• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.3035-3042
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• 2015

Background: Isorhamnetin (Iso), a novel and essential monomer derived from total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides that has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction, has also shown a spectrum of antitumor activity. However, little is known about the mechanisms of action Iso on cancer cells. Objectives: To investigate the effects of Iso on A549 lung cancer cells and underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A549 cells were treated with $10{\sim}320{\mu}g/ml$ Iso. Their morphological and cellular characteristics were assessed by light and electronic microscopy. Growth inhibition was analyzed by MTT, clonogenic and growth curve assays. Apoptotic characteristics of cells were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), DNA fragmentation, single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay, immunocytochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling (TUNEL). Tumor models were setup by transplanting Lewis lung carcinoma cells into C57BL/6 mice, and the weights and sizes of tumors were measured. Results: Iso markedly inhibited the growth of A549 cells with induction of apoptotic changes. Iso at $20{\mu}g/ml$, could induce A549 cell apoptosis, up-regulate the expression of apoptosis genes Bax, Caspase-3 and P53, and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2, cyclinD1 and PCNA protein. The tumors in tumor-bearing mice treated with Iso were significantly smaller than in the control group. The results of apoptosis-related genes, PCNA, cyclinD1 and other protein expression levels of transplanted Lewis cells were the same as those of A549 cells in vitro. Conclusions: Iso, a natural single compound isolated from total flavones, has antiproliferative activity against lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Its mechanisms of action may involve apoptosis of cells induced by down-regulation of oncogenes and up-regulation of apoptotic genes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8135-8140
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• 2016

Background: Cell cycle regulatory proteins are suitable targets for cancer therapeutic development since genetic alterations in many cancers also affect the functions of these molecules. Strobilanthes crispus (S. crispus) is traditionally known for its potential benefits in treating various ailments. We recently reported that an active sub-fraction of S. crispus leaves (SCS) caused caspase-dependent apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Materials and Methods: Considering the ability of SCS to also promote the activity of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, we further examined the effect of SCS in modulating cell cycle progression and related proteins in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells alone and in combination with tamoxifen. Expression of cell cycle-related transcripts was analysed based on a previous microarray dataset. Results: SCS significantly caused G1 arrest of both types of cells, similar to tamoxifen and this was associated with modulation of cyclin D1, p21 and p53. In combination with tamoxifen, the anticancer effects involved downregulation of $ER{\alpha}$ protein in MCF-7 cells but appeared independent of an ER-mediated mechanism in MDA-MB-231 cells. Microarray data analysis confirmed the clinical relevance of the proteins studied. Conclusions: The current data suggest that SCS growth inhibitory effects are similar to that of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, further supporting the previously demonstrated cytotoxic and apoptotic actions of both agents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권8호
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• pp.3195-3201
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• 2015

Objectives: To investigate the effects of betaine on HeLa cell growth and apoptosis and molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, 20.0, 100.0 mg/ml of betaine were used to evaluate the anticancer efficacy for HeLa cells respectively, and MCF-10A was also detected as a normal diploid cell control. Results: We found that proliferation of HeLa cells was inhibited significantly upon exposure to increasing betaine levels with the MTT test (p<0.05). The percentage of S phase cells in the low dose groups (<5mg/ml) were distinctly higher than in high dose groups, and the rates of Sub-G1 phase were the opposite (p<0.01); A high concentration of betaine (>5.0mg/ml) significantly promoted the apoptosis of HeLa cells (p<0.01). SOD activities of the low dose groups were slightly higher than the control group (p<0.05) and there were obvious synchronicity and correlation among the expression of promoting apoptosis genes Bax, P53, Caspase 3 and apoptosis suppression gene Bcl-2. In response to an apoptosis-inducing stimulus, p53 and cyclin D1 could be activated with blockage of the cell cycle at G1/S or S/G2 checkpoints. Conclusions: Our data showed that betaine could promote HeLa cells proliferation in vitro at low concentrations. In contrast, high concentrations could significantly inhibit cell growth and migration, and induce apoptosis of HeLa cells through caspase 3 signaling and further promoted necrosis. This might imply that betaine exhibits tumoricidal effects and acts as a biological response modifier in cancer treatment by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a dose and time-dependent manner.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.84-89
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• 2019

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a principal of mackerel-derived fermented fish oil, increases the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) via the upregulation of cell cycle-associated proteins such as cyclin D1 and cdc2 p34, and might promote hair-growth. However, the intracellular mechanisms that underlie the action of DHA in the proliferation of DPCs have not been investigated fully. In this study, we addressed the action mechanisms of DHA to trigger the activation of anagen in DPCs. DHA activated β-catenin signaling by the increased phosphorylation at serine 552 and serine 675 as well as the translocation and accumulation of activated β-catenin into the nucleus. In the other hand, DHA inhibited canonical TGF-β/Smad signaling by the decreased phosphorylation of Smad2/3. Taken together, the results indicate that DHA might stimulate anagen signaling via the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while the inactivation of canonical TGF-β signaling pathway in DPCs.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.166-182
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• 2005

정상인의 말초혈액 림프구 DNA를 주형으로 사용하여 DNA PCR을 시행하였다. 그 결과 5례 모두에서 예상되는 167bp 크기의 CDKN2 genomic DNA 단편이 증폭됨을 관찰할 수 있었다. 정상인의 말초혈액 림프구로부터 분리한 mRNA를 사용하여 cDNA를 합성하고 이를 주형으로 사용하여 RT-PCR와 시행하였다. 그 결과 예상되는 355bp 및 468bp의 CDKN2 및 ${\alpha}$-actin의 mRNA 전사산물이 전례에서 발현됨을 관찰할 수 있었다. 또한 CDKN2 mRNA의 RT-PCR 산물을 Sal I 제한효소로 절단하여 252bp와 103bp의 두 단편으로 나뉘어짐을 관찰하였다. 총 5례의 후두 편평상피세포암 세포주에서 CDKN2가 발현되는지를 RT-PCR로 관찰하였으며 각 세포주로부터 mRNA의 분리가 잘되었는지는 ${\alpha}$-actin의 발현을 통하여 RT-PCR로 관찰하였다. 5례의 세포주에서 모두 ${\alpha}$-actin의 발현을 관찰할 수 있었으며 이들의 mRNA를 사용하여 CDKN2 RT-PCR와 시행한 결과 총 4례(80%)의 세포주에서 CDKN2의 발현이 상실되어 있음을 알 수 있었다. CDKN2 발현의 이상이 있는 후두 편평상피세포암 세포주 및 발현이 정상인 후두 편평상피 세포암 세포주 모두에서 CDKN2 유전자의 존재를 DNA-PCR로 관찰하여 총 5례의 세포주 중 2례(40%)에서 CDKN2 유전자의 결손을 관찰할 수 있었다. 이 2례의 후두 편평상피세포암 세포주는 CDKN2의 발현이 일어나지 않은 것으로 RT-PCR의 결과와 일치하였다. 총 8례의 후두 편평상피세포암세포들에서 CDKN2의 이종접합성의 상실이 발견되는지를 DNA-PCR로 관찰하여 7례(87.5%)에서 최소한 한 개 이상의 microsatellite marker에 대한 이종접합성의 상실이 발견되었으며, 6례(75%)에서 최소한 한 개 이상의 microsatellite marker에 대한 증폭이 발견되었다. 또한 2례에서 최소한 한 개 이상의 microsatellite marker에 대한 microsatellite의 불안정이 발견되었다. 이종접합성의 상실, 증폭 또는 microsatellite의 불안정의 세 가지 모두를 보면 전례에서 한가지 이상의 CDKN2의 이상이 발견되었다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 CDKN2가 후두암의 발생에 중요한 역할을 하고 있을 것으로 사료된다.