Discovery of donor age markers from bloodstain by LC-MS/MS using a metabolic approach

Bloodstains are frequently encountered at crime scenes and they provide important evidence about the incident, such as information about the victim or suspect and the time of death or other events. Efforts have been made to identify the age of the bloodstain's donor through genomic approaches, but there are some limitations, such as the availability of databases and the quality dependence of DNA. There is a need for the development of a tool that can obtain information at once from a small blood sample. The aim of this study is to identify bloodstain metabolite candidates that can be used to determine donor age. We prepared bloodstain samples and analyzed metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Eighteen molecular features (MFs) were selected as candidates using volcano plots and multivariate analysis. Based on the MS/MS spectrum of the MFs, the following nine metabolites were identified from the METaboliteLINk database: Δ2-cis eicosenoic acid, ergothioneine, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, benzaldehyde, phenacylamine, myristic acid ethyl ester, p-coumaric acid, niacinamide, and N-arachidonoyl-L-alanine. These nine age markers at high or low abundances could be used to estimate the age of a bloodstain's donor. This study was the first to develop metabolite age markers that can be used to analyze crime scene bloodstains.

Microbial analyses of blood spot surfaces collected from a laboratory and the bathroom of a female single-person household under different environmental conditions

Many people spend most of their time indoors, thereby exposing themselves to indoor environmental microbial communities that might interact with the human microbiota. These potential interactions have only been considered for personal identification; however, accumulating evidence indicates that these microbial interactions are potentially implicated with the identification of human interactions and location-specific factors including time and seasonal variations in the microbial community. To augment the potential of metagenomics-based forensic tools, we compared the composition of microbial communities in blood spot surfaces from healthy adults placed in different environments, such as in the bathroom of a female single-person household and on a laboratory, which were sampled across seasons and time points. The laboratory samples showed more changes in the bacterial community over time owing to the higher number of individuals using the laboratory, whereas the microbial communities in the bathroom samples remained relatively stable over time. Moreover, the two locations could be distinguished according to their specific bacterial community compositions. Variations were also observed related to changes in temperature and humidity, allowing for prediction of season-based microbial community. These findings offer a new perspective regarding the use of microbial community analysis in forensic science.

Development of novel extraction reagents for analyzing dried blood spots from crime scenes

Evidence of dried blood is very valuable in forensic science. Since the discovery of luminescence with Luminol and dried blood spots (DBSs) in 1928, interest and research on blood have continued to date. One of the most important factor that DBSs have is genes. However, the current use of distilled water (DDW) to collect and extract blood samples has disadvantages related to DNA stability. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an extraction reagent that is most suitable for gene extraction from DBSs. Blood was collected from 45 healthy adult men and women in vacuum blood containers without coagulants or anticoagulants. The collected blood was dried in various settings to check the performance of the extraction reagent. Extraction with Tris-EDTA (TE) and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was found more suitable in terms of gene interference effects compared with DDW; their performance was also compared with those of the newly developed extraction reagents. Upon comparing the results of polymerase chain reaction for human genomic DNA samples using glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene as the target, the performance of the newly developed extraction reagents, modified TE and PBS, was found to be relatively good. To determine the optimal composition of the developed extraction reagents, 12 new extraction reagents were developed with different pH and sodium concentrations. Among them, the best results were found when the DNA was extracted using extraction reagent No. 3 with pH 8.0 and containing 1 M NaCl. Next, the four extraction reagents, DDW, TE, PBS, and No. 3 were compared under nine different temperature and humidity conditions. Similarly, under various environmental conditions, extraction reagent No. 3 performed better than other reagents. It is proposed that modified TE and PBS mixed extraction reagents are the most suitable for collecting and preserving crime site samples. The proposed composition for a DNA extraction reagent can contribute greatly to crime scene reconstruction.

Selective multi-nanosoldering for fabrication of advanced solution-processed micro/nanoscale metal grid structures

Solution-processed metal grid transparent conductors with low sheet resistance, high optical transmittance and good mechanical flexibility have great potential for use in flexible optoelectronic devices. However, there are still remaining challenges to improve optoelectrical properties and electromechanical stability of the metallic structures due to random loose packings of nanoparticles and the existence of many pores. Here we introduce a selective multi-nanosoldering method to generate robust metallic layers on the thin metal grid structures (< a thickness of 200 nm), which are generated via self-pining assisted direct inking of silver ions. The selective multi-nanosoldering leads to lowering the sheet resistance of the metal grid transparent conductors, while keeping the optical transmittance constant. Also, it reinforces the electromechanical stability of flexible metal grid transparent conductors against a small bending radius or a repeated loading. Finally, organic light-emitting diodes based on the flexible metal grid transparent conductors are demonstrated. Our approach can open a new route to enhance the functionality of metallic structures fabricated using a variety of solution-processed metal patterning methods for next-generation optoelectronic and micro/nanoelectronic applications.

Microarray and proteome array in an atherosclerosis mouse model for identification of biomarkers in whole blood

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly fatal, and 80 percent of the mortality is attributed to heart attack and stroke. Atherosclerosis is a disease that increases a patient's risk to CVD and is characterized by atheroma formed by immune cells, lipids, and smooth muscle cells. When an atherosclerotic lesion grows and blocks blood vessels or when an atheroma ruptures and blocks blood vessels by embolism, sudden angina, or stroke can occur. It is therefore important to diagnose atherosclerosis early and prevent its progression to more severe disease. Although myeloperoxidase, plasma fibrinogen, cardiac troponin-I, and C-reactive protein have been considered as diagnostic markers for multiple cardiac risks, specific biomarkers for atherosclerosis have not been clearly determined yet. Particularly, reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis using whole blood are not yet available. In this study, we screened potential biomarker genes and proteins from whole blood of apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/- ) mice maintained on a Western diet, by comparing them to ApoE+/+ mice. We used whole blood for microarray and proteome array. Candidate genes and proteins identified from each method were confirmed with quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA. Based on our data, we speculate that Lilrb4a, n-R5s136, and IL-5 are potential targets that can be developed into novel biomarkers of atherosclerosis. Our study contributes to the diagnosis of atherosclerosis using whole blood in clinical settings.

Estimation of Age of Bloodstains by Mass-Spectrometry: A Metabolomic Approach

Bloodstains are common evidence in crime scenes, containing significant information, including genetic information. Although efforts have been made to reliably determine the time of incident by analyzing the elapsed time of the bloodstain, there has been limited success. To identify candidate metabolites in bloodstains over time, we prepared bloodstain samples using filter paper and analyzed the metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)/MS over a 21-day period. Using Venn diagrams and by multivariate analysis, we selected 62 candidate molecular features. We found by partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) that the group can be classified with an accuracy of 75.0%, and the R² and Q² values were 0.7513 and 0.6998, respectively. Five metabolites were successfully identified based on candidate molecular features. The level of two metabolites, l-tryptophan and ergothioneine, decreased with time. The concentration of candidate metabolites that we propose reliably increased or decreased with time, thus, enabling the measurement of elapsed time of the bloodstain. This study is the first to identify markers used to analyze the elapsed time of bloodstains through metabolomics analysis.

Gene and Protein Expression Profiles in a Mouse Model of Collagen-Induced Arthritis

The risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease, in the elderly population increases along with that of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Identifying specific biomarkers for RA can clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms and can aid diagnosis and patient care. To this end, the present study investigated the genes and proteins that are differentially expressed in RA using a mouse collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. We performed gene microarray and proteome array analyses using blood samples from the mice and found that 50 genes and 24 proteins were upregulated and 48 genes were downregulated by more than 2-fold in the CIA model relative to the control. The gene microarray and proteome array results were validated by evaluating the expression levels of select genes and proteins by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. We found that the level of integrin α2, which has not been previously reported as a biomarker of RA, was significantly increased in CIA mice as compared to controls. These findings provide a set of novel biomarkers that can be useful for diagnosing and evaluating the progression of RA.

Optimization of electrospun fibrous membranes for in vitro modeling of blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in brain homeostasis at the cellular and global level. Mimicking the selective permeability and transport properties of the BBB to specific molecules and cells remains a significant challenge towards the development of a physiologically relevant in vitro BBB model. In this study, we developed electrospun poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) copolymer membranes that supported different cellular components of the neurovascular unit including human-derived endothelial cells, pericytes and astrocytes. Comparative analyses of thickness, morphology, biocompatibility and permeability of membranes were also conducted. We found that collagen coated 4%PEG-96%PCL membranes supported the growth of a confluent and tight endothelium confirmed by transendothelial electrical resistance measurements (TEER). Based on fabrication process and reported results, we finally discuss the adoption of these electrospun fiber membranes for in vitro and on-a-chip human BBB models.

Melatonin modulates adiponectin expression on murine colitis with sleep deprivation

AIM

To determine adiponectin expression in colonic tissue of murine colitis and systemic cytokine expression after melatonin treatments and sleep deprivation.

METHODS

The following five groups of C57BL/6 mice were used in this study: (1) group I, control; (2) group II, 2% DSS induced colitis for 7 d; (3) group III, 2% DSS induced colitis and melatonin treatment; (4) group IV, 2% DSS induced colitis with sleep deprivation (SD) using specially designed and modified multiple platform water baths; and (5) group V, 2% DSS induced colitis with SD and melatonin treatment. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) or saline was intraperitoneally injected daily to mice for 4 d. The body weight was monitored daily. The degree of colitis was evaluated histologically after sacrificing the mice. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis was performed using anti-adiponectin antibody. After sampling by intracardiac punctures, levels of serum cytokines were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Sleep deprivation in water bath exacerbated DSS induced colitis and worsened weight loss. Melatonin injection not only alleviated the severity of mucosal injury, but also helped survival during stressful condition. The expression level of adiponectin in mucosa was decreased in colitis, with the lowest level observed in colitis combined with sleep deprivation. Melatonin injection significantly (P < 0.05) recovered the expression of adiponectin. The expression levels of IL-6 and IL-17 were increased in the serum of mice with DSS colitis but decreased after melatonin injection.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that melatonin modulated adiponectin expression in colonic tissue and melatonin and adiponectin synergistically potentiated anti-inflammatory effects on colitis with sleep deprivation.

Low ambient oxygen prevents atherosclerosis

Large population studies have shown that living at higher altitudes, which lowers ambient oxygen exposure, is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease mortality. However, hypoxia has also been reported to promote atherosclerosis by worsening lipid metabolism and inflammation. We sought to address these disparate reports by reducing the ambient oxygen exposure of ApoE-/- mice. We observed that long-term adaptation to 10% O2 (equivalent to oxygen content at ∼5000 m), compared to 21% O2 (room air at sea level), resulted in a marked decrease in aortic atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice. This effect was associated with increased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), known to be anti-atherogenic and regulated by hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1α (HIF-1α). Supporting these observations, ApoE-/- mice that were deficient in IL-10 (IL10-/- ApoE-/- double knockout) failed to show reduced atherosclerosis in 10% oxygen. Our study reveals a specific mechanism that can help explain the decreased prevalence of ischemic heart disease in populations living at high altitudes and identifies ambient oxygen exposure as a potential factor that could be modulated to alter pathogenesis. Key messages: Chronic low ambient oxygen exposure decreases atherosclerosis in mice. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels are increased by low ambient O2. This is consistent with the established role of HIF-1α in IL10 transactivation. Absence of IL-10 results in the loss of the anti-atherosclerosis effect of low O2. This mechanism may contribute to decreased atherosclerosis at high altitudes.

