Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines

Abstract Carotenoids, a diverse group of naturally occurring pigments, have gained attention for their potential anticancer properties. Among them, bacterioruberin (BR), a rare C50 carotenoid, has shown promising bioactivities. This study evaluates the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of a ba...

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Main Authors: Andrés Baeza-Morales, Sandra Pascual-García, Pascual Martínez-Peinado, Alicia Navarro-Sempere, Yolanda Segovia, Miguel Medina-García, Carolina Pujalte-Satorre, María Magdalena García, Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa, José Miguel Sempere-Ortells
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06999-3
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author Andrés Baeza-Morales
Sandra Pascual-García
Pascual Martínez-Peinado
Alicia Navarro-Sempere
Yolanda Segovia
Miguel Medina-García
Carolina Pujalte-Satorre
María Magdalena García
Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa
José Miguel Sempere-Ortells
author_facet Andrés Baeza-Morales
Sandra Pascual-García
Pascual Martínez-Peinado
Alicia Navarro-Sempere
Yolanda Segovia
Miguel Medina-García
Carolina Pujalte-Satorre
María Magdalena García
Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa
José Miguel Sempere-Ortells
author_sort Andrés Baeza-Morales
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Carotenoids, a diverse group of naturally occurring pigments, have gained attention for their potential anticancer properties. Among them, bacterioruberin (BR), a rare C50 carotenoid, has shown promising bioactivities. This study evaluates the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of a bacterioruberin-rich carotenoid extract (BRCE) derived from Haloferax (H.) mediterranei on myeloid leukaemia (ML) cell lines, including chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) models. Using MTT assay, Annexin V/PI and AO/EtBr staining, CFDA-SE proliferation assay, PI-based cell cycle analysis, and H2DCF-DA for reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantification, we demonstrate that BRCE significantly reduces cell viability, induces apoptosis, causes G2/M cell cycle arrest, and increases ROS levels in leukaemia cell lines. Notably, BRCE exhibited selective cytotoxicity, with minimal effects on normal PBMCs from healthy donors, suggesting its potential for tumour-specific targeting. Additionally, we analysed the morphological features of the cells treated with BRCE, observing significant changes such as cell blebbing, clumping, and the formation of apoptotic bodies, which are indicative of the induction of apoptosis. Overall, this research underscores an antitumoural therapeutic potential of BRCEs from H. mediterranei, providing a basis for future studies on their application in leukaemia treatment. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the molecular mechanisms involved and optimize BRCE for clinical use.
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spelling doaj-art-38ecd2a73db742dea1823c5e5edf67262025-08-20T03:45:30ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-06999-3Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell linesAndrés Baeza-Morales0Sandra Pascual-García1Pascual Martínez-Peinado2Alicia Navarro-Sempere3Yolanda Segovia4Miguel Medina-García5Carolina Pujalte-Satorre6María Magdalena García7Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa8José Miguel Sempere-Ortells9Department of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteMultidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies “Ramón Margalef” (IMEM), University of AlicanteDepartment of Biotechnology, University of AlicanteAbstract Carotenoids, a diverse group of naturally occurring pigments, have gained attention for their potential anticancer properties. Among them, bacterioruberin (BR), a rare C50 carotenoid, has shown promising bioactivities. This study evaluates the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of a bacterioruberin-rich carotenoid extract (BRCE) derived from Haloferax (H.) mediterranei on myeloid leukaemia (ML) cell lines, including chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) and acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) models. Using MTT assay, Annexin V/PI and AO/EtBr staining, CFDA-SE proliferation assay, PI-based cell cycle analysis, and H2DCF-DA for reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantification, we demonstrate that BRCE significantly reduces cell viability, induces apoptosis, causes G2/M cell cycle arrest, and increases ROS levels in leukaemia cell lines. Notably, BRCE exhibited selective cytotoxicity, with minimal effects on normal PBMCs from healthy donors, suggesting its potential for tumour-specific targeting. Additionally, we analysed the morphological features of the cells treated with BRCE, observing significant changes such as cell blebbing, clumping, and the formation of apoptotic bodies, which are indicative of the induction of apoptosis. Overall, this research underscores an antitumoural therapeutic potential of BRCEs from H. mediterranei, providing a basis for future studies on their application in leukaemia treatment. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the molecular mechanisms involved and optimize BRCE for clinical use.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06999-3
spellingShingle Andrés Baeza-Morales
Sandra Pascual-García
Pascual Martínez-Peinado
Alicia Navarro-Sempere
Yolanda Segovia
Miguel Medina-García
Carolina Pujalte-Satorre
María Magdalena García
Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa
José Miguel Sempere-Ortells
Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines
Scientific Reports
title Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines
title_full Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines
title_fullStr Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines
title_full_unstemmed Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines
title_short Bacterioruberin extract from Haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines
title_sort bacterioruberin extract from haloferax mediterranei induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in myeloid leukaemia cell lines
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06999-3
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