• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-91
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• 2006

Purpose : To address the ability of Dohaekseungkitang (DST: a commonly used herb formulation in Korea, Japan and China to have anti-cancer effect on cervical carcinoma), we investigated the effects of DST on programmed cell death (apoptosis) in HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells. Methods : We cultured HeLa cell which is human metrocarcinoma cell in D-MEM included 10% fetal bovine serum(Hyclone Laboratories) below $37^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2. Then we observed apoptosis of log phage cell which is changed cultivation liquid 24 Hours periodically. Results : After the treatment of DST for 48 hours, apoptosis occurred in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, we have shown that DST induces calpain and the associated caspase-8 and -9 activations. Apoptosis was prevented by pre-incubation of the cells with the calcium cHeLator-BAPTA-AM, calcium channel blocker-Nif edipine or Ryonidine agonist-Ryonidine peptide, implicating calcium in the apoptotic process. Ubiquitous calpains (mu- and m-calpain) have been repeatedly implicated in apoptosis, especially in calcium-related apoptosis. However this study showed 1hat either calpain inhibitor-calpastin or caspase-3 inhibitor-DEVD- did not blocked the herb formulation-induced apoptosis in HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells. D ST initiates a cell death pathway that is partially dependent of caspases. DST-induced apoptosis requires caspase-independent mechanism. Conclusion : We conclude that DST-induced calpain activation triggers the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in which caspase-independent mechanism is also involved.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2020

Macrophage cell death contributes to the formation of plaque, leading to the development of atherosclerosis. The accumulation of triglyceride (TG) is also associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A previous study reported that TG induces the cell death of macrophages. This study examined whether the cytoplasmic release of cathepsin B from lysosome is associated with the TG-induced cell death of macrophage. The release of cathepsin B was increased in the TG-treated THP-1 macrophages, but the TG treatment did not affect cathepsin B expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of cathepsin B by its inhibitor, CA-074 Me, partially inhibited the TG-induced cell death of macrophage. TG-triggered macrophage cell death is mediated by the activation of caspase-1, -2, and apoptotic caspases. Therefore, this study investigated whether cathepsin B is implicated in the activation of these caspases. The inhibition of cathepsin B blocked the activation of caspase-7, -8, and -1 but did not affect the activity of caspase-3, -9, and -2. Overall, these results suggest that TG-induced cytoplasmic cathepsin B causes THP-1 macrophage cell death by activating caspase-1, leading to subsequent activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7919-7923
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• 2014

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a ginsenoside isolated from Pananx quinquefolium L., has been shown to inhibit growth and proliferation in several cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to evaluate its anticancer activity in human breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells were incubated with different concentrations of 20(S)-PPD and cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Occurrence of apoptosis was detected by DAPI and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured with Rhodamine 123. The Bcl-2 and Bax expression were determined by Western blot analysis. Caspase activity was measured by colorimetric assay. 20(S)-PPD dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $33.3{\mu}M$ at 24h. MCF-7 cells treated with 20(S)-PPD presented typical apoptosis, as observed by morphological analysis in cell stained with DAPI. The percentages of annexin V-FITC positive cells were 8.92%, 17.8%, 24.5% and 30.5% in MCF-7 cells treated with 0, 15, 30 and $60{\mu}M$ of 20(S)-PPD, respectively. Moreover, 20(S)-PPD could induce mitochondrial membrane potential loss, up-regulate Bax expression and down-regulate Bcl-2 expression. These events paralleled activation of caspase-9, -3 and PARP cleavage. Apoptosis induced by 20(S)-PPD was blocked by z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, suggesting induction of caspase-mediated apoptotic cell death. In conclusion, the 20(S)-PPD investigated is able to inhibit cell proliferation and to induce cancer cell death by a caspase-mediated apoptosis pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2008

Caspase-3 (CASP3) plays a key role in apoptosis. In this study, HAX-1 was identified as a new substrate of CASP3 during apoptosis. HAX-1 was cleaved by CASP3 during etoposide-(ETO) induced apoptosis, and this event was inhibited by a CASP3-specific inhibitor. The cleavage site of HAX-1, at $Asp^{127}$, was located using N-terminal amino acid sequencing of in vitro cleavage products of recombinant HAX-1. Overexpression of HAX-1 inhibited ETO-induced apoptotic cell death. It also inhibited CASP3 activity. Together, these results suggest that HAX-1, a substrate of CASP3, inhibits the apoptotic process by inhibiting CASP3 activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2003

Osteoblasts are affected by TNF-${\alpha}$ overproduction by immune cells during inflammation. It has been suggested that functional $NF-{\kappa}B$ sites are involved in TNF-${\alpha}$-induced bone resorption. Thus, we explored the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), which potently blocks the activation of nuclear factor $(NF-{\kappa}B)$, on the induction of TNF-${\alpha}$-induced activation of JNK/SAPK, AP-1, cytochrome c, caspase and apoptosis in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts. Pretreatment of the cells with PDTC blocked TNF-${\alpha}$-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. TNF-${\alpha}$-induced activation of AP-1, another nuclear transcription factor, was suppressed by PDTC. The activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, implicated in the regulation of AP-1, was also down regulated by PDTC. TNF-${\alpha}$-induced apoptosis, release of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of caspase-3 were abolished by PDTC. TNF-${\alpha}$-induced apoptosis was partially blocked by Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor, suggesting that caspase-3 is involved in TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated signaling through $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts. Thus, these results demonstrate that PDTC, has an inhibitory effect on TNF-${\alpha}$-mediated activation of JNK/SAPK, AP-1, cytochrome c release and subsequent caspase-3, leading to the inhibition of apoptosis. Our study may contribute to the treatment of TNF-${\alpha}$-associated immune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal diseases.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.87-91
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• 2000

