Involvement of reactive oxygen species in the anti-cancer activity of fenbendazole, a benzimidazole anthelmintic
10.14405/kjvr.2020.60.2.79
- Author:
Yong HAN
1
;
Hong-Gu JOO
Author Information
1. Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Korea
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
2020;60(2):79-83
- CountryRepublic of Korea
-
Abstract:
Fenbendazole (FBZ) is a benzimidazole anthelmintic that has been widely used in treatments for gastrointestinal parasites including pinworms and roundworms in animals. Recently, some studies demonstrated that FBZ has anti-cancer effects related to disruption of microtubule polymerization. In this study, we investigated whether FBZ has anti-cancer activity in HL-60 cells, a human leukemia cell line, and assessed its relationship with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). FBZ treatment at 0.25–1 μM significantly decreased the metabolic activity of HL-60 cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential of FBZ-treated HL-60 cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptosis analysis using annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining demonstrated that 1 μM FBZ increased the percentages of cells in apoptosis and necrosis. In addition, Hoechst 33342 staining showed the presence of broken nuclei in HL-60 cells treated with 0.5 and 1 μM FBZ. To investigate the anti-cancer mechanism of FBZ, HL-60 cells were treated with FBZ in the absence or presence of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an inhibitor of ROS production. NAC significantly recovered the decreased metabolic activity of HL-60 induced by 0.5 and 1 μM FBZ treatments. This study provides evidence that FBZ has anti-cancer activity in HL-60 cells provided, in part, via ROS production.
