轉錄因子控制細胞的增殖、分裂及分化，也調控疾病致病機轉相關基因圖譜之變化。細胞中有為數眾多的轉錄因子，其中activator protein 1（AP-1）在細胞的增殖分化及癌化過程中扮演重要的角色，nuclear factor-κB（NF-κB）則與免疫反應息息相關。因此本計畫主要以AP-1為細胞增殖及細胞轉形之標的，以NF-κB為炎症反應的標的，藉由分析 AP-1及NF-κB轉錄因子活性為起步，建立調控細胞增殖、抗細胞轉形及抗發炎反應等保健食品生物療效的篩選系統及保健食品相互作用之多複方評估體系。為了完成上述目標，本計畫分下列三部分加以執行：第一部份、細胞增殖、細胞轉形及細胞發炎模式的建立及確認。藉由構築轉錄因子結合序列/報導基因重組細胞株，建立經不同誘導劑誘發的細胞模式，並以anchorage-independent transformation assay、MTT等技巧確認其正確性；第二部份、細胞模式的驗證。利用具有促進細胞增殖的因子、抗癌症及發炎效用之西藥，驗證本系統之可行性，並建立轉錄因子活性與細胞增殖、細胞轉形及發炎反應的相關性；第三部份、薏仁、山藥、靈芝單獨或併用其他食材在調控細胞增殖、抗細胞轉形及抗發炎反應的作用。基於保健食品對轉錄因子活性的影響，分析其相互作用及可能之生物性療效。由本計畫的研究成果，可以提供食材相互作用之評估系統，也可作為抗細胞轉形及抗發炎等保健功效的搜尋平台，快速篩選具上述生物性療效的保健食品。未來也可利用此模式，探討重要的臨床用藥，在適當疾病療程時，相關保健食品最佳食用時機及可能的實用禁忌，以增進國人健康。
Several studies indicate that transcription factors play important roles in diseases. For examples, nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) activity is associated with inflammation, and activator protein 1 (AP-1) plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and transformation. It is therefore reasonable by using the transcription factor as the target to evaluate the functional activities of health food. The aim of this project is to establish the transcription factor-based cell models for screening health food that could inhibit the cellular transformation, cellular proliferation, and inflammation. Items of this project would be: (1) establishment of the transcription factor-based cell models for cellular transformation, cellular proliferation and inflammation, (2) confirmation of the transcription factor-based cell models, and (3) evaluation of the functional activities of health food by transcription factor-based cell models. The cell models established in this project would be further applied as the screening platform to search the health food with anti-transformation, anti-proliferation, and anti-inflammation activities. The better understanding of functional activities of health food could provide the information about the therapeutic effects and safety of health food, and therefore promote the public health.
