• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.379-393
• /
• 2006

Objectives: We are aimed to identify anti-tumor effects of Curcuma aromatics on some kinds of cancer cells through molecular biologic methods. Materials & Methods: We used 4 kinds of cancer cell lines such as lung cancer cells(AS49), cervical cancer cells(HeLa), glioma cancer cells(A172) and prostate cancer cells(PC3). We treated the boiled extract of Curcuma aromatica $5{\mu}g,\;10{\mu}g$ to cultural media(ml) for 24 hours. We measured the cytotoxicitv on 4 kinds of cancer cells through tryphan blue exclusion test and the suppressive effect on viability of 4 kinds of cancer cells via MTT assay. We measured change of mitochondria membrane potential via flow cytometry. The quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the effect on the revelation of Bcl-2 and Bax which are genes related to apoptosis. We examined the effect on the revelation of Bcl-2 Protein and Bar protein by western blot analysis. Results : In the experiment of tryphan blue exclusion test, the extract of Curcuma aromatica showed more significant killing effect on AS49, HeLa than the control group with density dependent manner, which was statistically significant. In the experiment of MTT assay the extract of Curcuma aromatica showed more suppressive effect on viability of A549, HeLa than the control group with density dependent manner, which was statistically significant. Curcuma aromatica induced apoptosis by decreasing the membrane potential of mitochondria in A549, HeLa. In the experiment of the revelation of genes related to apoptosis, the revelation of Bcl-2 decreased and the revelation of Bax increased in A549, HeLa treated with Curcuma aromatica with dose dependent manner. In the experiment of the revelation of protein related to apoptosis, the protein levels of Bcl-2 decreased and the protein levels of Bax increased in AS49, HeLa treated with Curcuma aromatica with dose dependent manner. Conclusions: From this study, we can infer that Curcuma aromatica has anti-tumor effect on lung cancer cells and uterine carcinoma cells but not on glioma cells and prostate cancer cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.429-443
• /
• 2006

Objectives : The Purpose of this study was to identify anti-tumor effects of Curcuma longa L. on some kinds of cancer cells through molecular biologic methods. Materials & Methods : We used 4 kinds of cancer cell lines such as glioma cells(A172), cervical cancer cells(HeLa), Prostate cancer cells(PC3), lung cancer cells(A549). We injected the boiled extract of Curcuma longa L. $5{\mu}g,\;10{\mu}g$ to culture media(ml) for 24 hours. We measured the cytotoxic effect on 4 kinds of cancer cells through trypan blue exclusion test and the suppressive effect on viability of 4 kinds of cancer cells via MTT assay. We measured the change of mitochondria membrane potential via flow cytometry. The quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the effect on the revelation of Bcl-2 and Bax which genes are related to apoptosis. We examined the effect on the revelation of Bcl-2 protein and Bax protein by western blot analysis. Results: 1. Extract of Curcuma longa L. showed significant cytotoxic effect on A172, HeLa, PC3 compared to the control group with density dependent manner. 2. Extract of Curcuma longs L. showed significant suppressive effect on viability of A172, HeLa, PC3 compared to the control group with density dependent manner. 3. Curcuma longs L. induced apoptosis by decreasing the membrane potential of mitochondria in A172, HeLa, PC3. 4. In the test about the revelation of genes related to apoptosis, the revelation of Bcl-2 decreased and the revelation of Bax increased in A172. HeLa, PC3 treated with Curcuma longa L. with density dependent manner. 5. In the test about the revelation of protein related to apoptosis, the protein levels of Bcl-2 decreased and the protein levels of Bax increased in A172, HeLa, PC3 treated with Curcuma longa L. Conclusions: This experiment shewed that Curcuma longs L. has anti-tumor effect on glioma, cervical, Prostate cancer cells except on lung cancer. We hope that anti-tumor effects of Curcuma longa L. will be more Practically identified.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2002

Background : Nowadays a lot of research is based on natural substances or materials world wide since many kinds of side effects are accompanied by anti tumor chemotherapy. In Chinese medicine, Dioscorea bulbifera L is widely used to treat many kinds of cancer, but in Korea it is rarely used. Therefore, we need to scientifically identify anti tumor effects of Dioscorea bulbifera L. Objective : We aimed to identify anti tumor effects of Dioscorea bulbifera L on the stomach cancer cells through molecular biological methods. Materials & Methods : We used AGS, a stomach cancer cell from American Type Culture Collection. We injected the boiled extract of Dioscorea bulbifera L 5 ul(sample 1), 10ul(sample 2) to cultured media(ml) for 0,6,12,18,24 hours. We measured the killing effect on stomach cancer cells through Tryphan blue exclusion test and suppressive effect on viability of stomach cancer cells via MTT assay. Results : Tryphan blue exclusion test showed that each test group killed more stomach cancer cells than the controlled group with a dosage-dependent, but not significantly. MTT assay showed that each test group had a more suppressive effect on viability of stomach cancer cells than the controlled group without a dosage-independent, but not significantly. The cell cycle analysis via flow cytometry showed that the test group extended cell cycle, and there was no peak in M phase, the number of sub G1, G0, G1 phase cells increased a little, but not significantly. Conclusion : This experiment showed that Dioscorea bulbifera L. has an anti-tumor effect, but not significantly. This is in vitro experiment and basic experiment on Dioscorea bulbifera L. We hope more progressive researches on Dioscorea bulbifera L. will be conducted and its anti tumor will be more accurately identified.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.223-229
• /
• 1999

Purpose : The expression pattern of c-jun by ionizing radiation according to cell growth state (exponential growth vs. stationary phase) and its relationship with cell cycle redistribution were investigated. Materials and Methods : The exponential growth phase (day 4) and stationary phase (day 9) cells were determined from cell growth curve according to the elapse of days in CaSki. The cells were irradiated using 6 MV X-ray with a dose of 2 Gy at a fixed dose rate of 3 Gy/min. Northern blot analysis was peformed with total cellular RNA and cell cycle distribution was analyzed using flow cytometry according to time-course after irradiation. Results : The maximum expression of c-jun occurred 1 hour after irradiation in both exponential growth and stationary phase cells. After then c-jun expression was elevated upto 6 hours in exponential growth phase cells, but the level decreased in stationary phase cells. Movements of cells from G0-G1 to S, G2-M phase after irradiation were higher in exponential growth phase than stationary phase. Conclusion : c-jun may be involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation according to the growth states after irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2019

Background/Objectives: Although anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is rare, it is one of the deadliest forms of thyroid cancer. The fatality rate for ATC is high, and the survival rate at one year after diagnosis is <20%. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activities of paclitaxel, radiation, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined therapy in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and explore its effects on apoptotic cell death pathways. Materials & Methods: ATC cell line was exposed to TKI, lenvatinib in the presence or absence of paclitaxel with radiation, and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Effects of the combined treatment on cell cycle and intracellular signaling pathways were assessed by flow cytometry and western blot analysis. The ATC cell line xenograft model was used to examine the anti-tumor activity in vivo. Results: Our data revealed that the combined administration of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation decreased cell viability in ATC cells, and also significantly increased apoptotic cell death in these cells, as demonstrated by the cleavage of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation. This combination therapy reduced anti-apoptotic factor levels in ATC cells, while significantly decreasing tumor volume and increasing survival in ATC xenografts. Conclusion: These results indicate that administering the combination of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation therapy may exert significant anticancer effects in preclinical models, potentially suggesting a new clinical approach for treating patients with ATC.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.656-662
• /
• 2015

Natural products and natural product structures play a general and highly significant role in drug discovery and development process because it has various merits and potentials for new drug source that have extensive clinical experience, development time contraction, excellent stability and safety. In several neurological disorders, neuronal death and excessive activation of microglia (neuro-inflammation) are observed. A number of drug discovery-related neuronal cell death and neuro-inflammation was studied from natural products, respectively. However, until now, it has not been possible to study dual-protection molecules recorded in the Natural Product library. In the present study, using the natural product-derived library of the Institute for Korea Traditional Medical Industry, we investigated dual-protective molecules against glutamate (a classical excitatory neurotransmitter)-induced oxidative stress mediated neuronal cell death and LPS-induced excessive activated microglial cells (immune cells of the brain). Chrysophanol, extracted from Rheum palmatum, had dual-protective effects against both glutamate-induced neuronal cell death and LPS-induced NO production, triggering proinflammatory cytokines and microglia activation and resulting in neuroinflammation. Flow-cytometry analysis revealed that chrysophanol had a scavenger effect, scavenging glutamate- and LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by neuronal and microglial cells, respectively. Based on the present study, chrysophanol may have an important protective role against neuronal cell death and neuroinflammation in the brain. The results may be helpful for studying drug development candidates for treating central nervous system disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.336-343
• /
• 2008

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors have emerged as the accessory therapeutic agents for various human cancers, since they can block the activity of specific HDACs, restore the expression of some tumor suppressor genes and induce cell differentiation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated that the effect of trichostatin A (TSA), an HDAC inhibitor, on the cell growth and apoptosis, and its effect on the nuclear factor-kappaB $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ activity in 267B1 human prostate epithelial cells. Exposure of 267B1 cells to TSA resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in and dose-dependent manners as measured by fluorescence microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. TSA treatment inhibited the levels of IAP family members such as c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2 and induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, which were associated with concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase, ${\beta}-catenin$ and laminin B proteins. The increase in apoptosis by TSA was connected with the translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus, increase of the DNA binding as well as promoter activity of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and degradation of cytosolic inhibitor of KappaB $(I{\kappa}B)-{\alpha}$ protein. We therefore concluded that TSA demonstrated anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on 267B1 cells in vitro, and that the activation of caspases and $NF-{\kappa}B$ may play important roles in its mechanism of action. Although further studies are needed, these findings provided important insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of TSA.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.926-932
• /
• 2013

