Abstract
We have previously shown that didemnin B, a branched cyclic depsipeptide composed of seven amino acids and two hydroxy acids, can induce rapid and complete apoptosis in HL-60 cells (Grubb, D.R. et al. (1995) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 215, 1130–1136). We now report that didemnin B can induce apoptosis in a wide range of transformed cell lines. Resting normal lymphocytes, however, are apparently unaffected by exposure to the drug. To investigate whether cell transformation, and/or cell proliferation is necessary for didemnin B to induce apoptosis, we examined the effect of didemnin B on freshly harvested human lymphocytes before and after stimulation with concanavalin A. Didemnin B induced apoptosis in normal lymphocytes only after mitogenic stimulation and therefore warrants further examination for its potential as a chemotherapeutic agent, especially for treatment of leukemia.
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Baker, M.A., Grubb, D.R. & Lawen, A. Didemnin B induces apoptosis in proliferating but not resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Apoptosis 7, 407–412 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020078907108
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020078907108