Phospholipase A2 has a role in proliferation but not in differentiation of HL-60 cells

The role of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and its metabolite arachidonic acid (AA) in the proliferation and differentiation of HL-60 cells was investigated. Addition of either 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) or retinoic acid (RA) to HL-60 cells for 2 h inhibited PMA-stimulated PLA₂ activity measured by [³H]AA release. The inhibitor of PLA₂ activity, p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), significantly inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and of fibroblast L929 and Swiss 3T3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of BPB on proliferation is probably through its inhibitory effect on PLA₂ activity, since the same doses of BPB which inhibited proliferation also inhibited PLA₂ activity determined by [³H]AA release. The importance of PLA₂ activity for cell growth was further supported by the effect of two other PLA₂ inhibitors, AACOCF₃ and scalaradial, which inhibited HL-60 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. BPB, AACOCF₃ and scalaradial significantly increased the doubling time to 32.4 h, 34.0 h and 31.8 h, respectively, compared with 24.6 h in the control. The inhibitory effect of BPB on HL-60 proliferation was reversed by addition of exogenous free AA to HL-60 cells, indicating the importance of this metabolite for the proliferation process. This reversible effect is specific for AA since it was not achieved by other fatty acids like linolenic acid (LA) or oleic acid (OA). Addition of free AA to HL-60 cells did not induce differentiation, as expected. Although BPB, AACOCF₃, or scalaradial inhibited proliferation, they did not induce differentiation nor affect the differentiation induced by 1,25(OH)₂D₃ or RA. These results implicate that PLA₂ activity has no regulatory role in differentiation of HL-60 cells. The differential effect of PLA₂ inhibitors on proliferation and differentiation of HL-60 cells suggests that these two processes function under different regulatory mechanisms.     

Supplemental ascorbate or alpha-tocopherol induces cell death in Cu-deficient HL-60 cells

Cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) is the Cu-dependent, terminal respiratory complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Inhibition of CCO can promote oxidative stress by increasing mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because mitochondria have an important role in apoptosis as both a target and source for ROS, enhanced ROS production resulting from inhibition of CCO by Cu deficiency may trigger apoptosis. The present study focuses on the mitochondrial effects of N,N'-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanedi-amine (TET), which inhibits CCO by causing cellular Cu deficiency, and the antioxidants ascorbate and alpha-tocopherol in a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60). The following effects were observed: (i) TET reduced both cell growth and viability only in the presence of ascorbate or alpha-tocopherol; (ii) TET reduced CCO activity and increased mitochondrial ROS production as indicated by increased expression of Mn super-oxide dismutase, but the induction of Mn superoxide dismutase was not affected by ascorbate or alpha-tocopherol; (iii) TET acted independently of ascorbate or alpha-tocopherol in disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential; (iv) TET did not increase caspase-8 activity in the absence of ascorbate or alpha-tocopherol; and (v) TET did not increase transfer of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol unless alpha-tocopherol was present. These findings indicate that reduction in CCO activity by TET-induced Cu deficiency increased oxidative stress in HL-60 cells sufficiently to disrupt the electrochemical gradient of the inner mitochondrial membrane but did not trigger cell death. Also, ascorbate and alpha-tocopherol did not alleviate oxidative stress but may have become pro-oxidants, adding to the oxidant burden sufficiently to trigger cell death in TET-treated cells.     

Do the Copper Complexes of Histamine,Histidine and of Two H2-Antagonists React with O−2?

The effects of cimetidine, ranitidine, histamine and histidine. as well as of their copper complexes, have been examined in an enzymic and chemical O^?₂ generated systems. Copper complexes like CuZnSOD inhibited both the reduction of cytochrome c and NBT²⁺ in xanthine-xanthine oxidase systems, but their inhibitory action was due to a certain extent to the copper-induced inhibition of xanthine oxidase. EDTA abolished the inhibitory effect of all copper complexes studied. Luminol chemiluminescence in NADH,-PMS system was inhibited by CuZnSOD while it was enhanced by copper complexes. The copper-accelerating effect gradually increased up to about I μM Cu and decreased, reaching the control values up to 10 μM Cu. In the presence of low copper concentrations chemiluminescence was inhibited by CuZnSOD only, while in the presence of high copper concentrations it was inhibited by catalase and mannitol. but not by CuZnSOD. The ligands however, have been ineffective in the two O^?_2; generated systems.     

S-Adenosylmethionine metabolism in HL-60 cells: effect of cell cycle and differentiation

The effect of the cell cycle and differentiation on S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) metabolism in HL-60 cells has been investigated. Synthesis and pool sizes of SAM and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) were cell-cycle-independent (SAM, 315, μM; SAH, 4.6 μM). The SAM-synthase (ATP: l-methionine S-adenosyltransferase) of HL-60 cells has a K_m for methionine of 12.8±2.0 μM and thus appears to be of the intermediate K_m type found in other malignant tissues. The enzyme does not show cell-cycle regulation. Treatment of cells with DMSO resulted in a rapid and marked decrease of SAM and SAH levels without affecting pool turnover or the SAM/SAH ratio. A decrease in SAM concentration could also be observed in a variant cell line resistant to differentiation with DMSO. DMSO inhibited SAM-synthase in cell-free extracts. This inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to l-methionine. Inhibition of SAM-synthase by cycloleucine lowered SAM levels in intact cells, but resulted in differentiation of only a minor percentage of cells. These data indicate that changes in SAM and SAH levels in HL-60 cells seem to be a consequence rather than a cause of differentiation.     

Maturation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells induced by nicotinamide: Evidence of a regulatory role for ADP-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins

We have studied the role of ADP-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins in the regulation of myeloid cell maturation using the HL-60 cell line as a model. Nuclei isolated from this human promyelocytic leukemia cell line contained (ADP-ribose)_n synthetase activity, whereas little or no enzymatic activity was detectable in normal human blood neutrophils. Furthermore, the activity of (ADP-ribose)_n synthetase was decreased in HL-60 cells when they were induced to mature with retinoic acid (RA). To determine whether reduced (ADP-ribose)_n synthetase activity is simply a result of induced maturation or whether it is a necessary precedent event for the maturation process, we evaluated the effects of nicotinamide (NAm) and its methyl derivative, N′-methylnicotinamide (N′-Met-NAm), agents which decrease ADP-ribosylation. Treatment of HL-60 cells with these drugs caused the cells to undergo maturation and to acquire certain of the morphologic, functional, and biochemical characteristics of normal neutrophils. N′-Met-NAm was more potent than NAm in inducting maturation; at a concentration of 0.8 mM, it caused greater than 80% of the cells to mature, whereas a tenfold greater concentration of NAm was required to induce a similar degree of maturation. NAm and N′-Met-NAm also potentiated the maturation of HL-60 cells induced by RA. Exposure of cells to noninducing concentrations of these compounds caused a leftward shift in the dose-response curve for RA; maturation was observed at 10^?11 M RA in the presence of either 2 mM NAm or 0.2 mM N′-Met-NAm while 10^?9 M RA was required to induce maturation in their absence. A leftward shift in the dose response curve for maturation in the presence of low doses of NAm or N′-Met-NAm did not occur with another inducer, dimethyl formamide (DMF). Two enzymes, NAD glycohydrolase and tissue transglutaminase, that are abundant in macrophages, were induced by RA but not by NAm. N′-Met-NAm decreased by about 75% the amount of endogenous (ADP-ribose)_n in a selected fraction of chromosomal proteins which included histone H₁ and the nonhistone high mobility group proteins. The results of this study support the concept that ADP-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins influences the regulation of human myeloid cell maturation.     

Electric field-induced changes in agonist-stimulated calcium fluxes of human HL-60 leukemia cells

The mechanism of biological effects of extremely-low-frequency electric and magnetic fields may involve induced changes of Ca²⁺ transport through plasma membrane ion channels. In this study we investigated the effects of externally applied, low-intensity 60 Hz electric (E) fields (0.5 V/m, current density 0.8 A/m²⁺) on the agonist-induced Ca²⁺ fluxes of HL-60 leukemia cells. The suspensions of HL-60 cells received E-field or sham exposure for 60 min and were simultaneously stimulated either by 1 μM ATP or by 100 μM histamine or were not stimulated at all. After E-field or sham exposure, the responses of the intracellular calcium levels of the cells to different concentrations of ATP (0.2–100 μM) were assessed. Compared with control cells, exposure of ATP-activated cells to an E-field resulted in a 20–30% decrease in the magnitude of [Ca²⁺]_i elevation induced by a low concentration of ATP (<1 μM). In contrast, exposure of histamine-activated HL-60 cells resulted in a 20–40% increase of ATP-induced elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i. E-field exposure had no effect on non-activated cells. Kinetic analysis of concentration-response plots also showed that compared with control cells, exposure to the E-field resulted in increases of the Michaelis constant, K_m, value in ATP-treated cells and of the maximal [Ca²⁺]_i peak rise in histamine-treated HL-60 cells. The observed effects were reversible, indicating the absence of permanent structural damages induced by acute 60 min exposure to electric fields. These results demonstrate that low-intensity electric fields can alter calcium distribution in cells, most probably due to the effect on receptor-operated Ca²⁺ and/or ion channels. Bioelectromagnetics 19:366–376, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Combined Effects of Aphidicolin and Retinoic Acid On Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Leukaemic (HL-60) Cells

The relationships between replicative DNA synthesis and retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation of human promyelocytic leukaemic (HL-60) cells are evaluated with the use of Aphidicolin, a specific and reversible inhibitor of DNA polymerase alpha (α). Addition of a sublethal concentration of Aphidicolin (0.4 μM) in culture for 3 days suppresses DNA synthesis to a similar level of the resting stage (day 8) in control cultures. DNA synthesis is reactivated to the level observed in the growing stage of control cultures once Aphidicolin is removed after 3 days in culture. the level of DNA synthesis at the early stage of RA-induction (day 3) is suppressed by only 17% when compared to control cultures. the inhibitory effect of Aphidicolin on DNA synthesis in both control cultures and RA-induced cell cultures is similar. However, no reactivation of DNA synthesis is observed after removal of Aphidicolin on day 3 from RA-induced cell cultures. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content on day 3 reveals that cells accumulate in G₁ and early S phases of the cell cycle after exposure to Aphidicolin with or without RA. of interest is the fact that, while Aphidicolin alone did not induce cells to differentiate, neither did it interfere with RA-induced cell differentiation (the rate of RA-induced cell differentiation in the presence of Aphidicolin is similar to that of RA-treated cultures in the absence of Aphidicolin). These results suggest that the combined use of Aphidicolin and RA may inhibit leukaemic cell proliferation more effectively without causing severe cytotoxicity and without interfering with RA-induced cell differentiation.     

Induction ofMRP/GS-X pump and cellular resistance to anticancer prostaglandins

We provide evidence that the expression of the humanMRP/GS-X pump encoded by theMRP (multidrug resistance associated protein) gene is induced by cisplatin in human leukemia HL-60/R-CP (cisplatin-resistant) cells and modulates cell growth inhibition by Δ⁷-prostaglandin A₁ (PGA₁) methyl ester. TheMRP mRNA level in HL-60/R-CP cells increased remarkably after a 24-h incubation with 20 μM cisplatin; interestingly, however, no amplification of theMRP gene was detected. In cisplatin-sensitive HL-60 cells, which express theMRP/GS-X pump at low levels, c-myc expression was substantially supressed by Δ⁷-PGA₁ methyl ester and the cell cycle was arrested in G1 phase. By contrast, in HL-60/R-CP cells overexpressing theMRP/GS-X pump, c-myc expression and cell proliferation were much less affected by Δ⁷-PGA₁ methyl ester. This suggests that induction of theMRP/GS-X pump may confer on cancer cells resistance to anticancer prostaglandins and that the resistance mechanism may involve the increased efflux of PG-glutathione conjugates, as active intermediates, from the cells via theMRP/GS-X pump.     

