Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-induced cell death: in search of a mechanism

Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been observed to drive programmed cell death in Burkitt lymphoma cells. Accordingly, they were proposed as a new modality in the treatment of Burkitt lymphoma. However, they induce apoptosis with little if any appreciable selectivity. Actually, the selectivity appears to be so low that SSRIs can also kill protozoa (such as Trichomonas vaginalis). Acetylated versions of SSRIs, which do not inhibit serotonin reuptake, kill cells in concentration ranges comparable to those of their non-acetylated original versions. Thus, the obvious SSRI target, SERT, is not required for cell killing.