Increasing GSH-Px Activity and Activating Wnt Pathway Promote Fine Wool Growth in FGF5-Edited Sheep.

Fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) plays key roles in promoting the transition from the anagen to catagen during the hair follicle cycle. The sheep serves as an excellent model for studying hair growth and is frequently utilized in various research processes related to human skin diseases. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate four FGF5-edited Dorper sheep and only low levels of FGF5 were detected in the edited sheep. The density of fine wool in GE sheep was markedly increased, and the proportion of fine wool with a diameter of 14.4-20.0 µm was significantly higher. The proliferation signal in the skin of gene-edited (GE) sheep was stronger than in wild-type (WT) sheep. FGF5 editing decreased cortisol concentration in the skin, further activated the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and regulated the expression of Wnt signaling pathways containing Wnt agonists (Rspondins, Rspos) and antagonists (Notum) in hair regeneration. We suggest that FGF5 not only mediates the activation of antioxidant pathways by cortisol, which constitutes a highly coordinated microenvironment in hair follicle cells, but also influences key signals of the Wnt pathway to regulate secondary hair follicle (SHF) development. Overall, our findings here demonstrate that FGF5 plays a significant role in regulating SHF growth in sheep and potentially serves as a molecular marker of fine wool growth in sheep breeding.

Irisin combined index to diagnose central precocious puberty in girls: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate serum irisin levels in girls at different developmental status and explore the significance of irisin for the diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study 111 girls were enrolled, including 43 cases of CPP, 44 cases of peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) and 24 cases of girls with normal sexual development as controls. The data on age, weight and height, measured blood levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and irisin were collected. Pelvic Doppler ultrasound was performed to evaluate uterine length, transverse diameter, anteroposterior diameter. The girls were divided into non-CPP group and CPP group according to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test. RESULTS: Serum irisin levels were significantly higher in CPP group than in PPP group and normal control group. Serum irisin level was positively correlated with basal LH level, basal FSH level, peak LH level, peak LH /FSH ratio, uterine volume, bone age, and bone age index. The area under the curve, cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity of serum irisin were 0.958, 219.255 pg/ml, 100% and 80.6%. The combined diagnosis of CPP in girls by serum irisin and serum basal LH combined with uterine volume had an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.994, 97.6%, and 100%, superior to that of the single index. CONCLUSIONS: Serum irisin level in girls with CPP is significantly increased. An irisin combined index could help the diagnosis of CPP in girls.

Effect of CrF3 Addition on Photoluminescence Properties of Lead-Free Cs4SnBr6-xFx Zero-Dimensional Perovskite.

Zero-dimensional (0D) tin halide perovskites, characterized by their broadband and adjustable emissions, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and absence of self-absorption, are crucial for the fabrication of high-efficiency optoelectronic devices, such as LEDs, solar cells, and sensors. Despite these attributes, boosting their emission efficiency and stability poses a significant challenge. In this work, Cr3+-doped Cs4SnBr6-xFx perovskites were synthesized using a water-assisted wet ball-milling method. The effect of CrF3 addition on photoluminescence properties of Cs4SnBr6-xFx Perovskites was investigated. We found that Cr3+-doped Cs4SnBr6-xFx Perovskites exhibit a broad emission band, a substantial Stokes shift, and an efficient green light emission centered at about 525 nm at ambient temperature. The derived photoluminescence quantum yield amounted to as high as 56.3%. In addition, these Cr3+-doped Cs4SnBr6-xFx perovskites outperform their undoped counterparts in terms of thermal stability. Through a comprehensive analysis of photoluminescence measurements, our findings suggested that the elevated photoluminescence quantum yield can be attributed to the enhanced exciton binding energy of self-trapped excitons (STEs) and the suitable electron-phonon coupling resulting from the substantial distortion of [SnBr6]4- octahedra instigated by the addition of CrF3.

A Rare Type of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presenting With Cardiac Thrombus.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complication of end stage liver disease. Even rarer is right atrial tumor thrombus burden due to HCC. Common metastatic sites of HCC in descending order are lung, peritoneum, and bone. We present a patient with liver cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) admitted due to incidental finding of right atrial thrombus on echocardiography after missing HCC surveillance for four years. Patient received a computed tomography (CT) scan that showed an inconclusive liver lesion despite two liver biopsies, and patient was incidentally found to have clear cell HCC diagnosed after right hepatectomy. Right atrial thrombus was treated with surgical thrombectomy and pathology showed necrotic HCC thrombi in right atrium with bile pigment. Due to the possibility of tumor growth with extrahepatic manifestations, screening in compensated cirrhosis is essential.

Synthesis and Improved Photoluminescence of SnF2-Derived CsSnCl3-SnF2:Mn2+ Perovskites via Rapid Thermal Treatment.

We report a rapid synthesis method for producing CsSnCl3:Mn2+ perovskites, derived from SnF2, and investigate the effects of rapid thermal treatment on their photoluminescence properties. Our study shows that the initial CsSnCl3:Mn2+ samples exhibit a double luminescence peak structure with PL peaks at approximately 450 nm and 640 nm, respectively. These peaks originate from defect-related luminescent centers and the 4T1→6A1 transition of Mn2+. However, as a result of rapid thermal treatment, the blue emission is significantly reduced and the red emission intensity is increased nearly twofold compared to the pristine sample. Furthermore, the Mn2+-doped samples demonstrate excellent thermal stability after the rapid thermal treatment. We suggest that this improvement in photoluminescence results from enhanced excited-state density, energy transfer between defects and the Mn2+ state, as well as the reduction of nonradiative recombination centers. Our findings provide valuable insights into the luminescence dynamics of Mn2+-doped CsSnCl3 and open up new possibilities for controlling and optimizing the emission of rare-earth-doped CsSnCl3.

The association of dietary inflammatory potential with sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: Dietary-induced inflammation is potentially associated with sarcopenia. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the structure of the inflammatory diet and its correlation with muscle function and performance in both the upper and lower limbs. This study was performed to explore the association of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) with sarcopenia and its diagnostic parameters. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey on a sample of 515 Chinese community-dwelling older adults selected through multistage cluster sampling from three districts in Shanghai. DII scores were calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Sarcopenia and its diagnostic parameters were determined based on the definition set by the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia (AWGS). RESULTS: The mean age of study participants was 71.31 ± 4.71 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the cohort was 12.4%. Older adults in the highest DII quartile had a 3.339 times increased risk of sarcopenia compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR Quartile4vs1:3.339, 95%CI: 1.232, 9.052, p-trend: 0.004) after adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, a more pro-inflammatory diet was associated with lower appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) (OR Quartile4vs1: 3.005, 95%CI: 1.275, 7.318, p-trend: 0.005), a higher 5-times sit-stand test time score (OR Quartile4vs1: 4.942, 95%CI: 1.745, 13.993, p-trend: 0.005), and lower gait speed (OR Quartile4vs1: 2.392, 95%CI: 1.104, 5.185, p-trend: 0.041) after adjusting for confounding factors. However, there was no significant association between DII, handgrip strength, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score in either the unadjusted or adjusted model. CONCLUSION: This study found that the association between consuming a more pro-inflammatory diet and sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults was mainly due to underlying low intakes of dietary energy, protein, and anti-inflammatory foods, and not due to the high intake of pro-inflammatory foods. Meanwhile, DII was more highly correlated with lower limb muscle strength and performance compared to upper limb muscle strength.

Reproduction and viscera organ characteristics of MSTN and FGF5 dual-gene knockout sheep.

Introduction: Myostatin (MSTN) negatively regulates skeletal muscle development. However, its function in reproductive performance and visceral organs has not been thoroughly investigated. Previously, we prepared a MSTN and fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) double-knockout sheep, which was a MSTN and FGF5 dual-gene biallelic homozygous (MF-/-) mutant. Methods: To understand the role of MSTN and FGF5 in reproductive performance and visceral organs, this study evaluated the ejaculation amount, semen pH, sperm motility, sperm density, acrosome integrity, rate of teratosperm, and seminal plasma biochemical indicators in adult MF-/- rams. We also compared the overall morphology, head, head-neck junction, middle segment and the transection of middle segment of spermatozoa between wildtype (WT) and MF-/- rams. Results: Our results showed that the seminal plasma biochemical indicators, sperm structure and all sperm indicators were normal, and the fertilization rate also has no significant difference between WT and MF-/- rams, indicating that the MF-/- mutation did not affect the reproductive performance of sheep. Additional analysis evaluated the histomorphology of the visceral organs, digestive system and reproductive system of MF+/- sheep, the F1 generation of MF-/-, at the age of 12 months. There was an increased spleen index, but no significant differences in the organ indexes of heart, liver, lung, kidney and stomach, and no obvious differences in the histomorphology of visceral organs, digestive system and reproductive system in MF+/- compared with WT sheep. No MF+/- sheep were observed to have any pathological features. Discussion: In summary, the MSTN and FGF5 double-knockout did not affect reproductive performance, visceral organs and digestive system in sheep except for differences previously observed in muscle and fat. The current data provide a reference for further elucidating the application of MSTN and FGF5 double-knockout sheep.

Resveratrol ameliorates penconazole-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis in zebrafish larvae.

Penconazole (PEN) is a typical systemic triazole fungicide with cardiac toxic effects. Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenolic phytochemical with antioxidation properties. This study aimed to investigate if RES could protect against PEN-induced cardiotoxicity and to determine the underlying mechanisms. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L of PEN from 4 to 96 h post fertilization (hpf) and cardiac developmental toxicity was assessed. Our results showed that PEN decreased hatching rate, survival rate, heart rate and body length, with increased malformation rate and spontaneous movement. PEN induced pericardial edema and abnormal cardiac structure in myl7:egfp transgenic zebrafish, as well as downregulation of cardiac development related genes (nkx2.5, tbx2.5, gata4, noto, and vmhc). In addition, PEN elevated oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and triggered cardiomyocytic apoptosis by upregulation of p53, bcl-2, bax and caspase 3. These adverse outcomes were counteracted by RES, indicating that RES ameliorated PEN-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis in zebrafish. Taken together, this study revealed the important role of oxidative stress in PEN-induced cardiotoxicity and identified dietary RES supplementation as a novel strategy to mitigate its toxicity.

Identification of nucleotide polymorphisms in the key promoter region of chicken annexins A2 gene associatied with egg laying traits.

Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a member of the A subfamily of a multifunctional calcium dependent membrane phospholipid binding protein family. The mRNA expression of ANXA2 is consistent with ovary function and egg laying in chickens. In this study, six nucleotide polymorphisms in the key promoter region of chicken ANXA2 gene (-2861 bp to -1394 bp), i.e.,: g.-2337 indel (GT), g.-2255 C > T, g. -2248 A > G, g.-2188 A > G, g.-2169 G > A, g.-2160 A > C, were identified. Their distributions in populations of Xinyang Brown, Recessive White Rock, Wenchang and Wenshang Barred chickens were analyzed. In the Recessive White Rock chicken population, CAA, CAG and TGG were three major haplotypes. Association analysis indicated that the individuals with diplotype TGG/TGG laid more eggs at 32 weeks, and the individual with diplotype CAG/TGG laid at the earlier age. Luciferase activity assay showed that mutation from C to T at -2255 increased trascriptional activity of chicken ANXA2, which is consistent with its effect on egg laying traits.

Whole-genome methylation analysis reveals epigenetic variation between wild-type and nontransgenic cloned, ASMT transgenic cloned dairy goats generated by the somatic cell nuclear transfer.

BACKGROUND: SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer) is of great significance to biological research and also to the livestock breeding. However, the survival rate of the SCNT cloned animals is relatively low compared to other transgenic methods. This indicates the potential epigenetic variations between them. DNA methylation is a key marker of mammalian epigenetics and its alterations will lead to phenotypic differences. In this study, ASMT (acetylserotonin-O-methyltransferase) ovarian overexpression transgenic goat was produced by using SCNT. To investigate whether there are epigenetic differences between cloned and WT (wild type) goats, WGBS (whole-genome bisulfite sequencing) was used to measure the whole-genome methylation of these animals. RESULTS: It is observed that the different mCpG sites are mainly present in the intergenic and intronic regions between cloned and WT animals, and their CG-type methylation sites are strongly correlated. DMR (differentially methylated region) lengths are located around 1000 bp, mainly distributed in the exonic, intergenic and intronic functional domains. A total of 56 and 36 DMGs (differentially methylated genes) were identified by GO and KEGG databases, respectively. Functional annotation showed that DMGs were enriched in biological-process, cellular-component, molecular-function and other signaling pathways. A total of 10 identical genes related to growth and development were identified in GO and KEGG databases. CONCLUSION: The differences in methylation genes among the tested animals have been identified. A total of 10 DMGs associated with growth and development were identified between cloned and WT animals. The results indicate that the differential patterns of DNA methylation between the cloned and WT goats are probably caused by the SCNT. These novel observations will help us to further identify the unveiled mechanisms of somatic cell cloning technology, particularly in goats.

Constructing the vacancies and defects by hemp stem core alkali extraction residue biochar for highly effective removal of heavy metal ions.

Defects and vacancies are the essential reasons for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by low-cost biochar materials. This study aimed to use chemically activated hemp stem core alkali extraction residue biochar as an adsorbent to remove nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) ions from the simulated waste liquid. A large number of defects and vacancies were introduced into the pyrolysis process to study the efficient removal of heavy metal ions Cu and Ni by hemp rod biomass carbon material (HSR-BC) with different carbon base mass ratios and temperatures. The specific surface area of the prepared hemp rod active biochar was highly correlated with the aperture and carbon base ratio and temperature, and reached the maximum value (1429 m2/g) at 600 °C with the ratio of carbon to base (1:3.5). The removal rates of heavy metals Ni(II) and Cu(II) were as high as 94.25% and 99.54%, respectively, and the adsorption capacities were up to 7.85 mg/g and 24.88 mg/g. The adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir equation and chemo-adsorption was the main adsorption process. Comparing the surface defects and vacancies of biochar materials before and after adsorption showed that the defects of sp-C and oxygen vacancies produced on the edge of the carbon were the main active sites of the biochar material, an amount of carbon defects would become an anchor site for the Lewis acidic groups, the defective acid site strengthened the electron transfer between the functional group and the Ni(II)/Cu(II), promoted the strong cooperation of Ni(II)/Cu(II) ions with -COOH group to enable efficient and rapid adsorption removal. In addition, a large number of carbon-deficient structures could quickly anchor the Ni(II)/Cu(II) due to their local electron deficiency state, which was difficult to desorb. This study provided an in-depth understanding and guidance for the development of low-cost biochar materials with excellent removal performance of heavy metal ions.

Angiolipoma of the Colon: A Rare Cause of Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Angiolipomas are benign, subcutaneous tumors that are rarely found in the gastrointestinal tract. Still, because they may present with abdominal pain and rectal bleeding, it is important to recognize the clinical, radiological, and endoscopic findings associated with these masses. Herein we report a case of an angiolipoma of the colon diagnosed in a 49-year-old male presenting with self-limited gastrointestinal bleeding who subsequently underwent surgical resection without complications.

A potential signaling axis between RON kinase receptor and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in pancreatic cancer.

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) of a pancreatic cancer cohort identified high MST1R (RON tyrosine kinase receptor) expression correlated with poor prognosis in human pancreatic cancer. RON expression is null/minimal in normal pancreas but elevates from pan-in lesions through invasive carcinomas. We report using multiple approaches RON directly regulates HIF-1α, a critical driver of genes involved in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. RON and HIF-1α are highly co-expressed in the 101 human PDAC tumors analyzed and RON expression correlated with HIF-1α expression in a subset of PDAC cell lines. knockdown of RON expression in RON positive cells blocked HIF-1α expression, whereas ectopic RON expression in RON null cells induced HIF-1α expression suggesting the direct regulation of HIF-1α by RON kinase receptor. RON regulates HIF-1α through an unreported transcriptional mechanism involving PI3 kinase-mediated AKT phosphorylation and Sp1-dependent HIF-1α promoter activity leading to increased HIF-1α mRNA expression. RON/HIF-1α modulation altered the invasive behavior of PDAC cells. A small-molecule RON kinase inhibitor decreased RON ligand, MSP-induced HIF-1α expression, and invasion of PDAC cells. Immunohistochemical analysis on RON knockdown orthotopic PDAC tumor xenograft confirmed that RON inhibition significantly blocked HIF-1α expression. RON/HIF-1α co-expression also exists in triple-negative breast cancer cells, a tumor type that also lacks molecular therapeutic targets. This is the first report describing RON/HIF-1α axis in any tumor type and is a potential novel therapeutic target.

