• Toxicological Research
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.257-261
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• 2013

${\alpha}$-Curcumene is one of the physiologically active components of Curcuma zedoaria, which is believed to perform anti-tumor activities, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-curcumene on the growth of human overian cancer, SiHa cells. Upon treatment with ${\alpha}$-curcumene, cell viability of SiHa cells was inhibited > 73% for 48 h incubation. ${\alpha}$-Curcumene treatment showed a characteristic nucleosomal DNA fragmentation pattern and the percentage of sub-diploid cells was increased in a concentration-dependent manner, hallmark features of apoptosis. Mitochondrial cytochrome c activation and an in vitro caspase-3 activity assay demonstrated that the activation of caspases accompanies the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-curcumene, which mediates cell death. These results suggest that the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-curcumene on SiHa cells may converge caspase-3 activation through the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.451-456
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• 2015

Purpose: Neuronal apoptotic events induced by aging and hypoxic/ischemic conditions is an important risk factor in neurodegenerative diseases such as ischemia stroke and Alzheimer's disease. The peel of Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka has long been used as a traditional medicine, based on multiple biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-obesity. In the current study, we examined the actions of fermented C. sunki peel extract against cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$)-mediated hypoxic death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion. Expression of apoptosis related proteins and release of cytochrome c were detected by western blot. Production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic morphology were examined using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA) and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Results: Exposure to $CoCl_2$, a well-known mimetic agent of hypoxic/ischemic condition, resulted in neuronal cell death via caspase-3 dependent pathway. Extract of fermented C. sunki peel significantly rescued the $CoCl_2$-induced neuronal toxicity with the cell viability and appearance of apoptotic morphology. Cytoprotection with fermented C. sunki peel extract was associated with a decrease in activities of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, increase in the intracellular ROS and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol were inhibited by treatment with extract of fermented C. sunki peel. Conclusion: Based on these data, fermented C. sunki peel extract might have a protective effect against $CoCl_2$-induced neuronal injury partly through generation of ROS and effectors involved in mitochondrial mediated apoptosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.22-28
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• 2015

Background: Sun ginseng (SG), a specific formulation of quality-controlled red ginseng, contains approximately equal amounts of three major ginsenosides (RK1, Rg3, and Rg5), which reportedly has antitumor-promoting activities in animal models. Methods: MTT assay was used to assess whether SG can potentiate the anticancer activity of epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells; apoptosis status was analyzed by annexin V-FITC and PI and analyzed by flow cytometry; and apoptosis pathway was studied by analysis of caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation, mitochondrial accumulation of Bax and Bak, and cytochrome c release. Results: SG remarkably enhances cancer cell death induced by epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells. Results of the mechanism study highlighted the cooperation between SG and epirubicin or paclitaxel in activating caspase-3 and -9 but not caspase-8. Moreover, SG significantly increased the mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak triggered by epirubicin or paclitaxel as well as the subsequent release of cytochrome c in the targeted cells. Conclusion: SG significantly potentiated the anticancer activities of epirubicin and paclitaxel in a synergistic manner. These effects were associated with the increased mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak that led to an enhanced cytochrome c release, caspase-9/-3 activation, and apoptosis. Treating cancer cells by combining epirubicin and paclitaxel with SG may prove to be a novel strategy for enhancing the efficacy of the two drug types.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.163-168
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• 2009

천초근은 전통적으로 동양의학에서 항암제로 사용되어왔는데 인간 급성 백혈병 세포주인 Jurkat T 세포를 사용하여 천초근의 세포독성기작을 알아보았다. 천초근 뿌리(3 kg)를 메탄올로 추출, 증류한 후 물에 녹여 다시 dichloromethane으로 추출분획 하였다. 세포독성 활성을 보이는 dichloromethane 추출물을 연속적으로 HPLC를 통해 분리하였고 그 활성물질(65 mg)을 CCH1이라 명명하였다. CCH1을 0.5 ${\mu}g$/ml에서 2.0 ${\mu}g$/ml의 농도로 처리하고 세포사멸 과정을 보았다. 즉, mitochondria cytochrome c 방출, casapase-8, -9 및 caspase-3의 활성화, PARP 분해, DNA 단편화 현상들이 일어나는 것을 관찰하였다. 하지만, mitochondria cytochrome c 방출 억제자인 Bcl-xL이 과발현되는 Jurkat T 세포에서는 세포사멸현상이 일어나지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 CCH1이 mitochondria 의존적인 신호전달 과정을 통해서 세포사멸을 유도 한다고 할 수 있다. 그리고 CCH1에 의한 세포독성은 혈액에서 분리한 단핵구 세포보다 Jurkat T 세포에서 보다 강한 활성을 보였다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권8호
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• pp.951-957
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• 2017

후박은 전통적으로 동양의학에서 사용되어왔는데 인간 급성 백혈병 세포주인 Jurkat T 세포를 사용하여 후박의 세포독성 관련 기작을 알아보았다. 후박 뿌리(3 kg)를 메탄올로 추출, 증류한 후 내용물을 물에 녹여 동결 건조 후 사용 하였다. 그 활성물질을 MTWE이라 명명하였다. MTWE을 0, 25, 50, $100{\mu}g/ml$의 농도로 처리하고 세포사멸 과정을 보았다. 즉, mitochondria cytochrome c 방출, caspase-3의 활성화 및 ICAD 분해를 관찰하였다. 더욱이, mitochondria cytochrome c 방출 억제자인 Bcl-xL이 발현이 감소되는 것을 Jurkat T 세포에서는 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 MTWE가 mitochondria 신호전달 과정을 통해서 세포사멸을 유도 한다고 할 수 있다. 또한, MTWE를 0, 25, 50, $100{\mu}g/ml$ 처리에 대한 암세포 성장억제인자인 DUSP6가 증가되는 것을 확인하였고 핵의 apoptotic morphology 변화를 DAPI를 통해 관찰할 수 있었다. 비록 DUSP6와 다른 관련인자들간의 관련성을 찾아야 하지만, 이상의 결과는 MTWE가 T세포에 의한 급성 백혈병을 조절하는데 이용 될 수 있다는 것의 의미한다.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2003