氟苯达唑对人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞的增殖抑制作用研究

目的:研究氟苯达唑对人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞增殖的抑制作用,明确氟苯达唑对HL-60细胞周期,凋亡发生的作用机制。方法:噻唑蓝法(MTT)检测氟苯达唑对人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞的生长抑制作用,流式细胞术检测氟苯达唑对HL-60细胞周期,DNA片段化的影响,免疫印迹法检测Caspase, Raf, Bcl-2家族蛋白表达。结果:氟苯达唑抑制人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞生长,HL-60细胞G2/M期增加,与阴性对照组相比,在一定的剂量和时间内,差别具有显著统计学意义;DNA片段化上升,0.25,0.5,1μM组与对照组相比差别具有显著统计学意义,促使Cleaved PARP,Cleaved-caspase 3,Cleaved-caspase 9蛋白表达量趋势增加;Bag-1和Bcl-2蛋白表达量降低;b-raf,c-raf磷酸化蛋白表达水平逐渐降低。结论:氟苯达唑通过诱导HL-60细胞阻滞于G2/M期,增加DNA片段化水平,激活Caspase, Raf, Bcl-2家族介导的凋亡相关通路抑制人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞增殖,诱导人急性髓系白血病HL-60细胞发生凋亡而发挥抗肿瘤作用。     

Design and synthesis of parthenolide-SAHA hybrids for intervention of drug-resistant acute myeloid leukemia

A series of parthenolide-SAHA hybrids were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-AML activities against HL-60 and HL-60/ADR cell lines. The most active compound 26 exhibited high activity against HL-60/ADR cell line with IC₅₀ value of 0.15 μM, which demonstrated 16.8-fold improvement compared to that of the parent compound PTL (IC₅₀ = 2.52 μM). Moreover, it was six times more potent than the reference drug SAHA (IC₅₀ = 0.90 µM) and fifty-one times more potent than ADR (IC₅₀ = 7.72 µM). The preliminary molecular mechanism of 26 indicated that compound 26 could significantly induce apoptosis of HL-60/ADR cells. The effect of compound 26 was mainly through mitochondria pathway. Further investigation revealed that the protein level of HDAC1 and HDAC6 were reduced after the treatment of compound 26 with a dose-dependent manner. Compound 26 could significantly decrease ABCC1 expression, which increased the accumulation of intracellular drug for overcoming the drug resistance. On the base of these results, compound 26 might be considered as a promising candidate for further evaluation as a potential anti-AML drug.     

Modulation of normal myelopoiesis invitro by retinoic acid

The effects of retinoic acid (RA) on the proliferation and differentiation of normal myeloid progenitor cells (CFU-C) were studied. In general, RA at 10^?10 to 10^?6 M enhanced primary myeloid colony formation in the presence of colony-stimulating factor(s). However, macrophage colony formation was strongly inhibited by RA. This may be related to the finding that RA is able to differentiate bipotential HL-60 cells into granulocytes but not into macrophages. Moreover, secondary colony formation was always suppressed by the addition of RA to the primary cultures. It means that self-renewal capacity of CFU-C was suppressed by RA. This finding suggests that normal myelopoiesis will be suppressed eventually by RA.     

Cell cycle dependence of calmodulin levels during HL-60 proliferation and myeloid differentiation: No changes during pre-commitment

