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The consumption of capsaicinoids, the active components in chili peppers, has been associated with both positive and negative health effects, and the level of capsaicinoid exposure may be an important determinant. Dietary capsaicinoid exposure was estimated using a previously developed database for capsaicinoid content and a 24-h dietary recall dataset obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The estimated consumption level was evaluated to determine its potential effects on weight reduction and gastrointestinal distress. The estimated daily mean capsaicinoid intake was 3.25 mg (2.17 mg capsaicin), and most Koreans consumed 1–30 mg of capsaicinoids (0.67–20 mg capsaicin) in a day. No adverse effect of capsaicin consumption was reported other than abdominal pain. For long-term repeated consumption, 30 mg may be the maximum tolerable dose. However, the effects on body weight or energy balance were inconsistent in 4–12 week clinical studies conducted with various capsaicin doses (2–135 mg), which was likely due to the complex interplay between capsaicin dose, study length, and participant characteristics. Therefore, the capsaicin consumption of most Koreans was below the levels that may cause adverse effects. However, more long-term studies for the dose range of 2–20 mg are required to further characterize capsaicin’s health benefits in Koreans.
Youngjoo Kwon. Estimation of Dietary Capsaicinoid Exposure in Korea and Assessment of Its Health Effects. Nutrients 2021, 13, 2461 .
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Estimation of Dietary Capsaicinoid Exposure in Korea and Assessment of Its Health Effects. Nutrients. 2021; 13 (7):2461.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2021. "Estimation of Dietary Capsaicinoid Exposure in Korea and Assessment of Its Health Effects." Nutrients 13, no. 7: 2461.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a widely used antioxidant with therapeutic potential. However, the cancer-promoting effect of NAC observed in some preclinical studies has raised concerns regarding its clinical use. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can mediate signaling that results in both cancer-promoting and cancer-suppressing effects. The beneficial effect of NAC may depend on whether the type of cancer relies on ROS signaling for its survival and metastasis. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has aggressive phenotypes and is currently treated with standard chemotherapy as the main systemic treatment option. Particularly, basal-like TNBC cells characterized by inactivated BRCA1 and mutated TP53 produce high ROS levels and rely on ROS signaling for their survival and malignant progression. In addition, the high ROS levels in TNBC cells can mediate the interplay between cancer cells and the tissue microenvironment (TME) to trigger the recruitment and conversion of stromal cells and induce hypoxic responses, thus leading to the creation of cancer-supportive TMEs and increased cancer aggressiveness. However, NAC treatment effectively reduces the ROS production and ROS-mediated signaling that contribute to cell survival, metastasis, and drug resistance in TNBC cells. Therefore, the inclusion of NAC in standard chemotherapy could probably provide additional benefits for TNBC patients.
Youngjoo Kwon. Possible Beneficial Effects of N-Acetylcysteine for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 169 .
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Possible Beneficial Effects of N-Acetylcysteine for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Antioxidants. 2021; 10 (2):169.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2021. "Possible Beneficial Effects of N-Acetylcysteine for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer." Antioxidants 10, no. 2: 169.
Paracrine interactions with the stromal environment, including fibroblasts, may be important in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Here, we evaluated the effect of conditioned media derived from ovarian fibroblasts (fibroblast-CMs) and their major cytokines on the growth of ovarian cancer cells, as well as the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and AKT in mediating this effect. Ovarian cancer cells were cultured in serum-free media (SF), or conditioned media of fibroblasts derived from normal ovary (CM1) and ovarian tumor tissue (CM2). Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Phosphorylation of MAPKs and AKT was evaluated by Western blotting. Specific inhibitors of MAPKs and AKT were used to evaluate their respective involvement in mediating increased cell growth. Cytokine levels in fibroblast-CMs were measured using Luminex assays. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted for CXCL1, CXCR2 and phosphorylated p38 in primary ovarian tumors. CM1 and CM2 significantly increased the growth of ovarian cancer cells relative to SF. In OVCAR3 and OVCAR4 cells, p38 phosphorylation was strongly induced by fibroblast-CMs, and pre-treatment with a p38 inhibitor prevented the growth increase induced by fibroblast-CMs. Fibroblasts secreted high levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP1 and CXCL1. Treatment with only CXCL1 (1 μg/ml) increased cell growth and p38 phosphorylation. Treatment with a CXCR2 inhibitor effectively prevented p38 activation and cell growth induced by fibroblast-CMs. High expression of both CXCL1 and CXCR2 correlated with high expression of phosphorylated p38 in primary ovarian tumors. From our data, we conclude that CXCL1 is a key factor derived from ovarian fibroblasts that is responsible for increased ovarian cancer cell growth in part through p38 activation. Phosphorylated p38 can be used as a biomarker to predict CXCL1-CXCR2 interaction in vivo.
