Trans-1,3-diphenyl-2,3-epoxypropan-1-one, a chalcone derivative, induces apoptosis via ROS-mediated down-regulation of Bcl-xL in human leukemia HL-60 cells.
The anticancer effects of trans-1,3-diphenyl-2,3-epoxypropan-1-one (DPEP), a chalcone derivative, were investigated in human leukemia HL-60 cells. Treatment of HL-60 cells with various concentration of DPEP resulted in a sequence of events characteristic of apoptosis, including loss of cell viability, morphological changes, and increased sub-G1 DNA content. We demonstrated that DPEP elevates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HL-60 cells, and that the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could block DPEP-induced ROS generation and apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that DPEP inhibits Bcl-xL expression, leading to caspase-3 activation and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage, thereby inducing apoptosis. However, NAC pre-treatment significantly inhibited the activation of caspase-3 and PARP cleavage and reduced Bcl-xL levels. These findings provide the first evidence that DPEP may inhibit the growth of HL-60 cells and induce apoptosis through a ROS-mediated Bcl-xL pathway.
Jeju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Jeju 690-140, Republic of Korea; School of Marine Biomedical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
Eun-Yi
EY
Ko
Division of Food Bioscience, Konkuk University, Chungju Chungbuk 380-701, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Hong
SH
Lee
School of Marine Biomedical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Yeon
JY
Ko
Subtropical Horticulture Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
Jeong Yong
JY
Moon
Jeju Biodiversity Research Institute, Jeju Technopark, Jeju, 699-943, Republic of Korea.
Weon-Jong
WJ
Yoon
Department of Marine Bio-Food Sciences, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 550-749, Republic of Korea.
Ginnae
G
Ahn
Jeju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Jeju 690-140, Republic of Korea.
Seong Woon
SW
Roh
Jeju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Jeju 690-140, Republic of Korea.
Kichul
K
Cho
School of Marine Biomedical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
You-Jin
YJ
Jeon
Jeju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Jeju 690-140, Republic of Korea.
Daekyung
D
Kim
Jeju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Jeju 690-140, Republic of Korea; Department of Marin Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-350, Republic of Korea.
Kil-Nam
KN
Kim
Bcl-xL; anticancer; apoptosis; reactive oxygen species (ROS); trans-1,3-diphenyl-2,3-epoxypropan-1-one (DPEP)