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Beta-lapachone (LAPA) decreases cell viability and telomerase activity in leukemia cells: suppression of telomerase activity by LAPA.

Abstract
Up-regulation of telomerase activity is associated with immortalization and unlimited cell division in most cancer cells. Therefore, telomerase represents a particularly attractive target for anticancer therapy. Recent reports have suggested that beta-lapachone (LAPA), the product of the South American Tabebuia avellanedae tree, inhibits growth of tumor cells. However, the underlying relationship between telomerase activity and apoptosis in response to LAPA exposure in leukemia cells remains poorly understood. In this study, we confirmed that LAPA treatment induces direct cytotoxicity in human leukemia cells (U937, K562, HL60, and THP-1) through activation of caspase-3 and subsequent cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The observed induction of cell death was associated with decreased telomerase activity, which was ascribed to down-regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase. Additionally, overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 could not overcome the induction of apoptosis or the decreased telomerase activity in response to treatment of U937 cells with LAPA. We conclude that LAPA has a direct cytotoxic effect and the loss of telomerase activity in leukemia cells.
AuthorsDong-Oh Moon, Chang-Hee Kang, Mun-Ock Kim, You-Jin Jeon, Jae-Dong Lee, Yung Hyun Choi, Gi-Young Kim
JournalJournal of medicinal food (J Med Food) Vol. 13 Issue 3 Pg. 481-8 (Jun 2010) ISSN: 1557-7600 [Electronic] United States
PMID20438329 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Plant Extracts
  • beta-lapachone
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
  • Telomerase
  • Caspase 3
Topics
  • Apoptosis (drug effects)
  • Caspase 3 (metabolism)
  • Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
  • Cell Survival (drug effects)
  • Down-Regulation
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • K562 Cells
  • Leukemia (drug therapy, enzymology, physiopathology)
  • Naphthoquinones (pharmacology)
  • Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases (metabolism)
  • Tabebuia (chemistry)
  • Telomerase (metabolism)
  • U937 Cells

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