CYTOTOXIC AND APOPTOTIC ACTIVITY OF NITROFUROXANS ON LYMPHOMA CELLS

Abstract

Five nitrofuroxans were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against human lymphoma cells with different p53 status (Raji Burkitt's lymphoma and MOLT-4). The most promising compound exhibited IC50 values of 2.6–11.0 μM in MTT growth inhibitory assays. Flow cytometry data suggest that cytotoxic effects of given compounds in MOLT-4 cells are mediated by apoptosis via a p53-dependent pathway. Changes in nuclear morphology after treatment were evaluated by fluorescent microscopy after Hoechst staining. However, the studied nitrofuroxans did not induce apoptosis in Raji cells having the p53 mutant gene, thus suggesting a different mechanism of their action.