Wogonin induces the granulocytic differentiation of human NB4 promyelocytic leukemia cells and up-regulates phospholipid scramblase 1 gene expression.
Previous studies have firmly demonstrated that wogonin, a naturally occurring monoflavonoid extracted from the root of the Chinese herb medicine Scutellaria baicalensis, could effectively inhibit the proliferation of several cancer cell lines. However, little is known about the effect of wogonin on differentiation induction of leukemic cells. Here we investigate the potential role of wogonin in the proliferation and differentiation of NB4, a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line derived from a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Our results indicated that wogonin significantly suppressed the proliferation and efficiently induced the differentiation of NB4 cells. NB4 cell growth was inhibited by 55-60% after treatment with 50 microM wogonin for a period of 5 days. The results of the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test (with 67.13% positive cells by 50 microM wogonin for 5 days), Giemsa staining (with 67.24% positive cells by 50 microM wogonin for 5 days), and the expression of mature-related cell-surface differentiation antigens CD11b and CD14 (with 70.94% CD11b(+) and 5.82% CD14(+) cells by 50 microM wogonin for 5 days) demonstrated an increase in the differentiation-inducing action of wogonin on the NB4 cells, which was accompanied by an increase in mRNA and protein expression of phospholipids scramblase 1 (PLSCR1). Meanwhile, the level of phosphorylated PKC delta (Ser643) was dramatically increased in wogonin treated NB4 cells. Interestingly, wogonin treatment displayed little effect on the apoptosis of NB4 cells. Taken together, the results reported here demonstrated that wogonin could promote the granulocytic differentiation of NB4 cells by up-regulating the expression of PLSCR1 gene.
Zhang
Kun
K
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Guo
Qing-Long
QL
You
Qi-Dong
QD
Yang
Yong
Y
Zhang
Hai-Wei
HW
Yang
Li
L
Gu
Hong-Yan
HY
Qi
Qi
Q
Tan
Zi
Z
Wang
Xiaotang
X
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D044950:Flavanones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000276:immunology*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D039481:CD11b Antigen; D044950:Flavanones; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; C493422:PLSCR1 protein, human; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; C085514:wogonin