• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2023

Background: Pirarubicin (THP) is an anthracycline antibiotic used to treat various malignancies in humans. The clinical usefulness of THP is unfortunately limited by its dose-related cardiotoxicity. Ginsenoside F1 (GF1) is a metabolite formed when the ginsenosides Re and Rg1 are hydrolyzed. However, the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of GF1 on THP-induced cardiotoxicity remain unclear. Methods: We investigated the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative stress effects of GF1 on an in vitro model, using H9c2 cells stimulated by THP, plus trigonelline or AKT inhibitor imidazoquinoxaline (IMQ), as well as an in vivo model using THP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase (CK-MB), cardiac troponin (c-TnT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were determined. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of Nrf2 target genes, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione-S-transferase (Gst), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and expression levels of AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathway proteins were detected using Western blot analysis. Results: THP-induced myocardial histopathological damage, electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, and cardiac dysfunction were reduced in vivo by GF1. GF1 also decreased MDA, BNP, CK-MB, c-TnT, and LDH levels in the serum, while raising SOD and GSH levels. GF1 boosted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and Nrf2 target gene expression, including HO-1, Gst, and GCLM. Furthermore, GF1 regulated apoptosis by activating AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways. Employing Nrf2 inhibitor trigonelline and AKT inhibitor IMQ revealed that GF1 lacked antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Conclusion: In conclusion, GF1 was found to alleviate THP-induced cardiotoxicity via modulating Nrf2 and AKT/Bcl-2 signaling pathways, ultimately alleviating myocardial oxidative stress and apoptosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.696-700
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• 2009

Purpose : We screened more than 350 compounds with an endoperoxide ring structure in search of an anti-leukemic drug and found that compound 127 (c-127) could induce significant cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of compound 127-induced antitumor activity on HL-60 cells. Methods : HL-60 cells were cultured in Rosewell Park Memorial Institute 1640 and cell viability was measured by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide], a tetrazole assay. Apoptosis was assessed by a DNA fragmentation test. Apoptotic machineries were determined by Western blot analysis. Results : C-127 could induce a cytotoxic effect at 24 h and apoptosis at 6 h, which was demonstrated with MTT assay and DNA fragmentation test, respectively. The apoptotic effect of this drug was caused by the activation of the intracellular caspase-8,3 activation, the cleavage of pro-apoptotic Bid, and the increase of c-Jun expression accompanied with JNK (Jun N-terminal kinases) phosphorylation. On the contrary, it increased the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 levels, leading to the induction of the induction of anti-apoptotic effect. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that c-127 was a potent inducer of cytotoxicity on HL-60 cells through apoptotic mechanisms, which included the activation of caspase family, the regulation of Bcl-2 family, and the activation of JNK signaling pathway. Conclusion : Our results suggest that c-127 has a strong antitumor activity through the regulation of various apoptotic machineries on HL-60 cells. The compound may be utilized as an effective and potentially therapeutic drug in leukemia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.465-473
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• 2011

Dietary fatty acids are under intense research to identify anti-atherogenic mechanisms, so we investigated green tea powder (GT) as a protector against atherogenesis originating from lipid peroxidation such as 4-hydroxynonemal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in different dietary fatty acid-treated apo E KO mice. Growth rate and dietary efficiency were lower in apo E KO mice with or without LA compared to wild type. Plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG) did not correspond to values in other tissues, but TG in heart tissue decreased significantly by GT after linoleic acid (LA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was administered. LA induced apoptosis as evidenced by changes in aorta morphology and immunohistochemistry. Lipid peroxides (LPO) was increased in apo E KO mice with or without LA corresponding to the accumulation of 4-HNE or MDA in the proximal aorta above the atria. GT consumption tended to reduce the primary causal mechanism of atherogenic phenomena such as oxidizability in both LA and DHA treated atherogenic mice. A high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) diet involved the changes on stress-induced apoptotic signaling by increasing caspase 3, cytochrome c, and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ in the heart tissue, but decreasing the bcl-2 protein. However, GT remarkably reduced the expression of apoptotic signaling, in contrast to the PUFA diet. Therefore, the potential of GT as an anti-atherosclerotic dietary antioxidant was tested in this study.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2005

