• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.509-516
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• 2014

Radiation therapy for variety of human solid tumors utilizes mechanism of cell death after DNA damage caused by radiation. In response to DNA damage, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria by activation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, and then elicits massive $Ca^{2+}$ release from the ER that lead to cell death. It was also suggested that irradiation may cause the deregulation of $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis and trigger programmed cell death and regulate death specific enzymes. Thus, in this study, we investigated how cellular $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in RKO cells, in comparison to radiation-resistant A549 cells, was altered by gamma (${\gamma}$)-irradiation. In irradiated RKO cells, $Ca^{2+}$ influx via activation of NCX reverse mode was enhanced and a decline of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ via forward mode was accelerated. The amount of $Ca^{2+}$ released from the ER in RKO cells by the activation of $IP_3$ receptor was also enhanced by irradiation. An increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ via SOCI was enhanced in irradiated RKO cells, while that in A549 cells was depressed. These results suggest that ${\gamma}$-irradiation elicits enhancement of cellular $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in radiation-sensitive RKO cells yielding programmed cell death.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.233-237
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• 2003

It has been known that ATM plays a central role in response of cells to ionizing radiation by enhancing DNA repair. We have investigated the feasibility of increasing radiosensitivity of tumor cells with the use of ATM inhibitors such as caffeine, pentoxifylline and wortmannin. Human colorectal cancer RKO.C cells and RKO-ATM cells (RKO cells overexpressing ATM) were used in the present study. The clonogenic cell survival in vitro indicated that RKO-ATM cells were markdely radioresistant than RKO.C cells. Treatment with 3 mM of caffeine significantly increased the radiosensitivity of cells, particulary the RKO-ATM cells, so that the radiosensitivity of RKO.C cells and RKO-ATM cells were almost similar. The radiation induced G2/M arrest in RKO-ATM cells was noticeably longer than that in RKO.C cells and caffeine treatment significantly reduced the length of the radiation induced G2/M arrest in both RKO.C and RKO-ATM cells. Pentoxifylline and wortmannin were also less effective than caffeine to radiosensitize RKO.C or RKO-ATM cells. However, wortmannin was more effective than caffeine against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells indicating the efficacy of ATM inhibitor to increase radiosensitivity is cell line dependent. For in vivo study, RKO.C cells were injected s.c. into the hind-leg of BALB/C-nuslc nude mice, and allowed to grow to 130mm3 tumor. The mice were i.p. injected with caffeine solution or saline and the tumors irradiated with 10 Gy of X-rays. The radiation induced growth delay was markedly increased by 1-2 mg/g of caffeine. It was concluded that caffeine increases radiosensitivity of tumor cells by inhibiting ATM kinase function, thereby inhibiting DNA repair, that occurs during the G2/M arrest after radiation.

• 약학회지
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• 제60권3호
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• pp.101-106
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• 2016

Allylthiopyridazine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for anti-proliferative activities in the previous study. In this study, selected two allylthiopyridazine derivatives (compound I, 3-heptylamino-6-allylthiopyridazine and compound II, 3-dipentylamino-6-allylthiopyridazine) were assessed for cytotoxicity and chronic proliferation in human colon carcinoma RKO cells. Two derivatives dose-dependently inhibited cell viability and proliferation. To elucidate the anticancer mechanism of two derivatives, we investigated the expression level of apoptosis-related proteins in RKO cells. Compound I induced the activation of JNK and expression of p53 and p21. On the other hand, compound II showed no change of p53 level. Interestingly, compound II inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$. This result suggested that compound II suppressed cell proliferation. These different mechanisms of these compounds might have occurred through different steric conformation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.655-660
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• 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most high-risk cancers; however, it has been suggested that estrogen signaling in CRC could have a protective effect. Therefore, we focused on the function of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) among the estrogen receptors in CRC. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of resveratrol via GPER in CRC (RKO and WiDr) cells, CRC cell-derived xenograft models, and organoids (30T and 33T). Resveratrol significantly suppressed cell viability and proliferation in highly GPER-expressing RKO cells compared to that in low GPER-expressing WiDr cells. In xenograft models, resveratrol also delayed tumor growth and exhibited a high survival rate depending on GPER expression in RKO-derived tumors. Furthermore, resveratrol significantly inhibited the viability of organoids with high GPER expression. Additionally, the anticancer effect of resveratrol on CRC showed that resveratrol rapidly responded to GPER, while increasing the expression of p-ERK and Bax and cleaving PARP proteins.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권14호
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• pp.5835-5842
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• 2015

