Anti-REL monoclonal antibody, clone 2F8

The effects of radio-frequency (RF)-assisted blanching and conventional hot water blanching (HWB) on the polyphenol oxidase (PPO), microstructure, physical characteristics, and starch granules in potato were investigated. The residual activity of PPO decreased from 60.47% to 1.35% with increased RF heating temperature (50-90 degrees C). Moreover, RF achieved a similar level of enzyme inactivation as HWB at lower temperature (70 degrees C), thereby maintaining the good physical characteristics. With increased temperature from 50 degrees C to 90 degrees C, weight loss (1.15%-6.23%) and relative electrolyte leakage (REL) (6.57%-96.96%) increased. Transmission electron micrographs revealed that the increase in REL was due to the gradual degradation of cell membranes and walls. Confocal laser scanning micrographs suggested that RF and HWB treatments changed the cell morphology and gelatinized the starch granules, leading to texture softening. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry thermograms showed that AH decreased from 2.80 J/g to 0 J/g with increased temperature. All these findings indicated that the change in physical characteristics of potato depended on its microstructure during RF blanching.

Objective(s): Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive lymphoid malignancy with low survival rate and distinct geographical distribution. In search for novel chemotherapeutics against ATLL, we investigated the combinatorial effects of parthenolide, a sesquiterpene lactone with valuable pharmaceutical activities, and arsenic trioxide (ATO) in vitro. Materials and Methods: MT2 cells, an ATLL cell line, were treated with increasing concentrations of parthenolide (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mu g/ml) and ATO (2, 4, 8, and 16 mu M) to determine their IC50. Then, cells were treated with a combination of sub-IC50 concentrations of parthenolide (1 mu g/ml) and ATO (2 mu M) for 72 hr. Cell viability and cell cycle changes were assessed by Alamar blue and PI staining, respectively. To understand the mechanisms responsible for observed effects, expression of CD44, NF-kappa B (REL-A), BMI-1, and C-MYC were investigated by real-time PCR. Results: Assessment of cell viability indicated that parthenolide significantly increased the toxicity of ATO, as confirmed by accumulation of MT2 cells in the sub G1 phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, molecular analysis revealed significant down-regulation of CD44, NF-kappa B (REL-A), BMI-1, and C-MYC upon combinatorial administration of parthenolide and ATO in comparison with relevant controls. Conclusion: Taken together, present results showed that parthenolide significantly enhanced the toxicity of ATO in MT2 cells. Therefore, the future possible clinical impact of our study could be combinatorial use of parthenolide and ATO as a novel and more effective approach for ATLL.