• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1733-1739
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• 2004

The water extract of Hwangryunhaedog-tang(HRHDT} has been traditionally used for treatment of ischemic heart and brain damage in oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which the water extract of HRHDT rescues cells from these damages. This study was designed to investigate the protective mechanisms of HRHDT on hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. Hypoxia, markedly decreased the viability of H9c2 cells, which was characterized with apparent apoptptic features such as chromatin condensation as well as fragmentation of genomic DNA and nuclei. However, HRHDT significantly reduced hypoxia-induced cell death and apoptotic characteristics. Also, HRHDT prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction including the disruption of mitochondria membrane permeability transition (MPT) and an increase in expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins in hypoxia-H9c2 cells. Taken together, this study suggests that the protective effects of the water extract of HRHDT against hypoxic damages may be mediated by the modulation of Bcl-2 and Bak expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.399-408
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• 2018

In this study, we examined the molecular and functional characterization of choline uptake in the human esophageal cancer cells. In addition, we examined the influence of various drugs on the transport of [$^3H$]choline, and explored the possible correlation between the inhibition of choline uptake and apoptotic cell death. We found that both choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) and CTL2 mRNAs and proteins were highly expressed in esophageal cancer cell lines (KYSE series). CTL1 and CTL2 were located in the plasma membrane and mitochondria, respectively. Choline uptake was saturable and mediated by a single transport system, which is both $Na^+$-independent and pH-dependent. Choline uptake and cell viability were inhibited by various cationic drugs. Furthermore, a correlation analysis of the potencies of 47 drugs for the inhibition of choline uptake and cell viability showed a strong correlation. Choline uptake inhibitors and choline deficiency each inhibited cell viability and increased caspase-3/7 activity. We conclude that extracellular choline is mainly transported via a CTL1. The functional inhibition of CTL1 by cationic drugs could promote apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, CTL2 may be involved in choline uptake in mitochondria, which is the rate-limiting step in S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthesis and DNA methylation. Identification of this CTL1- and CTL2-mediated choline transport system provides a potential new target for esophageal cancer therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2002

Objective : To investigate the expression of apoptosis related proteins and apoptotic cells on the human ovarian follicles. Materials and Methods: Thirty five Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human ovarian tissue blocks were selected from the surgical pathology files of the department of pathology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, for the period from 1996 to 1998. All specimen were from premenopausal women aged from $32{\sim}45$. Ovarian tissues were collected from the patients performing hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the detection of DNA fragmented cell, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-ligand. Results: Bcl-2 and bax were not expressed on the surrounding cells and oocyte of the primary, primordial and preantral follicles. Fas and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) were not expressed on the surrounding cells on the primordial and primary follicles. But expressed on the surrounding granulosa cells and oocyte in the primordial and primary follicles. In the healthy follicles, Bcl-2 was expressed on the granulosa cells, however, Bax was not expressed. DNA fragmented cells were expressed on the inner granulosa cell layer of atretic follicles. Conclusion: Fas, Fas-ligand, and Bax may be responsible for the follicular atresia and Bcl-2 may be involved in the follicular survival in the human ovary.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.49-59
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• 2009

Background : Anticancer effects of herbal medicine have been reported in various types of cancer, but the systematic approaches to explain molecular mechanism(s) are not established yet. Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the apoptotic cell death by Egg White combined Chalcanthite in NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells. Methods : Inhibitory effects were estimated by the MTT-assay. Cancer cells were stained with DAPI and showed condensed and fragmented nuclei. The expression of cleaved caspase-3, bcl-2, and bax was detected by western blotting. To establish a basis of understanding for anti-cancer mechanism, whole proteins have been obtained from NCI-H460 harvested at 24 hrs after the treatment of Egg White combined Chalcanthite, protein expression has been profiled by 2DE-based proteomic approach. Results : NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells were treated by three samples of IS3, IS4 and IS5. IS4 inhibited most effectively the growth of NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells. The expression of cleaved caspase-3 increased in IS4 in a concentration-dependent manner. Various changes of the protein expression have been monitored, and most frequent dysregulation was found in Vimentin, Lamin-A/C. Conclusion : Egg White combined-Chacanthite inhibited the growth of NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells by inducing the apoptotic cell death via caspase-3 activation. Based upon the present findings, the further study will focus on monitoring various cancer survival factors after artificial regulation of the proteins identified, and it would be the basis for the understanding of the Chacabthite anticancer effect(s) at the molecular level.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.303-309
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• 2013

The extract from Lysimachia foenum-graecum (LFE) has been known to possess various instructive characters including anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, fungicidal activities. However, the accurate mechanism of those effects of LFE is not well known. In that respect, we evaluated the apoptotic effect and anti-cancer efficacy of extracts of LFE in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In this study, we hypothesized that LFE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through regulating p53 and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. And this substance can generate ROS to cause free radical-induced apoptosis. Accordingly, the generation of ROS by LFE triggers the activation of p53 which are accompanied by pro-apoptotic protein activation and suppression of pro-survival proteins. We determined with MTT assay, flow cytometry for detection of intracellular ROS and Annexin V-PI staining, Western blotting. Consequently, our researches demonstrated that the treatment of LFE to breast cancer cells resulted in an activation of p53, Puma, Bax, cleaved-PARP and an inhibition of Bcl-2 expressions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2011

Gastric ulcer has multifactorial etiology, and the development of ulcer is known to be caused by gastric acidity, pepsin secretion, gastric motility and gastric mucosal blood flow. The ulcer results from the tissue necrosis and apoptotic cell death triggered by mucosal ischemia, free radical formation and cessation of nutrient delivery. The gastric mucosa is usually exposed to a wide range of aggressive insults, and has developed efficient mechanisms to repair tissue injury. The apoptotic process of gastric mucosa is triggered by the induction of such proapoptotic gene expression, such as BAX. The Bcl-2 family of proteins plays a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis. The maintenance of gastric mucosa integrity depends upon the ratio between cell proliferation and cell death. Stress-inducing factors may affect Bcl-2/BAX ratio and thus the rate of apoptosis through modulation of the expression of both proteins depends upon the experimental model. In addition to the regulation of apoptosis, new vessels have to be generated in order to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the healing gastric mucosa. This events are regulated by several factors. Among them, such polypeptide growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulates essential cell functions involved in tissue healing including cell proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was carried to investigate whether Rhei Rhizoma administration might protect apoptotic cell death and promote angiogenesis in gastric mucosa. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups; normal, saline, cimetidine and Rhei Rhizoma-treated group. The saline, cimetidine and Rhei Rhizoma extracts were orally administrated to each group and gastric ulcer was induced by HCl-EtOH solution. After 1 hour, the stomachs were collected for histological observation and immunohistochemistry. In results, Rhei Rhizoma proves to promote to heal wound in gastric ulcer in conclusion and the significant changes of BAX, Bcl-2 and VEGF quantity in gastric mucosa were observed. These results suggest that Rhei Rhizoma extract may promote incision wound healing and has protective effects on gastric ulcer in rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5849-5854
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• 2013

