Ethanol extract of asiasari radix preferentially induces apoptosis in G361 human melanoma cells by differential regulation of p53.

Background: In Korea and China, asiasari radix (AR) is widely used as a traditional anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. After its skin-regenerating and hair loss-preventing activities were identified, several types of AR extracts were used for aesthetic purposes. Nevertheless, the effect of ARE on various types of skin cancers was not fully studied yet.

The topical application of low-temperature argon plasma enhances the anti-inflammatory effect of Jaun-ointment on DNCB-induced NC/Nga mice.

Background: Jaun-ointment (JO), also known as Shiunko in Japan, is one of the most popular medicinal formulae used in Korean traditional medicine for the external treatment of skin wound and inflammatory skin conditions. Since JO is composed of crude mixture of two herbal extracts (radix of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc and Angelica gigas Nakai), those been proved its anti-inflammatory activities in-vitro and in-vivo, JO has been expected as a good alternative treatment option for atopic dermatitis (AD). However, due to the lack of strategies for the penetrating methods of JO's various anti-inflammatory elements into the skin, an effective and safe transdermal drug delivery system needs to be determined.

Inhibition of inflammatory reactions in 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene induced Nc/Nga atopic dermatitis mice by non-thermal plasma.

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) has recently been introduced and reported as a novel tool with a range of medicinal and biological roles. Although many studies using NTP have been performed, none has investigated the direct relationship between NTP and immune responses yet. Especially, the effects of NTP on atopic dermatitis (AD) were not been explored.

Treatment with low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma enhances cutaneous delivery of epidermal growth factor by regulating E-cadherin-mediated cell junctions.

The barrier system of the skin not only defends against antigens and harmful substances, but also hinders the permeation of medicines and cosmetics into the dermis. Several strategies have been developed to enhance the absorption ability of skin, including the use of chemicals and skin ablation devices. However, the cost and inconvenience of these strategies highlights the need for a novel and safe method for increasing skin absorption.

Etoposide induces a mixed type of programmed cell death and overcomes the resistance conferred by Bcl-2 in Hep3B hepatoma cells.

The Bcl-2 protein is known to exert not only anti-apoptotic but also anti-autophagic activities. Numerous studies have demonstrated that etoposide, which is one of the most widely used cancer chemotherapy agents, induces apoptotic cell death. However, the exact molecular mechanism leading to cell death by etoposide remains to be resolved.

Downregulation of protein kinase CK2 activity facilitates tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated chondrocyte death through apoptosis and autophagy.

Despite the numerous studies of protein kinase CK2, little progress has been made in understanding its function in chondrocyte death. Our previous study first demonstrated that CK2 is involved in apoptosis of rat articular chondrocytes. Recent studies have suggested that CK2 downregulation is associated with aging.

Cilostazol protects rat chondrocytes against nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in vitro and prevents cartilage destruction in a rat model of osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine whether cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase type III inhibitor, protects rat articular chondrocytes against nitric oxide (NO)-induced apoptosis and prevents cartilage destruction in mono-iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis (OA) in a rat model in which inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed.

Methods: The NO donor sodium nitroprusside was administered to rat articular chondrocytes that had been pretreated with cilostazol. Induction of apoptosis was evaluated by DNA electrophoresis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

A novel chenodeoxycholic derivative HS-1200 enhances radiation-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.

HS-1200, a synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid derivative, has cytotoxic activity in various human cancer cells. The present study was undertaken to examine whether HS-1200 sensitizes radiation-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. Clonogenic assay elucidated that the combination treatment with HS-1200 and radiation induced more cytotoxic effects than the radiation treatment alone.