ZGDHu-1 promotes apoptosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a low-grade lymphoid malignancy incurable with conventional modalities of chemotherapy. We aimed to examine the proapoptotic effects of a novel proteasome inhibitor, N,N'-di-(m-methylphenyi)-3,6- dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine-1,4-dicarboamide (ZGDHu-1), on CLL cells. B lymphocytes were isolated from CLL patients and normal healthy controls, and treated with various concentrations of ZGDHu-1 for different days. CLL cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (∆ψm) and reactive oxidative species (ROS) were examined by flow cytometry. The expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio was detected by western blotting. ZGDHu-1 significantly reduced the viability of CLL cells and induced apoptosis in comparison to the control cells (both P<0.05). Normal peripheral B cells were resistant to the apoptosis-inducing effects of ZGDHu-1. Apoptosis induced by ZGDHu-1 was accompanied with generation of ROS, loss of ∆ψm, downregulation of Bcl-2 and increase of caspase-3 cleavage. Results of this study indicate that ZGDHu-1 is a promising specific treatment for CLL in the clinic.