Abstract
We have previously reported that prodigiosin (2-methyl-3-pentyl-6-methoxyprodigiosene) induces apoptosis in human hematopoietic cancer cell lines with no marked toxicity in nonmalignant cell lines. In this study, we demonstrate that prodigiosin induces apoptosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cells (n=32 patients). The dose-response for the cytotoxic effect of prodigiosin was analyzed in cells from 12 patients showing an IC(50) of 116+/-25 nM. Prodigiosin induced apoptosis of B-CLL cells through caspase activation. We also analyzed the cytotoxic effect of prodigiosin in T cells from B-CLL samples and no differences were observed with respect to leukemia cells. This is the first report showing that prodigiosin induces apoptosis in human primary cancer cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antiporters / drug effects
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Apoptosis / drug effects*
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B-Lymphocytes / chemistry
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B-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
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B-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Caspases / metabolism
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Enzyme Activation / drug effects
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Humans
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Ion Transport / drug effects
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Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism
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Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology*
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Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
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Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / chemistry
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
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Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
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Prodigiosin / pharmacology*
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T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
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T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
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T-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / analysis
Substances
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Antiporters
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
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hydrogen-chloride symporter
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Caspases
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Prodigiosin