Biomedical subjects

Gi Young Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Gi Young Kim.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Beta-lapachone, a quinone isolated from Tabebuia avellanedae, induces apoptosis in HepG2 hepatoma cell line through induction of Bax and activation of caspase.

The DNA topoisomerase inhibitor beta-lapachone is a quinone obtained from the bark of the lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae) in South America. It has been reported to possess a wide range of pharmacological properties, and is a promising cancer chemopreventive agent. In this study, the effects of beta-lapachone on the growth of the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 were investigated. The results showed that beta-lapachone inhibits the viability of HepG2 by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting results indicated that treatments of cells with beta-lapachone resulted in down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. beta-Lapachone-induced apoptosis was associated with a proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and -9 and degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. However, beta-lapachone treatment did not affect the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family and the Fas/FasL system. Taken together, our study indicated that beta-lapachone may have potential as a chemopreventive agent for liver cancer.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2006

Induction of G2/M arrest and inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 activity by curcumin in human bladder cancer T24 cells.

Curcumin, a polyphenol compound derived from Curcuma longa Linn, has been recognized as a promising anti-cancer drug due to its multiple properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic activities. To elucidate the mechanisms by which curcumin inhibits human bladder carcinoma T24 cell proliferation, we tested the effects of curcumin on specific cell cycle pathways and on the expression of cyclooxygenases (COXs). Curcumin inhibited the growth of T24 cells and induced G2/M arrest in a concentration-dependent manner, effects associated with the down-regulation of cyclin A and up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1). However, other G2/M regulatory molecules, such as cyclin A, Cdc2, Cdk2, Wee1 and Cdc25C, were not modulated by curcumin treatment. Furthermore, curcumin decreased the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the levels of COX-1, which correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. These observations suggest that curcumin may have therapeutic potential for bladder cancer patients.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2006

Suppression of U937 human monocytic leukemia cell growth by dideoxypetrosynol A, a polyacetylene from the sponge Petrosia sp., via induction of Cdk inhibitor p16 and down-regulation of pRB phosphorylation.

Dideoxypetrosynol A, a polyacetylene from the marine sponge Petrosia sp., is known to exhibit significant selective cytotoxic activity against a small panel of human tumor cell lines, the mechanisms of which however, are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to further elucidate the possible mechanisms by which dideoxypetrosynol A exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human monocytic leukemia U937 cells. We observed that the proliferation-inhibitory effect of dideoxypetrosynol A was due to the induction of G1 arrest in the cell cycle, the effects of which were associated with up-regulation of cyclin D1 and down-regulation of cyclin E, in a concentration-dependent manner without any change in cyclin-dependent-kinases (Cdks) expression. Dideoxypetrosynol A markedly induced the levels of Cdk inhibitor p16/INK4a expression. Furthermore, down-regulation of phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) by this compound was associated with enhanced binding of pRB and transcription factor E2F-1. Overall, our results demonstrate a combined mechanism involving the inhibition of pRB phosphorylation and induction of p16 as targets for dideoxypetrosynol A, may explain some of its anti-cancer effects.

Acetylene↗

PubMed2004

Nail changes during docetaxel containing combination chemotherapy.

Nail toxicity following systemic chemotherapy is common. Onychopathy during the period of neutropenia following chemotherapy may cause subungual abscesses and serious infection. Despite taxoid-related toxicity being increasingly reported since 2000, there are still phase II systemic chemotherapy studies using taxoid that have never mentioned nail changes. Recently, new criteria for the evaluation of nail toxicity have been suggested. The present report is the first of its kind, in Korea, to describe a case of docetaxel-associated onychopathy, which improved following a reduction in the docetaxel dose.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