Carnosol-induced apoptosis and downregulation of Bcl-2 in B-lineage leukemia cells.

Abstract

Carnosol, a phenolic compound extracted from the herb rosemary has been reported to have anti-cancer activity. We investigated whether carnosol was cytotoxic against several pro-B and pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) lines. In all ALL lines tested, carnosol induced apoptotic cell death distinguished by loss of nuclear DNA, externalization of cell membrane phosphatidylserine, and depolarization of mitochondrial membranes. Flow cytometric measurement of Bcl-2 protein levels revealed that carnosol induced a 34-53% decrease in Bcl-2 in the cell population exhibiting a viable phenotype prior to detectable apoptotic changes in morphology. These results suggest that carnosol may be useful as a novel chemotherapeutic agent against B-lineage leukemias, and possibly other types of cancers that express high levels of the protective protein, Bcl-2.

• Authors: J Dörrie, K Sapala, S J Zunino
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 170 Issue 1 Pg. 33-9 (Sep 10 2001) ISSN: 0304-3835 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 11448532 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Abietanes
• Anticarcinogenic Agents
• Phenanthrenes
• carnosol

Topics

• Abietanes
• Anticarcinogenic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Burkitt Lymphoma (drug therapy, genetics, pathology)
• Down-Regulation (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Genes, bcl-2
• Humans
• Phenanthrenes (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured