Targeting thioredoxin reductase by plumbagin contributes to inducing apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

摘要: Plumbagin (PLB), a natural naphthoquinone from the traditional folk medicines Plumbago zeylanica, Dionaea muscipula, or Nepenthes gracilis, has been documented possessing wide variety of pharmacological activities. Although PLB demonstrates anticancer activity in multiple types malignant cells, cellular targets have not well defined and remained only partially understood. We reported here that selectively inhibits TrxR elicits reactive oxygen species human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells, which leads to elevation GSSG/GSH ratio decrease thiol pool. As consequence, disturbs redox homeostasis, induces oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis eventually kills HL-60 cells. Inhibition by thus discloses an unprecedented mechanism underlying efficacy PLB, sheds light considering usage as promising cancer therapeutic agent.