The putative role of Ca²⁺ and calmodulin in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation was tested in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. The dependence of retinoic acid (RA)-induced terminal myeloid differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells on calmodulin levels and calcium ion flux was ascertained. RA-treated and untreated control cells were stained for cellular DNA with a Hoechst dye. Populations of G1/0, S and G2+M phase cells were isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Cytosolic calmodulin levels were then measured as a function of cell cycle phase for RA-treated and untreated cells using a radioimmunoassay. RA-treated cells were measured at early times, corresponding to the precommitment state, and late times, when significant cell differentiation had occurred. Cellular calmodulin levels increased with progression through the cell cycle. In contrast, no difference in calmodulin levels was observed between RA-untreated or -treated cells in the same cell cycle phases at early or late times. RA-induced HL-60 terminal myeloid differentiation was thus apparently not regulated by cellular cytosolic calmodulin levels. These conclusions were supported by the effects of calmodulin antagonists and calcium flux inhibitors. The calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine and compound 48/80 both retarded cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner. But at concentrations where cellular effect was evidenced by slight growth inhibition, neither antagonist inhibited RA-induced cell differentiation or G1/0 growth arrest. The same was true of the gated calcium channel inhibitors, verapamil and nitrendipene, and the passive calcium flux inhibitor, CoC1₂. RA-induced HL-60 cell differentiation and arrest in G0 was thus apparently not strongly dependent on cellular calmodulin levels or calcium flux. This is in strong contrast to murine erythroleukemia cells. The results argue against a central regulatory role for calmodulin or calcium flux in control of HL-60 growth arrest or differentiation.     

Epigallocatechin gallate,ellagic acid,and rosmarinic acid perturb dNTP pools and inhibit de novo DNA synthesis and proliferation of human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells: Synergism with arabinofuranosylcytosine

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), ellagic acid (EA) and rosmarinic acid (RA) are natural polyphenols exerting cancer chemopreventive effects. Ribonucleotide reductase (RR; EC 1.17.4.1) converts ribonucleoside diphosphates into deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates being essential for DNA replication, which is why the enzyme is considered an excellent target for anticancer therapy.EGCG, EA, and RA dose-dependently inhibited the growth of human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, exerted strong free radical scavenging potential, and significantly imbalanced nuclear deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) concentrations without distinctly affecting the protein levels of RR subunits (R1, R2, p53R2). Incorporation of ¹⁴C-cytidine into nascent DNA of tumor cells was also significantly lowered, being equivalent to an inhibition of DNA synthesis. Consequently, treatment with EGCG and RA attenuated cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, finally resulting in a pronounced induction of apoptosis. Sequential combination of EA and RA with the first-line antileukemic agent arabinofuranosylcytosine (AraC) synergistically potentiated the antiproliferative effect of AraC, whereas EGCG plus AraC yielded additive effects.Taken together, we show for the first time that EGCG, EA, and RA perturbed dNTP levels and inhibited cell proliferation in human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, with EGCG and RA causing a pronounced induction of apoptosis. Due to these effects and synergism with AraC, these food ingredients deserve further preclinical and in vivo testing as inhibitors of leukemic cell proliferation.     

Induction of HL-60 cell differentiation by water-soluble and nitrogen-containing conjugates of retinoic acid and retinol

Retinoids induce the promyelocytic cell line, HL-60, to differentiate along the granulocytic pathway in vitro. A number of water-soluble and nitrogen-containing retinoids were synthesized in our laboratory [retinoyl-glucose (RAGL), retinyl-glucose (ROGL), retinoyl-adenosine (RADS), retinoyl-adenine (RAD), retinoyl-beta-glucuronide (beta RAG), and retinoyl-alpha-glucuronide (alpha RAG)]. These retinoids (10(-5) to 10(-8) M), as well as retinoic acid (RA) and retinol (ROL), were tested for their ability to induce the differentiation of HL-60 cells in vitro and to affect cell growth and viability during a 24- to 72-h incubation period. Differentiation was assessed by measuring the percentage of cells expressing the Mac-1 antigen on their cell surfaces. RA and the conjugates of RA were all quite active in inducing HL-60 cell differentiation, whereas ROL and ROGL had much less activity at equimolar concentrations. beta RAG, alpha RAG, RADS, and RAD were less toxic, whereas the glucose conjugates of retinol and retinoic acid (ROGL and RAGL) were both considerably more toxic than either RA or ROL at equimolar concentrations. All retinoids affected cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion. At 24 h, free RA or ROL was not detected in the cells after incubation with any of the retinoid conjugates.     

维生素A类化合物和二甲基亚砜诱导人早幼粒白血病细胞(HL-60)分化的显微与亚显微结构研究

用光镜和电镜技术研究了HL-60细胞在诱导分化过程中的显微与亚显微结构变化,10~(-6)M的维A酸处理6天,细胞按粒系途径定向分化,其核质比例降低,核浓缩、分叶,核仁减少或消失。经RA处理的细胞在电镜下出现下列明显的变化:细胞核浓缩和分叶,异染色质区域增加,约46%细胞显示出类似成熟粒细胞核的亚显微形态特征,胞质中嗜天青颗粒减少,特异颗粒显著增加,两种颗粒的比率发生明显变化;细胞质中微管、微丝的量增加;多聚和单个分散的游离核糖体减少,有些??细胞胞质空泡化;出现主要以微丝为筑架的大型钝形伪足和不规则的表面突起。上述这些变化似可作为HL-60细胞形态分化的标志。维A酸诱导HL-60细胞形态分化具有明显的时间效应关系。1.4%DMSO对HL-60细胞分化的诱导作用类似于10~(-6)MRA,而等剂量的(10~(-6)M)R Ⅰ、RⅡ其作用弱于RA。     

HL-60-AR白血病细胞诱导分化性状的持续性表达

HGPRT~-人早幼粒白血病细胞突变株(HL-60-AR)与RA保温一定时间后,洗去药物继续培养,细胞分化性状(NBT还原能力、细胞膜C_3补体受体及形态变化)不但继续存在,而且能持续表达。撤去RA后连续传代培养,至少在传三代后细胞分化性状仍高度表达。然而,DMSO对HL-60-AR细胞的作用特点明显不同于RA。HL-60-AR细胞分化伴随增殖能力的降低。核酸分子杂交结果表明,细胞c-myc癌基因表达受抑先于细胞分化性状的获得和增殖能力的下降。     

Analysis by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis of differentiation-dependent alterations in cytosolic protein pattern of HL-60 leukemic cells.

HL-60 leukemic cells were differentiated along the neutrophilic pathway with retinoic acid (RA) or along the monocytic pathway with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). Using a high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis technique and subsequent silver staining, differentiation-dependent changes in cytosolic protein pattern of HL-60 cells were analysed and were compared with the cytosolic protein pattern of human neutrophils. The amount of 64 and 50 out of a total of 632 proteins studied was increased or decreased in RA- and 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells, respectively, in comparison to undifferentiated HL-60 cells. Thirty-three of these proteins were similarly altered in RA- and 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells. Twenty-two and 25 of the proteins altered in amount in RA- or 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells versus undifferentiated HL-60 cells were similarly altered in human neutrophils in comparison to undifferentiated HL-60 cells. Seven and 10 of the proteins altered in amount in RA- or 1,25(OH)2D3-differentiated HL-60 cells had specific equivalents in neutrophil cytosol. Our results show (i) that neutrophilic and monocytic differentiation is associated with decreases and increases in amount of cytosolic proteins; (ii) that both differentiation processes share a common set of alterations; and (iii) are associated with specific alterations in protein amount.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel perimidine o-quinone derivatives as non-intercalative topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitors

For the development of novel anticancer agents, we designed and synthesized a total of 37 perimidine o-quinone derivatives containing the o-quinone group at the A or B ring and different substituents (alkyl groups, aryl groups or heterocycles) at the C ring of the compounds. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) were established based on the cytotoxicity data of compounds from the HL-60, Huh7, Hct116, and Hela cell lines. The cytotoxicity results showed that most compounds exhibited potent cytotoxicity. In particular, compound b-12 showed the best anti-proliferative activity (IC₅₀ ≤ 1 μM) against four cancer cell lines and strong potency against the HL-60/MX2 (0.47 μM) cell line, which is resistant to Topo II poisons. Further studies showed that b-12 exhibited potent Topo IIα inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 7.54 μM) compared with Topo I, which acted as a class of non-intercalative Topo IIα catalytic inhibitor by inhibiting the ATP binding site of Topo II. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle assays confirmed that b-12 could induce the apoptosis of Huh7 cells in a dose-dependent manner.