Sodium 5, 6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate induces in vitro neuronal cell differentiation accompanying apoptosis and necrosis.

Antiproliferative activity through induction of differentiation by chemotherapeutic agents is required for certain types of cancers. Here, we report that a potent antitumor agent, sodium 5, 6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA), could induce morphological change of human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells into a ganglion-like cell aggregate (pseudoganglion) having many neurites and the property of cholinergic neurons. Simultaneously with neuronal differentiation, substantial apoptosis and necrosis/type 2 physiological cell death, which is independent of apoptosis and resistant to a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, Z-Asp-CH2-DCB, were also observed. These data indicated that SBA could suppress tumor cell growth through the induction of three different physiological pathways such as differentiation, apoptosis and necrosis by which tissues and organs regulate their own development and maintenance.