title: Lycorine induces cell death in the amitochondriate parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, via an alternative non-apoptotic death pathway.
abstract: In this study, the mechanism of action of the pro-apoptotic alkaloid lycorine on an amitochondriate cell, the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, was investigated. The cytotoxicity of lycorine against T. vaginalis was studied from 2.5 to 1000μM and several important ultrastructural alterations were observed by electron microscopy. Lycorine arrested the T. vaginalis cell cycle, although no hallmarks of apoptosis, such as apoptotic bodies, were observed. Consequently, the underlying mechanism of action fails to completely fulfill the criteria for apoptosis. However, some similarities to paraptotic cell death were observed.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 2752, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Brandt
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Giordani
authors.forename: Patrícia de Brum
authors.initials: Pde B
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weizenmann
authors.forename: Denis Broock
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonorino
authors.forename: Geraldo Attilio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.forename: Maurício Reis
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bogo
authors.forename: José Angelo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zuanazzi
authors.forename: Tiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tasca
mesh_terms: D047151:Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D047151:Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids; D010617:Phenanthridines; C015330:lycorine