• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1790-1794
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• 2012

Recently, it has been suggested that $p27^{Kip1}$, the cell cycle regulatory protein, plays a pivotal role in the progression of normal differentiation in murine embryonic stem (mES) cells. In the current study, we investigated the role of $p27^{Kip1}$ in the regulation of differentiation and apoptotic induction using Western blotting, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) assays and confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of H9 human ES (hES) cells and H9-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) grown for 10 ($EB_{10}$) and 20 days ($EB_{20}$). Our results demonstrate that the proteins $p27^{Kip1}$ and cyclin D3 are strongly associated with cellular differentiation, and, for the first time, show that up-regulation of $p27^{Kip1}$ protects hES cells from inducing differentiation-associated and caspase 3-dependent apoptosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1321-1331
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to separate the photosensitizer that induces apoptosis of U937 and SK-HEP-1 cells from Nostoc commune. Dried N. commune was extracted with $CH_2Cl_2/MeOH$ (1:1) to separate the photosensitizer using various chromatographic techniques. The isolated compound was identified as pheophytin a ($C_{55}H_{74}N_4O_5$) with a molecular weight of 870. Its photodynamic activities were assessed under different irradiation conditions (light and non-light) at the same concentration range of $1.15-23.0{\mu}M$. The apoptosis inducing activity in U937 or SK-HEP-1 cells appeared only in the light. The mechanisms underlying the pheophytin a-mediated photodynamic inhibition of cancer cells were further investigated by examining cell morphology changes, cytotoxicity, caspase-3/7 activity, fluorescence staining, flow cytometry analysis, and DNA fragmentation in these two cell lines. The positive control and the light irradiation group showed typical apoptotic responses, including morphological changes, cytotoxicity, caspase activity, nucleus shrinkage owing to chromatin condensation, DNA laddering, and the presence of apoptotic bodies. Cytotoxicity markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner after a 12 hr exposure. Caspase-3/7 activity was higher in U937 cells than in SK-HEP-1 cells. Apoptosis induction therefore appeared to be both concentration- and light-dependent. In conclusion, pheophytin a, isolated from the blue green alga N. commune, had a photodynamic apoptosis-inducing effect on U937 and SK-HEP-1 cells. The findings reported here can be used as basic data for the development of next-generation photosensitizers from N. commune.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.45-51
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• 2012

Objectives : WHW is a polyherbal medicine for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF). WHW previously reported various biological property such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-renal fibrosis in CRF. This study aimed to investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of WHW on staurosporin(SSP)-induced apoptosis in canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCK). Methods : MDCK cells were treated with different concentrations of WHW (0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and $1mg/m{\ell}$) for 1 h, and then induced apoptosis by treatment of SSP ($1{\mu}M$) for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by WST-1 assay. The expression of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 was determined by Western blot. Caspase-3 activity and ROS levels were also measured by their commercial available assay kits. Cell apoptosis was observed by Hoechst and DNA fragmentation. Results : WHW significantly increased the cell viability on SSP-treated MDCK cells. WHW inhibited SSP-induced expression of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3 and Bax, and significantly decreased caspase-3 activity in MDCK cells. WHW significantly decreased SSP-induced production of ROS, and suppressed SSP-induced chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation in MDCK cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that WHW has an anti-apoptotic effect in renal cells through suppressing the expression of apoptotic proteins, ROS production and DNA damages.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1 s.65
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• pp.23-35
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of Gaejibokryunghwan on cell proliferation in HeLa cells. Methods : Human uterine cervical carcinoma HeLa cells were cultured in the 1%, 5% and 10% concentration of Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution. All three were cultured for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours each, to examine the inhibitory effects of Gaejibokryunghwan. Afterwards, we drew out the effect of Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution by making 5 analysis. First analysis was to measure the proliferation rate of cells. Second was FACS analysis. Third was to estimate the activity or caspase-3. Fourth, we used XTT assay to analyze the activation or cells. Ana lastly, a molecular biological method was used to determine activation of MAP kinase in the HeLa cells. Results : After 24, 48 and 72 hours cultivation, the proliferation of HeLa cells showed the dose-dependent decrease in all Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution groups compared to the control group. In the FACS analysis, Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution groups showed increased caspase expression compared to the control group, except for the group for 48 and 72 hours in 1 % concentrate. Caspase-3 activities were increased in all, except tile group cultured for 24 hours in 5% concentrate and the groups cultured for 48 hours in 1% and 5% concentrate. In the XTT study, 1% Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution groups showed increase compared to the control group, but other Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution containing groups showed significant decrease compared to the control after 24, 48 and 72 hours of cultivation. The expressions of MAP kinase were decreased in all Gaejibokryunghwan extract solution containing groups compared to the control group after 24, 48 and 72 hours of cultivation. Conclusions : From this study, we could suggest that Gaejibokryunghwan be available to the inhibition of proliferation of human cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa cells in vitro.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2019

