Trail-induced apoptosis in Type I leukemic cells is not enhanced by overexpression of bax

We have previously shown that Bax translocation was crucial in TNFalpha or etoposide-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of Bax sensitized chronic myeloid leukemic K562 cells to etoposide-induced apoptosis. Treatment with TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), cytochrome c release from mitochondria, activation of caspases-8, -9, and -3, and cleavage of Bid in the K562 cell line. Bax failed to sensitize K562 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. TRAIL did not induce Bax expression and/or translocation from cytosol to mitochondria in the K562 cell line. However, 100 microM Z-VAD.fmk, a pan caspase inhibitor, completely blocked TRAIL-initiated mitochondrial alterations and cleavages of caspases and Bid. We propose that TRAIL-induced apoptosis in K562 cells is via Type I apoptotic signal pathway. Bax translocation is not essential for TRAIL-induced cytochrome c release and DeltaPsim collapse in the Type I cells.     

TIEG1 induces apoptosis through mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and promotes apoptosis induced by homoharringtonine and velcade

Overexpression of TGFbeta inducible early gene (TIEG1) mimics TGFbeta action and induces apoptosis. In this study, we found that TIEG1 was significantly up-regulated during apoptosis induced by homoharringtonine or velcade. Overexpression of TIEG1 could induce apoptosis in K562 cells and promote apoptosis induced by HHT or velcade. TIEG1-induced apoptosis was shown to involve Bax and Bim up-regulation, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL down-regulation, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol, activation of caspase 3 and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim). We concluded that TIEG1 is a key regulator which induces and promotes apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.     

Erythroid differentiation sensitizes K562 leukemia cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by downregulation of c-FLIP

Regulation of the apoptotic threshold is of great importance in the homeostasis of both differentiating and fully developed organ systems. Triggering differentiation has been employed as a strategy to inhibit cell proliferation and accelerate apoptosis in malignant cells, in which the apoptotic threshold is often characteristically elevated. To better understand the mechanisms underlying differentiation-mediated regulation of apoptosis, we have studied death receptor responses during erythroid differentiation of K562 erythroleukemia cells, which normally are highly resistant to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha-, FasL-, and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. However, upon hemin-mediated erythroid differentiation, K562 cells specifically lost their resistance to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which efficiently killed the differentiating cells independently of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling. Concomitantly with the increased sensitivity, the expression of both c-FLIP splicing variants, c-FLIP(L) and c-FLIP(S), was downregulated, resulting in an altered caspase 8 recruitment and cleavage in the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). Stable overexpression of both c-FLIP(L) and c-FLIP(S) rescued the cells from TRAIL-mediated apoptosis with isoform-specific effects on DISC-recruited caspase 8. Our results show that c-FLIP(L) and c-FLIP(S) potently control TRAIL responses, both by distinct regulatory features, and further imply that the differentiation state of malignant cells determines their sensitivity to death receptor signals.     

Quercetin decreases the expression of ErbB2 and ErbB3 proteins in HT-29 human colon cancer cells

Quercetin has chemoprotective properties in experimental colon cancer models, and in vitro studies have demonstrated that quercetin inhibits HT-29 colon cancer cell growth. ErbB2 and ErbB3 receptor tyrosine kinases have been associated with the development of human colon cancer, and the expressions of both receptors are high in HT-29 cells. In this study, we assessed quercetin regulation of HT-29 and SW480 cell apoptosis and the influence of quercetin on the protein expression of ErbB2, ErbB3, Akt, Bax and Bcl-2. We cultured HT-29 cells in the presence of various concentrations (0, 25, 50, or 100 micromol/L) of quercetin or rutin. Quercetin inhibited HT-29 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, whereas rutin had no effect on the cell growth. DNA that was isolated from cells treated with 50 micromol/L of quercetin exhibited an oliogonucleosomal laddering pattern characteristic of apoptotic cell death. Western blot analysis of cell lysates revealed that Bcl-2 levels decreased dose-dependently in cells treated with quercetin, but Bax remained unchanged. Quercetin increased levels of cleaved caspase-3 and the 89-kDa fragment of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. In addition, phosphorylated Akt levels were markedly lower in cells treated with 25 micromol/L quercetin, but total Akt levels decreased only at 100 micromol/L quercetin. Furthermore, a dose-dependent decrease in ErbB2 and ErbB3 levels was detected in quercetin-treated cells. The results obtained using SW480 cells were similar to those obtained with HT-29 cells. In conclusion, we have shown that quercetin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells, and that this may be mediated by its ability to down-regulate ErbB2/ErbB3 signaling and the Akt pathway.     

IL——3和羟基脲协同诱导K562细胞凋亡

The effect of IL-3 and hydroxyurea on human erythroleukemia cell line (K562 cells) was demonstrated by using the electro-microscopy and flow cytometry. Our data showed that neither IL-3 nor hydroxyurea could induce the apoptosis of K562 cells alone. However, the IL-3 and hydroxyurea could induce the apoptosis of K562 cells cooperatively. Analysis with flow cytometry showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells was about 31.90% after K562 cells were induced by IL-3 and hydroxyurea cooperatively for 5 days, and the sub-G1 peak (apoptotic peak) was detected in the induced K562 cells. Meanwhile, the percentage of S-phase in the IL-3 and hydroxyurea induced K562 cells was increased, and the proliferation of the induced K562 cells was inhibited significantly. Furthermore, the IL-3 and hydroxyurea induced K562 cells showed chromatin condensation with regular crescents at the nuclear edges and apoptotic bodies. It suggested that IL-3 could enhance the sensitivity of K562 cells to hydroxyurea and the apoptosis of K562 cells could be induced by IL-3 and hydroxyurea cooperatively.     

Gamma-linolenic acid induces apoptosis and lipid peroxidation in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells

Various polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), inhibit the growth of a variety of tumor cells. Some evidence indicates that polyunsaturated fatty acid can kill cells by apoptosis. In the current study, we tested the apoptotic effect of GLA on human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. GLA induced K562 cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Typical apoptotic nuclei were shown by staining of K562 cells with DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33342, characterized by chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. Flow cytometric analysis also demonstrated that GLA caused dose-dependent apoptosis of K562 cells. The apoptosis could be inhibited by a pancaspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk), suggesting the involvement of caspases. Further, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP were found in GLA-induced apoptosis. GLA treatment could also elevate lipid peroxidation in K562 cells, and antioxidant α-tocopherol could reverse the cytotoxicity of GLA. The saturated fatty acid SA, which did not exhibit significant increase in lipid peroxidation, also did not induce cytotoxicity. Intracellular GSH was also determined, and there was no marked change of GSH levels in cells after incubation with GLA compared with the control. These results demonstrate that GLA could induce apoptosis in K562 cells. Apoptosis is mediated by release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3. Lipid peroxidation may play a role in GLA cytotoxicity.     

IL-3和羟基脲协同诱导K562细胞凋亡

本文应用流式细胞分选仪和电子显微镜研究了IL-3和羟基脲对人红白血病细胞株(K562细胞)凋亡的影响.结果显示IL-3和羟基脲分别诱导K562细胞,不能引起细胞凋亡;而IL-3和羟基脲协同诱导K562细胞,可以引起细胞凋亡.用流式细胞仪检测到IL-3和羟基脲协同诱导K562细胞后,DNA含量低于二倍体的细胞数达31.90%,并产生明显的凋亡小峰.同时,IL-3和羟基脲协同诱导K562细胞,可抑制细胞周期中的S期,阻止细胞从S期进入G2/M期,使细胞周期延长,对K562细胞的生长和增殖具有抑制作用.在电镜下可观察到IL-3和羟基脲协同诱导的K562细胞,出现典型的凋亡细胞形态,细胞核内染色质浓缩、凝聚,紧靠在核膜边沿,形成新月形或环状的染色质结构,产生凋亡小体.提示IL-3和羟基脲具有协同效应,IL-3可提高K562细胞对羟基脲的敏感性,并可协同羟基脲诱导K562细胞凋亡.     

