The carcinostatic and proapoptotic potential of 4-hydroxynonenal in HeLa cells is associated with its conjugation to cellular proteins.

Abstract

For HeLa carcinoma cells there appears to be a concentration range of HNE where it does not cause necrosis but preferentially apoptosis. At this concentration range HNE is cytochemically detectable within the cells as a protein conjugate. It is proposed that a possible differential sensitivity of cancer cells and their normal counterparts to the cytostatic activity of HNE should be explored.