• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.485-492
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• 2003

The pathological mechanism of impaired spermatogenesis after vasectomy has not been completely investigated. In this study, we examined pathological changes of the testis and the Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) mediated signaling pathway in apoptotic germ cell death after vasectomy in rats. Ten-weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were underwent bilateral vasectomy and sacrificed after 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks of surgery and the testes were removed. Histopathological evaluation of spermatogenesis was performed by hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff-hematoxylin staining. To elucidate the pathophysiology of seminiferous tubule damage, terminal dUTP nick end labeling staining, electrophoresis assay of DNA fragmentation, and Western blotting analysis for Fas-FasL were performed. Relative weights of testes were decreased from 5 days after vasectomy. Germ cell degeneration were first found in the spermatogonia and spermatocytes at stages I-VI, and XII-XIV seminiferous tubules. Mean incidence of apoptotic germ cells after vasectomy progressively increased to peak in 5 days, and then gradually decreased to the control levels in 2 weeks after vasectomy. The expression of Fas-FasL reached maximum level at 5 days after vasectomy and then declined. In conclusion, impaired spermatogenesis after vasectomy associated with an increase in germ cell apoptasis, which is partly mediated by the activation of Fas-FasL.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.693-705
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• 2010

Objectives : The water extract of Daechilgi-tang(DCGT) has traditionally been used for treatment of qi stagnation(氣滯), which is considered to be one of the important causes of neuronal disease in oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which DCGT protects neuronal cells from brain cell damages. Methods and Results : The author tested the mechanism of the cytoprotective effect of DCGT on glutamate -stimulated rat C6 glial cells. DCGT significantly protected C6 glial cells from glutamate in MTT assay. Pre-treatment of C6 glial cells with DCGT markedly inhibited the DNA fragmentation of C6 cells induced by glutamate. Glutamate increased the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and intracellular calcium level in C6 glial cells. However, pre-treatment with DCGT markedly suppressed the increase of ROS generation and intracellular calcium accumulation induced by glutamate. Among apoptosis signaling mediators, DCGT markedly increased the expression level of Bcl2 in glutamate-treated cells. It also inhibited the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP proteins by glutamate in C6 glial cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that DCGT protects brain cells from glutamate cytotoxicity through inhibition of ROS generation and activation of apoptosis signaling pathway as well as induction of the anti-oxidant system.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.187-199
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• 1999

Bone remodeling is characterized by the continuing processes of osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Bone metabolism is tightly regulated at the local level by networks of hormones, cytokines, and other factors. In pathological conditions of bone remodeling, including osteoporosis and periodontal diseases, inflammatory cytokines and local mediators are responsible for enhancement of osteoclast resorption and inhibition of repair at the sites of bone resorption. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a pleiotropic hormone with actions on the differentiation, growth, and functional activities of normal and malignant cells from numerous tissues. TNF-${\alpha}$ has been proposed as a local mediator of the control of bone turnover in situations of chronic inflammation, and it has been assumed that the local source of TNF-${\alpha}$ is the monocyte in the adjacent bone marrow or the local circulation. TNF-${\alpha}$ is a potent inducer of bone resorption. TNF-${\alpha}$ is known to induce the activation of apoptotic signaling pathway, which leads to the apoptosis of bone cells. We demonstrated that treatment of murine osteoblastic MC3T3E1 cells with TNF-${\alpha}$ decreases proliferation as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in a dose depenent manner. In addition, TNF-${\alpha}$ increases osteoclast-like cell formation in $1{\alpha}$, 25(OH)2D3 or PGE2-treated bone marrow cell culture. When cells were cultured in TNF-${\alpha}$ free ${\alpha}$-MEM, this inhibitory effect of ALP activity was reversible up to 10 ng/ml TNF-${\alpha}$, in contrast, at the 20 ng/ml TNF-${\alpha}$, irreversible. In this concentration, TNF-${\alpha}$ may induce apoptosis in MC3T3E1 cells. In this study, TNF-${\alpha}$ induces apoptosis resulting in chromosomal DNA fragmentation, preceded by JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 activation. Our present results show that JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 are activated by TNF-${\alpha}$, suggesting that the JNK/SAPKs and caspase-3 participate in the bone resorption, associated with apoptosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.454-462
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• 2010

The present study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Carpinus tschonoskii MAX and its intracellular protective mechanism on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells. We found that pretreatment of PC12 cells with C. tschonoskii extract significantly inhibited the cell death induced by 6-OHDA in a dose dependent manner. C. tschonoskii extract decreased 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic events such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, the decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio, caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. C. tschonoskii extract also reduced generation of 6-OHDA-induced reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. Furthermore, C. tschonoskii extract up-regulated the myocyte enhancer factor 2 D (MEF2D), a critical transcription factor for neuronal survival, and Akt activity, whereas it inhibited the activity of ERK1/2 and JNK. The results suggest that C. tschonoskii extract decreases 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress and could prevent PC12 cell apoptosis induced by 6-OHDA via the up-regulation of MEF2D and Akt activity, and thus may have application in developing therapeutic agents for Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.366-374
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• 2005

Objective : Nitric oxide[NO] is implicated in a wide range of biological processes in tumors and is produced in glioma. To investigate the role of NO and its interaction with the tumoricidal effects of anticancer drugs, we study the antitumor activities of NO donors, with or without anticancer drugs, in human glioma cell lines. Methods : U87MG and U373MG cells were treated with the NO donors sodium nitroprusside[SNP] and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine[SNAP], alone or in combination with the anticancer drugs 1,3-bis[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea[BCNU] and cisplatin. Cell viability, cell proliferation, DNA fragmentation, nitrite level, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were determined. Results : NO was markedly increased after treatment with SNP or SNAP; however, the addition of the anticancer drugs did not significantly affect NO production NO donors or anticancer drugs reduced glioma cell viability and, in combination, acted synergistically to further decrease cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis were enhanced by combined treatment. Bax expression was increased by combined treatment, whereas Bcl-2 expression was reduced. The antitumor cytotoxicity of NO donors and anticancer drugs differed according to cell type. Conclusion : BCNU or cisplatin can inhibit cell viability and proliferation of glioma cells and can induce apoptosis. These effects are further enhanced by the addition of a NO donor which modulates the antitumor cytotoxicity of chemotherapy depending on cell type. Further biological, chemical, and toxicological studies of NO are required to clarify its mechanism of action in glioma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.138-150
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• 2004

Objectives : Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a geriatric dementia that is widespread in old age. In the near future AD will be the biggest problem in public health service. Although a variety of oriental prescriptions, including Sesim-tang, have been traditionally utilized for the treatment of AD, their pharmacological effects and action mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of Sesim-tang on apoptotic cell death induced by CT105 (carboxy terminal 105 amino acid peptide fragment of APP) overexpression in SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cell lines. Methods: We studied the regenerative and inhibitory effects on Alzheimer's disease in CT105-induced SK-N-SH cell lines by Sesim-tang water extract. We examined for cell morphological pattern, DNA fragmentation, LDH activity assay, zymography assay, and immunohistochemistric analysis. Additionally, we investigated the association between the CT105 and neurite degeneration caused by CT105-induced apoptotic response in neurone cells. Results: Findings from our experiments have shown that Sesim-tang inhibits the synthesis or activities of CT105, which has neurotoxicities and apoptotic activities in the cell line. In addition, pretreatment with Sesim-tang ($>50\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ for 12 hours) partially prevented CT105-induced cytotoxicity in SK-N-SH cell lines. SK-N-SH cell lines overexpressed with CT105 exhibited remarkable apoptotic cell damage. Based on morphological observations by phase-contrast microscope and LDH activity measurements in the culture media, the CT105-induced cell death was significantly inhibited by Sesim-tang water extract. Sesim-tang was found to reduce the expression of APP and caspase-3 induced by CT105 in SK-N-SH cell lines and in rat hippocampus. Conclusions: As the result of this study, in the Sesim-tang group, apoptosis in the nervous system is inhibited, the repair against the degeneration of SK-N-SH cell lines by CT105 expression is promoted. Hence, Sesim-tang may be beneficial for the treatment of AD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2001

Curcumin a yellow pigment from Curcuma Tonga, has been known to possess antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties, as well as to induce apoptosis in some cancer cells. There have been, however, several contradictory reports that hypothesized curcumin (a hydrophobic molecule) can bind a membrane Gpid bilayer and induce nonspecific cytotoxicity in some cell lines. Why curcumin shows these contradictory effects is unknown. In A-431 cells, growth inhibition by curcumin is due mostly to the specific inhibition of the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor, as reported earlier by Korutla et al. Thus, we assumed that the cell death of A-431 by curcumin might be due to the specific induction of apoptosis. In this paper we clearly show that curcumin induces apoptosis in A-431 cells. The cureumin-induced cell death of A-431 exhibited various apoptotic features, including DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation. Furthermore, the curcumin-induced apoptosis of A-431 cells involved activation of caspase-3-like cysteine protease. Involvement of caspase-3 was further confirmed by using a caspase-3 specific inhibitor, DEVD-CHO. In another study, decreased nitric oxide (NO) production was also shown in A-431 cells treated with curcumin, which seems to be the result of the inhibition of the iNOS expression by curcumin, as in other cell lines. However, 24 h after treatment of curcumin there was increased NO production in A-431 cells. This observation has not yet been clearly explained. We assumed that the increased NO production may be related to denitrosylation of the enzyme catalytic site in caspase-3 when activated. Taken together, this study shows that the cell death of A-431 by curcumin is due to the induction of apoptosis, which involves caspase-3 activation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2018

Vasicinone, a quinazoline alkaloid from Adhatoda vasica Nees. is well known for its bronchodilator activity. However its anti-proliferative activities is yet to be elucidated. Here-in we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of vasicinone and its underlying mechanism against A549 lung carcinoma cells. The A549 cells upon treatment with various doses of vasicinone (10, 30, 50, $70{\mu}M$) for 72 h showed significant decrease in cell viability. Vasicinone treatment also showed DNA fragmentation, LDH leakage, and disruption of mitochondrial potential, and lower wound healing ability in A549 cells. The Annexin V/PI staining showed disrupted plasma membrane integrity and permeability of PI in treated cells. Moreover vasicinone treatment also lead to down regulation of Bcl-2, Fas death receptor and up regulation of PARP, BAD and cytochrome c, suggesting the anti-proliferative nature of vasicinone which mediated apoptosis through both Fas death receptors as well as Bcl-2 regulated signaling. Furthermore, our preliminary studies with vasicinone treatment also showed to lower the ROS levels in A549 cells and have potential free radical scavenging (DPPH, Hydroxyl) activity and ferric reducing power in cell free systems. Thus combining all, vasicinone may be used to develop a new therapeutic agent against oxidative stress induced lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.4 s.127
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• pp.274-279
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• 2001

Ailanthus altissima belonging to the family Simaroubaceae has been used to settle an upset stomach, to combat a fever, and as an insecticide. Apoptosis is an active process, which is a critical feature of the regulated development of multicellular organisms. We investigated whether the extract of A. altissima induced apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Upon treatments with the extract, the dose-dependent inhibitions of cell viability were observed. It also caused apoptosis as measured by cell morphology and DNA fragmentation. The capability of the extract to induce apoptosis was associated with proteolytic cleavage of specific target protein such as poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) protein, suggesting the possible involvement of the activations of caspases. Further study showed that Bcl-2 protein levels were not changed in all treated groups compared to control group. These results suggest that A. altissima induces Bcl- 2-independent apoptosis in Jurkat T cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.310-316
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• 2014

Oldenlandia diffusa, Cremastra appendiculata and Fritillaria thunbergii are widely distributed in the Korea, China and Japan, and has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases, such as pharyngolaryngitis, tonsillitis, goiter and stomach ulcer. However, the anti-cancer activities in human breast cancer have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, it was compared the in vitro cytotoxic effects of single and complex treatment of O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii. We treat human breast cancer MCF-7 cells with O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii. And we evaluated viability, growth inhibition, morphological changes, apoptotic bodies formation, measurement of the cell cycle and formation of DNA fragmentation of these cells. It was found that single treatment of O. diffusa could inhibit the cell proliferation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. However, complex treatment of O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii is weakly or not affect the cell proliferation of MCF-7 cells. And anti-proliferative effects of O. diffusa in MCF-7 cells was associated with G1 arrest of cell cycle. These findings suggest that O. diffusa may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human breast cancer cells and further studies will be needed to identify the molecular mechanisms.