Cyclosporin A potentiates the cytotoxic effects of methyl methanesulphonate in HL-60 and K562 cells

Methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) is a DNA damaging agent, which induces oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and consequently, cell death, in HL-60 and K562 cells. The cell death induced by MMS predominantly exhibited the morphological and biochemical hallmarks of necrosis. A minor population of dying cells exhibited apoptotic hallmarks, especially in K562 cell cultures. Cyclosporin A (CsA) was used to modulate the MMS-induced cell death. Our results indicated that CsA did not prevent cells from dying, but changed the mode of death from necrotic to apoptotic. Surprisingly, CsA enhanced oxidative stress and increased the overall number of dead cells. Based on these results, we conclude that the modulatory effect of CsA on MMS-induced cell death might arise from an interference by CsA with mitochondrial metabolism, rather than from inhibition of the MMS efflux mediated by P-glycoprotein.     

Induction of apoptosis in human leukemia K562 cells by cardiotoxin III

Cardiotoxin III (CTX III), a basic polypeptide with 60 amino acid residues isolated from Naja naja atra venom, has been reported to have anticancer activity. CTX III was found to inhibit the growth of K562 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner with IC50 value of 1.7 microg/ml, and it displayed several features of apoptosis including apoptotic body formation, increase of sub G1 population, DNA fragmentation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Investigation of the mechanism of CTXIII--induced apoptosis revealed that the treatment of K562 cells with CTX III resulted in the activation of caspase-9, caspase-3 and subsequent cleavage of its substrate PARP and that CTXIII was also associated with an early release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. These results suggest that CTX III may induce apoptosis through a mitochondria- and caspase-dependent mechanism.     

低浓度丰加霉素对人白血病K562细胞集落形成抑制作用的机制研究

目的初步探讨低浓度丰加霉素对人白血病K562细胞集落形成抑制作用的机制。方法甲基纤维素集落形成实验检测低浓度丰加霉素对人白血病K562细胞集落形成能力的影响;CCK-8法检测低浓度丰加霉素对K562细胞的生长抑制率;AnnexinV／PI双染流式细胞仪检测低浓度丰加霉素作用下的K562细胞凋亡率;PI单染流式细胞仪检测药物作用后细胞的周期分布改变;Western免疫印迹和实时定量PCR检测周期相关分子表达水平变化。结果低浓度丰加霉素对人白血病K562细胞具有较强的集落形成抑制作用;可明显抑制K562细胞的生长,呈时间一剂量依赖性;尽管短时间（48h）的药物处理仅出现轻度的细胞凋亡和周期阻滞,但10nmol/L和30nmol/L的丰加霉素长时间（7d）作用后,K562细胞G0／G1期比例分别是（62．3±1．7）％和（76．9±0．7）％,与对照组（38．9±1．1）％相比差异具有高度统计学意义（P〈0．01）;低浓度丰加霉素长时间作用后诱导K562细胞周期相关分子P16蛋白水平和转录水平的高表达。结论丰加霉素在低浓度,长时间作用于人白血病K562细胞后,具有较强的集落形成抑制和生长抑制作用,此作用可能与诱导细胞周期相关分子p16高表达,导致细胞G0／G1期阻滞有关。     

Induction of apoptosis in a human erythroleukemic cell line K562 by Tylophora alkaloids involves release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase 3

Tylophora alkaloids are plant products known for their antiasthamatic and antiproliferative activities. The underlying cellular changes resulting from inhibition of proliferation were investigated. Tylophora alkaloids induced apoptosis in K562 cells with characteristic apoptotic features like nuclear condensation, apoptotic body formation, flipping of membrane phosphatidylserine, activation of caspase 3 and release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. These studies suggest that the Tylophora alkaloids, in addition to their antiproliferative effects also induce apoptosis in erythroleukemic cells. These observations imply that Tylophora alkaloids could be useful molecules for their antiproliferative activity and for induction of apoptosis in tumor cells.     

Induction of apoptosis by quercetin: different response of human chronic myeloid (K562) and acute lymphoblastic (HSB-2) leukemia cells

This work shows that 25 μM quercetin caused a marked inhibition of K562 cells growth together with a mild cytotoxicity, while HSB-2 cells were practically unaffected. Moreover, quercetin induced caspase-3 and cytochrome c-dependent apoptosis almost exclusively in the former cell line. Exposure of K562 cells to quercetin caused also a significant increase of cells in G₂/M phase that reached the maximum peak at 24 h (4-fold with respect to the basal value). The major sensitivity exhibited by K562 cells was only in part imputable to their higher glutathione content, as compared to HSB-2 cells, thus confirming previous reports describing the formation of intracellular quercetin–thiol toxic adducts in cells exposed to the flavonoid. In fact, after induction of intracellular glutathione increase we detected in both cell lines a significant rise of apoptotic cells, again more marked in K562 cells. By contrast, glutathione-depleted cells, failed to show a decrease of apoptosis in both cell lines, thus contradicting our previous findings and literature data. Since the yet unresolved question about the anti-oxidant or the pro-oxidant capacity of quercetin, we investigated which of these two properties worked in our experimental model. Interestingly, not only quercetin did not produce reactive oxygen species but also prevented their formation, as observed in cells exposed to the oxidizing agent ter-butylhydroperoxide, acting as an efficient oxygen radicals scavenger. This result indicates that quercetin exhibited, in these cell lines, anti-oxidant more than pro-oxidant ability.     

Apoptosis induced by 3,7-dinitrodibenzobromonium salts in K562 cells

We evaluated the inhibitory effect of 3,7-dini-trodibenzobromonium salts (cBr) on the proliferation of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell by trypan blue exclusion test and MTT colorimetric assay.The degree of DNA damage in K562 cells treated with cBr,was detected by isotopic tracer method (3H-TdR).The morphological changes of these K562 cells were examined by fluorescence and electron microscopy.Biochemical characteristics of K562 cells were detected by flow cytome-try and 3H-thymidine incorporation assay.Findings indi-cated that cBr could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and result in DNA damage of K562 cells,cBr is a new type of immunostimulant and can induce cell apoptosis.     

ELF-MF attenuates quercetin-induced apoptosis in K562 cells through modulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins

This study investigated the effects of sinusoidal ELF-MF (1 mT; 50 Hz) on the apoptosis induced by four different compounds, namely vinblastine, etoposide, quercetin, and resveratrol, in human K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells. The exposure to ELF-MF did not affect growth and viability of untreated K562 cells and did not influence the anti-proliferative effects of resveratrol, vinblastine, and etoposide. On the contrary, in quercetin-treated cells, exposure to ELF-MF significantly reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells and the caspase-3 activity and modified the cell cycle profile especially after 48 h of exposure. In addition, the simultaneous treatments for 24 h with quercetin plus ELF-MF increased Bcl-2 protein expression and prevented quercetin-induced downregulation of Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL. Finally, an increase of HSP70 expression was also observed after prolonged ELF-MF treatment. The ELF-MF-dependent modulation of the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family and Hsp70 proteins could act as a pro-survival mechanism in K562 cells.     

Induction of apoptosis in K562 cells by dicyclohexylammonium salt of hyperforin through a mitochondrial-related pathway

Hyperforin is an abundant phloroglucinol-type constituent isolated from the extract of the flowering upper portion of the plant Hypericum perforatum L. The dicyclohexylammonium salt of hyperforin (DCHA-HF) has exhibited antitumor and antiangiogenic activities in various cancer cells. Here, the antitumor effects of DCHA-HF on the chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cell line were investigated for the first time. DCHA-HF exhibited dose- and time-dependent inhibitory activities against K562 cells, with IC(50) values of 8.6 and 3.2 μM for 48 h and 72 h of treatment, respectively, which was more effective than that of the hyperforin. In contrast, little cytotoxic activity was observed with DCHA-HF on HUVECs. DCHA-HF treatment resulted in induction of apoptosis as evidenced from DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation and increase of early apoptotic cells by DAPI staining analysis, TUNEL assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI double-labeled staining analysis, respectively. Moreover, DCHA-HF elicited dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential that commenced with the release of cytochrome c through down-regulation of expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and up-regulation of expression of pro-apoptotic proteins. DCHA-HF treatment induced activation of the caspase 3, 8, and 9 cascade and subsequent PARP cleavage, and DCHA-HF-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited by caspase inhibitors. Treated cells were arrested at the G1 phase of the cell cycle and the expression of p53 and p27(Kip1), two key regulators related to cell cycle and apoptosis, was up-regulated. These results suggest that DCHA-HF inhibits K562 cell growth by inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis mediated by a mitochondrial pathway and arresting the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Therefore, DCHA-HF is a potential chemotherapeutic antitumor drug for chronic myeloid leukemia therapy.     

