Maslinic acid induced apoptosis in bladder cancer cells through activating p38 MAPK signaling pathway

The present study determines the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and calcium signaling evoked by the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) on apoptosis in the human leukemia HL-60 and K562 cell lines. The results show that treatment of both cell lines cells with 10 ng/mL TNFα resulted in a rise in the percentage of apoptotic cells after 6 h of treatment. It was also observed that the administration of 10 ng/mL TNFα increased intracellular ROS production, as well as a time-dependent increase in caspase-8, -3, and -9 activities. The present results also show that the pretreatment with well-known antioxidants such as trolox and N-acetyl cysteine partially reduced the caspase activation caused by the administration of TNFα. The findings suggest that TNFα-induced apoptosis is dependent on alterations in intracellular ROS generation in human leukemia HL-60 and K562 cells.     

Amplification loop cascade for increasing caspase activity induced by docetaxel

The hierarchy of events accompanying induction of apoptosis by the microtubule inhibitor docetaxel was investigated in HL-60 human leukemia cells. Treatment of HL-60 cells with docetaxel resulted in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of caspase-3 (-like) protease, c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) activation, bcl-2 phosphorylation and apoptosis. Docetaxel elicited ROS production from NADPH oxidase as demonstrated by specific oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium (DPI). ROS mediated the caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in HL-60 cells. The caspase inhibitor acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde (Ac-DEVD-CHO) effectively inhibited JNK/SAPK activation, bcl-2 phosphorylation and partially attenuated the ROS production induced by docetaxel. Docetaxel-induced bcl-2 phosphorylation was completely blocked by expression of dominant negative JNK or the JNK/SAPK inhibitor SP600125. Overexpression of bcl-2 partially prevented docetaxel-mediated ROS production and subsequent caspase-3 activation, thereby inhibiting apoptotic cell death. It is thus conferred that such sequent events as ROS production, caspase activation, JNK/SAPK activation, bcl-2 phosphorylation and the further generation of ROS should be parts of an amplification loop to increase caspase activity, thereby facilitating the apoptotic cell death process.     

Dioscin (saponin)-induced generation of reactive oxygen species through mitochondria dysfunction: a proteomic-based study

It is generally believed that traditional Chinese medicine such as saponins has great value as potent cancer prevention and chemotherapeutic agents; however, the molecular basis for their activities is for the most part lacking. In the present study, we used proteomics to examine the cytotoxic effect of dioscin, a glucoside saponin, on human myeloblast leukemia HL-60 cells. Dioscin induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells in a time-dependent manner. Protein profiling of the microsomal fraction with enriched plasma membrane proteins isolated from HL-60 cells revealed that proteins act as chaperones and/or mediators of protein folding and were substantially altered in expression cells upon dioscin stimuli. Further biochemical study indicated that mitochondria dysfunction caused generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to the changes in protein expression. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi m) inhibitor aristolochic acid (ArA) partially abrogated the dioscin-initiated death receptor apoptosis pathway and cell death. The current study provided detailed evidence to support that dioscin is capable of inducing apoptosis in mammalian cells, in which the mitochondria-initiated apoptosis pathway plays an important role.     

Hydroxylation at C4' or C6 is essential for apoptosis-inducing activity of flavanone through activation of the caspase-3 cascade and production of reactive oxygen species

Previous studies demonstrated that hydroxyl groups play important roles in the antioxidative activities of flavonoids; however, the importance of structurally related hydroxylation in their apoptosis-inducing activities is still undefined. In the present study, flavanone with hydroxylation at C4' and C6 had a significant cytotoxic effect in human leukemia HL-60 cells accompanied by the occurrence of DNA ladders, apoptotic bodies, and hypodiploid cells, characteristics of apoptosis. The replacement of a hydroxyl group (OH) by a methoxyl (OCH3) group at C4' or C6 attenuated the apoptotic effect in cells, and there was no significant cytotocity of flavanone or flavanone with OH or OCH3 in C7-treated HL-60 cells. Induction of enzyme activity of caspase-3 and -9, but not caspase-1 and -8, accompanied by release of cytocrome C from mitochondria to cytosol and the appearance of cleaved of PARP (85 kDa), D4-GDI (23 kDa), and caspase-3 (p17/p15) fragments, was identified in 4'-OH- or 6-OH- flavanone-treated HL-60 cells. Caspase-3 and -9 inhibitors Ac-DEVD-FMK and Ac-LEHD-FMK, but not caspase-1 and -8 inhibitors Ac-YVAD-FMK and Ac-LETD-FMK, attenuated 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-induced cell death. And, inhibition of capsase-9 activity by Ac-LEHD-FMK suppresses caspase-3 protein procession induced by 4'-OH- and 6-OH-flavanone, indicative of caspase-9 activation locating upstream of caspase-3. A decrease in the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 and increases in the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bad were found in 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-treated HL-60 cells. Induction of endogenous ROS production was detected in 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-treated HL-60 cells by the DCHF-DA assay. Antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and allopurinol (ALL), but not pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or diphenylene iodonium (DPI), significantly inhibited 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone-induced ROS production, with blocking of the apoptosis induced by 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone. The apoptosis-inducing activity of 4'-OH- or 6-OH-flavanone was also observed in another leukemia cell line (Jurkat), but was not found in mature monocytic cells (THP-1) and normal human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). This suggests that hydroxylation at C4' or C6 is important to the apoptosis-inducing activities of flavanone through ROS production, and that activation of the caspase-3 cascade, downstream of caspase-9 activation, is involved.     

Thymopentin (TP5), an immunomodulatory peptide, suppresses proliferation and induces differentiation in HL-60 cells

Thymopentin (Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr, TP5) has shown immuno-regulatory activities in humans. In the present study, we investigated the effects of TP5 on the proliferation and differentiation of a human promyelocyte leukemia cell line, HL-60. It is noteworthy that TP5 displayed concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on the proliferation and colony formation of HL-60 cells. Furthermore, the decrease or even disappearance of AgNORs from nucleoli was observed in HL-60 cells after the treatment with TP5. The suppression induced by TP5 was accompanied by an accumulation of cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. Moreover, TP5 significantly increased the NBT-reduction activity of HL-60 cells. Cytofluorometric and morphologic analysis indicated that TP5 had induced differentiation along the granulocytes lineage in HL-60 cells. d-tubocurarine (TUB) significantly antagonized the inhibitory effects induced by TP5, whereas atropine did not exhibit such effect. All the results indicated that TP5 was able to significantly inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation in HL-60 cells. Our observations also implied that TP5 not only acted as an immunomodulatory factor in cancer chemotherapy, but is also a potential chemotherapeutic agent in the human leukemia therapy.     

Resistance to nitric oxide-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 variant cells is associated with increased activities of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase

Nitric oxide (NO) released from (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (DETA/NO or NOC-18) induces apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells. In this study, we isolated a HL-60 variant cell line, HL-NR6, that is resistant to DETA/NO toxicity as assessed by DNA fragmentation, morphology, and colony forming ability. The variant cells also showed resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide as well as NO donors, but not to anti-tumor drugs. We found that HL-NR6 cells when compared with HL-60 cells possessed twice the activities of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) and catalase, but no change in Mn-SOD nor in glutathione peroxidase. Immunoblotting confirmed the high levels of both enzymes in the variant cell. We also observed that ROS generation following DETA/NO exposure was substantially higher in HL-60 cells than in HL-NR6 cells, using the 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein fluorometric method. Moreover, the SOD mimetic Mn(III) tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin and exogenous catalase effectively attenuated DETA/NO-elicited DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells. Taken together, these data suggested that the NO resistance in HL-NR6 cells is associated with the increased Cu,Zn-SOD/catalase and that NO-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 cells is correlated with the generation of ROS and derived molecules like peroxynitrite.     

2’-羟基二氢黄酮诱导白血病HL-60细胞凋亡过程中抗氧化酶活性的变化

目的：观察2’-羟基二氢黄酮诱导白血病细胞HL-60凋亡过程中胞内抗氧化酶活性的变化,并探讨其抗肿瘤作用机制。方法：采用CASY-TT亚流式细胞术测定2’-羟基二氢黄酮对HL-60细胞存活率的影响;Annexin V／PI双染流式细胞仪检测分析细胞凋亡变化;化学比色法测定2’-羟基二氢黄酮作用后,HL-60细胞胞内抗氧化酶SOD、CAT、GSH—Px的活性变化。结果：2’-羟基二氢黄酮显著降低HL-60细胞存活率,其作用呈剂量和时间依赖性;凋亡分析结果显示,20μM的2’一羟基二氢黄酮作用HL-60细胞后,细胞凋亡率逐渐升高,并在12h后显著高于作用前水平;酶活性检测表明,20μM2’一羟基二氢黄酮作用后,HL-60细胞胞内抗氧化酶SOD、CAT、GSH．Px活性均显著降低,脂质过氧化产物MDA含量显著升高。结论：2’-羟基二氢黄酮显著降低白血病HL广60细胞存活率并诱导细胞凋亡,其中伴随着胞内抗氧化酶活性的显著降低。     

Phyllanthus urinaria induces the Fas receptor/ligand expression and ceramide-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 cells

Phyllanthus urinaria (P. urinaria), a widely used herb medicine, was tested for the anticancer effect on human myeloid leukemia cells in this study. The water extract of P. urinaria induced the apoptosis of HL-60 cells as demonstrated by morphological change, DNA fragmentation and increased caspase-3 activity. However, normal human peripheral mononuclear cells remained viable under the same treatment. The P. urinaria-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells was associated with the increased Bax gene expression and decreased Bcl-2 gene expression. In addition, the gene expressions of Fas receptor and Fas ligand, but not p53, were also induced in HL-60 cells dose- and time-dependently. The inhibitor of ceramide synthase, fumonisin B1, completely suppressed the apoptosis induced by P. urinaria and this inhibitory effect of fumonisin B1 could be eliminated by the addition of ceramide. It indicated that the activity of ceramide synthase is critical for the P. urinaria-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. The P. urinaria-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells is mediated through a ceramide-related pathway.     

Pyrrolidinium-type fullerene derivative-induced apoptosis by the generation of reactive oxygen species in HL-60 cells

The biological activities of C₆₀-bis(N,N-dimethylpyrrolidinium iodide), a water-soluble cationic fullerene derivative, on human promyeloleukaemia (HL-60) cells were investigated. The pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative showed cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells. The characteristics of apoptosis, such as DNA fragmentation and condensation of chromatin in HL-60 cells, were observed by exposure to the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative. Caspase-3 and -8 were activated and cytochrome c was also released from mitochondria. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative was observed by DCFH-DA, a fluorescence probe for the detection of ROS. Pre-treatment with α-tocopherol suppressed cell death and intracellular oxidative stress caused by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative. The apoptotic cell death induced by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative was suggested to be mediated by ROS generated by the pyrrolidinium fullerene derivative.     

Induction of apoptosis in human leukemia cells by naturally fermented sugar cane vinegar (kibizu) of Amami Ohshima Island

Naturally fermented vinegar such as Kibizu (sugar cane vinegar in Amami Ohshima, Japan), Kurozu (black rice vinegar in Kagoshima, Japan), Kouzu (black rice vinegar in China) and red wine vinegar in Italy had potent radical-scavenging activity analyzed by DPPH method. For the elucidation of food factor for cancer prevention contained in naturally fermented vinegar, the induction of apoptosis in human leukemia cell HL-60 was investigated with sugar cane vinegar Kibizu. Fraction eluted by 40% methanol from Amberlite XAD 2 chromatography of sugar cane vinegar showed potent radical scavenging activity. The fraction also showed the activity repressing growth of typical human leukemia cells such as HL-60, THP-1, Molt-4, U-937, Jurkat, Raji and K-562. On the other hand, the fraction did not have any growth inhibition activity against human fetal lung cell TIG-1. The most potent radical-scavenging activity and the growth repression activity of the leukemia cell were observed in the same chromatographic fraction of methanol 40%. From cell sorting FACS analyses, electron microscopic observations and cytochemical staining of chromatin and nuclear segments in human leukemia cell HL-60 treated with the active fraction, it was concluded that apoptosis was induced in the leukemia cell by the fraction of sugar cane vinegar and resulted in the repression of growth of the human leukemia cells. Chromatographic fraction of sugar cane juice eluted by 20% methanol showed potent activities of radical-scavenging and growth repression of HL-60. These results led us the consideration that active components in sugar cane juice could be converted to more lipophilic compounds with activity to induce apoptosis in HL-60 by microbial fermentation with yeast and acetic acid bacteria.     

