• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1977-1981
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• 2012

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a native herb found in Southeast Asia which features various pharmacological activities against allergy, inflammation, viral and bacterial infection, and cancer. The aims of this study were to determine the cytotoxic effect of 6 fractions obtained from silica gel column chromatography of alcoholic HCT extract on human leukemic Molt-4 cells and demonstrate mechanisms of cell death. Six HCT fractions were cytotoxic to human lymphoblastic leukemic Molt-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay, fraction 4 exerting the greatest effects. Treatment with $IC_{50}$ of HCT fraction 4 significantly induced Molt-4 apoptosis detected by annexinV-FITC/propidium iodide for externalization of phosphatidylserine to the outer layer of cell membrane. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was reduced in HCT fraction 4-treated Molt-4 cells. Moreover, decreased expression of Bcl-xl and increased levels of Smac/Diablo, Bax and GRP78 proteins were noted on immunoblotting. In conclusion, HCT fraction 4 induces Molt-4 apoptosis cell through an endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3073-3076
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• 2012

Terpinen-4-ol is a terpene found in the rhizome of Plai (Zingiber montanum (Koenig) Link ex Dietr.). In this study apoptogenic activity and mechanisms of cell death induced by terpinen-4-ol were investigated in the human leukemic MOLT-4 cell line. Terpinen-4-ol exhibited cytotoxicity in MOLT-4 cells, with characteristic morphological features of apoptosis by Wright's staining. The mode of cell death was confirmed to be apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis after staining with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide. A sub-G1 peak in DNA histograms of cell cycle assays was observed. Terpinen-4-ol induced-MOLT-4 cell apoptosis mediated through an intrinsic pathway involving the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) and release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. In addition, terpinen-4-ol also induced apoptosis via an extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation resulting in the cleavage of cytosolic Bid. Truncated-Bid (tBid) translocated to mitochondria and activated the mitochondrial pathway in conjunction with down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression. Caspase-3 activity also increased. In conclusion, terpinen-4-ol can induce human leukemic MOLT-4 cell apoptosis via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 1995

Homogeneous human deoxycytidine kinase was purified in one step from a variety of spontaneous human leukemic cells (T-ALL, B-ALL, B-CLL, AML, CML), and from cultured T-lymphoblast cells (MOLT-4) using the newly developed affinity medium, $dCp_4$-Sepharose. Starting with an ammonium sulfate fraction, purification was achieved in one step with the kinase being eluted from a column by the end product inhibitor, dCTP. The purified deoxycytidine kinase from T-ALL cells phosphorylated deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine, as well as deoxycytidine. The enzyme purified from T-ALL and B-CLL cells yielded one major band with a molecular weight of 52 kDa determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. AML and CML cells yielded one 52 kDa band and an extra band of 30 kDa molecular weight. On the other hand, B-ALL and MOLT-4 cells showed a low molecular weight band of 30 kDa only. However, the electrophoretic mobilities of enzymatic activity in 12% non-denaturing gels were identical for the dCyd kinase from all different kinds of leukemic cell lines, except that the B-ALL, B-CLL, and MOLT-4 cell preparations had an extra minor peak, all at the same position. dAdo and dCyd phosphorylating activities comigrated indicating that these activities are all associated with the same protein. Two new methods, a disk implantation method and a nitrocellulose powder method were used with a small amount of enzyme protein to raise polyclonal antibodies against dCyd kinase purified from T-ALL cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.119-137
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• 2003

Younggaechulgam-tang has been used for treating skin diseases. In this study, I investigated the immunosuppressive effect of Younggaechul-tang in the human T cell line MOLT-4 cells. MOLT-4 cells were stimulated with the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) + A23187. The secretion appeared to be greater when cells were stimulated with PHA than with PMA + A23187. Younggaechulgam-tang had no affect proliferation stimulated by PHA. I showed that IL-2 secretion and expression by PHA stimulated MOLT-4 cells were inhibited by Younggaechugam-tang treatment. Maximal inhibition rate of IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion was 80$\%$ and 30$\%$, respectively. Younggaechulgam-tang also inhibited nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kB and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). In conclusion, these results suggest that Younggaechulgam-tang may contribute to the immunosuppressive oriental drug clinically.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2 s.32
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• pp.303-310
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of water extract of Carthami Flos on the proliferation of human cancer cell-lines. The effects of Carthami Flos on the proliferation of A431, HeLa, MOLT-4, K562 cells, Balb／c 3T3 cells, mouse thymocytes, splenocytes and human lymphocytes were estimated by MTT colorimetric assay. The results were as follows; 1. Carthami Flos did not effect A431, HeLa, MOLT-4, K562 cells. 2. The cytotoxicity of mitomycin C on K562 cells was increased by the combination of Carthami Flos. 3. Carthami Flos inhibited the proliferation of Balb／c 3T3 cells. 4. Carthami Flos stimulated the proliferation of thymocytes. 5. Carthami Flos stimulated the proliferation of splenocytes. 6. Carthami Flos stimulated the proliferation of human lymphocytes.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.499-499
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Gleditsiae Spina on the pro life-ration of human cancer cell-lines. The effects of Gleditsiae Spina on the proliferation of A431, HeLa. MOLT-4, K562 cells, Balb/c 3T3 cells, mouse thymocytes, splenocytes and human lymphocytes were estimated by MTT colorimetric assay. The results were as follows; 1. Gleditsiae Spina increased the proliferation of HeLa, MOLT-4 and K562 cells. 2. The cytotoxicity of mitomycin C on K562 cells was increased by the combination of Gleditsiae Spina. 3. Gleditsiae Spina did not effect the proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 cells. 4. Gleditsiae Spina stimulated the proliferation of thymocytes. 5. Gleditsiae Spina stimulated the proliferation of splenocytes. 6. Gleditsiae Spina stimulated the proliferation of human lymphocytes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2637-2641
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• 2013

6,8-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1-methyl-azafluorenone (DMMA), a purified compound from Polyalthia cerasoides roots, is cytotoxic to various cancer cell lines. The aims of this study were to demonstrate the type of cancer cell death and the mechanism(s) involved. DMMA inhibited cell growth and induced apoptotic death in human leukemic cells (HL-60, U937, MOLT-4), human breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in a dose dependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ values ranging between 20-55 ${\mu}M$. DMMA also decreased cell viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The morphology of cancer cells induced by the compound after staining with propidium iodide and examined under a fluorescence microscope was condensed nuclei and apoptotic bodies. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) was decreased after 24h exposure in all five types of cancer cells. DMMA-induced caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity was strongly induced in human leukemic HL-60 and MOLT-4 cells, while in U937-, MDA-MB231- and HepG2-treated cells there was partial induction of caspase. In conclusion, DMMA-induced activation of caspase-8 and -9 resulted in execution of apoptotic cell death in human leukemic HL-60 and MOLT-4 cell lines via extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2001

Background: Hepatitis C virus(HCV), a family of Flaviviridae, has a host cell-derived envelope containing a positive-stranded RNA genome, and has been known as the maj or etiological agent for chronic hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. There remains a need to dissect a molecular mechanism of pathogenesis for the development of therapeutic and effective preventive measure for HCV. Identification of cellular receptor is of central importance not only to understand the viral pathogenesis, but also to exploit strategies for prevention of HCV. This study was aimed at identifying peptide mimotopes inhibiting the binding of E2 protein of HCV to MOLT-4 cell. Methods: In this study, phage peptide library displaying a random peptides consisting of 7 or 12 random peptides was employed in order to pan against E2 protein. Free HCV particles were separated from the immune complex forms by immunoprecipitation using anti-human IgG antibody, and used for HCV-capture ELISA. To identify the peptides inhibiting E2-binding to MOLT-4 cells, E2 protein was subj ect to bind to MOLT-4 cells under the competition with phage peptides. Results: Several phage peptides were selected for their specific binding to E2 protein, which showed the conserved sequence of SHFWRAP from 3 different peptide sequences. They were also able to recognize the HCV particles in the sera of HCV patients captured by monoclonal antibody against E2 protein. Two of them, showing peptide sequence of HLGPWMSHWFQR and WAPPLERSSLFY respectively, were revealed to inhibit the binding of E2 protein to MOLT-4 cell efficiently in dose dependent mode. However, few membrane-associated receptor candidates were seen using Fasta3 programe for homology search with these peptides. Conclusion: Phage peptides containing HLGPWMSHWFQR and WAPPLERSSLFY respectively, showed the inhibition of E2-binding to MOLT-4 cells. However, they did not reveal any homologues to cellular receptors from GenBank database. In further study, cellular receptor could be identified through the screening of cDNA library from MOLT-4 or hepatocytes using antibodies against these peptide mimotopes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2375-2380
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• 2014

In the present investigation, a series of some novel 1,3-diaryl/heteroarylprop-2-en-1-one derivatives (3a-j) have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines, two hepatocarcinoma cell lines HUH-7, Hep-3b and one leukemia cancer cell line MOLT-4. Based on these results, structure-activity relationship (SAR) was studied on modification of $R^1$ and $R^2$ to identify the compound with maximum potency. Amongst the compounds, 3b and 3d strongly inhibited the growth of Hep-3b and MOLT-4 cells with $IC_{50}$ value of 3.39 and $3.63{\mu}M$ respectively. The results obtained from the inhibitory study had further been supported by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement using flow cytometry in MOLT-4 cells. These observations collectively reveal that compounds comprising 1,3-diarylprop-2-en-1-one framework with pyrazole ring at position-3 and heteroaryl/aryl substituents at position-1 can be used as promising anticancer agents.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 2003

Objective : To investigate immune enhancing effects of Boummyunyuck-dan (BMD) Methods : In this study I investigated the effect of BMD on cell proliferation and viability. In addition, I investigated production of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$), NO, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in human T-cell leukemia, MOLT-4 cells. The cells were cultured for 24h in the presence or absence of BMD. Result : BMD increased the cell viability by 15% (P<0.05) and enhanced IL-2, IL-4 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production compared with media control in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01) at 24h. BMD also increased mRNA and protein expression levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ in MOLT-4 cells. In addition, I also assessed the effects of BMD on production of NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ from the peritoneal macrophages because NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ as a potent macrophage-derived immune reaction regulatory molecule has received increasing attention. However, BMD had no effect on NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in the cells. Conclusion : These data indicate that BMD has some immune-enhancing effect, and that its action may be due to the proliferation and cytokine production of T cells.