• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2003

Metallothionein gene expression activity of cadmium was investigated in a human lung epithelial cell line. Cells, grown to near confluence, were exposed to 0∼10 ${\mu}$M Cd metal for 6 hours. Cadmium did not cause morphological alteration in lung epithelial cells that are characteristic of cell damages such as cell shrinkage, detachment of the cell from its neighbors, cytoplasmic and chromatic condensation. However, metallothionein genes of MT-1 and MT-2 were rapidly induced in the treated cell measured by RT-PCR. Regarding the induction pattern of motallothionein mRNA, MT-1 mRNA was induced in a dependent manner. MT-2 mRNA induction, which was measured using oligo primers based on cDNA of human reticulocytes, seemed to be slightly increased in low doses but decreased at high concentration used in the experiment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 1995

Cytokine release from alveolar macrophages and subsequent interaction of these cytokines with the bronchial epithelium can induce epithelial cells to release inflammatory mediators. Nitric oxide(NO), a highly reactive gas formed from arginine by nitric oxide synthase(NOS), is known to be involved in inflammation and edema formation, and the inducible form of NOS(iNOS) can be increased by cytokines. In this context, we hypothesized that lung epithelial cells could be stimulated by cytokines released by alveolar macrophages to express iNOS. To test this hypothesis, the murine lung epithelial cell line, LA-4, or the human lung epithelial cell line, A549, were stimulated with culture supernatant fluids from alveolar macrophages. NO production was assessed by evaluating the culture supernatant fluids for nitrite and nitrate, the stable end products of NO. Both murine and human cell culture supernatant fluids demonstrated an increase in nitrite and nitrate which were time- and dose-dependent and attenuated by $TNF{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ antibodies(p<0.05, all comparisons). Consistent with these observations, cytomix a combination of $TNF{\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and $\gamma$-interferon, stimulated the lung epithelial cell lines as well as primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells to increase their NO production as evidenced by an increase in nitrite and nitrate in their culture supernatant fluids, an increase in the iNOS staining by immunocytochemistry, and an increase in iNOS mRNA by Northern blottin(p<0.05, all comparisons). The cytokine effects on iNOS were all attenuated by dexamethasone. To determine if these in vitro observations are reflected in vivo, exhaled NO was measured and found to be increased in asthmatics not receiving corticosteroids. These data demonstrate that alveolar macrophage derived cytokines increase iNOS expression in lung epithelial cells and that these in vitro observations are mirrored by increased exhaled NO levels in asthmatics. Increased NO in the lung may contribute to edema formation and airway narrowing.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 1998

The primary culture of human nasal epithelial cells was performed using the inferior nasal turbinate tissues, and infected with Hantaan virus to examine the hypothesis of airborne transmission of Hantaan virus in humans. The primary culture cells were identified as epithelial cells by morphologic and immunologic analyses. The viral antigens were detected in the primary human nasal epithelial cells infected with Hantaan virus by immunofluorescence staining. The ICAM-1 induction by Hantaan virus or $IFN-{\gamma}$ was examined in the primary human nasal epithelial cells and human lung fibroblasts (WI-38). Hantaan virus induced the surface ICAM-1 in WI-38 cells in a time-dependent manner, and $IFN-{\gamma}$ induced the surface ICAM-1 in a dose-dependent manner in HNEC and WI-38 cells. These results revealed that the human nasal epithelial cells are susceptible to Hantaan viral infection supporting the hypothesis of airborne transmission of Hantaan virus in humans. The human lung fibroblasts also might have an important role in the pathogenesis of Hantaan virus through the induction of ICAM-1.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 2010

Benzene is one of volatile environmental pollutants to induce asthma and allergy in respiratory system. The airway epithelium is a physical barrier to inhaled toxicants and particulates. However, the effect of benzene in lung epithelial cell viability has not been elucidated. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of benzene on apoptosis in A549 cells, lung epithelial cell line. In this study, benzene decreased cell viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner (> $10{\mu}M$). Benzene-induced decrease of cell viability was blocked by the treatment of antioxidants (vitamin C and NAC). Indeed, benzene induced lipid peroxide formation in A549 cells. Benzene decreased Bcl-2 expression but increased Bax expression in A549 cells. In addition, benzene also increased the cleaved form of caspase-3. In conclusion, benzene induced apoptosis via oxidative stress in cultured epithelial cells.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2007

Chronic formaldehyde inhalation studies have suggested its relativity to teratogenicity, cancer incidence, neurodegenerative and vascular disorders. Many toxicological data on the formaldehyde toxicity are available, but proteomic results showing complete protein profiles are limited. Therefore, alterations of protein expression patterns upon formaldehyde treatment were investigated in the human lung epithelial cell line. Differentially expressed proteins following formaldehyde treatment were analyzed on 2-dimensional gels, and further analyzed by MALDI-TOF to identify the proteins. Among the identified proteins, 24 proteins were notably up-regulated and 6 proteins were down-regulated. In particular, cytoskeleton related protein named vinculin and Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor which plays a key role in apoptosis increased remarkably.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2004