본 연구는 환경 호르몬으로. 분류된 67종 중의 하나인, 선저 도료나 어망, 어구 및 방오페인트 재료로 사용되어지고 유기주석화합물(tributyltin)을 사용하여 설치류의 웅성생식세포에서 세포자연사를 일으키는 작용기작을 조사하였다 먼저 흰쥐의 레이딕 세포주인 R2C에 유기주석화합물을 농도별(1∼500 nM)로 처리한 후 DNA fragment현상을 전기영동법을 통하여 조사하였다. 그 결과 유기주석화합물을 처리한 군들에서 대조군에 비하여 세포자연사현상이 농도 의존적으로 증가하였다. 유기주석화합물이 세포 내 칼슘이온(Ca$^2$$^{+}$)및 유해 산소종(reactive oxygen species)에 미치는 영향을 조사해본 결과 유기주석화합물 처리시 세포 내 칼슘이온 및 유해 산소종이 시간에 의존적으로 크게 증가하였다. 또한 칼슘 킬레이터인 BAPTA를 전 처리한 경우 유기주석화합물에 의해 유도된 칼슘이온 및 유해 산소종이 대조군에 비해 유의성 있게 감소하였다. 이러한 세포자연사 과정이 미토콘드리아의 cytochromec방출에 의한 과정인지를 화인하기 위해 세포질 내 cytochrome c양을 western blot법을 사용하여 확인해 본 결과 유기주석화합물처리 시간 및 농도에 따라 증가하며, 이 또한 BAPTA를 전처리 한 경우 대조군에 비하여 유의성 있게 감소하였다. 또한 유기주석화합물이 세포자연사 유발 시 caspase-3 효소 활성과의 관계를 확인하기 위해 ELISA법을 사용하여 확인해 본 결과 유기주석화합물 처리 농도에 의존적으로 증가하였으며, caspase-3효소 억제자로 잘 알려진 Z-DEVD FMK을 전 처리한 경우 유기주석화합물을 처리한 군에 비해 세포자연사율이 크게 감소하였다. 이러한 결과들을 종합해 볼 때 유기주석화합물은 세포 내 칼슘이온의 증가를 일으키고, 그로 인하여 세포질 내 유해산소종 및 cytochrome c의 양이 증가함으로써 세포자연사 다음 단계인 caspase효소 활성의 증가를 통하여 흰쥐의 레이딕 세포주인 R2C의 세포자연사를 일으킬 것이라 추론할 수 있다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.95-104
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• 2007

The mechanism of acacetin-induced apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells was investigated. Acacetin caused 50% growth inhibition ($IC_{50}$) of MCF-7 cells at $26.4{\pm}0.7{\mu}M$ over 24 h in the MTT assay. Apoptosis was characterized by DNA fragmentation and an increase of sub-G1 cells and involved activation of caspase-7 and PARP (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase). Maximum caspase 7 activity was observed with $100{\mu}M$ acacetin for 24 h. Caspase 8 and 9 activation cascades mediated the activation of caspase 7. Acacetin caused a reduction of Bcl-2 expression leading to an increase of the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio. It also caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential that induced release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) into the cytoplasm, enhancing ROS generation and subsequently resulting in apoptosis. Pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced ROS generation and cell growth inhibition, and pretreatment with NAC or a caspase 8 inhibitor (Z-IETD-FMK) inhibited the acacetin-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c and AIF. Stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun $NH_4$-terminal kinase 1/2 (SAPK/JNK1/2) and c-Jun were activated by acacetin but extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) nor p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were not. Our results show that acacetin-induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells is mediated by caspase activation cascades, ROS generation, mitochondria-mediated cell death signaling and the SAPK/JNK1/2-c-Jun signaling pathway, activated by acacetin-induced ROS generation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권9호
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• pp.545-557
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• 2023

Sphingomyelinase (SMase) catalyzes ceramide production from sphingomyelin. Ceramides are critical in cellular responses such as apoptosis. They enhance mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through self-assembly in the mitochondrial outer membrane to form channels that release cytochrome c from intermembrane space (IMS) into the cytosol, triggering caspase-9 activation. However, the SMase involved in MOMP is yet to be identified. Here, we identified a mitochondrial Mg²⁺-independent SMase (mt-iSMase) from rat brain, which was purified 6,130-fold using a Percoll gradient, pulled down with biotinylated sphingomyelin, and subjected to Mono Q anion exchange. A single peak of mt-iSMase activity was eluted at a molecular mass of approximately 65 kDa using Superose 6 gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at pH of 6.5 and was inhibited by dithiothreitol and Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. It was also inhibited by GW4869, which is a non-competitive inhibitor of Mg²⁺-dependent neutral SMase 2 (encoded by SMPD3), that protects against cytochrome c release-mediated cell death. Subfractionation experiments showed that mt-iSMase localizes in the IMS of the mitochondria, implying that mt-iSMase may play a critical role in generating ceramides for MOMP, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. These data suggest that the purified enzyme in this study is a novel SMase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권2호
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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.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.124.1-124.1
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• 2002