title: N-Acetylcysteine, vitamin C and vitamin E diminish homocysteine thiolactone-induced apoptosis in human promyeloid HL-60 cells.
abstract: We showed previously that homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT) is a potent inducer of apoptosis in HL-60 cells. In the present study, the role of some radical scavengers (N-acetylcysteine, vitamin C, vitamin E and folate) on the reduction of HcyT-induced apoptosis was investigated. Preincubation of HcyT-treated HL-60 cells with vitamin C (Vit C; 100 micro mol/L) or vitamin E (Vit E; 100 micro mol/L) for 2 h significantly reduced the proportion of apoptotic cells with hypodiploid DNA contents or with membrane phosphatidylserine exposure, and attenuated the apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Preincubation of cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 5 mmol/L) for 2 h significantly reduced HcyT-promoted apoptosis measured by membrane phosphatidylserine exposure only. The reduction of HcyT-induced apoptosis by NAC, Vit C or Vit E occurred simultaneously with a significant decrease in intracellular H(2)O(2) levels and reduced caspase-3 enzymatic activity. In contrast, folate had no H(2)O(2) scavenging capacity and did not suppress caspase-3 activity 6 h after HcyT treatment, although folate exhibited antioxidant behavior toward superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. Preincubation of cells with folate (10 micro mol/L) for 3 d did not affect the extent of HcyT-promoted apoptotic damage. Taken together, our findings suggest that antioxidant pretreatment with NAC, Vit C or Vit E exerts more beneficial effects than folate on reducing apoptotic cell damage induced by homocysteine thiolactone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Fu-Jen University, Hsin-Chuang, Taiwan, ROC. rweifen@mails.fju.edu.tw
authors.forename: Rwei-Fen S
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Sheu-Mai
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Bo-Shiou
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chien-Ya
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Hsing-Te
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D006710:Homocysteine; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C007957:homocysteine thiolactone; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000111:Acetylcysteine