Ascorbate modulation of H(2)O(2) and camptothecin-induced cell death in Jurkat cells

The effect of ascorbate on cell death was examined in Jurkat cells (human T-cell leukemia) by incubation with dehydroascorbate (DHA), which is rapidly taken up by cells and efficiently reduced to ascorbate. Apoptosis was evaluated by caspase-3 activity in cell extracts and flow cytometry of annexin V-labeled cells. In parallel, necrosis was estimated by the release of lactate dehydrogenase. Minor effects on cell death were observed when Jurkat cells were incubated with either DHA alone (100-1,000 microM) or a single dose of 10 microM H(2)O(2). However, pre-incubation with DHA followed by exposure to H(2)O(2) clearly stimulated both apoptosis and necrosis. In complete contrast, pre-incubation of cells with DHA significantly inhibited apoptosis, but did not affect necrosis, induced by the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin. Our results indicate that intracellular ascorbate can modulate cell death in a manner which depends upon the nature of the apoptotic stimulus, which in turn has critical implications regarding the mechanism and potential application of ascorbate in cancer therapy.