Caffeic acid phenethyl ester triggers apoptosis through induction of loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in CCRF-CEM cells.
OBJECTIVE
CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester) is one of the most valuable and investigated component of propolis which is composed by honeybees. In the current study, we aimed at examining apoptotic effects of CAPE on CCRF-CEM leukemic cells and at determining the roles of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in cell death.


METHODS
Trypan blue and XTT methods were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity. Apoptosis was examined by ELISA-based oligonucleotide and acridine orange/ethidium bromide dye techniques. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated using JC-1 dye by flow cytometric analysis and under fluorescent microscope.


RESULTS
We detected the time- and dose-dependent increases in cytotoxic effect of CAPE on CCRF-CEM cells. ELISA and acridine orange/ethidium bromide results showed that apoptotic cell population increased significantly in CCRF-CEM cells exposed to increasing concentrations of CAPE. On the other hand, there was significant loss of MMP determined in response to CAPE in CCRF-CEM cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This in vitro data by being supported with clinical data may open the way of the potential use of CAPE for the treatment of leukemia.
Avcı
Cığır Biray
CB
Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey.
Gündüz
Cumhur
C
Baran
Yusuf
Y
Sahin
Fahri
F
Yılmaz
Sunde
S
Dogan
Zeynep Ozlem
ZO
Saydam
Güray
G
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects*; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002109:Caffeic Acids; C055494:caffeic acid phenethyl ester; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol