Adenine Inhibits B16-F10 Melanoma Cell Proliferation

Abstract

Adenine, a purine base, is a structural component of essential biomolecules such as nucleic acids and adenine nucleotides. Its physiological roles have been uncovered. Adenine suppresses IgE-mediated allergy and LPS-induced inflammation. Although adenine is known to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation, the effect of adenine to melamoma cells is not reported. Here, we investigated the growth inhibitory effects of adenine on B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells. Adenine suppressed the proliferation of B16-F10 cells in dose-dependent manner with the maximal inhibitory dose of 2 mM. Adenine treatment induced cell death molecular markers such as PARP and caspase 3 cleavages. Pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD dramatically rescued the cell death molecular markers, cell proliferation recovered marginally. These results provide the possibility of adenine to be used as an anti-tumor agent.