Journal of The Chinese Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2003
A combined analytical-numerical study for the creeping flow caused by a rigid spherical particle ... more A combined analytical-numerical study for the creeping flow caused by a rigid spherical particle translating and rotating in a viscous fluid parallel to two flat plates at an arbitrary position between them is presented. The fluid, which may be a slightly rarefied gas, is allowed to slip at the surface of the particle. To solve the Stokes equations for the fluid velocity field, a general solution is constructed from fundamental solutions in both rectangular and spherical coordinate systems. Boundary conditions are enforced first at the plane walls by the Fourier transforms and then on the particle surface by a collocation technique. Numerical results for the hydrodynamic drag force and torque acting on the particle are obtained with good convergence for various values of the slip coefficient of the particle and of the separation distances between the particle and the walls. For the motion of a no-slip sphere and a perfectly-slip sphere parallel to a single plane wall or to two walls...
Rhein, an anthraquinone compound, can be found in the rhizome of rhubarb, a traditional Chinese m... more Rhein, an anthraquinone compound, can be found in the rhizome of rhubarb, a traditional Chinese medicine herb showing antitumor activity. In this study, it was observed that rhein induced S-phase arrest through the inhibition of p53, cyclin A and E and it induced apoptosis through the endoplasmic reticulum stress by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ release, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase-8, -9 and -3 activation in human tongue cancer cell line (SCC-4). The most efficient induction of apoptosis was observed at 30 microM for 24 h. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that rhein induced changes in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 based on the decrease of Bcl-2 levels, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and the activation of caspase-9 and -3. The data demonstrated that rhein induces apoptosis in SCC-4 cells via caspase, ROS and mitochondrial death pathways.
Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid. Previous studies have reported that kaempferol has antiprolife... more Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid. Previous studies have reported that kaempferol has antiproliferation activities and induces apoptosis in many cancer cell lines. However, there are no reports on human osteosarcoma. In this study, we investigate the anti-cancer effects and molecular mechanisms of kaempferol in human osteosarcoma cells. Our results demonstrate that kaempferol significantly reduces cell viabilities of U-2 OS, HOB and 143B cells, especially U-2 OS cells in a dose-dependent manner, but exerts low cytotoxicity on human fetal osteoblast progenitor hFOB cells. Comet assay, DAPI staining and DNA gel electrophoresis confirm the effects of DNA damage and apoptosis in U-2 OS cells. Flow cytometry detects the increase of cytoplasmic Ca 21 levels and the decrease of mitochondria membrane potential. Western blotting and fluorogenic enzymatic assay show that kaempferol treatment influences the time-dependent expression of proteins involved in the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and mitochondrial signaling pathway. In addition, pretreating cells with caspase inhibitors, BAPTA or calpeptin before exposure to kaempferol increases cell viabilities. The anti-cancer effects of kaempferol in vivo are evaluated in BALB/c nu/nu mice inoculated with U-2 OS cells, and the results indicate inhibition of tumor growth. In conclusion, kaempferol inhibits human osteosarcoma cells in vivo and in vitro.
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2012
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
Background: Doxorubicin, one of the original anthracyclines, remains among the most effective ant... more Background: Doxorubicin, one of the original anthracyclines, remains among the most effective anticancer drugs ever developed. Clinical use of doxorubicin is, however, greatly limited by its serious adverse cardiac effects that may ultimately lead to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Tanshinone IIA is the main effective component of Salvia miltiorrhiza known as 'Danshen' in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cardiovascular disorders. The objective of this study was set to evaluate the protective effect of tanshinone IIA on doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and to explore its intracellular mechanism(s). Methods: Primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with the vehicle, doxorubicin (1 μM), tanshinone IIA (0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μM), or tanshinone IIA plus doxorubicin. Results: We found that tanshinone IIA (1 and 3 μM) inhibited doxorubicin-induced reactive oxygen species generation, reduced the quantity of cleaved caspase-3 and cytosol cytochrome c, and increased BcL-x L expression, resulting in protecting cardiomyocytes from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. In addition, Akt phosphorylation was enhanced by tanshinone IIA treatment in cardiomyocytes. The wortmannin (100 nM), LY294002 (10 nM), and siRNA transfection for Akt significantly reduced tanshinone IIA-induced protective effect. Conclusions: These findings suggest that tanshinone IIA protects cardiomyocytes from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in part through Akt-signaling pathways, which may potentially protect the heart from the severe toxicity of doxorubicin.