Background: Melatonin, which is mainly produced by the pineal gland, has a good inhibitory effect on cell growth of multiple cancer types. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of anti-tumor activity for colon cancer have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of melatonin on migration in human colon cancer RKO cells and the potential molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods: The viability of RKO cells was investigated by MTT assay after treatment with melatonin, SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, MAPK activator) alone or in combination for 48h. The effects of melatonin, and ML-7, a selective inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), and SB203580, and PMA on the migration of RKO cells were analyzed by in vitro scratch-wound assay. The relative mRNA levels of MLCK was assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Western blotting analysis was performed to examine the expression of MLCK, phosphorylation of myosin light chain (pMLC) and p38 (pp38). Results: The proliferation and migration of human colon cancer RKO cells were inhibited significantly after treatment with melatonin. The expression levels of MLCK and phosphorylation of MLC of RKO cells were reduced, and real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that melatonin had significant effects on suppressing the expression of MLCK. Furthermore, the phosphorylation level of p38, which showed the same trend, was also reduced when cells were treated by melatonin. In addition, ML-7 (25umol/l) could down-regulate the phosphorylation of p38. Conclusions: Melatonin could inhibit the proliferation and migration of RKO cells, and further experiments confirmed that p38 MAPK plays an important role in regulating melatonin-induced migration inhibition through down-regulating the expression and activity of MLCK.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.1017-1021
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• 2013

The cellular apoptosis susceptibility (CSE1L) gene has been demonstrated to regulate multiple cellular mechanisms including the mitotic spindle check point as well as proliferation and apoptosis. However, the importance of CSE1L in human colon cancer is largely unknown. In the present study, we examined expression levels of CSE1L mRNA by semiquantitative RT-PCR. A lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down CSE1L expression in the human colon cancer cell line RKO. Changes in CSE1L target gene expression were determined by RT-PCR. Cell proliferation was examined by a high content screening assay. In vitro tumorigenesis was measured by colony-formation assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometric analysis. We found CSE1L mRNA to be expressed in human colon cancer cells. Using a lentivirus based RNAi approach, CSE1L expression was significantly inhibited in RKO cells, causing cell cycle arrest in the G2/M and S phases and a delay in cell proliferation, as well as induction of apoptosis and an inhibition of colony growth capacity. Collectively, the results suggest that silencing of CSE1L may be a potential therapeutic approach for colon cancer.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 학술발표회
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• pp.80-80
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• 2003

${\beta}$-lapachone(${\beta}$-Lap), a natural o-naphthoquinone, presents in the bark of the Lapacho tree. ${\beta}$-Lap is cytotoxic against a variety of human cancer cells and it potentiates the anti-tumor effect of Taxol. In addition, ${\beta}$-Lap has been reported to radiosensitize cancer cells by inhibiting the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage.In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of ${\beta}$-Lap against RKO human colorectal cancer cells as well as the combined effect of ${\beta}$-LaP and ionizing radiation. An incubation of RKO cells with 5 ${\mu}$M of ${\beta}$-Lap for 4 h killed almost 90％ of the clonogenic cells. An incubation of RKO cells with 5 ${\mu}$M of ${\beta}$-Lap for 4 h or longer also caused massive apoptosis. Unlike other cytotoxic agents, ${\beta}$-Lap did not increase the expression of p53 and p21 and it suppressed the NFkB expression. The expression of Caspase 9 and 3 was minimally altered by ${\beta}$-Lap. Radiation and ${\beta}$-Lap acted synergistically in inducing clonogenic cell death and apoptosis in RKO cells when ${\beta}$-Lap treatment was applied after but not before the radiation exposure of the cells. Interestingly, a 4 h treatment with 5 ${\mu}$M of ${\beta}$-Lap starting 5 h after irradiation was as effective as that starting immediately after irradiation. The mechanisms of ${\beta}$-Lap-induced cell killing is controversial but a recent hypothesis is that ${\beta}$-Lap is activated by NAD(P)H: quinone-onidoreductase (NQO1) in the cells followed by an elevation of cytosolic Ca$\^$2+/ level and activation of proteases leading to apoptosis. It has been reported that NQO1 level in cells is markedly up-regulated for longer than 10 h after irradiation. Indeed, using immunological staining of NQO1, we observed a significant elevation of NQO1 expression in RKO cells 5h after 2-4 Gy irradiation. Such a prolonged elevation of NQO1 level after irradiation may be the reasons why the ${\beta}$-Lap treatment applied S h after irradiation was as effective as that applied immediately after irradiation in killing the cells. In view of the fact that the repair of radiation-induced damage is usually completed within 1-2 h after irradiation, it is highly likely that the ${\beta}$-Lap treahment applied 5 h after irradiation could not inhibit the repair of radiation-induced damage. For in vivo study, RKO cells were injected S.C. into the hind-leg of Nu/Nu mice, and allowed to grow to 130 mm3 tumor. The mice were i.p. injected with ${\beta}$-lapachone or saline 2 h after irradiation of tumors with 10 Gy of X-rays. The radiation induced growth delay was increased by 2.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g of ${\beta}$-lapachone. Taken together, we may conclude that the synergistic interaction of radiation and ${\beta}$-Lap in killing cancer cells is not due to radiosensitization by ${\beta}$-Lap but to an enhancement of ${\beta}$-Lap cytotoxicity by radiation through an upregulation of NQO1. The fact that NQO1 is elevated in tumors and that radiation causes prolonged increase of the NQO1 expression may be exploited to preferentially kill tumor cells using ${\beta}$-Lap in combination with radiotherapy.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.294-298
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• 2016

해양생물을 포함한 천연물질은 신약개발의 원천 소재로서 매력적이며, 특히 무수한 미지의 해양생물들의 연구가 관심을 받고 있다. 기존의 연구에서 미크로네시아에서 채취한 해면동물 40여종에 대하여 항증식 효과를 다양한 암세포주에서 검색한 바 있다. 본 연구에서는 그 중 Coscinoderma sp.의 작용 및 그 기전을 살펴보았다. 특히, 암 억제유전자 p53의 발현을 억제시킨 세포주(HCT116 p53KO과 RKO-E6)에서의 차이점을 비교하였다. 세포생존률 시험에서 Coscinoderma sp. 추출물은 p53의 유무와 상관없이 암세포의 증식을 억제하였음을 확인하였다. 이 암세포 증식 억제 효과가 p53 존재에 따라 다르게 나타나는지 알아보기 위하여 세포사멸 관련 단백질 발현양을 Coscinoderma sp. 처리한 각 세포주에서 비교하였다. 그 결과, Coscinoderma sp.를 HCT16 세포주에 처리하였을 때, p53과 Noxa의 발현이 증가하는 것을 관찰하였고, caspase-9이 분절되면서 감소하는 것으로부터 apoptosis를 일으킨다고 여겨진다. 반면, p53이 결핍된 HCT116세포주에서는 Coscinoderma sp.에 의하여 p21과 mTOR의 발현이 증가되는 것을 확인하였고, 이는 senescence를 야기할 수 있다고 여겨진다. 본 연구로부터 Coscinoderma sp.는 p53의 존재여부에 따라 상이한 작용기전을 매개하여 대장암 세포주의 증식을 억제한다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이는 새로운 항암제의 개발 가능성을 제시하는 것으로, Coscinoderma sp.의 활성 성분에 대한 지속적인 연구가 이루어 져야 할 것으로 보인다.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.163-170
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• 2001

