Yeunhwa Gu

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia U937 cells

Caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE), a biologically active ingredient of propolis, has several interesting biological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunostimulatory, anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive, anti-metastatic and carcinostatic activities. Recently, several groups have reported that CAPE is cytotoxic to tumor cells but not to normal cells. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of CAPE-induced apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia U937 cells. Treatment of U937 cells with CAPE decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. DNA fragmentation assay revealed the typical ladder profile of oligonucleosomal fragments in CAPE-treated U937 cells. In addition, as evidenced by the nuclear DAPI staining experiment, we observed that the nuclear condensation, a typical phenotype of apoptosis, was found in U937 cells treated with 5xa0μg/ml of CAPE. Therefore, it was suggested that CAPE is a potent agent inducing apoptosis in U937 cells. Apoptotic action of the CAPE was accompanied by release of cytochrome C, reduction of Bcl-2 expression, increase of Bax expression, activation/cleavage of caspase-3 and activation/cleavage of PARP in U937 cells, but not by Fas protein, an initial mediator in the death signaling, or by phospho-eIF2α and CHOP, crucial mediators in ER-mediated apoptosis. From the results, it was concluded that CAPE induces the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis but not death receptors- or ER-mediated apoptosis in U937 cells.

Drinking hydrogen water ameliorated cognitive impairment in senescence-accelerated mice.

Hydrogen has been reported to have neuron protective effects due to its antioxidant properties, but the effects of hydrogen on cognitive impairment due to senescence-related brain alterations and the underlying mechanisms have not been characterized. In this study, we investigated the efficacies of drinking hydrogen water for prevention of spatial memory decline and age-related brain alterations using senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 (SAMP8), which exhibits early aging syndromes including declining learning ability and memory. However, treatment with hydrogen water for 30 days prevented age-related declines in cognitive ability seen in SAMP8 as assessed by a water maze test and was associated with increased brain serotonin levels and elevated serum antioxidant activity. In addition, drinking hydrogen water for 18 weeks inhibited neurodegeneration in hippocampus, while marked loss of neurons was noted in control, aged brains of mice receiving regular water. On the basis of our results, hydrogen water merits further investigation for possible therapeutic/preventative use for age-related cognitive disorders.

The Embryonic and Fetal Effects in ICR Mice Irradiated in the Various Stages of the Preimplantation Period

Pregnant ICR mice were irradiated with 0.1-2.5 Gy 137Cs gamma rays at a dose rate of 0.2 Gy/min at 2, 48, 72 or 96 h postconception. In the mice irradiated during these stages of preimplantation, embryonic/fetal mortalities, incidence of external gross malformations, fetal body weight and sex ratio were observed at day 18 of gestation. There were significant increases in death in the preimplantation period compared to control levels after exposure to at least 0.25 Gy at 2 and 72 h postconception and 0.5 Gy at 96 h postconception. In contrast, a dose of 1.5 Gy was required at 48 h postconception. The frequency of embryonic death was analyzed using a logistic regression for comparing among stages. These analyses demonstrated that the regression slopes were significantly positive for groups in all stages and increased with decreasing time after conception. Furthermore, the regression analyses suggested that the most sensitive stage for preimplantation death and embryonic death was 2 h postconception, when embryos consisted of one cell. Many types of external gross malformations, such as exencephaly, cleft palate and anophthalmia, were observed even in the mice irradiated with 0.1 Gy at 2, 72 and 96 h postconception. In the same manner as embryonic mortality, the regression analyses suggested that the susceptibility of the mice irradiated at 2, 72 and 96 h postconception during preimplantation to external malformations was higher than that of the mice irradiated at 8 or 11 days of gestation, which is the period of organogenesis, and that the most sensitive stage for external malformations was 2 h postconception. However, no malformations were observed in the mice irradiated at 48 h postconception when the embryos were precompacted with four to eight cells.

Immune Activation and Radioprotection by Propolis

In this study, we focused on immune stimulation by Propolis, and examined changes in the effect of irradiation after Propolis administration. We also examined the radioprotective effect of Propolis by observing its effect on the immune system. The effect of immune activation by Propolis was investigated by measuring the total immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM. The radioprotective effect of immune activation by Propolis was investigated by measuring the T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of mice following whole body irradiation. Compared with the control group, the IgG was significantly reduced in the Propolis group, indicating that Propolis suppressed IgG production. ELISA revealed that the amount of IgM in mouse serum was significantly higher in the Propolis group as compared with the control group, indicating that Propolis increased IgM production. The number of CD4-positive cells was increased only in the Propolis group. Likewise, the number of CD4-positive cells increased by 81% in the Propolis with irradiation group compared with the irradiation group alone. Compared with the control group, the Propolis group increased CD8-positive cells. Compared with the irradiation alone group, CD8-positive cells were decreased by Propolis with irradiation group. Propolis activated macrophages to stimulate interferon (IFN)-gamma production in association with the secondary activation of T-lymphocytes, resulting in a decrease in IgG and IgM production. Cytokines released from macrophages in mouse peripheral blood after Propolis administration activated helper T-cells to proliferate. In addition, activated macrophages in association with the secondary T-lymphocyte activation increased IFN-gamma production and stimulated proliferation of cytotoxic T-cells and suppressor T-cells, indicating the activation of cell-mediated immune responses.

Interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α induce collagenolysis and bone resorption by regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in mouse calvarial bone cells

Abstract Interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) greatly induces osteoclast formation and stimulates bone resorption of mouse calvaria in culture. We examined the effects of the two cytokines on the collagenolysis and bone resorption by induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The cells were analyzed using zymographic analysis. It was shown that the mouse calvarial osteoblasts constitutively synthesize progelatinase‐A (MMP‐2). Interleukin‐1β markedly enhanced the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) expression of MMP‐2 (gelatinase A), but slightly MMP‐9 (gelatinase B), which associated with increases in bone matrix degradation. Both pro‐ and active‐forms of MMP‐2 were detected in the conditioned medium collected from calvarial cultures, and IL‐1β markedly stimulated both pro‐ and active‐forms of the MMP‐2. The expression of MMP‐2 mRNAs could be detected, and they were markedly enhanced by IL‐1β on days 1 and 2. These results demonstrate that the potency of induction of MMP‐2 by IL‐1β and TNF‐α is closely linked to the respective bone‐resorbing activity, suggesting that MMP‐2‐dependent degradation of bone matrix plays a key role in bone resorption induced by these cytokines. On the other hand, when the mouse osteoblasts were stimulated with parathyroid hormone, 1,25(OH)2D3, mononuclear cell conditioned medium (MCM) and IL‐1 as bone resorption agents, collagenolysis was increased by producing the active gelatinase. Interleukin‐1 in stimulating bone resorption was examined using fetal mouse long bone organ culture. Interleukin‐1 stimulated bone resorption and produced marked resorption when present simultaneously. Furthermore, treatment of indomethacin and dexamethasone clearly abolished the responses of IL‐1α and IL‐1β.

Tumoricidal Effects of β-Glucans: Mechanisms Include Both Antioxidant Activity Plus Enhanced Systemic and Topical Immunity

A study to evaluate the mechanisms of tumoricidal activity resulting from orally administered extract of Agaricus blazei Murill (A. blazei) was performed in mice bearing syngeneic and xenogeneic tumors. Tumor regression was comparably seen in both syngeneic and xenogeneic tumor-bearing mice when administered oral extract preparations. In addition, in a murine syngeneic tumor model, oral administration of water-soluble extracts of A. blazei resulted in significant production of cytokines such as IFN-γ, and TNF-α in peritoneal exudate cells, in parallel with the marked regression of tumor development. The water-soluble extracts also induced pronounced antioxidant activity in in vitro and in vivo assays using two different methods. These results indicate the A. blazei extract may enhance not only the immnunomodulatory effects that promote activity of peritoneal exudate cells for tumor regression but also potentially result in the direct destruction of tumor cells through its antioxidant activity.

Enhancement of Hyperthermic Effects Using Rapid Heating

Although favorable results have been reported concerning hyperthermic treatment against malignant tumors, there are still problems such as thermometry, determination of heating region, and long treatment time. The present research, which was conducted on laboratory animals, confirmed that the antitumor effect is augmented when the temperature is rapidly increased to the target temperature, regardless of the length of hyperthermic treatment time after the target temperature has been reached. This result suggests that the time of hyperthermic treatment can be shortened. For the experiment, C3H mice were used after subcutaneously inoculating them with SCC-VII tumor in the thigh. Hyperthermic treatment was performed at 43°C and 44°C for 20 and 40min using a warm water bath and an RF heating device. Changes in tissue blood flow before and after heating, the rate of tumor growth after hyperthermic treatment, tissue denaturation by antibody tissue staining, cytokinetic activity, and apoptosis were examined in two groups: a rapid-heating group, in which the heating temperature was increased to the target temperature in 1 min, and a slow-heating group, in which the heating temperature was gradually increased to the target temperature over a period of 10min. Changes in blood flow were not observed in the slow-heating group before or after the hyperthermic treatment in normal tissue or tumor tissue. On the other hand, blood flow in normal tissue was observed to increase significantly in the rapid-heating group after heat treatment, whereas blood flow in tumor tissue was observed to decrease significantly after heat treatment. Tumor growth was significantly delayed in the RF-heating group compared with the warm water-heating group. Although the degree of delay in tumor growth was similar in the rapid-heating group (heating at 43°C for 20 min) and the slow-heating group (43°C for 40min), a strong antitumor effect was observed in the rapid-heating group, suggesting that tratment time could be shortened. Following each hyperthermic treatment, sections of extracted specimens were stained with PCNA antibodies. This method revealed a significant cytokinetic activity in the slow-heating group, suggesting that little damage was caused by heat. Induction of apoptosis, observed by APOTAG antibodies, was significant in the rapid-heating group, with a peak in programmed cell death at 6–12 h following the treatment. In addition, factor-8 antibody stain revealed reduced staining in the rapid-heating group, confirming vascular injury. These results suggested that rapid heating might augment the antitumor effect as well as shorten the time required for hyper-thermic treatment. Slow heating causes little vascular injury, maintains sufficient blood flow to provide ample oxygen and nutrition, and leaves recovery and biophylaxic action intact against injury caused by heat. On the other hand, it is thought that rapid heating can shorten the time required for hyperthermic treatment by incurring vascular disorder and thereby selectively causing fatal disorder in the tumor region.

Effects of Fuscoporia obliqua on Postprandial Glucose Excursion and Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Postprandial hyperglycemia has been reported to elicit endothelial dysfunction and provoke future cardiovascular complications. A reduction of postprandial blood glucose levels by the glucosidase inhibitor Fuscoporia obliqua was associated with a risk reduction of cardiovascular complications, but the effects of Fuscoporia obliqua on endothelial function have never been elucidated. This study is aimed to assess the efficacy of Fuscoporia obliqua on postprandial metabolic parameters and endothelial function in type 2 diabetic patients. Postprandial peak glucose (14.47 +/- 1.27 vs. 8.50 +/- 0.53 mmol/liter), plasma glucose excursion (PPGE), and change in the area under the curve (AUC) glucose after a single loading of test meal (total 450 kcal; protein 15.3%; fat 32.3%; carbohydrate 51.4%) were significantly higher in the diet-treated type 2 diabetic patients (n=14) than the age- and sex-matched controls (n=12). The peak forearm blood flow response and total reactive hyperemic flow (flow debt repayment) during reactive hyperemia, indices of resistance artery endothelial function on strain-gauge plethysmography, were unchanged before and after meal loading in the controls. But those of the diabetics were significantly decreased 120 and 240 min after the test meal. A prior administration of Fuscoporia obliqua decreased postprandial peak glucose, PPGE, and AUC glucose. The peak forearm blood flow and flow debt repayment were inversely well correlated with peak glucose, PPGE, and AUC glucose, but not with AUC insulin or the other lipid parameters. Even a single loading of the test meal was shown to impair the endothelial function in type 2 diabetic patients, and the postprandial endothelial dysfunction was improved by a prior use of Fuscoporia obliqua. Fuscoporia obliqua might reduce macrovascular complication by avoiding endothelial injury in postprandial hyperglycemic status.