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the combination effects of Cinnamomi cortex Ethanol Extract (CcEE) and hyperthermia in the human AGS gastric cancer cell line. Methods : AGS cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of CcEE (0, 50 or $60{\mu}g/mL$) for 1h prior to hyperthermia. And then incubated for a further 30 min at the indicated temperatures (37, 42 or $43^{\circ}C$) in a humidified incubator containing 5% $CO_2$ or a thermostatically controlled water bath for hyperthermia. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, Morphology assay and Trypan blue assay. To investigate the possible molecular signaling pathways, the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins (ERK, p38 and JNK) and expression of various anti-apoptotic proteins such as Caspase-3, Caspase-9, p53, Cyclin D1 and MMP-2 were assessed by Western blot analysis. In addition, Annexin V and 7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) staining was performed to examine the apoptotic mechanism. Results : Combination of CcEE with hyperthermia effectively suppressed the cell viability and changed cellmorphology compared with CcEE or hyperthermia treatment alone. Combined treatment also abated the expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Cyclin D1 and MMP-2. Whereas, the expression level of p53 was up-regulated by co-treatment. Moreover, combination treatment enhanced phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK. In addition, this combination increased anti-cancer effect by inducing cell death through the apoptosis. Conclusions : Taken together, all these findings suggest that the combination treatment with CcEE and hyperthermia may have therapeutic potential as a promising approach to patients with stomach cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.12-21
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• 2005

Objectives: In the present study, we investigated whether an aqueous extract of Armeniacae semen induces apoptotic neuronal cell death upon mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells. Methods: 1. Cell viability was determined by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTI) assay. 2. For in situ detection of apoptotic cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. 3. The fraction of cells was revealed by flow cytometric analysis used that. 4. For detection of apoptotic DNA cleavage, DNA fragmentation assay was performed. 5. For detection of bax and bcl-2, Western blot analysis was performed. 6. Caspase enzyme activity was measured using caspase-3 assay. Results: From the present results, N2a neuroblastoma cells treated with Armeniacae semen extract exhibited several characteristics of apoptosis. A treatment of Armeniacae semen extract was shown to increase the expression of Bax, a proapoptotic protein, and the treatment decreased the expression of Blc2, an anti-apoptotic protein. In addition, Armeniacae semen extract increased the caspase-3 enzyme activity. Conclusions: The present results show that Armeniacae semen extract induces apoptotic cell death in mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 1999

Highly metastatic mouse T-lymphoma CS21 cells can grow in vitro when cocultured with CA12 lymph node stromal cells, but they undergo apoptotic cell death when separated from CA12 stromal cells. It has been found that cysteine and interleukin-7(IL-7) as antiapoptotic soluble factors that produced by CA12 stromal cells. In this study, we report that an ICE family protease is activated in CS21 cells when separated from CA12 stromal cells and cultured alone. Enzyme purification using an avidin affinity column revealed that the involved cysteine protease possessed caspase3-like death protease activity. In addition, when IL-7 was added to CS21 cell culture, the protease activity could not be detected during partial purification of the enzyme. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the caspase3-like protease activation is suppressed by IL-7 as an antiapoptotic factor that leads to abrogation of apoptosis execution.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10137-10142
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• 2015

Apoptosis is a general phenomenon of all multicellular organisms and caspases form a group of important proteins central to suicide of cells. Pathologies like cancer, Myocardial infarction, Stroke, Sepsis, Alzheimer's, Psoriasis, Parkinson and Huntington diseases are often associated with change in caspase 3 mediated apoptosis and therefore, caspases may serve as potential inhibitory targets for drug development. In the present study, two series of synthetic acetylated tetrapeptides containing aldehyde and fluromethyl keto groups respectively at the C terminus were proposed. All these compounds were evaluated for binding affinity against caspase 3 structure. In series 1 compound Ac-DEHD-CHO demonstrated appreciable and high binding affinity (Rerank Score: -138.899) against caspase 3. While in series 2 it was Ac-WEVD-FMK which showed higher binding affinity (Rerank Score: -139.317). Further these two compounds met ADMET properties and demonstrated to be non-toxic.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1627-1635
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• 2013

Mitochondria often play central roles in apoptotic pathways, and disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}m$) has been observed in various cells undergoing apoptosis. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection induces apoptosis in permissive cells; however, investigations of mitochondria-targeted apoptosis in HCMV-infected human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells have been limited. Here, we investigated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in HCMV-infected HFF cells. Flow cytometry analysis using JC-1 revealed that HCMV infection induces disruption of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ in HFF cells when administered 24 h post-infection (hpi), and this disruption was maximized at 48 hpi. Moreover, cytochrome c, normally a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, was detected in cytoplasmic extracts of HCMV-infected cells, but not mock-infected cells, by western blot analysis at 24 hpi. A caspase activity assay based on fluorescence spectrophotometry using a fluorogenic substrate revealed an increase in caspase-3 activity at 48 hpi in HCMV-infected cells. Caspase-8 activity was increased at 72 hpi in HCMV-infected cells. These results imply that HCMV infection induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in HFF cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2010

This study aimed the role of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) induced migration and invasion in bovine retinal endothelial cells (BRECs). BRECs were isolated from the retina. Cell viability was confirmed by the MTT assay. In vitro wound migration assay was performed to investigate the migration of BRECs. In vitro tube formation was measured by on-gel system. Apoptosis induced by AuNP was confirmed by caspase-3 assay. AGE-bovine serum albumin (BSA) demonstrated increase of cell migration and proliferation in BRECs. In addition, AuNP regardless of the existence of AGE-BSA suppressed proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. AuNP suppressed AGE-BSA induced migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis through caspase-3. As a results, AuNP have a potential anti-angiogenic effect for AGE-induced angiogenesis in vitro and offer possibility for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.