• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.898-908
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• 2010

Purpose: The neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) have been recently shown in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy, trauma, and excitotoxicity; however, limited data are available for such effects during the neonatal periods. Therefore, we investigated whether recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) can protect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism. Methods: The left carotid artery was ligated in 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat pups ($in$ $vivo$ model). The animals were divided into 6 groups: normoxia control (NC), normoxia sham-operated (NS), hypoxia only (H), hypoxia+vehicle (HV), hypoxia+rHuEPO before a hypoxic insult (HE-B), and hypoxia+rHuEPO after a hypoxic insult (HE-A). Embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of SD rats at 18 days gestation ($in$ $vitro$ model) was performed. The cultured cells were divided into 5 groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and 1, 10, and 100 IU/mL rHuEPO-treated groups. Results: In the $in$ $vivo$ model, Bcl-2 expressions in the H and HV groups were lower than those in the NC and NS groups, whereas those in the HE-A and HE-B groups were greater than those of the H and HV groups. The expressions of Bax and caspase-3 and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were in contrast to those of Bcl-2. In the $in$ $vitro$ model, the patterns of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were similar to the results obtained in the in vivo model. Conclusion: rHuEPO exerts neuroprotective effect against perinatal HI brain injury via an antiapoptotic mechanism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.911-917
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• 2016

Lespedeza cuneata G. Don is an edible perennial herb used in traditional Korean medicine. We investigated the anti-proliferative properties and mechanism of L. cuneata extract. The ethanolic extract of L. cuneata dose-and time-dependently inhibited human colorectal cancer cell proliferation. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to test the effect of the extract on proliferation of HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. The extract inhibited HT-29 cell proliferation with an $IC_{50}$ value of $554.26{\pm}8.81{\mu}g/mL$. L. cuneata extract suppressed production of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$. Apoptosis was evaluated by analysis of DNA fragmentation, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, caspase-3 activity, and protein expression of pro-apoptotic (Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2). Our results demonstrated that the extract induced DNA fragmentation and characteristic morphological changes associated with apoptosis in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. The extract also time- and dose-dependently up-regulated expression of the Bax and down-regulated expression of the Bcl-2. Furthermore, the extract dose- and time-dependently enhanced caspase-3 activity. Our findings provide evidence that L. cuneata extract may mediate its anti-proliferative effect via modulation of apoptosis.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of Needle Electrode Electrical Stimulation (NEES) on ischemia-induced cerebrovascular accidents. After obstruction and reperfusion of ${\ast}{\ast}$ arteries in white mice, the amounts of necrosis and inflammation related substances IL-6, Caspase-3, and PARP, C-fos were measured in neurons of the hippocampus. The following results were obtained. Methods : This study used 21 male specific pathogen free (SPF) SD (Sprague Dawley) rats, 8 weeks of age and approximately 300 g in weight, that were given at least 1 week to adapt to the lab environment Each exposed artery was completely occluded with non-absorbent suture thread and kept in that state for 5 minutes. The sutures were then removed to allow reperfusion of blood. Test group is control group for comparison with the common carotid artery occlusion models, a GI group that underwent common carotid artery occlusion, and a needle electrode electrical stimulation (NEES) group that underwent NEES after artery occlusion. The GI and NEES groups were given 12, 24, or 48 hours of reperfusion before NEES. NEES device (PG6, ITO, Japan, 9V, current, 2Hz) was used to stimulate the right and left acupoint ST36 of the SD rats for 30 minutes while they were sedated with 3% isoflurane. An immunohistochemistry test was done on the forebrains of the GI induced rats. All the data collected from this study was symbolized and analyzed using a statistics processing program (SPSS 12.0K/PC). The level of significance was set at ${\alpha}$=0.05 and a T-TEST analysis was used to find out the effects of treatment on each of the groups: the normal group, the CVA induced group, and the treatment after CVA induction group. Results : Both PARP and C-fos immuno-reactive cells, related to apoptosis, were greater in the GI groups than the NEES group. Caspase and IL-6 immuno-reactive cells, related to inflammation, were greater in the GI and NEES groups than the control group. Conclusions : This research was conducted to study the effects of NEES on CVA due to ischemia. Occlusion and reperfusion was performed on the common carotid arteries of white rats, after which amounts of substances related to neuron necrosis and inflammation - PARP, IL-6, Caspase-3, and C-fos - were measured in the Hippocampus

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2013

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor family of cytokines. TRAIL selectively induces apoptotic cell death in various tumors and cancer cells, but it has little or no toxicity in normal cells. Agonism of TRAIL receptors has been considered to be a valuable cancer-therapeutic strategy. However, more than 85% of primary tumors are resistant to TRAIL, emphasizing the importance of investigating how to overcome TRAIL resistance. In this report, we have found that nemadipine-A, a cell-permeable L-type calcium channel inhibitor, sensitizes TRAIL-resistant cancer cells to this ligand. Combination treatments using TRAIL with nemadipine-A synergistically induced both the caspase cascade and apoptotic cell death, which were blocked by a pan caspase inhibitor (zVAD) but not by autophagy or a necrosis inhibitor. We further found that nemadipine-A, either alone or in combination with TRAIL, notably reduced the expression of survivin, an inhibitor of the apoptosis protein (IAP) family of proteins. Depletion of survivin by small RNA interference (siRNA) resulted in increased cell death and caspase activation by TRAIL treatment. These results suggest that nemadipine-A potentiates TRAIL-induced apoptosis by down-regulation of survivin expression in TRAIL resistant cells. Thus, combination of TRAIL with nemadipine-A may serve a new therapeutic scheme for the treatment of TRAIL resistant cancer cells, suggesting that a detailed study of this combination would be useful.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Cinnamomum cassia Blume (CC) extract on the repair of damaged cartilage in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA) by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and medial meniscus resection (MMx). Forty-eight rats were assigned to six groups (n = 8 per group): sham as negative control (NC), positive control (PC), diclofenac sodium (DS, 2 mg/kg), CC 25 mg/kg, CC 50 mg/kg and CC 100 mg/kg groups. Treatments were 12 weeks from 7 days after ACLT + MMx. Loss of cartilage and joint instability were significantly reduced in response to treatment with CC or DS compared to the PC (p < 0.05). CC significantly ameliorated cartilage degradation in a dose-dependent manner as assessed by histological findings (p < 0.01). A reduction in the severity of structural changes and a dose-dependent increase in Safranin-O staining intensity were observed in CC treatments, indicating that cartilage degradation was inhibited. Although DS did not affect the increase in active caspase-3 and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-induced apoptosis during the progression of OA, cells reactive to these apoptotic markers were decreased significantly by CC (p < 0.05). However, treatments with CC or DS did not influence the uptake of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine. The findings suggest that CC can exert a chondroprotective action on OA through anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2014

Objective : This study was performed to investigate the antineoplastic effect of Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica gigas, Rhus verniciflua Stokes and Trichosanthes kirilowii on SNU-80 anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line. Method : We examined whether our herbal medicines decreases cell growth rate of SNU-80 using MTT assay. We performed western blot analysis to verify that our herbal medicines induces apoptosis via caspase-dependent mechanism. We also performed wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay to investigate whether our herbal medicines affects the migration and invasion of anaplastic cancer cells, SNU-80. We also carried out ELISA assay to know our herbal medicines suppresses the expression of proinvasive molecules, such as VEGF and MMP-2 secreted from SNU-80. Results : MTT assay demonstrates that Angelica gigas, Rhus verniciflua Stokes, and Trichosanthes kirilowii suppressed strongly the growth of SNU-80. Western blot analysis demonstrates that Trichosanthes kirilowii induces apoptosis activating the cleavages of caspases (caspase-8, caspase-3) and PARP. Wound healing assay demonstrates that Rhus verniciflua Stokes, and Trichosanthes kirilowii inhibited the migration of SNU-80. Transwell invasion assay demonstrates that Rhus verniciflua Stokes, and Trichosanthes kirilowii inhibited the invasion of SNU-80. Elisa assay demonstrates that Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica gigas, Rhus verniciflua Stokes, and Trichosanthes kirilowii suppressed the expression of VEGF and MMP-2. Conclusion : We could conclude that several herbal medicines suppresses the growth and inhibits the migration and invasion of SNU-80 which is anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. Especially, Rhus verniciflua Stokes, Trichosanthes kirilowii had stronger anti-cancer effect suggesting that we can apply them to treat anaplastic thyroid cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.289-295
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• 2006

Sodium fluoride (NaF) has been shown to be cytotoxic and elicit inflammatory response in human. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying NaF-induced cytotoxicity in periodontal tissues have not yet been elucidated. This study is aimed to investigate the mechanisms of NaF-induced apoptosis in human gingival fibroblast (HGF). NaF decreased the cell viability of HGF in a dose- and time-dependent manner. NaF gave rise to apoptotic morphological changes including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. However, NaF did not affect the production of ROS. In addition, NaF augumented cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytosol, and enhanced caspase -9 and -3 activities., cleavage (85 kDa fragments) of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and upregulation of voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) 1. These results demonstrated that NaF-induced apoptosis in HGF may be mediated with mitochondria. Furthermore, NaF elevated caspase-8 activity and upregulated Fas-ligand (Fas-L), suggesting involvement of death receptor mediated pathway in NaF-induced apoptosis. Expression of Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was downregulated, whereas expression of Bax, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, was not affected in NaF-treated HGF. These results suggest that NaF induces apoptosis in HGF through both mitochondria- and death receptor-mediated pathway mediated by Bcl-2 family.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress plays a key role in neuronal cell damage, which is associated with neurodegenerative disease. The aim of present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of perilla oil (PO) and its active component, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), against hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: The SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells exposed to $250{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ for 24 h were treated with different concentrations of PO (25, 125, 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$) and its major fatty acid, ALA (1, 2.5, 5 and $25{\mu}g/mL$). We examined the effects of PO and ALA on $H_2O_2$-induced cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and nuclear condensation. Moreover, we determined whether PO and ALA regulated the apoptosis-related protein expressions, such as cleaved-poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), cleaved caspase-9 and -3, BCL-2 and BAX. RESULTS: Treatment of $H_2O_2$ resulted in decreased cell viability, increased LDH release, and increase in the nuclei condensation as indicated by Hoechst 33342 staining. However, PO and ALA treatment significantly attenuated the neuronal cell death, indicating that PO and ALA potently blocked the $H_2O_2$-induced neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, cleaved-PARP, cleaved caspase-9 and -3 activations were significantly decreased in the presence of PO and ALA, and the $H_2O_2$-induced up-regulated BAX/BCL-2 ratio was blocked after treatment with PO and ALA. CONCLUSIONS: PO and its main fatty acid, ALA, exerted the protective activity from neuronal oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$. They regulated apoptotic pathway in neuronal cell death by alleviation of BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and down-regulation of cleaved-PARP and cleaved caspase-9 and -3. Although further studies are required to verify the protective mechanisms of PO and ALA from neuronal damage, PO and ALA are the promising agent against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1102-1111
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• 2008

Purpose : Resveratrol, extracted from red wine and grapes, has an anti-cancer effect, an antiinflammatory effect, and an antioxidative effect mainly in heart disease and also has neuroprotective effects in the adult animal model. No studies for neuroprotective effects during the neonatal periods have been reported. Therefore, we studied the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats via anti-apoptosis. Methods : Embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture of rat brain was performed using pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18 days of gestation (E18) for the in vitro approach. We injured the cells with hypoxia and administered resveratrol (1, 10, and $30{\mu}g/mL$) to the cells at 30 minutes before hypoxic insults. In addition, unilateral carotid artery ligation with hypoxia was induced in 7-day-old neonatal rats for the in vivo approach. We injected resveratrol (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally into animal models. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to identify the neuroprotective effects of resveratrol through anti-apoptosis. Results : In the in vitro approach of hypoxia, the expression of Bax, caspase-3, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, indicators of the level of apoptosis, were significantly increased in the hypoxia group compared to the normoxia group. In the case of the resveratrol-treated group, expression was significantly decreased compared to the hypoxia group. And the results in the in vivo approach were the same as in the in vitro approach. Conclusion : The present study demonstrates that resveratrol plays neuroprotective role in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage during neonatal periods through the mechanism of anti-apoptosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2005

Emphysema is characterized by air space enlargement and alveolar destruction. The mechanism responsible for the development of emphysema was thought to be protease/antiprotease imbalance and oxidative stress. A very recent study shows that alveolar cell apoptosis causes lung destruction and emphysematous changes. Thus, this study was performed to support the evidence for the role of apoptosis in the development of emphysema by characterizing cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced apoptosis in A549 (type II pneumocyte) lung epithelial cells. CSE induced apoptosis at low concentration (10% or less) and both apoptosis and necrosis at high concentration (20%). Apoptosis was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation using FACScan for subG1 fraction. Discrimination between apoptosis and necrosis was done by morphologic analysis using fluorescent microscopy with Hoecst 33342/propium iodide double staing and electron microscopy. Cytochrome c release was confirmed by using immunofluorescence with monoclonal anti-cytochrome c antibody. However, CSE-induced cell death did not show the activation of caspase 3 and was not blocked by caspase inhibitors. This suggests that CSE-induced apoptosis might be caspase-independent apoptosis. CSE-induced cell death was near completely blocked by N-acetylcystein and bcl-2 overexpression protected CSE-induced cell death. This results suggests that CSE might induce apoptosis through intracellular oxidative stress. CSE also activated p53 and functional knock-out of p53 using stable overexpression of HPV-E6 protein inhibited CSE-induced cell death. The characterization of CSE-induced cell death in lung epithelial cells could support the role of lung cell apoptosis in the pathogenesis of emphysema.