Hypericin-photodynamic therapy inhibits the growth of adult T-cell leukemia cells through induction of apoptosis and suppression of viral transcription.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive neoplasm caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). ATL carries a poor prognosis due to chemotherapy resistance. Thus, it is urgent to develop new treatment strategies. Hypericin (HY) is a new-type of photosensitizer in the context of photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to its excellent photosensitizing properties and anti-tumor activities.

Results

In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of hypericin in ATL cells. Clinically achievable concentrations of hypericin in association with PDT induced the inhibition of cell proliferation in ATL cell lines with minimal effect on peripheral blood CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. Moreover, hypericin-PDT treatment caused apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest i

SUBMITTER: Xu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6381730 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature