Genipin, an aglycone derived from geniposide found in Gardenia jasminoides, is known to be an excellent natural cross-linker, strong apoptosis inducer, and antiviral agent. Although evidence suggests antiviral activity of genipin in several in vitro viral infection systems, there have been few literatures which review antitumor effects of genipin in a variety of in vitro/in vivo models of cancers yet. In this review, we present some of the latest findings in the studies of genipin focusing on antitumor effects and its mechanisms. In brief, genipin inhibits mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 to increase accumulation of reactive oxygen species, leading to ROS/c-Jun N-terminal kinase-dependent apoptosis of cancer cells. Genipin also increase tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (MMP), resulting to decrease activities of MMP-2 which plays a key role in metastasis of cancers. Genipin has shown a biphasic effects on cell death and survival in cancer cells as many other plant-derived phytochemicals do. Finally we discuss the potential of genipin as a promosing novel antitumor agent which could be applicable to chemotherapy and/or chemoprevention for cancers.
Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; Chemoprevention ; Drug Therapy ; Gardenia ; In Vitro Techniques ; Metalloproteases ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phytochemicals ; Reactive Oxygen Species

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) on the engraftment and/or in vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells in an umbilical cord blood (UCB)-xenotransplantation model. In addition, we assessed its effect on the expression of cell adhesion molecules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female NOD/SCID mice received sublethal total body irradiation with a single dose of 250 cGy. Eighteen to 24 hours after irradiation, 1x107 human UCB-derived mononuclear cells (MNCs) and 5x106 human UCB-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were infused via the tail vein. Mice were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 mice received MNCs only, Group 2 received MNCs only and were then treated with hPTH, Group 3 mice received MNCs and MSCs, and were treated with hPTH. RESULTS: Engraftment was achieved in all the mice. Bone marrow cellularity was approximately 20% in Group 1, but 70-80% in the hPTH treated groups. Transplantation of MNCs together with MSCs had no additional effect on bone marrow cellularity. However, the proportion of human CD13 and CD33 myeloid progenitor cells was higher in Group 3, while the proportion of human CD34 did not differ significantly between the three groups. The proportion of CXCR4 cells in Group 3 was larger than in Groups 1 and 2 but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated a positive effect of hPTH on stem cell proliferation and a possible synergistic effect of MSCs and hPTH on the proportion of human hematopoietic progenitor cells, in a xenotransplantation model. Clinical trials of the use of hPTH after stem cell transplantation should be considered.
Animals ; Bone Marrow/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Fetal Blood/*cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/*drug effects ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/*cytology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Parathyroid Hormone/*therapeutic use ; Stem Cells/cytology ; Transplantation, Heterologous

A Dieulafoy lesion in the rectum is a very rare and it can cause massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. An 83-year-old man visited our hospital. He had chronic constipation and had taken aspirin for about 10 years because of a previous brain infarction. He was admitted because of a recent brain stroke. On the third hospital day, he had massive hematochezia and suddenly developed hypovolemic shock. Abdominal computed tomography showed active arterial bleeding on the left side of the mid-rectum. Emergency sigmoidoscopy showed an exposed vessel with blood spurting from the rectal wall. The active bleeding was controlled successfully by an injection of epinephrine and two hemoclippings. On the fourth day after the procedure, he had massive recurrent hematochezia, and his vital signs were unstable. Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery band ligation was performed urgently at two sites. However, he rebled on the third postoperative day. Selective inferior mesenteric angiography revealed an arterial pseudoaneurysm in a branch of the superior rectal artery, as the cause of rectal bleeding, and this was embolized successfully. We report a rare case of life-threatening rectal bleeding caused by a Dieulafoy lesion combined with pseudoaneurysm of the superior rectal artery which was treated successfully with embolization.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm/radiography ; Angiography ; Aspirin/therapeutic use ; Brain Infarction/drug therapy/prevention & control ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; Hemorrhoids/*complications ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior/radiography ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Rectal Diseases/complications/diagnosis/therapy ; Rectum/blood supply ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A Dieulafoy lesion in the rectum is a very rare and it can cause massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding. An 83-year-old man visited our hospital. He had chronic constipation and had taken aspirin for about 10 years because of a previous brain infarction. He was admitted because of a recent brain stroke. On the third hospital day, he had massive hematochezia and suddenly developed hypovolemic shock. Abdominal computed tomography showed active arterial bleeding on the left side of the mid-rectum. Emergency sigmoidoscopy showed an exposed vessel with blood spurting from the rectal wall. The active bleeding was controlled successfully by an injection of epinephrine and two hemoclippings. On the fourth day after the procedure, he had massive recurrent hematochezia, and his vital signs were unstable. Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery band ligation was performed urgently at two sites. However, he rebled on the third postoperative day. Selective inferior mesenteric angiography revealed an arterial pseudoaneurysm in a branch of the superior rectal artery, as the cause of rectal bleeding, and this was embolized successfully. We report a rare case of life-threatening rectal bleeding caused by a Dieulafoy lesion combined with pseudoaneurysm of the superior rectal artery which was treated successfully with embolization.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm/radiography ; Angiography ; Aspirin/therapeutic use ; Brain Infarction/drug therapy/prevention & control ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; Hemorrhoids/*complications ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior/radiography ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Rectal Diseases/complications/diagnosis/therapy ; Rectum/blood supply ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed