The compound cis-(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride induces caspase-mediated apoptosis in K562 cells

Abstract Ruthenium(III) complexes are increasingly attracting the interest of researchers due to their promising pharmacological properties. In the present study, we investigated the ability of cis -(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride to produce lethal effects in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. The MTT tetrazolium reduction test and the trypan blue exclusion assay revealed that the IC 50 for the compound after 48 h of incubation with K562 cells was approximately 10.74 and 73.45 μM, respectively. Interestingly, it was observed that this compound exhibits mild cytotoxicity towards MRC-5 human fibroblast cells (IC 50  > 383 μM). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that cis -(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride was capable of change cell cycle distribution since the percentage of cells in the G1, S and G2 phases decreased. In addition, treatment with this compound induced apoptotic cell death in K562 cells, demonstrated by increased DNA content in the sub-G1-peak and a significant increase in caspase-3 activity. Assay using cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPT) showed that the preincubation of K562 cells with this inhibitor had not effect on cis -(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride induced caspase-3 activation. In summary, cis -(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride displayed a significant cytotoxic effect through cell cycle arrest and apoptotic induction in K562 cells, which suggests that cis -(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride might have therapeutic potential against leukemia.