Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) generally have an elevated expression of homeobox C6 (HOXC6) gene. We found that HOXC6 was the significantly upregulated gene in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (FaDu) cells using RNA-seq analysis. However, it remains unclear whether HOXC6 plays a role in tumor process mechanism. Our study aimed to explore the potential oncogenic role and the detailed molecular mechanism of HOXC6 in FaDu cells. In this study, Sirt1 was validated to be overexpressed in FaDu cells and associated with HOXC6 expression. Overexpression of HOXC6 promoted the cell colony formation, whereas inhibition of Sirt1 by Sirt1 inhibitor EX527 reduced cell proliferation/colony formation and migration, and induced apoptosis in HOXC6 overexpressed FaDu cells. Interestingly, mechanistic study showed that EX527 mediated Sirt1 suppression led to decreased HOXC6 expression and upregulation of Sirt1 significantly increased the expression of HOXC6. HOXC6 was shown to cooperate with Sirt1 to enhance cell survival. We propose that HOXC6 promotes cell growth/colony formation, and that the HOXC6 may be a progression of hypopharyngeal carcinoma by activating Sirt1 pathways.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer and is associated with high recurrence, poor treatment, and low survival rates. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that regulates the response to hypoxia, a major factor in the tumor microenvironment that affects tumor development and progression in various cancer types. However, microRNA (miRNA) sequence analysis revealed that only a few miRNAs targeting HIF-1α had been discovered. In the present study, we investigated HIF-1α expression in OSCC and the effect of HIF-1α-targeting miRNAs on the progression and metastatic potential of OSCC. We analyzed public databases to explore which miRNAs target HIF-1α expression. In addition, the expression of proteins involved in the cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis in HSC-2 cells was analyzed after miRNA-126 mimic treatment. Furthermore, to investigate the effect of miRNA-126 on the proliferation and invasion ability of OSCC cells, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine and Transwell assays were performed. The activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were evaluated via gelatin zymography. Our results showed that miRNA-126, which targets HIF-1α, enhances OSCC cell proliferation by regulating the cell cycle and reinforces the cell mobility of OSCC via HIF-1α expression. These findings suggest that miRNA-126 may be a novel marker for OSCC treatment and the development of new tools for patients with OSCC.

Salivary gland adenocarcinoma(AdCa NOS) is one of the major causes of mortality among malignant salivary gland tumors. New therapeutic measure are needed to improve the outcome for patients with AdCa NOS because current therapy does not significantly improve survival rates. Transglutaminase 2(TGase 2) was implicated in forming cross-linked protein polymer, apoptosis and matrix interaction. And also TGase 2 expression is up-regulated in proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. shRNA which has emerged as an effective method to target specific genes for silencing has provided new opportunities for cancer therapy. But there has been rarely reported using shRNA-TGase 2 transfection in AdCa NOS. The purpose of this study were to examine the specific inhibition of TGase 2 mRNA and protein expression by siRNA transfection of TGase 2 through RT-PCR and immunoslot blotting, and to study proliferation, migration and invasion assay of SGT cell line from AdCa NOS. Cell cycle analysis showed that the downregulation of shRNA-TGase 2 caused the accumulation of cells in the sub-G0/G1 phase. In migration assay, suppressing shRNA-TGase 2 inhibited the capacity of the cells to migrate compared to parental cells. In invasion assay, cells transfected with shRNA-TGase 2 decreased in invasion when compared to SGT and vector transfected cells. shRNA-TGase 2 expressing plasmids efficiently downregulated TGase 2 mRNA and TGase 2 protein expression. It suggested that the shRNA-TGase 2 targeting system against TGase 2 could have a therapeutic potentiality for malignant salivary gland tumors, especially in inhibiting and/or preventing cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

이 연구의 목적은 근육 세포의 증식 배양을 위해 필요한 핵심 인자인 혈청이 혈청 대체물의 첨가에 의해 대체될 수 있는지를 분자 생물학적 측면에서 검증하는 것이다. 혈청 대체물이 첨가된 low serum (5% FBS) 기반의 promo cell 배지는 성장 배양액으로 사용되었고, 마우스 하지 골격근의 근육세포는 pre-plating (pp) 방법에 의해 분리되었다. Pre-plating 4의 세포는 작고 둥근 형태의 굴절성을 가진 Myoblast/satellite like cells의 형태가 관찰되었으며, 근육 줄기세포 전사인자들(Pax3/7, Myf5, Myod1)과 골격근 발달 전사인자(Myog)의 발현량이 섬유아세포와 비교하여 높게 나타났다. 따라서 그들을 Myoblast derived cells로 명명하고, 기본 세포주로 사용하였다. 분리된 MDCs는 5%, 10% 혹은 20% 혈청이 첨가된 배양액에서 2주간 배양되었다. 배양 6일째부터 대조군(5% 혈청)과 비교하여 20% 혈청은 세포 수가 증가하였으며, 양적 혈청 농도 의존성이 확인되었다. 증식 및 세포사멸 관련 유전자들은 대조군과 비교하였다. 배양 1주 차에 20% FBS군은 세포증식 촉진 유전자인 Myc 발현이 증가한 반면 pro-apoptosis 유전자인 Bax의 발현량이 감소했고, 2주 차에는 세포주기정지 인자인Cdkn1a의 감소와 Myc의 지속적인 증가와 Bax/Bcl의 감소가 나타났다. 각기 다른 FBS 처리농도에서 배양된 Myoblast derived cells을 동일한 Myotube유도 배양액에서 2주간 분화하였다. 대조군과 비교하여 20% FBS군은 Myod1, Myog, Myf6, Myh1의 유의적 증가가 1주부터 확인되었다. 결론적으로 혈청 대체 물질은 근육세포 배양액에서 혈청의 효과를 완벽히 모사할 수 없음이 증명되었고, 따라서 체외에서 상업적 목적의 근육 세포 대량 증식 및 분화를 위해서는 적절한 혈청 대체물 개발이 선행돼야 할 것으로 사료된다.

Doenjang is a major fermented soy-based food in Korea. Recent investigations have shown that fermented soybean foods have immunity-enhancing, anti-cancer, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. Several studies also have reported that genistein and daidzein, which are easily absorbed in the body are produced in larger quantities in aged doenjang. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variations in the anti-cancer effects of commercialized doenjang as it ages. Four groups were formed for this study according to aging periods of doenjang, namely short (under 5 years, S group), mid (under 10 years, M group), long (under 15 years, L group) and very long (over 15 years, E group). The anti-cancer effects of doenjang were determined by cell cytotoxicity assays in A549, YAC-1, and HepG2 cancer cell lines. Also, NK cell activity and splenocyte proliferation were assayed for cancer immunotherapy. The quantities of phenolic compounds in doenjang at different ages were also measured. The results showed that the anti-cancer effects increased in the S and M groups for all three cancer cell lines. Interestingly, similar to this result, splenocyte proliferation and NK activity were also the highest in the S and M groups. In contrast, the E group showed significantly reduced splenocyte proliferation. The quantity of phenolic compounds was similar to that of the anti-cancer results. Collectively, these results suggest that the fermentation period of doenjang plays a very important role in determining its anti-cancer effects.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of enzyme activity and anti-proliferation of human cancer cell lines (HCT 116, NCI-H460 and MCF-7) of peanut skin depending on cultivars (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. K-Ol, cv. Sinpalkwang, cv. Daan, cv. Heuksaeng) and extraction solvent. Peanut skin was extracted with 80% ethanol, 80% methanol, 80% acetone, and distilled water, followed by analysis of the enzyme inhibitory activity and anticancer activity. Methanol extract of Daan cultivar most effectively inhibited α-gluosidase (65.08%, 0.025 mg/mL), tyrosinase (82.49%, 2 mg/mL) and ACE (73.61%, 10 mg/mL). The inhibitory effect of peanut skin extracts on colon cancer cell (HCT-116), lung cancer cell (NCI-H460) and breast cancer cell (MCF-7) growth were investigate using MTT assay. The highest anti-proliferation of cancer cell line of peanut skin extracts was observed in the methanol extract of Daan cultivar. The cell viability on HCT 116, NCI-H460 and MCF-7 cell lines of methanol extracts from peanut skin of Daan cultivar was 48.13%, 41.03%, and 36.02% at 200 μg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that peanut skin extracts may mediate physiological activity, and provide valuable information for the use of peanut byproduct as a functional food material.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is an unusual reactive benign lesion of vascular origin caused by endothelial cell proliferation, which rarely occurs in oral cavity. IPEH appears in various forms because it has non-specific clinical presentation, so it can be misdiagnosed as a malignant lesion.Therefore, it is important to make a differential diagnosis by understanding the characteristics of this lesion.We report a case of IPEH in a 22-year-old Korean female patient, discussing about differential diagnosis and treatment. This report presents review of literature and describes a case of IPEH.

L-carnitine은 라이신과 메티오닌으로 생합성되며 골격근 과 심근을 포함한 다양한 동물조직에서 발견된다. L-carnitine이 포함된 식품으로는 양고기, 소고기, 돼지고기 등이 있고 근육발달에 도움을 주며 뼈를 강화하거나 대사작용을 도와주는 기능을 하여 영양 보조제로 많이 섭취하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 최근 L-carnitine은 제 2형 당뇨병, 골다 공증, 대사성 신경증후군 등의 다양한 질병의 약물로도 연구 되고 있으며 암에서는 치료 보조제로 개발되어있다. 하지만 대장암에서의 L-carnitine에 대한 효과 및 기전에 대해서는 명확하지 않고 연구된 바가 없기 때문에 본 연구에서 저자들은 L-carnitine의 효능을 인간대장암세포주 HCT116에서 규명하고자 하였다. L-carnitine은 세포 내 활성산소종 (ROS)를 높은 수준으로 증가시켜 세포 증식을 억제하였다. 또한, 세포 증식과 죽음에 관련한 단백질 ERK1/2와 p38을 유의적으로 활성화 시킨다는 것을 입증 하였다. 이때, ERK1/2 억제제(PD98059)를 처치하여 ERK1/ 2의 활성화가 활성산소종 발생 및 세포사멸에 중요하다는 것을 밝혔다. 따라서, 본 연구 결과는 L-carnitine이 대장 암세포주의 증식을 억제 할 수 있고 이는 대장암의 치료에 있어 잠재적인 치료 물질이 될 수 있음을 시사하며 이 과정에 관여하는 신호전달기전을 조사하여 항암의 치료기 전에서 활성산소종이나 ERK1/2, p38 단백질의 활성화의 중요성을 제시하였다.

It is well known that lymph node metastasis is a major prognostic factor in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). 30-40% of patients with OSCC have already undergone regional metastasis at diagnosis. The survival rate of patients with metastasis is reduced by more than 50%. Therefore, prevention and early detection of metastasis are very important to increase the survival rate of patients. Many investigators have studied the molecular mechanism of metastasis and tried to develop the molecules to inhibit any step of metastatic cascade. Among those molecules, an interest in the metastasis suppressor gene has been increasing. Expression of metastasis suppressor KiSS-1 has shown to be significantly related to poor clinical outcome and worse survival rate of patient in various malignancies of different organs. In addition, our previous study in OSCC also revealed that downregulation of KiSS-1 expression correlated with the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis, one part of tumor progression. Therefore, further investigation was needed to identify the molecular function of KiSS-1 using OSCC cell line and to evaluate the possibility of KiSS-1 as a new therapeutic target.

Autophagy is recently receiving the spotlight as the development strategy for promising anticancer drugs. In particular, the majority of anticancer drugs originating from natural products are known to induce autophagy. Saururus chinensis has been used for treating various inflammatory diseases. Recent research has revealed that the extract of Saururus chinensis possess cytotoxicity for various types of human cancer cells. However, the exact action mechanism of Saururus chinensis extract for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been studied yet. Therefore, the authors of this research aim to study the effect of methanol extract of S. chinensis (MESC) on OSCC cells. To observe the cell proliferation inhibitory effect of MESC on HSC3 cells, the authors conducted the trypan blue exclusion assay. Also, the action mechanism of MESC was studied by conducting the cell cycle analysis, acidic vesicular organelle (AVO) staining and flow cytometry analysis, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting on MESC-treated HSC3 cells. When HSC3 cells were treated in MESC, the cell proliferation was suppressed in time-dependent and dose-dependent manners. Also, the number of sub-G1 arrested cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. MDC punctate and AVO puncta significantly increased respectively. Western blot analysis demonstrated the expression of autophagy-related proteins increased, but apoptotic proteins were not observed. Also, the pAkt protein was reduced, while the p-p38 protein and pERK protein increased. According to our results, MESC induced autophagy and accompanied changes in the cell cycle in HSC3 cells. Also, the alteration in Akt, ERK, and p38 pathways were confirmed. This result suggested the possibility of MESC as the new promising adjuvant for treating OSCC patients.

