Alternol inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in mouse lymphocyte leukemia (L1210) cells

• Published in: Molecular and cellular biochemistry 2007-12, Vol.306 (1-2), p.115-122
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhao-Zhe, Zhu, Jin, Sun, Bo, Liu, Shu, Geng, Shuo, Liu, Xia, Li, Chang-Ling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternaria - chemistry; Alternaria alternata; Alternol; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bark; Blotting, Western; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Caspase 8 - metabolism; Caspase 9 - metabolism; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Flow Cytometry; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings - pharmacology; L1210; Leukemia; Leukemia L1210 - metabolism; Leukemia L1210 - pathology; Lymphocytes; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects; Mice; Microorganisms; Molecular Structure; Oxygen; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - metabolism; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism
• ISSN: 0300-8177; 1573-4919
• DOI: 10.1007/s11010-007-9560-0

Alternol is a novel compound purified from the fermenting products by microorganisms named as Alternaria alternata var. monosporus from the bark of Yew. In this study, we tested its effect on mouse lymphocyte leukemia L1210 cells. Alternol was found to inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in L1210 cells. When the cells were treated with Alternol, chromatin condensation and phosphatidylserine externalization were observed with the down-regulation of the pro-survival gene Bcl-2 and the activation of caspase-3, caspase-9, but not caspase-8. Moreover, exposure of cells to Alternol resulted in a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) depolarization. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Alternol is a potent agent in inducing L1210 cells to apoptosis, which involve caspase activation and ROS generation.