Abstract

Background and Objectives

Prevention, control and treatment of cancer using natural materials currently have been considered as the promising strategy. In this regard, caffeine as a purine alkaloid found in various plants, including coffee, cocoa, cola and tea has recently attracted great interest because of its remarkable multifunctional inhibitory effects on cancers such as leukemia. Regarding the anti-cancer effects of caffeine, we sought to investigate the effectiveness of this methylxanthine alkaloid against NB4 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Materials and Methods

In order to examine the effects of caffeine in APL, NB4 cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of caffeine subsequently, MTT, Caspase 3 activity assay, BrdU cell proliferation assay and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to assess the effect of caffeine on cell viability and the possible mechanisms of inducing cell death.

Results

Evaluation of DNA synthesis and cell survival using BrdU and MTT methods indicated that caffeine reduces proliferation and survival of NB4 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The results of this study showed that elevation in the dose of caffeine induces caspase-3 activation and increases Bax and p21 gene mRNA expression levels.

Conclusions

Overall, our data illustrate that caffeine inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells. Thus, it can be concluded that caffeine as a substance in tea may be a useful agent for induction of cell death in malignant cells of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Key words: Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Apoptosis, Caffeine, Caspases

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Prevention, control and treatment of cancer using natural materials currently have been considered as the promising strategy. In this regard, caffeine as a purine alkaloid found in various plants, including coffee, cocoa, cola and tea has recently attracted great interest because of its remarkable multifunctional inhibitory effects on cancers such as leukemia. Regarding the anti-cancer effects of caffeine, we sought to investigate the effectiveness of this methylxanthine alkaloid against NB4 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Materials and Methods

In order to examine the effects of caffeine in APL, NB4 cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of caffeine subsequently, MTT, Caspase 3 activity assay, BrdU cell proliferation assay and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to assess the effect of caffeine on cell viability and the possible mechanisms of inducing cell death.

Results

Evaluation of DNA synthesis and cell survival using BrdU and MTT methods indicated that caffeine reduces proliferation and survival of NB4 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The results of this study showed that elevation in the dose of caffeine induces caspase-3 activation and increases Bax and p21 gene mRNA expression levels.

Conclusions

Overall, our data illustrate that caffeine inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells. Thus, it can be concluded that caffeine as a substance in tea may be a useful agent for induction of cell death in malignant cells of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Key words: Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Apoptosis, Caffeine, Caspases

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Prevention, control and treatment of cancer using natural materials currently have been considered as the promising strategy. In this regard, caffeine as a purine alkaloid found in various plants, including coffee, cocoa, cola and tea has recently attracted great interest because of its remarkable multifunctional inhibitory effects on cancers such as leukemia. Regarding the anti-cancer effects of caffeine, we sought to investigate the effectiveness of this methylxanthine alkaloid against NB4 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Materials and Methods

In order to examine the effects of caffeine in APL, NB4 cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of caffeine subsequently, MTT, Caspase 3 activity assay, BrdU cell proliferation assay and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to assess the effect of caffeine on cell viability and the possible mechanisms of inducing cell death.

Results

Evaluation of DNA synthesis and cell survival using BrdU and MTT methods indicated that caffeine reduces proliferation and survival of NB4 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The results of this study showed that elevation in the dose of caffeine induces caspase-3 activation and increases Bax and p21 gene mRNA expression levels.

Conclusions

Overall, our data illustrate that caffeine inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells. Thus, it can be concluded that caffeine as a substance in tea may be a useful agent for induction of cell death in malignant cells of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.