title: Anthocyanidins induce apoptosis in human promyelocytic leukemia cells: structure-activity relationship and mechanisms involved.
abstract: Anthocyanidins are the aglycon nucleuses of anthocyanins, which are reddish pigments widely spread in colored fruits and vegetables. To investigate their anti-cancer effect, induction of apoptosis was tested in human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60), which is a valid model for testing antileukemic or general antitumoral compounds. Of six anthocyanidins representing the aglycons of most of anthocyanins, only those with an ortho-dihydroxyphenyl structure on the B-ring induce apoptosis, suggesting that the ortho-dihydroxyphenyl structure of anthocyanidins may contribute to the induction of apoptosis. Delphinidin, the most potent inducer, causes apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The efficacious induction of apoptosis was observed at 100 micro M for 6 h. Concomitant with the apoptosis, delphinidin stimulates JNK pathway activation including JNK phosphorylation and c-jun gene expression, and activates caspase-3. Antioxidants including N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and catalase effectively block delphinidin-induced JNK phosphorylation, caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation. Moreover, anthocyanidins directly cause HL-60 cells to generate intracellular hydrogen peroxide. Thus, anthocyanidins may trigger an apoptotic death program through an oxidative stress-involved JNK signaling pathway. The induction of apoptosis by anthocyanins may be the pivotal mechanism by which its chemopreventive action against cancer is based.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto 1-21-24, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan. hou@chem.agri.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: De-Xing
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ose
authors.forename: Shigang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harazoro
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Takuhiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uto
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Terahara
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000473:pathology*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012313:RNA; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C017185:delphinidin; D000111:Acetylcysteine