Equol Induces Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cancer Cells via the Sustained Activation of ERK1/2 Pathway

Yang, Zhiping,Zhao, Yan,Yao, Yahong,Li, Jun,Wang, Wangshi,Wu, Xiaonan Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.10

The cancer chemo-preventive effects of equol have been demonstrated for a wide variety of experimental tumours. In a previous study, we found that equol inhibited proliferation and induced apoptotic death of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. However, the mechanisms underlying equol-mediated apoptosis have not been well understood. In the present study, the dual AO (acridine orange)/EB (ethidium bromide) fluorescent assay, the comet assay, MTS, western blotting and flow cytometric assays were performed to further investigate the pro-apoptotic effect of equol and its associated mechanisms in MGC-803 cells. The results demonstrated that equol induced an apoptotic nuclear morphology revealed by AO/EB staining, the presence of a comet tail, the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP and the depletion of cIAP1, indicating its pro-apoptotic effect. In addition, equol-induced apoptosis involves the mitochondria-dependent cell-death pathway, evidenced by the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, the cleavage of caspase-9 and the depletion of Bcl-xL and full-length Bid. Moreover, treating MGC-803 cells with equol induced the sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and inhibiting ERK by U0126, a MEK/ERK pathway inhibitor, significantly attenuated the equol-induced cell apoptosis. These results suggest that equol induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells via the sustained activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Therefore, equol may be a novel candidate for the chemoprevention and therapy of gastric cancer.

Preparation of epoxypropyl functionalized graphene oxide and its anticorrosion properties complexed with epoxy resin

Xiaofeng Yang,Yuepeng Zhang,Zhiping Chen,Yinshuai Yang,Hongxia Jing,Zhenhao Sun,Huijie Wang 한국화학공학회 2020 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.37 No.12

Functionalized graphene oxide (GO)/epoxy resin (EP) composite coating has attracted attention due to its advantages of epoxy resin in acid resistance, anticorrosion and having the characteristics of GO such as good chemical stability and strong electrolyte barrier properties. In this study, epoxypropyl functionalized graphene oxide (EFGO) was synthesized with a new strategy by grafting epichlorohydrin (ECH) onto the surface of GO. EFGO was then crosslinked with EP by diethylenetriamine (DETA) to fabricate EFGO/EP anticorrosive coating. The structure and property of EFGO and EFGO/EP were characterized and evaluated by various methods such as FTIR, Raman, XPS, SEM, and EIS. The results showed that the graft amount of epoxypropyl on GO surface could be effectively increased by using KI-KF catalysis system. The increase of the graft amount further improved the compatibility between EFGO and EP. EFGO/EP had a network structure with EFGO as the “central node”. The “central node” locked the movement of EP chain segment, as improving the thermal stability of EFGO/EP. The EFGO/EP coating fabricated by the EFGO, which grafted larger epoxypropyl, had good anticorrosion performance and adhesion with steel plates, showing a good barrier effect on electrolyte migration. The coating resistance reached up 4.88×108 cm2.

Enhanced electrical conductivity of pitch-derived carbon via graphene template effects for high electrically conductive composites

Zhiping Lei,Yazhou Li,Zhao Lei,Xue Yang,Jingchong Yan,Zhanku Li,Hengfu Shui,Shibiao Ren,Zhicai Wang,Ying Kong,Shigang Kang 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.117 No.-

Large-scale preparation of cheap and high-performance carbonaceous materials is in urgent need due tothe huge demand of carbonaceous materials-organic binder composites for Joule heating. Here, carbonbasedelectrothermal composites with high electrical conductivity were fabricated by adjusting the morphologyand structure of pitch-based carbonaceous materials (PC) through the use of graphene asstructure-directing agent to tune the orientation and carbonization of coal pitch. It is demonstrated thatthe addition of graphene can effectively promote the formation of graphitized carbon, increase the contentof sp2C, reduce defective carbon and increase the graphite interlayer spacing. 1% graphene-added PCPVDFcomposite exhibits 290% increase in the carrier concentration, 190% enhancement in mobility, and67% reduction in the volume resistivity compared to PC-PVDF composite. Molecular simulations elucidatethat the graphene edges favor pitch carbonization and improve the orientation factor and energy gap ofcarbon materials. This study provides clues for design of low-cost pitch-derived carbon materials-bindercomposites.

High Performance Phthalonitrile Cure Reaction and Property Research with a Novel Adenine-containing Aromatic Amine

Zhiping Wang,Jianghuai Hu,Ke Zeng,Gang Yang 한국고분자학회 2017 폴리머 Vol.41 No.5

An adenine-containing curing agent, 9,10-bis(4-aminophenyl) adenine (p-APA) was designed to decrease the volatility of curing agent. The exact structure of p-APA was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and elementary analyzer (EA). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were measured to compare volatility of p-APA with that of a traditional curing agent, 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy) benzene (4-APB), which indicated p-APA has better thermal stability and lower volatility. The thermal tests of different curing process of phthalonitriles showed good thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities. The thermal property was improved along with increasing curing temperature and time and the glass-transition temperature (Tg) was not observed on DSC before 400℃. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that triazine and phthalocyazine rings were the dominant reaction products of the cured phthalonitriles. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of post-cured phthalonitriles showed a storage modulus of 1.3 GPa at 40℃ and Tg about 500℃.

