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Prooxidant activity of melatonin promotes fas‐induced cell death in human leukemic Jurkat cells
Author(s) -
Wölfler Albert,
Caluba Hans-Christian,
Abuja Peter M,
Dohr Gottfried,
Schauenstein Konrad,
Liebmann Peter M
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(01)02680-1
Subject(s) - jurkat cells , melatonin , intracellular , antioxidant , glutathione , programmed cell death , cell culture , chemistry , apoptosis , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , t cell , immunology , endocrinology , enzyme , immune system , genetics
The antioxidant activity of melatonin (MEL) has been considered to constitute part of its physiological as well as pharmacological effects. However, as described herein we found a profound prooxidant activity of micro‐ to millimolar concentrations of MEL in the human leukemic Jurkat cell line. This prooxidant effect was increased in glutathione‐depleted cells and counteracted by antioxidants. As a consequence MEL promoted fas‐induced cell death. These data therefore indicate that MEL may be a modulator of the cellular redox status, but does not necessarily act as an intracellular antioxidant.