• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.328-334
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• 2018

Because of the unsatisfactory treatment options for breast cancer (BC), there is a need to develop novel therapeutic approaches for this malignancy. One such strategy is chemotherapy using non-toxic dietary substances and botanical products. Studies have shown that Panduratin A (PA) possesses many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant and anticancer activities. In the present study, we provide evidence that PA treatment of MCF-7 BC cells resulted in a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth with an $IC_{50}$ of $15{\mu}M$ and no to little effect on normal human MCF-10A breast cells. To define the mechanism of these anti-proliferative effects of PA, we determined its effect critical molecular events known to regulate the cell cycle and apoptotic machinery. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V-FITC staining provided evidence for the induction of apoptosis. PA treatment of BC cells resulted in increased activity/expression of mitochondrial cytochrome C, caspases 7, 8 and 9 with a significant increase in the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, suggesting the involvement of a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry showed that PA treatment of cells resulted in G0/G1 arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoblot analysis data revealed that, in MCF-7 cell lines, PA treatment resulted in the dose-dependent (i) induction of $p21^{WAF1/Cip1}$ and p27Kip1, (ii) downregulation of Cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and (iii) decrease in cyclin D1. These findings suggest that PA may be an effective therapeutic agent against BC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.493-502
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• 2020

Apigenin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, is known to exhibit significant anticancer activity. This study was designed to determine the effects of apigenin on two malignant mesothelioma cell lines, MSTO-211H and H2452, and to explore the underlying mechanism(s). Apigenin significantly inhibited cell viability with a concomitant increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and ATP depletion, resulting in apoptosis and necroptosis in monolayer cell culture. Apigenin upregulated DNA damage response proteins, including the DNA double strand break marker phospho (p)-histone H2A.X. and caused a transition delay at the G₂/M phase of cell cycle. Western blot analysis showed that apigenin treatment upregulated protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, p-MLKL, and p-RIP3 along with an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. ATP supplementation restored cell viability and levels of DNA damage-, apoptosisand necroptosis-related proteins that apigenin caused. In addition, N-acetylcysteine reduced ROS production and improved ΔΨm loss and cell death that were caused by apigenin. In a 3D spheroid culture model, ROS-dependent necroptosis was found to be a mechanism involved in the anti-cancer activity of apigenin against malignant mesothelioma cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that apigenin can induce ROS-dependent necroptotic cell death due to ATP depletion through mitochondrial dysfunction. This study provides us a possible mechanism underlying why apigenin could be used as a therapeutic candidate for treating malignant mesothelioma.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.23-29
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• 2021

Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), which is a curcuminoid found in turmeric, has anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells. However, the effect of DMC on osteosarcoma has not been established. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of DMC on cell growth and apoptosis induction in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells. This study was investigated using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromid assay, Live/Dead cell assay, 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, and immunoblotting in MG-63 cells. DMC induced MG-63 cell death in a dose-dependent manner, with an estimated IC50 value of 54.4 µM. DMC treatment resulted in nuclear condensation in MG-63 cells. DMC-induced apoptosis in MG-63 cells was mediated by the expression of Fas and activation of caspase-8, caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Immunoblotting results showed that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were downregulated, while Bax and Bad were upregulated by DMC in MG-63 cells. These results indicated that DMC inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptotic cell death in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells via the death receptor-mediated extrinsic apoptotic pathway and mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.2121-2127
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• 2012

Objective: Deoxyribonucleoside kinase of Drosophila melanogaster (Dm-dNK) mutants have been reported to exert suicide gene effects in combined gene/chemotherapy of cancer. Here, we aimed to further evaluate the capacity of the mutanted enzyme and its potential for inhibiting cancer cell growth. Methods: We altered the sequence of the last 10 amino acids of Dm-dNK to perform site-directed mutagenesis and constructed active site mutanted Dm-dNK (Dm-dNKmut), RT-PCR and western bloting studies were used to reveal the expression of lentivirus mediated Dm-dNKmut in a breast cancer cell line (Bcap37), a gastric cancer cell line (SGC7901) and a colorectal cancer cell line (CCL187). [3H]-labeled substrates were used for enzyme activity assays, cell cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assays, cell proliferation using a hemocytometer and apoptosis induction by thenannexin-V-FITC labeled FACS method. In vivo, an animal study was set out in which BALB/C nude mice bearing tumors were treated with lentivirus mediated expression of Dm-dNKmut with the pyrimidine nucleoside analog brivudine (BVDU, (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-(2-deoxyuridine). Results: The Dm-dNKmut could be stably expressed in the cancer cell lines and retained its enzymatic activity. Moreover, the cells expressing Dm-dNKmut exhibited increased sensitivity in combination with BVDU, with induction of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: These findings underlined the importance of BVDU phosphorylated by Dm-dNKmut in transduced cancer cells and the potential role of Dm-dNKmut as a suicide gene, thus providing the basis for future intensive research for cancer therapy.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권11호
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• pp.1244-1251
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• 2014

길경(桔梗, Platycodon grandiflorum)은 도라지의 뿌리로 항염증, 항알러지, 면역 반응, 당뇨, 고지혈증 및 항암 효과 등을 가지고 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 하지만 길경의 항암 효과에 대한 연구는 미미하며, 길경이 유발하는 autophagy에 대한 연구는 되어 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 HCT-116 대장암 세포주에서 길경 추출물이 autophagy와 apoptosis를 유발하면서 세포 성장을 억제하는지의 여부를 조사하였다. 길경 추출물은 농도 및 시간의존적으로 세포의 증식을 억제하였으며, 길경 추출물에 의해 나타나는 apoptosis는 caspase의 활성이 부분적으로 관여되어 있음을 알 수 있었다. 또한, 길경 추출물의 처리는 autophagy에 의해 나타나는 공포를 형성하면서 autophagy와 관련되어 있는 여러 단백질의 발현 조절 및 LC3 단백질의 축적이 동반되었다. 길경 추출물에 의해 유도되는 autophay와 apoptosis의 관계를 알아보기 위해서 3-MA나 bafilomycin A1을 처리하여 autophagy를 억제하였을 때 apoptosis가 유의적으로 증가됨을 알 수 있었다. 흥미롭게도 bafilomycin A1을 처리한 결과에서 길경 추출물에 의한 세포성장 억제가 뚜렷하게 회복되는 양상을 보였다. 따라서 본 연구의 결과는 HCT-116 세포에서 길경 추출물에 의해 유도된 autophagy는 세포 보호적인 작용이 아닌 autophagic cell death이며, 길경 추출물이 대장암 세포주에서 암세포의 사멸을 유도하는 효과적인 대안이 될 수 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.234-241
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• 2005

Galla Rhois is a nest of parasitic bug, Mellaphis chinensis Bell, in Rhus chinensis Mill. Galla Rhois has been used for the therapy of diarrhea, peptic ulcer, hemauria, etc., that showed various antiinflammatory activity, and other biological properties. We studied the effect of Galla Rhois water extract(GRWE). The cytotoxic activity of GRWE in HL-60 cells was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. GRWE was cytotoxic to HL-60 cells, with $IC_50$ of $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Treatment of GRWE to HL-60 cells showed the fragmentation of DNA in a concentration manner, suggesting that these cells underwent apoptosis. In addition, the flow cytometric analysis revealed GRWE concentration-dependently increased apoptotic cells with hypodiploid DNA content and arrested G1 phase of cell cycle. These results indicate that GRWE may have a possibility of potential anticancer activities. Treatment of HL-60 cells with GRWE was induced activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Also, caspase-3 was directly activated via caspase-8 activation. GRWE also caused the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol. GRWE-induced cytochrome c release was mediated by caspase-8-dependent cleavage of Bid and Bax translocation. These results suggest that caspase-8 mediates caspase-3 activation and cytochrome c release during GRWE-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권15호
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• pp.6651-6661
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• 2015

Breast cancer is a global health concern and is a major cause of death among women. In Oman, it is the most common cancer in women, with an incidence rate of 15.6 per 100,000 Omani females. Various anticancer remedies have been discovered from natural products in the past and the search is continuing for additional examples. Cytotoxic natural compounds may have a major role in cancer therapy either in potentiating the effect of chemotherapy or reducing its harmful effects. Recently, a few studies have reported advantages of using crude camel milk in treating some forms of cancer. However, no adequate data are available on the lyophilised camel's milk responsibility for triggering apoptosis and oxidative stress associated with human breast cancer. The present study aimed to address the role of the lyophilised camel's milk in inducing proliferation repression of BT-474 and HEp-2 cells compared with the non-cancer HCC1937 BL cell line. Lyophilized camel's milk fundamentally repressed BT-474 cells growth and proliferation through the initiation of either the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways as indicated by both caspase-3 mRNA and its action level, and induction of death receptors in BT-474 but not the HEp-2 cell line. In addition, lyophilised camel's milk enhanced the expression of oxidative stress markers, heme-oxygenase-1 and reactive oxygen species production in BT-474 cells. Increase in caspase-3 mRNA levels by the lyophilised camel's milk was completely prevented by the actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor. This suggests that lyophilized camel's milk increased newly synthesized RNA. Interestingly,it significantly (p<0.003) repressed the growth of HEp-2 cells and BT-474 cells after treatment for 72 hours while 24 hours treatment repressed BT-474 cells alone. This finding suggests that the lyophilised camel's milk might instigate apoptosis through initiation of an alternative apoptotic pathway.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권10호
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• pp.1137-1143
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• 2014

Doxorubicin은 광범위한 암을 치료하는데 사용되는 일반적인 항암제이지만, 내인성 산화질소 생성량과 Doxorubicin의 항암 효과의 상관 관계에 대해서는 아직 명확하게 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구에서는 인간 대장암 세포에서 Doxorubicin의 항암 활성에 내인성 산화질소가 미치는 영향을 확인하고자 하였다. HCT116 (p53-WT)과 HT29 (p53-MUT) 세포에서 Doxorubicin 처리에 의해 세포 생존율의 차이를 보였으며, NMA 병행처리는 Doxorubicin의 효과를 감소시켰음을 확인할 수 있었다. 추가 연구를 통해 HCT116과 HT29 세포에서 sub-$G_1$ 기의 세포 빈도와 DNA 단편화의 결과를 통해 내인성 산화질소가 Doxorubicin에 의한 apoptosis를 조절하는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 인간 대장암 세포에서 내인성 산화질소와 IAP 발현, p53의 상태에 따른 조절이 Doxorubicin에 의해 유도된다는 것을 보여주며, 이러한 메커니즘은 대장암에서 화학요법의 효율을 향상시키기 위한 전략적인 표적으로 이용할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.28-34
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• 2022

본 연구에서는 진피 소수성 추출물(CECU)의 U87MG 교모세포종 암줄기세포에 대한 항암 활성을 확인하였다. 그 결과, CECU는 25-200 ㎍/mL의 농도 범위에서 U87MG 교모세포종 암줄기세포의 증식, 종양구체 형성과 이동능력을 유의적으로 저해하였다. 특히, CECU는 G0/G1기에서 세포주기 정지와 세포사멸을 유도하여 교모세포종 암줄기세포의 증식을 억제할 수 있었다. 게다가, 교모세포종 암줄기세포에 대한 CECU의 항암 활성은 CD133, Oct4, Nanog, Integrin α6, ALDH1A1과 같은 줄기세포능 조절인자들의 발현과 STAT3 신호전달경로를 저해함으로써 유도된 것임을 확인하였다. 마지막으로, CAM assay를 통해 CECU가 U87MG 교모세포종 암줄기세포의 in vivo 종양 형성을 효과적으로 억제함을 입증하였다. 따라서, 본 연구는 진피 소수성 추출물이 주요 stemness marker들의 발현과 핵심 stemness 조절 신호전달경로를 억제함으로써 U87MG 교모세포종 암줄기세포에 대한 항암 활성을 나타냄을 입증하여, 교모세포종의 예방 및 치료를 위한 천연물 소재로서의 활용 가능성을 새롭게 제시하였다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.75-87
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• 2021

Type I Interferons (IFNα) are known for their role as biological anticancer agents owing to their cell-apoptosis inducing properties. Development of an appropriate, cost-effective host expression system is crucial for meeting the increasing demand for proteins. Therefore, this study aims to develop codon-optimized IFNα-2b in L. lactis NZ3900. These cells express extracellular protein using the NICE system and Usp₄₅ signal peptide. To validate the mature form of the expressed protein, the recombinant IFNα-2b was screened in a human colorectal cancer cell line using the cytotoxicity assay. The IFNα-2b was successfully cloned into the pNZ8148 vector, thereby generating recombinant L. lactis pNZ8148-SP_Usp45-IFNα-2b. The computational analysis of codon-optimized IFNα-2b revealed no mutation and amino acid changes; additionally, the codon-optimized IFNα-2b showed 100% similarity with native human IFNα-2b, in the BLAST analysis. The partial size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of extracellular protein yielded a 19 kDa protein, which was further confirmed by its positive binding to anti-IFNα-2b in the western blot analysis. The crude protein and SEC-purified partial fraction showed IC₅₀ values of 33.22 ㎍/ml and 127.2 ㎍/ml, respectively, which indicated better activity than the metabolites of L. lactis NZ3900 (231.8 ㎍/ml). These values were also comparable with those of the regular anticancer drug tamoxifen (105.5 ㎍/ml). These results demonstrated L. lactis as a promising host system that functions by utilizing the pNZ8148 NICE system. Meanwhile, codon-optimized usage of the inserted gene increased the optimal protein expression levels, which could be beneficial for its large-scale production. Taken together, the recombinant L. lactis IFNα-2b is a potential alternative treatment for colorectal cancer. Furthermore, its activity was analyzed in the WiDr cell line, to assess its colorectal anticancer activities in vivo.