Pheophorbide a, a moiety of chlorophyll a, induces apoptosis in human lymphoid leukemia molt 4B cells.
The exposure of human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells to pheophorbide a (PPB a), a moiety of chlorophyll a, led both to growth inhibition and induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). The growth inhibition by PPB a was much stronger than that by chlorophyll a. Morphological change showing apoptotic bodies was observed in the Molt 4B cells treated with PPB a. The fragmentation by PPB a of DNA to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, that are characteristics of apoptosis, was observed to be concentration- and time-dependent. These findings suggest that growth inhibition by PPB a of Molt 4B cells results from the induction of apoptosis and that PPB a, moiety of chlorophyll a, is essential for exertion of antitumor and apoptosis-inducing activity in these cells.
Faculty of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu-city, Mie 514-0001, Japan.
H
H
Hibasami
M
M
Kyohkon
S
S
Ohwaki
H
H
Katsuzaki
K
K
Imai
M
M
Nakagawa
Y
Y
Ishi
T
T
Komiya
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000473:pathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D002734:Chlorophyll; C032623:pheophorbide a