[Effects of emodin on the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells and the involvement of c-myc gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of emodin on apoptosis induction and proliferation inhibition in human apoptosis and on c-myc protein and mRNA expression in human myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60 cells. METHODS: HL-60 cells were exposed to emodin at different dosages. Growth inhibition was detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay, and cell apoptosis by flow cytometry, TUNEL labeling method, DNA fragmentation and MitoCapture apoptosis detection. The expression of c-myc was detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot. RESULTS: Emodin remarkably inhibited the cell proliferation, with an IC(50) value of 20 micromol/L. HL-60 cells apoptosis could be efficiently induced by emodin in a dose dependent manner. The c-myc protein and mRNA expressions on HL-60 cells were decreased after emodin treatment. CONCLUSION: Emodin could efficiently induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in HL-60 cells. c-myc may be involved in this process.