Effects of Hyperthermia-Induced Changes in pH Value on Tumor Response and Thermotolerance

After inducing hyperglycemia by intraperitoneally injecting 6mg/kg glucose in C3H mice transplanted with a FM3A tumor subcutaneously in the thigh, a selective decrease of tumor tissue pH was seen.The frequency of appearance of thermal hypersensitivity and thermotolerance in response to glucose administration was studied. Heating was conducted by placing the animals in a thermostatic water bath at 43°C for 30 min, followed by a repeat of the same treatment after various intervals. After inducing hyperglycemia by glucose administration, nonheated tumor tissue pH decreased by 0.3 to 0.6, whereas pH of nonheated normal tissue fell by only 0.1 to 0.2, with a slower recovery to the previous level than the tumor tissue. On heating after glucose administration, tumor tissue pH fell from 6.9 to 6.5 immediately after heating with a delay of recovery time after heating. In normal tissue, tissue pH of 7.2 before heating fell to 6.9, rapidly recovering to a level higher than the baseline after the heat treatment. Thermotolerance reached a maximum 6h after the first heat treatment in the group given glucose and disappeared after 12 h. In the group not given glucose, thermotolerance reached a maximum 12 h after the first treatment, and no complete loss of thermotolerance occurred even after 72 h. Tumor growth rate in the group given glucose was 4 days slower than in that not given glucose when the interval between heat treatment was 12 h, indicating an antitumor effect. At all intervals after the first, the group given glucose showed a delay of tumor growth by 1–2 days compared to the group not given glucose, indicating augmented heat sensitivity. Hyperglycemia caused by glcose administration induced a selective decrease of tumor tissue pH, indicating the possibility of inducing selective heat sensitivity in tumors.

Subchronic Oral Dose Toxicity Study of Enterococcus Faecalis 2001 (EF 2001) in Mice

As a part of general toxicity studies of Enterococcus Faecalis 2001 (EF 2001) prepared using heat-treatment bacillus mort body EF 2001 in mice, this study examined the toxicity of EF 2001 in single and repeated administrations following the previous report in order to apply this product to preventive medicine. The safety of oral ingestion of EF 2001 was examined in 6-week-old male and female ICR mice with 1,000 mg/kg, 3,000 mg/kg and 5,000 mg/kg body weight/day administrated by gavage of the maximum acceptable dose of EF 2001. The study was conducted using distilled water as a control following the methods for general toxicity studies described in the “Guidelines for Non-clinical Studies of Pharmaceutical Products 2002”. As a control, 1) observation of general conditions, 2) measurement of body weight, 3) determination of food consumption, 4) determination of water consumption, 5) blood test and urinalysis and 6) pathological examination were performed for the administration of EF 2001. Mice received EF 2001 for 13 weeks and results were compared with those of the control group that received distilled water. The results of the above examinations revealed no significant differences between control and EF 2001 groups for both males and females. Thus, no notable toxicity was confirmed with single and repeated oral administrations of EF 2001. Oral administration in the above doses did not result in abnormal symptoms or death during the observation period. No abnormalities in blood cell count or organ weights were seen. Without any evidence of toxicity to cells and organs, EF 2001 is speculated to not adversely affect living organisms. The 50% lethal dose of EF 2001 with oral administration in mice is estimated to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight/day for both male and female mice. Therefore, LD50 value for animals was 5,000 mg/kg or more.