Dequalinium induces human leukemia cell death by affecting the redox balance.

Ana I García-Pérez, Eva Galeano, Elena Nieto, Pilar Sancho

Index: Leuk. Res. 35(10) , 1395-401, (2011)

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Abstract

Dequalinium, an amphiphilic quinolinium derivative, selectively accumulates in mitochondria and displays anticancer activity in cells from different malignancies. Previous studies indicate a differential DQA-induced cytotoxicity in NB4 and K562 human leukemia cells as a consequence of an early disturbance in mitochondrial function. Results in this paper show that DQA induces a concentration-dependent oxidative stress by decreasing GSH level and increasing ROS in a cell type specific way. Inhibitors of the JNK and p38 stress regulated kinases potentiate DQA-induced NB4 cell death suggesting a protective function for these enzymes. K562 cells with relatively high GSH levels remained resistant to DQA action.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.