Moderate coffee consumption is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease mortality; howeve... more Moderate coffee consumption is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease mortality; however, mechanisms underlying this causal effect remain unclear. Cafestol, a diterpene found in coffee, has various properties, including an anti-inflammatory property. This study investigated the effect of cafestol on cyclic-strain-induced inflammatory molecule secretion in vascular endothelial cells. Cells were cultured under static or cyclic strain conditions, and the secretion of inflammatory molecules was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of cafestol on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) signaling pathways were examined using Western blotting and specific inhibitors. Cafestol attenuated cyclic-strain-stimulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein- (MCP-) 1, and interleukin- (IL-) 8 secretion. Cafestol inhibited the cyclic-strain-induced phosphorylation of extracell...
Liver cancer is the most common form of cancer in Taiwan and it usually responds to chemotherapy.... more Liver cancer is the most common form of cancer in Taiwan and it usually responds to chemotherapy. However, patients often have side effects to the chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus new agents are urgently required to treat liver cancer. Chrysophanol, one of the anthraquinone derivatives, was reported to inhibit some human cancer cell growth which may be due to the induction of apoptosis similar to other anthraquinone derivatives though such actions have not been reported. In the present study, we reported that chrysophanol inhibits cell growth in Hep3B liver cancer cells based on the following observations: 1) induc cell morphological changes; 2) decreased percentage of viable cells; 3) induced S phase arrest of cell cycle progression; 4) induced DNA damage as measured by comet assay and DAPI staining. Chrysophanolinduced cell death however, seems to be related to necrotic processes rather than typical apoptosis. Chrysophanol induced reactive oxygen species and Ca 2+ production and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm) and ATP levels in Hep3B cells. No effects were observed on known protein regulators of apoptosis such as Bax and Bcl-2. Chrysophanolinduced cell death took place independently of caspase-8 and-9. Based on our findings, we propose that chrysophanol reduces cellular ATP levels causing a drop in energy resulting in necrotic-like cell death.
Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), a derivate of curcumin, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in... more Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), a derivate of curcumin, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in human glioblastoma multiforme GBM 8401 cells via cell cycle arrest and induction of cell apoptosis. However, there is no report showing DMC suppresses glioblastoma multiforme cells in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DMC on GBM8401 cells in vivo. At first, we established a luciferase-expressing stable clone named GBM 8401/luc2. Second, mice were inoculated subcutaneously with GBM 8401/luc2 cells to generate a xenograft tumor mice model. After inoculation, tumor volume reached 100–120 mm3, and all mice were randomly divided into three groups: Group I was treated with 110 µL phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) containing 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, Group II with 30 mg/kg of DMC, and Group III with 60 mg/kg of DMC. Mice from each group were given the oral treatment of DMC by gavage for 21 days. The body weight and tumor volume were recorded every 3 days. DMC significan...
Tanshinone IIA extracted from Danshen, a popular medicinal herb used in traditional Chinese medic... more Tanshinone IIA extracted from Danshen, a popular medicinal herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits cardio-protective effects. However, the mechanism of its cardioprotective effect is not well established. The aims of this study were to examine whether tanshinone IIA may alter angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cell proliferation and to identify the putative underlying signaling pathways in rat cardiac fibroblasts. Cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts were pre-treated with tanshinone IIA and stimulated with Ang II, cell proliferation and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression were examined. The effect of tanshinone IIA on Ang II-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation were also examined. In addition, the effect of tanshinone IIA on nitric oxide (NO) production, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation were tested to elucidate the intracellular mechanism. The increased cell proliferation and ET-1...
To focus on bee venom-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer TSGH-8301 cells and to investigat... more To focus on bee venom-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer TSGH-8301 cells and to investigate its signaling pathway to ascertain whether intracellular calcium iron (Ca 2+) is involved in this effect. Methods: Bee venom-induced cytotoxic effects, productions of reactive oxygen species and Ca 2+ and the level of mitochondrial membrane potential (DYm) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis-associated proteins were examined by Western blot analysis and confocal laser microscopy. Results: Bee venom-induced cell morphological changes and decreased cell viability through the induction of apoptosis in TSGH-8301 cell were found. Bee venom promoted the protein levels of Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3 and endonuclease G. The enhancements of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein levels were shown in bee venomprovoked apoptosis of TSGH-8301 cells. Bee venom promoted the activities of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, increased Ca 2+ release and decreased the level of DYm. Co-localization of immunofluorescence analysis showed the releases of endonuclease G and apoptosis-inducing factor trafficking to nuclei for bee venom-mediated apoptosis. The images revealed evidence of nuclear condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and DNA gel electrophoresis showed the DNA fragmentation in TSGH-8301 cells. Conclusions: Bee venom treatment induces both caspase-dependent and caspaseindependent apoptotic death through intracellular Ca 2+-modulated intrinsic death pathway in TSGH-8301 cells.
A theoretical study is presented for the quasisteady osmophoretic motion of a spherical vesicle i... more A theoretical study is presented for the quasisteady osmophoretic motion of a spherical vesicle in a solution located between two inÿnite parallel plane walls in the limit of negligible Reynolds and Peclet numbers. The applied solute concentration gradient is uniform and parallel to the two plane walls, which may be either impermeable to the solute molecules or prescribed with the far-ÿeld concentration distribution. The presence of the neighboring walls causes two basic e ects on the vesicle velocity: ÿrst, the local concentrations on both sides of the vesicle surface are altered by the walls, thereby speeding up or slowing down the vesicle; secondly, the walls enhance the viscous interaction e ect on the moving vesicle. To solve the equations of conservation of mass and momentum, the general solutions are constructed from the fundamental solutions in both the rectangular and the spherical coordinate systems. The boundary conditions are enforced ÿrst at the plane walls by the Fourier transforms and then on the vesicle surface by a collocation technique. Numerical results for the osmophoretic velocity of the vesicle relative to that under identical conditions in an unbounded solution are presented for various values of the relevant properties of the vesicle as well as the relative separation distances between the vesicle and the two plates. For the special case of osmophoretic motions of a spherical vesicle parallel to a single plate and on the central plane of a slit, the collocation results agree well with the approximate analytical solutions obtained by using a method of re ections. The presence of the lateral walls can reduce or enhance the vesicle velocity, depending upon the relevant properties of the vesicle, the relative vesicle-wall separation distances, and the solutal boundary condition at the walls. In general, the boundary e ect on osmophoresis is quite complicated in comparison with that on sedimentation.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
Cucurbitacin E, a tetracyclic triterpenes compound extracted from cucurbitaceous plants, has been... more Cucurbitacin E, a tetracyclic triterpenes compound extracted from cucurbitaceous plants, has been shown to exhibit anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether cucurbitacin E promotes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in T24 cells and further to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The effects of cucurbitacin E on T24 cell's growth and accompanied morphological changes were examined by MTT assay and a phase-contrast microscope. DNA content, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and annexin V/PI staining were determined by flow cytometry. The protein levels were measured by Western blotting. Our results demonstrated that cucurbitacin E-induced G2/M arrest was associated with a marked increase in the levels of p53, p21 and a decrease in phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and cyclin B. Cucurbitacin E-triggered apoptosis was accompanied with up-regulati...
We have shown that gypenosides (Gyp) induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer... more We have shown that gypenosides (Gyp) induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines. However, there are no reports showing that show Gyp acts on human leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro and in a murine xenograft model in vivo. In the present study effects of Gyp on cell morphological changes and viability, cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in vitro and effects on Gyp in an in vivo murine xenograft model. Results indicated that Gyp induced morphological changes, decreased cell viability, induced G0/G1 arrest, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis (sub-G1 phase) in HL-60 cells. Gyp increased reactive oxygen species production and Ca 2+ levels but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Gyp also changed one of the primary indicators of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress due to the promotion of ATF6-␣ and ATF4-␣ associated with Ca 2+ release. Gyp reduced the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax due to an increase in the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and inhibited levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Oral consumption of Gyp reduced tumor size of HL-60 cell xenograft mode mice in vivo. These results provide new information on understanding mechanisms by which Gyp induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.
Chrysophanol (1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone) is one of the anthraquinone compounds, and it ... more Chrysophanol (1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone) is one of the anthraquinone compounds, and it has been shown to induce cell death in different types of cancer cells. The effects of chrysophanol on human lung cancer cell death have not been well studied. The purpose of this study is to examine chrysophanol-induced cytotoxic effects and also to investigate such influences that involved apoptosis or necrosis in A549 human lung cancer cells in vitro. Our results indicated that chrysophanol decreased the viable A549 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Chrysophanol also promoted the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca 21 and decreased the levels of mitochondria membrane potential (DC m) and adenosine triphosphate in A549 cells. Furthermore, chrysophanol triggered DNA damage by using Comet assay and DAPI staining. Importantly, chrysophanol only stimulated the cytocheome c release, but it did not activate other apoptosis-associated protein levels including caspase-3, caspase-8, Apaf-1, and AIF. In conclusion, human lung cancer A549 cells treated with chrysophanol exhibited a cellular pattern associated with necrotic cell death and not apoptosis in vitro.
Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications, 2010
The gene sequences BLAST and its alignment is the common and important step in biological discove... more The gene sequences BLAST and its alignment is the common and important step in biological discovery. Basically speaking, BLAST technique is already a mature and well-known to biological scientists, but aiming at specific organisms is seldom seen in world-wide databases. In this study, we develop a web-based organism specific BLAST search engine to replenish researchers' use. This study constructed a web service, the Organism Specific Search Engine, for taxonomy scientists and all users concerned. This service provides most common specific organism BLAST, scoring system and GUI (Graphical User Interface) for users. On the other hand, researchers can clearly and concisely get the results from E-mail service in order to avoid waiting for a long time. The Organism Specific Search Engine evaluate the similarities between two or more nucleotide or protein sequences against a specific organism, which can help researchers realize the differences between one chosen organism rapidly. User...
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, affecting over 20 million p... more Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, affecting over 20 million people worldwide. Until recently, two major hypotheses were proposed regarding the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis: the cholinergic hypothesis and the amyloid cascade hypothesis. At present, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are the most effective therapy for AD. Most pharmacological research has focused on the ability of acetylcholinesterase to alleviate cholinergic deficit and improve neurotransmission. Coptidis rhizoma and its isolated alkaloids are reported to possess a variety of activities, including neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. However, as yet no theoretical analysis exists to support this hypothesis. To examine this theory, we applied a computational pharmaceutical analysis to reveal that Chinese medicine Coptidis rhizoma alkaloids have much higher activities than Donepezil (commercial name is Aricept) by docking and scoring.
Journal of The Chinese Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2003
A combined analytical-numerical study for the creeping flow caused by a rigid spherical particle ... more A combined analytical-numerical study for the creeping flow caused by a rigid spherical particle translating and rotating in a viscous fluid parallel to two flat plates at an arbitrary position between them is presented. The fluid, which may be a slightly rarefied gas, is allowed to slip at the surface of the particle. To solve the Stokes equations for the fluid velocity field, a general solution is constructed from fundamental solutions in both rectangular and spherical coordinate systems. Boundary conditions are enforced first at the plane walls by the Fourier transforms and then on the particle surface by a collocation technique. Numerical results for the hydrodynamic drag force and torque acting on the particle are obtained with good convergence for various values of the slip coefficient of the particle and of the separation distances between the particle and the walls. For the motion of a no-slip sphere and a perfectly-slip sphere parallel to a single plane wall or to two walls...
Rhein, an anthraquinone compound, can be found in the rhizome of rhubarb, a traditional Chinese m... more Rhein, an anthraquinone compound, can be found in the rhizome of rhubarb, a traditional Chinese medicine herb showing antitumor activity. In this study, it was observed that rhein induced S-phase arrest through the inhibition of p53, cyclin A and E and it induced apoptosis through the endoplasmic reticulum stress by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ release, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase-8, -9 and -3 activation in human tongue cancer cell line (SCC-4). The most efficient induction of apoptosis was observed at 30 microM for 24 h. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that rhein induced changes in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 based on the decrease of Bcl-2 levels, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and the activation of caspase-9 and -3. The data demonstrated that rhein induces apoptosis in SCC-4 cells via caspase, ROS and mitochondrial death pathways.
Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid. Previous studies have reported that kaempferol has antiprolife... more Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid. Previous studies have reported that kaempferol has antiproliferation activities and induces apoptosis in many cancer cell lines. However, there are no reports on human osteosarcoma. In this study, we investigate the anti-cancer effects and molecular mechanisms of kaempferol in human osteosarcoma cells. Our results demonstrate that kaempferol significantly reduces cell viabilities of U-2 OS, HOB and 143B cells, especially U-2 OS cells in a dose-dependent manner, but exerts low cytotoxicity on human fetal osteoblast progenitor hFOB cells. Comet assay, DAPI staining and DNA gel electrophoresis confirm the effects of DNA damage and apoptosis in U-2 OS cells. Flow cytometry detects the increase of cytoplasmic Ca 21 levels and the decrease of mitochondria membrane potential. Western blotting and fluorogenic enzymatic assay show that kaempferol treatment influences the time-dependent expression of proteins involved in the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and mitochondrial signaling pathway. In addition, pretreating cells with caspase inhibitors, BAPTA or calpeptin before exposure to kaempferol increases cell viabilities. The anti-cancer effects of kaempferol in vivo are evaluated in BALB/c nu/nu mice inoculated with U-2 OS cells, and the results indicate inhibition of tumor growth. In conclusion, kaempferol inhibits human osteosarcoma cells in vivo and in vitro.
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2012
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
Background: Doxorubicin, one of the original anthracyclines, remains among the most effective ant... more Background: Doxorubicin, one of the original anthracyclines, remains among the most effective anticancer drugs ever developed. Clinical use of doxorubicin is, however, greatly limited by its serious adverse cardiac effects that may ultimately lead to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Tanshinone IIA is the main effective component of Salvia miltiorrhiza known as 'Danshen' in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cardiovascular disorders. The objective of this study was set to evaluate the protective effect of tanshinone IIA on doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and to explore its intracellular mechanism(s). Methods: Primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with the vehicle, doxorubicin (1 μM), tanshinone IIA (0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μM), or tanshinone IIA plus doxorubicin. Results: We found that tanshinone IIA (1 and 3 μM) inhibited doxorubicin-induced reactive oxygen species generation, reduced the quantity of cleaved caspase-3 and cytosol cytochrome c, and increased BcL-x L expression, resulting in protecting cardiomyocytes from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. In addition, Akt phosphorylation was enhanced by tanshinone IIA treatment in cardiomyocytes. The wortmannin (100 nM), LY294002 (10 nM), and siRNA transfection for Akt significantly reduced tanshinone IIA-induced protective effect. Conclusions: These findings suggest that tanshinone IIA protects cardiomyocytes from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in part through Akt-signaling pathways, which may potentially protect the heart from the severe toxicity of doxorubicin.
Moderate coffee consumption is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease mortality; howeve... more Moderate coffee consumption is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease mortality; however, mechanisms underlying this causal effect remain unclear. Cafestol, a diterpene found in coffee, has various properties, including an anti-inflammatory property. This study investigated the effect of cafestol on cyclic-strain-induced inflammatory molecule secretion in vascular endothelial cells. Cells were cultured under static or cyclic strain conditions, and the secretion of inflammatory molecules was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of cafestol on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) signaling pathways were examined using Western blotting and specific inhibitors. Cafestol attenuated cyclic-strain-stimulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein- (MCP-) 1, and interleukin- (IL-) 8 secretion. Cafestol inhibited the cyclic-strain-induced phosphorylation of extracell...
Liver cancer is the most common form of cancer in Taiwan and it usually responds to chemotherapy.... more Liver cancer is the most common form of cancer in Taiwan and it usually responds to chemotherapy. However, patients often have side effects to the chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus new agents are urgently required to treat liver cancer. Chrysophanol, one of the anthraquinone derivatives, was reported to inhibit some human cancer cell growth which may be due to the induction of apoptosis similar to other anthraquinone derivatives though such actions have not been reported. In the present study, we reported that chrysophanol inhibits cell growth in Hep3B liver cancer cells based on the following observations: 1) induc cell morphological changes; 2) decreased percentage of viable cells; 3) induced S phase arrest of cell cycle progression; 4) induced DNA damage as measured by comet assay and DAPI staining. Chrysophanolinduced cell death however, seems to be related to necrotic processes rather than typical apoptosis. Chrysophanol induced reactive oxygen species and Ca 2+ production and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm) and ATP levels in Hep3B cells. No effects were observed on known protein regulators of apoptosis such as Bax and Bcl-2. Chrysophanolinduced cell death took place independently of caspase-8 and-9. Based on our findings, we propose that chrysophanol reduces cellular ATP levels causing a drop in energy resulting in necrotic-like cell death.
Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), a derivate of curcumin, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in... more Demethoxycurcumin (DMC), a derivate of curcumin, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death in human glioblastoma multiforme GBM 8401 cells via cell cycle arrest and induction of cell apoptosis. However, there is no report showing DMC suppresses glioblastoma multiforme cells in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DMC on GBM8401 cells in vivo. At first, we established a luciferase-expressing stable clone named GBM 8401/luc2. Second, mice were inoculated subcutaneously with GBM 8401/luc2 cells to generate a xenograft tumor mice model. After inoculation, tumor volume reached 100–120 mm3, and all mice were randomly divided into three groups: Group I was treated with 110 µL phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) containing 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, Group II with 30 mg/kg of DMC, and Group III with 60 mg/kg of DMC. Mice from each group were given the oral treatment of DMC by gavage for 21 days. The body weight and tumor volume were recorded every 3 days. DMC significan...
Tanshinone IIA extracted from Danshen, a popular medicinal herb used in traditional Chinese medic... more Tanshinone IIA extracted from Danshen, a popular medicinal herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits cardio-protective effects. However, the mechanism of its cardioprotective effect is not well established. The aims of this study were to examine whether tanshinone IIA may alter angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cell proliferation and to identify the putative underlying signaling pathways in rat cardiac fibroblasts. Cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts were pre-treated with tanshinone IIA and stimulated with Ang II, cell proliferation and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression were examined. The effect of tanshinone IIA on Ang II-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation were also examined. In addition, the effect of tanshinone IIA on nitric oxide (NO) production, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation were tested to elucidate the intracellular mechanism. The increased cell proliferation and ET-1...
To focus on bee venom-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer TSGH-8301 cells and to investigat... more To focus on bee venom-induced apoptosis in human bladder cancer TSGH-8301 cells and to investigate its signaling pathway to ascertain whether intracellular calcium iron (Ca 2+) is involved in this effect. Methods: Bee venom-induced cytotoxic effects, productions of reactive oxygen species and Ca 2+ and the level of mitochondrial membrane potential (DYm) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis-associated proteins were examined by Western blot analysis and confocal laser microscopy. Results: Bee venom-induced cell morphological changes and decreased cell viability through the induction of apoptosis in TSGH-8301 cell were found. Bee venom promoted the protein levels of Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3 and endonuclease G. The enhancements of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein levels were shown in bee venomprovoked apoptosis of TSGH-8301 cells. Bee venom promoted the activities of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, increased Ca 2+ release and decreased the level of DYm. Co-localization of immunofluorescence analysis showed the releases of endonuclease G and apoptosis-inducing factor trafficking to nuclei for bee venom-mediated apoptosis. The images revealed evidence of nuclear condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and DNA gel electrophoresis showed the DNA fragmentation in TSGH-8301 cells. Conclusions: Bee venom treatment induces both caspase-dependent and caspaseindependent apoptotic death through intracellular Ca 2+-modulated intrinsic death pathway in TSGH-8301 cells.
A theoretical study is presented for the quasisteady osmophoretic motion of a spherical vesicle i... more A theoretical study is presented for the quasisteady osmophoretic motion of a spherical vesicle in a solution located between two inÿnite parallel plane walls in the limit of negligible Reynolds and Peclet numbers. The applied solute concentration gradient is uniform and parallel to the two plane walls, which may be either impermeable to the solute molecules or prescribed with the far-ÿeld concentration distribution. The presence of the neighboring walls causes two basic e ects on the vesicle velocity: ÿrst, the local concentrations on both sides of the vesicle surface are altered by the walls, thereby speeding up or slowing down the vesicle; secondly, the walls enhance the viscous interaction e ect on the moving vesicle. To solve the equations of conservation of mass and momentum, the general solutions are constructed from the fundamental solutions in both the rectangular and the spherical coordinate systems. The boundary conditions are enforced ÿrst at the plane walls by the Fourier transforms and then on the vesicle surface by a collocation technique. Numerical results for the osmophoretic velocity of the vesicle relative to that under identical conditions in an unbounded solution are presented for various values of the relevant properties of the vesicle as well as the relative separation distances between the vesicle and the two plates. For the special case of osmophoretic motions of a spherical vesicle parallel to a single plate and on the central plane of a slit, the collocation results agree well with the approximate analytical solutions obtained by using a method of re ections. The presence of the lateral walls can reduce or enhance the vesicle velocity, depending upon the relevant properties of the vesicle, the relative vesicle-wall separation distances, and the solutal boundary condition at the walls. In general, the boundary e ect on osmophoresis is quite complicated in comparison with that on sedimentation.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
Cucurbitacin E, a tetracyclic triterpenes compound extracted from cucurbitaceous plants, has been... more Cucurbitacin E, a tetracyclic triterpenes compound extracted from cucurbitaceous plants, has been shown to exhibit anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether cucurbitacin E promotes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in T24 cells and further to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The effects of cucurbitacin E on T24 cell's growth and accompanied morphological changes were examined by MTT assay and a phase-contrast microscope. DNA content, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and annexin V/PI staining were determined by flow cytometry. The protein levels were measured by Western blotting. Our results demonstrated that cucurbitacin E-induced G2/M arrest was associated with a marked increase in the levels of p53, p21 and a decrease in phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and cyclin B. Cucurbitacin E-triggered apoptosis was accompanied with up-regulati...
