Purification of nasulysin-1: A new toxin from Porthidium nasutum snake venom that specifically induces apoptosis in leukemia cell model through caspase-3 and apoptosis-inducing factor activation.

Nasulysin-1, a new zinc-metalloproteinase from the snake venom of the hognose pit viper Porthidium nasutum, was purified to homogeneity using molecular exclusion chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography on a reverse phase column. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 25,900 kDa and pI 4.1, as determined by 1D and 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Pro-apoptotic effect of Persea americana var. Hass (avocado) on Jurkat lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Abstract Context: Therapy for leukemia has a limited efficacy. There is a need to search for alternative anti-leukemia therapies. Persea americana Mill var.

Vitamin K3 and vitamin C alone or in combination induced apoptosis in leukemia cells by a similar oxidative stress signalling mechanism.

Background: Secondary therapy-related acute lymphoblastic leukemia might emerge following chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for primary malignancies. Therefore, other alternatives should be pursued to treat leukemia.

Results: It is shown that vitamin K3- or vitamin C- induced apoptosis in leukemia cells by oxidative stress mechanism involving superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide generation, activation of NF-κB, p53, c-Jun, protease caspase-3 activation and mitochondria depolarization leading to nuclei fragmentation.