Camalexin induces apoptosis in T-leukemia Jurkat cells by increased concentration of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase-8 and caspase-9.

Camalexin, a major indole phytoalexin of Arabidopsis thaliana, accumulates in various cruciferous plants in response to environmental stress and reportedly displays antimicrobial activities against various plant pathogens. However, its cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells and potential as a prospective drug for human diseases has been examined only in a limited context. Our data demonstrate the time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of camalexin on human T-leukemia Jurkat cells in the micromolar range, and the lower potency of cytotoxic effects on human lymphoblasts and primary fibroblasts. Cytotoxicity of camalexin is enhanced by the glutathione-depleting agent buthionine sulfoximine and completely blocked by pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Treatment of Jurkat cells with camalexin resulted in activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, caspases-3/7, and apoptosis that was detected by the presence of a sub-G1 population of cells, externalization of phosphatidyl serine and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Staining with 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and dihydroethidium bromide displayed increased concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) early in camalexin-treated Jurkat cells, prior to the onset of apoptosis, while staining with MitoSOX(™) dye identified mitochondria as a source of increased ROS. Our data suggest that this phytochemical, which has a wide range of predicted pharmacological activities, induces apoptosis in Jurkat leukemia cells through increased ROS followed by dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and execution of caspase-9- and caspase-8-initiated apoptosis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report on antileukemic activity and mode of action of this unique indole phytoalexin.

Gold nanorod assisted near-infrared plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) of squamous cell carcinoma in mice.

Plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) is a minimally-invasive oncological treatment strategy in which photon energy is selectively administered and converted into heat sufficient to induce cellular hyperthermia. The present work demonstrates the feasibility of in vivo PPTT treatment of deep-tissue malignancies using easily-prepared plasmonic gold nanorods and a small, portable, inexpensive near-infrared (NIR) laser. Dramatic size decreases in squamous cell carcinoma xenografts were observed for direct (P<0.0001) and intravenous (P<0.0008) administration of pegylated gold nanorods in nu/nu mice. Inhibition of average tumor growth for both delivery methods was observed over a 13-day period, with resorption of >57% of the directly-injected tumors and 25% of the intravenously-treated tumors.