• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.231-235
• /
• 2013

Activity-guided isolation to search for antifibrotic compounds from natural products using HSC-T6 cells afforded nine flavonoids or phenolics, luteolin (1), 3'-O-methylorobol (2), acactin 7-rutinoside (3), sedelolactone (4), 4-methoxyphenol (5), 4-hydroxyaldehyde (6), 4-hydoxyaldehyde (7), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (8), and ferulic acid (9) from the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Eclipta prostrata L.. Among the isolated compounds, luteolin (1) significantly inhibited the proliferation of HSCs in dose- and time-dependent manners. Antifibrotic activity of E. prostrata and its phenolic compounds might provide potential therapeutical choice in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.342-351
• /
• 2021

Liver colonization is initiated through the interplay between tumor cells and adhesion molecules present in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). This crosstalk stimulates tumor COX-2 upregulation and PGE2 secretion. To elucidate the role of the LSEC intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the prometastatic response exerted by tumor and stromal COX-2, we utilized celecoxib (CLX) as a COX-2 inhibitory agent. We analyzed the in vitro proliferative and secretory responses of murine C26 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), cultured alone or with LSECs, and their effect on LSEC and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) migration and in vivo liver metastasis. CLX reduced sICAM-1-stimulated COX-2 activation and PGE2 secretion in C26 cells cultured alone or cocultured with LSECs. Moreover, CLX abrogated sICAM-1-induced C26 cell proliferation and C26 secretion of promigratory factors for LSECs and HSCs. Interestingly, CLX reduced the protumoral response of HSC, reducing their migratory potential when stimulated with C26 secretomes and impairing their secretion of chemotactic factors for LSECs and C26 cells and proliferative factors for C26 cells. In vivo, CLX abrogated the prometastatic ability of sICAM-1-activated C26 cells while reducing liver metastasis. COX-2 inhibition blocked the creation of a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) by hindering the intratumoral recruitment of activated HSCs and macrophages in addition to the accumulation of fibrillar collagen. These results point to COX-2 being a key modulator of processes initiated by host ICAM-1 during tumor cell/LSEC/HSC crosstalk, leading to the creation of a prometastatic TME in the liver.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.1285-1290
• /
• 2014

The aim was to determine whether ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) promotes dual targeting of HSP72 and HSC70 for therapy of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), to improve the specific and efficient delivery of siRNA, to induce tumor cell specific apoptosis, and to find new therapeutic targets specific of CRPC.VCaP cells were transfected with siRNA oligonucleotides. HSP70, HSP90 and cleaved caspase-3 expression were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Apoptosis and transfection efficiency were assessed by flow cytometry. Cell viability assays were used to evaluate safety. We found HSP72, HSC70 and HSP90 expression to be absent or weak in normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1), but uniformly strong in prostate cancerous cells (VCaP). UTMD combined with dual targeting of HSP72 and HSC70 siRNA improve the efficiency of transfection, cell uptake of siRNA, downregulation of HSP70 and HSP90 expression in VCaP cells at the mRNA and protein level, and induction of extensive tumor-specific apoptosis. Cell counting kit-8 assays showed decreased cellular viability in the HSP72/HSC70-siRNA silenced group. These results suggest that the combination of UTMD with dual targeting HSP70 therapy for PCa may be most efficacious, providng a novel, reliable, non-invasive, safe targeted approach to improve the specific and efficient delivery of siRNA, and achieve maximal effects.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2021

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) metastasis is characterized by distant metastasis and local recurrence. Combined chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil is routinely used to treat patients with OSCC, and the combined use of gefitinib with cytotoxic drugs has been reported to enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells in vitro. However, the development of drug resistance because of prolonged chemotherapy is inevitable, leading to a poor prognosis. Therefore, understanding alterations in signaling pathways and gene expression is crucial for overcoming the development of drug resistance. However, the altered characterization of Ca²⁺ signaling in drug-resistant OSCC cells remains unclear. In this study, we investigated alterations in intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) mobilization upon the development of gefitinib resistance in human tongue squamous carcinoma cell line (HSC)-3 and HSC-4 using ratiometric analysis. This study demonstrated the presence of altered epidermal growth factor- and purinergic agonist-mediated [Ca²⁺]_i mobilization in gefitinib-resistant OSCC cells. Moreover, Ca²⁺ content in the endoplasmic reticulum, store-operated calcium entry, and lysosomal Ca²⁺ release through the transient receptor potential mucolipin 1, were confirmed to be significantly reduced upon the development of apoptosis resistance. Consistent with [Ca²⁺]_i mobilization, we identified modified expression levels of Ca²⁺ signaling-related genes in gefitinib-resistant cells. Taken together, we propose that the regulation of [Ca²⁺]_i mobilization and related gene expression can be a new strategy to overcome drug resistance in patients with cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.264-269
• /
• 2020

The study aimed to characterize chemical composition and anticancer property of the n-hexane fraction derived from Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma. The anticancer activity was evaluated on a panel of cancer cell lines including HN22, HSC2, HSC3, and HSC4 cells (human oral cancer), HCC827 and HCC827GR cells (human lung cancer), and KYSE30 and KYSE450 (human esophageal cancer) by MTS assay. As a result, The least polar subfraction from n-hexane-soluble layer displayed notable cytotoxicity on the tumor cell lines with IC50 ranging from 1.20 to 17.0 ㎍/ml. The chemical composition of constituents in the active subfraction was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils comprised of sesquiterpenes including β-gurjunene (7.45%), γ-amorphene (6.61%), guaia-6,9-diene (6.40%), δ-guaiene (5.21%) and a phenylpropanoid, safrole (0.49%) were mainly identified in addition to long-chain hydrocarbons including n-heptadecane (24.60%), 7-hexadecene (4.44%) and a diterpenoid, ent-kaur-16-ene (6.57%).

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.103.3-104
• /
• 2003

Activation of hepatic stellate cell has been identified as a critical step in hepatic fibrogenesis and is regulated by several factors including cytokines and oxidative stress. In this study, we assayed effects of saponin (CKS), inulin (CKI) and oligo-sugars (CKO) isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC, changkil (CK) on experimental cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-T6). CKS induced cell arrest at G$_1$. CKS also reduced intercellular reactive oxygen species and collagen synthesis in hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and acetaldehyde-stimulated collagen synthesis, respectively, in HSC-T6 cells. (omitted)

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.56 no.9
• /
• pp.482-487
• /
• 2023

Hematopoiesis is regulated by crosstalk between long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) and supporting niche cells in the bone marrow (BM). Here, we describe the role of KAI1, which is mainly expressed on LT-HSCs and rarely on other hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs), in niche-mediated LT-HSC maintenance. KAI1 activates TGF-β1/Smad3 signal in LT-HSCs, leading to the induction of CDK inhibitors and inhibition of the cell cycle. The KAI1-binding partner DARC is expressed on macrophages and stabilizes KAI1 on LT-HSCs, promoting their quiescence. Conversely, when DARC+ BM macrophages were absent, the level of surface KAI1 on LT-HSCs decreases, leading to cell-cycle entry, proliferation, and differentiation. Thus, KAI1 acts as a functional surface marker of LT-HSCs that regulates dormancy through interaction with DARC-expressing macrophages in the BM stem cell niche. Recently, we showed very special and rare macrophages expressing α-SMA+ COX2+ & DARC+ induce not only dormancy of LT-HSC through interaction of KAI1-DARC but also protect HSCs by down-regulating ROS through COX2 signaling. In the near future, the strategy to combine KAI1-positive LT-HSCs and α-SMA/Cox2/DARC triple-positive macrophages will improve the efficacy of stem cell transplantation after the ablative chemo-therapy for hematological disorders including leukemia.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.376-384
• /
• 2008

