Emodin induces apoptosis in human promyeloleukemic HL-60 cells accompanied by activation of caspase 3 cascade but independent of reactive oxygen species production.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is an active constituent of Rheum palmatum, and showed inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in our previous study. However, the apoptosis-inducing activity of emodin has remained undefined. Among three structurally related anthraquinones, including emodin, physcion, and chrysophanol, emodin showed the most potent cytotoxic effects on HL-60 cells, accompanied by the dose- and time-dependent appearance of characteristics of apoptosis including an increase in DNA ladder intensity, morphological changes, appearance of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in hypodiploid cells. Emodin at apoptosis-inducing concentrations causes rapid and transient induction of caspase 3/CPP32 activity, but not caspase 1 activity, according to cleavage of caspase 3 substrates poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and D4-GDI proteins, the appearance of cleaved caspase 3 fragments being detected in emodin- but not physcion- or chrysophanol-treated HL-60 cells. A decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein, Mcl-1, was detected in emodin-treated HL-60 cells, whereas other Bcl-2 family proteins including Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Bad remained unchanged. The caspase 3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO, but not the caspase 1 inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-CHO, attenuated emodin-induced DNA ladders, associated with the blockage of PARP and D4-GDI cleavage. Free radical scavenging agents including NAC, catalase, SOD, ALL, DPI, L-NAME and PDTC showed no preventive effect on emodin-induced apoptotic responses, whereas NAC, CAT and PDTC prevented HL-60 cells from ROS (H(2)O(2))-induced apoptosis through inhibition of caspase 3 cascades. Induction of catalase, but not SOD, activity was detected in emodin-treated HL-60 cells by in gel activity assays, and H(2)O(2)-induced intracellular peroxide level was significantly reduced by prior treatment of emodin in HL-60 cells. Our experiments provide evidence that emodin is an effective apoptosis inducer in HL-60 cells through activation of the caspase 3 cascade, but that it is independent of ROS production.

Chen YC ，Shen SC ，Lee WR ，Hsu FL ，Lin HY ，Ko CH ，Tseng SW ... -  《BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY》

Wogonin and fisetin induce apoptosis in human promyeloleukemic cells, accompanied by a decrease of reactive oxygen species, and activation of caspase 3 and Ca(2+)-dependent endonuclease.

Lee WR ，Shen SC ，Lin HY ，Hou WC ，Yang LL ，Chen YC ... -  《BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY》

Differential apoptosis-inducing effect of quercetin and its glycosides in human promyeloleukemic HL-60 cells by alternative activation of the caspase 3 cascade.

Flavonoids were demonstrated to possess several biological effects including antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities in our previous studies. However, the effect of glycosylation on their biological functions is still undefined. In the present study, the apoptosis-inducing activities of three structure-related flavonoids including aglycone quercetin (QUE), and glycone rutin (RUT; QUE-3-O-rutinoside), and glycone quercitrin (QUI; QUE-3-O-rhamnoside) were studied. Both RUT and QUI are QUE glycosides, and possess rutinose and rhamnose at the C3 position of QUE, respectively. Results of the MTT assay showed that QUE, but not RUT and QUI, exhibits significant cytotoxic effect on HL-60 cells, accompanied by the dose- and time-dependent appearance of characteristics of apoptosis including an increase in DNA ladder intensity, morphological changes, apoptotic bodies, and an increase in hypodiploid cells by flow cytometry analysis. QUE, but not RUT or QUI, caused rapid and transient induction of caspase 3/CPP32 activity, but not caspase 1 activity, according to cleavage of caspase 3 substrates poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and D4-GDI proteins, and the appearance of cleaved caspase 3 fragments being detected in QUE- but not RUT- or QUI-treated HL-60 cells. A decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein, Mcl-1, was detected in QUE-treated HL-60 cells, whereas other Bcl-2 family proteins including Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Bag remained unchanged. The caspase 3 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-FMK, but not the caspase 1 inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-FMK, attenuated QUE-induced cell death. Results of DCHF-DA assay indicate that no significant increase in intracellular peroxide level was found in QUE-treated cells, and QUE inhibited the H(2)O(2)-induced intracellular peroxide level. Free radical scavengers N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and catalase showed no prevention of QUE-induced apoptosis. In addition, QUE did not induce apoptosis in an mature monocytic cell line THP-1, as characterized by a lack of DNA ladders, caspase 3 activation, PARP cleavage, and an Mcl-1 decrease, compared with those in HL-60 cells. Our experiments provide evidence to indicate that the addition of rutinose or rhamnose attenuates the apoptosis-inducing activity of QUE, and that the caspase 3 cascade but not free radical production is involved.

Shen SC ，Chen YC ，Hsu FL ，Lee WR ... -  《JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY》

Rutinoside at C7 attenuates the apoptosis-inducing activity of flavonoids.

Chen YC ，Shen SC ，Lin HY 《BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY》

Hydroxylation at C4' or C6 is essential for apoptosis-inducing activity of flavanone through activation of the caspase-3 cascade and production of reactive oxygen species.

Ko CH ，Shen SC ，Chen YC 《FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE》