Calpain and Reactive Oxygen Species Targets Bax for Mitochondrial Permeabilisation and Caspase Activation in Zerumbone Induced Apoptosis

Fluorescent protein based signaling probes are emerging as valuable tools to study cell signaling because of their ability to provide spatio- temporal information in non invasive live cell mode. Previously, multiple fluorescent protein probes were employed to characterize key events of apoptosis in diverse experimental systems. We have employed a live cell image based approach to visualize the key events of apoptosis signaling induced by zerumbone, the active principle from ginger Zingiber zerumbet, in cancer cells that enabled us to analyze prominent apoptotic changes in a hierarchical manner with temporal resolution. Our studies substantiate that mitochondrial permeabilisation and cytochrome c dependent caspase activation dominate in zerumbone induced cell death. Bax activation, the essential and early event of cell death, is independently activated by reactive oxygen species as well as calpains. Zerumbone failed to induce apoptosis or mitochondrial permeabilisation in Bax knockout cells and over-expression of Bax enhanced cell death induced by zerumbone confirming the essential role of Bax for mitochondrial permeabilsation. Simultaneous inhibition of reactive oxygen species and calpain is required for preventing Bax activation and cell death. However, apoptosis induced by zerumbone was prevented in Bcl 2 and Bcl-XL over-expressing cells, whereas more protection was afforded by Bcl 2 specifically targeted to endoplasmic reticulum. Even though zerumbone treatment down-regulated survival proteins such as XIAP, Survivin and Akt, it failed to affect the pro-apoptotic proteins such as PUMA and BIM. Multiple normal diploid cell lines were employed to address cytotoxic activity of zerumbone and, in general, mammary epithelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells and smooth muscle cells were relatively resistant to zerumbone induced cell death with lesser ROS accumulation than cancer cells.     

Proteasome inhibitor PS-341 induces apoptosis through induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress-reactive oxygen species in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells

PS-341, also known as Velcade or Bortezomib, represents a new class of anticancer drugs which has been shown to potently inhibit the growth and/or progression of human cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Although it has been logically hypothesized that NF-kappaB is a major target of PS-341, the underlying mechanism by which PS-341 inhibits tumor cell growth is unclear. Here we found that PS-341 potently activated the caspase cascade and induced apoptosis in human HNSCC cell lines. Although PS-341 could inhibit NF-kappaB activation, the inhibition of NF-kappaB was not sufficient to initiate apoptosis in HNSCC cells. Using biochemical and microarray approaches, we found that proteasome inhibition by PS-341 induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HNSCC cells. The inhibition of ROS significantly suppressed caspase activation and apoptosis induced by PS-341. Consistently, PS-341 could not induce the ER stress-ROS in PS-341-resistant HNSCC cells. Taken together, our results suggest that in addition to the abolishment of the prosurvival NF-kappaB, PS-341 might directly induce apoptosis by activating proapoptotic ER stress-ROS signaling cascades in HNSCC cells, providing novel insights into the PS-341-mediated antitumor activity.     

A novel copper complex induces paraptosis in colon cancer cells via the activation of ER stress signalling

Platinum anticancer drugs have been used for three decades despite their serious side effects and the emerging of resistance phenomena. Recently, a phosphine copper(I) complex, [Cu(thp)(4)][PF(6)] (CP), gained special attention because of its strong antiproliferative effects. CP killed human colon cancer cells more efficiently than cisplatin and oxaliplatin and it overcame platinum drug resistance. CP preferentially reduced cancer cell viability whereas non-tumour cells were poorly affected. Colon cancer cells died via a programmed cell death whose transduction pathways were characterized by the absence of hallmarks of apoptosis. The inhibition of 26S proteasome activities induced by CP caused intracellular accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and the functional suppression of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway thus triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress. These data, providing a mechanistic characterization of CP-induced cancer cell death, shed light on the signaling pathways involved in paraptosis thus offering a new tool to overcome apoptosis-resistance in colon cancer cells.     

Fluorescent analog of OSW-1 and its cellular localization

OSW-1 is a steroidal saponin, which has emerged as an attractive anticancer agent with highly cancer cell selective activity. A fluorescent analog was prepared from the natural product to analyze its cellular uptake and localization. We found that the fluorescent analog is rapidly internalized into cells and is primarily distributed in endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus.     

Artocarpin induces cell apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells through endoplasmic reticulum stress and reactive oxygen species

Osteosarcoma is a malignant primary bone tumor that responds poorly to both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, because of side effects and drug resistance in chemotherapy and the insufficiency of an effective adjuvant therapy for osteosarcoma, it is necessary to research novel treatments. This study was the first to investigate the anticancer effects of the flavonoid derivative artocarpin in osteosarcoma. Artocarpin induced cell apoptosis in three human osteosarcoma cell lines—U2OS, MG63, and HOS. Artocarpin was also associated with increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondrial dysfunction was followed by the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and accompanied by decreased antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and increased proapoptotic protein Bak and Bax. Artocarpin triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as indicated by changes in cytosol calcium levels and increased glucose-regulated protein 78 and 94 expressions, and also increased calpains expression and activity. Animal studies revealed a dramatic 40% reduction in tumor volume after 18 days of treatment. This study demonstrated a novel anticancer activity of artocarpin against human osteosarcoma cells and in murine tumor models. In summary, artocarpin significantly induced cell apoptosis through ROS, ER stress, mitochondria, and the caspase pathway, and may thus be a novel anticancer treatment for osteosarcoma.     

抑制或激活泛素-蛋白酶体途径对大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞内质网应激的影响

目的:研究肺泡巨噬细胞(NR8383)不同蛋白酶体激活程度对内质网应激的影响。方法:构建UbG76V-GFP融合蛋白,将含有UbG76V-GFP的质粒导入NR8383细胞,筛选出可稳定表达UbG76V-GFP的细胞系,通过蛋白酶体抑制剂(MG132)、蛋白酶体激活剂(阿霉素)干预蛋白酶体活性。荧光显微镜观察不同蛋白酶体活性下大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞在缺氧复氧2 h、4 h、6 h时蛋白酶体活性,Western blot及PCR技术检测不同蛋白酶体活性下大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞在缺氧复氧2 h、4 h、6 h时泛素化蛋白及内质网应激相关基因的表达。结果:在缺氧复氧2 h、4 h、6 h这3个时间点,加入MG132组大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞绿色荧光及泛素化蛋白(Ubiquitin)表达明显降低(P0.05),而PCR及Western blot示内质网应激基因BIP(免疫球蛋白结合蛋白)、XBP-1(X-盒结合蛋白)和CHOP(C/EBP同源蛋白)平均扩增量及蛋白表达量明显增加(P0.05);加入阿霉素组大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞在缺氧复氧2 h、4h、6 h表现出相反的实验结果,绿色荧光及Ubiquitin蛋白相对表达均明显增加(P0.05),而PCR及Western blot示内质网应激基因BIP、XBP-1和CHOP平均扩增量及蛋白表达量明显增加(P0.05)。结论:本实验结果表明活细胞泛素-蛋白酶体活性程度与内质网应激存在紧密联系,外源性增强泛素蛋白酶体活性会抑制内质网应激,外源性减弱泛素蛋白酶体活性会增强内质网应激。     

Silver nanoparticles from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendropanax morbifera</Emphasis> Léveille inhibit cell migration,induce apoptosis,and increase generation of reactive oxygen species in A549 lung cancer cells

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles have significant potential in the pharmaceutical field because of their biological functions such as antioxidant and anticancer activities. Novel silver nanoparticles synthesized from Dendropanax morbifera Léveille leaves (D-AgNPs) exhibit antimicrobial activity and reduce the viability of cancer cells without affecting the viability of RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effect of D-AgNPs by measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and toxicity against A549 and HepG2 cell lines. The effect of D-AgNPs on cell migration, induction of apoptosis, and modification of gene and/or protein expression of cancer-related markers was determined using A549 cells. D-AgNPs exhibited cytotoxicity in A549 and HepG2 cell at different concentrations and enhanced the production of ROS in both cell lines. An increase in cell apoptosis and a reduction in cell migration in A549 cells were also observed after D-AgNP treatment. Furthermore, the effect of D-AgNPs in A549 cells was shown to be related to modification of the EGFR/p38 MAPK pathway. Our data provide the first evidence supporting the potential of D-AgNPs as a possible anticancer agent, particularly for the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma.     

(1–4)-Thiodisaccharides as anticancer agents. Part 5. Evaluation of anticancer activity and investigation of mechanism of action

(1–4)-Thiodisaccharides, thiosugars with the 1–4-thio bridge, were recently shown to induce oxidative stress, as well as, apoptosis in cancer cells in the low micromolar range; however, the detailed mechanism of their anticancer action still remains unknown. In order to clarify the mechanism of (1–4)- thiodisaccharides action, we performed a series of tests including cytotoxic, clonogenic and apoptosis assays using an in vitro glioma cancer model with one ATCC cell line U87 and two novel glioma cell lines derived from cancer patients – H6PX and H7PX. We also evaluated the ability of (1–4)-thiodisaccharides to interfere with protein folding and synthesis processes, as well as, the thioredoxin system. (1–4)-thiodisaccharides induced glioma cell death, which were found to be accompanied with endoplasmic reticulum stress, inhibition of global protein synthesis, reduced overall cellular thiol level and thioredoxin reductase activity. We also performed a RT-PCR and Elisa analysis of (1–4)-thiodisaccharides-treated glioma cells to identify any changes within the pathway affected by (1–4)-thiodisaccharides. We observed a significant increase of expression in key markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress and pro-apoptotic protein, FASLG. We proposed that (1–4)-thiodisaccharides react with cellular thiols and disturb any cellular thiol-depended processes like thioredoxin system or protein folding.     

Differential targets and subcellular localization of antitumor alkyl-lysophospholipid in leukemic versus solid tumor cells

Synthetic alkyl-lysophospholipids represent a family of promising anticancer drugs that induce apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells. Here we have found a differential subcellular distribution of the alkyl-lysophospholipid edelfosine in leukemic and solid tumor cells that leads to distinct anticancer responses. Edelfosine induced rapid apoptosis in human leukemic cells, including acute T-cell leukemia Jurkat and Peer cells, but promoted a late apoptotic response, preceded by G(2)/M arrest, in human solid tumor cells such as cervix epitheloid carcinoma HeLa cells and lung carcinoma A549 cells. c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and caspase-3 were accordingly activated at earlier times in edelfosine-treated Jurkat cells as compared with drug-treated HeLa cells. Both leukemic and solid tumor cells took up this alkyl-lysophospholipid and expressed the two putative edelfosine targets, namely cell surface Fas death receptor (also known as APO-1 or CD95) and endoplasmic reticulum CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase. However, edelfosine was mainly located to plasma membrane lipid rafts in Jurkat and Peer leukemic cells and to endoplasmic reticulum in solid tumor HeLa and A549 cells. Edelfosine induced translocation of Fas, Fas-associated death domain-containing protein, and JNK into membrane rafts in Jurkat cells, but not in HeLa cells. In contrast, edelfosine inhibited phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in both HeLa and A549 cells, but not in Jurkat or Peer leukemic cells, before the triggering of apoptosis. These data indicate that edelfosine targets two different subcellular structures in a cell type-dependent manner, namely cell surface lipid rafts in leukemic cells and endoplasmic reticulum in solid tumor cells.     

