Effect of indole ethyl isothiocyanates on proliferation, apoptosis, and MAPK signaling in neuroblastoma cell lines

Rakesh K. Singh, Thilo S. Lange, Kyukwang Kim, Yongping Zou, Casey Lieb, Giselle L. Sholler, Laurent Brard

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28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several indole ethyl isothiocyanate (IEITC) analogs were designed, synthesized, and screened to evaluate their cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma (NB) cells in-vitro. In NB, predominantly a tumor of early childhood, survival remains low despite aggressive treatments. Therefore, novel treatment strategies are greatly needed. The objective of the present study was to study the therapeutic potential of IEITC by analyzing the cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic effects on NB cell lines. 7-Methyl-indole-3-ethyl isothiocyanate (7Me-IEITC) proved to be cytotoxic to various NB cell lines (SMS-KCNR, SK-N-SH, SH-SY5Y, and IMR-32) with an IC50 at 2.5-5.0 μM, while primary control cells (lung fibroblasts) were not affected. 7Me-IEITC led to the activation of apoptotic markers caspase-3, -8, and -9, caused activation of pro-apoptotic p38 MAPK and SAP/JNK, and down-regulated pro-survival factor AKT in SMS-KCNR cells. Moreover, 7Me-IEITC displayed anti-proliferative effects (IC50 at 600 nM) and caused an arrest in cell cycle progression. This wide effect of 7Me-IEITC on NB cell signaling and survival suggests that it could be developed as a therapeutic agent against neuroblastoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5846-5852
Number of pages7
JournalBioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Volume17
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Discovery
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

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