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Cancer Cell International
Published in: Cancer Cell International 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Primary research

Vitamin K3 and vitamin C alone or in combination induced apoptosis in leukemia cells by a similar oxidative stress signalling mechanism

Authors: Angelica R Bonilla-Porras, Marlene Jimenez-Del-Rio, Carlos Velez-Pardo

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Secondary therapy-related acute lymphoblastic leukemia might emerge following chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for primary malignancies. Therefore, other alternatives should be pursued to treat leukemia.

Results

It is shown that vitamin K3- or vitamin C- induced apoptosis in leukemia cells by oxidative stress mechanism involving superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide generation, activation of NF-κB, p53, c-Jun, protease caspase-3 activation and mitochondria depolarization leading to nuclei fragmentation. Cell death was more prominent when Jurkat and K562 cells are exposed to VC and VK3 in a ratio 1000:1 (10 mM: 10 μM) or 100:1 (300 μM: 3 μM), respectively.

Conclusion

We provide for the first time in vitro evidence supporting a causative role for oxidative stress in VK3- and VC-induced apoptosis in Jurkat and K562 cells in a domino-like mechanism. Altogether these data suggest that VK3 and VC should be useful in the treatment of leukemia.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Vitamin K3 and vitamin C alone or in combination induced apoptosis in leukemia cells by a similar oxidative stress signalling mechanism
Authors
Angelica R Bonilla-Porras
Marlene Jimenez-Del-Rio
Carlos Velez-Pardo
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2867-11-19

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