Low ambient oxygen prevents atherosclerosis (HUM1P.254)

Large epidemiolgic studies show that living at high altitude, which decreases oxygen exposure, is associated with reduced cardiovascular and cancer mortality. However, some experimental data show that acute hypoxia exposure can increase atherosclerosis by worsening inflammation and blood lipid profiles. We sought to address these disparate observations by chronically controlling the oxygen exposure of ApoE-/- mice and examining its effect on atherosclerosis. Herein, we report that reducing oxygen exposure by 50% caused a marked decrease in aortic atherosclerosis, associated with the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines in circulation and increased anti-inflammatory IL10 levels in aortic tissue. We further show that the expression of IL10, well established to prevent atherosclerosis, was induced by low oxygen in a hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF1 α) dependent manner. We propose that this anti-inflammatory mechanism may contribute to the lower incidence of ischemic heart disease in populations living at high altitudes and suggest a potential therapeutic pathway for disease prevention.

Synergistic effect of interleukin-6 and hyaluronic acid on cell migration and ERK activation in human keratinocytes

Wound healing is initiated and progressed by complex integrated process of cellular, physiologic, and biochemical events, such as inflammation, cell migration and proliferation. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine, and it could regulate the inflammatory response of wound healing process in a timely manner. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an essential component of the extracellular matrix, and contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of IL-6 or/and HA on the cell migration process in human keratinocytes. Combining IL-6 and HA significantly increased the cell migration in scratch based wound healing assay. The phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was significantly increased after 1 hr of IL-6 and HA treatment, but the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was not. We also found that significant increase of the NF-κB translocation from cytoplasm into nucleus after 1 hr of IL-6 or/and HA treatments. This study firstly showed that synergistic effects of combining IL-6 and HA on the cell migration of wound healing by activation of ERK and NF-κB signaling. Further studies might be required to confirm the synergistic effects of HA and IL-6 in the animal model for the development of a novel therapeutic mixture for stimulation of wound healing process.

Increased expression of interleukin-1β in triglyceride-induced macrophage cell death is mediated by p38 MAP kinase

Triglycerides (TG) are implicated in the development of atherosclerosis through formation of foam cells and induction of macrophage cell death. In this study, we report that addition of exogenous TG induced cell death in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-differentiated THP-1 human macrophages. TG treatment induced a dramatic decrease in interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule remained unchanged. To identify signaling pathways involved in TG-induced downregulation of IL-1β, we added p38 MAPK, protein kinase C (PKC) or c-Raf1 specific inhibitors. We found that inhibition of p38 MAPK alleviated the TG-induced downregulation of IL-1β, whereas inhibition of PKC and c-Raf1 had no effect. This is the first report showing decreased IL-1β expression during TG-induced cell death in a human macrophage line. Our results suggest that downregulation of IL-1β expression by TG-treated macrophages may play a role during atherogenesis.

Inhibitory effect of Trolox on the migration and invasion of human lung and cervical cancer cells

The antioxidant 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) is implicated in migration and invasion of metastatic tumors. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of Trolox on metastatic cancer cells is not known. We found that a non-cytotoxic dose of Trolox decreased phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced invasion and migration of both A549 and HeLa cancer cells. We also found that Trolox suppressed both the expression and the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and that the promoter activity of PMA-induced MMP-9 was inhibited by Trolox. Our results show that Trolox inhibits the transcriptional activity of MMP-9 by suppression of NF-κB transactivation. These results indicate that Trolox inhibits NF-κB-mediated MMP-9 expression, leading to the suppression of migration and invasion in lung and cervical cancer cells. Trolox is a potential agent for clinical use in preventing the invasion and metastasis of human malignant lung and cervical cancers.

p53, aerobic metabolism, and cancer

p53 regulates the cell cycle and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair pathways as part of its unequivocally important function to maintain genomic stability. Intriguingly, recent studies show that p53 can also transactivate genes involved in coordinating the two major pathways of energy generation to promote aerobic metabolism, but how this serves to maintain genomic stability is less clear. In an attempt to understand the biology, this review presents human epidemiologic data on the inverse relationship between aerobic capacity and cancer incidence that appears to be mirrored by the impact of p53 on aerobic capacity in mouse models. The review summarizes mechanisms by which p53 regulates mitochondrial respiration and proposes how this might contribute to maintaining genomic stability. Although disparate in nature, the data taken together suggest that the promotion of aerobic metabolism by p53 serves as an important tumor suppressor activity and may provide insights for cancer prevention strategies in the future.

FOS expression in blood as a LDL-independent marker of statin treatment

OBJECTIVES

The expression of FOS, a gene critical for monocyte and macrophage function, can be inhibited by statins through the disruption of a cholesterol-independent signaling pathway. In this pilot study, we hypothesized that blood FOS mRNA levels will be sensitive to statin treatment independent of LDL cholesterol levels.

METHODS

Three cohorts at increased risk of or with cardiovascular disease (CVD) were studied. Blood FOS mRNA levels were measured before and after statin treatment or in patients under stable treatment.

RESULTS

Statin treatment for three months significantly reduced blood FOS mRNA and LDL cholesterol levels. However, in subjects with similar LDL levels achieved by different doses of long term statin treatment, there was an inverse relationship between statin dose and FOS expression.

CONCLUSIONS

FOS mRNA levels appear to be a sensitive marker of statin treatment that is dissociated from cholesterol levels.

Mitochondrial respiration protects against oxygen-associated DNA damage

Oxygen is not only required for oxidative phosphorylation but also serves as the essential substrate for the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is implicated in ageing and tumorigenesis. Although the mitochondrion is known for its bioenergetic function, the symbiotic theory originally proposed that it provided protection against the toxicity of increasing oxygen in the primordial atmosphere. Using human cells lacking Synthesis of Cytochrome c Oxidase 2 (SCO2-/-), we have tested the oxygen toxicity hypothesis. These cells are oxidative phosphorylation defective and glycolysis dependent; they exhibit increased viability under hypoxia and feature an inverted growth response to oxygen compared with wild-type cells. SCO2-/- cells have increased intracellular oxygen and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) levels, which result in increased ROS and oxidative DNA damage. Using this isogenic cell line, we have revealed the genotoxicity of ambient oxygen. Our study highlights the importance of mitochondrial respiration both for bioenergetic benefits and for maintaining genomic stability in an oxygen-rich environment.

