• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.355-362
• /
• 2002

Pathophysiological elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_1$) in the neuron has been considered as an important responsible factor in the neuronal cell damages. However the mechanism of increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ and the relationship between $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ level and cytotocixity have not been fully demonstrated. In the present study, real-time alteration of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$and cellular response (cell damages) in the pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) stimulated by glutamate were investigated. Glutamate dose dependently decreased cell viability determined propidium iodide fluorescence method and morphology change. Conversely related with cell damages, glutamate dose dependently increased the level of［Ca$^{2+}$］$_{i}$ . To investigate the mechanism of glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$,$[Ca^{2+}]_1$, was first measured in the cell cultured in calcium free media and in the presence of dantrolene, an inhibitor of calcium release from ryanodine receptor located in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Similar to the increase$[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in the calcium-containing media, glutamate dose dependently increased $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in the cell cultured in free calcium media. However pretreatment (2 hr) with 20~50 $\mu\textrm{M}$ dantrolene substantial lowered glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$, suggesting that release of calcium from ER may be major sourse of increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ in PC12 cells. Dantrolene-induced inhibition of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ resulted in recovery of cytotoxicity by glutamate. Relevance of N-methy-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a type of glutamte receptor on glutamate-induced incense of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$,$[Ca^{2+}]_1$ was also determined in the cells pretreated (2 hr) with NMDA receptor antagonist MK-80l. Glutamate-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ was reduced by MK-801 dose dependently. Furthermore, glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was also prevented by MK-80l. These results demonstrate that glutamte increase $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ dose dependently and thereby cause cytotoxicity. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ may release from ER, especially through ryanodine receptor and/or through NMDA receptor Alteration of calcium homeostasis through disturbance of ER system and/or calcium influx through NMDA receptor could contribute glutamate-induced cell damages.s.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.2169-2177
• /
• 2014

Matrine, a main active component extracted from dry roots of Sophora flavecens, has been reported to exert antitumor effects on A549 human non-small lung cancer cells, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. To determine effects of matrine on proliferation of A549 cells and assess possible mechanisms, MTT assays were employed to detect cytotoxicity, along with o flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of nuclei of cells following staining with propidium iodide to analyze cell cycle distribution. Western blotting was performed to determined expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, VEGF and HDAC1, while a microarray was used to assessed changes of miRNA profiles. In the MTT assay, matrine suppressed growth of human lung cancer cell A549 in a dose- and timedependent manner at doses of 0.25-2.5 mg/ml for 24h, 48h or 72h. Matrine induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and decreased the G2/M phase, while down-regulating the expression of Bcl2 protein, leading to a reduction in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In addition, matrine down regulated the expression level of VEGF and HDAC1 of A549 cells. Microarray analysis demonstrated that matrine altered the expression level of miRNAs compared with untreated control A549 cells. In conclusion, matrine could inhibit proliferation of A549 cells, providing useful information for understanding anticancer mechanisms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.10
• /
• pp.6115-6120
• /
• 2013

Introduction: Some non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor cells are insensitive to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) -based therapy. This study was conducted to examine the effect of embelin on the sensitivity of the A549 NSCLC cell line to TRAIL receptor2 (TRAILR2) monoclonal antibodies and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A549 cells were treated with embelin, TRAILR2 mAb or a combination of both. Cell viability was measured using ATPlite assay and apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry with AnnexinV-FITC and propidium iodide staining, with the expression levels of proteins analyzed by Western blotting. Results: The cell survival rate of separate treatments with 100 ng/ml TRAILR2 antibody or 25 uM embelin were $81.5{\pm}1.57%$ and $61.7{\pm}2.84%$, respectively. Their combined use markedly decreased cell viability in A549 cells to $28.1{\pm}1.97%$ (P<0.05). The general caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK could inhibit the embelin-enhanced sensitivity of A549 cells to TRAILR2 mAb ($75.97{\pm}3.17%$)(P<0.05). Both flow cytometry and cell morphological analysis showed that embelin was able to increase TRAIL-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Combined treatment with embelin and TRAILR2 mAb augmented the activation of initiator caspases and effector caspase. In addition, A549 cells showed increasing levels of TRAILR2 protein and decreasing levels of Bcl-2, survivin and c-FLIP following the treatment with embelin+TRAILR2 mAb. Conclusions: Embelin could enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. The synergistic effect of the combination treatment might be due to modulation of multiple components in the TRAIL receptor-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway, including TRAILR2, XIAP, survivin, Bcl-2 and c-FLIP.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.144-153
• /
• 2000

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between radiation-induced activation of DNA repair genes and radiation induced apoptosis in A431 cell line. Materials and Methods: Five and 25 Gys of gamma radiation were given to A431 cells by a Cs-137 cell irradiator. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry using annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide staining. The expression of DNA repair genes was evaluated by both Northern and Western blot analyses. Results: The number of apoptotic cells increased with the increased radiation dose. It increased most significantly at 12 hours after irradiation. Expression of p53, p21, and hRAD50 reached the highest level at 12 hours after 5 Gy irradiation. In response to 25 Gy irradiation, hRAD50 and p21 were expressed maximally at 12 hours, but p53 and GADD45 genes showed the highest expression level after 12 hours. Conclusion: Induction of apoptosis and DNA repair by ionizing radiation were closely correlated. The peak time of inducing apoptosis and DNA repair was 12 hours in this study model. hRAD50, a recently discovered DNA repair gene, was also associated with radiation-induced apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.5291-5298
• /
• 2012

Beta-asarone is one of the main bioactive constituents in traditional Chinese medicine Acorus calamu. Previous studies have shown that it has antifungal and anthelmintic activities. However, little is known about its anticancer effects. This study aimed to determine inhibitory effects on LoVo colon cancer cell proliferation and to clarify the underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. Dose-response and time-course anti-proliferation effects were examined by MTT assay. Our results demonstrated that LoVo cell viability showed dose- and time-dependence on ${\beta}$-asarone. We further assessed anti-proliferation effects as ${\beta}$-asarone-induced apoptosis by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assay usinga flow cytometer and observed characteristic nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation of apoptosis by microscopy. Moreover, we found the apoptosis to be induced through the mitochondrial/caspase pathway by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reducing the Bcl-2-to-Bax ratio, in addition to activating the caspase-9 and caspase-3 cascades. Additionally, the apoptosis could be inhibited by a pan-caspase inhibitor, carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-FMK). When nude mice bearing LoVo tumor xenografts were treated with ${\beta}$-asarone, tumor volumes were reduced and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays of excised tissue also demonstrated apoptotic changes. Taken together, these findings for the first time provide evidence that ${\beta}$-asarone can suppress the growth of colon cancer and the induced apoptosis is possibly mediated through mitochondria/caspase pathways.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 1975

In the classic point of view, it has well known that the tangle is the mineral source, especially iodide. However, there are few reports that the tangle can be used the high-protein source. With the consideration whether the tangle can be used as a protein source as well as one of the foodstuff or not, this studies is done by animal experiment. The Albino rats to be examined were fed on the basal diet (Table 1) and the others including the polished tangle by weight 2%, 3%, 4% and 5%, as experimental diets, for 4 weeks, respectively. The weight gain(Fig. 1), total amount of diet intake (Fig. 2), total water intake(Fig. 3), feed efficiency ratio (Fig. 4) and protein efficiency ratio (Fig. 5) was measured by each week, respectively. In addition, organ weight (Fig. 6) and blood study (Fig. 7, Fig. 8) was also analyzed at the end of the experiment. As the results of this study, growth rate, that is, weight gain, feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio in all experimental groups increased more than those of the control group. Moreover, it was also found that weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio by feeding on the 2 percent tangle group was higher than the corresponding values of all experimental groups. However, feed intake and total water gain were the most by feeding on the 5% tangle group. This result may be interpreted to show that the total content of sodium includes more than enough in the feed intakes. To obtain further information concerning the effect of the tangle-dietary conditions on the growth rate of Albino rats, it was measured the organ weight. In the adrenal and spleen, the total weight by feeding on the all experimental groups were decreased more than that in the case of the control group. In the other hand, in the liver the weight by feeding on the high concentration groups (4%, 5% tangle diets) were not higher than the control group, while in the case of the low concentration groups (2%, 3% tangle diets) were higher than that of the control group. When it was observed the blood components, total protein, hemoglobin, sodium, potassium, white blood cell and red blood cell of rats, the content of white blood cell by feeding on all experimental groups were lower than that by feeding on the control group, but it was also clear that in the other components except white blood cell in blood the contents by feeding on all experimental groups were similar to that in the case of the control groups. However, in the 5% tangle group, the content of sodium was the lowest of all experimental groups, where as the content of potassium was the highest of all experimental groups.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.67-72
• /
• 2008

We have studied the effect of heat treatment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as a counter electrode on the electro-chemical properties of dye-snsitized solar cells. MWNTs on the p-type Si substrate were synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using Fe catalysts. We prepared the two types of MWNTs samples with the different diameters. The rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment for the MWNTs was carried out at the growth temperature ($900^{\circ}C$) for 1 minute with $N_2$ gas atmosphere. The structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of MWNTs were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopy, 2-point probe station and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The I(D)/I(G) ratio of heat-treated MWNTs in Raman spectra was considerably decreased. It was also found that the heat-treated MWNTs showed better redox reaction of iodide at the interface between MWNTs surface and electrolyte than that of as-grown MWNTs. The redox resistance value of heat-treated electrodes was measured to be much lower than that of as-grown electrode at the interface. As a result, the counter electrode using the heat-treated MWNTs showed better electrochemical properties.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.213-221
• /
• 2011

Using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a polymer host, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer, potassium iodide and iodine as sources of $I^-/I_3^-$, polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared. Based on the polymer electrolytes, solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)s were fabricated. The content of PEG in the electrolyte was controlled to be 95%. The mole number of KI per 1 mole of EO ([KI]/[EO] ratio) in the electrolyte was changed to be 0.022, 0.044, 0.066 and 0.088. The electrolyte membrane showed wax phase in ambient temperature. The ionic conductivity increased with increasing KI content to reach the maximum value at which [KI]/[EO] ratio is 0.066. After the maximum value, the ionic conductivity decreased with increasing KI content. In the case of DSSC, the Voc decreased continuously with increasing KI content in the polymeric electrolyte membrane. The $J_{SC}$ increased with increasing KI content to show maximum value at which [KI]/[EO] ratio is 0.044. In the higher KI content region, $J_{SC}$ value decreased with increasing KI content.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2014

Trihalomethanes (THMs) are formed as a results of the reaction of residual chlorine, used as a disinfectant in drinking water, with the organic matter in raw water. Although chlorinated and brominated THMs are the most common disinfection byproducts (DBPs) reported, iodinated THMs (I-THMs) can be formed when iodide is present in raw water. I-THMs have been usually associated with several medicinal or pharmaceutical taste and odor problems and is a potential health concern since they have been reported to be more toxic than their brominated and chlorinated analogs. Currently, there is no published standard analytical method for I-THMs in water. An automated headspace-gas chromatography/electron capture detector (GC/ECD) technique was developed for routine analysis of 10 THMs including 6 I-THMs in water samples. The optimization of the method is discussed. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) range from 12 ng/L to 56 ng/L and from 38 ng/L to 178 ng/L for 10 THMs, respectively. Matrix effects in river water, sea water and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) final effluent water were investigated and it was shown that the method is suitable for the analysis of trace levels of I-THMs, in a wide range of waters. The method developed in the present study has the advantage of being rapid, simple and sensitive.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.11
• /
• pp.747-752
• /
• 2014

Iodine-131, an artificial radionuclide, mostly exists as iodide ion ($^{131}I^-$) and iodate ion ($^{131}IO_3{^-}$) in the water, and When a short time contacted, it could not be removed by poly aluminum chloride (PACl) and powdered activated carbon (PAC). Although the removal rate of iodine-131 was not related with turbidity of raw water, it showed linear relationship with contact time with PAC. With the mixture of PACl (24 mg/L or more) and PAC (40 mg/L or more), about 40% of iodine-131 could be removed. Iodine-131 could be removed little by sand filtration, but approximately 100% by granular activated carbon (GAC), both virgin-GAC and spent-GAC. Microfiltration process could remove little iodine-131 while reverse osmosis process could remove about 92% of iodine-131.