α-Tocopherol Sensitizes Human Leukemia HL-60 Cells to Apoptosis Induced by Benzyl Isothiocyanate

A multidrug resistance-associated protein inhibitor is a potential enhancer of the benzyl isothiocyanate-induced apoptosis induction in human colorectal cancer cells

The increasing drug efflux through the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is the most plausible mechanism that mediates resistance to the anticancer phytochemicals, such as benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), as well as chemotherapy drugs. To identify a potential component to overcome this resistance by combinatory utilization, we focused on multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) pumping various drug metabolites with glutathione as well as the organic anions. The pharmacological treatment of an MRP inhibitor, MK571, significantly potentiated the BITC-induced antiproliferation, coincided with the enhanced accumulation of BITC and glutathione in human colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells. MK571 also enhanced the apoptosis induction as well as activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases and caspase-3, whereas it did not affect their basal levels. These results suggested that, since MRPs might play a pivotal role in the BITC efflux, MK571 potentiates the BITC-induced antiproliferation in human colorectal cancer cells through inhibition of the glutathione-dependent BITC efflux.

The benefits of hypothermic machine perfusion are enhanced with Vasosol and α-tocopherol in rodent donation after cardiac death livers

The use of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) has recently been used to show an improvement in both standard and extended criteria donor liver grafts but creating a more dynamic preservation environment that can be supplemented with a variety of additives to aid in cold temperature metabolism and vasodilatation. Increasing the benefits of HMP, we explore the use of α-tocopherol in reducing inflammatory markers and apoptotic pathways to reduce the incidence of preservation injury. We explored the use of a donation after cardiac death (DCD) rodent model to test the additive benefits of α-tocopherol in HMP. The addition of α-tocopherol reduced the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) over the course of reperfusion as well, reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines within a 90 minute reperfusion biopsy. Further benefit was seen with α-tocopherol through the reduction of the level of caspase 3/7 in the circulation, shown to be a result of the reduction of the levels of Cytochrome C mRNA. Liver perfusion with Vasosol® and HMP could benefit further from the addition of α-tocopherol to existing formulations of Vasosol®.