title: Enhancement of hyperthermia-induced apoptosis by a new synthesized class of benzocycloalkene compounds.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine whether, a new synthesized class of benzocycloalkene derivatives (BCs), enhances apoptosis induced by hyperthermia. The combined effects of hyperthermia (44 degrees C, 20 min) and BCs on apoptosis in human lymphoma U937 cells were investigated. Among the tested compounds (BC1 approximately 9), the combined treatment of 10 muM BC2 or BC4 and hyperthermia showed the largest potency to induce DNA fragmentation at 6 h after hyperthermia. And enhancement of hyperthermia-induced apoptosis by BC2 or BC4 in a dose-dependent manner was observed. When the cells were treated first with BC2 or BC4 at a nontoxic concentration of 20 muM, and exposed to hyperthermia afterwards, a significant enhancement of heat-induced apoptosis was evidenced by DNA fragmentation, morphological changes and phosphatidylserine externalization. Flow cytometry revealed an increase of intracellular superoxide due to BC2 or BC4, which was further increased when hyperthermia was combined. Mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was enhanced in the cells treated with the combination. The activation of Bid, but no change of Bax and Bcl-2 were observed after the combined treatment. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol, which was induced by hyperthermia, was enhanced by BC2 or BC4. An increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+](i), externalization of Fas, and decrease in Hsp70 were observed following the combined treatment. These results indicate that the intracellular superoxide generated by BC2 or BC4 is involved in the enhancement of apoptosis through Fas-mitochondria caspase and [Ca2+](i)-dependent pathways, and a decrease in Hsp70 also contributed to the enhancement of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors.forename: Da-Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuya
authors.forename: Qing-Li
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kanwal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Zheng-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020298:U937 Cells; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019014:fas Receptor; C079040:benzocyclobutene; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium