• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2003

In the course of our studies for new anticancer medicinal plants, we evaluated the effects of an alcohol-water (1:1, V/V) extract of Dendrostellera lesserii (Thymelaeaceae) leaves on the growth rates of breast tumors of rats. The breast tumors were induced in a group of rats by Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) injection. Our data showed that daily oral feeding of the crude extract to the rats, for 20 consecutive weeks, significantly repressed the growth rates of the breast tumors. In addition, the probable effect of D. lessertii crude extract or one of its purified active components on metastasis was evaluated using wehi-164 cells. Treatment of the cells with a single nontoxic dose of the purified active component for 48 hours inhibited the adhesion of the cells to the immobilized fibronectin molecules by almost 80% compared to the untreated control cells.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.532-537
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• 1993

Angiogenesis refers to the formation of new capillary blood vessels, or neovascularization occurring under various physical conditions, such as development of the embryo, formation of corpus luteum, wound healing and pathological conditions including tumor growth and metastases, hemangiomas, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis. There are many evidences that angiogenesis is important for the progressive growth of solid tumors and also permits the shedding of metastatic tumors from the primary site. Thus, treatment of angiogenesis inhibitors might be a novel strategy for tumor growth inhibition. Normal vascular endothelial cells are in a state of differentiation and angiogenic endothelial cells migrate and proliferate, and they subsequently differentiate into vessel-forming quiescent phenotype cells, Therfore, it was speculated that a modifier of cell differentiation could also affect angiogenesis. In order to identify new antiangiogenic factors, the research was conducted to estimate the inhibitory activities of cell differentiation agents by means of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) assay. Hence, we have established the CAM assay for the screening of antiangiogenic agents. Using the CAM assay, we found that ursolic acid, a tumor cell differentiation-inducing agent, showed a markedly inhibitory effect on chick embryonic angiogenesis.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2019

During tumor progression various immunosuppressive cells are recruited to a tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are particularly abundant in TME. Based on their function, macrophages are categorized into two phenotypes: tumoricidal M1 and tumor-supportive M2. Generally, TAMs closely resemble M2-macrophages and lead to tumor growth. However, their phenotype can be changed by immune activator from M2 to M1 and thus promote tumor immunotherapy. Ginseng extracts are well known for its anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects from numerous reported studies. However, the mechanism of their effects is still not clear. Recently, some studies suggested that ginseng extracts induced immune activation as well as anti-tumor activities by a repolarization of activated macrophage from M2 phenotype to M1 phenotype. But, further verification about the mechanism as to how ginseng extracts can stimulate the immune response is still needed. In this study, we investigated whether ginseng extracts can alter the phenotype from M2 macrophages to M1 macrophages in mice by using a radiolabeled liposome. And we also evaluated the potential of radiolabeled liposome as a nuclear imaging agent to monitor the transition of phenotype of TAMs. In conclusion, the ginseng extracts seem to change the phenotype of macrophages from M2 to M1 like as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.442-447
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• 2020

The non-viral delivery of genes into macrophages, known as hard-to-transfect cells, is a challenge. In this study, the microporation of a CpG-free and small plasmid (pCGfd-GFP) showed high transfection efficiency, sustainable transgene expression, and good cell viability in the transfections of Raw 264.7 and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages. The non-viral method using the pCGfd vector encoding anti-EGFR single-chain Fv fused with Fc (scFv-Fc) generated the macrophages secreting anti-EGFR scFv-Fc. These macrophages effectively phagocytized tumor cells expressing EGFR through the antibody-dependent mechanism, as was proved by experiments using EGFR-knockout tumor cells. Finally, peri-tumoral injections of anti-EGFR scFv-Fc-secreting macrophages were shown to inhibit tumor growth in the xenograft mouse model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.265-271
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• 2014

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a potent anti-apoptotic cytokine that enhances immune effector cell functions and is essential for lymphocyte survival. While it known to induce differentiation and proliferation in some haematological malignancies, including certain types of leukaemias and lymphomas, little is known about its role in solid tumours, including breast cancer. In the current study, we investigated whether IL-7 could enhance the in vivo antitumor activity of tumor-reactive $CD8^+$ T cells with induction of IFN-${\gamma}$ in a murine breast cancer model. Human IL-7 cDNA was constructed into the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1, and then the recombinational pcDNA3.1-IL-7 was intratumorally injected in the TM40D BALB/C mouse graft model. Serum and intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ levels were measured by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. $CD8^+$ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity was analyzed using the MTT method. Our results showed that IL-7 administration significantly inhibited tumor growth from day 15 after direct intratumoral injection of pcDNA3.1-IL-7. The anti-tumor effect correlated with a marked increase in the level of IFN-${\gamma}$ and breast cancer cells-specific CTL cytotoxicity. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that IL-7-treatment could augment cytolytic activity of $CD8^+$ T cells from tumor bearing mice, while anti-IFN-${\gamma}$ blocked the function of $CD8^+$ T cells, suggesting that IFN-${\gamma}$ mediated the cytolytic activity of $CD8^+$ T cells. Furthermore, in vivo neutralization of $CD8^+$ T lymphocytes by CD8 antibodies reversed the antitumor benefit of IL-7. Thus, we demonstrated that IL-7 exerts anti-tumor activity mainly through activating $CD8^+$ T cells and stimulating them to secrete IFN-${\gamma}$ in a murine breast tumor model. Based on these results, our study points to a potential novel way to treat breast cancer and may have important implications for clinical immunotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4129-4133
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• 2014

Background: The objective was to study the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extracts (SBGE) on immune and anti-oxidant function in U14 tumor-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: U14 tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into eight groups: a control group, a cyclophosphamide (CTX) group, three dose groups of SBGEI (high, medium, low), and three dose groups of SBGEII (high, medium, low). After two weeks, the thymus and spleen weight indices of mice bearing U14 cervical cancer were calculated. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8, and PCNA. MDA activity and SOD activity in plasma were measured with detection kits. Results: In the SBGE groups, thymus weight and spleen weight indices of U14 tumor-bearing mice were significantly higher than in the control group or CTX group (p<0.05). Compared to control group, the levels of serum IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in U14 tumor-bearing mice increased significantly, whereas the contents of serum IL-8 and PCNA decreased (p<0.05). The activity of SOD increased with the growing dose of SBGE, while the activity of MDA decreased significantly in the highe-rdose groups of SBGE. Conclusions: These findings suggested that SBGE, especially at high dose, 1000 mg/kg, showed significant immune and anti-oxidant effects infU14 tumor-bearing mice, which might be the mechanisms of SBGE inhibition of tumor growth.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.1 s.22
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• pp.5-16
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study was to verify anti-cancer and anti-oxidant efficacies of Korean wild ginseng and cultivated wild ginseng of Korea and China. Methods : For the measurement of anti-oxidation, SOD-like activity was evaluated using xanthine oxidase reduction method under in vitro environment. Subcutaneous and abdominal cancer were induced using CT-26 human colon cancer cells for the measurement of growth inhibition of cancer cells and differences in survival rate. Results : 1. Measurement of anti-oxidant activity of ginseng, Chinese and Korean cultivated wild ginseng, and natural wild ginseng samples showed concentration dependent anti-oxidant activity in HX/XOD system. Anti-oxidant activity showed drastic increase at 1mg/ml in all samples. 2. For the evaluation of growth inhibition of cancer cells after hypodermic implantation of CT-26 cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity of mice, Chinese and Korean cultivated wild ginseng and natural wild ginseng groups showed significant inhibition of tumor growth from the 12th day compared to the control group. Similar inhibitory effects were also shown on the 15th and 18th days. But there was no significant difference between the experiment groups. 3. For the observation of increase in survival rate of the natural wild ginseng group, CT-26 cancer cells were implanted in the peritoneal cavity of mice.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2008

Objectives In human myeloid leukemia cells, there are no specific features of apoptosis compared with apoptosis in other cell types. Solanum nigrum L.(SNL) is a deciduous tree, which is widely distributed in Korea with reported anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and non-specific immune-enhancing properties. Although the plant has been clinically used for treating a variety of diseases, its bioactive ingredients are unknown and its mode of action potential has never been investigated. Thus anti-tumor property of methanol extract was investigated. Methods In this study, anti-tumor property of methanol extract was investigated by determining its in vitro growth-inhibitory effects on human myeloid leukemia cells. XTT proliferation assay, DNA fragmentation, immunoblot analysis, densitometric analysis were used. Results 1. The methanol fraction of the extracts of SNL induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells. 2. The methanol fraction exhibited relatively higher cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner than chloroform, and hexane fraction. 3. Typical ladder profile of Oligonucleosomal fragments were appeared. 4. The secreted cytosolic cytochrome C level was increased by treatment of methanol fraction. Conclusions Methanol fraction of SNL is capable of inducing apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.344-355
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• 2021

Mucins are high molecular-weight epithelial glycoproteins and are implicated in many physiological processes, including epithelial cell protection, signaling transduction, and tissue homeostasis. Abnormality of mucus expression and structure contributes to biological properties related to human cancer progression. Tumor growth sites induce inhospitable conditions. Many kinds of research suggest that mucins provide a microenvironment to avoid hypoxia, acidic, and other biological conditions that promote cancer progression. Given that the mucus layer captures growth factors or cytokines, we propose that mucin helps to ameliorate inhospitable conditions in tumor-growing sites. Additionally, the composition and structure of mucins enable them to mimic the surface of normal epithelial cells, allowing tumor cells to escape from immune surveillance. Indeed, human cancers such as mucinous carcinoma, show a higher incidence of invasion to adjacent organs and lymph node metastasis than do non-mucinous carcinoma. In this mini-review, we discuss how mucin provides a tumor-friendly environment and contributes to increased cancer malignancy in mucinous carcinoma.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.221-246
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• 1998

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of Chungsimbohyeltang through investigation about viability of tumor cell by MTT assay, survival period of mice transplanted with L-1210 cells, growth inhibition on the tumor cell, body weight variation in mice transplanted with sarcoma-180 cells and its immunomodulatory effects through the investigation on delayed type hyper-sensitivity, the hemagglutinin and hemolysin titers for humoral immune response, the appearance of rosette forming cells for cell-mediated immune response, the natural killer cell activity, the transformation of lymphocyte, the productivity of Interleukin-2 and phagocytic index K was performed in immune-depressed ICR mice induced by methotrexate treatments. The results were as follows ; 1. $IC_{50}$ of Chungsimbohyeltang treated group was 5.85mg/ml in SNU-C4 cell, 1.38mg/ml in SNU-396 cell, 0.21mg/ml in SNU-1 cell, so it had low anti-tumor activity. 2. The both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract 10mg/kg and Chungsimbohyeltang extract 20mg/kg had no toxicity and the group of Chungsimbohyeltang 20mg/kg which was shown 120% in ILS had the effect of life prolongation in mice transplanted with L-1210 cells. 3. In the growth inhibition on the tumor cells, only the group of Chungsimbohyeltang extract 20mg/kg was noted and in the weight variation in mice transplanted with sarcoma-180 cells, both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract had a significant effect. 4. In the delayed type hypersensitivity and appearance of rosette forming cells, both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract didn't have any significant effect. 5. The hemagglutinin titers was slightly increased with no significance, and the hemolysin titers was significantly increased in the only group of Chungsimbohyeltang extract 20mg/kg. 6. The natural killer cell activity of the Chungsimbohyeltang extract groups was significantly increased in the ratio of 100:1 of effector and target cells, but it was not significantly increased in the ratio of 50:1, 10:1. 7. The transformation of lymphocyte and the productivity of Interleukin-2 were increased significantly and in dose-dependent manner in both group of Chungsimbohyeltang extract. 8. The phagocytic effect of macropage was significantly increased in both groups of Chungsimbohyeltang extract. Considering the results above, we could conclude that Chungsimbohyeltang have an indirect anti-tumor effect through the modulation of immunme response, although it had not toxicity on the tumor cell it self.