Alpha-phellandrene-induced apoptosis in mice leukemia WEHI-3 cells in vitro.

Abstract

Although reports have shown that α-phellandrene (α-PA) is one of the monoterpenes and is often used in the food and perfume industry, our previous studies have indicated that α-PA promoted immune responses in normal mice in vivo. However, there is no available information to show that α-PA induced cell apoptosis in cancer cells, thus, we investigated the effects of α-PA on the cell morphology, viability, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis in mice leukemia WEHI-3 cells in vitro. Results indicated that α-PA induced cell morphological changes and decreased viability, induced G0/G1 arrest and sub-G1 phase (apoptosis) in WEHI-3 cells. α-PA increased the productions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ and decreased the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm ) in dose- and time-dependent manners in WEHI-3 cells that were analyzed by flow cytometer. Results from confocal laser microscopic system examinations show that α-PA promoted the release of cytochrome c, AIF, and Endo G from mitochondria in WEHI-3 cells. These results are the first findings to provide new information for understanding the mechanisms by which α-PA induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in WEHI-3 cells in vitro. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1640-1651, 2016.

• Authors: Jen-Jyh Lin, Shu-Chun Hsu, Kung-Wen Lu, Yi-Shih Ma, Chih-Chung Wu, Hsu-Feng Lu, Jaw-Chyun Chen, Jaung-Geng Lin, Ping-Ping Wu, Jing-Gung Chung
• Journal: Environmental toxicology (Environ Toxicol) Vol. 31 Issue 11 Pg. 1640-1651 (Nov 2016) ISSN: 1522-7278 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26174008 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
• Monoterpenes
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• alpha phellandrene
• Caspases

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Caspases (metabolism)
• Cell Cycle Checkpoints (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cyclohexane Monoterpenes
• Leukemia (drug therapy, pathology)
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial (drug effects)
• Mice
• Monoterpenes (pharmacology)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)