VR-3848, a novel peptide derived from Euphobiaceae, induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human leukemia cells.

VR-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.