Correction: Chiral ruthenium polypyridyl complexes as mitochondria-targeted apoptosis inducers.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C0MD00060D.].

Apoptosis induced by 9,11‑dehydroergosterol peroxide from Ganoderma Lucidum mycelium in human malignant melanoma cells is Mcl‑1 dependent.

9,11-Dehydroergosterol peroxide [9(11)-DHEP] is an important steroid from medicinal mushroom, which has been reported to exert antitumor activity in several tumor types. However, the role of 9(11)‑DHEP toward the malignant melanoma cells has not been investigated. In the present study, the steroid from Ganoderma lucidum was purified on a submerged culture, and its antitumor mechanisms on A375 human malignant melanoma cells was investigated by MTT, flow cytometry and western blotting.

A rapid and efficient method to study the function of crop plant transporters in Arabidopsis.

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for humans. Fe deficiency disease is widespread and has led to extensive studies on the mechanisms of Fe uptake and storage, especially in staple food crops such as rice. However, studies of functionally related genes in rice and other crops are often time and space demanding.

Selenocysteine derivative overcomes TRAIL resistance in melanoma cells: evidence for ROS-dependent synergism and signaling crosstalk.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), as one of the most promising targeted drug for new cancer therapeutics, is limited in clinical application by the evolution of resistance in many cancer cell lines, especially in malignant melanoma. Thus, it is urgently needed to identify chemosensitizers to enhance the apoptotic inducing efficacy of TRAIL and overcome resistance of malignant melanoma cells. Herein, we reported that 3,3'-diselenodipropionic acid (DSeA), a Selenocysteine derivative, could synergistically enhance the growth inhibitory effect of TRAIL on A375 melanoma cells though induction of ROS-dependent apoptosis with involvement of PTEN-mediated Akt inactivation and DNA damage-mediated p53 phosphorylation, which subsequently activated mitochondrial and death receptor apoptotic pathways.

pH-responsive cancer-targeted selenium nanoparticles: a transformable drug carrier with enhanced theranostic effects.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have been widely used in various biomedical applications, including cancer therapy, diagnosis and drug delivery. Herein, we fabricated a novel type of structure-transformable capsules by decoration of SeNPs with folate-chitosan to form smart-shell nanocapsules (FAC@CurP-SeNPs). The shrink particles could target cancer cells over expressing folate receptor and enter the cells via folate receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Selenium-enriched Spirulina protects INS-1E pancreatic beta cells from human islet amyloid polypeptide-induced apoptosis through suppression of ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and PI3/AKT pathway.

Purpose: Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) aggregation is linked to loss of pancreatic beta cells in type 2 diabetes, in part due to oxidative stress. Currently, little is known about the effects of selenium-enriched Spirulina on beta cells with the presence of hIAPP. In this study, INS-1E rat insulinoma cells were used as a model to evaluate in vitro protective effects of Se-enriched Spirulina extract (Se-SE) against hIAPP-induced cell death, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Synergistic apoptosis-inducing effects on A375 human melanoma cells of natural borneol and curcumin.

This study was to investigate the synergistic effect of NB/Cur on growth and apoptosis in A375 human melanoma cell line by MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting. Our results demonstrated that NB effectively synergized with Cur to enhance its antiproliferative activity on A375 human melanoma cells by induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in sub-G1 cell population, DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage and caspase activation. Further mechanistic studies by Western blotting showed that after treatment of the cells with NB/Cur, up-regulation of the expression level of phosphorylated JNK and down-regulation of the expression level of phosphorylated ERK and Akt contributed to A375 cells apoptosis.

Strategy to enhance the therapeutic effect of doxorubicin in human hepatocellular carcinoma by selenocystine, a synergistic agent that regulates the ROS-mediated signaling.

Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy represents one of the most effective ways in combating human cancers. However, its clinical use is limited by severe side effects. Selenocystine (SeC) is a natural available selenoamino acid with novel anticancer efficacy.

Desacetyluvaricin induces S phase arrest in SW480 colorectal cancer cells through superoxide overproduction.

Annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) are a group of fatty acid-derivatives with potent anticancer effects. In the present study, we found desacetyluvaricin (Dau) exhibited notable in vitro antiproliferative effect on SW480 human colorectal carcinoma cells with IC50 value of 14 nM. The studies on the underlying mechanisms revealed that Dau inhibited the cancer cell growth through induction of S phase cell cycle arrest from 11.

Synergistic induction of apoptosis by methylseleninic acid and cisplatin, the role of ROS-ERK/AKT-p53 pathway.

Cisplatin-based therapy is one of the most important chemotherapy treatments for cancers. However, its efficacy is greatly limited by drug resistance and undesirable side effects. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop chemosensitizing agents to cisplatin.

Generation of selenium-enriched rice with enhanced grain yield, selenium content and bioavailability through fertilisation with selenite.

To fulfill the natural human needs of selenium, selenium biofortification has been carried out in rice (Oryza sativa) in recent years. Despite some improvements have been made, the increase of selenium content in rice was still limited and a large amount of fertilisers are often required, which may cause environmental pullution. In this study, we further improved the selenium biofortification of rice by using less selenium fertilisers (10.

Selenocystine potentiates cancer cell apoptosis induced by 5-fluorouracil by triggering reactive oxygen species-mediated DNA damage and inactivation of the ERK pathway.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment is quite limited, because of its inefficiency and clinical resistance to it. The search for chemosensitizers that could augment its efficiency and overcome the drug resistance to 5-FU has kindled great interest among scientists. Selenocystine (SeC), a naturally occurring selenoamino acid, displayed broad-spectrum anticancer activity in our previous studies.

Selective cellular uptake and induction of apoptosis of cancer-targeted selenium nanoparticles.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have garnered a great deal of attention as potential cancer therapeutic payloads. However, the in vivo targeting drug delivery has been challenging. Herein, we describe the synthesis of tansferrin (Tf)-conjugated SeNPs and its use as a cancer-targeted drug delivery system to achieve enhanced cellular uptake and anticancer efficacy.

Natural borneol, a monoterpenoid compound, potentiates selenocystine-induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by enhancement of cellular uptake and activation of ROS-mediated DNA damage.

Selenocystine (SeC) has been identified as a novel compound with broad-spectrum anticancer activities. Natural borneol (NB) is a monoterpenoid compound that has been used as a promoter of drug absorption. In the present study, we demonstrated that NB significantly enhanced the cellular uptake of SeC and potentiated its antiproliferative activity on HepG2 cells by induction of apoptosis.

Cyanidin reverses cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HK-2 proximal tubular cells through inhibition of ROS-mediated DNA damage and modulation of the ERK and AKT pathways.

Cyanidin is an anthocyanin widely distributed in food diet with novel antioxidant activity. Herein, we investigated the protective effects of cyanidin on HK-2 proximal tubular cells against cisplatin-induced apoptosis and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells was significantly attenuated by cyanidin.

Enhancement of auranofin-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cells by selenocystine, a synergistic inhibitor of thioredoxin reductase.

Thioredoxin system plays an important role in regulation of intracellular redox balance and various signaling pathways. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is overexpressed in many cancer cells and has been identified as a potential target of anticancer drugs. Auranofin (AF) is potent TrxR inhibitor with novel in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities.

Comparative proteomics analysis of selenium responses in selenium-enriched rice grains.

By foliar fortification with selenite, selenium (Se)-enriched rice with a higher Se content and grain yield has been generated. However, the regulatory mechanisms of Se response in rice grains remain unknown; therefore, we carried out a comparative proteomics study in Se-enriched rice grains by using two approaches including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE)-coupled MALDI-TOF/TOF MS and 1-DE/LC-FTICR-MS-coupled label-free quantification. By comparison between Se treatment and control, 62 and 250 abundance changed proteins were identified from 2-DE and 1-DE, respectively.

PEG-nanolized ultrasmall selenium nanoparticles overcome drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells through induction of mitochondria dysfunction.

Gray selenium (Se) is one of the most widely used Se sources with very limited biocompatibility and bioactivity. In the present study, a simple method for the preparation of ultrasmall selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) through direct nanolization of gray selenium by polyethylene glycol (PEG) was demonstrated. Monodisperse and homogeneous PEG-SeNPs with ultrasmall diameters were successfully prepared under optimized conditions.

Selenium nanoparticles as a carrier of 5-fluorouracil to achieve anticancer synergism.

A simple method for preparing 5-fluorouracil surface-functionalized selenium nanoparticles (5FU-SeNPs) with enhanced anticancer activity has been demonstrated in the present study. Spherical SeNPs were capped with 5FU through formation of Se-O and Se-N bonds and physical adsorption, leading to the stable structure of the conjugates. 5FU surface decoration significantly enhanced the cellular uptake of SeNPs through endocytosis.

Proteomics analysis reveals multiple regulatory mechanisms in response to selenium in rice.

Selenium (Se) shows both beneficial and toxic effects on plant growth. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings cultivated under lower concentrations of sodium selenite showed enhanced growth, whereas higher concentrations of sodium selenite repressed seedling growth.

Ruthenium complexes containing bis-benzimidazole derivatives as a new class of apoptosis inducers.

A series of ruthenium complexes containing bis-benzimidazole derivatives have been synthesized and identified as able to target mitochondria and induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells through superoxide overproduction.

1,4-Diselenophene-1,4-diketone triggers caspase-dependent apoptosis in human melanoma A375 cells through induction of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Epidemiological, preclinical and clinical studies have supported the role of selenocompounds as potential cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, a novel selenophene-based compound, 1,4-diselenophene-1,4-diketone (DSeD), has been synthesized by Double Friedel-Crafts reaction and identified as a potent antiproliferative agent against a panel of six human caner cell lines. Despite this potency, DSeD was relatively nontoxic toward human normal cells, HS68 fibroblasts and HK-2 kidney cells.

The reversal of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by selenium nanoparticles functionalized with 11-mercapto-1-undecanol by inhibition of ROS-mediated apoptosis.

Although cisplatin is still one of the most effective chemotherapy agents for human cancers, its clinical use is limited by serious side effects, especially nephrotoxicity. Oxidative stress is an important mediator of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. In the present study, a simple method for functionalization of selenium nanoparticles by self-assembly of 11-mercapto-1-undecanol (Se@MUN) to achieve enhanced antioxidant activity and antagonis against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity has been demonstrated.

Selenium-containing allophycocyanin purified from selenium-enriched Spirulina platensis attenuates AAPH-induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes through inhibition of ROS generation.

Both selenium and allophycocyanin (APC) have been reported to show novel antioxidant activities. In this study, a fast protein liquid chromatographic method for purification of selenium-containing allophycocyanin (Se-APC) from selenium-enriched Spirulina platensis and the protective effect of Se-APC on 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative stress have been described. After fractionation by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and separation by DEAE-Sepharose ion-exchange and Sephacryl S-300 size exclusion chromatography, Se-APC with purity ratio (A652/A280) of 5.

Allyl isothiocyanate induces G2/M arrest in human colorectal adenocarcinoma SW620 cells through down-regulation of Cdc25B and Cdc25C.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a constituent of cruciferous vegetables that exhibits antitumor activity. In this study, AITC was shown to inhibit the proliferation of human metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma SW620 cells in vitro by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. The signaling pathway of AITC action involved the down-regulation of the pivotal Cdc25B and Cdc25C protein phosphatases in the treated cells.