Geun-Young Park; Harsh B. Pathak; Andrew K. Godwin; Youngjoo Kwon. Epithelial-stromal communication via CXCL1-CXCR2 interaction stimulates growth of ovarian cancer cells through p38 activation. Cellular Oncology 2020, 44, 77 -92.
AMA StyleGeun-Young Park, Harsh B. Pathak, Andrew K. Godwin, Youngjoo Kwon. Epithelial-stromal communication via CXCL1-CXCR2 interaction stimulates growth of ovarian cancer cells through p38 activation. Cellular Oncology. 2020; 44 (1):77-92.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGeun-Young Park; Harsh B. Pathak; Andrew K. Godwin; Youngjoo Kwon. 2020. "Epithelial-stromal communication via CXCL1-CXCR2 interaction stimulates growth of ovarian cancer cells through p38 activation." Cellular Oncology 44, no. 1: 77-92.
Chili peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are widely consumed worldwide, and the health benefits of capsaicinoids (the active compounds in chili peppers) have been suggested. However, the link between capsaicinoid consumption and the risk of certain cancers remains controversial. Capsaicinoid consumption level is an important determinant of its potential health effects. This study sought to construct a database of capsaicinoid contents in foods commonly consumed in Korea (CAPKO) to enable a more reliable estimation of capsaicinoid intake. Capsaicinoid‐containing foods were identified from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey datasets and divided into eight categories: chili peppers, red pepper powder, hot sauce, kimchi, salted seafood, red pepper paste, instant noodles, and convenience foods other than instant noodles. The capsaicinoid contents of primary capsaicinoid sources (chili peppers, red pepper powder, and hot sauce) were estimated from the literature. For the remaining food categories, the contents of primary capsaicinoid sources were identified from standardized recipes (kimchi) or food labels (salted seafood, red pepper paste, and convenience foods other than instant noodles). Then, capsaicinoid contents were estimated by calculation using the identified capsaicinoid source contents and the estimated capsaicinoid content in these sources. This information was unavailable for instant noodles, and capsaicinoid content was measured by HPLC analyses. This study developed the CAPKO database, which includes a variety of foods with varying levels of spiciness, which can be used in combination with dietary surveys to estimate capsaicinoid intakes. Therefore, this study established a framework for future database development for other compounds with potential health effects.
Hoyoun Cho; Youngjoo Kwon. Development of a database of capsaicinoid contents in foods commonly consumed in Korea. Food Science & Nutrition 2020, 8, 4611 -4624.
AMA StyleHoyoun Cho, Youngjoo Kwon. Development of a database of capsaicinoid contents in foods commonly consumed in Korea. Food Science & Nutrition. 2020; 8 (8):4611-4624.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHoyoun Cho; Youngjoo Kwon. 2020. "Development of a database of capsaicinoid contents in foods commonly consumed in Korea." Food Science & Nutrition 8, no. 8: 4611-4624.
Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality globally. To cope with cancer, it is necessary to develop anticancer drugs. Bioactive natural products, i.e. diarylheptanoids, have gained significant attention of researchers owing to their intriguing structures and potent biological activities. In this article, considering the development of anticancer drugs with enhanced selectivity towards cancerous cells, a series of Cyclic Diarylheptanoids (CDHs) are designed, synthesized and evaluated their biological activity. Objective: To establish an easy route for the synthesis of diarylheptanoids, and evaluate their antiproliferative, and topoisomerase-I & -IIα inhibitory activities, for developing potential anticancer drugs among CDHs. Methods: Diarylheptanoids were synthesized from reported linear diarylheptanoids using the classical Ullmann reaction. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by the filter paper disc diffusion method. Cell viability was assessed by measuring mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity with a Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8). Topoisomerases I and II (topo-I and -IIα) inhibitory activity was measured by the assessment of relaxation of supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA. IFD protocol of Schrodinger Maestro v11.1 was used to characterize the binding pattern of studied compounds with the ATPase domain of the human topo-IIα. Results: The synthesized CDHs were evaluated for their biological activities (antibacterial, antiproliferative, and topoisomerase-I & -IIα inhibitory activities, respectively). Leading to obtain a series of anticancer agents with the least inhibitory activities against different microbes, improving their selectivity for cancer cells. In brief, most of the synthesized CDHs had excellent antiproliferative activity against T47D (human breast cancer cell line). Pterocarine possessed the strongest activity (2i; IC50 = 0.63µM) against T47D. The cyclic diarylheptanoid 2b induced 30% inhibition of topoisomerase-IIα activity at 100μM compared with the reference of etoposide, which induced 72% inhibition. Among the tested compounds, galeon (2h) displayed very low activity against four bacterial strains. Compounds 2b, 2h, and 2i formed hydrogen bonds with Thr215, Asn91, Asn120, Ala167, Lys168 and Ile141 