목적 : 방사선조사후 세포의 생존 분획은 세포집락 측정기법으로 확인하는 것이 표준이나 많은 비용과 시간이 소요되는 단점을 갖고 있다. 이에 생존 세포의 tetrazolium염의 자색 formazan 침전물로의 환원시키는 능력에 그 기반을 둔 MTT 기법을 사용하여 세포집락 측정기법을 대체하기 위한 기법으로서의 유용성과 그 실행상의 최적조건을 규명하고자 하였다. 방법 : PCI-1, SNU-1066, NCI-H630, RKO등의 세포주에 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Gy의 방사선을 조사한 후 세포집락 측정 기법과 MTT기법으로 세포 생존 분획을 조사하였다. 세포집락 측정기법은 $25\;cm^2$ 폴리스티렌 배양 플라스크에 방사선량에 따라 다른 수의 세포를 분주한 후 24시간 동안 배양 후 방사선을 조사하였고 이를 $10\~14$일 동안 배양 후 염색하여 생성된 세포집락의 수를 측정하였다. MTT기법은 침전물의 용해과정이 필요없는 Premix WST-1 시약을 이용하여 시행하였다. MTT기법은 각각의 세포주에서 세포수와 흡광도간의 선형관계와 최적 실험조건을 확인한 이후 시행하였다. 이 기법은 방사선을 조사받은 세포에서는 지수적 성장을 회복한 이후와 방사선을 조사받지 않은 세포는 4회 이상의 세포분열을 거친 후에 시행하였다. 세포집락 측정기법 및 MTT기법을 통하여 얻은 세포 생존율을 구한 후 이를 지표로 비교하였다. 결과 : 각 기법으로 얻은 세포 생존율의 표준편차는 $5\%$ 내외였다. 2가지 방법으로 구한 세포 생존율은 t-test로 비교하였을 때 $0\~4\;Gy$에서는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었으며 회귀분석 결과는 선형적 관계가 있었다$(R^2=0.975-0.992)$. MTT 기법의 시행에 최적인 세포수는 배양효율에 따라 다른 것으로 나타났는데, 배양효율이 $30\%$ 이상이면 300개 이하가, $30\%$ 미만인 경우는 $500\~1,000$개가 적당한 것으로 확인되었다. MTT기법은 6 배가시간 경과 이후에 시행하는 것이 세포집락 측정기법과 가장 근접하였으며 적어도 4 배가시간 이후에 시행하는 것이 필요할 것으로 사료되었다. 이에 따르면 배가시간이 3일 이하인 세포주가 세포 민감성 측정방법으로서 MTT 기법이 세포 집락 측정 기법을 대체하여 사용하기에 적합한 것으로 사료되었다. 결론 : 이상에서, MTT기법을 이용하여 방사선조사 후의 세포생존을 측정하기 위해서는 예비실험을 통해 각 세포주에서의 최적의 조건을 찾는 것이 필수적이며 이 조건하에서 MTT기법을 시행해야만 방사선에 의한 세포 민감성 측정에 이용될 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.70-74
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• 2017

해양생물자원은 차세대 바이오산업의 중요한 자원으로 관심이 증대되고 있다. 다양한 해양생물자원이 생물학적 활성을 가지고 있을 것으로 기대됨에도 불구하고, 지금까지는 시료 채취의 어려움 등으로 개발에 제한이 있었다. 해면동물, 해조류, 산호 등의 대부분의 해양생물자원들이 험난한 환경에서 살아남기 위해 특수한 대사산물을 만들어 낼 것으로 여겨지고 있어 이를 활용하기 위한 노력들이 기울여지고 있다. 많은 종류의 해양생물자원 중에서 바이오산업에 활용할 수 있는 항암, 항균, 항바이러스 및 항암 작용 등과 같은 생물학적 활성을 가진 물질을 선별하는 것이 시급한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 항암 작용을 갖는 해양생물자원을 도출하기 위하여 사람유래 대장암 세포주에서 세포독성시험을 실시하였다. 해양생물자원은 2013년 3월 마크로네시아에서 채취한 샘플들로 메탄올로 추출한 물질을 사용하였다. 해양생물자원의 세포독성시험을 실시하여 20개의 시료 중에서 3개의 시료에서 농도의존적인 세포 생존을 억제하는 것을 확인하였다. 검색된 시료들 중 2종만이 동정되어, 해면동물 Hyrtios sp.임이 밝혀졌다. 한종은 아직 밝혀지지 않은 상태로 추가적인 연구를 통해 동정이 필요하였다. Hyrtios sp. 추출물(1304KO-327과 1304KO-329)의 HCT116세포 증식억제작용은 이전 연구에서 보고된 RKO에서의 작용과 일치함을 알 수 있었다. 대장암세포주의 생존 억제 활성을 밝혀낸 3종의 도출 물질은 앞으로의 지속적인 연구를 통해 추출물 중의 항암 활성 물질을 규명함으로써 바이오산업의 새로운 개발 자원으로 활용될 것이 기대된다.