The anticancer flavonoid chrysin induces the unfolded protein response in hepatoma cells

Chrysin is a natural and biologically active flavonoid with anticancer effects. However, little is known about the adaptive response of cancer cells to chrysin. Chrysin reportedly has proteasome inhibitor activity. Previous studies demonstrated that proteasome inhibitors might induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of chrysin on hepatoma cells and roles of the ER-resident protein GRP78 (glucose-regulated protein 78) in its action. Also, we investigated the effects of green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a natural GRP78 inhibitor, on the sensitivity of hepatoma cells to chrysin. Here, we report that chrysin inhibits hepatoma cells growth and induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Chrysin induces GRP78 overexpression, X-box binding protein-1 splicing and eukaryotic initiation factor 2α phosphorylation, hallmarks of the unfolded protein response. GRP78 knockdown potentiates chrysin-induced caspase-7 cleavage in hepatoma cells and enhances chrysin-induced apoptosis. EGCG overcomes chrysin-induced GRP78 expression. Combination of EGCG potentiates chrysin-induced caspase-7 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Finally, EGCG sensitizes hepatoma cells to chrysin through caspase-mediated apoptosis. These data suggest that chrysin triggers the unfolded protein response. Abrogation of GRP78 induction may improve the anticancer effects of chrysin. Combination of EGCG and chrysin represents a new regimen for cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics.     

Paraptosis accompanied by autophagy and apoptosis was induced by celastrol, a natural compound with influence on proteasome, ER stress and Hsp90

In the present study, we found that celastrol, a natural compound with well-known apoptosis-inducing effect, could also induce paraptosis-like cytoplasmic vacuolization in cancer cell lines including HeLa cells, A549 cells and PC-3 cells derived from cervix, lung and prostate, respectively. Further study using HeLa cells indicated that the vacuoles induced by celastrol might be derived from dilation of endoplasmic reticulum. And, in celastrol-treated cells, markers of autophagy such as transformation of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)I to LC3II and LC3 punctates formation were identified. Interestingly, autophagy inhibitors could not interrupt but enhance the induction of cytoplasmic vacuolization. Furthermore, MAPK pathways were activated by celastrol and inhibitors of MEK and p38 pathways could prevent the formation of cytoplasmic vacuolization. Celastrol treatment also induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HeLa cells. In conclusion, celastrol induced a kind of paraptosis accompanied by autophagy and apoptosis in cancer cells. The coincidence of apoptosis and autophagy together with paraptosis might contribute to the unique characteristics of paraptosis in celastrol-treated cells such as the dependence of paraptosis on MAPK pathways and dynamic change of LC3 proteins. Both paraptosis and apoptosis could contribute to the cell death induced by celastrol while autophagy might serve as a kind of survival mechanism. The potency of celastrol to induce paraptosis, apoptosis and autophagy at the same dose might be related to its capability to affect a variety of pathways including proteasome, ER stress and Hsp90.     

Extraction,profiling and bioactivity analysis of volatile glucosinolates present in oil extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">raya</Emphasis>

Cruciferous vegetables are rich source of glucosinolates (GSLs), which in presence of myrosinase enzyme cause hydrolytic cleavage and result in different hydrolytic products like isothiocyanates, thiocyanates, nitriles and epinitriles. The GSLs hydrolytic products are volatile compounds, which are known to exhibit bioactivities like antioxidant, fungicidal, bioherbicidal and anticancer. Among the Brassicaceae family, Brassica juncea is very well known for high content of GSLs. In the present study, the isolation of volatile oil of B. juncea var. raya was done by hydrodistillation method using clevenger apparatus and further there extraction was done by solvents ethyl acetate and dichloromethane. The volatile compounds present in the extract were analysed by gas chromatography/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/GC–MS). Fatty acid esters, sulphur and/or nitrogen compounds, carbonyl compounds and some other volatile compounds were also identified. Besides the analytical studies, the extracts were analysed for their bioactivities including radical scavenging activity by using DNA nicking assay and cytotoxic effect using different human cancer cell lines viz. breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), prostate (PC-3), lung (A-549), cervix (HeLa) and colon (HCT116) by MTT assay. The oil extracts were efficiently able to reduce the increase of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Among all cell lines, the most effective anticancer activity was observed in case of breast (MCF-7) cancer cell line. So, MCF-7 cells were used for further mechanistic studies for analysing the mechanism of anticancer activity. Confocal microscopy was done for analysing morphological changes in the cells and the images confirmed the features typical of apoptosis. For evaluating the mode of cell death, spectrofluorometric determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was done. The volatile oil extract treated MCF-7 cells had a significant increase in number of ROS, also there was a rise in percentage of cells with increased disruption of MMP. So, the present study marks necessary indication that B. juncea (raya) oil extracts significantly induces apoptosis in all the above mentioned cancer cells lines through a ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway and thus play a remarkable role in death of cancer cells.     

