Effect of dimethyl sulfides on the induction of apoptosis in human leukemia Jurkat cells and HL-60 cells.

Abstract

Organosulfur compounds have been established to possess anticancer effects. To provide a better understanding of the biological function of dimethyl sulfides, dimethyl monosulfide (Me(2)S), dimethyl disulfide (Me(2)S(2)), dimethyl trisulfide (Me(2)S(3)) and dimethyl tetrasulfide (Me(2)S(4)) were used as experimental materials to investigate their effects on apoptosis induction in human leukemia Jurkat cells and HL-60 cells. Treatment with 20 muM dimethyl sulfides for 24 h decreased the viability of both cells. The cell viability-reducing effect of these sulfides was in the following order: Me(2)S(4) asymptotically equal to Me(2)S(3) > Me(2)S(2) asymptotically equal to Me(2)S for Jurkat cells and Me(2)S(4) > Me(2)S(3) > Me(2)S(2) asymptotically equal to Me(2)S for HL-60 cells. Me(2)S(3) and Me(2)S(4) significantly induced DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation. The addition of GSH or NAC completely suppressed the sulfide-induced apoptosis. Our results indicate that dimethyl sulfides with a larger number of sulfur atoms more strongly induced apoptosis in both human leukemia cells via ROS production and caspase-3 activation.

• Authors: Gongliang Zhang, Haitao Wu, Beiwei Zhu, Yasuaki Shimoishi, Yoshimasa Nakamura, Yoshiyuki Murata
• Journal: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry (Biosci Biotechnol Biochem) Vol. 72 Issue 11 Pg. 2966-72 (Nov 2008) ISSN: 1347-6947 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18997406 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Sulfides
• Cystine
• Caspase 3
• Glutathione
• dimethyl sulfide
• N-monoacetylcystine

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (metabolism)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Caspase 3 (metabolism)
• Cattle
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Cystine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism)
• Enzyme Activation (drug effects)
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• HL-60 Cells
• Humans
• Intracellular Space (drug effects, metabolism)
• Jurkat Cells
• Leukemia (metabolism, pathology)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Sulfides (pharmacology)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)