title: The sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide induces selective apoptosis of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in vitro.
abstract: We have studied the in vitro actions of the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide (PTL) on cells isolated from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Dye reduction viability assays showed that the median LD(50) for PTL was 6.2 muM (n=78). Fifteen of these isolates were relatively resistant to the conventional agent chlorambucil but retained sensitivity to PTL. Brief exposures to PTL (1-3 h) were sufficient to induce caspase activation and commitment to cell death. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells were more sensitive towards PTL than were normal T lymphocytes or CD34(+) haematopoietic progenitor cells. The mechanism of cell killing was via PTL-induced generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in turn in a proapoptotic Bax conformational change, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and caspase activation. Parthenolide also decreased nuclear levels of the antiapoptotic transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B and diminished phosphorylation of its negative regulator IkappaB. Killing of CLL cells by PTL was apparently independent of p53 induction. This is the first report showing the relative selectivity of PTL towards CLL cells. The data here warrant further investigation of this class of natural product as potential therapeutic agents for CLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganeshaguru
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yogashangary
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lowdell
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kottaridis
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Hoffbrand
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Wickremasinghe
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C002669:parthenolide