Sulforaphane-mediated induction of a phase 2 detoxifying enzyme NAD(P)H:quinone reductase and apoptosis in human lymphoblastoid cells

• Published in: Acta biochimica polonica Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 711 - 721
• Main Authors: Misiewicz, Irena, Skupińska, Katarzyna, Kowalska, Elzbieta, Lubiński, Jan, Kasprzycka-Guttman, Teresa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-01-2004
• Subjects: Anticarcinogenic Agents - chemistry; Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Caspases - metabolism; Cell Line; Enzyme Induction - drug effects; Glutathione - metabolism; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Isothiocyanates; Lymphocytes - cytology; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - enzymology; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) - biosynthesis; Phosphatidylserines - metabolism; Sulfoxides; Thiocyanates - chemistry; Thiocyanates - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0001-527X; 1734-154X
• DOI: 10.18388/abp.2004_3556

The effect of sulforaphane on human lymphoblastoid cells originating from a patient of a high cancer risk was studied. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring substance of chemopreventive activity. In our study, changes in cell growth, induction of apoptosis and phase 2 enzymes as well as glutathione level were examined. Apoptosis was tested by confocal microscopy at three stages: change in mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase activation and phosphatidylserine externalization. We show that SFN increases the activity of the detoxification system: it increases quinone reductase activity at low concentration (0.5-1 microM) and raises glutathione level in a dose-dependent manner. At higher doses (2.5-10 microM) sulforaphane is a cell growth modulator, as it caused cell growth cessation (IC50 = 3.875 microM), and apoptosis inducer. The results obtained suggest that sulforaphane acts as a chemopreventive agent in human lymphoblastoid cells.