Synergistic therapeutic effect of diethylstilbestrol and CX-4945 in human acute T-lymphocytic leukemia cells

In this study, we investigated the immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative effects of the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES), both alone and combined with the casein kinase 2 (CK2) inhibitor CX-4945. Our results indicated that DES induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in a human T-ALL cell line (Jurkat cells), while exerting no significant cytotoxicity in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Phytohaemagglutinin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced interleukin (IL)-2 production and activation of NF-κB signaling pathways, which were both inhibited by DES. Moreover, DES exerted synergistic effects with CX-4945 on proliferation and IL-2 production in Jurkat cells. Our results demonstrated that DES exerts anti-proliferative and immunosuppressive effects through inhibition of CK2 and the NF-κB signaling pathway in human T-ALL Jurkat cells. Graphical abstract
Source: Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research