• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.761-766
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• 2012

Objective: Although various human cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been defined, their applications are restricted to immunocompromised models. Developing a novel CSC model which could be used in immunocompetent or transgenic mice is essential for further understanding of the biomolecular characteristics of tumor stem cells. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed murine lung cancer cells for the presence of CSCs. Methods: Side population (SP) cells were isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting, followed by serum-free medium (SFM) culture, using Lewis lung carcinoma cell (LLC) line. The self-renewal, differentiated progeny, chemosensitivity, and tumorigenic properties in SP and non-SP cells were investigated through in vitro culture and in vivo serial transplantation. Differential expression profiles of stem cell markers were examined by RT-PCR. Results: The SP cell fraction comprised 1.1% of the total LLC population. SP cells were available to grow in SFM, and had significantly enhanced capacity for cell proliferation and colony formation. They were also more resistant to cisplatin in comparison to non-SP cells, and displayed increased tumorigenic ability. Moreover, SP cells showed higher mRNA expression of Oct-4, ABCG2, and CD44. Conclusion: We identified SP cells from a murine lung carcinoma, which possess well-known characteristics of CSCs. Our study established a useful model that should allow investigation of the biological features and pharmacosensitivity of lung CSCs, both in vitro and in syngeneic immunocompetent or transgenic/knockout mice.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.991-996
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• 2015

Side population (SP) cells have stem cell-like properties with a capacity for self-renewal and are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore the presence of SP cells in human breast cancer probably has prognostic value. Objective: To investigate the characteristics of SP cells and identify the relationship between the SP cells levels and clinico-pathological parameters of the breast tumor and disease-free survival (DFS) in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 122 eligible breast cancer patients were consecutively recruited from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007 at Yunnan Tumor Hospital. All eligible subjects received conventional treatment and were followed up for seven years. Predictors of recurrence and/or metastasis and DFS were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Human breast cancer cells were also obtained from fresh human breast cancer tissue and cultured by the nucleic acid dye Hoechst33342 with Verapami. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to isolate the cells of SP and non-SP types. Results: In this study, SP cells were identified using flow cytometric analysis with Hoechst 33342 dye efflux. Adjusted for age, tumor size, lymph nodal status, histological grade, the Cox model showed a higher risk of recurrence and/or metastasis positively associated with the SP cell level (1.75, 1.02-2.98), as well as with axillary lymph node metastasis (2.99, 1.76-5.09), pathology invasiveness type (1.7, 1.14-2.55), and tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) (1.54, 1.01-2.36). Conclusions: The SP cell level is independently associated with tumor progression and clinical outcome after controlling for other pathological factors. The axillary lymph node status, TVDT and the status of non-invasive or invasive tumor independently predict the prognosis of breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7179-7186
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• 2013

Background and Aims: Scutellaria is one of the most popular traditional Chinese herbal remedies against various human diseases, including cancer. In this study, we examined the active effects of Scutellaria extract and its main flavonoid constituents on the proportion of side population cells within human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226 in vitro and explored the potential molecular mechanisms involved. Materials and Methods: The contents of flavonoids in ethanolic extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. The antiproliferative effect of the ethanolic extract on RPMI-8226 was determined by CCK assay. Apoptosis was measured by annexin combining with propidium iodide in a flow cytometer. Cell cycle analysis was performed by propidium iodide staining in combination with flow cytometry analysis. Hoechst 33342 exclusion assay was used for the identification of side population within RPMI8226 cells. The expression of ABCG2 protein was assessed by Western blotting assay. Results: The content of major flavonoids constitutents of Scutellaria extract was baicalin (10.2%), wogonoside (2.50%), baicalein (2.29%), and wogonin (0.99%), respectively. The crude Scutellaria extract did not show significant anti-proliferative effect, apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest in RPMI-8226 within the concentrations of $1-75{\mu}g/mL$. However, the ethanolic extract, baicalein, wogonin and baicalin reduced the side population cells in RPMI-8226, and data showed that baicalein and wogonin had stronger inhibitory effects. Correspondingly, they also exhibited significant effects on decreasing the expression level of ABCG2 protein in RPMI-8226 in vitro. Conclusions: Our results for the first time demonstrated a novel mechanism of action for Scutellaria extract and its main active flavonoids, namely targeting SP cells by modulating the expression of ABCG2 protein. This study provides an insight for new therapeutic strategies targeting cancer stem cells of multiple myeloma.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2008