2-(4-Methylphenyl)-1,3-selenazol-4-one induces apoptosis by different mechanisms in SKOV3 and HL 60 cells

We examined the ability of the synthetic selenium compound, 2-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3-selenazol-4-one (hereafter designated 3a), to induce apoptosis in a human ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV3) and a human leukemia cell line (HL-60). Flow cytometry showed that 3a treatment induced apoptosis in both cell lines to degrees comparable to that of the positive control, paclitaxel. Apoptosis was measured by PS externalization, DNA fragmentation and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). However, analysis of the mechanism of action revealed differences between the responses of the two cell lines. Treatment with 3a arrested the cell cycle and induced caspase-3 activation in HL-60 cells, but not in SKOV3 cells. In contrast, 3a treatment induced apoptosis through translocation of AIF, a novel pro-apoptotic protein, in SKOV3 cells, but not in HL-60 cells. Collectively, our data demonstrated that 3a induced apoptosis in both cell lines, but via different action mechanisms.     

Halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol isolated from Halocynthia roretzi induce apoptosis in human leukemia, breast and colon cancer cells

The sea squirt Halocynthia roretzi metabolizes fucoxanthin, and subsequently accumulates its derived carotenoids with characteristic structures. In the present study, we isolated halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol as carotenoids having antiproliferative activity from H. roretzi. Halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol inhibited the growth of HL-60 human leukemia cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Viability of HL-60 treated with 12.5 microM halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol was decreased by 12.1% and 5.7% of control after 48 h incubation, respectively. Furthermore, halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells, MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, and Caco-2 human colon cancer cells. When HL-60 cells were incubated with 12.5 microM halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol for 48 h, relative DNA fragmentations were enhanced to 5- and 7-fold compared to that in control cells, respectively. The activities of apoptosis induction by halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol were higher than that of fucoxanthin which we have previously reported as a carotenoid possessing the ability to induce apoptosis. Fucoxanthinol exhibited the highest apoptosis-inducing activity among the three carotenoids. Furthermore, the expression levels of apoptosis-suppressing protein Bcl-2 were decreased in HL-60 cells treated with halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol. These results suggest that halocynthiaxanthin and fucoxanthinol exhibited potential antiproliferative effects via apoptosis induction in several cancer cell lines.     

Arsenic trioxide and radiation enhance apoptotic effects in HL-60 cells through increased ROS generation and regulation of JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways

The induction of apoptotic cell death is a significant mechanism of tumor cells under the influence of radio-/chemotherapy, and resistance to these treatments has been linked to some cancer cell lines with a low propensity for apoptosis. The present study aimed to investigate the enhanced effects and mechanisms in apoptosis and the cycle distribution of HL-60 cells, a human leukemia cell line lacking a functional p53 protein, after combination treatment with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and irradiation (IR). Our results indicated that combined treatment led to increased cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells, which was correlated with the activation of cdc-2 and increased expression of cyclin B, the induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, the loss of mitochondria membrane potential, and the activation of caspase-3. The combined treatment of HL-60 cells pre-treated with Z-VAD or NAC resulted in a significant reduction in apoptotic cells. In addition, activation of JNK and p38 MAPK may be involved in combined treatment-mediated apoptosis. The data suggest that a combination of IR and ATO could be a potential therapeutic strategy against p53-deficient leukemia cells.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-Dimethyl phytosphingosine sensitizes HL-60/MX2, a multidrug-resistant variant of HL-60 cells,to doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity through ROS-mediated release of cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> and AIF

Doxorubicin (Dox) is widely used to treat a variety of tumors. However, resistance to this drug is common, making successful treatment more difficult. Previously, we introduced a novel phytosphingosine derivative, N,N-dimethyl phytosphingosine (DMPS), as a potent anticancer therapeutic agent in human leukemia cells. This study was performed to investigate whether DMPS can sensitize HL-60/MX2, a multidrug-resistant variant of HL-60, to Dox-induced apoptosis. Low concentrations of DMPS sensitized HL-60/MX2 cells to Dox-induced apoptosis. Combined Dox + DMPS treatment-induced apoptosis was accompanied by the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3 as well as PARP cleavage. Cytochrome c and AIF release were also observed in Dox + DMPS-treated HL60/MX2 cells. Pretreatment with z-VAD-fmk markedly prevented caspase-3 activation and moderately suppressed apoptosis, suggesting that Dox + DMPS-induced apoptosis is somewhat (not completely) dependent on caspase. Cytochrome c and AIF release were not affected by pretreatment with z-VAD-fmk. The ROS scavenger NAC efficiently suppressed not only ROS generation, but also caspase-3-mediated PARP cleavage, apoptosis, and release of cytochrome c and AIF, indicating a role of ROS in combined Dox + DMPS treatment-induced apoptotic death signaling. Taken together, these observations suggest that DMPS may be used as a therapeutic agent for overcoming drug-resistance in cancer cells by enhancing drug-induced apoptosis.     

Induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells by photochemically generated hydroxyl radicals

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially hydroxyl radicals are postulated to mediate apoptosis of the cell. Here we demonstrate that hydroxyl radicals generated selectively by photolysis of a photo-Fenton reagent, N,N'-bis(2-hydroperoxy-2-methoxyethyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthaldiimide (NP-III), induce apoptosis in HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia) cells involving the activation of caspase-3.     

Se-methylselenocysteine induces apoptosis mediated by reactive oxygen species in HL-60 cells

Recent studies have implicated apoptosis as one of the most plausible mechanisms of the chemopreventive effects of selenium compounds, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as important mediators in apoptosis induced by various stimuli. In the present study, we demonstrate that Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC), one of the most effective selenium compounds at chemoprevention, induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells and that ROS plays a crucial role in MSC-induced apoptosis. The uptake of MSC by HL-60 cells occurred quite early, reaching the maximum within 1 h. The dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed by MSC treatment and was coincident with increased DNA fragmentation and sub-G(1) population. 50 microM of MSC was able to induce apoptosis in 48% of cell population at a 24 h time point. Moreover, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were also observed. The measurement of ROS by dichlorofluorescein fluorescence revealed that dose- and time-dependent increase in ROS was induced by MSC. N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, and deferoxamine blocked cell death, DNA fragmentation, and ROS generation induced by MSC. Moreover, N-acetylcysteine effectively blocked caspase-3 activation and the increase of the sub-G(1) population induced by MSC. These results imply that ROS is a critical mediator of the MSC-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.     

Reactive oxygen species-mediated activation of JNK and down-regulation of DAXX are critically involved in penta-O-galloyl-beta-d-glucose-induced apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells

Although 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-d-glucose (PGG) was well known to have antitumor activities in breast, prostate, kidney, liver cancers and HL-60 leukemia via regulation of caspase 3, p53, S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) and insulin receptor signaling, the underlying mechanism of PGG-induced apoptosis linked with reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and DAXX was never elucidated in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) K562 cells until now. Herein PGG significantly decreased the viability of CML cell lines such as K562 and KBM-5 without hurting normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). PGG increased the number of TUNEL-positive cells and the sub-G1 cell population as well as activated caspase cascades including caspase-8, -9 and -3 in K562 cells. Interestingly, a significant activation of JNK by PGG was observed by MULTIPLEX assay and Western blotting. Conversely, JNK inhibitor D-JNKi suppressed the cleavages of caspase 3 and PARP induced by PGG in K562 cells. Also, PGG dramatically enhanced generation of ROS and reduced the expression of death-domain-associated protein (DAXX). Of note, ROS inhibitor acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) reversed JNK-dependent apoptosis and DAXX inhibition induced by PGG. Overall, these findings suggest that ROS-dependent JNK activation and DAXX downregulation are critically involved in PGG-induced apoptosis in K562 cells.     

Effects of recombinant human PLD2 on proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells

In the present study, we investigated the role of recombinant human phospholipase D2 (rhPLD2) on proliferation and apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells which induced by camptothecin. Our research demonstrated that various concentrations of rhPLD2 inhibit the growth of HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and rhPLD2 plus camptothecin can produce a synergistic effect on growth inhibition of HL-60 cells in vitro. So, we conclude that rhPLD2 alone cannot induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells, but it can potentiate the apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by camptothecin. Similarly, we show that both rhPLD2 and standard PLD were able to enhance camptothecin-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells.     

CWJ-081, a novel 3-arylisoquinoline derivative,induces apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells partially involves reactive oxygen species through c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathway

In the present study, we investigated the effect of a novel 3-arylisoquinoline derivative 3-(6-ethyl-benzo[1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-7,8-dimethoxy-2-methyl-2H-isoquinolin-1-one (CWJ-081) on the induction of apoptosis and the putative molecular mechanism of its action in human leukemia cells. Treatment with CWJ-081 exhibited a characteristic feature of apoptosis including externalization of phosphatidylserine and formation of DNA fragmentation in human leukemia cell lines (HL-60, U-937, K-562). In addition, stimulation of HL-60 cells with CWJ-081 induced a series of intracellular events: (1) the activations of caspase-8, -9, and -3; (2) the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1); (3) the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m); (4) the release of cytochrome c; and (5) the modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins. We further demonstrated that CWJ-081 induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. Pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) markedly inhibited the CWJ-081-induced JNK activation and apoptosis. Moreover, CWJ-081-induced apoptosis was suppressed in the presence of SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor. Taken together, these data suggest that CWJ-081 induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in HL-60 cells, and ROS-mediated JNK activation plays a key role in the CWJ-081-induced apoptosis.     

Vitamin K2 induces autophagy and apoptosis simultaneously in leukemia cells

Vitamin K2 (menaquinone-4: VK2) is a potent inducer for apoptosis in leukemia cells in vitro. HL-60bcl-2 cells, which are derived from a stable transfectant clone of the human bcl-2 gene into the HL-60 leukemia cell line, show 5-fold greater expression of the Bcl-2 protein compared with HL-60neo cells, a control clone transfected with vector alone. VK2 induces apoptosis in HL-60neo cells, whereas HL-60bcl-2 cells are resistant to apoptosis induction by VK2 but show inhibition of cell growth along with an increase of cytoplasmic vacuoles during exposure to VK2. Electron microscopy revealed formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes in HL-60bcl-2 cells after exposure to VK2. An increase of acid vesicular organelles (AVOs) detected by acridine orange staining for lysosomes as well as conversion of LC3B-I into LC3B-II by immunoblotting and an increased punctuated pattern of cytoplasmic LC3B by fluorescent immunostaining all supported induction of enhanced autophagy in response to VK2 in HL-60bcl-2 cells. However, during shorter exposure to VK2, the formation of autophagosomes was also prominent in HL-60neo cells although nuclear chromatin condensations and nuclear fragments were also observed at the same time. These findings indicated the mixed morphologic features of apoptosis and autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy by either addition of 3-methyladenine, siRNA for Atg7, or Tet-off Atg5 system all resulted in attenuation of VK2-incuded cell death, indicating autophagy-mediated cell death in response to VK2. These data demonstrate that autophagy and apoptosis can be simultaneously induced by VK2. However, autophagy becomes prominent when the cells are protected from rapid apoptotic death by a high expression level of Bcl-2.