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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
Published on: December 27, 2016
[Mechanism study of beta-elemene derivative (ET) in NB4 cell on apoptosis induction]
1Guangdong Food and Drug Vocational College, Guangzhou 510520, China.
Objective:
beta-Elemene is an active component of herb medicine Curcuma wenyujin, N-(beta-elemene-13-yl)tryptophan (ET) was synthesized to increase the activity. The antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of ET were investigated with NB4 cell.
Method:
The mechanism of ET were studied with the technology of cell culture in vitro using MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot analysis.
Result:
ET inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in NB4 cell at concentrations less than 40 micromol x L(-1). The apoptosis induction of ET in NB4 cell was associated with the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and activation of caspase-3. Catalase pretreatment blocked ET-induced apoptosis in NB4 cells.
Conclusion:
ET induces apoptosis through generation of H2O2 in NB4 cell.
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