Metallothionein gene expression of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) was investigated in human lung epithelial cell line. DEP was collected from diesel motor bus and soluble fraction in water was obtained. Cells, grown to near confluence, were exposed to 5-50 ppm DEP for 6 hours. Regarding the metallothionein gene expressions, MT-1 and MT-2 were induced in the DEP-treated cell by using RT-PCR and real-time PCR. However, MT-3 which is known to be brain specific, and another isoform MT-4 were not expressed in cadmium-treated groups as well as control group. Heavy metal of DEP was also analyzed and Zn was found as the major component of heavy metals in DEP used in this study.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 2018

During the screening for cytotoxic compounds from plants grown in Korea, Betula platyphylla (BP) showed potent activity against the adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cell line. To identify the cytotoxic components from BP, the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction with the most significant cytotoxic effect was applied to the column chromatographies. Seven compounds were isolated: lupeol (1), betulinic acid (2), (-)-rhododendrol (3), platyphyllenone (4), platyphyllone (5), (-)-centrolobol (6), and oleanolic acid (7). Among them, three diarylheptanoids (4 - 6) exhibited cytotoxicity toward A549 cells. Especially, $50{\mu}M$ of 4 reduced A549 cell viability to $18.93{\pm}0.82%$ compared to control ($100.00{\pm}21.48%$). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were also induced by $50{\mu}M$ 4. This is the first report on the cytotoxic effect of BP-derived diarylheptanoids 4-6 against A549 cells. The compound 4 may be useful for the development of early hit compounds for non-small cell lung carcinoma, but the consideration about selectivity of 4 is required since 4 also showed the cytotoxicity in the human normal lung epithelial BEAS-2B cell line.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4781-4786
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• 2015

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is used primarily as an adaptogen herb and also for its immune stimulant properties in Western herbal medicine. Another closely related species used in East Asian medicine systems i.e. Kampo, TCM (Manchuria, Korea, Japan and Ainu of Hokkaido) and also called Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) also displays immune-stimulant and anti-cancer properties. These may affect tumour growth and also provide an anti-fatigue effect for cancer patients, in particular for those suffering from lung cancer. There is some evidence that a carbohydrate in Siberian ginseng may possess not only immune stimulatory but also anti-tumour effects and also display other various anti-cancer properties. Our study aimed to determine the inhibitory and also proliferative effects of a methanol plant extract of Siberan ginseng (E. senticosus) on various cancer and normal cell lines including: A-549 (small cell lung cancer), XWLC-05 (Yunnan lung cancer cell line), CNE (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line), HCT-116 (human colon cancer) and Beas-2b (human lung epithelial). These cell lines were treated with an extract from E. senticosus that was evaporated and reconstituted in DMSO. Treatment of A-549 (small cell lung cancer) cells with E. senticosus methanolic extract showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory trend from $12.5-50{\mu}g/mL$, and then a plateau, whereas at 12.5 and $25{\mu}g/mL$, there is a slight growth suppression in QBC-939 cells, but then a steady suppression from 50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$. Further, in XWLC-05 (Yunnan lung cancer cell line), E. senticosus methanolic extract displayed an inhibitory effect which plateaued with increasing dosage. Next, in CNE (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line) there was a dose dependent proliferative response, whereas in Beas-2 (human lung epithelial cell line), an inhibitory effect. Finally in colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) we observed an initially weak inhibitory effect and then plateau.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.199-199
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• 2013

The distinctive cellular and mitochondrial dysfunctions of a human epithelial lung cancer cell line (H460) from a human lung fibroblastic normal cell line (MRC5) have been studied by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment. The DBD plasma device have generated large amount of H2O2 and NOx in culture media which is dependent on plasma exposure time. It is found that the cell number of lung cancer cell H460 has been reduced more than the lung normal cell MRC5 as being increased exposure and incubation time. Also these both cell lines have showed mitochondria fragmentation under 5 minutes' plasma exposure, which is a clue of apoptosis. It is noted in this study that AnnexinV staining has showed not only early apoptosis, but also late apoptosis in lung cancer cell H460. Mitochondria enzyme activity and ATP generation have been also much reduced in lung cancer cell H460. Their mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}m$) has been found to be reduced in magnitude and shifted to the induced-potential level of cccp, while MRC5 mitochondrial membrane potential has been shifted slightly to that. These distinctively selective responses of lung cancer cell H460 from lung normal cell MRC5 gives us possibility of applying plasma to cancer therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.305-310
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• 2024

T-plastin (PLST), a member of the actin-bundling protein family, plays crucial roles in cytoskeletal structure, regulation, and motility. Studies have shown that the plastin family is associated with the malignant characteristics of cancer, such as circulating tumor cells and metastasis, by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various cancer cells. However, the role of PLST in the EMT of human lung cancer cells remains unclear. In this study, we observed that PLST overexpression enhanced cell migratory and invasive abilities, whereas its downregulation resulted in their suppression. Moreover, PLST expression levels were associated with the expression patterns of EMT markers, including E-cadherin, vimentin, and Slug. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) were dependent on PLST expression levels. These findings indicate that PLST induces the migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells by promoting Slug-mediated EMT via the FAK/AKT signaling pathway.