Glutamine and serum are essential for cell survival and proliferation in vitro, yet the signaling pathways that sense glutamine and serum levels in endothelial cells remain uninvestigated. In this study, we examined the effects of glutamine deprivation and serum starvation on the fate of endothelial cells using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. Our data indicated that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation trigger a progressive reduction in cell viability through apoptosis induction in HUVECs as determined by DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis. Although the apoptotic effects were more predominant in the glutamine deprivation condition, both apoptotic actions were associated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 (or Bcl-xL) ratio, down-regulation of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins, activation of caspase activities, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases. Moreover, down-regulation of the expression of Bid or up-regulation of truncated Bid (tBid) were observed in cells grown under the same conditions, indicating that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation induce the apoptosis of HUVECs through a signaling cascade involving death-receptor-mediated extrinsic pathways, as well as mitochondria-mediated intrinsic caspase pathways. However, apoptosis was not induced in cells grown in glutamine- and serum-free media when compared with cells exposed to glutamine deprivation or serum starvation alone. Taken together, our data indicate that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation suppress cell viability without apoptosis induction in HUVECs.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2003

Purpose : To evaluate the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on the radiosensitivity of normal human oral keratinocyte (NHOK). Materials and methods: Relative cell survival fraction including SF2 (survival fraction at 2 Gy) was calculated on the basis of colony formation assay. Data were fitted to the linear-quadratic model to establish the survival curve and calculate α and β values. Using flow cytometry at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days after exposure to 2 and 10 Gy irradiation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were analysed. To understand the molecular mechanism of the radiosensitization of ATRA on NHOK, proteins related with apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were investigated by Western blot analysis. Results: Treatment with ATRA resulted in a significant decrease of SF2 value for NHOK from 0.63 to 0.27, and increased α and β value, indicating that ATRA increased radiosensitivity of NHOK. ATRA increased LDH significantly, but increasing irradiation dose decreased LDH, suggesting that the radiosensitizing effect of ATRA is not directly related with increasing cell necrosis by ATRA. ATRA did not induce appotosis but increased G2 arrest after 10 Gy irradiation, implying that the increased radiosensitivity of NHOK may be due to a decrease in mitosis casued by increasing G2 arrest. ATRA inhibited the reduction of p53 at 3 days after l0Gy irradiation and increased p21 at 1 day after 10 Gy irradiation. Further study is required to determine the precise relationship between this effect and the radiosensitizing effect of A TRA. Conclusion: These results suggested that ATRA increase radiosensitivity by inhibiting mitosis caused by increasing G2 arrest.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.247-256
• /
• 2017

Background: KG-135, a standardized formulation enriched with Rk1, Rg3, and Rg5 ginsenosides, has been shown to inhibit various types of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we explored its effects in A549 human lung cancer cells to investigate the induction of Forkhead Class box O3a (FOXO3a) and autophagy. Methods: Cell viability was determined by sulforhodamine B staining. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed using flow cytometry. The changes of protein levels were determined using Western blot analysis. Autophagy induction was monitored by the formation of acidic vesicular organelles stained with acridine orange. Results: KG-135 effectively arrested the cells in G1 phase with limited apoptosis. Accordingly, a decrease of cyclin-dependent kinase-4, cyclin-dependent kinase-6, cyclin D1, and phospho-retinoblastoma protein, and an increase of p27 and p18 proteins were observed. Intriguingly, KG-135 increased the tumor suppressor FOXO3a and induced the accumulation of autophagy hallmark LC3-II and acidic vesicular organelles without an increase of the upstream marker Beclin-1. Unconventionally, the autophagy adaptor protein p62 (sequestosome 1) was increased rather than decreased. Blockade of autophagy by hydroxychloroquine dramatically potentiated KG-135-induced FOXO3a and its downstream (FasL) ligand accompanied by the cleavage of caspase-8. Meanwhile, the decrease of Bcl-2 and survivin, as well as the cleavage of caspase-9, were also drastically enhanced, resulting in massive apoptosis. Conclusion: Besides arresting the cells in G1 phase, KG-135 increased FOXO3a and induced an unconventional autophagy in A549 cells. Both the KG-135-activated extrinsic FOXO3a/FasL/caspase-8 and intrinsic caspase-9 apoptotic pathways were potentiated by blockade of autophagy. Combination of KG-135 and autophagy inhibitor may be a novel strategy as an integrative treatment for cancers.