Oleanolic acid derivatives induce apoptosis in human leukemia K562 cell involved in inhibition of both Akt1 translocation and pAkt1 expression

Oleanolic acid (OA) derivatives exhibit numerous pleiotropic effects in many cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of 5′-amino-oleana-2,12-dieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-28-oic acid (compound 4) and oleana-2,12-dieno[2,3-d]isoxazol-28-oic acid (compound 5) inducing apoptosis in human leukemia K562 cell. We investigated the effects of the compounds on K562 cell growth, apoptosis and cell cycle. The compounds showed strong inhibitory effects on K562 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and significantly increased chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies in K562 cells. Flow cytometry assay suggested that the compounds induced inhibition of K562 cell proliferation associated with G1 phase arrest. In addition, the compounds inhibited Akt1 recruiting to membrane in CHO cells which express Akt1-EGFP constitutively and down-regulated the expression of pAkt1 in K562 cell. These results suggested that the compounds can efficiently inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis perhaps involved in inactivation of Akt1. The OA derivatives may be potential chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of human cancer.     

Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells: possible involvement of p38 MAP kinase

Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) was recently demonstrated to be an effective inducer of apoptosis in patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) as well as in patients with APL in whom all-trans-retinoic acid and conventional chemotherapy failed. Chronic myelogenous leukemia cells are highly resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs. To determine if As(2)O(3) might be useful for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, we examined the ability of As(2)O(3) to induce apoptosis in K562 cells. In vitro cytotoxicity of As(2)O(3) was evaluated in K562 cells by a MTT assay; the IC(50) value for As(2)O(3) was determined to be 10 microM. When analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, the DNA fragments became evident after incubation of the cells with 20 microM As(2)O(3) for 24 h. We also found morphological changes and chromatin condensation of the cells undergoing apoptosis. Activation of caspase-3 was observed 6 h after treatment with 20 microM As(2)O(3) by a Western blot analysis. Next, we examined the MAP kinase-signaling pathway of As(2)O(3)-induced apoptosis in K562 cells. As(2)O(3) at 10 microM strongly induced the activation of p38 and JNK 1/2, while ERK 1/2 was inhibited. In addition, pretreatment of SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38, inhibited As(2)O(3) induced apoptotic cell death. These results suggest that As(2)O(3) is able to induce the apoptotic activity in K562 cells, and its apoptotic mechanism may be associated with the activation of p38.     

Underlying Mechanism of Quercetin-induced Cell Death in Human Glioma Cells

There has been considerable interest in recent years in the anti-tumor activities of flavonoids. Quercetin, a ubiquitous bioactive flavonoid, can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. However, the precise molecular mechanism by which quercetin induces apoptosis in cancer cells is poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of quercetin on cell viability and to determine its underlying mechanism in human glioma cells. Quercetin resulted in loss of cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner and the decrease in cell viability was mainly attributed to cell death. Quercetin did not increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the quercetin-induced cell death was also not affected by antioxidants, suggesting that ROS generation is not involved in loss of cell viability. Western blot analysis showed that quercetin treatment caused rapid reduction in phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt. Transient transfection with constitutively active forms of MEK and Akt protected against the quercetin-induced loss of cell viability. Quercetin-induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Caspase activity was stimulated by quercetin and caspase inhibitors prevented the quercetin-induced loss of cell viability. Quercetin resulted in a decrease in expression of survivin, antiapoptotic proteins. Taken together, these findings suggest that quercetin results in human glioma cell death through caspase-dependent mechanisms involving down-regulation of ERK, Akt, and survivin.     

Mitochondria-regulated death pathway mediates (DIPP-L-Leu)2-L-LysOCH3-induced K562 cells apoptosis

(DIPP-L-Leu)2-L-LysOCH3 is a diisopropylphosphoryl dipeptide which is known to induce apoptosis of human leukemia K562 cells. The molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in this process remain to be clarified. Herein, we show that (DIPP-L-Leu)2-L-LysOCH3-induced apoptosis is associated with cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c, sustained loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MMP), transient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. A specific caspase assay reveals an increase in caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity but no change in caspase-8 activity. Immunofluorescence analysis indicates that (DIPP-L-Leu)2-L-LysOCH3 induced upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L). These results suggest that the mitochondria-regulated death pathway mediates (DIPP-L-Leu)2-L-LysOCH3-induced K562 cells apoptosis.