Tris(8-Hydroxyquinoline)iron induces apoptotic cell death via oxidative stress and by activating death receptor signaling pathway in human head and neck carcinoma cells.

Background: 8-Hydroxyquinoline derivatives have highly sensitive fluorescent chemosensors for metal ions, which are associated with anti-oxidant, anti-tumor and anti-HIV-1 properties. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with a high rate of mortality and novel anti-HNSCC drugs must be developed. Therefore, effective chemotherapy agents are required to address this public health issue.

Hypothesis/purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)iron (Feq) on the HNSCC and the underlying mechanism.

Study Design/methods: A novel 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative, Feq, was synthesized. The cell viabilities were analyzed using MTT reagent. Apoptosis and the cell cycle distributions were determined by flow cytometer. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence, western blot, MitoSOX and CellROX stain assay were used to study the mechanism of Feq. Feq combined with antioxidants NAC (N-acetylcysteine) and BSO (buthionine sulfoximine) measured the cell viability and intracellular ROS.

Results: Feq induced the death of HNSCC cells and caused them to exhibit the morphological features of apoptosis. Feq also induced apoptosis of SCC9 cells by cell cycle arrest during the G/M phase and the induced arrest of SCC25 cells in the G/G and G/M phases, which was associated with decreased cyclin B1/cdc2 and cyclin D/cdk4 expressions. Feq increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduces glutathione (GSH) levels, and responds to increased p53 and p21 expressions. Feq induced apoptosis by mitochondria-mediated Bax and cytochrome c up-expression and down-expression Bcl-2. Feq also up-regulated tBid, which interacts with the mitochondrial pathway and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/TNF-Rs, FasL/Fas, and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand receptors (TRAIL-Rs)/TRAIL-dependent caspases apoptotic signaling pathway in HNSCC cells. However, Feq activates Fas but not FasL in SCC25 cells. Feq arrests the growth of HNSCC cells and is involved in the mitochondria- and death receptor (DR)-mediated caspases apoptotic pathway.

Conclusion: This study is the first to suggest that apoptosis mediates the anti-HNSCC of Feq. Feq has potential as a cancer therapeutic agent against HNSCC.