Antitumour properties of acridone alkaloids on a murine lymphoma cell line

Anticancer Res. 2008 Sep-Oct;28(5A):2737-43.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer properties of a set of furanoacridone alkaloids, arborinine and evoxanthine, including the inhibitory effect of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and the apoptosis-inducing capacity. The tested alkaloids were evaluated for multidrug resistance (MDR)-reversing activity on human Pgp-transfected L5178 mouse lymphoma cells, using the rhodamine-123 (Rh-123) assay. The antiproliferative effects of natural compounds and their interactions with doxorubicin were determined in MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. Apoptosis-inducing activity was additionally measured by means of dual annexin V and propidium iodide staining. RT-PCR was used to test the expression of Pgp mRNA after acridone treatment. All of the acridones investigated increased the accumulation of Rh-123. Gravacridonetriol and gravacridonediol monomethyl ether increased the antiproliferative effect of doxorubicin on resistant L5178 cells. Treatment with these agents resulted in a decrease in Pgp mRNA levels. Naturally occurring acridone alkaloids exhibit a beneficial combination of anticancer effects and, accordingly, the acridone skeleton can be considered useful in the design of novel antiproliferative agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / biosynthesis
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / genetics
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • Acridones / pharmacology*
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Annexin A5
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Leukemia L5178 / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia L5178 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Propidium
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rhodamine 123 / pharmacokinetics
  • Staining and Labeling / methods

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Acridones
  • Alkaloids
  • Annexin A5
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rhodamine 123
  • Propidium