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a well-known inducer of apoptotic cell death in many tumor cells. 1RAIL is expressed in human placenta, and cytotrophoblast cells express 1RAIL receptors. However, the role of TRAIL in human placentas and cytotrophoblast cells is not. well understood. In this study a trophoblast cell line, JEG-3, was used as a model system to examine the effect of TRAIL. on key intracellular signaling pathways involved in the control of trophoblastic cell apoptosis and survival JEG-3 cells expressed receptors for 1RAIL, death receptor (DR) 4, DR5, decoy receptor (OcR) 1 and DeR2. Recombinant human TRAIL (rhTRAIL) did not have a cytotoxic effect determined by MIT assay and did not induce apoptotic cell death determined by poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage assay. rhTRAIL induced a rapid and transient nuclear translocation of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B(NF-{\kappa}B)$ determined by immunoblotting using nuclear protein extracts. rhTRAIL rapidly activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 as determined by immnoblotting for phospho-ERK1/2. However, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and Akt (protein kinase B) were not activated by rhTRAIL. The ability of 1RAIL to induce $NF-{\kappa}B$ and ERK1/2 suggests that interaction between TRAIL and its receptors may play an important role in trophoblast cell function during pregnancy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.581-590
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• 2016

Resistance to anoikis, a cell-detachment induced apoptosis, is one of the malignant phenotypes which support tumor metastasis. Molecular mechanisms underlying the establishment of this phenotype require further investigation. This study aimed at exploring protein expression profiles associated with anoikis resistance of a metastatic breast cancer cell. Cell survival of suspension cultures of non-metastatic MCF-7 and metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells were compared with their adherent cultures. Trypan blue exclusion assays demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of viable cells in MDA-MB-231 than MCF-7 cell cultures, consistent with analysis of annexin V-7-AAD stained cells indicating that MDA-MB-231 possess anti-apoptotic ability 1.7 fold higher than MCF-7 cells. GeLC-MS/MS analysis of protein lysates of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells grown under both culture conditions identified 925 proteins which are differentially expressed, 54 of which were expressed only in suspended and adherent MDA-MB-231 but not in MCF-7 cells. These proteins have been implicated in various cellular processes, including DNA replication and repair, transcription, translation, protein modification, cytoskeleton, transport and cell signaling. Analysis based on the STITCH database predicted the interaction of phospholipases, PLC and PLD, and 14-3-3 beta/alpha, YWHAB, with the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signaling network, suggesting putative roles in controlling anti-anoikis ability. MDA-MB-231 cells grown in the presence of inhibitors of phospholipase C, U73122, and phospholipase D, FIPI, demonstrated reduced ability to survive in suspension culture, indicating functional roles of PLC and PLD in the process of anti-anoikis. Our study identified intracellular mediators potentially associated with establishment of anoikis resistance of metastatic cells. These proteins require further clarification as prognostic and therapeutic targets for advanced breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2751-2756
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• 2015

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can specifically induce apoptosis limited to various cancer cells, so this reagent is considered a promising medicine for cancer therapy. TRAIL also exerts effects on non-apoptotic signals, relevant to processes such as metastasis, autophagy and proliferation in cancer cells. However, the mechanisms of TRAIL-regulated non-apoptotic signals are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate MADD/CXCR7 effects in TRAIL-mediated breast cancer cell migration. Materials and Methods: The ability of MADD/CXCR7 to regulate MVP signaling in TRAIL-mediated breast cancer cells migration was evaluated by transwell migration assay, quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and knock down experiments. Results: In this study, we found that treatment with TRAIL resulted in induced expression levels of MADD and CXCR7 in breast cancer cells. Knock down of MADD followed by treatment with TRAIL resulted in increased cell migration compared to either treatment alone. Similarly, through overexpression and knockdown experiments, we demonstrated that CXCR7 also positively regulated TRAIL-inhibited migration. Surprisingly, knock down of MADD lead to inhibition of TRAIL-induced CXCR7 mRNA and protein expression and overexpression of CXCR7 lead to the reduction of MADD expression, indicating that MADD is an upstream regulatory factor of TRAIL-triggered CXCR7 production and a negative feedback mechanism between MADD and CXCR7. Furthermore, we showed that CXCR7 is involved in MADD-inhibited migration in breast cancer cells. Conclusions: Our work defined a novel signaling pathway implicated in the control of breast cancer migration.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.837-846
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• 2017

As a component of the neurovascular unit, cerebral smooth muscle cells (CSMCs) are an important mediator in the development of cerebral vascular diseases such as stroke. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are the products of arachidonic acid catalyzed by cytochrome P450 epoxygenase. EETs are shown to exert neuroprotective effects. In this article, the role of EET in the growth and apoptosis of CSMCs and the underlying mechanisms under oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions were addressed. The viability of CMSCs was decreased significantly in the OGD group, while different subtypes of EETs, especially 14,15-EET, could increase the viability of CSMCs under OGD conditions. RAPA (serine/threonine kinase Mammalian Target of Rapamycin), a specific mTOR inhibitor, could elevate the level of oxygen free radicals in CSMCs as well as the anti-apoptotic effects of 14,15-EET under OGD conditions. However, SP600125, a specific JNK (c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase) pathway inhibitor, could attenuate oxygen free radicals levels in CSMCs as well as the anti-apoptotic effects of 14,15-EET under OGD conditions. These results strongly suggest that EETs exert protective functions during the growth and apoptosis of CSMCs, via the JNK/c-Jun and mTOR signaling pathways in vitro. We are the first to disclose the beneficial roles and underlying mechanism of 14,15-EET in CSMC under OGD conditions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3281-3287
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• 2016

