Gossypol induced apoptosis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes: Involvement of mitochondrial pathway and reactive oxygen species

• Published in: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology 2009-06, Vol.31 (2), p.320-330
• Main Authors: Barba-Barajas, Martha, Hernández-Flores, Georgina, Lerma-Díaz, José M., Ortiz-Lazareno, Pablo C., Domínguez-Rodríguez, Jorge R., Barba-Barajas, Leticia, Celis, Ruth de, Jave-Suarez, Luis F., Aguilar-Lemarroy, Adriana C., Guevara-Barraza, Mario G., Bravo-Cuellar, Alejandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antioxidants - metabolism; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein - biosynthesis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - biosynthesis; bcl-Associated Death Protein - biosynthesis; caspases; Caspases - metabolism; Chromans - metabolism; Cyclin D1 - biosynthesis; Female; gossypol; Gossypol - administration & dosage; Humans; Male; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects; Mitochondria - drug effects; monocyte; Monocytes - drug effects; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; Neutrophils - drug effects; phagocytosis; Phagocytosis - drug effects; polymorphonuclear leukocyte; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - biosynthesis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0892-3973; 1532-2513
• DOI: 10.1080/08923970902718049

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine how gossypol affects the viability and activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes in blood obtained from healthy donors. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (δψm) and apoptosis was maximized in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes after incubation with gossypol. Pretreatment with a caspase-9 inhibitor or antioxidants (superoxide dismutase or Trolox) inhibited gossypol-induced loss of the δψm and apoptosis. Likewise, we observed participation of caspase -3, -7, and -10 in gossypol-induced apoptosis. Expression of the proapoptotic genes bax, bak, bad and p53/Tp53 increased in polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to gossypol. The expression of the anti-apoptotic genes bcl-XL and mcl-1 was reduced when polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes were treated with gossypol. Gossypol treatment also inhibited yeast phagocytosis by these cells. We concluded that gossypol induces apoptosis in phagocytic cells and that this effect was dose-dependent. The findings in this report may be important to consider in light of possible gossypol use in clinical strategies for cancer treatment.