Ascorbic acid kills Epstein–Barr virus positive Burkitt lymphoma cells and Epstein–Barr virus transformed B-cells in vitro, but not in vivo

Abstract

Ascorbic acid has been shown to kill various cancer cell lines at pharmacologic concentrations. We found that Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells were more susceptible to ascorbic acid-induced cell killing than EBV-negative BL cells or EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs). Ascorbic acid did not induce apoptosis in any of the tested cells but did induce the production of reactive oxygen species and cell death. Previously, we showed that bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, induces cell death in LCLs and EBV-positive BL cells. We found that ascorbic acid is strongly antagonistic for bortezomib-induced cell death in LCLs and EBV-positive BL cells. Finally, ascorbic acid did not prolong survival of severe combined immunodefiency mice inoculated with LCLs either intraperitoneally or subcutaneously. Thus, while ascorbic acid was highly effective at killing EBV-positive BL cells and LCLs in vitro, it antagonized cell killing by bortezomib and was ineffective in an animal model.

Keywords::

• Ascorbic acid
• Epstein–Barr virus
• Burkitt
• lymphoma
• reactive oxygen species
• bortezomib

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the intramural research programs of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Potential conflict of interest

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