ZNF133 is associated with infliximab responsiveness in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background And Aim: Infliximab has been widely prescribed for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the response rates to infliximab differ among patients. Therefore, we aimed to identify the genetic and clinical markers that predict infliximab response.

Effects of a novel carbocyclic analog of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside on pleiotropic induction of cell death in prostate cancer cells with different androgen responsiveness.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is one of the leading causes of male cancer death in the world. Recently, in the course of our screening for a novel anticancer compound, we synthesized carbocyclic analogs of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside; compounds 5, and 6. In the current study, we report the effects of compound 5 on pleiotropic induction of cell death via up-regulation of AR-associated p21(Cip1) protein in prostate cancer cells with different androgen responsiveness, such as LNCaP (androgen-dependent and -sensitive), LNCaP(C4-2) (androgen-independent and -sensitive; androgen-refractory), and DU145 (androgen-independent and -insensitive) cells.

p21CIP1 Induces Apoptosis via Binding to BCL2 in LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells Treated with MCS-C3, A Novel Carbocyclic Analog of Pyrrolopyrimidine.

Background: Previously, we synthesized a new carbocyclic analog of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside, designated MCS-C3. Recently, we found that LNCaP androgen-responsive prostate cancer cells treated with MCS-C3 rapidly undergo intrinsic apoptosis through dramatic up-regulation of p21(CIP1). The present study aimed to evaluate the cellular functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of p21(CIP1) on apoptotic induction in LNCaP cells treated with 6 μM MCS-C3.

HY253, a novel decahydrofluorene analog, induces apoptosis via intrinsic pathway and cell cycle arrest in liver cancer HepG2 cells.

Recently, we isolated HY253, a novel decahydrofluorene analog with a molecular structure of 7,8a-divinyl-2,4a,4b,5,6,7,8,8a,9,9a-decahydro-1H-fluorene-2,4a,4b,9a-tetraol from the roots of Aralia continentalis, which is known as Dokwhal, a traditional medicinal herb. Moreover, we previously reported its cytotoxic activity on cancer cell proliferation in human lung cancer A549 and cervical cancer HeLa cells. The current study aimed to evaluate its detailed molecular mechanisms in cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

CR389, a benzoimidazolyl pyridinone analog, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via p53 activation in human ovarian cancer PA-1 cells.

In the course of screening for novel cell cycle inhibitors and apoptotic inducers, CR389, elucidated as 5-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-1H-pyridin-2-one, was generated as a new hit compound. Flow cytometric analysis and western blots of PA-1 cells treated with 40 micrometer CR389 revealed an appreciable cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase through direct inhibition of the CDK1 complex. In addition, activation of p53 via phosphorylation at Ser15 and subsequent up-regulation of p21(CIP1) showed that CR389 also induces p53-dependent-p21(CIP1)-mediated cell cycle arrest.

High glucose condition induces autophagy in endothelial progenitor cells contributing to angiogenic impairment.

Cardiovascular complications are the major causes of death in patients with diabetes mellitus. Several studies have demonstrated that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), adult stem cells contributing to the regeneration of vascular endothelium, are dysfunctional under diabetic condition resulting in impaired peripheral circulation and delayed wound healing. In this study, we investigated the cellular alteration of EPCs under high glucose condition, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying diabetes-associated EPC dysfunction.

HY251, a novel decahydrocyclopenta[a]indene analog, induces apoptosis via tBid-mediated intrinsic pathway in human ovarian cancer PA-1 cells.

We previously isolated a novel compound, HY251, with the molecular structure of 3-propyl-2-vinyl-1,2,3,3a,3b,6,7,7a,8,8adecahydrocyclopenta[ a]indene-3,3a,7a,8a-tetraol from the roots of Aralia continentalis. The current study was designed to evaluate the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the apoptotic induction by HY251 in human ovarian cancer PA-1 cells. TUNEL assay and Western blot analyses revealed an appreciable apoptotic induction in PA-1 cells treated with 60 μM of HY251 for 24 h.

Inhibition of TNF-α-induced adhesion molecule expression by diosgenin in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells via downregulation of the MAPK, Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and the expression of adhesion molecules on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contributes to the progress of the disease. Diosgenin, a precursor of steroid hormones, has been shown to have a variety of biological activities including anti-inflammatory activity; however, its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. This study examined the effect of diosgenin on the expression of adhesion molecules induced by TNF-α in cultured mouse VSMC cell line, MOVAS-1.