title: Diallylpolysulfides induce growth arrest and apoptosis.
abstract: Garlic-derived organo sulphur compounds such as diallylsulfides provide a significant protection against carcinogenesis. Chemically synthesized, and highly pure diallylsulfides with a chain of 1-4 sulphur atoms, as well as a range of control compounds, were employed to investigate the influence of these agents on cell viability, cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Diallyltrisulfide, and even more efficiently diallyltetrasulfide treatment of HCT116 cells led to a reduced cell viability, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. A similar activity was found for the propyl-analogues, while mono- and disulfides were considerably less active. Initial calculations point toward the ability of tri- and tetrasulfides to form reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we found that the induction of apoptosis was indeed dependent on the redox-state of the cell, with anti-oxidants being able to prevent sulfide-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, using HCT116 cells which were either positive or negative for p53 revealed that p53 is clearly dispensable for induction of apoptosis. Growth arrest and induction of apoptosis is associated with a considerable reduction of the level of cdc25C. These results support the therapeutic potential of polysulfides and allow insight into the mechanisms based on the polysulfide biochemistry.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Universität des Saarlandes, D-66424 Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Awais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burkholz
authors.forename: Lalla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aicha Ba
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerella
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diederich
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wessjohann
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montenarh
mesh_terms: D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000975:Antioxidants; D013440:Sulfides; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D013455:Sulfur