title: Cytotoxic effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde on human leukemia K562 cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) on the human leukemia K562 cell line and the cytotoxicity of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells against K562 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Apoptosis, Fas expression, and mitochondrial transmembrane potential in K652 cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. K562 cells were labeled with CFSE. The cytotoxic effect of expanded CIK cells on CFSE-labeled K562 cells was determined by FACS flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with TCA 180 micromol/L for 9 h induced apoptosis in 8.9%+/-1.23% of K562 cells. Treatment with 120 or 180 micromol/L TCA for 24 h significantly increased the apoptotic cells to 18.63%+/-1.42 % and 38.98%+/-2.74%, respectively. TCA significantly upregulates Fas expression and decreases mitochondrial transmembrane potential in K562 cells. TCA treatment at 120 and 180 micromol/L for 9 h enhanced the percentage of lysis of K562 cells by expanded CIK cells from 34.84%+/-2.13% to 48.21%+/-2.22 % and 64.81%+/-3.22% at the E:F ratio of 25:1 and from 49.26%+/-3.22% to 57.81%+/-5.13% and 73.36%+/-5.98% at E:F ratio of 50:1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCA exerts cytotoxic effects on human leukemia K562 cells by inducing apoptosis and synergizing the cytotoxicity of CIK cells against K562 cells. These properties of TCA are beneficial to the treatment of leukemia, even in the patients who have received hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT).
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell Research and Application, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Jia-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li-qiong
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wei-jia
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Shi-ang
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D000171:Acrolein; C012843:cinnamaldehyde