• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2018

In vitro anticancer and antioxidant effects of acetone extract from leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver were investigated. The extraction yield and total phenolic content of the acetone extract were $1.13{\pm}0.033%$ (w/w) and $36.7{\pm}1.96mg$ gallic acid equivalents/g-extract, respectively. $GI_{50}$ values of the acetone extract for human non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549), human colon cancer cells (SNU-C4), human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and human embryonic lung epithelial cell (L132) were 53.4, 53.8, 88.3, and $153.9{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The acetone extract effectively inhibited the proliferation of human non-small cell lung cancer (A549) and colon cancer (SNU-C4) cells in a concentration-dependent manner, but was less cytotoxic with human normal cells (L132). $EC_{50}$ values of the acetone extract for free radical scavenging, reducing power, and lipid peroxidation inhibition were about 2,000, 275.8, and $257.9{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The acetone extract showed a potent reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.345-354
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• 2004

Two cases of classical swine fever (CSF) disease have broken out in Cheolwon (7 April, 2002). The suspected pig herds were huddled together because of high fever (over $40^{\circ}C$) and showed remarkable decrease of the leukocytes. The staggering gait related to posterior weakness, constipation and lethargy, hyperemia, hemorrhagic lesions (on the skin, muzzle, ears, limbs, tail and inner part of legs) and conjunctivitis with dirty streaks below the eyes were observed. The inflammation in the lung, infarction in the spleen, swelling and hemorrhage in lymph nodes, kidney, intestine, heart and cheese like purulent inflammation of the tonsil were observed. The ulcers of the colon were also detected. Several clinical and laboratory techniques including blood test, histo-pathological examinations, indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and RT-PCR test were applied to diagnose the disease. Inoculation test on PK-15 cell was also performed. The necrosis of the lymphatic cells and infiltration of the vessel circumferential cells in the brain and lymph organs were commonly viewed. The proliferation of the glia cell (gliosis) in the lymph was particular. Cytopathogenic effect (CPE) and specific fluorescent-bright-green areas (with IFA) appeared in PK-15 cells inoculated with suspected blood plasma. The IFA test on the epithelial and mucous membrane cells of tonsil was positive. RT-PCR technique required more working hours and labor than other techniques in this examination but it was useful because of the sensitivity to the CSF viral gene.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.362-368
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• 2012

Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) is an intestinal commensal bacterium implicated as a risk factor for colon cancer. The key virulence factor is a secreted toxin called B. fragilis toxin (BFT). In this study we used an in vitro bioassay to examine the prevalence of ETBF in colonic washings from patients with colorectal polyps and normal control patients. We found that 9.3% of polyp patients and 10.9% of non-polyp patients harbored ETBF, respectively. A total of nine ETBF clinical isolates were isolated and confirmed to be positive for the BFT gene by PCR analysis and the ability to induce IL-8 secretion in the colonic epithelial cell line HT29/c1. Two of the ETBF clinical strains were characterized further in vitro and in vivo. We found that the two ETBF clinical isolates induced E-cadherin cleavage in HT29/c1 cells and promoted colonic inflammation in C57BL/6 mice. Our results indicate that the prevalence of ETBF in polyp patients were similar in non-polyp patients suggesting that ETBF carriage does not positively correlate to polyp incidence.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1629-1635
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• 2012

Previously, we demonstrated that the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is present on fibroblasts, where it regulates focal contact. Here, we assessed whether this action of EpoR is involved in the reduced cell adhesion observed in colonocytes exposed to Clostridium difficile toxin A. EpoR was present and functionally active in cells of the human colonic epithelial cell line HT29 and epithelial cells of human colon tissues. Toxin A significantly decreased activating phosphorylations of EpoR and its downstream signaling molecules JAK-2 (Janus kinase 2) and STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5). In vitro kinase assays confirmed that toxin A inhibited JAK 2 kinase activity. Pharmacological inhibition of JAK2 (with AG490) abrogated activating phosphorylations of EpoR and also decreased focal contacts in association with inactivation of paxillin, an essential focal adhesion molecule. In addition, AG490 treatment significantly decreased expression of occludin (a tight junction molecule) and tight junction levels. Taken together, these data suggest that inhibition of JAK2 by toxin A in colonocytes causes inactivation of EpoR, thereby enhancing the inhibition of focal contact formation and loss of tight junctions known to be associated with the enzymatic activity of toxin A.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2013

In-utero exposure to valproic acid (VPA) has been known as a potent inducer of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), not only in humans, but also in animals. In addition to the defects in communication and social interaction as well as repetitive behaviors, ASD patients usually suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) problems. However, the exact mechanism underlying these disorders is not known. In this study, we examined the gross GI tract structure and GI motility in a VPA animal model of ASD. On embryonic day 12 (E12), 4 pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subcutaneously injected with VPA (400 mg/kg) in the treatment group, and with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in the control group; the resulting male offspring were analyzed at 4 weeks of age. VPA exposure decreased the thickness of tunica mucosa and tunica muscularis in the stomach and ileum. Other regions such as duodenum, jejunum, and colon did not show a significant difference. In high-resolution microscopic observation, atrophy of the parietal and chief cells in the stomach and absorptive cells in the ileum was observed. In addition, decreased staining of the epithelial cells was observed in the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained ileum section. Furthermore, decreased motility in GI tract was also observed in rat offspring prenatally exposed to VPA. However, the mechanism underlying GI tract defects in VPA animal model as well as the association between abnormal GI structure and function with ASD is yet to be clearly understood. Nevertheless, the results from the present study suggest that this VPA ASD model undergoes abnormal changes in the GI structure and function, which in turn could provide beneficial clues pertaining to the pathophysiological relevance of GI complications and ASD phenotypes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2429-2435
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• 2012

Methyl isocyanate may have a role in cancer etiology, although the link is unclear. There is evidence in the literature that it can induce cancer in animals but the carcinogenic potency is weak. Pheochromocytoma of adrenal medulla and acinar cell tumors of pancreas have been observed in methyl isocyanate exposed animals. Conversely, emerging data from population-based epidemiological studies are contradictory since there is no evidence of such cancers in methyl isocyanate exposed humans. Recently, we reported a high prevalence of breast and lung cancers in such a population in Bhopal. In vitro findings appearing in the latest scientific literature suggest that genomic instability is caused by methyl isocyanate analogs in lung, colon, kidney, ovary epithelial cells, and that hepatocytes may undergo oncogenic transformation, have obvious implications. The conflicting information prompted us to present this update over the last three decades on methyl isocyanate-induced cancers after an extensive literature search using PubMed. While the pertinent literature remains limited, with a scarcity of strong laboratory analyses and field-epidemiological investigations, our succinct review of animal and human epidemiological data including in vitro evidences, should hopefully provide more insight to researchers, toxicologists, and public health professionals concerned with validation of the carcinogenicity of methyl isocyanate in humans.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.133-136
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• 2016

An acetone extract in the cortex of Ulmus pumila L. was prepared to evaluate its anti-oxidative and anti-proliferative activities. The free radical scavenging activity ($EC_{50}=36.7{\mu}g/mL$) and reducing power ($EC_{50}=53.2{\mu}g/mL$) proportionally increased according to the extract concentration. The acetone extract possessed a potent anti-proliferative activity against human non-small cell lung cancer (A549, $GI_{50}=74.3{\mu}g/mL$) and human colon cancer (SNU-C4, $GI_{50}=92.8{\mu}g/mL$) cells in a dose-dependent manner, but was less effective with human normal cells (L132, human embryonic lung epithelial cell).

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.145-161
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• 1999

The proto-oncogene bcl-2 confers a survival advantage to cells by blocking programmed cell death (apoptosis). Overexpression of bcl-2 probably plays a role in tumorigenesis, and the expression of the bcl-2 protein has been investigated in many kinds of tumors. An increased expression of nitric oxide synthetase(NOS) has been observed in human colon cancer cell lines as well as in human gynecological, breast, and CNS tumors. However there have been only a few reports on the expression of bcl-2 and $NOS_2$ in oral white lesions and cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of Bcl-2 and $NOS_2$ and several pathological parameters such as histological types and layers. We reported desregulation of bcl-2 and $NOS_2$ expression during progression from oral white lesion, lichen planus and leukoplakia to squamous cell carcinoma. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibodies to bcl-2 oncoprotein and $NOS_2$ in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections revealed that bcl-2 expression is restricted to the basal cell layer and $NOS_2$ was mild expressed only in subepithelial inflammatory cells in normal human mucosa. There wasn't specific finding of those in lichen planus and leukoplakia. 2. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in severe epithelial dysplasia or CIS occurs throughout the epithelium, $NOS_2$ reactivity in most superficial layer were noted. 3. In well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, mostly bcl-2 was overexpressed. In moderated and poor squamous cell carcinomas, the expression of $NOS_2$ was increased and that of bcl-2 was decreased. 4. The immunoreactivity of bcl-2 was 12.5% of normal mucosa, 30% of leukoplakia, 44% of lichen planus and 67% of carcinoma in situ. In carcinoma, those were 43%, 50% and 67% according to differentiation, respectively. 5. The immunoreactivity of $NOS_2$ was 25% of normal mucosa, 70% of leukoplakia, 78% of lichen planus and 100% of carcinoma in situ and epithelial dysplasia. In carcinoma, those were higher in moderated(100%) and poor(83%) squamous cell carcinomas than in well differentiated type(71%). 6. The expression of bcl-2 and $NOS_2$ by Western blot was increased highly in lichen planus and leukoplakia. Therefore, the expression of bcl-2 was increased in the white and precancerous lesions and that was decreased by differentiation of carcinoma. However, $NOS_2$ immunoreactivity in carcinoma in situ was lower than those in moderated and poor squamous cell. These findings suggest that the interaction of bcl-2 and $NOS_2$ may be roled importantly in growth and development of carcinoma.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Licorice has been shown to possess cancer chemopreventive effects. However, glycyrrhizin, a major component in licorice, was found to interfere with steroid metabolism and cause edema and hypertension. The roasting process of licorice modifies the chemical composition and converts glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhetinic acid. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-carcinogenic effects of the ethanol extract of roasted licorice (EERL) and to identify the active compound in EERL. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of roasted and un-roasted licorice were prepared. The active fraction was separated from the methylene chloride (MC)-soluble fraction of EERL and the structure of the purified compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The anti-carcinogenic effects of licorice extracts and licochalcone A was evaluated using a MTT assay, Western blot, flow cytometry, and two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. RESULTS: EERL was determined to be more potent and efficacious than the ethanol extract of un-roasted licorice in inhibiting the growth of DU145 and MLL prostate cancer cells, as well as HT-29 colon cancer cells. The aqueous extracts of un-roasted and roasted licorice showed minimal effects on cell growth. EERL potently inhibited growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast, B16-F10 melanoma, and A375 and A2058 skin cancer cells, whereas EERL slightly stimulated the growth of normal IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells and CCD118SK fibroblasts. The MC-soluble fraction was more efficacious than EERL in inhibiting DU145 cell growth. Licochalcone A was isolated from the MC fraction and identified as the active compound of EERL. Both EERL and licochalcone A induced apoptosis of DU145 cells. EERL potently inhibited chemically-induced skin papilloma formation in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Non-polar compounds in EERL exert potent anti-carcinogenic effects, and that roasted rather than un-roasted licorice should be favored as a cancer preventive agent, whether being used as an additive to food or medicine preparations.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.8
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• pp.101-111
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• 1967

Daily doses of phenylmercuric acetate arranged in $30{\gamma}\;(group\;I)$, 3{\gamma}\;(group\;II)$ and $0.3{\gamma}\;(group\;III)$ were administered respectively to rabbits for 90 days. The chief histopathological changes in the organs and the analytical data on mercury residues in the excretion and liver were as follows. 1. Kidney: In group I, severe degrees of vacuolization and cloudy swelling were occurred in the epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules and severe cloudy swelling and coagulative necrosis were observed in the proximal straight tubules. There were many hyaline casts in the collecting tubules. In group II, moderate degrees of vacuolization and cloudy swelling were observed in the epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules and moderate cloudy swelling and coagulative necrosis were encountered in the proximal straight tubules. A little numbers of hyaline casts were located in the lumen of collecting tubules. In group III, slight degree of cloudy swelling were observed in the epithelial cells of proximal convoluted and straight tubules. 2. Liver: In group I, cloudy swelling, fatty changes and coagulative necrosis were observed in the central zone of hepatic lobules. Dissociation of hepatic cell cords was encountered. Hyperplsia of hepatic cells were remarkable in group II. No Pathological changes were observed in group III. 3. Spleen: Deposition of hemosiderin pigment was prominant in group I and small amount of the pigment was observed in group II. There were no pathological changes in group III. 4. Adrenal, colon and heart: No pathological changes were detected in all 3 groups. 5. In an average about 76.5% of mercury was excreted from group I, 85.4% from group II and 79.8% from group III. 6. Mercury content in the liver was 0.0348 g in group I, 0.00378 g and 0.00066 g in group II and group III respectively. 7. In general, as to increased mercury doses the concentration of mercury accumulation in the liver became higher, how·ever, the accumulation quantity against a total amount of mercury doses showed an adverse trend. In other word, the quantity of mercury accumulation was not increased proportionately by higher dose of mercury.