Reagentless biomolecular analysis using a molecular pendulum.

The development of reagentless sensors that can detect molecular analytes in biological fluids could enable a broad range of applications in personalized health monitoring. However, only a limited set of molecular inputs can currently be detected using reagentless sensors. Here, we report a sensing mechanism that is compatible with the analysis of proteins that are important physiological markers of stress, allergy, cardiovascular health, inflammation and cancer. The sensing method is based on the motion of an inverted molecular pendulum that exhibits field-induced transport modulated by the presence of a bound analyte. We measure the sensor's electric field-mediated transport using the electron-transfer kinetics of an attached reporter molecule. Using time-resolved electrochemical measurements that enable unidirectional motion of our sensor, the presence of an analyte bound to our sensor complex can be tracked continuously in real time. We show that this sensing approach is compatible with making measurements in blood, saliva, urine, tears and sweat and that the sensors can collect data in situ in living animals.

Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) Integrating Airway Hyperresponsiveness (AHR) Examination Promotes Etiologic Diagnosis and Treatment for Children with Chronic Cough.

BACKGROUND Chronic cough is the main reason why parents seek medical treatment for their children. This study aimed to evaluate changes in airway function and inflammation levels and associated values in diagnosing and treating chronic cough. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study involved 118 children with chronic cough, including 45 cough-variant asthma (CVA) patients, 53 upper-airway cough syndrome (UACS) patients, and 20 post-infection cough (PIC) patients. Chronic cough was diagnosed as described by guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians for evaluating chronic cough. Pulmonary ventilation function and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were evaluated. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels and eosinophilic airway inflammation were measured. Eosinophil (EOS) count in sputum was also examined. CVA patients were treated with inhaled glucocorticoids, which have anti-inflammatory effects. RESULTS FeNO and sputum EOS levels were higher in CVA patients compared with UACS and PIC patients (P<0.05). CVA patients demonstrated significantly higher small airway indexes, including 25% forced expiratory flow (FEF), 50% FEF, and 75% FEF, compared with UACS and PIC patients (P<0.05). FeNO level was positively correlated with EOS in sputum (r=0.468, P=0.0001) and cough symptom scores (r=0.402, P<0.05). FeNO, EOS, and cough symptoms were significantly improved in CVA patients after glucocorticoid treatment. AHR was improved in all chronic cough patients after treatment. Cough-relief CVA patients demonstrated significantly higher FeNO levels compared with those without cough relief (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS FeNO integrating pulmonary function and AHR examination can improve etiologic diagnosis and treatment for chronic cough in children.

Diagnostic value of clusterin immunostaining in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Histologic distinction between well differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and benign hepatocellular mass lesions is a known challenge. Existing biomarkers are of limited diagnostic value. Our previous studies observed an enhanced canalicular expression pattern of clusterin (CLU) in HCC, which was not observed in benign hepatocellular mass lesions such as hepatocellular adenoma. The aim of this study was to further investigate its diagnostic value for HCC by examining the expression pattern of CLU in a large number of non-hepatocellular tumors, and by comparing it with two other commonly used hepatocellular markers pCEA and CD10 that also show a canalicular staining pattern in HCC. METHODS: Enhanced canalicular staining patterns of CLU, pCEA and CD10 were analyzed on 54 surgically resected well to moderately differentiated HCCs on whole tissue sections, of which 37 had surrounding regenerative nodules while the remaining 17 had a non-cirrhotic background. CLU immunostaining was also performed on tissue microarray sections that contained 74 HCCs (40 of which were also stained for pCEA and CD10), 55 normal liver tissue samples, and 1305 non-hepatocellular tumors from multiple organs. RESULTS: Enhanced CLU canalicular staining was observed in 70% (89/128) HCCs but not in regenerative nodules, normal liver tissues or any non-hepatocellular tumors. The sensitivity and specificity for enhanced canalicular staining pattern of CLU in HCCs were 0.70 and 1.00. This enhanced canalicular pattern was observed in only 26 and 23% HCCs for CD10 and pCEA, respectively. These results further demonstrate that the distinctive enhanced canalicular pattern of CLU is unique to HCC. CONCLUSIONS: CLU is superior to pCEA and CD10 as a diagnostic immunomarker in that it can help distinguish well to moderately differentiated HCC not only from non-HCC malignancies but also from benign hepatocellular mass lesions.

Immune Reconstitution Syndrome with Initiation of Treatment of HBV/HIV Co-infection: Activity Flare associated with E antigen Seroconversion.

Immune reconstitution syndrome is a recognized complication with initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients co-infected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis B flares are seen in 20%-25% of patients after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy, an estimated 1%-5% of whom develop clinical hepatitis. We present a case of highly active antiretroviral therapy initiation for HIV that led to a flare of HBV activity despite antiviral therapy directed towards both. Liver biopsy and longitudinal serologic evaluation lend support to the hypothesis that the flare in activity was representative of IRIS. Importantly, we document eAg/eAb seroconversion with the IRIS phenomenon.

Prismatic Deflection of Live Tumor Cells and Cell Clusters.

The analysis of heterogeneous subpopulations of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is critical to enhance our understanding of cancer metastasis and enable noninvasive cancer diagnosis and monitoring. The phenotypic variability and plasticity of these cells-properties closely linked to their clinical behavior-demand techniques that isolate viable, discrete fractions of tumor cells for functional assays of their behavior and detailed analysis of biochemical properties. Here, we introduce the Prism Chip, a high-resolution immunomagnetic profiling and separation chip which harnesses a cobalt-based alloy to separate a flowing stream of nanoparticle-bound tumor cells with differential magnetic loading into 10 discrete streams. Using this approach, we achieve exceptional purity (5.7 log white blood cell depletion) of isolated cells. We test the differential profiling function of the integrated device using prostate cancer blood samples from a mouse xenograft model. Using integrated graphene Hall sensors, we demonstrate concurrent automated profiling of single cells and CTC clusters that belong to distinct subpopulations based on protein surface expression.

Author Correction: Down-regulated GATA-1 up-regulates interferon regulatory factor 3 in lung adenocarcinoma.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Actein induces apoptosis in leukemia cells through suppressing RhoA/ROCK1 signaling pathway.

Actein is a tetracyclic triterpenoid compound, extracted from the rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida, exhibiting anticancer activities as previously reported. However, the effects of actein on human leukemia have not been explored before. In this study, the role of actein in regulating apoptosis induction in human leukemia cells was investigated. Actein administration significantly enhanced apoptosis, especially in human leukemia cell line of U937 and the primary human leukemia cells. The promotion was accompanied by caspase-9, caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and cytochrome c (Cyto-c) release. Additionally, translocation of Bax into mitochondria was increased by actein, while anti-apoptotic signals of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) and B cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were decreased, accompanied by reduced phosphorylated Bcl-2-associated death promoter (Bad). Furthermore, protein kinase B (AKT) activation was downregulated by actein treatment in U937 cells. RhoA, but not caspase-3, regulated Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) expression induced by actein. Suppression of RhoA and ROCK1 reduced ROCK1 expression, caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. In contrast, AKT inactivity enhanced apoptosis levels, as well as caspase signaling pathway expression. The anticancer role of actein was potentiated by inactivating AKT. In vivo, U937-bearing tumor growth was suppressed by actein, which was related to ROCK1 suppression, AKT dephosphorylation and apoptosis induction. These results indicated that actein has a suppressive role in human leukemia progression through inactivating RhoA/ROCK1 and inducing caspases.