The naturally occurring dipeptide carnosine (-alanyl-L-histidine) specifically attenuates
tumor growth. Here, we ask whether other small imidazole-containing compounds also affect
the viability of tumor cells without affecting non-malignant cells and whether the formation of
histamine is involved. Patient-derived fibroblasts and glioblastoma cells were treated with carnosine,
L-alanyl-L-histidine (LA-LH), -alanyl-L-alanine, L-histidine, histamine, imidazole, -alanine, and
L-alanine. Cell viability was assessed by cell-based assays and microscopy. The intracellular release of
L-histidine and formation of histamine was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography
coupled to mass spectrometry. Carnosine and LA-LH inhibited tumor cell growth with minor
effects on fibroblasts, and L-histidine, histamine, and imidazole affected viability in both cell types.
Compounds without the imidazole moiety did not diminish viability. In the presence of LA-LH but
not in the presence of carnosine, a significant rise in intracellular amounts of histidine was detected
in all cells. The formation of histamine was not detectable in the presence of carnosine, LA-LH, or
histidine. In conclusion, the imidazole moiety of carnosine contributes to its anti-neoplastic effect,
which is also seen in the presence of histidine and LA-LH. Despite the fact that histamine has a strong
effect on cell viability, the formation of histamine is not responsible for the effects on the cell viability
of carnosine, LA-LH, and histidine.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:89134 |
| Date | 18 January 2024 |
| Creators | Seidel, Elisabeth Christiane, Birkemeyer, Claudia, Baran-Schmidt, Rainer, Meixensberger, Jürgen, Oppermann, Henry, Gaunitz, Frank |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:article, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | 5834 |
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