[
Breast Dis,
2000]
Mammals contain four members (HER1/EGFR, HER2/Neu, HER3, and HER4) of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, which transduce extracellular signals by EGF family peptide growth factors. Upon binding of ligand with receptor, dimerization and auto-phosphorylation of the receptor results in a cascade of events which transmit signal from the cell surface to the nucleus. Amplification and/or uncontrolled signaling of these receptors is associated with many cancers. 10 to 34% of human breast cancers are associated with amplification or overexpression of the HER2/neu oncogene, an EGFR homolog [1]. Signaling from the EGFR plays a critical role in the development of many organisms including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, each of which contain a single EGFR homolog. The powerful genetic techniques offered by these organisms has allowed new components of the EGFR signal transduction pathway to be identified as well as lending insight into the basis of tissue specificity of signaling.
[
Antioxidants (Basel),
2020]
The aim of this study was, firstly, to evaluate the phenol profile of thistle (<i>Cirsium japonicum</i>, CJ) by High performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS), dried by different methods (90 C hot-air, 70 C hot-air, shade-, and freeze-drying). Secondly, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between phenolic compounds content and antioxidant properties. CJ contained chlorogenic acid, linarin, and pectolinarin. Total phenolic contents of CJ significantly decreased under hot-air-drying condition, especially chlorogenic acid contents in CJ have been reduced by 85% and 60% for 90 C and 70 C hot-air-drying, respectively. We evaluated the protective effect on adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> using shade-dried CJ, which has the largest phenolic contents and the strongest antioxidant property. CJ-treated PC 12 cells dose-dependently exhibited the protective effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS), while cell viability increases, lactate dehydrogenase release decreases, and ROS formation decreases. Furthermore, CJ has also shown protection against ROS in <i>C. elegans.</i> Consequently, CJ contributed to lifespan extension under ROS stress without influencing the physiological growth.