• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2015

Shikonin, a major ingredient in the traditional Chinese herb Lithospermumerythrorhizon, exhibits multiple biological functions including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. It has recently been reported that shikonin displays antitumor properties in many cancers. This study was aimed to investigate whether shikonin could inhibit oral squamous carcinoma cell (OSCC) growth via mechanisms of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The effects of shikonin on the viability and growth of OSCC cell line, SCC25 cells were assessed by MTT assay and clonogenic assays, respectively. Hoechst staining and DNA electrophoresis indicated that the shikonin-treated SCC25 cells were undergoing apoptosis. Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, MMP activity, and proteasome activity also supported the finding that shikonin induces apoptosis. Shikonin treatment of SCC25 cells resulted in a time- and dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, inhibition of cell growth, and increase in apoptotic cell death. The treated SCC25 cells showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation as follows: nuclear condensation; DNA fragmentation; reduced MMP and proteasome activity; decrease in DNA contents; release of cytochrome c into cytosol; translocation of AIF and DFF40 (CAD) onto the nuclei; a significant shift in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio; and activation of caspase-9, -7, -6, and -3, as well as PARP, lamin A/C, and DFF45 (ICAD). Shikonin treatment also resulted in down-regulation of the G1 cell cycle-related proteins and up-regulation of $p27^{KIP1}$. Taken together, our present findings demonstrate that shikonin strongly inhibits cell proliferation by modulating the expression of the G1 cell cycle-related proteins, and that it induces apoptosis via the proteasome, mitochondria, and caspase cascades in SCC25 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2016

Abnormal localization of tumor suppressor proteins is a common feature of renal cancer. Nuclear export of these tumor suppressor proteins is mediated by chromosome region maintenance-1 (CRM1). Here, we investigated the antitumor effects of a novel reversible inhibitor of CRM1 on renal cancer cells. We found that S109 inhibits the CRM1-mediated nuclear export of RanBP1 and reduces protein levels of CRM1. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of S109 on CRM1 is reversible. Our data demonstrated that S109 significantly inhibits proliferation and colony formation of renal cancer cells. Cell cycle assay showed that S109 induced G1-phase arrest, followed by the reduction of Cyclin D1 and increased expression of p53 and p21. We also found that S109 induces nuclear accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins, Foxo1 and p27. Most importantly, mutation of CRM1 at Cys528 position abolished the effects of S109. Taken together, our results indicate that CRM1 is a therapeutic target in renal cancer and the novel reversible CRM1 inhibitor S109 can act as a promising candidate for renal cancer therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2217-2221
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• 2016

Vascular endothelial growth factor 2 (VEGFR2) was initially identified as a receptor of VEGF on endothelial cells with a role in regulating angiogenesis during organism development and tumorigenesis. Previously, in cancer tissue, VEGFR2 has been reported to be expressed in endothelial cells. In our research, we found that VEGFR2 was expressed not only in endothelial cells but also cancer cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Knockdown of VEGFR2 in Hep2 cells could arrest the cell cycle in G0/G1, leading to a decrease in proliferation. We also present evidence that MAPK/ERK signal pathways and expression of CDK1 downstream of VEGFR2 might regulate proliferation and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, we discovered that down-regulate VEGRF2 in Hep2 cells could significantly affect the invasion ability. Taken together, our data suggest that VEGFR2 might regulate proliferation and invasion in HNSCC cancer cells in vivo.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 1996

Purpose : Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent with potent microtubule stabilizing activity that arrests cell cycle in $G_2$-M Because $G_2$-M is the most radiosensitive Phase of the cell cycle, paclitaxel has potential as a cell cycle- specific radiosensitizer. This study was designed to investigate the ability of paclitaxel to increase the radiotoxicity in normal small bowel mucosa of the rat. materials and Methods : A sigle intraperitoneal infusion of paclitaxel (10mg/kg), and a single irradiation(8 Gy, x-ray) to the whole abdomen and combination of radiation(8 Gr, x-ray) 24 hours after paclitaxel infusion in the rats were done. The changes of jejunal mucosa, and kinetics of mitotic arrest and apoptosis in the jejunal crypt were defined at 6 hours - 5 days after each treatment histologically. Results : Paclitaxel blocked jejunal crypt cell in mitosis and induced minmal apoptosis. Mitotic arrest by paclitaxel was peaked at 6 hours after infusion and returned to normal by 24 hours. Radiation induced apoptosis and peaked at 6 hours and returned to normal by 24 hours. Combination of paclitaxel and radiation blocked crypt cell in mitosis at 3 days and induced apoptosis slightly at 6 hours and 24 hours and returned to normal by 3 days. The incidence of apoptosis in combined group at 6 hours was slightly higher than normal control but significantly lower than radiation alone group. The major changes of jejunal mucosa were nuclear vesicle and atypia which were appeared at 6 hours - 3 days and returned to normal by 5 days The degree of the mucosal changes are not different in 3 groups except for absence of inflmmatory reaction in radiation group. Conclusion : Mitotic arrest by paclitaxel was peaked at 6 hours and returned to normal by 24 hours and paclitaxel induced minimal apoptosis. Radiation induced apoptosis, peaked at 6 hours and returned to normal by 24 hours. Radiation-induced apoptosis was less in combined group which suggested that paclitaxel have a radioprotective effect when radiation was given 24 hours after paclitaxel infusion.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 2014