Bioactive compounds extracted from leaves and twigs of Goniothalamus griffithii include pinocembrin (PCN) and goniothalamin (GTN). The objectives of this study were to investigate the cytotoxic activities of PCN and GTN and their influence on molecular signaling for cell death in several human cancer cell lines compared to normal murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. GTN exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 > HeLa > HepG2 > NIH3T3 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 7.33, 14.8, 37.1 and $65.4{\mu}M$, respectively, whereas PCN was cytotoxic only to HepG2 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of ${\sim}80{\mu}M$. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed by staining the cells with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) employing flow cytometry. Apoptosis was shown by externalization of phosphatidylserine in goniothalamin-treated MCF-7 cells in a dose response manner. Positive PI-stained cells with the typical morphology of apoptotic cells were increased dose-dependently. Furthermore, reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential was found in goniothalamin-treated MCF-7, HepG2 and HeLa cells. GTN treatment in MCF-7 increased caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities while GTN-induced HeLa cells showed an increase of both caspase-3 and -9 activities. But an increased caspase-8 activity was demonstrated in GTN- and PCN-treated MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, respectively. Taken together, GTN- and PCN-induced human cancer cell apoptosis was through different molecular mechanisms or signaling pathways, which might be due to different machineries in different types of cancer cells, as evidenced by the compound-modulated caspase activities in both intrinsic and/or extrinsic pathways.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.377-384
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• 2008

The root of Vitis labrusca, is used as a source of health promoting drug in Korean traditional medicine. It has been reported that root of Vitis labrusca has antioxidant, anti lipid peroxidation and anti-reactive nitrogen species (RNS) activities. The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular changes of apoptotic signaling pathways in phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA)-induced human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep G2). The root of Vitis labrusca, ethanol extract (RVLEE) was tested for cell viability on Hep G2 cell using the MTT assay. RVLEE exhibited weak cytotoxic activity. However, treatment of Hep G2 cells with RVLEE suppressed PMA-induced cell proliferation. Also, dramatic changes of cell death signals in cellular molecules such as Chk2/Cds1, CIDE-B, CLIMP-63, Bax, Bcl-xL, C-myc, Bcl-2, Bric-5, NIP-3, TRAF2 and BAR but not CIDE-B and DR4. Futhermore, our results showed that the treatment of Hep G2 cells with 25 and $50\; {\mu}g/ml$ of RVLEE suppressed PMA-induced COX-2 gene activity. These data suggest that RVLEE have inhibitory effect of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and, thus, may offer therapeutic potential in Hep G2.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.457-465
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• 2017

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced murine models of type 1 diabetes have been used to examine ER stress during pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis, as this ER stress plays important roles in the pathogenesis and development of the disease. However, the mechanisms linking type 1 diabetes to the ER stress-modulating anti-diabetic signaling pathway remain to be addressed, though it was recently established that ERK5 (Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 5) contributes to the pathogeneses of diabetic complications. This study was undertaken to explore the mechanism whereby ERK5 inhibition instigates pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis via an ER stress-dependent signaling pathway. STZ-induced diabetic WT and CHOP deficient mice were i.p. injected every 2 days for 6 days under BIX02189 (a specific ERK5 inhibitor) treatment in order to evaluate the role of ERK5. Hyperglycemia was exacerbated by co-treating C57BL/6J mice with STZ and BIX02189 as compared with mice administered with STZ alone. In addition, immunoblotting data revealed that ERK5 inhibition activated the unfolded protein response pathway accompanying apoptotic events, such as, PARP-1 and caspase-3 cleavage. Interestingly, ERK5 inhibition-induced exacerbation of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis was inhibited in CHOP deficient mice. Moreover, transduction of adenovirus encoding an active mutant form of $MEK5{\alpha}$, an upstream kinase of ERK5, inhibited STZ-induced unfolded protein responses and ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis. These results suggest that ERK5 protects against STZ-induced pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis and hyperglycemia by interrupting the ER stress-mediated apoptotic pathway.