본 연구에서는 발아와 고압처리에 따른 검정콩 조사포닌 추출물의 in-vitro 항암 활성을 확인하기 위하여 검정콩을 발아시킨 후 고압처리하고, 조사포닌 추출물을 제조한 후 인체 유래 유방암(MCF-7), 대장암(HCT-116), 전립선암(PC-3) 및 위암(AGS) 세포주에 대한 증식억제효과를 검토하였다. 대조구의 조사포닌 추출물은 400 μg/mL 농도에서 4종의 암세포주에 대하여 67.02~91.70% 범위의 생존율을 보여 항암 효과가 낮았지만, 발아 4일차 콩을 150 MPa의 압력에서 고압처리한 검정콩의 조사포닌 추출물은 23.94~57.37% 범위의 생존율을 보여 발아와 고압처리에 의해 암세포 성정억제효과가 증가하였다. 특히, 위암세포(AGS)의 경우 다른 세포주에 비해 저농도에서도 세포증식효과를 보여 가장 높은 암세포 증식억제 효과를 나타내었다. 이상의 결과로부터 항암 활성을 나타내는 Soyasaponin, B group의 soyasaponin 및 soyasapogenol의 함량은 발아와 고압처리에 의해 증가하였고, 고압처리 발아콩으로부터 항암 활성을 나타내는 사포닌 추출물의 개발이 가능할 것으로 생각된다. 또한, 추후 항암 활성 물질의 분리동정과 메커니즘 규명에 대한 연구가 수행되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.

Nicotine of tobacco component has a controversial impact in the clinical outcome of dental implants. Although numerous nicotine effects on bone healing around implants have been presented, it is rarely reported in vitro study about normal human osteoblast(NHost) from oral and maxillofacial area at the surface of implants. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of nicotine on the proliferation and differentiation response of NHost to plasmatic and salivary levels of nicotine reported in smokers at the surface of screw-type plasma-sprayed titanium implants. NHosts were seeded on the surface of titanium implants and cultured for 21 days in α-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS, 50mg/ml ascorbic acid, 5mM β-glycerophosphate and 100nM dexamethasone. Seeded implants were exposed to various nicotine concentration(0.05-0.5mg/ml) from 1 to 21 days, and characterized for cell morphology, proliferation, differentiation, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity and ionized calcium concentration(Cai) of medium. Continuous exposure to higher nicotine concentration(above 0.3mg/ml) induced a dose- and time-dependent vacuolation of the cytoplasm, and a tendency to detach from the implant surface. 0.05mg/ml(lower nicotine concentration) did not cause significant effects in the cell proliferation and ALP activity. 0.1-0.2mg/ml caused evident dose-dependent effects in increased cell proliferation, ALP activity and earlier onset of matrix mineralization at levels up to 0.2mg/ml, while a dose-dependent inhibitory effect at 0.3-0.5mg/ml. Cai concentration of control group was decreased at 14 days. Increased Cai concentration at 0.1-0.2mg/ml, decreased Cai concentration at 0.3mg/ml and no change at 0.5mg/ml during the culture period were seen. It suggested that nicotine concentration could paly an role in modulating NHost activity as a contributing factor associated with proliferation and differentiation of NHost at the surface of implants.

The role of CXCR7, a seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled chemokine receptor, which binds with high affinity to chemokine CXCL11 and CXCL12 in oral cancer cells and the effect of transient CXCR7-downregulation on proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells have not been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of CXCR7 on an OSCC cell line. In this study, we down-regulated CXCR7 in the KOSCC25B OSCC cell line by siRNA. In vitro cell proliferation and migration assays were used to investigate the effect of CXCR7- downregulation on cell proliferation and migration in si.KOSCC25B cells. The CXCR7 down-regulated OSCC cells grew significantly slower than the negative control siRNA transfected KOSCC25B cells (p<0.05). Additionally, migration of si.KOSCC25B cells decreased significantly compared with non-transfected KOSCC25B cells (p<0.007). These results suggest that down-regulation of CXCR7 induces anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects in OSCC, and that CXCR7 may be a useful target molecule for the treatment of OSCC.

Flammulina velutipes is an edible mushroom and contains a lot of fiber, vitamin B1, B2, niacin and folic acid. This study was conducted to explore the effects of the Flammulina velutipes mushroom on immune cells and immunity. Th1 cytokine productions as IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 were measured in an activated macrophage by Flammulina velutipes water extract in seven concentrations (0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 μg/mL). Also, the splenocyte proliferation index was measured at 48 hours after treatment of the Flammulina velutipes water extract in seven concentrations or mitogen, LPS and ConA. The IFN-γ and TNF-α productions were increased by treatment of the Flammulina velutipes water extract. The TNF-α production was significantly higher in the 50~1,000 μg/mL Flammulina velutipes water extract treated macrophages. The IFN-γ production of macrophages treated with the Flammulina velutipes water extract increased significantly in all groups, and the highest 1000 μg/mL concentration. The splenocyte proliferation index was enhanced when the 10~1,000 μg/mL Flammulina velutipes water extracts were treated compared to the control. These primary results suggest that Flammulina velutipes may enhance the immune function by activation of the macrophage and spleen cell.

To compare functional Chinese cabbage(‘Amtak’ baechu; F1 hybrid cultivar between Brassica rapa and B. perkinensis, AB) with general Chinese cabbage (‘Chunkwang’ baechu; general spring cultivar, CB), two kinds of kimchi(ABK and CBK) prepared with AB and CB cultivar were fermented at 10°C for 10 days. Their fermentative characteristics and anti-proliferative activities against mouse carcinoma cell lines were investigated. General kimchi(CBK) showed mature pH on the 6th day of fermentation, whereas functional kimchi(ABK) reached pH on the 9th day. CBK also exhibited acidity of mature stage on the 6th day, but ABK reached mature acidity on the 9th day. Although ABK and CBK were salted in the same condition, ABK had lower salinity than CBK, throughout the fermentation time. The highest total bacterial and lactic bacterial counts of CBK showed on the 8th day of fermentation, but ABK showed the highest total bacterial and lactic bacterial counts on the 10th day. The texture of ABK was harder than CBK for fermentation time. This seems to be corrleated with the slower fermentation rate of ABK. ABK showed significantly higher anti-proliferative activity (54.6% cell viability of control) in B16BL6 at 1,000 μg/mL. ABK was also higher in anti-proliferative activity than CBK throughout the fermentation time. However, there was no significant difference in the anti-proliferative activity of ABK between the fermentation times. In conclusion, fermentation of ABK showed a better texture, due to the slow fermentation rate and more anti-proliferative activity against mouse carcinoma cell line than those of CBK.

Plantago asiatica L., observed frequently in East Asia, is a known herb used in traditional medical remedies several studies report that P. asiatica L has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. To determine the production of cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and non-LPS-stimulated macrophages, an ELISA assay was conducted using cytokine kits. Mice splenocytes were cultured for 48 h with various concentrations of P. asiatica L. (5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 μg/mL) or with mitogens (ConA or LPS). P. asiatica L. increased the proliferation of mice splenocytes, especially under the condition of its concentration ranging from 250 to 1,000 μg/mL. In addition, Plantago asiatica L. notably induced cytokine production of (IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) at its concentration of 250~500 μg/mL. These results suggest that supplementation with P. asiatica L. water extracts may play a potential role in enhancing immune function by mediating splenocyte proliferation and cytokine production through its anti-inflammatory activit.

Coffee is one of the most familiar beverages to modern human adults, but its bio-physiological effect has not been clearly elucidated. It was known that more than one thousand chemicals were included in the ordinary coffee extract. Among them, the caffein and chlorogenic acid (caffeoylquinic acids) are most abundant and have been investigated by many authors so far. In order to know the real cellular effect of whole coffee extract elements, the dialyzed coffee extract (DCE)1) was made to get coffee elements less than 1000 Da molecular weight, which are freely absorable through gastrointestinal tract. It was directly treated in the culture of RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage lineage. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with DCE equivalent to 2.5 cups of coffee (DCE-2.5), DCE-5, and DCE-10 for 12 hours, and their protein extracts were examined by histological observation and immunoprecipitation high performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). RAW 264.7 cells differently expressed the proliferation-related proteins depending on the dose of DCE. DCE-2.5 and DCE-5 enhanced the cellular growth of RAW 264.7 cells by increasing the expression of β-actin, PCNA, Ki-67, MPM2, MAX, cMyc, E2F-1, and Rb-1, and by decreasing the expression of MAD and p21. These proliferation-related proteins were rarely affected by DCE-10. DCE-2.5 and DCE-5 induced the cellular proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells by the signaling of E2F-1 and cMyc, respectively, but these cellular effects almost disappeared in DCE-10. Therefore, it was presumed that the low dose of coffee, DCE-2.5 and DCE-5 might be effective for the proliferation of murine macrophages, RAW264.7 cells, contrast to the high dose of coffee, DCE-10. It was also suggested that the low dose of DCE-2.5 and DCE-5 be helpful to increase the innate immunity in vivo by increasing the cell number of macrophages in contrast to the high dose of DCE-10.