Anti-apoptosis function of TNF-alpha in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: lessons from Crohn's disease and the therapeutic potential of bupropion to lower TNF-alpha.
Crohn's disease and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) share a common link in their pathologic mechanisms. Lymphocytes in both diseases fail to undergo apoptosis and die properly. That failure is partly due to increased signaling by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and their respective pathologies directly follow from this apoptosis failure. Bupropion is a commonly used generic antidepressant in clinical use for over a decade, and early evidence indicates it lowers TNF levels. This paper suggests the use of bupropion in CLL to lower TNF levels, which may thereby slow CLL disease course.
Kast
Richard E
RE
University of Vermont,Burlington,VT 05401,USA. rekast@email.com
Altschuler
Erick L
EL
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016642:Bupropion / Q000494:pharmacology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016642:Bupropion