• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2002

The cytotoxic, mutagenic and antimutagenic activities against chemical direct mutagens such as mitomycin C, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone of the 70% ethanol extracts of 29 colored rice varieties and chuchung as a control were examined. The results obtained using authentic alkaline phosphatase activity as a growth representative of the indicator cell E. coli PQ 37 demonstrated that the extracts of 13 kinds of colored rice varieties including Jumlalocal and Jumlalocal-1 showed strong toxic effect on the cell growth. However the extracts of DK 1, SC-5, LK 1A-2-12-1-1 and wx 139-3-64-20-3-1 seemed to have stimulatory effects on the cell growth. The mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of the colored rice varieties were screened using SOS chromotest. The mutagenic activity was detected from Jumalocal-1, IR 17491-5-4-3-3 and Jumlalocal. On the contrary, 7 samples including LK 1-3-6-12-1-1, Parnkhari 203, Jumlalocal, wx 139-3-64-20-3-1, Muthumanikam, HP 883-1-1-1-B-1-1 and Jumlalocal-1 were shown to have antimutagenic acitivities against the chemical direct mutagens used in this study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8503-8512
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed explanation of the mechanism of bisanthracycline, WP 631 in comparison to doxorubicin (DOX), a first generation anthracycline, currently the most widely used pharmaceutical in clinical oncology. Experiments were performed in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells which are otherwise resistant to standard drugs such as cis-platinum and adriamycin. As attention was focused on the ability of WP 631 to induce apoptosis, this was examined using a double staining method with Annexin V and propidium iodide probes, with measurement of the level of intracellular calcium ions and cytosolic cytochrome c. The western blotting technique was performed to confirm PARP cleavage. We also investigated the involvement of caspase activation and DNA degradation (comet assay and immunocytochemical detection of phosphorylated H2AX histones) in the development of apoptotic events. WP 631 demonstrated significantly higher effectiveness as a pro-apoptotic drug than DOX. This was evident in the higher levels of markers of apoptosis, such as the externalization of phosphatidylserine and the elevated level of cytochrome c. An extension of incubation time led to an increase in intracellular calcium levels after treatment with DOX. Lower changes in the calcium content were associated with the influence of WP 631. DOX led to the activation of all tested caspases, 8, 9 and 3, whereas WP 631 only induced an increase in caspase 8 activity after 24h of treatment and consequently led to the cleavage of PARP. The lack of active caspase 3 had no outcome on the single and double-stranded DNA breaks. The obtained results show that WP 631 was considerably more genotoxic towards the investigated cell line than DOX. This effect was especially visible after longer times of incubation. The above detailed studies indicate that WP 631 generates early apoptosis and cell death independent of caspase-3, detected at relatively late time points. The observed differences in the mechanisms of the action of WP631 and DOX suggest that this bisanthracycline can be an effective alternative in ovarian cancer treatment.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

Hydroxyapatite(HA) has been extensively used as bone graft materials and tooth implant surface coating materials because of its biocompatibility and osteoconductive properties. However, as HA is intrinsically poor in mechanical properties, zirconia($ZrO_2$) was incorporated with HA as reinforcing phases for improvement of mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological activities of HA-coated zirconia through the cell proliferation test, measurements of alkaline phosphatase activity, and histologic examination. Four kinds of tested blocks were prepared according to the pore size (300-500${\mu}m$/500-700${\mu}m$) and the porosity (70%/90%). Cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity was measured at 1, 7, 14 days. The number of cells proliferate after 7, 14 days were significantly increased in all groups when compared with that of the first day, but there was no significant difference between the 4 groups at each time period. At the 7 day, alkaline phosphatase activities of cells cultured in 4 groups were higher than that of the first day, but there was no significant difference between the 4 groups at each time period. The human gingival fibroblast and MG 63 cell was used to evaluate the cell cytotoxicity using MTT test. The materials tested in the current study turned out to be non-cytotoxic. In histologic examination(SEM), at 1 day there were many cells attached on the surfaces of all kinds of tested blocks. The number of cells were increased over time. At the 14 day, there were more cells proliferated than 1 day and some of the pores of blocks were partially filled with the proliferated cells. The in vitro response of osteoblast-like cells to the HA-coated zirconia showed comparable effect on transformation comparable to hydroxyapatite.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.278-284
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• 2005

An immunosuppressive agent, human cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (hCTLA4), is used for the prevention of graft rejection and treatment of autoimmune diseases. hCTLA4-Ig, a CTLA4-immunoglobulin fusion protein, was produced and secreted from transgenic rice cell suspension cultures using rice a-amylase (RAmy3D) expression system. In this system, hCTLA4-Ig expression was regulated metabolically by sugar starvation. For the purpose of improving hCTLA4-Ig production, the effects of osmotic pressure was investigated in suspension cultures of transgenic rice cells. The highest production level was achieved at 40 mM sorbitol $(140\;mOsm{\cdot}kg^{-1}\;H_2O)$. Using the medium with 8 mM glucose, the level of hCTLA4-Ig in the medium reached 45.3 mg/L. By adjusting the osmotic pressure of induction medium, it was found that the hCTLA4-Ig production could be increased up to 2.1-fold compared with that in batch culture.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.277-283
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• 2016

In this system, rice cells were genetically modified to express human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4Ig) using RAmy3D promoter induced by sugar depletion. Even though the target protein fused with signal sequence peptide, plant cell wall can be a barrier against secretion of recombinant proteins. Therefore, hCTLA4Ig can be trapped inside cell wall or remained in intracellular space. In this study, to enhance the secretion of hCTLA4Ig from cytoplasm and cell walls into the medium, permeabilizing agents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Triton X-100 and Tween 20, were applied in transgenic rice cell cultures. When 0.5% (v/v) of DMSO was added in sugar-free medium, intracellullar hCTLA4Ig was increased, on the other hand, the secreted extracellular hCTLA4Ig was lower than that of control. DMSO did not give permeable effects on transgenic rice cell cultures. And Triton X-100 was toxic to rice cells and also did not give enhancing permeability of cells. When 0.05% (v/v) Tween 20 was added in rice cell cultures, however, intracellular hCTLA4Ig was lower than that of control cultures. And the maximum 44.76 mg/L hCTLA4Ig was produced for 10 days after induction, which was 1.4-fold increase compared to that of control cultures. Especially, Tween 20 at 0.05% (v/v) showed the positive effect on the secretion of hCTLA4Ig though the decrease of intracellular hCTLA4Ig. Also, Tween 20 as a non-toxic surfactant did not affect the cell growth, cell viability and protease activity. In conclusion, secretion of hCTLA4Ig could be increased by enhancing permeability of cells regardless of the cell growth, cell viability and protease activity.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2009

In this study, the paclitaxel eluting stent (PES) was prepared by coating a biliary stent with paclitaxel using various biopolymer such as poly (vinyl acetate) (PVAc), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), Silicone rubber for restenosis prevention in gastrointestinal disease by a dip-coating method. Drug contents of PES were increased as surface area of stent, concentration and molecular weight of coating polymer increase. In $^1H-NMR$ specta, we know that drug did not change by confirming specific peaks of paclitaxel in PES. As shown in SEM image, PES prepared using various biopolymer is coated clearly and regularly except Silicone rubber coating polymer. In in vitro cell cytotoxicity test, bare stent showed low cytotoxic effect against CT-26 colon carcinoma cell line on 3 day. However, PES coated with PLGA 502H showed the highest cytotoxicity because PLGA 502H is biodegradable polymer and has less molecular weight than other coating polymer. These results suggest that PES coated various biopolymer can be prevented restenosis in gastrointestinal disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1 s.65
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• pp.184-195
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• 2006

Objectives : Betula Platyphylla(BP) is a traditional analgesic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory herb used in Chinese 1medicine. However, no information is available to explain its action. In this study. we investigated the anti-inflammatory 1effects of BP to elutidate the molecular pharmacological activity in the ethanol extract of BP(BPE). Methods : We performed WTS assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages with BPE. Nitrite was measured by Griess assay, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in LPS induced RAW264.7 macrophages with BPE. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) were determined by Western blot. Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results : BPE significantly suppressed production of nitric oxide (NO) and PGE2 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. The maximal inhibition rate of NO and PGE2 production by BPE was ca. 88.8% and 93% at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$ (non-cytotoxic concentration), respectively. BPE also decreased iNOS protein and COX-2 protein in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. EMSA demonstrated that BPE inhibited the DNA binding activity of the NF-kB. Conclusions : These results suggest that BPE inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$-mediated gene expression and downregulates inflammatory mediator production in RAW264.7 macrophages.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.543-551
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• 2016

This study was designed to evaluate the pharmacological effects of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. methanol extract (VBME) on microglial activation and to identify the underlying mechanisms of action of these effects. The anti-inflammatory properties of VBME were studied using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. We measured the production of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory parameters. We also examined the effect of VBME on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-${\kappa}B$ p65). VBME significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of NO and $PGE_2$ and LPS-mediated upregulation of iNOS and COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner; importantly, VBME was not cytotoxic. VBME also significantly reduced the generation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6. In addition, VBME significantly dampened intracellular ROS production and suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 translocation by blocking $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ phosphorylation and degradation in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Our findings indicate that VBME inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators in BV-2 microglial cells by suppressing NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling. Thus, VBME may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases due to its ability to inhibit inflammatory mediator production in activated BV-2 microglial cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1177-1185
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• 2008

In the present work, we show that spermine (spm)-induced cytotoxicity is due to the mitochondrial-dependent pathway triggered by the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Spm induced the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase in a dose-dependent manner in the medium containing 1.5 mM $Ca^{2+}$. Even in the $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, spm could induce a minor $Ca^{2+}$ increase in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting a probable leak from the internal storage. The cytotoxic effect of $Ca^{2+}$ could be further proved by using either BAPTA or ionophore. Spm-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase led to the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol and the change of mitochondrial membrane potential. In MCF-7 cells, caspase-7 plays a key role in the downstream of apoptosis because caspase-3 is absent. In the cells treated with spm, the cleavage of caspase-7 and -12 was increased almost two-fold. The level of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein decreased to 35% of the control; however, the cells showed increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein about two-fold in response to spm. These results imply that the apoptotic signaling pathway activated by spm is likely to be mediated via the mitochondrial-dependent pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6651-6661
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• 2015

Breast cancer is a global health concern and is a major cause of death among women. In Oman, it is the most common cancer in women, with an incidence rate of 15.6 per 100,000 Omani females. Various anticancer remedies have been discovered from natural products in the past and the search is continuing for additional examples. Cytotoxic natural compounds may have a major role in cancer therapy either in potentiating the effect of chemotherapy or reducing its harmful effects. Recently, a few studies have reported advantages of using crude camel milk in treating some forms of cancer. However, no adequate data are available on the lyophilised camel's milk responsibility for triggering apoptosis and oxidative stress associated with human breast cancer. The present study aimed to address the role of the lyophilised camel's milk in inducing proliferation repression of BT-474 and HEp-2 cells compared with the non-cancer HCC1937 BL cell line. Lyophilized camel's milk fundamentally repressed BT-474 cells growth and proliferation through the initiation of either the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways as indicated by both caspase-3 mRNA and its action level, and induction of death receptors in BT-474 but not the HEp-2 cell line. In addition, lyophilised camel's milk enhanced the expression of oxidative stress markers, heme-oxygenase-1 and reactive oxygen species production in BT-474 cells. Increase in caspase-3 mRNA levels by the lyophilised camel's milk was completely prevented by the actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor. This suggests that lyophilized camel's milk increased newly synthesized RNA. Interestingly,it significantly (p<0.003) repressed the growth of HEp-2 cells and BT-474 cells after treatment for 72 hours while 24 hours treatment repressed BT-474 cells alone. This finding suggests that the lyophilised camel's milk might instigate apoptosis through initiation of an alternative apoptotic pathway.