Cell-cycle specificity of sulforaphane-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat T-leukemia cells.
BACKGROUND
Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate that is present in widely consumed vegetables. Previous studies have shown that SFN is effective in preventing carcinogenesis induced by carcinogens in rodents. Recently it was found that SFN could also inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in several tumor cell lines. In the present study, the possible cell-cycle specificity of SFN-mediated apoptosis was investigated.


METHODS
Cells were synchronized by thymidine block. Analysis of the cell-cycle and apoptosis induction was performed using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Flow cytometric assessment of the extent of apoptosis in cells synchronized by thymidine block revealed that cells were most sensitive to SFN in the G -phase, less sensitive in the G2/M-phase and least sensitive during the S-phase.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that cell vulnerability to SFN-mediated apoptosis is subject to regulation by cell-cycle-dependent mechanisms.
Fimognari
Carmela
C
Department of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy. carmela.fimognari@unibo.it
Lenzi
Monia
M
Sciuscio
Davide
D
Cantelli-Forti
Giorgio
G
Hrelia
Patrizia
P
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D007700:Kinetics; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; C016766:sulforaphane