Objective:To explore the inhibitory effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA ) on the growth of neuroblastoma cells,and to clarify the anti-tumor mechanism of DHA.Methods:The experiment was divided into blank control group and DHA groups (the final concentrations of DHA were 0.05, 0.50, 5.00 and 50.00μmol·L-1 ).The proliferation rates of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells after treated with DHA were examined by MTT assay;the changes of cell cycle of SH-SY5Y cells after treated with DHA were examined by flow cytometry;the expression levels of cyclin D1 and caspase-3 proteins were detected by ELISA and Western blotting methods.Results:The proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells 24,48,and 72 h after treated with different concentrations of DHA were inhibited.Compared with blank control group,the proliferation rates of SH-SY5Y cells in 0.50,5.00 and 50.00μmol·L-1 DHA groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The density of cells was decreased with the increasing of DHA concentration.Compared with blank control group,the percentage of SH-SY5Y cells at SubG1 phase in 50.00μmol·L-1 DHA group was increased (P<0.05),and the percentage of cells at G0/G1 phase was increased first then was decreased;otherwise, the percentages of cells at S and G2/M phase were decreased.Compared with blank control group,the expression level of cyclin D1 protein in 50.00μmol·L-1 DHA group was decreased (P<0.05),but the expression level of caspase-3 protein in 50.00μmol· L-1 DHA group was increased (P<0.05).Conclusion:DHA could inhibit the proliferation through arresting the cell cycle and inducing the apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells.

As a key enzyme that catalyzes the metabolism of branched chain amino acids,branched chain amino acid transferase 1(BCAT1)is often involved in a variety of biosynthetic pathways. Reaserches show that BCAT1 is highly expressed in many kinds of malignant tumors such as leukemia,glioma,nasopharyn-geal carcinoma,gastric cancer and breast cancer,et al,suggesting a close relationship with the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Thus,BCAT1 plays an important role in the genesis and progression of tumor,and may have the potential to be a new therapeutic target.

Variant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and APL-like leukemia are rare types of APL, with t (16;17) chromosome abnormality being even rarer. An APL-like patient with t (16;17) chromosome abnormality, which was characterized by bone, lymph node, and central nervous system involvement, was admitted to our hospital. He achieved complete remission after several cycles of chemotherapy and subsequently underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, the diagnosis and treatment of this patient were reported and a literature review was conducted.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death pathway that is different from apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necrosis. The main characteristics of ferroptosis are the Fenton reaction mediated by intracellular free divalent iron ions, lipid peroxidation of cell membrane lipids, and inhibition of the anti-lipid peroxidation activity of intracellular glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis can be involved in the pathological processes of many disorders, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, nervous system diseases, and blood diseases. However, the specific mechanisms by which ferroptosis participates in the occurrence and development of acute leukemia still need to be more fully and deeply studied. This article reviews the characteristics of ferroptosis and the regulatory mechanisms promoting or inhibiting ferroptosis. More importantly, it further discusses the role of ferroptosis in acute leukemia and predicts a change in treatment strategy brought about by increased knowledge of the role of ferroptosis in acute leukemia.
Humans ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism* ; Ferroptosis ; Cell Death ; Iron/metabolism* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute