• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.205-213
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• 2017

Quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid found in fruits, vegetables and tea, has been known to possess bioactive properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. In this study, anti-cancer effect of quercetin and its underlying mechanisms in triple-negative breast cancer cells was investigated. MTT assay showed that quercetin reduced breast cancer cell viability in a time and dose dependent manner. For this, quercetin not only increased cell apoptosis but also inhibited cell cycle progression. Moreover, quercetin increased FasL mRNA expression and p51, p21 and GADD45 signaling activities. We also observed that quercetin induced protein level, transcriptional activity and nuclear translocation of Foxo3a. Knockdown of Foxo3a caused significant reduction in the effect of quercetin on cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In addition, treatment of JNK inhibitor (SP 600125) abolished quercetin-stimulated Foxo3a activity, suggesting JNK as a possible upstream signaling in regulation of Foxo3a activity. Knockdown of Foxo3a and inhibition of JNK activity reduced the signaling activities of p53, p21 and GADD45, triggered by quercetin. Taken together, our study suggests that quercetin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via modification of Foxo3a signaling in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.127-132
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• 2008

Clonorchis sinensis is one of the most prevalent parasitic helminths in Korea. Although cholangiocarcinoma can be induced by C. sinensis infection, the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. To assess the role of C. sinensis infection in carcinogenesis, an in vitro system was established using the human epithelial cell line HEK293T. In cells exposed to the excretory/secretory products (ESP) of C. sinensis and the carcinogen dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), cellular proliferation and the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase increased. Moreover, the expression of the cell cycle proteins E2F1, p-pRb, and cyclin B was dramatically increased when ESP and DMN were added together. Similarly, the transcription factor E2F1 showed its highest level of activity when ESP and DMN were added simultaneously. These findings indicate that DMN and ESP synergistically affect the regulation of cell cycle-related proteins. Our results suggest that exposure to C. sinensis and a small amount of a carcinogen such as DMN can promote carcinogenesis in the bile duct epithelium via uncontrolled cellular proliferation and the upregulation of cell cycle-related proteins.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.617-624
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• 2007

Insulin-like growth factor(IGF) is the most abundant growth factor in bone matrix. Recent studies have shown that it can sensitize apoptotic cell death of osteoblasts. Thus, this study investigated whether IGF-II aggravates irradiation-induced cell death of osteoblasts. Cultured MC3T3 osteoblasts were irradiated and IGF-II was added at the concentration of 50 ng/ml immediately after the irradiation. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Changes in cell death and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of proapoptotic gene bax and antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 was quantified by real time RT-PCR and Western blot. A dose of 30 Gy caused G2/M arrest and increased cell death through both necrosis and apoptosis, while irradiation from 4 to 10 Gy little affected cell cycle and death. IGF-II treatment reduced cell viability without stimulating cell proliferation and changing cell cycle. Combined treatment of IGF-II with irradiation decreased cell viability and proliferation and increased cell death along with G2/M arrest. These effects were not different from those of irradiation only. At transcriptional and protein levels, IGF-II treatment did not affect bax and bcl-2 expression, whereas irradiation increased the expression ofbax without changes in bcl-2. IGF-II in combination with irradiation showed similar findings. These results suggest that IGF-II could modulate apoptotic cell death through mechanisms other than an imbalance between bax and bcl-2 gene expression, although its effect was overridden by irradiation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.487-498
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• 2016

Leptin, an adipokine predominantly produced from adipose tissue, is well known to induce tumor growth. However, underlying molecular mechanisms are not established yet. While p53 has long been well recognized as a potent tumor suppressor gene, accumulating evidence has also indicated its potential role in growth and survival of cancer cells depending on experimental environments. In the present study, we examined if p53 signaling is implicated in leptin-induced growth of cancer cells. Herein, we demonstrated that leptin treatment significantly increased p53 protein expression in both hepatic (HepG2) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells without significant effect on mRNA expression. Enhanced p53 expression by leptin was mediated via modulation of ubiquitination, in particular ubiquitin specific protease 2 (USP2)-dependent manner. Furthermore, gene silencing of p53 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed leptin-induced growth of hepatic and breast cancer cells, indicating the role of p53 signaling in tumor growth by leptin. In addition, we also showed that knockdown of p53 restored suppression of caspase-3 activity by leptin through modulating Bax expression and prevented leptin-induced cell cycle progression, implying the involvement of p53 signaling in the regulation of both apoptosis and cell cycle progression in cancer cells treated with leptin. Taken together, the results in the present study demonstrated the potential role of p53 signaling in leptin-induced tumor growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.273-276
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• 2014

Ellagic acid has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, our aim was to investigate whether ellagic acid inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells via regulation of the TGF-${\beta}$/Smad3 signaling pathway. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were transfected with pEGFP-C3 or pEGFP-C3/Smad3 plasmids, and treated with ellagic acid alone or in combination with SIS3, a specific inhibitor of Smad3 phosphorylation. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, gene expression was detected by RT-PCR, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The MTT assay showed that SIS3 attenuated the inhibitory activity of ellagic acid on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Flow cytometry revealed that ellagic acid induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest which was mitigated by SIS3. Moreover, SIS3 reversed the effects of ellagic acid on the expression of downstream targets of the TGF-${\beta}$/Smad3 pathway. In conclusion, ellagic acid leads to decreased phosphorylation of RB proteins mainly through modulation of the TGF-${\beta}$/Smad3 pathway, and thereby inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.888-894
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• 2007

Src homology (SH) domains of phospholipase C-$\gamma1$ (PLC-$\gamma1$) impair NGF-mediated PC12 cells differentiation. However, whether the enzymatic activity is also implicated in this process remains elusive. Here, we report that the enzymatic activity of phospholipase C-$\gamma1$ (PLC-$\gamma1$) is at least partially involved to the blockage of neuronal differentiation via an abrogation of MAPK activation, as well as sustained Akt activation. By contrast, Overexpression of WT-PLC-$\gamma1$ exhibited sustained NGF-induced MAPK activation, and triggered transient Akt activation resulting in profound inhibition of neurite outgrowth. However, lipase-inactive mutant (LIM) PLC-$\gamma1$ cells fail to suppress neurite outgrowth, although it contains intact SH domains, specifically enhancing the expression of cyclin D1 and p21 proteins, which regulate the function of retinoblastoma Rb protein. These observations show that the lipase inactive mutant of PLC-$\gamma1$ does not alter NGF-induced neuronal differentiation via enzymatic inability and the modulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins independent on SH3 domain.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제27권
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• pp.10.1-10.7
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• 2012

Objectives: In recent years, a number of structurally diverse Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been identified and these HDAC inhibitors induce growth arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed at investigating the antitumor activity of newly synthesized HDAC inhibitor, 3-(4-dimethylamino phenyl)-N-hydroxy-2-propenamide (IN-2001) using human breast cancer cells. Methods: We have synthesized a new HDAC inhibitor, IN-2001, and cell proliferation inhibition assay with this chemical in estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Cell cycle analysis on MCF-7 cells treated with IN-2001 was carried out by flow cytometry and gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. Results: In MCF-7 cells IN-2001 showed remarkable anti-proliferative effects in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In MCF-7 cells, IN-2001 showed a more potent growth inhibitory effect than that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid. These growth inhibitory effects were related to the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. IN-2001 showed accumulation of cells at $G_2$/M phase and of the sub-$G_1$ population in a time-dependent manner, representing apoptotic cells. IN-2001-mediated cell cycle arrest was associated with HDAC inhibitor-mediated induction of CDK inhibitor expression. In MCF-7 cells, IN-2001 significantly increased $p21^{WAF1}$ expression. Conclusions: In summary, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) induced growth inhibition, possibly through modulation of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory proteins, such as CDK inhibitors, and cyclins. Taken together, these results provide an insight into the utility of HDAC inhibitors as a novel chemotherapeutic regime for hormone-sensitive and insensitive breast cancer.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2
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• pp.246.1-246.1
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• 2002

We studied the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its synthetic derivatives. HS-l030 and HS-1183. and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and its synthetic derivatives, HS-1199 and HS-1200. on the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line. HT -29 (p53 mutant type). The effects on cell viability and growth were assessed by MTT assay and cell growth study. While UDCA and CDCA exhibited no significant effect, their novel derivatives inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cell line in a concentration- and time-dependent manners. (omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.81-88
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• 2012

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes involved in the remodelling of chromatin, and have a key role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are emerging as an exciting new class of potential anti-cancer agents. In recent years, a number of structurally diverse HDAC inhibitors have been identifi ed and these HDAC inhibitors induce growth arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed at investigating the anti-tumor activity of various HDAC inhibitors, IN-2001, using T47D human breast cancer cells. Moreover, the possible mechanism by which HDAC inhibitors exhibit anti-tumor activity was also explored. In estrogen receptor positive T47D cells, IN-2001, HDAC inhibitor showed anti-proliferative effects in dose-and time-dependent manner. In T47D human breast cancer cells showed anti-tumor activity of IN-2001 and the growth inhibitory effects of IN-2001 were related to the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Flow cytometry studies revealed that IN-2001 showed accumulation of cells at $G_2$/M phase. At the same time, IN-2001 treatment time-dependently increased sub-$G_1$ population, representing apoptotic cells. IN-2001-mediated cell cycle arrest was associated with induction of cdk inhibitor expression. In T47D cells, IN-2001 as well as other HDAC inhibitors treatment significantly increased $p21^{WAF1}$ and $p27^{KIP1}$ expression. In addition, thymidylate synthase, an essential enzyme for DNA replication and repair, was down-regulated by IN-2001 and other HDAC inhibitors in the T47D human breast cancer cells. In summary, IN-2001 with a higher potency than other HDAC inhibitors induced growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and eventual apoptosis in human breast cancer possibly through modulation of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory proteins, such as cdk inhibitors, cyclins, and thymidylate synthase.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.51-60
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• 2005

목적 : 분자 표적의 선택적 억제가 방사선 세포 살상 효과를 증진시키는 것으로 알려져 있으므로 선택적 COX-2 억제제와 EGF 수용체 차단제를 HeLa 세포주에 처리한 후 방사선 효과의 상승작용을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 자궁경부암 세포주인 HeLa세포에서 EGF 수용체 차단제 AG 1478, 선택적 COX-2 억제제 NS 398과 방사선을 복합 투여하여 세포성장 억제 분석(cell graph inhibition assay)과 세포사멸 분석(apoptosis assay)을 시행하였고, 방사선 감수성 변화를 살펴보기 위해 세포생존 분석(clonogenic survival assay)을 시행하였다. 방사선 감수성 인자로는 2 Gy에서의 세포생존분획($SF_2$)과 linear-quadratic model을 이용한 dose enhancement ratio (DER)를 사용하였다. 방사선 감수성에 대한 작용기전 분석을 위해 flow cytometry로 세포주기 분석(cell cycle analysls)을 시행하였고, western blot 분석을 통하여 bcl-2와 bax 단백질의 발현 변화를 살펴보았다. 결과 : HeLa세포에 NS 398과 AG 1478을 방사선과 함께 복합 투여한 실험 군에서 세포사멸 정도가 가장 높게 나타났다($8.49\%$ vs. $22.70\%$). 세포주기 분석 결과, 방사선과 복합 약물 처리군에서 $G_0/G_l$ 세포주기 정체와 5 세포 분획 소실이 나타났으며 이러한 변화는 72시간 이후까지 지속되었다 세포생존 분석 결과로는 방사선과 AG 1478군에서 $SF_{2}0.68{\pm}0.07$, DER 1.12를 보인 반면, 방사선과 복합약물처리군에서는 $SF_{2}0.12{\pm}0.01,\;DER\;3.00$으로 나타났다. Western blot분석에서는 방사선과 복합약물처리군에서 bcl-2와 bax 단백질 발현이 모두 감소하는 양상을 보였다. 결론 : 신호전달 체계를 억제하는 분자 표적 약제인 선택적 COX-2 억제제와 EGF 수용체 차단제를 방사선과 복합투여함으로써 HeLa세포의 방사선 감수성이 증가됨을 확인하였다.