Janerin, a Sesquiterpene Lactone, Enhances the Apoptosis of Human Leukemia Cell Lines via the Intrinsic Pathway

• Published in: Journal of chemistry 2024-07, Vol.2024 (1)
• Main Authors: Roustazadeh, Abazar, Khakdan, Fatemeh, Shakeri, Abolfazl, Erfanian, Saiedeh, Javanmardi, Sasan, Parveh, Abdolhakim, Moradzadeh, Maliheh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Cells; Doxorubicin; Gene expression; Lactones; Leukemia; Real time; Side effects; Toxicity; Tumor proteins; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 2090-9063; 2090-9071
• DOI: 10.1155/2024/8706632

Background . Still, cancer remains to be one of the main causes of death globally. Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) appeared to have remarkable pharmacologic properties, particularly as anticancer. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity and apoptogenic potential of Janerin and its underlying mechanism in HL60, THP‐1, and Jurkat leukemia cell lines vs. normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods . The viability of leukemia and PBMCs following treatment with Janerin (2.5–20 μ M) and doxorubicin (2 μ M, as the positive control) for 48 h was determined via the resazurin assay. The apoptotic cells were determined by annexin V and propidium iodide test. Also, the genes expressions involved in apoptosis were detected by real‐time PCR. Results . Janerin reduced cell viability in leukemia cells in a dose‐dependent manner with no significant toxicity toward normal PBM cells. Janerin significantly increased apoptosis in leukemia cells after 48 h of treatment. In these cells, the expressions of p21, p53, CASP3, CASP9, and Bax/Bcl2 ratio were significantly elevated, whereas CASP8 remained unchanged ( p < 0.01). It was suggested that the intrinsic pathway was the mechanism by which Janerin induced apoptosis in HL60, THP‐1, and Jurkat leukemia cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Conclusion . The findings imply that Janerin might be a suitable substitute for doxorubicin in leukemia patients.