Background: Apoptosis may be induced after Bcl-2 expression is inhibited in proliferative cancer cells. This study focused on the effect of autophagy activation by ABT737 on anti-tumor effects of epirubicin. Methods: Cytotoxic effects of ABT737 on the HepG2 liver cancer cell line were assessed by MTT assay and cell apoptosis through flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by fluorescence microscopy. Monodansylcadaverin (MDC) staining was used to detect activation of autophagy. Expression of p53, p62, LC3, and Beclin1, apoptotic or autophagy related proteins, was detected by Western blotting. Results: ABT737 and epirubicin induced growth inhibition in HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both ABT737 and epirubicin alone could induce cell apoptosis with a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential as well as increased apoptotic protein expression. Further increase of apoptosis was detected when HepG2 cells were co-treated with ABT373 and epirubicin. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that ABT373 or epirubicin ccould activate cell autophagy with elevated autophagosome formation, increased expression of autophagy related proteins and LC3 fluorescent puncta. Conclusions: ABT737 influences cancer cells through both apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms, and ABT737 may enhance the effects of epirubicin on HepG2 cells by activating autophagy and inducing apoptosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Objectives : We investigated the synergistic effects of bee venom (BV) and natural killer (NK) cells on B16F10 melanoma cell apoptosis mediated by IL-4. Methods : We performed a cell viability assay to determine whether BV can enhance the inhibitory effect of NK-92MI cells on the growth of B16F10 melanoma cells, and western blot analysis to detect changes in the expression of IL-4, $IL-4R{\alpha}$, and other apoptosis-related proteins. EMSA was performed to observe the activity of STAT6. To confirm that the inhibitory effect of BV and NK cells was mediated by IL-4, the above tests were repeated after IL-4 silencing by siRNA (50 nM). Results : B16F10 melanoma cells co-cultured with NK-92MI cells and simultaneously treated by BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$) showed a higher degree of proliferation inhibition than when treated by BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$) alone or co-cultured with NK-92MI cells alone. Expression of IL-4, $IL-4R{\alpha}$, and that of other pro-apoptotic proteins was also enhanced after co-culture with NK-92MI cells and simultaneous treatment with BV ($5{\mu}g/ml$). Furthermore, the expression of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 decreased, and the activity of STAT6, as well as the expression of STAT6 and p-STAT6 were enhanced. IL-4 silencing siRNA (50 nM) in B16F10 cells, the effects of BV treatment and NK-92MI co-culture were reversed. Conclusion : These results suggest that BV could be an effective alternative therapy for malignant melanoma by enhancing the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of NK cells through an IL-4-mediated pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1019-1030
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• 2003

Platycodi Radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji, is used as a traditional oriental medicine. Extracts from the roots of P. grandiflorum have been reported to have wide ranging health benefits. In the present study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract from the roots of P. grandiflorum (AEPG) on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Results obtained are as fellow; AEPG treatment resulted in the inhibition of the cell viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Upon treatment with AEPG, A549 cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including condensation of chromatin. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that AEPG increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses indicated that the expressions of Bcl-2 was down-regulated but Bax was up-regulated in AEPG-treated A549 cells. AEPG-induced apoptotis of A549 cells was associated with rroteolytic cleavage and activation of caspase-3, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and down-regulation of Akt and phospho-Akt proteins in a dose-dependent manner. Induction of apoptosis by AEPG treatment was associated with inhibition and/or degradation of apoptotic target proteins such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, β-catenin and phospholipase C-γ 1. AEPG treatment inhibited the levels of cyclooxygenases protein of A549 cells, which was associated with the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 accumulation in a concentration-dependent fashion. Taken together, these findings suggest that P. grandiflorum has strong potential for development as an agent for prevention against human lung cancer.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.83-90
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• 2012

Objectives : Modified Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang (mBHT) is a polyherbal medicine of twelve herbs traditionally used in the treatment of cerebral and cardiac stroke and vascular dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect, pyramidal neuronal cell, inflammation and apoptosis of mBHT against global ischemia in rats. Methods : Global ischemia was produced by two-vessel occlusion(2-VO) in SD male rats. mBHT at dose of 500 mg/kg was orally administrated for 2 weeks or 6 weeks after global ischemia. The histopathological changes of ischemic brain were observed by staining of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Nissl and immunohistochemisty with anti-GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) antibody as a astrocyte marker. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was determined by western blot. Results : mBHT treatment significantly inhibited the pyramidal neuronal loss in CA1 of hippocampus of global ischemic rats by 2-VO. mBHT also suppressed the activation of astrocytes in the CA1 at 6 weeks after ischemia. In addition, mBHT significantly increased the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 on iscemic brain, and significantly attenuated the expression of apoptotic proteins, Bax and caspase-3. Conclusions : These results indicate that mBHT inhibits neuronal cell damage induced in global ischemia by 2-VO, suggesting that mBHT may be a potential candidate for the treatment of vascular dementia.