title: Combined vitamins Bl2b and C induce the glutathione depletion and the death of epidermoid human larynx carcinoma cells HEp-2.
abstract: The combination of hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B12b) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can cause the death of tumor cells at the concentrations of the components at which they are nontoxic when administered separately. This cytotoxic action on epidermoid human larynx carcinoma cells HEp-2 in vitro is shown to be due to the hydrogen peroxide generated by the combination of vitamins B12b and C. The drop in the glutathione level preceding cell death was found to be the result of combined action of the vitamins. It is supposed that the induction of cell death by combined action of vitamins B12b and C is connected to the damage of the cell redox system.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cytotechnology, Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region. akatov@venus.iteb.serpukhov.su
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Akatov
authors.forename: Y V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Evtodienko
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Leshchenko
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Teplova
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Potselueva
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kruglov
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Lezhnev
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Yakubovskaya
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005978:Glutathione; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid