-Es are biochemically hyperactive and biologically drive tumorigenesis in transgenic mouse models. Additionally, expression of LMW-Es has been correlated with poor survival in breast cancer cases. Here we determine whether expression of LMW-Es in a breast cancer cell line that is naturally devoid of these deregulated forms would alter their progression through each phase of the cell cycle. The results revealed that LMW-Es expression resulted in an increased doubling time, concomitant with a predominant increase in the population in the S phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, downregulation of p53 in LMW-Es cells resulted in additional shortening of the doubling time and enrichment of cells in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Furthermore, expression of LMW-Es sensitized cells to ${\beta}$-estradiol (E2) mediated growth and changed expression patterns of estrogen receptor and Bcl-2. Intriguingly, expression of LMW-Es could surpass anti-apoptotic effects raised by p53 upregulation. Taken together these studies suggest that overexpression of LMW-Es in collaboration with p53 loss results in altered g rowth properties of MCF-7 cells, enhancing the oncogenic activity of these ER positive breast cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권12호
• /
• pp.6369-6374
• /
• 2012

Vitexicarpin (3', 5-dihydroxy-3, 4', 6, 7-tetramethoxyflavone), a polymethoxyflavone isolated from Viticis Fructus (Vitex rotundifolia Linne fil.), has long been used as an anti-inflammatory herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It has also been reported that vitexicarpin can inhibit the growth of various cancer cells. However, there is no report elucidating its effect on human prostate carcinoma cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the apoptotic induction activity of vitexicarpin on PC-3 cells and molecular mechanisms involved. MTT studies showed that vitexicarpin dose-dependently inhibited growth of PC-3 cells with an $IC_{50}{\sim}28.8{\mu}M$. Hoechst 33258 staining further revealed that vitexicarpin induced apoptotic cell death. The effect of vitexicarpin on PC-3 cells apoptosis was tested using prodium iodide (PI)/Annexin V-FITC double staining and flow cytometry. The results indicated that vitexicarpin induction of apoptotic cell death in PC-3 cells was accompanied by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that vitexicarpin induction of PC-3 cell apoptosis was associated with upregulation of the proapoptotic protein Bax, and downregulation of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Our findings suggested that vitexicarpin may become a potential leading drug in the therapy of prostate carcinoma.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제34권1호
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2017

Objectives : We investigated the synergistic effects of bee venom (BV) and natural killer (NK) cells on B16F10 melanoma cell apoptosis mediated by IL-4. Methods : We performed a cell viability assay to determine whether BV can enhance the inhibitory effect of NK-92MI cells on the growth of B16F10 melanoma cells, and western blot analysis to detect changes in the expression of IL-4, $IL-4R{\alpha}$, and other apoptosis-related proteins. EMSA was performed to observe the activity of STAT6. To confirm that the inhibitory effect of BV and NK cells was mediated by IL-4, the above tests were repeated after IL-4 silencing by siRNA (50 nM). Results : B16F10 melanoma cells co-cultured with NK-92MI cells and simultaneously treated by BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$) showed a higher degree of proliferation inhibition than when treated by BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$) alone or co-cultured with NK-92MI cells alone. Expression of IL-4, $IL-4R{\alpha}$, and that of other pro-apoptotic proteins was also enhanced after co-culture with NK-92MI cells and simultaneous treatment with BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$). Furthermore, the expression of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 decreased, and the activity of STAT6, as well as the expression of STAT6 and p-STAT6 were enhanced. IL-4 silencing siRNA (50 nM) in B16F10 cells, the effects of BV treatment and NK-92MI co-culture were reversed. Conclusion : These results suggest that BV could be an effective alternative therapy for malignant melanoma by enhancing the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of NK cells through an IL-4-mediated pathway.