• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2011

${\beta}$-sitosterol glucoside exists in a variety of plants and have anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and immunomodulatory activities. Mast cells and eosinophils play important roles in a variety of inflammatory diseases, specifically asthma and atopic dermatitis. In the present study, we used lactose-${\beta}$-sitosterol (L-BS) and investigated the effect of L-BS on inflammatory responses of the human mast cell line, HMC-1 and the human eosinophilic leukemia cell line, EoL-1. In HMC-1 cells, L-BS significantly inhibited cell migration in response to stem cell factor without cytotoxicity. However, the mRNA expression of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs), including CCR1-5, were not altered after L-BS treatment in HMC-1 cells. LPS-induced IL-4 production was also suppressed by L-BS in a dose-dependent manner. In EoL-1 cells, the concentration ranging from 0.1 ${\mu}M$ to 10 ${\mu}M$ of L-BS had no cytotoxicity and had no effect on mRNA expression of major protein-mediators derived from activated eosinophils. However, 100 ${\mu}M$ of L-BS induced the apoptosis of EoL-1 cells in a time-dependent manner. This finding indicates the possibility of L-BS as a potential therapeutic molecule in inflammatory diseases and may contribute to the need to improve current therapeutic drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.455-461
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• 2016

Galectins are ${\beta}$-galactoside binding lectins that contain one or more carbohydrate recognition domains. As a consequence of sugar-binding properties, galectins exhibit a variety of interactions with glycoproteins, thus playing important roles in various pathological processes. A number of studies have shown roles of galectins in cancer. Galectin-7 is a prototype member of the galectin family implicated in epithelial stratification and cell migration. It can act as a potent dual regulator in different types of cancer. Galectin-7 may contribute either to neoplastic transformation and tumour progression through regulation of cell growth, cell cycle, angiogenesis, apoptosis and cell migration or may have a protective effect in cancer depending on the tissue type. A perusal of the literature indicates particular roles of galectin-7 in carcinomas and melanomas, while contributions await greater exploration in other types of cancers including sarcomas and leukemia. This review collectively summarizes available literature on expression and roles of galectin-7 in different cancers.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.64-74
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• 2001

Objectives : The effects of aqueous extract of Backhapgogumtanggami-bang (BGTG, a newly devised herb medicine) on the induction of apoptotic cell death were investigated in human lymphoid origin leukemia cell lines, HL-60. Methods : Cells were treated with various concentrations and $400{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ BGTG for 12 hr. Genomic DNA was isolated and separated on 1.8% agarose gels. Lysates from the cells were used to measure the activity of caspase-2, -3, -8, and -9 protease by using fluorogenic peptide. Cells were preincubated with SB-203580 for 30 min. Nuclear protein from the cells was incubated with oliginucleotide probe of AP-l and NF-kB. Nuclear extracts from the cells were isolated and reacted with antibodies. Results : The viability of HL-60 cells were markedly decreased by BGTG extract in a dose- and time-dependent manner. BGTG extract induced the apoptotic death of HL-60 cells which was characterized by the DNA fragmentation. The activations of Caspase-2, 3, and 9 were induced by BGTG. However, selective inhibition of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways by SB-203580 did not affect the extent of BGTG extract-induced cell death. Furthermore, we observed the transient activations of transcriptional factors such as AP-l and NF-kB. Conclusions : These results suggest that BGTG extract induced apoptotic death of HL-60 cells and caspase activations as well as the modulation of transcriptional factors such as AP-1 and NF-kB.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1998

To investigate the cytotoxic effect of Platycodon grandiflorum DC, petroleum ether extract of Platycodon grandiflorum DC was partially purified by a silica gel column chromatography. Among several fractions, fraction D which was obtained under the elution with a 7:3 mixture of petroleum ether and ethyl ether, showed patent cytotoxicity against mouse leukemia cell line (L1210), human rectum cancer cell line (HRT-18) and human colon cancer cell lint (HCT-48).

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.321-328
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• 2015

Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma (the rhizome of Alpinia officinarum Hance, known as lesser galangal), a family of Zingiberaceae, has been used to reduce pain of infection and inflammatory diseases in Asian countries. The present study was focused to evaluate the inhibitory degranulation effect of Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract in RBL-2H3 rat basophilic leukemia cells. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. RBL-2H3 cells were stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187. Mast cell degranulation was analyzed by measuring release of β-hexosaminidase in RBL-2H3 cell. Gene expression was measured by qRT-PCR and signaling molecules were detected by immunoblotting. The Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract suppressed β-hexosaminidase release in dose-dependent manner and inhibited cycloxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression. Furthermore, it was found that Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract reduced mitogen-activated protein kinases, especially phosphorylated p38, at 0.75 ㎎/㎖ of Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract concentrations. These data show that Alpiniae officinarum Rhizoma extract has immunosuppressive effect in mast cell induced allergic inflammation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1664-1671
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• 2010