Mn Heterogeneity and Ductility Improvement Realized by Slow Heating Mn-Partitioned Pearlit

Dezhen Yang,Jiusan Xiao,Chao Zhang,Yingchun Wang,Zhiping Xiong 대한금속·재료학회 2024 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.30 No.2

The Mn heterogeneity in the medium manganese steel has been realized deliberately using fast heating. However, fast heatingis not easy for industrial production. Here, we counter-intuitively demonstrate that the slow heating not only can retain theMn-heterogeneous distribution from alternative Mn-enriched cementite and Mn-depleted ferrite in the initial pearlite, butalso modify the stability, morphology and fraction of retained austenite (RA). Compared to fast heating, a wider distributionand a lower average content of Mn in film RA are achieved due to the transition of austenite formation from partition localequilibrium to negligible partition local equilibrium. Meanwhile, the slow heating boosts the dissolution of the sphericalcementite, leading to a stronger retention of spherical RA. Consequently, slow heating exhibits a 30% larger ductility owingto a stronger austenite-to-martensite transformation during straining while the strength keeps similar. The present studyindicates that the slow heating opens a new avenue to produce Mn-heterogeneous steels having high strength and ductility.

An approach of evaluation and mechanism study on the high and steep rock slope in water conservancy project

Meng Yang,Huaizhi Su,Zhiping Wen 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2017 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.19 No.5

In this study, an aging deformation statistical model for a unique high and steep rock slope was proposed, and the aging characteristic of the slope deformation was better reflected. The slope displacement was affected by multiple-environmental factors in multiple scales and displayed the same tendency with a rising water level. The statistical model of the high and steep rock including non-aging factors was set up based on previous analyses and the study of the deformation and residual tendency. The rule and importance of the water level factor as a non-aging unit was analyzed. A partitioned statistical model and mutation model were established for the comprehensive cumulative displacement velocity with the monitoring study under multiple factors and multiple parameters. A spatial model was also developed to reflect and predict the whole and sectional deformation character by combining aging, deformation and space coordinates. A neural network model was built to fit and predict the deformation with a high degree of precision by mastering its feature of complexity and randomness. A three-dimensional finite element model of the slope was applied to approach the structure character using numerical simulations. Further, a three-dimensional finite element model of the slope and dam was developed, and the whole deformation state was analyzed. This study is expected to provide a powerful and systematic method to analyze very high, important and dangerous slopes.

Pulse-Pre Pump Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis-based method monitoring structural multi-direction strain

Su, Huaizhi,Yang, Meng,Wen, Zhiping Techno-Press 2016 Structural monitoring and maintenance Vol.3 No.2

The Pulse-Pre Pump Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (PPP-BOTDA) technique is introduced to implement the multi-direction strain measurement. The monitoring principle is stated. The layout scheme of optical fibers is proposed. The temperature compensation formula and its realizing method are given. The experiments, under tensile load, combined bending and tensile load, are implemented to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. It is shown that the PPP-BOTDA technique can be used to discriminate the multi-direction strains with high spatial resolution and precision.

An efficient response surface method considering the nonlinear trend of the actual limit state

Weitao Zhao,Zhiping Qiu,Yi Yang 국제구조공학회 2013 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.47 No.1

In structural reliability analysis, the response surface method is a powerful method to evaluate the probability of failure. However, the location of experimental points used to form a response surface function must be selected in a judicious way. It is necessary for the highly nonlinear limit state functions to consider the design point and the nonlinear trend of the limit state, because both of them influence the probability of failure. In this paper, in order to approximate the actual limit state more accurately, experimental points are selected close to the design point and the actual limit state, and consider the nonlinear trend of the limit state. Linear, quadratic and cubic polynomials without mixed terms are utilized to approximate the actual limit state. The direct Monte Carlo simulation on the approximated limit state is carried out to determine the probability of failure. Four examples are given to demonstrate the efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed method for both numerical and implicit limit states.

Analysis of Ocular Blood Flow Autoregulation in Human by Using an ARX Model

Jintao Yu,Zhiping Yang,Lin Wang,Fang Feng 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Hybrid Information Techno Vol.9 No.9

Equol Induces Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cancer Cells via the Sustained Activation of ERK1/2 Pathway

Xiaonan Wu,Zhiping Yang,Yan Zhao,Yahong Yao,Jun Li,Wangshi Wang 한국분자세포생물학회 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.10

The cancer chemo-preventive effects of equol have been demonstrated for a wide variety of experimental tumours. In a previous study, we found that equol inhibited proliferation and induced apoptotic death of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. However, the mechanisms underlying equol-mediated apoptosis have not been well understood. In the present study, the dual AO (acridine orange)/EB (ethidium bromide) fluorescent assay, the comet assay, MTS, western blotting and flow cytometric assays were performed to further investigate the pro-apoptotic effect of equol and its associated mechanisms in MGC-803 cells. The results demonstrated that equol induced an apoptotic nuclear morphology revealed by AO/EB staining, the presence of a comet tail, the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP and the depletion of cIAP1, indicating its pro-apoptotic effect. In addition, equol-induced apoptosis involves the mitochondria-dependent cell-death pathway, evidenced by the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, the cleavage of caspase-9 and the depletion of Bcl-xL and full-length Bid. Moreover, treating MGC-803 cells with equol induced the sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and inhibiting ERK by U0126, a MEK/ERK pathway inhibitor, significantly attenuated the equol-induced cell apoptosis. These results suggest that equol induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells via the sustained activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Therefore, equol may be a novel candidate for the chemoprevention and therapy of gastric cancer.