Polo-like kinases mediate cell survival in mitochondrial dysfunction

Cancer cells often display defects in mitochondrial respiration, thus the identification of pathways that promote cell survival under this metabolic state may have therapeutic implications. Here, we report that the targeted ablation of mitochondrial respiration markedly increases expression of Polo-like kinase 2 (PLK2) and that it is required for the in vitro growth of these nonrespiring cells. Furthermore, we identify PLK2 as a kinase that phosphorylates Ser-137 of PLK1, which is sufficient to mediate this survival signal. In vivo, knockdown of PLK2 in an isogenic human cell line with a modest defect in mitochondrial respiration eliminates xenograft formation, indicating that PLK2 activity is necessary for growth of cells with compromised respiration. Our findings delineate a mitochondrial dysfunction responsive cell cycle pathway critical for determining cancer cell outcome.

p53 improves aerobic exercise capacity and augments skeletal muscle mitochondrial DNA content

RATIONALE

Exercise capacity is a physiological characteristic associated with protection from both cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. p53 regulates mitochondrial function and its deletion markedly diminishes exercise capacity, but the underlying genetic mechanism orchestrating this is unclear. Understanding the biology of how p53 improves exercise capacity may provide useful insights for improving both cardiovascular as well as general health.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to understand the genetic mechanism by which p53 regulates aerobic exercise capacity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a variety of physiological, metabolic, and molecular techniques, we further characterized maximum exercise capacity and the effects of training, measured various nonmitochondrial and mitochondrial determinants of exercise capacity, and examined putative regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis. As p53 did not affect baseline cardiac function or inotropic reserve, we focused on the involvement of skeletal muscle and now report a wider role for p53 in modulating skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. p53 interacts with Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A (TFAM), a nuclear-encoded gene important for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transcription and maintenance, and regulates mtDNA content. The increased mtDNA in p53(+/+) compared to p53(-/-) mice was more marked in aerobic versus glycolytic skeletal muscle groups with no significant changes in cardiac tissue. These in vivo observations were further supported by in vitro studies showing overexpression of p53 in mouse myoblasts increases both TFAM and mtDNA levels whereas depletion of TFAM by shRNA decreases mtDNA content.

CONCLUSIONS

Our current findings indicate that p53 promotes aerobic metabolism and exercise capacity by using different mitochondrial genes and mechanisms in a tissue-specific manner.

Human LZIP induces monocyte CC chemokine receptor 2 expression leading to enhancement of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1/CCL2-induced cell migration

Chemokines and chemokine receptors play a role in migration of circulating leukocytes to the region of inflammation. Human LZIP is an uncharacterized transcription factor and is known to participate in leukotactin (Lkn)-1/CCL15-induced cell migration. We investigated the role of human LZIP in expression of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) and its involvement in monocyte migration. RNase protection analysis showed that LZIP increased mRNA expression of CCR2 and CCR1 in THP-1 cells. Surface expressions of both CCR2 and CCR1 were also increased by LZIP. Results from an electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that LZIP binds to the C/EBP element in the CCR2 promoter. LZIP also enhanced the chemotactic activities of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CCL2 and Lkn-1. These results suggest that LZIP regulates expression of chemokine receptors that are involved in monocyte migration.

Proteomic analysis of differential protein expression in atherosclerosis

Although recent studies have shown that several pro-inflammatory proteins can be used as biomarkers for atherosclerosis, the mechanism of atherogenesis is unclear and little information is available regarding proteins involved in development of the disease. Atherosclerotic tissue samples were collected from patients in order to identify the proteins involved in atherogenesis. The protein expression profile of atherosclerosis patients was analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis-based proteomics. Thirty-nine proteins were detected that were differentially expressed in the atherosclerotic aorta compared with the normal aorta. Twenty-seven of these proteins were identified in the MS-FIT database. They are involved in a number of biological processes, including calcium-mediated processes, migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, matrix metalloproteinase activation and regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Confirmation of differential protein expression was performed by Western blot analysis. Potential applications of the results include the identification and characterization of signalling pathways involved in atherogenesis, and further exploration of the role of selected identified proteins in atherosclerosis.

Angiogenic competency of biodegradable hydrogels fabricated from polyethylene glycol-crosslinked tyrosine-derived polycarbonates

Synthetic biomaterials can be used as instructive biological milieus to guide cellular behaviour and function. To further realize this application, we synthesized a series of structurally similar hydrogels and tested their ability to modulate angiogenesis. Hydrogels were synthesized from poly(DTE-co-x% DT carbonate) crosslinked by y% poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Hydrogel desaminotyrosyl tyrosine (DT) contents (x%) ranged from 10-100%, and crosslink densities (y% PEG-crosslinker) ranged from 5-80%. The hydrogels were fashioned into porous scaffolds with highly interconnected macro- and micro-pore (>100 and 10 mm in diameter, respectively) architecture using poly(DTE-co-10%DT carbonate% crosslinked with 8% PEG. Under physiological conditions (in vitro), the hydrogels degraded into three major products: desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine ethyl ester (DTE), desaminotyrosyl tyrosine (DT), and poly(ethylene glycol)-di-DT-hydrazide (PEG-di-DT hydrazide). Increasing either DT content or crosslink density brought quickened degradation. Because DT and DTE, two of the three major degradation products, have not demonstrated any noticeable cytotoxicity or angiogenic effect in previous studies, we measured the cytotoxicity of PEG-di-DT hydrazide, the third major degradation product. We found that PEG-di-DT hydrazide only displayed significant cytotoxicity at the high concentration of 100 mg/mL. Interestingly, PEG-di-DT hydrazide and its further degradation product PEG-dihydrazide stimulated in vitro endothelial cell migration and tubulogenesis, which is comparable to results found with FGF-beta treatment. Subcutaneous implantation of the PEG-crosslinked poly(DTE-co-10%DT carbonate) scaffolds into the backs of rats elicited greater tissue growth over time and superior vascularization than poly(DTE carbonate) implantation. These results show that this new class of biomaterials has a strong potential to modulate angiogenesis.

A pivotal role for p53: balancing aerobic respiration and glycolysis

The genetic basis of increased glycolytic activity observed in cancer cells is likely to be the result of complex interactions of multiple regulatory pathways. Here we review the recent evidence of a simple genetic mechanism by which tumor suppressor p53 regulates mitochondrial respiration with secondary changes in glycolysis that are reminiscent of the Warburg effect. The biological significance of this regulation of the two major pathways of energy generation by p53 remains to be seen.

A phase II study of biweekly dose-intensified oral capecitabine plus irinotecan (bXELIRI) for patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer

Capecitabine, a prodrug of 5-FU, has been reported to generate maximal tumour activity at tumour sites and/or to improve drug tolerability as compared with 5-FU infusion, and it has also been demonstrated to act synergistically with irinotecan against some solid cancers. A previous study concluded that dose-intensified biweekly capecitabine seems to be more effective at increasing both response rate and progression-free survival time than conventional dose and schedule of capecitabine in colon cancer. We conducted this study to ascertain the efficacy and toxicity of dose-intensified biweekly capecitabine and irinotecan combination chemotherapy in chemotherapy-naïve advanced or metastatic gastric cancer patients. Patients were treated with irinotecan 130 mg m⁻² intravenously for 90 min on days 1 and 15. Capecitabine at 3500 mg m⁻² day⁻¹, divided into two sessions per day, was administered for seven consecutive days from days 1 and 15, and followed by a 7-day drug-free period, respectively. Fifty-five eligible patients were enrolled in this study from November 2003 to April 2006. There were 22 women and 33 men: median patient age was 54 years (range: 27–81). A total of 200 treatment cycles were administered at a median number of four per patient (range: 1–9). Intent-to-treatment analysis showed that one patient achieved complete response (1.8%), 23 partial response (41.8%), 15 stable disease (27.3%), 10 progressive disease (18.2%) and 6 were non-evaluable (10.9%). The overall response rate was 43.6% (95% confidence interval: 30.2–56.9). The common grade 3–4 toxicities were neutropenia in 12 (21.8%), nausea/vomiting in 3 (5.4%) and diarrhea in 4 (7.2%) patients. Median time to progression was 5 months (range: 0.5–11 months), median survival duration was 11 months (range: 0.5–45 months) and median response duration was 6 months (range: 0.5–9 months). Biweekly dose-intensified capecitabine and irinotecan combination chemotherapy was active for the treatment of advanced or metastatic gastric cancers with a tolerable safety profile.

Regulation of human LZIP expression by NF-kappaB and its involvement in monocyte cell migration induced by Lkn-1

Human LZIP is a transcription factor that is involved in leukocyte cell mobility. Expression of LZIP is known to differentially regulate monocyte cell migration induced by CCR1-dependent chemokines. However, its transcriptional regulation has not been characterized. Our results indicate that Lkn-1 induces LZIP expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and the induction of LZIP shows an immediate early response to Lkn-1. We identified and cloned approximately 1.4 kb of the LZIP promoter from a human genomic DNA. To identify regulatory elements controlling restricted expression of LZIP, deletion mutants were constructed from the 1469-bp LZIP promoter region (-1219/+251) linked to the luciferase reporter gene. Maximal promoter activity was contained within 613 bp from the tentative transcription initiation site and was sharply reduced in a truncated construct (-338/+251). This promoter sequence contained consensus NF-kappaB- and Sp-1-binding sites. Results from an inhibitor assay showed that NF-kappaB is involved in Lkn-1-induced LZIP expression, but Sp-1 is not. We also demonstrated that NF-kappaB binds to the LZIP promoter and that the binding is specific, as revealed by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and a mutation analysis. Chemotaxis analysis showed that LZIP expression because of the NF-kappaB subfamily is specifically involved in Lkn-1-induced chemotaxis. Our findings suggest that transcription factor NF-kappaB plays an important role in regulation of LZIP expression, and LZIP expression regulates the monocyte cell migration induced by Lkn-1.

Negative regulatory role of Annexin-A1 in 14-3-3η-mediated glucocorticoid receptor transcriptional activation

Annexin-A1 (ANX-1) is involved in glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated signal transduction. However, the molecular mechanism by which ANX-1 plays a role in GR signaling is not fully understood. Recently, we reported that 14-3-3eta inhibits degradation of GR, resulting in an increase in GR transcriptional activity. In this study, we have addressed the role of ANX-1 in 14-3-3eta-induced enhancement of GR transactivation. ANX-1 abolished the increase in GR transcriptional activity due to 14-3-3eta. ANX-1 had no effect on the protein level of GR. However, ANX-1 abrogated the inhibitory effect of 14-3-3eta on GR degradation, which causes a decrease in GR stability in the nucleus. Our results indicate that ANX-1 functions as a negative regulator of GR transcriptional activation by inhibiting 14-3-3eta-induced up-regulation of GR.