In this study, we have investigated the flow rate effects of Ag nanoparticle (NP) suspensions on the progress of the cell cycle by using a microfluidic image cytometry (${\mu}FIC$)-based approach. Compared with the conventional "static" exposure conditions, enhancements in G2 phase arrest were observed for the cells under continuously flowing "dynamic" exposure conditions. The "dynamic" exposure conditions, which mimic in vivo systems, induced an enhanced cytotoxicity by accelerating G2 phase arrest and subsequent apoptosis processes. Moreover, we have also shown that the increases in delivered NP dose due to the continuous supply of Ag NPs contributed dominantly to the enhanced cytotoxicity observed under the "dynamic" exposure conditions, while the shear stress caused by these slowly flowing fluids (i.e., flow rates of 6 and $30{\mu}L/h$) had only a minor influence on the observed enhancement in cytotoxicity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.297-301
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• 2004

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of MCS-C2, a novel analogue of toyocamycin and sangivamycin, in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. When treated with MCS-C2, inhibited proliferation associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction was found in the HL-60 cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. This apoptotic induction was associated with the cleavage of Bid and a release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, followed by the activation of caspase-3 and inactivation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). However, there was no significant change in any other mitochondrial membrane proteins, such as Bcl-2 and Bax. Consequently, the current findings suggest that the mitochondrial pathway was primarily involved in the MCS-C2-induced apoptosis in the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.114-114
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• 2003

p53 has identified as a tumor suppressor protein to protect cells from DNA damage. p53, also well known for a transcription factor, can activate genes such as p21, bax, gadd45 and induce a number of the responses such as differentiation, senescence, DNA repair, apoptosis and the inhibition of angiogenesis to protect cells. Many mechanisms of p53 activation have been studied.(omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.350-355
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• 2008

Chk2 is a well characterized protein kinase with key roles in the DNA damage response. Chk2 is activated by phosphorylation following DNA damage, and relays that signal to various substrate proteins to induce cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptosis. In order to identify novel components of the Chk2 signaling pathway in Drosophila, we screened 2,240 EP misexpression lines for dominant modifiers of an adult rough eye phenotype caused by Chk2 overexpression in postmitotic cells of the eye imaginal disc. The rough eye phenotype was suppressed by mutation of the ATM kinase, a well-described activator of Chk2. Twenty-five EP modifiers were identified (three enhancers and 22 suppressors), none of which correspond to previously known components of Chk2 signaling. Three EPs caused defects in G2 arrest after irradiation with incomplete penetrance when homozygous, and are likely directly involved in the response to DNA damage. Possible roles for these modifiers in the DNA damage response and Chk2 signaling are discussed.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.90.2-90.2
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• 2003

In a continuous effort to develop novel anticancer agents we newly synthesized and evaluated the antitumor activity of nucleoside analogues. One analogue, 4-[2-Chlor-6-(3-iodo-benzylamino)-purin-9-yl]-2,3-dihydroxy-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid methylamide (LJ-331), has been shown to exert a potent inhibition of human cancer cell growth in vitro including human lung (A549), stomach (SNU-638) and leukemia (HL-60) cancer cells. Following mechanism of action study revealed that LJ-331 induces cell cycle arrest at the G$_1$ phase in HL-60 cells and evokes apoptotic phenomena such as an increase in DNA ladder intensity and chromatin condensation by a dose-and time-dependent manner. (omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.457-465
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• 2015

The 15-kDa selenoprotein (Sep15) is a selenoprotein residing in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and implicated in quality control of protein folding. Herein, we established an inducible RNAi cell line that targets Sep15 mRNA in Chang liver cells. RNAi-induced Sep15 deficiency led to inhibition of cell proliferation, whereas cell growth was resumed after removal of the knockdown inducer. Sep15-deficient cells were arrested at the G1 phase by upregulating p21 and p27, and these cells were also characterized by ER stress. In addition, Sep15 deficiency led to the relocation of focal adhesions to the periphery of the cell basement and to the decrease of the migratory and invasive ability. All these changes were reversible depending on Sep15 status. Rescuing the knockdown state by expressing a silent mutant Sep15 mRNA that is resistant to siRNA also reversed the phenotypic changes. Our results suggest that SEP15 plays important roles in the regulation of the G1 phase during the cell cycle as well as in cell motility in Chang liver cells, and that this selenoprotein offers a novel functional link between the cell cycle and cell motility.