The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is traditionally used as a marker for astrocytes of the brain, and more recently for the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) of the liver. Several GFAP splice variants have been previously reported in the astrocytes of the CNS and in the non-myelinating Schwann cells of the PNS. In this study, we investigate whether GFAP splice variants are present in the HSCs and their expression as a function of HSCs activation. Furthermore, the regulation of these transcripts upon treatment with interferon gamma ($IFN-{\gamma}$) will be explored. Using semi-quan-titative RT-PCR and real-time PCR, we examine the expression and regulation of GFAP splice variants in HSCs as well as their respective half-life. We discover that most of the GFAP splice variants ($GFAP{\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\delta}$, ${\varepsilon}$ and $\kappa$) found in the neural system are also expressed in quiescent and culture-activated primary HSCs. Interestingly, $GFAP{\alpha}$ is the predominant form in quiescent and culture-activated primary HSCs, while $GFAP{\beta}$, predominates in the SV40-immortalized activated HSC-T6. $GFAP{\delta}$, ${\varepsilon}$ and ${\kappa}$ have similar half-lives of 10 hours, while $GFAP{\beta}$ has a half-life of 17 hours. Treatment of HSC-T6 with $IFN-{\gamma}$ results in a significant 1.29-fold up-regulation of $GFAP{\alpha}$ whereas the level of the other transcripts remains unchanged. In summary, $GFAP{\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\delta}$, ${\varepsilon}$ and $\kappa$ are present in HSCs. They are differentially regulated on the transcription level, implying a role of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.241-248
• /
• 2007

Epigenetic modification dependent DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) play an important role in tissue- and stage-specific gene regulation and normal mammalian development. In this study, we show that DNMTs are expressed at different levels during hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation to proerythrocytes. DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B were highly expressed at day 7 after differentiation. We used specific siRNA as a tool to probe the relationship between the expression of DNMTs and erythropoietic differentiation. When introduced siRNA of DMNT1 and DMNT3b in human $CD34^+$ cells, these more differentiated into erythrocytes. This was confirmed by glycophorin A (GPA) positive cell analysis and globin gene expression. $GPA^+$ cells increased up to $20{\sim}30%$, and ${\gamma}$- and ${\epsilon}$-globin genes increased in siRNA transfected cells. Therefore, our data suggest that suppression of DNA methylation can affect positively differentiation of HSC and may contribute to expression of erythrocyte lineage genes including GPA and globins.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.12
• /
• pp.1708-1715
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether water extracts of Sparassis crispa (SC) have anti-obesity effects. Treatment of mature adipocytes with SC caused a decrease in lipid accumulation (assessed by Oil Red O staining) and an increase in glycerol release. Mice were induced to obesity by a high fat diet (45% fat in total kcal) and experimental groups were treated with two different dosages of SC extracts, a low SC (LSC, 100 mg/kg/day) or high SC (HSC, 300 mg/kg/day). SC extracts were administered by gavages for 10 weeks in the experimental groups, while the control group was fed with distilled water. The body weight gain of mice fed SC was significantly reduced (11.88% lower in LSC, 14.54% lower in HSC) compared to the control group. Additionally, there were significantly reduced serum levels of triglycerides (13.57% lower in LSC, 19.46% lower in HSC), total cholesterol (32.22% lower in LSC, 24.67% lower in HSC) and glucose (28.85% lower in LSC, 25.82% lower in HSC) in mice fed SC compared to the control group. Hepatic triglycerides in mice fed SC were lower (9.68% lower in LSC, 14.24% lower in HSC) than the control group and total cholesterol levels were also lower in mice fed SC (38.72% lower in LSC, 35.20% in HSC). These results demonstrate that the water extract of SC may enhance lipolysis and up-regulate the expression of lipolytic enzymes in vitro and reduce body weight in vivo. These significant effects were found for both low and high doses of SC treatment, and suggest SC can be used as potential therapeutic substances for the prevention and treatment of obesity.