residues, which are important for binding of ligand compound to the ATPase binding site of topoisomerase IIα by acting as ATP competitive molecule validated by docking study. In silico Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME) analysis revealed the predicted ADME parameters of the studied compounds which showed recommended values. Conclusion: A series of CDHs were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial, antiproliferative, and topo-I & -IIα inhibitory activities. SARs study, molecular docking study and in silico ADME analysis were conducted. Five compounds exhibited excellent and selective antiproliferative activity against the human breast cancer cell line (T47D). Among them, a compound 2h showed topo-IIα activity by 30% at 100µM, which represented a moderate intensity of inhibition compared with etoposide. Three of them formed hydrogen bonds with Thr215, Asn91, Asn120, and Ala167 residues, which are considered as crucial residues for binding to the ATPase domain of topoisomerase IIα. According to in silico drug-likeness property analysis, three compounds are expected to show superiority over etoposide in case of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
Yang Lu; Wencui Yin; Mohammad S. Alam; Adnan Kadi; Yurngdong Jahng; Youngjoo Kwon; A.F.M. Motiur Rahman. Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Study of Cyclic Diarylheptanoids as Potential Anticancer Therapeutics. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2020, 20, 464 -475.
AMA StyleYang Lu, Wencui Yin, Mohammad S. Alam, Adnan Kadi, Yurngdong Jahng, Youngjoo Kwon, A.F.M. Motiur Rahman. Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Study of Cyclic Diarylheptanoids as Potential Anticancer Therapeutics. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry. 2020; 20 (4):464-475.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYang Lu; Wencui Yin; Mohammad S. Alam; Adnan Kadi; Yurngdong Jahng; Youngjoo Kwon; A.F.M. Motiur Rahman. 2020. "Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Study of Cyclic Diarylheptanoids as Potential Anticancer Therapeutics." Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 20, no. 4: 464-475.
Omega‐3 fatty acid consumption has been suggested to be beneficial for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its effects have been attributed to anti‐inflammatory activity, with the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism playing a central role. However, a more recent view is that omega‐3 fatty acids play an active role as the precursors of potent specialized pro‐resolving mediators (SPMs), such as resolvins, protectins, and maresins. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)‐ and eicosapentaenoic acid‐derived SPMs were identified in the adipose tissue but the levels of certain SPMs (e.g., protectin D1) were markedly reduced with obesity, suggesting adipose SPM deficiency, potentially resulting in unresolved inflammation. Supplementation of the biosynthetic intermediates of SPM (e.g., 17‐hydroxy‐DHA) or omega‐3 fatty acids increases the level of adipose SPMs, reduces adipose inflammation (decrease macrophage accumulation and change to less inflammatory macrophages) and enhances insulin sensitivity. The findings from studies using rodent obesity models must be translated to humans. It will be important to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which obesity reduces the levels of and the sensitivity to SPM in adipose tissues. This will enable the development of nutrition therapy to enhance the effects of omega‐3 fatty acids in the prevention and/or treatment of T2DM. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Youngjoo Kwon. Immuno‐Resolving Ability of Resolvins, Protectins, and Maresins Derived from Omega‐3 Fatty Acids in Metabolic Syndrome. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 2019, 64, e1900824 .
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Immuno‐Resolving Ability of Resolvins, Protectins, and Maresins Derived from Omega‐3 Fatty Acids in Metabolic Syndrome. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2019; 64 (4):e1900824.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2019. "Immuno‐Resolving Ability of Resolvins, Protectins, and Maresins Derived from Omega‐3 Fatty Acids in Metabolic Syndrome." Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 64, no. 4: e1900824.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous growth of the prostate. BPH commonly occurs in elderly men. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to BPH (LUTS/BPH) have significant impacts on their health. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract (SPE) has been evaluated for its effectiveness in improvement of LUTS/BPH at preclinical and clinical levels. Potential mechanisms of actions include anti-androgenic, pro-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, SPE efficacy was inconsistent, at least partly due to a lack of a standardized SPE formula. A hexane extract (free fatty acids, > 80%) provided more consistent results. Free fatty acids (lauric acid) were effective in inhibition of 5α-reductase, and phytosterol (β-sitosterol) reduced prostatic inflammation. Multiple actions derived from different constituents may contribute to SPE efficacy. Evaluation of the clinical relevance of these bioactive components is required for standardization of SPE, thereby enabling consistent efficacy and recommendations for the use in the prevention and treatment of BPH.
