• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.616-624
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• 2022

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has been suggested as a repositioning candidate for the treatment of brain tumors. However, the efficacy of MBZ needs further study to improve the beneficial effect on the survival of those patients. In this study, we explored a novel strategy to improve MBZ efficacy using a drug combination. When glioblastoma cells were treated with MBZ, cell proliferation was dose-dependently inhibited with an IC₅₀ of less than 1 µM. MBZ treatment also inhibited glioblastoma cell migration with an IC₅₀ of less than 3 µM in the Boyden chamber migration assay. MBZ induced G2-M cell cycle arrest in U87 and U373 cells within 24 h. Then, at 72 h of treatment, it mainly caused cell death in U87 cells with an increased sub-G1 fraction, whereas polyploidy was seen in U373 cells. However, MBZ treatment did not affect ERK1/2 activation stimulated by growth factors. The marked induction of autophagy by MBZ was observed, without any increased expression of autophagy-related genes ATG5/7 and Beclin 1. Co-treatment with MBZ and the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) markedly enhanced the anti-proliferative effects of MBZ in the cells. Triple combination treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) (another autophagy inducer) further enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of MBZ and CQ. The combination of MBZ and CQ also showed an enhanced effect in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells. Therefore, we suggest that the modulation of protective autophagy could be an efficient strategy for enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy of MBZ in glioblastoma cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.158-164
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• 2008

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) affects many biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and angiogenesis. L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) is an inhibitor of GSH synthesis. We tested whether ATO reduced the viability of lung cancer A549 cells in vitro, and investigated the in vitro effect of the combination of ATO and BSO on cell viability in relation to apoptosis and the cell cycle. ATO caused a dose-dependant decrease of viability of A549 cells with an $IC_{50}$ of more than $50{\mu}m$. Low doses of ATO or BSO ($1{\sim}10{\mu}m$) alone did not induce cell death. However, combined treatment depleted GSH content and induced apoptosis, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$) and cell cycle arrest in G2. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased or decreased depending on the concentration of ATO. In addition, BSO generally increased ROS in ATO-treated A549 cells. ROS levels were at least in part related to apoptosis in cells treated with ATO and/or BSO. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that A549 lung cells are very resistant to ATO, and that BSO synergizes with clinically achievable concentration of ATO. Our results suggest that combination treatment with ATO and BSO may be useful for treating lung cancer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.1708-1714
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• 2005

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) functions in epithelial growth and differentiation in many tissues and organs. KGF is expressed in the uterine endometrial epithelial cells during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pigs, and receptors for KGF (KGFR) are expressed by conceptus trophectoderm and endometrial epithelia. KGF has been shown to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of conceptus trophectoderm. However, the role of KGF on the endometrial epithelial cells has not been determined. Therefore, this study determined the effect of KGF on proliferation and differentiation of endometrial epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo using an immortalized porcine luminal epithelial (pLE) cell line and KGF infusion into the uterine lumen of pigs between Days 9 and 12 of estrous cycle. Results showed that KGF did not stimulate proliferation of uterine endometrial epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo determined by the $^3$H]thymidine incorporation assay and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining, respectively. Effects of KGF on expression of several markers for epithelial cell differentiation, including integrin receptor subunits $\alpha$4, $\alpha$5 and $\beta$1, plasmin/trypsin inhibitor, uteroferrin and retinol-binding protein were determined by RT-PCR, Northern and slot blot analyses, and immunohistochemisty, and KGF did not affect epithelial cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. These results show that KGF does not induce epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, suggesting that KGF produced by endometrial epithelial cells acts on conceptus trophectoderm in a paracrine manner rather than on endometrial epithelial cells in an autocrine manner.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.4857-4861
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• 2016

Background: Imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor specifically targeting the BCR/ABL fusion protein, induces hematological remission in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the majority of CML patients treated with imatinib develop resistance with prolonged therapy. Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.) Miq. is a Malaysian mistletoe species that has been used as a traditional treatment for several ailments such as smallpox, ulcers, and cancers. Methods: We developed a resistant cell line (designated as K562R) by long-term co-culture of a BCR/ABL positive CML cell line, K562, with imatinib mesylate. We then investigated the anti-proliferative effects of D. pentandra methanol extract on parental K562 and resistant K562R cells. Trypan blue exclusion assays were performed to determine the IC50 concentration; apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were conducted by flow cytometry. Results: D. pentandra extract had greater anti-proliferative effects towards K562R ($IC50=192{\mu}g/mL$) compared to K562 ($500{\mu}g/mL$) cells. Upon treatment with D. pentandra extract at the IC50. concentration: K562 but not K562R demonstrated increase in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Conclusion: D. pentandra methanol extract exerts potent anti-proliferative effect on BCR/ABL positive K562 cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.189-195
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• 2012

Resistance to the induction of apoptosis is a possible mechanism by which tumor cells can survive anti-neoplastic treatments. Melanoma is notoriously resistant to anti-neoplastic therapy. Previous studies have demonstrated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) overexpression in melanoma cell lines. Given its probable role in mediating resistance to apoptosis, many researchers have sought to determine whether the downregulation of FAK in melanoma cells would confer a greater sensitivity to anti-neoplastic agents. Genistein is a known inhibitor of protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK), which may attenuate the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting the PTK-mediated signaling pathway. This present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of genistein on the expression of FAK and cell cycle related proteins in the G361 melanoma cell line. Genistein was found to have a preferential cytotoxic effect on G361 melanoma cells over HaCaT normal keratinocytes. Genistein decreased the expression of 125 kDa phosphotyrosine kinase and the FAK protein in particular. Genistein treatment did not affect the expression of p53 in G361 cells in which p21 is upregulated. The expression of cyclin B and cdc2 was downregulated by genistein treatment. Taken together, our data indicate that genistein induces the decreased proliferation of G361 melanoma cells via the inhibition of FAK expression and regulation of cell cycle genes. This suggests that the use of genistein may be a viable approach to future melanoma treatments.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.153-162
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• 1989

난자성숙 재개와 1-세포기 배아의 세포주기에서, cAMP-의존성 protein kinase A와 diacylglycerol-의존성 protein kinase C가 핵막붕괴에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 난자성숙 재기는 dbcAMP, IBMX, TPA, 또는 diacyllycerol에 의해 억제되었다. 또한 protein kinase A와 protein kinase C 활성제를 같이 처리하면 난자성숙이 더욱 억제되었다. 그러나 1-세포기 배아의 전핵막붕괴에는 아무런 영향도 미치지 못하였으며, 단지 protein kinase C 활성제만이 세포질 분열을 억제하였다. 이상의 결과로부터, protein kinase A와 protein kinase C에 의한 단백질 인산화 양상이 GV난자의 핵막붕괴와 1-세포기 배아의 전핵막붕괴에 미치는 세포내 작용기작은 상이함을 알 수 있었으며, 전기영동 결과, 81 KD 단백질이 난자성숙 재개에 중요한 역할을 하리라 사료되었다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.796-805
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• 1997

연구배경 : 세포주기의 활성화, 그 중에서도 특히 $G_1$/S 이행에 관여하는 세포주기관련 단백질들은 암발생에 있어서 매우 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. $G_1$ 세포주기 관련 단백질 중의 하나인 cdk4 (cyclin dependent kinase 4)의 억제제로 알려져 있는 p16 유전자는 최근에 밝혀진 종양억제유전자중의 하나로서 MTS1 (multiple tumor suppressor 1)이라고도 불린다. p16 유전자는 지금까지 알려진 어느 종양관련 유전자보다도 유전자변이의 빈도가 높은 암억제유전자인데, 특히 비소세포폐암인 경우는 70% 이상의 세포주에서 p16 단백질의 발현이 없는 것으로 밝혀져 있어 p16 유전자는 비소세포폐암 발생에 매우 중요한 역할을 할 것이라고 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 비소세포폐암에서 p16을 이용한 유전자치료의 타당성을 입증하기 위하여 다음과 같은 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : p16이 결여된 비소세포폐암 세포주 (NCI-H441)에, 정상섬유아세포에서 총 RNA를 추출하여 역전사효소 및 DNA 중합효소반응으로 증폭된 p16 cDNA를 유핵세포 발현 vector인 pRC-CMV plasmid에 subcloning하여 구축된 pRC-CMV-p16 plasmid vector를 lipofectin을 이용하여 유전자 이입한 후, 단백질을 추출하여 Western blot 분석과 면역침전법으로 $G_1$ 세포주기관련 단백질의 변동을 관찰하고, colony 형성능을 비교함으로써 암억제효과를 확인하였다. 결 과 : p16이 유전자주입된 NCI-H441 세포주에서 p16과 cdk4가 복합체를 형성하고 있고 인산화 Rb가 대조 세포주에 비해 감소되어 있음을 확인할 수 있어, p16이 cdk4와 결합함으로써 cdk4에 의한 Rb의 인산화를 방해하고 이에 따른 $G_1$ 세포주기 정체에 의해 종양억제효과가 나타난다는 설명을 뒷받침할 수 있었다. Clonogenic assay 결과는 p16 유전자주입된 NCI-H441 세포주의 colony 형성능이 대조 세포주에 비하여 현격히 감소함을 관찰하였다. 결 론 : 이상의 결과로 p16(MTS1) 유전자를 p16 단백질을 발현하지 못하는 비소세포폐암 세포주에 주입할 경우, 주입한 유전자에서 생성되는 p16 단백질이 cdk와 결합하여 Rb 단백질의 인산화를 저하시켜 궁극적으로 암억제 효과를 일으킬 수 있음이 확인되었고, 이는 향후 비소세포폐암의 유전자치료에 있어서 p16 유전자의 이용 가능성을 확인한 기초자료가 된다고 생각된다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

It is suggested that FGF/Ras/MEK/Erk signaling plays crucial roles in specification and cell division of the mesodermal precursor cells in ascidian embryos. To investigate how the number of cell division in tissue precursor cells is determined, we have characterized Wee1 homolog, Hr-Wee1 of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi. We found that the Hr-Wee1 mRNA is expressed both maternally and zygotically. Maternal transcript is localized to the cytoplasm in the animal cells, while zygotic expression is seen in cells of the endoderm lineage from 32-cell to 110-cell stages. Zygotic in situ signal is detected in the A-line neural plate cells of neurulae, and in epidermal cells of the head region of tailbud embryos. Embryos treated with MEK signaling inhibitor showed a similar pattern to normal embryos in expression of Hr-Wee1. Therefore, it is likely that MEK signaling does not affect the maternal and zygotic expression of Hr-Wee1.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.1449-1455
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• 2004

Bufonis venenum (dried toad venom; Chinese name, Chan su) is a traditional Chinese medicine obtained from the skin venom gland of the toad. It has long been used in treating arrhythmia and other heart diseases in China and other Asian countries. Additionally, Bufonis venenum has been reported to selectively inhibit the growth of various lines of human cancer cells. In the present study, it was examined the effects of extract of Bufonis venenum (EBV) on the growth of human bladder carcinoma cell line T24 in order to investigate the anti-proliferative mechanism and induction of apoptosis by EBV. Treatment of T24 cells to EBV resulted in the growth inhibition, morphological change and induction of apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that EBV treatment caused G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle and down-regulation of cyclin A, cyclin B1 and Cdc2, which was associated with a marked up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) in a p53-independent manner. The Cdc25C expression was also significantly inhibited by EBV treatment, however Wee1 kinase expression was not affected. The induction of apoptotic cell death by EBV was connected with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-XS/L expression without alteration pro-apoptotic Bax expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that EBV may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder carcinorma cells and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-cancer activity of EBV.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권11호
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• pp.1331-1337
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• 2015

S-allylcysteine (SAC)은 숙성된 마늘로부터 유래된 수용성 유기황화합물로서, 여러 유형의 암세포에 대한 항암효과를 갖는 것으로 제시되어왔다. 본 논문은 in vitro 및 in vivo 연구결과에 기초하여 SAC가 세포증식, 세포사멸, 세포주기 및 전이에 미치는 세포신호전달경로와 분자적 메커니즘을 정리하였다. SAC는 Bax와 caspase-3을 포함하는 세포사멸촉진 단백질을 활성화하고 Bcl-2 세포사멸억제 단백질군을 억제하여 미토콘드리아-매개 내인성 경로를 통한 세포사멸을 초래 한다. SAC는 또한 PI3K/Akt/mTOR 및 MAPK/ERK 신호전달경로를 억제하여 NF-κB, cyclins, Cdks, PCNA 및 c-Jun의 발현과 활성을 감소시키고, 세포주기 억제단백질인 p16 및 p21의 발현을 증가시킴으로써 세포주기 억제를 유도하여 세포증식을 억제한다. 뿐만 아니라, SAC는 glutathione-s-transferase (GST)와 같은 항산화효소의 활성을 유도하여 독성물질에 의해 유도된 발암작용을 방지한다. 그리고, SAC는 MAPK/ERK 및 PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB 신호경로의 억제를 통한 전사억제조절인자 Id-1 및 SLUG의 발현억제를 통하여 초래된 COX-2의 발현감소와 E-cadherin의 발현증가에 의해 신생혈관생성과 MET의 억제를 유도함으로써 암세포의 침투와 전이를 억제한다. 따라서, SAC는 암의 예방과 치료를 위한 하나의 잠재적 화학요법제로 간주될 수 있다.