• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2016

Toxoplasma gondii infection induces alteration of the host cell cycle and cell proliferation. These changes are not only seen in directly invaded host cells but also in neighboring cells. We tried to identify whether this alteration can be mediated by exosomes secreted by T. gondii-infected host cells. L6 cells, a rat myoblast cell line, and RH strain of T. gondii were selected for this study. L6 cells were infected with or without T. gondii to isolate exosomes. The cellular growth patterns were identified by cell counting with trypan blue under confocal microscopy, and cell cycle changes were investigated by flow cytometry. L6 cells infected with T. gondii showed decreased proliferation compared to uninfected L6 cells and revealed a tendency to stay at S or G2/M cell phase. The treatment of exosomes isolated from T. gondii-infected cells showed attenuation of cell proliferation and slight enhancement of S phase in L6 cells. The cell cycle alteration was not as obvious as reduction of the cell proliferation by the exosome treatment. These changes were transient and disappeared at 48 hr after the exosome treatment. Microarray analysis and web-based tools indicated that various exosomal miRNAs were crucial for the regulation of target genes related to cell proliferation. Collectively, our study demonstrated that the exosomes originating from T. gondii could change the host cell proliferation and alter the host cell cycle.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the inhibition mechanism of cancer cell proof iferation caused by the petroleum-ether extract of ginseng against human rectum (HRT-18), colon (HT-29), llepatoma (Hep G2) and prostate (LNCaP) cancer cells and monkey kidney cells (Vero 76). Cells were treated with the petroleum-ether extract of ginseng (50 to 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) in G1 or S phase of the cell cycle, and proliferation and protein kinase C activity were measured. The petroleum-eth or extract of ginseng inhibited proliferation of HRT-18, HT-29, Hep G2 and LNCaP when treated in Gl phase, but not in S phase. This result shows that the ginseng extract arrests the cell cycle in G1 phase, resulting in the inhibition of cell proliferation. At the same concentrations, treatment of the ginseng extract in G1 phase decreased protein kinase C activity, while the treatment in S phase had no effect. This reault suggests that protein kinase C might be involved in the inhibition of the cell cycle and proliferation of cancer cells caused by the petroleum-ether extract of ginseng.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.673-677
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• 2013

In order to examine the effects of Korean cucurbitaceous plants on sonic hedgehog pathway and growth of cancer cells with over-activated hedgehog pathway, we measured the sonic hedgehog conditioned medium (shh-CM) induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and cell viability of pancreatic cancer cell lines by treatment of cucurbitaceous plants. Among the tested cucurbitaceous plants, Actinostemma lobatum Maxim, Cucumis sativus L., Momordica charantia L., Schizopepon bryoniaefolius Maxim and Trichosanthes kirilowii Max, var. japonica Kitam showed the potent inhibitory effects (> 50 % at $20{\mu}g/mL$) on shh-CM induced ALP activity. We also evaluated the cell viability of pancreatic cancer cells treated with the cucurbitaceous plants. The tested cucurbitaceous plants showed the very weak effects on cancer cell proliferation but, T. kirilowii Max, var. japonica Kitam presented the inhibitory effect of 72.7 % on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells at $20{\mu}g/mL$. Taken together, we screened the effects of Korean cucurbitaceous plants on shh-CM induced ALP activity and cell viability of pancreatic cancers to search for the modulators of the hedgehog pathway leading to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. T. kirilowii Max, var. japonica Kitam, among the tested cucurbitaceous plants, showed the inhibitory effects on the shh-CM induced ALP activity and the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.394-400
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• 1999

Since it has generally been considered that high-hat diets promote carcinogenesis, fat intake of less than 30% of total calories has been recommended to reduce the risk of cancer. Specific dietary guidelines for fat intake to reduce the risk of colon cancer have not yet been established. In order to determine the level of dietary fat needed the risk of colon cancer, rats were fed one of four experimental fat diets, very low(7% of total calories from corn oil, VLC), low(15% LC), medium (30%, MC), and high fat(45%, HC). Cell proliferation as an intermediate biomarker of color carcinogenesis was measured by the in vivo incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine into DNA. Fecal lipid excretion was measured by gravimetric method. As fat levels in the diet increased, fecal lipid concentrations also increased (VLC

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1823-1827
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• 2012

The gene encoding the Nin one binding (NOB1) protein which plays an essential role in protein degradation has been investigated for possible tumor promoting functions. The present study was focused on NOB1 as a possible therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment. Lentivirus mediated NOB1 siRNA transfection was used to silence the NOB1 gene in two established breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, successful transfection being confirmed by fluorescence imaging. NOB1 deletion caused significant decline in cell proliferation was observed in both cell lines as investigated by MTT assay. Furthermore the number and size of the colonies formed were also significantly reduced in the absence of NOB1. Moreover NOB1 gene knockdown arrested the cell cycle and inhibited cell cycle related protein expression. Collectively these results indicate that NOB1 plays an essential role in breast cancer cell proliferation and its gene expression could be a therapeutic target.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2397-2402
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• 2015

Previous studies have shown that miR-454 plays an important role in a variety of biological processes in various human cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanisms of this microRNA in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the miR-454 role in CRC cell proliferation. We found that miR-454 expression is markedly upregulated in CRC tissues and CRC cells compared with the matched tumor adjacent tissues and the FHC normal colonic cell line. Ectopic expression of miR-454 promoted the proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of CRC cells, whereas inhibition of miR-454 reduced this effect. Bioinformatics analysis further revealed cylindromatosis (CYLD), a putative tumor suppressor as a potential target of miR-454. Data from luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-454 directly binds to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of CYLD mRNA and repressed expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. In functional assays, CYLD-silenced in miR-454-in-transfected SW480 cells have positive effect to promote cell proliferation, suggesting that direct CYLD downregulation is required for miR-454-induced CRC cell proliferation. In sum, our data provide compelling evidence that miR-454 functions as an onco-miRNA, playing a crucial role in the promoting cell proliferation in CRC, and its oncogenic effect is mediated chiefly through direct suppression of CYLD expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3293-3299
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• 2015

Background: Arm protein lost in epithelial cancers, on chromosome X (ALEX) is a novel subgroup within the armadillo (ARM) family, which has one or two ARM repeat domains as opposed to more than six-thirteen repeats in the classical Armadillo family members. Materials and Methods: In the study, we explore the biological functions of ALEX1 in breast cancer cells. Overexpression of ALEX1 and silencing of ALEX1 were performed with SK-BR3 and MCF-7 cell lines. Cell proliferation and colony formation assays, along with flow cytometry, were carried out to evaluate the roles of ALEX1. Results: ALEX1 overexpression in SK-BR3 breast cancer cells inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, depletion of ALEX1 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells increased proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. Additional analyses demonstrated that the overexpression of ALEX1 activated the intrinsic apoptosis cascades through up-regulating the expression of Bax, cytosol cytochrome c, active caspase-9 and active caspase-3 and down-regulating the levels of Bcl-2 and mitochondria cytochrome c. Simultaneouly, silencing of ALEX1 inhibited intrinsic apoptosis cascades through down-regulating the expression of Bax, cytosol cytochrome c, active caspase-9, and active caspase-3 and up-regulating the level of Bcl-2 and mitochondria cytochrome c. Conclusions: Our data suggest that ALEX1 as a crucial tumor suppressor gene has been involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis in breast cancer, which may serve as a novel candidate therapeutic target.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7245-7249
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• 2014

Glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is usually recognized as a chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, increasing evidence indicates that GRP78 can be translocated to the cell surface, acting as a signaling receptor for a variety of ligands. Since little is known about the secretion of GRP78 and its role in the progression of colon cancer we here focused on GRP78 from colon cancer cells, and purified GRP78 protein mimicking the secreted GRP78 was able to utilize cell surface GRP78 as its receptor, activating downstream PI3K/Akt and Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling and promote colon cancer cell proliferation. Our study revealed a new mode of action of autocrine GRP78 in cancer progression: secreted GRP78 binds to cell surface GRP78 as its receptor and activates intracellular proliferation signaling.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 2005

Objective : Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn stems, Chinese vine plants, have been used for the relief of menstrual disorders and rheumatic arthralgia. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn on cervical cancer in vitro. Methods : HeLA cervical cancer cell lines were used as targets. We examined the effect of water extract from Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn on cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation and cell cycle-regulating gene expression. Further, we investigated the apoptotic effects of Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn on cervical cancer cell lines. Results : Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn significantly inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent and time dependent manner. Fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis indicated that Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn induced G1 cell cycle arrest. Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn enhanced the expression of $p21^{waf1}$ and $p27^{kip1}$ with cell cycle arrest. Further, Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn stimulated apoptosis via caspase3 pathway. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn is a candidate agent for the treatment of cervical cancer. p21waf1 and $p21^{waf1}$ and $p27^{kip1}$ may play an important role in Spatholobus Suberectus Dunn-induced cell cycle arrest and cell growth inhibition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2020

Ganjang and doenjang are known as major fermented soy-based foods in Koreans. Current investigations have proved that fermented soybean foods impart anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-cancer activities of commercialized soy food, Ganjang, as a function of aging period. The test groups were classified into four time periods-short (under 5 years, S group), mid (under 10 years, M group), long (under 15 years, L group), and eternal (over 15 years, E group). The anti-cancer effects of Ganjang were determined by cell cytotoxicity assay of three types of cancer cell lines and splenocyte proliferation assay. Besides these assays, we also analyzed NK cell activity for cancer immunotherapy. The results show that the anti-cancer effect increased in the S and M period aging groups for all three cancer cell lines. Interestingly, similar to the anti-cancer result, splenocyte proliferation and NK activity showed the highest effect in the S and M groups. In contrast, Japanese ganjang-treated (JG1, JG2) groups and E group showed significantly reduced splenocyte proliferation. Collectively, these results suggest that the short and middle periods of traditional fermented Ganjang might have potential anti-cancer activities.