In the course of screening for the substances inhibiting apoptosis ofU937 human leukemia cell induced by etoposide, a fungal strain F80834 producing a high level of inhibitor was selected. The inhibitory substance was purified and identified as terrein by spectroscopic methods of UV, EI-MS, IH-NMR, 13C-NMR and DEPT. Terrein showed inhibitory activity of caspase 3, a major protease of apoptosis cascade, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $20\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ after 7 hrs of treatment. It also showed protective effect against cell death with an $IC_{50}$ value of $10\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ on U937 cells induced by etoposide after 24 hrs of treatment, but did not show any cytotoxicity at the same condition without etoposide.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.448-453
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• 2000

During the screening of inhibitors of caspase-3 induction in U937 human monocytic leukemia cells from natural sources, Petasites japonicum, which showed a high level of inhibition was selected. The inhibiting compound was purified from the methanol extract by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and HPLC. The inhibitor was identified as [3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-oxopropyl]ester, petasiphenol, by spectroscopic methods of UV, EIMS, $^1H-NMR$, $^{13}C-NMR$ and HMBC. It showed a caspase-3 inducing inhibitory activity at $8\;{\mu}g/ml$ of $IC_{50}$ value with DNA fragmentation inhibition in U937 human leukemia cells. It also showed a free radical scavenging ability of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2009

Functional defects in mitochondria are involved in the induction of cell death in cancer cells. We assessed the toxic effect of camptothecin against the human cervical and uterine tumor cell line SiHa with respect to the mitochondria-mediated cell death process, and examined the combined effect of camptothecin and anticancer drugs. Camptothecin caused apoptosis in SiHa cells by inducing mitochondrial membrane permeability changes that lead to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased Bcl-2 levels, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH. Combination of camptothecin with other anticancer drugs (carboplatin, paclitaxel, doxorubicin and mitomycin c) or signaling inhibitors (farnesyltransferase inhibitor and ERK inhibitor) did not enhance the camptothecin-induced cell death and caspase-3 activation. These results suggest that camptothecin may cause cell death in SiHa cells by inducing changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability, which leads to cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-3. This effect is also associated with increased formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of GSH. Combination with other anticancer drugs (or signaling inhibitors) does not appear to increase the anti-tumor effect of camptothecin against SiHa cells, but rather may reduce it. Combination of camptothecin with other anticancer drugs does not seem to provide a benefit in the treatment of cervical and uterine cancer compared with camptothecin monotherapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.166-171
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• 2015

We previously demonstrated that resveratrol and clofarabine elicited a marked cytotoxicity on malignant mesothelioma (MM) MSTO-211H cells but not on the corresponding normal mesothelial MeT-5A cells. Little is known of the possible molecules that could be used to predict preferential chemosensitivity on MSTO-211H cells. Resveratrol and clofarabine induced downregulation of Mcl-1 protein level in MSTO-211H cells. Treatment of cells with cycloheximide in the presence of proteasome inhibitor MG132 suggested that Mcl-1 protein levels were regulated at the post-translational step. The siRNA-based knockdown of Mcl-1 in MSTO-211H cells triggered more growth-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects with the resultant cleavages of procaspase-3 and its substrate PARP, increased caspase-3/7 activity, and increased percentage of apoptotic propensities. However, the majority of the observed changes were not shown in MeT-5A cells. Collectively, these studies indicate that the preferential activation of caspase cascade in malignant cells might have important applications as a therapeutic target for MM.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.67-76
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• 2005

Purpose : 귀전우(Euonymus alatus, EA)는 현재까지 항종양활성을 나타낸다고 보고되었지만 그 작용 메커니즘에 대해서는 아직 밝혀지지 않은 채 남아 있다. 본 연구에서는, 자궁근종세포(ULSMC)에서 EA의 분자적 수준에서의 작용메커니즘을 연구${\cdot}$검토하고자 하였다. Methods : EA의 열수추출액이 자궁근종세포(ULSMC)와 caspase-3 pretense의 활성도에 미치는 영향을 측정하였다. Results : 우리는 자궁근종에서 EA 유도 세포독성의 메커니즘을 검토하였는바, 근종 세포들은 20-200g/ml 농도의 EA추출물에 6시간 배양될 때, caspase-3가 활성화되고, 그때 세포들은 apoptosis를 유발하게 되었다. EA에 의한 apoptosis의 유도가 진행되었으며, cytochrome- c의 세포질분획에서 양적증가가 caspase-3의 활성보다도 우세하였다. GSH합성의 저해제인 5mM buthionine용액에 전처리는 EA유도 apoptosis를 용이하게 하지만 pan-caspase inhibitor인 Z-VAD-fmk용액 전 처리는 부분적으로 apoptosis유도를 억제하였다. 한편, EA는 건강한 지원자들로 부터 채취한 말초혈액 단핵세포들에 있어서는 독성의 효과는 없었다. Conclusion : 이들 결과들은 EA가 prooxidant로 작용을 하고 그리고 caspase-3 activation과 mitochondrial pathway를 경유하는 apoptosis를 유발한다는 것을 나타낸다. EA의 탕제약제로서 열수추출액이 항산화활성뿐만 아니라, 종양세포에 대한 세포독성효과를 나타낸다고 보고된 바, 이에 향후 근종치료에 대한 임상연구가 필요할 것으로 보인다.