A new biosurfactant producer was isolated from palm-oil-contaminated soil and later identified through morphology and DNA sequencing as the yeast-like fungus Exophiala dermatitidis. Biosurfactant production was catalyzed by vegetable oil, supplemented with a basal medium. The culture conditions that provided the biosurfactant with the highest surface activity were found to be 5% palm oil with 0.08% $NH_4NO_3$, at a pH of 5.3, with shaking at 200 rpm, and a temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ for a 14-day period of incubation. The biosurfactant was purified, in accordance with surfactant properties, by solvent fractionation using silica gel column chromatography. The chemical structure of the strongest surface-active compound was elucidated through the use of NMR and mass spectroscopy, and noted to be monoolein, which then went on to demonstrate antiproliferative activity against cervical cancer (HeLa) and leukemia (U937) cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, no cytotoxicity was observed with normal cells even when high concentrations were used. Cell and DNA morphological changes, in both cancer cell lines, were observed to be cell shrinkage, membrane blebbling, and DNA fragmentation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1998

Hypericin, a photosensitizing plant pigment, was found to be a potent inducer of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia U-937 cells. At a concentration of $0.2{\mu}M$, hypericin exhibited 50% growth inhibition. An effect on cell differentiation by hypericin was assessed by its ability to induce phagocytosis of latex particles, and to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). Approximately 51% of $0.2{\mu}M$ hypericin-treated cells were stained with NBT and 63% showed phagocytic activity. In order to establish whether hypericin induces differentiation of U-937 cells to macrophage or granulocyte, esterase activities and cell sizes were measured. When U-937 cells were treated with $0.2{\mu}M$ and $0.15{\mu}M$ of hypericin, the .alpha.-naphthyl acetate esterase activity was increased by 38.4% and 48.1%, respectively, but naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase activity was not influenced. The size of hypericin-treated cells in terms of cell mass was larger than that observed in untreated cells as determined by flow cytometry. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, NA-382, decreased the NBT reducing activity of hypericin, whereas a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H-89, did not show any influence on the differentiations. These results indicate that hypericin triggers differentiation toward monocyte/macrophage lineage by PKC stimulation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2020

The identification of adult stem cells is challenging because of the heterogeneity and plasticity of stem cells in different organs. Within the same tissue, stem cells may be highly proliferative, or maintained in a quiescent state and only to be activated after tissue damage. Although various stem cell markers have been successfully identified, there is no universal stem cell marker, which is exclusively expressed in all stem cells. Here, we discuss the roles of master developmental regulator RUNX1 in stem cells and the development of a 270 base pair fragment of the Runx1 enhancer (eR1) for use as stem cell marker. Using eR1 to identify stem cells offers a distinct advantage over gene promoters, which might not be expressed exclusively in stem cells. Moreover, RUNX1 has been strongly implicated in various cancer types, such as leukemia, breast, esophageal, prostate, oral, skin, and ovarian cancers-it has been suggested that RUNX1 dysfunction promotes stem cell dysfunction and proliferation. As tissue stem cells are potential candidates for cancer cells-of-origin and cancer stem cells, we will also discuss the use of eR1 to target oncogenic gene manipulations in stem cells and to track subsequent neoplastic changes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.1317-1324
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• 2014

The immune system protects the body against harmful substances and infectious agents. Normally, the body can maintain a state of immune homeostasis. However, failure of immune homeostasis results in severe diseases when the immune system is defective. We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of Curcuma longa L. extract in LP-BM5 MuLV (murine leukemia viruses)-induced murine AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Mice were divided into six groups: normal control, infected control (LP-BM5 MuLV infection), positive control (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of red ginseng 200 mg/kg), CL50 (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract 50 mg/kg), CL200 (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract 200 mg/kg), and CL500 (LP-BM5 MuLV infection+dietary supplement of Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract 500 mg/kg). We found that dietary supplementation with Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract inhibited elevation of spleen, lymph node, and liver weights as well as reduction of T- and B-cell proliferation and natural killer cell activity induced by LP-BM5 MuLV infection. Moreover, Curcuma longa L. 20% alcohol extract inhibited Th1 (IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$)/Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokine imbalance and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. In conclusion, these data suggest that Curcuma longa L. has immunomodulatory effects in LP-BM5 MuLV-induced murine AIDS.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2012

Background: A cell line with transfected Wilms' tumor protein 1 (WT1) is has been used for the preclinical evaluation of novel treatment strategies of WT1 immunotherapy for leukemia due to the lack of appropriate murine leukemia cell line with endogenous WT1. However, silencing of the transgene occurs. Regarding the effects of hypomethylating agents (HMAs) on reactivation of silenced genes, HMAs are considered to be immune enhancers. Methods: We treated murine WT1- transfected C1498 (mWT1-C1498) with increasing doses of decitabine (DAC) and azacitidine (AZA) to analyze their effects on transgene reactivation. Results: DAC and AZA decreased the number of viable cells in a dose- or time-dependent manner. Quantification of WT1 mRNA level was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction after mWT1-C1498 treated with increasing dose of HMA. DAC treatment for 48 h induced 1.4-, 14.6-, and 15.5-fold increment of WT1 mRNA level, compared to untreated sample, at 0.1, 1, and $10{\mu}M$, respectively. Further increment of WT1 expression in the presence of 1 and $10{\mu}M$ DAC was evident at 72 h. AZA treatment also induced up-regulation of mRNA, but not to the same degree as with DAC treatment. The correlation between the incremental increases in WT1 mRNA by DAC was confirmed by Western blot and concomitant down-regulation of WT1 promoter methylation was revealed. Conclusion: The in vitro data show that HMA can induce reactivation of WT1 transgene and that DAC is more effective, at least in mWT1-C1498 cells, which suggests that the combination of DAC and mWT1-C1498 can be used for the development of the experimental model of HMA-combined WT1 immunotherapy targeting leukemia.