Differential CCR1-mediated chemotaxis signaling induced by human CC chemokine HCC-4/CCL16 in HOS cells

Human CC chemokine-4 (HCC-4)/CCL16 is a chemoattractant for monocytes and lymphocytes. Although HCC-4 binds to multiple CC chemokine receptors, the receptor-mediated signal transduction pathway induced by HCC-4 has not been characterized. Human osteogenic sarcoma cells stably expressing CCR1 were used to investigate HCC-4-mediated chemotaxis signaling events via CCR1. The chemotactic activity of HCC-4 as well as those of other CCR1-dependent chemokines including MIP-1alpha/CCL3, RANTES/CCL5, and Lkn-1/CCL15 was inhibited by the treatment of pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of Gi/Go protein, U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC), and rottlerin, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta). These results indicate that HCC-4-induced chemotaxis signaling is mediated through Gi/Go protein, PLC, and PKCdelta. SB202190, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase, only blocked the chemotactic activity of HCC-4, but not those of other CCR1-dependent chemokines. SB202190 inhibited HCC-4-induced chemotaxis in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). HCC-4 induces p38 activation in both a time and dose-dependent manner. However, such p38 activation was not induced by other CCR1-dependent chemokines. To further investigate the differential effect of HCC-4, the Ca2+ mobilization was examined. HCC-4 induced no intracellular Ca2+ flux in contrast to other CCR1-dependent chemokines. These results indicate that HCC-4 transduces signals differently from other CCR1-dependent chemokines and may play different roles in the immune response.

Role of 14-3-3 eta as a positive regulator of the glucocorticoid receptor transcriptional activation

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, mediates the effects of glucocorticoids. It is known that 14-3-3 family proteins interact with GR and regulate its transcriptional activity. They also bind to several molecules and influence many cellular events by altering their subcellular localization and/or acting as a chaperone. Recently, it has been proposed that ligand-activated degradation of GR occurs via the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation pathway and that inhibition of proteasomal activity induces up-regulation of GR and enhances the transcriptional activity of GR. To examine the function of 14-3-3eta in the glucocorticoid-dependent signal pathway, we studied the regulatory role of 14-3-3eta in ligand-induced GR transcriptional activation. 14-3-3eta Enhanced the transcriptional activity of GR, and the levels of GR were higher in cells transfected with the 14-3-3eta expression vector in response to glucocorticoid. The GR level increased in both cytosol and nucleus, and endogenous GR was also elevated by 14-3-3eta in HeLa cells. 14-3-3eta Inhibited ligand-induced down-regulation of GR. Proteasomal inhibition did not induce any synergistic effect on the 14-3-3eta-induced increase in GR in response to glucocorticoid, and inhibition of translation did not block elevation of GR by 14-3-3eta, indicating that 14-3-3eta induces stabilization of GR. These results suggest that 14-3-3eta functions as a positive regulator in the glucocorticoid signal pathway by blocking the degradation of GR and inducing an elevation of GR, thus enhancing the transcriptional activity of GR.

Proteomic analysis of differential protein expression in neuropathic pain and electroacupuncture treatment models

Acupuncture has long been used for pain relief. Although recent studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce neuropathic pain, the mechanism of this effect is not clear and little information is available regarding proteins that are involved in the development of neuropathic pain and the effects of acupuncture. We have developed an animal model for neuropathic pain using young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The model was confirmed by behavioral tests. Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment was applied to Zusanli (ST36) of neuropathic pain model to examine the analgesic effect of EA. The protein expression profile of the hypothalamus in both neuropathic pain and EA treatment models was analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis-based proteomics. We detected thirty-six proteins that were differentially expressed in the neuropathic pain model compared with normal rats and that restored to normal expression levels after EA treatment. Twenty-one of these proteins were identified in the MS-FiT database and are involved in a number of biological processes, including inflammation, enzyme metabolism and signal transduction. Potential applications of our results include the identification and characterization of signaling pathways involved in EA treatment and further exploration of the role of selected identified proteins in the animal model.

Differential effects of 9-cis retinoic acid on expression of CC chemokine receptors in human monocytes

9-cis Retinoic acid (9-CRA) is a lipophilic molecule that binds to the retinoid X receptor (RXR). Although retinoic acid (RA) has been known to regulate neutrophil differentiation, a specific role for 9-CRA in chemokine-mediated cellular processes remains obscure. We investigated the effects of 9-CRA on expression of CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) in human monocytic THP-1 cells and peripheral blood monocytes. RNase protection assay was performed to examine the mRNA levels of CCRs in 9-CRA-treated THP-1 cells. mRNA expression of CCR1 and CCR2 was induced in both a dose and time dependent manner. CCR1 and CCR2 mRNA expression began to increase from 6h after a 100nM 9-CRA treatment and reached a maximal level at 12h. Surface expression of CCRs was monitored by flow cytometry. CCR1 and CCR2 surface expression increased in 9-CRA-treated THP-1 cells, but not in untreated cells. Calcium mobilization and chemotactic activity were determined to examine the effect of 9-CRA on cell movement. The intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and the chemotactic activity increased in 9-CRA-treated cells in response to the CCR1-dependent chemokines Lkn-1, MIP-1alpha, and RANTES, and the CCR2-specific chemokine MCP-1. Increased surface expression of CCR1 and the Ca(2+) influx due to 9-CRA were confirmed in peripheral blood monocytes. Taken together, 9-CRA increases the expression levels of mRNA and protein of both CCR1 and CCR2, and the cell migration ability in THP-1 cells and peripheral blood monocytes, indicating that 9-CRA may regulate inflammatory processes through an increased response to CCR1- and CCR2-dependent chemokines.

Human LZIP binds to CCR1 and differentially affects the chemotactic activities of CCR1-dependent chemokines

Signaling molecules that bind to chemokine receptors should play key roles in regulation of cell migration induced by chemokines. To characterize the CCR1-mediated cellular signal transduction mechanism, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify a cellular ligand for CCR1. LZIP, which has been known as a transcription factor in various cell types, was identified as a CCR1 binding protein. Although the ability of LZIP to bind DNA is possibly what allows it to function as a transcription factor, its detailed function and participation in chemotaxis have not been established. We found that LZIP binds to CCR1 based on results of a mammalian two-hybrid assay and immunoprecipitation experiments. The 21-260 residues of LZIP were essential for interaction with CCR1. Results from a chemotaxis assay using LZIP transfected cells showed that LZIP enhanced Lkn-1-induced chemotaxis, whereas the chemotactic activities induced by other CC chemokines that bind to CCR1, including MIP-1alpha, RANTES, or HCC-4, were not affected by LZIP overexpression. These data indicate that LZIP binds to CCR1 and that the interaction between CCR1 and LZIP participates in regulation of Lkn-1-dependent cell migration without affecting the chemotactic activities of other CC chemokines that bind to CCR1.

Leukotactin-1-induced ERK activation is mediated via Gi/Go protein/PLC/PKC delta/Ras cascades in HOS cells

Recently cloned leukotactin-1 (Lkn-1) that belongs to CC chemokine family has not been characterized. To understand the intracellular events following Lkn-1 binding to CCR1, we investigated the activities of signaling molecules in response to Lkn-1 in human osteogenic sarcoma cells expressing CCR1. Lkn-1-stimulated cells showed elevated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK1/2) with a distinct time course. ERK activation was peaked in 30 min and 12 h showing biphasic activation of ERK. Pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of G(i)/G(o) protein, and phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor blocked Lkn-1-induced activation of ERK. Protein kinase C delta (PKC delta) specific inhibitor rottlerin inhibited ERK activation in Lkn-1-stimulated cells. The activities of PLC and PKC delta were also enhanced by Lkn-1 stimulation. Dominant negative Ras inhibited activation of ERK. Immediate early response genes such as c-fos and c-myc were induced by Lkn-1 stimulation. Lkn-1 affected the cell cycle progression by cyclin D(3) induction. These results suggest that Lkn-1 activates the ERK pathway by transducing the signal through G(i)/G(o) protein, PLC, PKC delta and Ras, and it may play a role for cell proliferation, differentiation, and regulation of gene expression for other cellular processes.

In vivo pharmacokinetics of pyribenzoxim in rats

Pyribenzoxim, benzophenone O-[2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoyl]oxime, is a new post-emergence herbicide providing broad-spectrum weed control in rice fields. [14C]Pyribenzoxim was used to study the pharmacokinetics of the compound after oral administration of a dose of 1000 mg kg-1 to male Sprague-Dawley rats. The material balance ranged from 97.3 to 99.7% of the administered dose and urinary and fecal recovery accounted for 97.1%, with the majority of radioactivity recovered in feces (88.6%) by 168 h after treatment. Elimination as volatile products or as carbon dioxide was negligible. The following values were obtained for the compound in the blood: AUC0-168 h, 28,400 micrograms equiv hg-1; Tmax, 12 h; Cmax, 372 micrograms equiv g-1; half-life, 53 h. Radioactivity in tissue decreased from 96.1% of applied radiocarbon at 6 h to 0.4% at 168 h and the highest concentration of radioactivity among the tissues was observed in liver while the lowest residues were found in brain. The elimination half-lives of radioactivity from tissues was in the range of 7 to 77 h and Tmax values of 12, 24 and 12 h were observed for blood, liver and kidney, respectively. Except for that in the digestive tract, the tissue-to-blood ratio (TBR) was highest in the liver.

Antibacterial effect of antibiotic solution on cellular viability in canine veins

Pretreatment of tissue by using antibiotics is a critical step to prevent microbial contamination before venous transplantation. In this study, the optimal time and temperature of antibiotic solution treatment for maintaining cellular viability with antibacterial effect were investigated. The antibiotic-nutrient solutions were composed of cefoxitin, lincomycin, vancomycin, and polymyxin B in RPMI-1640 medium. After various antibiotic solution treatment times (4, 8, and 12 h) and temperatures (4, 25, and 37 degrees C), the viabilities of cells dissociated from veins (jugular vein, femoral vein, superior vena cava, and inferior vena cava) were determined. Double staining by Griffonia simplicifolia agglutins-fluorescein isothiocyanate (GS1-FITC) and propidium iodide was used. To measure the antibacterial effect of the antibiotic solution, canine veins were artificially infected by 3 kinds of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and were treated by antibiotic solutions as viability test conditions. After the treatment with the antibiotic solution, the tissue was minced, and the homogenized tissue fraction was cultured on standard method agar. The colony that seemed to be resistant to the antibiotic solution was counted. At 37 and 25 degrees C, the viability of whole cells decreased significantly Asymptotic Significance 2-tailed (Asymp.Sig 2-tailed) < 0.05 after 4 h of antibiotic solution treatment, whereas at 4 degrees C it began to reduce significantly after 8 h of treatment. By antibiotic solution treatment at all 3 temperatures for 4 h, no significant difference in viability of the endothelial cells and whole cells was observed. To maintain the donor vein's cellular viability until transplantation, antibiotic solution treatment for 4 h at 4 degrees C is assumed to be appropriate.

Effects of nonylphenol, bisphenol A, and their mixture on the viviparous swordtail fish (Xiphophorus helleri)

A number of fish species have been used for studies on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, despite the widespread use of oviparous fish, relatively little attention has been given to viviparous species. This study investigated the effects of EDCs in a viviparous fish and examined the possible usefulness of the fish as an alternative model for the studies on EDCs. Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri) were exposed to nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA), and their mixture. Both short-term (3-d) and relatively long-term (60-d) exposures were carried out using adult male and 30-d-old juvenile fish, respectively. Following the short-term exposure, both NP and BPA caused vitellogenin mRNA expression. Flow cytometric analysis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay on the testes of treated fish indicated reproductive damage. Histopathological analysis found degenerative and necrotic cells in seminiferous tubules following the exposure to 100 ppb NP. The testes with lesions were also associated with highly suppressed spermatogenesis. Following the long-term exposure, both NP and BPA exposures significantly affected the growth of swordtails. In all cases, the results showed that the mixture was always more potent than a single chemical and that swordtail fish can be a useful model for the study of endocrine disruptors.

Specific determination of endothelial cell viability in the whole cell fraction from cryopreserved canine femoral veins using flow cytometry

Abstract: An efficient method for specifically determining the viability of endothelial cells (EC) from cells dissociated from the human saphenous vein was investigated. Three different methods, trypan blue staining assay, [3H]-proline incorporation assay, and flow cytometry (FCM), combined with the fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated with Griffonia simplicifolia agglutins (GS1-FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) double staining, were used. Both trypan blue staining and [3H] proline incorporation assays demonstrated less sensitivity to determine viability of EC differentially from the other cells. FITC-GS1 showed prominent binding to the vascular EC and could be counted by FCM including PI on dead cells. Following the cryopreservation process, the GS1-FITC/PI FCM analytical method was adopted to test simultaneously the viability of whole cells and EC from the same tissue, human saphenous veins, and mongrel dogs' femoral veins after harvesting, antibiotic solution treatment, and thawing. The viability of the whole cells from veins decreased with a significant difference (p < 0.05) from that of EC after thawing.

Viability of cells in cryopreserved canine cardiovascular organs for transplantation

To determine applicability of the cryopreservation procedure for vessel grafts, the viability of endothelial cells (ECs) among the whole cells in three kinds of organs artery, vein, trachea in mongrel dogs was evaluated on the basis of histological analysis. The Griffonia simplicifolia agglutins-fluorescein isothiocyanate (GSA-FITC) and propidium iodide (PI) double staining methods were combined with flow cytometry (FCM), which was able to simultaneously determine the viability of whole cells and ECs from the same tissue, were performed after harvesting, after antibiotic solution treatment, and after cryopreservation and thawing. In most cases, the viability of ECs is lower than that of whole cells from veins and arteries. The viability of whole cells in veins was maintained until the antibiotic solution treatment and then decreased significantly after cryopreservation and thawing, while the ECs began to decrease significantly after the antibiotic solution treatment and more markedly decreased after thawing. The viability of ECs and whole cells from arteries was similar to that of the veins' conditions. The viability of whole cells from the trachea decreased with a similar pattern to that of the ECs from vessels. In consideration of maintaining cell viability among the three kinds of organs, the viability of arteries was better than that of the others. The cells in the trachea demonstrated a lower viability than the vessels. The effect of antibiotic solution treatment on the reduction of cell viability depends on the treatment time and temperature.

Tanshinone IIA, an ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE, induces apoptosis in human leukemia cell lines through the activation of caspase-3

Tanshinone II-A is a derivative of phenanthrene-quinone isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE, a traditional herbal medicine that is known to induce antiinflammatory, anti-oxidative and cytotoxic activity. We have examined cellular effects of Tanshione II-A on HL60 human promyelocytic leukemic cells and K562 human erythroleukemic cells. Tanshione II-A induced a dose- and time-dependent DNA fragmentation into the multiples of 180 bp and specific proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in both cell lines. PI-staining and flow cytometry analysis of K562 cells following Tanshione II-A treatment showed an increase of the cells possessing hypodiploid DNA indicative of apoptotic state of cells. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased during Tanshinone II-A treatment of both HL60 and K562 cells, whereas caspase-1 activity was not changed. These results suggest that Tanshione II-A induced HL60 and K562 cellular apoptosis that may be associated with the selective members of caspase family.

Tanshinone IIA isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE induced apoptosis in HL60 human premyelocytic leukemia cell line

Apoptosis is a new therapeutic target of cancer research. Tanshinone IIA isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza BUNGE, a traditional oriental medical herb, was observed to induce apoptosis in HL60 human premyelocytic leukemia cell line. Tanshinone IIA induced DNA fragmentation into the multiples of 180 bp and increased the percentage of hypodiploid cells in flow cytometry after propidium iodide (PI) staining. Tanshinone IIA-induced apoptosis is accompanied by the specific proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and the activation of caspase-3, a major component in apoptotic cell death mechanism.

Shikonin, an ingredient of Lithospermum erythrorhizon induced apoptosis in HL60 human premyelocytic leukemia cell line

Apoptosis is a new therapeutic target of cancer research. Shikonin isolated from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, a traditional oriental medicinal herb, was observed to induce apoptosis in HL60 human premyelocytic leukemia cell line. Shikonin induced DNA fragmentation into the multiples of 180 bp and increased the percentage of hypodiploid cells in flow cytometry after propidium iodide staining. The increase of apoptotic cells was preceded by the activation of caspase-3, which was reported to play a central role in apoptotic process. The DNA fragmentation induced by shikonin was completely inhibited by the pretreatment of z-VAD-fmk, a specific inhibitor of caspase, clearly showing that the mode of cell death is apoptotic.

Momordins inhibit both AP-1 function and cell proliferation

The activation of Jun/Fos is a crucial factor in transmitting the tumor promoting signal from the extracellular environment to nuclear transcription machinery. One of the final steps in signal transduction is the binding of Jun/Fos to the AP-1 site in order to express gene transcription. Utilizing this concept, we screened about 100 extracts of natural plants to search for a Jun-Fos function inhibitor. The methanol extract of Ampelopsis radix reduced Jun/Foc retardation remarkably. The active principles of the extract were isolated and purified by repeated column chromatography and their structures were identified as oleanolic acid glycosides known as momordin I, Id, and Ie. These compounds reduced the Jun/Fos-DNA interaction and their activities were quantitated with liquid scintillation counting of corresponding bands. Among them, momordin I had the strongest inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 22.8 micrograms/ml. The methanol extract and momordin I, Id and Ie also showed cell cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines. As expected from a gel shift assay, momordin I showed the strongest cytotoxicity and its IC50 value was from 7.280 micrograms/ml to 16.05 micrograms/ml depending on the cell line. With these data, it may be concluded that the mechanism of anticancer activity of momordin I comes from its inhibitory effect on the protein-DNA interaction. The in vivo test was done only with the methanol extract. The extract showed measurable anticancer activity against murine colon cancer. The wet tumor weight reduction rate was 17.73% at 90 mg/kg dose. We suggest that the Jun/Fos-DNA interaction results in cell cytotoxicity.