We investigated the cytotoxicity of recently synthesized (S,S)-ethylendiamine-N,N'-di-2-(3-cyclohexyl)propanoic acid esters toward human leukemic cell lines and healthy blood mononuclear cells. Cell viability was assessed by acid phosphatase assay, apoptosis, and differentiation were analyzed by flow cytometry and electron microscopy, while intracellular localization of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was determined by immunoblotting. It was demonstrated that methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl esters were toxic to HL-60, REH, MOLT-4, KG-1, JVM-2, and K-562 leukemic cell lines, while the nonesterified parental compound and n-butyl ester were devoid of cytotoxic action. The ethyl ester exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ 10.7 μM-45.4 μM), which was comparable to that of the prototypical anticancer drug cisplatin. The observed cytotoxic effect in HL-60 cells was associated with an increase in superoxide production and mitochondrial membrane depolarization, leading to apoptotic cell death characterized by phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation in the absence of autophagic response. DNA fragmentation preceded caspase activation and followed AIF translocation from mitochondria to nucleus, which was indicative of caspase-independent apoptotic cell death. HL-60 cells treated with subtoxic concentration of the compound displayed morphological signs of granulocytic differentiation (nuclear indentations and presence of cytoplasmic primary granules), as well as an increased expression of differentiation markers CD11b and CD15. The cyclohexyl analogues of ethylenediamine dipropanoic acid were also toxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells of both healthy controls and leukemic patients, the latter being more sensitive. Our data demonstrate that the toxicity of the investigated cyclohexyl compounds against leukemic cell lines is mediated by caspase-independent apoptosis associated with oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and AIF translocation.
This study presents the synthesis, characterization, and antitumor action of five new Pt(II) halogenido, chlorido, and iodido complexes with edda type of ligands. (S,S)-Ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-2-(3-cyclohexyl)propanoic acid dihydrochloride and its methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl esters were prepared according to the previously reported procedure. All investigated complexes were characterized by IR, ESI-MS ( H, C, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Their cytotoxic action was investigated in four human tumor cell lines: promyelocytic (HL-60) and lymphocytic (REH) leukemia, glioma (U251), and lung carcinoma (H460). Cell viability was assessed by acid phosphatase and LDH assay, while oxidative stress and cell death parameters were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that novel Pt(II) complexes exhibited antitumor action superior to precursor ligands, with iodido complexes being more efficient than corresponding chlorido complexes. Human promyelocytic cell line (HL-60) was the most sensitive to antitumor action of all investigated substances and was used for investigation of the underlying mode of antileukemic action. The investigated Pt(II) complexes showed more potent antileukemic action than corresponding Pt(IV) complex, through induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis, evidenced by caspase (8, 9, and 3) activation and phosphatidylserine externalization.
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