title: Lithium Chloride Promotes Apoptosis in Human Leukemia NB4 Cells by Inhibiting Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Beta.
abstract: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). With the application of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO), APL becomes one of best prognosis of leukemia. However, ATRA and ATO are not effective against all APLs. Therefore, a new strategy for APL treatment is necessary. Here, we investigated whether lithium chloride (LiCl), a drug used for the treatment of mental illness, could promote apoptosis in human leukemia NB4 cells. We observed that treatment with LiCl significantly accelerated apoptosis in NB4 cells and led to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Moreover, LiCl significantly increased the level of Ser9-phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β(p-GSK-3β), and decreased the level of Akt1 protein in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, LiCl inhibition of c-Myc also enhanced cell death with a concomitant increase in β-catnin. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that LiCl promoted apoptosis in NB4 cells through the Akt signaling pathway and that G2/M phase arrest was induced by increase of p-GSK-3β(S9).
authors.affiliation: 1. Central Laboratory of Yong-chuan hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402160, China. ; 2. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chong-qing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1. Central Laboratory of Yong-chuan hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402160, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 2. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chong-qing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: 2. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chong-qing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 2. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chong-qing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qun
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 2. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chong-qing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Kai-Ling
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: 1. Central Laboratory of Yong-chuan hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402160, China. ; 2. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chong-qing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Bei-Zhong
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D018021:Lithium Chloride
keywords: GSK-3β; Lichium chloride; apoptosis; leukemia cells; proliferation