title: Apoptotic events induced by synthetic naphthylchalcones in human acute leukemia cell lines.
abstract: Acute leukemia is a disorder of the hematopoietic system characterized by the expansion of a clonal population of cells blocked from differentiating into mature cells. Recent studies have shown that chalcones and their derivatives induce apoptosis in different cell lines. Since new compounds with biological activity are needed, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of three synthetic chalcones, derived from 1-naphthaldehyde and 2-naphthaldehyde, on human acute myeloid leukemia K562 cells and on human acute lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells. Based on the results, the most cytotoxic compound (A1) was chosen for further analysis in six human acute leukemia cells and in a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29). Chalcone A1 significantly reduced the cell viability of K562, Jurkat, Kasumi, U937, CEM and NB4 cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner when compared with the control group (IC50 values between ∼1.5 μM and 40 μM). It was also cytotoxic to HL-29 cells. To further examine its effect on normal cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes collected from healthy volunteers were incubated with the compound. It has also been incubated with human fibroblasts cultured from bone marrow (JMA). Chalcone A1 is non-cytotoxic to PBL cells and to JMA cells. A1 caused significant cell cycle arrest in all phases according to the cell line, and increased the proportion of cells in the sub G0/G1 phase. To evaluate whether this chalcone induced cell death via an apoptotic or necrotic pathway, cell morphology was examined using fluorescence microscopy. Cells treated with A1 at IC50 demonstrated the morphological characteristic of apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Apoptosis was confirmed by externalization of phosphatidylserine, which was detected by the Annexin V-FITC method, and by DNA fragmentation. The results suggest that chalcone A1 has potential as a new lead compound for cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Oncologia Experimental e Hemopatias, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Trindade, CEP 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. marimaioral@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mariana Franzoni
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Maioral
authors.forename: Pâmela Cristina
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.forename: Gabriela Regina
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rosa Souza
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mascarello
authors.forename: Louise Domeneghini
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Chiaradia
authors.forename: Marley Aparecida
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Licínio
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Rabello
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Rosendo Augusto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Yunes
authors.forename: Ricardo José
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Maria Cláudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D047188:Chalcones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047188:Chalcones