title: Zoledronic acid overcomes adriamycin resistance in acute myeloid leukemia cells by promoting apoptosis.
abstract: Zoledronic acid (ZOL), a nitrogen‑containing bisphosphonate, is widely used in metastatic bone disease. Previous studies indicate that ZOL has marked anti‑leukemia activity, however, the underlying mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to explore the mechanism of the anti‑leukemia effect of ZOL in leukemia cells. It was observed that ZOL inhibited the proliferation of HL‑60 and adriamycin‑resistant HL‑60 (HL‑60/A) cells using a WST‑8 assay. An Annexin V‑propidium iodide indicated that ZOL induced apoptosis of the two cell types in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. Hoechst 33342 staining was also used to verify the levels of apoptosis. The colony formation assay demonstrated that ZOL significantly inhibited colony formation capacity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. This was achieved by the induction of S‑phase cell cycle arrest, downregulation of B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) and upregulation of Bcl‑2 associated X protein and cleaved poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase. The results indicate that ZOL inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and this anti‑leukemic activity appeared notably enhanced in HL‑60/A cells. As ZOL is already available for clinical use, these results indicate that it may be an effective addition to the chemotherapeutic strategies for AML.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rui-Fang
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu-Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510010, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ling-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yi-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Fu
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dong-Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid; D004317:Doxorubicin