Wanlaya UthaisangVichai ReutrakulChongkon KrachangchaengPrapon WilairatBengt FadeelMahidol UniversityKarolinska Institutet2018-07-242018-07-242004-05-28Cancer Letters. Vol.208, No.2 (2004), 171-178030438352-s2.0-2442508941https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/21184VR-3848, a novel peptide derived from Euphobiaceae, is shown herein to induce apoptosis at nanomolar concentrations in the leukemic Jurkat cell line. Apoptosis was associated with activation of caspases, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, fragmentation of nuclear DNA, and externalization of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface. Overexpression of mitochondria-targeted Bcl-2 abrogated VR-3848-induced killing in this model. Primary human interleukin (IL)-2-activated T lymphocytes were considerably less sensitive to VR-3848-induced apoptosis as compared to Jurkat cells. VR-3848 thus holds the promise of being a potent and selective anti-cancer agent that deserves further exploration. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Mahidol UniversityBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1016/j.canlet.2004.01.024