title: Methanol extract of Antrodia cinnamomea mycelia induces phenotypic and functional differentiation of HL60 into monocyte-like cells via an ERK/CEBP-β signaling pathway.
abstract: Antrodia cinnamomea (named as Niu-chang-chih), a well-known Taiwanese folk medicinal mushroom, has a spectrum of biological activities, especially with anti-tumor property. This study was carried out for the first time to examine the potential role and the underlying mechanisms of A. cinnamomea in the differentiation of human leukemia HL60 cells. We found that the methanol extract of liquid cultured mycelia of A. cinnamomea (MEMAC) inhibited proliferation and induced G1-phase cell cycle arrest in HL60 cells. MEMAC could induce differentiation of HL60 cells into the monocytic lineage, as evaluated by the morphological change, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction assay, non-specific esterase assay, and expression of CD14 and CD11b surface antigens. In addition, MEMAC activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and increased CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) expression. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that MEMAC upregulated the expression of C/EBPβ and CD14 mRNA in HL60 cells. DNA affinity precipitation assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses indicated that MEMAC enhanced the direct binding of C/EBPβ to its response element located at upstream of the CD14 promoter. Furthermore, inhibiting ERK pathway activation with PD98059 markedly blocked MEMAC-induced HL60 monocytic differentiation. Consistently, the MEMAC-mediated upregulation of C/EBPβ and CD14 was also suppressed by PD98059. These findings demonstrate that MEMAC-induced HL60 cell monocytic differentiation is via the activating ERK signaling pathway, and downstream upregulating the transcription factor C/EBPβ and differentiation marker CD14 gene, suggesting that MEMAC might be a potential differentiation-inducing agent for treatment of leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station, Council of Agriculture, Propagation Technology Section, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Luan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Chieh-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chia-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wen-Lee
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chao-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Shih-Lan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D055491:Antrodia / Q000737:chemistry*; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043182:Carboxylesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008301:Maleimides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000432:Methanol; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008299:Maleic Anhydrides; D008301:Maleimides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D000432:Methanol