It has been reported that bone marrow (BM)-side population (SP) cells, with hematopoietic stem cell activity, can transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes and contribute to myocardial repair. However, this has been questioned by recent studies showing that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) adopt a hematopoietic cell lineage in the ischemic myocardium. The present study was designed to investigate whether BM-SP cells can in fact transdifferentiate into functional cardiomyocytes. Phenotypically, BM-SP cells were $19.59%{\pm}9.00\;CD14^+$, $8.22%{\pm}2.72\;CD34^+$, $92.93%{\pm}2.68\;CD44^+$, $91.86%{\pm}4.07\;CD45^+$, $28.48%{\pm}2.24\;c-kit^+$, $71.09%{\pm}3.67\;Sca-1^+$. Expression of endothelial cell markers (CD31, Flk-1, Tie-2 and VEGF-A) was higher in BM-SP cells than whole BM cells. After five days of co-culture with neonatal cardiomyocytes, $7.2%{\pm}1.2$ of the BM-SP cells expressed sarcomeric ${\alpha}$-actinin as measured by flow cytometry. Moreover, BM-SP cells co-cultured on neonatal cardiomyocytes fixed to inhibit cell fusion also expressed sarcomeric ${\alpha}$-actinin. The co-cultured BM-SP cells showed neonatal cardiomyocyte-like action potentials of relatively long duration and shallow resting membrane potential. They also generated calcium transients with amplitude and duration similar to those of neonatal cardiomyocytes. These results show that BM-SP cells are capable of functional cardiomyogenic differentiation when co-cultured with neonatal cardiomyocytes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1817-1821
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• 2016

Objectives: To observed the effects of ginsenoside -Rh2 (GS-Rh2) on proliferation and apoptosis of side population (SP) human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. Materials and Methods: SGC-7901 SP and Non-SP cells were sorted by flow cytometry and assessed using the cck-8 method. Expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 of SP before and after the intervention was determined by Western-blotting. Results: It was found that the proliferation of SP was significantly faster than that of NSP (P<0.05). In addition, GS-Rh2 inhibited proliferation of gastric cancer SP cells, induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis, and changed the expression of BAX/Bcl-2 proteins in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). Conclusions: With increase of GS-Rh2 dose, GS-Rh2 gradually inhibit the proliferation of SGC-7901 SP cells, which have high proliferation rate, through G1/G0 phase arrest, followed by apoptosis which involves the up-regulation of Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2010

Pluripotency of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) is one of the most valuable ability of hESCs for applying cell therapy field, but also showing side effect, for example teratoma formation. When transplant multipotent stem cell, such as mesnchymal stem cell (MSC) which retains similar differentiation ability, they do not form teratoma in vivo, but there exist limitation of cellular source supply. Accordingly, differentiation of hESC into MSC will be promising cellular source with strong points of both hESC and MSC line. In this study, we described the derivation of MSC like cell population from feeder free cultured hESC (hESC-MSC) using direct differentiation system. Cells population, hESC-MSC and bone marrow derived MSC (BM-MSC) retained similar characteristics in vitro, such as morphology, MSC specific marker expression and differentiation capacity. At the point of differentiation of both cell populations, differentiation rate was slower in hESC-MSC than BM-MSC. As these reason, to verify differentially expressed molecular condition of both cell population which bring out different differentiation rate, we compare the molecular condition of hESC-MSC and BM-MSC using 2-D proteomic analysis tool. In the proteomic analysis, we identified 49 differentially expressed proteins in hESC-MSC and BM-MSC, and they involved in different biological process such as positive regulation of molecular function, biological process, cellular metabolic process, nitrogen compound metabolic process, macromolecule metabolic process, metabolic process, molecular function, and positive regulation of molecular function and regulation of ubiquitin protein ligase activity during mitotic cell cycle, cellular response to stress, and RNA localization. As the related function of differentially expressed proteins, we sought to these proteins were key regulators which contribute to their differentiation rate, developmental process and cell proliferation. Our results suggest that the expressions of these proteins between the hESC-MSC and BM-MSC, could give to us further evidence for hESC differentiation into the mesenchymal stem cell is associated with a differentiation factor. As the initial step to understand fundamental difference of hESC-MSC and BM-MSC, we sought to investigate different protein expression profile. And the grafting of hESC differentiation into MSC and their comparative proteomic analysis will be positively contribute to cell therapy without cellular source limitation, also with exact background of their molecular condition.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2019

Background: Docetaxel is one of the standard treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Docetaxel is usually administered in a 3-week schedule, but there is significant toxicity. In this phase II clinical study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a 4-weekly schedule of docetaxel monotherapy, as first-line chemotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinoma in elderly lung cancer patients. Methods: Patients with stage IIIB/ IV lung squamous-cell carcinoma age 70 or older, that had not undergone cytotoxic chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients received docetaxel $25mg/m^2$ on days 1, 8, and 15, every 4 weeks. Primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity profiles. Results: A total of 19 patients were enrolled. Among 19 patients, 17 were for evaluated efficacy and safety. In the intent-to-treat population, ORR and disease control rate (DCR) were 11.8% and 47.1%, respectively. In the response evaluable population, ORR was 16.7% and DCR was 66.7%. Median PFS and OS were 3.1 months and 3.3 months, respectively. There were three adverse grade 3/4 events. Grade 1 neutropenia was reported in one patient. Conclusion: Our data failed to demonstrate efficacy of a 4-weekly docetaxel regimen, in elderly patients with a poor performance status. However, incidence of side effects, including neutropenia, was lower than with a 3-week docetaxel regimen, as previously reported.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.369-369
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• 2003

Hemocytes in marine bivalves play important immunological roles in discrimination, opsonization and phagocytosis of foreign materials as a defense mechanism. In this study we report the flow cytometric implications to investigate the immune parameters such as the compositional and the functional characteristics of hemocytes isolated from the Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum. Heterogeneity of the hemocytic cell population was determined by the forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC) cytometric profile which showed three populations: granulocytes, hyalinocytes and small agranular cells. In addition, phagocytosis rate was measured after adding fluorescent-labeled particles. The data were initially analysed for two-parameters: FSC and SSC, then the fluorescent (FL 1) frequency distribution histogram of the hemocyte population was subsequently obtained.

• Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.177-181
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• 2018

Disulfiram is a drug used to treat alcohol dependence. Recent studies have shown that disulfiram also has anti-cancer effects. Considering that many anti-cancer agents have side effects, including immunosuppression, it is important to check if disulfiram has some cytotoxicity to immune cells. In this study, mouse spleen cells were treated with disulfiram and the metabolic activity was measured. Disulfiram increased the cell death of spleen cells according to annexin V-FITC/PI staining analysis. In addition, disulfiram decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential of spleen cells. The toxicity of disulfiram was concentration dependent. Interestingly, disulfiram affected the population of lymphocytes and the subset of spleen cells was altered. This study provides clinicians and researchers with valuable information regarding the toxicity of disulfiram to mouse spleen cells, particularly lymphocytes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1351-1355
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• 2014

Background: Ovarian sex-cord stromal tumours (SCST) are rare, and relatively infrequent in children. These have to be distinguished from more common germ cell tumors in children and also from benign epithelial neoplasms. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to report the clinical and pathological findings in young patients with these tumours in our population. Material and Methods: The present observational cross-sectional study included all subjects <21 years of age diagnosed with ovarian SCST, in Aga Khan University Hospital Histopathology Laboratory, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 1992 till July 2013. Results: Of the total of 513 SCSTs presented during the study period, 39 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were assessed. The age range was 4-250 months. Most of the tumours presented at stage-1 and an abdominal mass was the most common presenting symptom, along with menstrual disturbance. The left side ovary was slightly more affected (53.5%). Of the total, 15 were juvenile granulosa cell tumours (JGCT), 11 sclerosing stromal tumours (SST), 10 of the fibrothecomas spectrum, 2 Sertoli leydig cell tumours (SLCT) and one a sex cord tumour with annular tubules (SCTAT). Detailed immunohistochemical analyses were performed in 33 cases. Recurrence/metastasis was noted in 4/21 cases with follow-up data. Conclusions: Ovarian sex cord stromal tumours are very rare in young age in our population, and usually present at an early stage. Most common among these are juvenile granulosa cell tumours, although surprisingly sclerosing stromal tumours were also common. Clinical symptoms due to hormone secretion in premenstrual girls and menstrual disturbance in menstruating girls are common presenting features.