title: A cautionary note on using N-acetylcysteine as an antagonist to assess isothiocyanate-induced reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis.
abstract: N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) has been widely used in cell culture-based studies for the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in apoptosis induction by isothiocyanates (ITCs). Here we have demonstrated, using [(14)C]phenethyl ITC and [(14)C]sulforaphane, that NAC pretreatment significantly reduces ITC cellular uptake by conjugating with ITCs in the medium, suggesting that reduced uptake of ITCs, rather than the antioxidant activity of NAC itself, is responsible for the diminished downstream apoptotic effects. The study provides a cautionary note on the assay in studying mechanisms of apoptosis by ITCs and other electrophilic and thiol-reactive compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA. lm293@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirajuddin
authors.forename: Nanqin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Xiantao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000737:chemistry*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; C016766:sulforaphane; D000111:Acetylcysteine