Benzyl isothiocyanate induces apoptosis of human leukemia cells:molecular mechanism / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the apoptotic effect of benzyl isothiocyanate(BITC) on human leukemia cells and investigate its related molecular mechanism.Methods Cells(U937,Jurkat and HL60) were exposed to BITC at various concentrations(0,2,4,6 or 8 ?mol/L) for 6 h or 12 h,or at 8 ?mol/L for different time intervals.The apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry.The apoptotic-related proteins,such as Caspase-3,poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP),myeloid cell leukemia-1(Mcl-1) and so on,were determined using Western blot assay.Results BITC induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells in dose-and time-dependent manners.BITC at a dose over 4 ?mol/L began to induce an increased expression of Caspase-3 protein and decreased expression of PARP in U937 cells,and when the dose was 8 ?mol/L,the changes reached their summits respectively.The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 was decreased in U937 cell after exposure of BITC.Conclusion BITC induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells including U937,Jurkat and HL60,and downregulation of Mcl-1 may play an important role in BITC-induced apoptosis.