Anticancer effect of Limonin against benzo(a)pyrene‐induced lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice and the inhibition of A549 cell proliferation through apoptotic pathway

The main purpose of the current study is to reveal the anticancer action of limonin against benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]‐treated lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice and A549 lung cancer cells. B(a)P was orally supplemented (50 mg/kg body weight) twice a week for four weeks induction of lung cancer in mice. The lung weight, body weight, incidence of tumor, lipid peroxidation, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, GPx, glutathione, glutathione reductase, catalase, and glutathione S‐transferase), serum marker enzymes (aryl hydroxylase, lactate dehydrogenase, 5′‐nucleotidases, and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase), and inflammatory mediators (interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α) were estimated. Moreover, a histopathological study of lung tissues was supported by the biochemical analysis. Furthermore, the anticancer activity of limonin on A549 cells was measured by cell viability, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptotic morphological changes by AO/EtBr staining. Additionally, the status of apoptosis protein (caspase‐9 and ‐3) expressions was analyzed by the colorimetric analysis. B(a)P‐induced mice showed increased lipid peroxidation, CEA, serum marker enzymes and inflammatory cytokines levels with simultaneously decreased in the nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants levels. Limonin supplements significantly reverted back to all these changes in this manner, showing the efficiency of anticancer effect. Furthermore, our in vitro study also supported the anticancer effect of the treatment of limonin‐enhanced apoptosis by loss of cell viability, improved ROS production, apoptotic morphological changes, and apoptosis protein expression were analyzed. Overall, these results suggest the anticancer potential of limonin against B(a)P‐induced lung cancer in Swiss albino mice and A549 lung cancer cells.     

Selective Modulation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Markers in Prostate Cancer Cells by a Standardized Mangosteen Fruit Extract

The increased proliferation of cancer cells is directly dependent on the increased activity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) machinery which is responsible for protein folding, assembly, and transport. In fact, it is so critical that perturbations in the endoplasmic reticulum can lead to apoptosis. This carefully regulated organelle represents a unique target of cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. In this study, a standardized mangosteen fruit extract (MFE) was evaluated for modulating ER stress proteins in prostate cancer. Two human prostate cancer cell lines, 22Rv1 and LNCaP, and prostate epithelial cells (PrECs) procured from two patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were treated with MFE. Flow cytometry, MTT, BrdU and Western blot were used to evaluate cell apoptosis, viability, proliferation and ER stress. Next, we evaluated MFE for microsomal stability and anti-cancer activity in nude mice. MFE induced apoptosis, decreased viability and proliferation in prostate cancer cells. MFE increased the expression of ER stress proteins. Interestingly, MFE selectively promotes ER stress in prostate cancer cells while sparing PrECs. MFE suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model without obvious toxicity. Mangosteen fruit extract selectively promotes endoplasmic reticulum stress in cancer cells while sparing non-tumorigenic prostate epithelial cells. Furthermore, in an in vivo setting mangosteen fruit extract significantly reduces xenograft tumor formation.     

Apigenin Reduces Proteasome Inhibition-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis by Suppressing the Cell Death Process

Impairment of proteasomal function has been shown to be implicated in neuronal cell degeneration. The compounds which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities appear to provide a neuroprotective effect. Flavone apigenin is known to exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, the effect of apigenin on the proteasome inhibition-induced neuronal apoptosis has not been studied. Therefore, we assessed the effect of apigenin on the proteasome inhibition-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death using differentiated PC12 cells and human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Apigenin attenuated the proteasome inhibitors (MG132 and MG115)-induced decrease in the levels of Bid and Bcl-2, increase in the levels of Bax and p53, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases (-8, -9 and -3), cleavage of PARP-1 and cell death in both cell lines. Apigenin attenuated the production of reactive oxygen species, the depletion and oxidation of glutathione, the formations of malondialdehyde and carbonyls in cell lines treated with proteasome inhibitors. The results show that apigenin appears to attenuate the proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis in differentiated PC12 cells and SH-SY5Y cells by suppressing the activation of the mitochondrial pathway, and of the caspase-8- and Bid-dependent pathways. The inhibitory effect of apigenin on the proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis appears to be attributed to the suppressive effect on the production of reactive oxygen species, the depletion and oxidation of glutathione and the formations of malondialdehyde and carbonyls.     

Cathepsin D as a potential therapeutic target to enhance anticancer drug-induced apoptosis via RNF183-mediated destabilization of Bcl-xL in cancer cells

Cathepsin D (Cat D) is well known for its roles in metastasis, angiogenesis, proliferation, and carcinogenesis in cancer. Despite Cat D being a promising target in cancer cells, effects and underlying mechanism of its inhibition remain unclear. Here, we investigated the plausibility of using Cat D inhibition as an adjuvant or sensitizer for enhancing anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of Cat D markedly enhanced anticancer drug-induced apoptosis in human carcinoma cell lines and xenograft models. The inhibition destabilized Bcl-xL through upregulation of the expression of RNF183, an E3 ligase of Bcl-xL, via NF-κB activation. Furthermore, Cat D inhibition increased the proteasome activity, which is another important factor in the degradation of proteins. Cat D inhibition resulted in p62-dependent activation of Nrf2, which increased the expression of proteasome subunits (PSMA5 and PSMB5), and thereby, the proteasome activity. Overall, Cat D inhibition sensitized cancer cells to anticancer drugs through the destabilization of Bcl-xL. Furthermore, human renal clear carcinoma (RCC) tissues revealed a positive correlation between Cat D and Bcl-xL expression, whereas RNF183 and Bcl-xL expression indicated inverse correlation. Our results suggest that inhibition of Cat D is promising as an adjuvant or sensitizer for enhancing anticancer drug-induced apoptosis in cancer cells.Subject terms: Targeted therapies, Apoptosis     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>3-polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid induces immunogenic cell death in human cancer cell lines via pre-apoptotic calreticulin exposure

Some anticancer chemotherapeutics, such as anthracyclines and oxaliplatin, elicit immunogenic apoptosis, meaning that dying cancer cells are engulfed by dendritic cells and tumor antigens are efficiently presented to CD8+ T cells, which control residual tumor cells. Immunogenic apoptosis is characterized by pre-apoptotic cell surface exposure of calreticulin (CRT), which usually resides into the endoplasmic reticulum. We investigated the ability of the n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3, DHA) to induce pre-apoptotic CRT exposure on the surface of the human PaCa-44 pancreatic and EJ bladder cancer cell lines. Cells were treated with 150 μM DHA for different time periods, and, by immunoblot and immunofluorescence, we showed that DHA induced CRT exposure, before the apoptosis-associated phosphatidylserine exposure. As for the known immunogenic compounds, CRT exposure was inhibited by the antioxidant GSH, the pan-caspase zVAD-FMK, and caspase-8 IETD-FMK inhibitor. We provide the first evidence that DHA induces CRT exposure, representing thus a novel potential anticancer immunogenic chemotherapeutic agent.