We have shown that gypenosides (Gyp) induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer... more We have shown that gypenosides (Gyp) induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines. However, there are no reports showing that show Gyp acts on human leukemia HL-60 cells in vitro and in a murine xenograft model in vivo. In the present study effects of Gyp on cell morphological changes and viability, cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in vitro and effects on Gyp in an in vivo murine xenograft model. Results indicated that Gyp induced morphological changes, decreased cell viability, induced G0/G1 arrest, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis (sub-G1 phase) in HL-60 cells. Gyp increased reactive oxygen species production and Ca 2+ levels but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Gyp also changed one of the primary indicators of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress due to the promotion of ATF6-␣ and ATF4-␣ associated with Ca 2+ release. Gyp reduced the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax due to an increase in the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and inhibited levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Oral consumption of Gyp reduced tumor size of HL-60 cell xenograft mode mice in vivo. These results provide new information on understanding mechanisms by which Gyp induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.
Chrysophanol (1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone) is one of the anthraquinone compounds, and it ... more Chrysophanol (1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone) is one of the anthraquinone compounds, and it has been shown to induce cell death in different types of cancer cells. The effects of chrysophanol on human lung cancer cell death have not been well studied. The purpose of this study is to examine chrysophanol-induced cytotoxic effects and also to investigate such influences that involved apoptosis or necrosis in A549 human lung cancer cells in vitro. Our results indicated that chrysophanol decreased the viable A549 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Chrysophanol also promoted the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca 21 and decreased the levels of mitochondria membrane potential (DC m) and adenosine triphosphate in A549 cells. Furthermore, chrysophanol triggered DNA damage by using Comet assay and DAPI staining. Importantly, chrysophanol only stimulated the cytocheome c release, but it did not activate other apoptosis-associated protein levels including caspase-3, caspase-8, Apaf-1, and AIF. In conclusion, human lung cancer A549 cells treated with chrysophanol exhibited a cellular pattern associated with necrotic cell death and not apoptosis in vitro.
Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications, 2010
The gene sequences BLAST and its alignment is the common and important step in biological discove... more The gene sequences BLAST and its alignment is the common and important step in biological discovery. Basically speaking, BLAST technique is already a mature and well-known to biological scientists, but aiming at specific organisms is seldom seen in world-wide databases. In this study, we develop a web-based organism specific BLAST search engine to replenish researchers' use. This study constructed a web service, the Organism Specific Search Engine, for taxonomy scientists and all users concerned. This service provides most common specific organism BLAST, scoring system and GUI (Graphical User Interface) for users. On the other hand, researchers can clearly and concisely get the results from E-mail service in order to avoid waiting for a long time. The Organism Specific Search Engine evaluate the similarities between two or more nucleotide or protein sequences against a specific organism, which can help researchers realize the differences between one chosen organism rapidly. User...
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, affecting over 20 million p... more Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, affecting over 20 million people worldwide. Until recently, two major hypotheses were proposed regarding the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis: the cholinergic hypothesis and the amyloid cascade hypothesis. At present, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are the most effective therapy for AD. Most pharmacological research has focused on the ability of acetylcholinesterase to alleviate cholinergic deficit and improve neurotransmission. Coptidis rhizoma and its isolated alkaloids are reported to possess a variety of activities, including neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. However, as yet no theoretical analysis exists to support this hypothesis. To examine this theory, we applied a computational pharmaceutical analysis to reveal that Chinese medicine Coptidis rhizoma alkaloids have much higher activities than Donepezil (commercial name is Aricept) by docking and scoring.
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Papers by 柏源 陳