Leukemia Research
Volume 27, Issue 3 , Pages 275-283, March 2003

Capsaicin inhibits growth of adult T-cell leukemia cells

  • Jie Zhang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology First Unit, Shimane Medical University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo, 693-8501 Shimane, Japan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +81-853-20-2139; fax: +81-853-20-2135.
    • ,
  • Makoto Nagasaki

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology First Unit, Shimane Medical University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo, 693-8501 Shimane, Japan
    • ,
  • Yuetsu Tanaka

      Affiliations

    • Department of Infection Disease and Immunology, Okinawa-Asia Research Center of Medical Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nakagami, 903-0215 Okinawa, Japan
    • ,
  • Shigeru Morikawa

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology First Unit, Shimane Medical University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo, 693-8501 Shimane, Japan

Received 5 February 2002; accepted 26 June 2002.

Abstract 

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is resistant to conventional chemotherapy. We examined the in vitro effects of capsaicin, the principal ingredients of red pepper, on three ATL cell lines. Capsaicin treatment inhibited the growth of ATL cells both in dose- and time-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect was mainly due to the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Capsaicin treatment also induced the degradation of Tax and up-regulation of Iκ-Bα, resulting in the decrease of nuclear factor (NF)-κB/p65 DNA binding activity. In addition, the Bcl-2 level was found to be decreased. Based on these findings, capsaicin may be considered for chemoprevention of ATL.

Keywords:  Capsaicin, ATL cells, Growth inhibition, Cell cycle arrest, Apoptosis, Tax, Iκ-Bα/NF-κB, Bcl-2

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0145-2126(02)00164-9

Leukemia Research
Volume 27, Issue 3 , Pages 275-283, March 2003

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution