Tetraarsenic Hexoxide Induces Beclin-1-Induced Autophagic Cell Death as well as Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis in U937 Human Leukemic Cells

Tetraarsenic hexaoxide (As4O6) has been used in Korean folk remedy for the treatment of cancer since the late 1980s, and arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is currently used as a chemotherapeutic agent. However, evidence suggests that As4O6-induced cell death pathway was different from that of As2O3. Besides, the anticancer effects and mechanisms of As4O6 are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the anticancer activities of As4O6 on apoptosis and autophagy in U937 human leukemic cells. The growth of U937 cells was inhibited by As4O6 treatment in a dose- and a time-dependent manner, and IC50 for As4O6 was less than 2 μM. As4O6 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis and Beclin-1-induced autophagy, both of which were significantly attenuated by Bcl-2 augmentation and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment. This study suggests that As4O6 should induce Beclin-1-induced autophagic cell death as well as caspase-dependent apoptosis and that it might be a promising agent for the treatment of leukemia

Evaluation of Dietary Curcumin Nanospheres in a Weaned Piglet Model

Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound present in turmeric with extensive uses in cooking foods and biomedical applications. However, due to its hydrophobic nature, it is poorly soluble in water and its bioavailability is very low on oral administration in organisms. In this study, we investigated the dietary curcumin nanospheres in a weaned piglet model based on the growth, serum biochemistry, proteomics, fecal coliform bacteria, and malodors in the feces of piglets. A total of 135 weaned piglets (Duroc × [Yorkshire × Landrace]) with an average initial body weight of 7.0 ± 1.0 kg (28 ± 1 days of age) were randomly distributed in 9 pens (15 pigs in each pen) fed the dietary curcumin nanospheres (CN) at 0 (control), 0.5 (T1), and 1.0 mL (T2) CN/kg of diet in triplicates for 21 days. At the end of the feeding trial, the results showed piglets fed 1.0 mL CN/kg diet had significantly higher growth performance and feed utilization than control diet (without CN). However, there were no significant differences in growth and feed utilization between piglets fed T1 and T2 diets. Serum glucose, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, amylase, and lipase contents were unaffected in piglets fed the experimental diets. Interestingly, piglets fed T1 and T2 diets showed significantly lower total cholesterol levels than control diet. In serum proteomics, a total of 103 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in the piglets fed control, T1, and T2 diets, of which 14 DEPs were upregulated and 4 DEPs were downregulated. Fecal coliform bacteria and ammonia gas were significantly reduced in piglets fed T1 and T2 diets. Overall, the results indicated dietary supplementation of CN could enhance the growth, feed utilization, and immunity—and reduce fecal pathogenic bacteria as well as ammonia gas emissions—in weaned piglets