Youngjoo Kwon. Use of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Food Science and Biotechnology 2019, 28, 1599 -1606.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Use of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Food Science and Biotechnology. 2019; 28 (6):1599-1606.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2019. "Use of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract for benign prostatic hyperplasia." Food Science and Biotechnology 28, no. 6: 1599-1606.
The use of plant polyphenols to prevent cancer has been studied extensively. However, recent findings regarding the cancer-promoting effects of some antioxidants have led to reservations regarding the therapeutic use of food-derived antioxidants including polyphenols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of food-derived polyphenols and their use and safety in cancer patients. The free-radical scavenging ability of sulforaphane and various food-derived polyphenols including curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, pelargonidin, and resveratrol was compared with their growth inhibitory effect on ovarian cancer cells. Oxidative stress and/or antioxidant responses and anti-proliferative pathways were evaluated after administering sulforaphane and polyphenols at doses at which they have been shown to inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells. No correlation was observed between their ability to scavenge free radicals and their ability to inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells. With the exception of epigallocatechin gallate, all of the antioxidants that were tested at doses that inhibited cell growth significantly increased NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase I (NQO1) expression but induced cell cycle arrest and/or apoptotic signaling. Epigallocatechin gallate exhibited a higher free radical scavenging activity but did not induce NQO1 expression at either the mRNA or at the protein level. Treatment with polyphenols at physiological doses did not significantly alter the growth of ovarian cancer cells or NQO1 expression. Therefore, individual food-derived polyphenols appear to have different anti-cancer mechanisms. Their modes of action in relation to their chemical properties should be established, rather than collectively avoiding the use of these agents as antioxidants.
Youngjoo Kwon. Food-derived polyphenols inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells irrespective of their ability to induce antioxidant responses. Heliyon 2018, 4, e00753 .
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Food-derived polyphenols inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells irrespective of their ability to induce antioxidant responses. Heliyon. 2018; 4 (8):e00753.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2018. "Food-derived polyphenols inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells irrespective of their ability to induce antioxidant responses." Heliyon 4, no. 8: e00753.
Amyloid cascade hypothesis is the main theoretical framework describing the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, most clinical trials of therapy targeting amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) are unsuccessful because AD is a complex disease involving many genetic and environmental factors. Among various factors, inflammation within the brain in particular has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of AD. Furthermore, it has been shown that systemic inflammation can initiate AD. Therefore, anti-inflammatory agents might be beneficial for prevention and/or treatment of AD. Many reports have indicated that luteolin, a flavone found in various foods, has preventive and therapeutic value for neurodegenerative diseases including AD. Such effect of luteolin has been linked to its ability to relieve neuroinflammation. Luteolin also has other biological functions, including antioxidant activity that may provide added benefit for prevention of AD. The exact mechanisms of inflammatory pathways involved in AD pathogenesis need to be further understood to utilize luteolin and many other available anti-inflammatory agents to prevent and treat AD. In addition, it is critical to develop better experimental models that resemble the inflammatory conditions in clinical AD.
Youngjoo Kwon. Luteolin as a potential preventive and therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease. Experimental Gerontology 2017, 95, 39 -43.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Luteolin as a potential preventive and therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease. Experimental Gerontology. 2017; 95 ():39-43.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2017. "Luteolin as a potential preventive and therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease." Experimental Gerontology 95, no. : 39-43.
The inhibitory potential of sulforaphane against cancer has been suggested for different types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. We examined whether this effect is mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), important signaling molecules related to cell survival and proliferation, in ovarian cancer cells. Sulforaphane at a concentration of 10 μM effectively inhibited the growth of cancer cells. Use of specific inhibitors revealed that activation of MAPK pathways by sulforaphane is unlikely to mediate sulforaphane-induced growth inhibition. Sulforaphane did not generate significant levels of intracellular ROS. Pretreatment with thiol reducers, but not ROS scavengers, prevented sulforaphane-induced growth inhibition. Furthermore, diamide, a thiol-oxidizing agent, enhanced both growth inhibition and cell death induced by sulforaphane, suggesting that the effect of sulforaphane on cell growth may be related to oxidation of protein thiols or change in cellular redox status. Our data indicate that supplementation with thiol-reducing agents should be avoided when sulforaphane is used to treat cancer.
Seung Cheol Kim; Boyun Choi; Youngjoo Kwon. Thiol-reducing agents prevent sulforaphane-induced growth inhibition in ovarian cancer cells. Food & Nutrition Research 2017, 61, 1368321 .
AMA StyleSeung Cheol Kim, Boyun Choi, Youngjoo Kwon. Thiol-reducing agents prevent sulforaphane-induced growth inhibition in ovarian cancer cells. Food & Nutrition Research. 2017; 61 (1):1368321.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSeung Cheol Kim; Boyun Choi; Youngjoo Kwon. 2017. "Thiol-reducing agents prevent sulforaphane-induced growth inhibition in ovarian cancer cells." Food & Nutrition Research 61, no. 1: 1368321.
Binding of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to the c-MET receptor has mitogenic, motogenic, and morphogenic effects on cells. The versatile biological effects of HGF and c-MET interactions make them important contributors to the development of malignant tumors. We and others have demonstrated a therapeutic value in targeting the interaction of c-MET and HGF in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, both HGF and c-MET are expressed in the normal ovary as well. Therefore, it is important to understand the differences in mechanisms that control HGF signaling activation and its functional role in the normal ovary and EOC. In the normal ovary, HGF signaling may be under hormonal regulation. During ovulation, HGF-converting proteases are secreted and the subsequent activation of HGF signaling enhances the proliferation of ovarian surface epithelium in order to replenish the area damaged due to expulsion of the ovum. In contrast, EOC cells that exhibit epithelial characteristics constitutively express both c-MET and HGF-converting proteases such as urokinase-type plasminogen activator. In EOC, mechanisms to control the activation of HGF signaling are absent since HGF is provided locally from the tissue microenvironment as well as remotely throughout the body. Potential incessant HGF signaling in EOC may lead to an increase in proliferation, invasion through the stroma, and migration to other tissues of cancer cells. Therefore, targeting the interaction of c-MET and HGF would be beneficial in treating EOC.
Youngjoo Kwon; Andrew K. Godwin. Regulation of HGF and c-MET Interaction in Normal Ovary and Ovarian Cancer. Reproductive Sciences 2016, 24, 494 -501.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon, Andrew K. Godwin. Regulation of HGF and c-MET Interaction in Normal Ovary and Ovarian Cancer. Reproductive Sciences. 2016; 24 (4):494-501.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon; Andrew K. Godwin. 2016. "Regulation of HGF and c-MET Interaction in Normal Ovary and Ovarian Cancer." Reproductive Sciences 24, no. 4: 494-501.
Mechanism-based management for mucositis: option for treating side effects without compromising the efficacy of cancer therapy Youngjoo Kwon Department of Food Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea Mucositis is a major side effect induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although mucositis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients, management is largely limited to controlling symptoms, and few therapeutic agents are available for treatment. Since mucositis could be inhibited by the modulation of radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-induced pathways independently of cancer treatment, there is an opportunity for the development of more targeted therapies and interventions. This article examined potential therapeutic agents that have been investigated for the prevention and/or inhibition of mucositis induced by conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They can be classified according to their mechanisms of action: scavenging reactive oxygen species, inhibition of specific cytokine production or inflammation, and inhibition of apoptosis. These early events may be good target pathways for preventing the pathogenesis of mucositis. Considering that both cancer therapy and therapeutic agents for mucositis act on both normal and cancer cells, agents that inhibit mucositis should act through mechanisms that selectively protect normal cells without compromising cancer treatment. Therefore, mechanism-based guidance for the treatment of mucositis is critical to prevent risky treatments for cancer patients and to relieve detrimental side effects effectively from cancer therapy. Keywords: apoptosis, chemotherapy, cytokine, mucositis, radiotherapy, reactive oxygen species
Youngjoo Kwon. Mechanism-based management for mucositis: option for treating side effects without compromising the efficacy of cancer therapy. OncoTargets and Therapy 2016, ume 9, 2007 -2016.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Mechanism-based management for mucositis: option for treating side effects without compromising the efficacy of cancer therapy. OncoTargets and Therapy. 2016; ume 9 ():2007-2016.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2016. "Mechanism-based management for mucositis: option for treating side effects without compromising the efficacy of cancer therapy." OncoTargets and Therapy ume 9, no. : 2007-2016.
Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, is highly consumed in South Asia. However, curry that contains turmeric as its main spice might be the major source of curcumin in most other countries. Although curcumin consumption is not as high in these countries as South Asia, the regular consumption of curcumin may provide a significant health-beneficial effect. This study evaluated whether the moderate consumption of curry can affect blood glucose and lipid levels that become dysregulated with age.This study used data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 2012 to 2013, to assess curry consumption frequency as well as blood glucose and blood lipid levels. The levels of blood glucose and lipids were subdivided by age, sex, and body mass index, and compared according to the curry consumption level. The estimates in each subgroup were further adjusted for potential confounding factors, including the diagnosis of diseases, physical activity, and smoking.After adjusting for the above confounding factors, the blood glucose and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the moderate curry consumption group compared to the low curry consumption group, both in older (> 45) male and younger (30 to 44) female overweight individuals who have high blood glucose and triglyceride levels.These results suggest that curcumin consumption, in an ordinary diet, can have health-beneficial effects, including being helpful in maintaining blood glucose and triglyceride levels that become dysregulated with age. The results should be further confirmed in future studies.
Youngjoo Kwon. Association of curry consumption with blood lipids and glucose levels. Nutrition Research and Practice 2016, 10, 212 -220.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Association of curry consumption with blood lipids and glucose levels. Nutrition Research and Practice. 2016; 10 (2):212-220.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2016. "Association of curry consumption with blood lipids and glucose levels." Nutrition Research and Practice 10, no. 2: 212-220.
Youngjoo Kwon. Effect oftrans–fatty acids on lipid metabolism: Mechanisms for their adverse health effects. Food Reviews International 2015, 32, 323 -339.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Effect oftrans–fatty acids on lipid metabolism: Mechanisms for their adverse health effects. Food Reviews International. 2015; 32 (3):323-339.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2015. "Effect oftrans–fatty acids on lipid metabolism: Mechanisms for their adverse health effects." Food Reviews International 32, no. 3: 323-339.
Molecular vulnerabilities represent promising candidates for the development of targeted therapies that hold the promise to overcome the challenges encountered with non‐targeted chemotherapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Through a synthetic lethality screen, we previously identified pleiotrophin (PTN) as a molecular vulnerability in ovarian cancer and showed that siRNA‐mediated PTN knockdown induced apoptotic cell death in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells. Although, it is well known that PTN elicits its pro‐tumorigenic effects through its receptor, protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor Z1 (PTPRZ1), little is known about the potential importance of this pathway in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. In this study, we show that PTN is expressed, produced, and secreted in a panel of EOC cell lines. PTN levels in serous ovarian tumor tissues are on average 3.5‐fold higher relative to normal tissue and PTN is detectable in serum samples of patients with EOC. PTPRZ1 is also expressed and produced by EOC cells and is found to be up‐regulated in serous ovarian tumor tissue relative to normal ovarian surface epithelial tissue (P < 0.05). Gene silencing of PTPRZ1 in EOC cell lines using siRNA‐mediated knockdown shows that PTPRZ1 is essential for viability and results in significant apoptosis with no effect on the cell cycle phase distribution. In order to determine how PTN mediates survival, we silenced the gene using siRNA mediated knockdown and performed expression profiling of 36 survival‐related genes. Through computational mapping of the differentially expressed genes, members of the MAPK (mitogen‐activated protein kinase) family were found to be likely effectors of PTN signaling in EOC cells. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that PTN and its signaling components may be of significance in the pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer and provide a rationale for clinical evaluation of MAPK inhibitors in PTN and/or PTPRZ1 expressing ovarian tumors.
Geetika Sethi; Youngjoo Kwon; Rebecca J. Burkhalter; Harsh B. Pathak; Rashna Madan; Sarah McHugh; Safinur Atay; Smruthi Murthy; Ossama W. Tawfik; Andrew K. Godwin. PTN signaling: Components and mechanistic insights in human ovarian cancer. Molecular Carcinogenesis 2014, 54, 1772 -1785.
AMA StyleGeetika Sethi, Youngjoo Kwon, Rebecca J. Burkhalter, Harsh B. Pathak, Rashna Madan, Sarah McHugh, Safinur Atay, Smruthi Murthy, Ossama W. Tawfik, Andrew K. Godwin. PTN signaling: Components and mechanistic insights in human ovarian cancer. Molecular Carcinogenesis. 2014; 54 (12):1772-1785.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGeetika Sethi; Youngjoo Kwon; Rebecca J. Burkhalter; Harsh B. Pathak; Rashna Madan; Sarah McHugh; Safinur Atay; Smruthi Murthy; Ossama W. Tawfik; Andrew K. Godwin. 2014. "PTN signaling: Components and mechanistic insights in human ovarian cancer." Molecular Carcinogenesis 54, no. 12: 1772-1785.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and many women with breast cancer live more than 5 years after their diagnosis. Breast cancer patients and survivors have a greater interest in taking soy foods and isoflavone supplements. However, the effect of isoflavones on breast cancer remains controversial. Thus, it is critical to determine if and when isoflavones are beneficial or detrimental to breast cancer patients. According to the available preclinical data, high concentrations of isoflavones inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells, regardless of their estrogen receptor (ER) status. In comparison, genistein, a major isoflavone, has stimulated tumor growth at low concentrations and mitigated tamoxifen efficacy in ER‐positive breast cancer. Studies have indicated that the relative levels of genistein and estrogen at the target site are important to determine the genistein effect on the ER‐positive tumor growth. However, studies using ovariectomized mice and subcutaneous xenograft models might not truly reflect estrogen concentrations in human breast tumors. Moreover, it may be an oversimplification that isoflavones stimulate hormone‐dependent tumor growth due to their potential estrogenic effect since studies also suggest nonestrogenic anticancer effects of isoflavones and ER‐independent anticancer activity of tamoxifen. Therefore, the concentrations of isoflavones and estrogen in human breast tumors should be considered better in future preclinical studies and the parameters that can estimate those levels in breast tumors are required in human clinical/epidemiological investigation. In addition, it will be important to identify the molecular mechanisms that either inhibit or promote the growth of breast cancer cells by soy isoflavones, and use those molecules to evaluate the relevance of the preclinical findings to the human disease and to predict the health effects of isoflavones in human breast tumors.
Youngjoo Kwon. Effect of soy isoflavones on the growth of human breast tumors: findings from preclinical studies. Food Science & Nutrition 2014, 2, 613 -622.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Effect of soy isoflavones on the growth of human breast tumors: findings from preclinical studies. Food Science & Nutrition. 2014; 2 (6):613-622.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2014. "Effect of soy isoflavones on the growth of human breast tumors: findings from preclinical studies." Food Science & Nutrition 2, no. 6: 613-622.
The development of cancer chemotherapy made a significant progress in cancer treatment. However, most chemotherapeutic drugs are challenged by drug resistance and druginduced toxicity. Combination therapy has been suggested as an effective strategy to avoid drug resistance and reduce toxicity derived from drug, thereby enhancing clinical treatment of cancer. Many food-derived bioactive compounds have exhibited anticancer activity and can be good candidates for combination therapy with existing chemotherapeutic drugs. Curcumin is one of compounds that present anticancer activity in many types of cancer and has been extensively studied for its anticancer mechanisms including inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. Combinational treatment of curcumin enhanced therapeutic efficacy of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, cisplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and gemcitabine. NF-κB is a major downstream effector that leads to chemoresistance of many therapeutic drugs. Down-regulation of NF-κB by curcumin is an effective mechanism to sensitize chemotherapeutic drugs and increase therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, combination use of curcumin and available anticancer drugs has great potential to enhance chemotherapy efficacy and improve clinical treatment of cancer. More studies will be required to elucidate cause effect relationship of curcumin-induced suppression of cell survival pathways and enhancement of drug efficacy by curcumin.
Youngjoo Kwon. Curcumin as a cancer chemotherapy sensitizing agent. Journal of the Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry 2014, 57, 273 -280.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Curcumin as a cancer chemotherapy sensitizing agent. Journal of the Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry. 2014; 57 (2):273-280.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2014. "Curcumin as a cancer chemotherapy sensitizing agent." Journal of the Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry 57, no. 2: 273-280.
Turmeric and its active component curcumin have received considerable attention due to their many recognized biological activities. Turmeric has been commonly used in food preparation and herbal remedies in South Asia, leading to a high consumption rate of curcumin in this region. However, the amount of curcumin in the Korean diet has not yet been estimated, where turmeric is not a common ingredient. This study utilized the combined data sets obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2008 to 2012 in order to estimate the curcumin intake in the Korean diet. The mean intake of curcumin was estimated from the amount of curcumin-containing foods (curry powder and ready-made curry) consumed using reported curcumin content in commercial turmeric and curry powders. Only 0.06% of Koreans responded that they consumed foods containing curcumin in a given day, and 40% of them were younger than 20 years of age. Curcumin-containing foods were largely prepared at home (72.9%) and a significant proportion (20.4%, nearly twice that of all other foods) was consumed as school and workplace meals. The estimated mean turmeric intake was about 0.47 g/day corresponding to 2.7-14.8 mg curcumin, while the average curry powder consumption was about 16.4 g, which gave rise to curcumin intake in the range of 8.2-95.0 mg among individuals who consumed curcumin. The difference in estimated curcumin intake by using the curcumin content in curry powder and turmeric may reflect that curry powder manufactured in Korea might contain higher amounts of other ingredients such as flour, and an estimation based on the curcumin content in the turmeric might be more acceptable. Thus, the amount of curcumin that can be obtained from the Korean diet in a day is 2.7-14.8 mg, corresponding to nearly one fourth of the daily curcumin intake in South Asia, although curcumin is rarely consumed in Korea.
Youngjoo Kwon. Estimation of curcumin intake in Korea based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2012). Nutrition Research and Practice 2014, 8, 589 -594.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon. Estimation of curcumin intake in Korea based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2012). Nutrition Research and Practice. 2014; 8 (5):589-594.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon. 2014. "Estimation of curcumin intake in Korea based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2012)." Nutrition Research and Practice 8, no. 5: 589-594.
The signaling mediated by c-MET and its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), has been implicated in malignant progression of cancer involving stimulation of proliferation, invasion and metastasis. We studied the c-MET/HGF axis as a mediator of tumor–stromal interaction in ovarian cancer and the value of targeting c-MET for the treatment of ovarian cancer. To assess c-MET signaling, we established in vitro models of the microenvironment using primary and immortalized human fibroblasts from normal ovary and tumor samples and epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines. We found that fibroblast from normal ovaries secreted high levels of HGF (1500–3800 pg/ml) as compared with tumor-derived fibroblasts (undetectable level) and could elicit cellular biological responses on c-MET-expressing ovarian cancer cells including increase of cell proliferation and migration (2- to 140-fold increase). HGF secreted by fibroblasts was also found sequestered within extracellular matrices (ECMs) and when degraded this ECM-derived HGF stimulated cancer cell migration (1.5- to 24-fold). In cells containing constitutive c-MET phosphorylation, recombinant HGF and fibroblast-derived HGF negligibly affect c-MET phosphorylation on Tyr1234 and Tyr1003. However, both sources of HGF increased the phosphorylation of c-MET on Tyr1349, the multi-substrate docking site, by more than sixfold and led to activation of downstream signaling transducers. DCC-2701 (Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC), a novel c-MET/TIE-2/VEGFR inhibitor was able to effectively reduce tumor burden in vivo and block c-MET pTyr1349-mediated signaling, cell growth and migration as compared with a HGF antagonist in vitro. Importantly, DCC-2701’s anti-proliferative activity was dependent on c-MET activation induced by stromal human fibroblasts and to a lesser extent exogenous HGF. Our data suggest for the first time that DCC-2701 may be superior to HGF antagonists that are in clinical trials and that pTyr1349 levels might be a good indicator of c-MET activation and likely response to targeted therapy as a result of signals from the microenvironment.
Youngjoo Kwon; Bryan D Smith; Yan Zhou; Michael D Kaufman; Andrew K Godwin. Effective inhibition of c-MET-mediated signaling, growth and migration of ovarian cancer cells is influenced by the ovarian tissue microenvironment. Oncogene 2013, 34, 144 -153.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon, Bryan D Smith, Yan Zhou, Michael D Kaufman, Andrew K Godwin. Effective inhibition of c-MET-mediated signaling, growth and migration of ovarian cancer cells is influenced by the ovarian tissue microenvironment. Oncogene. 2013; 34 (2):144-153.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon; Bryan D Smith; Yan Zhou; Michael D Kaufman; Andrew K Godwin. 2013. "Effective inhibition of c-MET-mediated signaling, growth and migration of ovarian cancer cells is influenced by the ovarian tissue microenvironment." Oncogene 34, no. 2: 144-153.
Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic malignancies diagnosed in the U.S. due to its rapid progression without symptom. Stromal components in the ovary contribute to rapid progression of cancer and interruption of their interaction with cancer cells are being explored as important therapeutic target. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is expressed primarily in mesenchymal cells and acts on epithelial cells. HGF is also a unique cytokine that induces pleiotropic biological responses, involving proliferation, invasion, and dissemination of cancer cells. We studied c-MET/HGF axis as a mediator of tumor-stromal interactions in ovarian cancer using human ovarian fibroblast and their derived extracellular matrices (ECM).
Youngjoo Kwon; Yan Zhou; Andrew K. Godwin. Abstract 1627: Fibroblast HGF elicits c-MET-mediated signaling and migration in ovarian cancer cells. Tumor Biology 2013, 73, 1627 -1627.
AMA StyleYoungjoo Kwon, Yan Zhou, Andrew K. Godwin. Abstract 1627: Fibroblast HGF elicits c-MET-mediated signaling and migration in ovarian cancer cells. Tumor Biology. 2013; 73 ():1627-1627.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYoungjoo Kwon; Yan Zhou; Andrew K. Godwin. 2013. "Abstract 1627: Fibroblast HGF elicits c-MET-mediated signaling and migration in ovarian cancer cells." Tumor Biology 73, no. : 1627-1627.