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Correction published on 21 January 2026, see Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 1043.
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Article

Urolithin A and B Alter Cellular Metabolism and Induce Metabolites Associated with Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells

by
Abdulaziz Musa Alzahrani
1,†,
Mohammed Razeeth Shait Mohammed
1,2,†,
Raed Ahmed Alghamdi
1,
Abrar Ahmad
1,
Mazin A. Zamzami
1,2,
Hani Choudhry
1,2 and
Mohammad Imran Khan
1,2,*
1
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
2
Centre of Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These Author’s share equal contribution.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5465; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115465
Submission received: 19 March 2021 / Revised: 22 April 2021 / Accepted: 13 May 2021 / Published: 22 May 2021 / Corrected: 21 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism and Leukemia: From Biology to Therapies)
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Abstract

Leukemia is persistently a significant cause of illness and mortality worldwide. Urolithins, metabolites of ellagic acid and ellagitannins produced by gut microbiota, showed better bioactive compounds liable for the health benefits exerted by ellagic acid and ellagitannins containing pomegranate and walnuts. Here, we assessed the potential antileukemic activities of both urolithin A and urolithin B. Results showed that both urolithin A and B significantly inhibited the proliferation of leukemic cell lines Jurkat and K562, among which urolithin A showed the more prominent antiproliferative capability. Further, urolithin treatment alters leukemic cell metabolism, as evidenced by increased metabolic rate and notable changes in glutamine metabolism, one-carbon metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Next, we evidenced that both urolithins equally promoted apoptosis in leukemic cell lines. Based on these observations, we concluded that both urolithin A and B alter leukemic cell metabolome, resulting in a halt of proliferation, followed by apoptosis. The data can be used for designing new combinational therapies to eradicate leukemic cells.
Keywords: urolithin; leukemia; ellagic acid; glutamine; one-carbon metabolism urolithin; leukemia; ellagic acid; glutamine; one-carbon metabolism

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MDPI and ACS Style

Alzahrani, A.M.; Shait Mohammed, M.R.; Alghamdi, R.A.; Ahmad, A.; Zamzami, M.A.; Choudhry, H.; Khan, M.I. Urolithin A and B Alter Cellular Metabolism and Induce Metabolites Associated with Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 5465. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115465

AMA Style

Alzahrani AM, Shait Mohammed MR, Alghamdi RA, Ahmad A, Zamzami MA, Choudhry H, Khan MI. Urolithin A and B Alter Cellular Metabolism and Induce Metabolites Associated with Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22(11):5465. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115465

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alzahrani, Abdulaziz Musa, Mohammed Razeeth Shait Mohammed, Raed Ahmed Alghamdi, Abrar Ahmad, Mazin A. Zamzami, Hani Choudhry, and Mohammad Imran Khan. 2021. "Urolithin A and B Alter Cellular Metabolism and Induce Metabolites Associated with Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 11: 5465. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115465

APA Style

Alzahrani, A. M., Shait Mohammed, M. R., Alghamdi, R. A., Ahmad, A., Zamzami, M. A., Choudhry, H., & Khan, M. I. (2021). Urolithin A and B Alter Cellular Metabolism and Induce Metabolites Associated with Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(11), 5465. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115465

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