title: The protozoan toxin climacostol inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of human tumor cell lines.
abstract: Climacostol (5-(Z)-non-2-enyl-benzene-1,3-diol) is a natural toxin isolated from the freshwater ciliated protozoan Climacostomum virens and belongs to the group of resorcinolic lipids, compounds that show antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antitumor activities. We investigated the cytotoxic activity of the chemically synthesized toxin on: (1) human tumor squamous carcinoma A431 cells, (2) human promyelocytic leukaemia HL60 cells, and (3) human non-tumor endothelial EA.hy926 cells. The results showed that climacostol effectively inhibited the growth of tumor cell lines in a dose-dependent manner by inducing programmed cell death, with non-tumor cells proving significantly more resistant to the toxin.
authors: Department of Education Science, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Buonanno
authors: Luana
authors: L
authors: Quassinti
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Bramucci
authors: Consuelo
authors: C
authors: Amantini
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Lucciarini
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Santoni
authors: Hideo
authors: H
authors: Iio
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Ortenzi
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012118:Resorcinols; C453475:climacostol; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D000111:Acetylcysteine