naphthoquinones and Lymphoma--T-Cell

Maintaining cellular redox homeostasis is imperative for the survival and normal functioning of cells. This study describes the role and regulation of MAPKinases in oxidative stress mediated apoptosis. Plumbagin, a vitamin K3 analog and a pro-oxidant, was employed and it induced apoptosis in both mouse and human T-cell lymphoma cell lines via increased oxidative stress, caspase activity and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The pro-oxidant and cytotoxic effects of plumbagin were sensitive to antioxidants indicating a decisive role of cellular redox balance. Plumbagin induced persistent activation of JNK and pharmacological inhibition as well as shRNA-mediated JNK knock-down rescued cells from plumbagin-induced apoptosis. Further, plumbagin induced cytochrome c release, FasL expression and Bax levels via activation of JNK pathway. Exposure of lymphoma cells to plumbagin led to inhibition of total and specific phosphatase activity, increased total protein S-glutathionylation and induced glutathionylation of dual specific phosphatase- 1 and 4 (MKP-1 and MKP-2). The in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of plumbagin was demonstrated using a mouse model. In conclusion, oxidative stress mediated tumor cytotoxicity operates through sustained JNK activation via a novel redox-mediated regulation of MKP-1 and MKP-2.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Disease Models, Animal; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1; Dual-Specificity Phosphatases; Enzyme Activation; Glutathione; Humans; Jurkat Cells; Lymphoma, T-Cell; Male; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases; Models, Molecular; Naphthoquinones; Oxidative Stress; Phosphorylation; Random Allocation

Novel β-lapachone analogs 2-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione (NQ1), 2-p-tolyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione (NQ3) and 2-methyl-2-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione (NQ7), which have trypanocidal activity, were assayed for cytotoxic effects on murine EL-4 T lymphoma cells. The NQs inhibited the proliferation of EL-4 cells at concentrations above 1μM. Nuclear staining of the EL-4 cells revealed chromatin condensation and a nuclear morphology compatible with the induction of apoptosis. Flow cytometry assays with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide confirmed the cell death by apoptosis. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), a semiquinone radical was detected in EL-4 cells treated with NQs. In addition, a decrease in the GSH level in parallel with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed. Preincubation with n-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) was able to reverse the inhibitory effects of the NQs on cell proliferation, indicating that ROS generation is involved in NQ-induced apoptosis. In addition, the NQs induced a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased the proteolytic activation of caspases 9 and 3 and the cleavage of Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP). In conclusion, these results indicate that redox cycling is induced by the NQs in the EL-4 cell line, with the generation of ROS and other free radicals that could inhibit cellular proliferation as a result of the induction of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Benzopyrans; Benzoquinones; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleus Shape; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; Free Radical Scavengers; Glutathione; Kinetics; Lymphoma, T-Cell; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mice; Naphthoquinones; Reactive Oxygen Species; Trypanocidal Agents; Up-Regulation