Oridonin induces NPM mutant protein translocation and apoptosis in NPM1c+ acute myeloid leukemia cells in vitro.

AIM: Skewed cytoplasmic accumulation of NPM mutant protein (NPM1c+) is close related to leukemia pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from the Chinese traditional medicine Rabdosia rubescens, was able to interfere with NPM1c+ protein trafficking and induce apoptosis in NPM1c+ acute myeloid leukemia cells in vitro. METHODS: OCI-AML3 cell line harboring a NPM1 gene mutation was examined. Cell growth was detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining. The expression and subcellular localization of relevant proteins were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescent staining. The mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Oridonin (2-12 µmol/L) dose-dependently inhibited the viability of OCI-AML3 cells (the IC50 value was 3.27±0.23 µmol/L at 24 h). Moreover, oridonin induced OCI-AML3 cell apoptosis accompanied by activation of caspase-3 and nuclear translocation of NPM1c+ protein. Oridonin did not change the expression of Crm1 (the export receptor for nuclear export signal-containing proteins), but induced nuclear translocation of Crm1. Oridonin markedly increased the expression of nucleoporin98 (Nup98), which had an important role in Crm1-mediated nuclear protein export, and induced nuclear accumulation of Nup98. Furthermore, oridonin markedly increased the expression of p14arf and p53. CONCLUSION: In NPM1c+ leukemia cells, oridonin induces NPM1c+ protein translocation into the nucleus possibly via nuclear accumulation of Crm1; the compound markedly increases p53 and p14arf expression, which may contribute to cell apoptosis.

Inhibitory effect of triptolide on lymph node metastasis in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma by regulating SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in vitro.

AIM: To investigate the antiproliferative effect of triptolide on B-NHL cell line Raji cells, to study its effect on lymph node metastasis in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in vitro, and to explore the underlying mechanism regulating SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. METHODS: The effects of triptolide on the growth of Raji cells were studied by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The effects of triptolide on SDF-1 mRNA expression in lymph node stromal cells from patients with NHL were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of triptolide on CXCR4 expression on lymphoma cells freshly isolated from the lymph nodes of these patients were studied by flow cytometric analysis. Chemotaxis assays were performed to observe the effects of triptolide on migration of primary lymphoma cells towards recombinant human SDF-1 alpha (rhSDF-1 alpha) or cultured lymph node stromal cells in vitro. RESULTS: Triptolide inhibited the proliferation of B-NHL cell line Raji cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner with a 24-h IC50 value of 43.06 nmol/L and a 36-h IC50 value of 25.08 nmol/L. The expression of SDF-1alpha mRNA in lymph node stromal cells obtained from patients with NHL was decreased after treatment by triptolide at concentrations of 25 and 50 nmol/L for 24 h. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the CXCR4 expression on primary lymphoma cells were downregulated gradually in a dose-dependent manner following triptolide treatment. Chemotaxis assays revealed that the migration of freshly isolated lymphoma cells towards either rhSDF-1 or cultured lymph node stromal cells was markedly inhibited by the addition of triptolide in vitro, and the inhibition was dose-dependent. CONCLUSION: Triptolide can inhibit the proliferation of B-NHL cell line Raji cells. Moreover, triptolide is able to inhibit the migration of lymphoma cells via lymph nodes in vitro. The potential antitumor mechanisms of triptolide are related to the antiproliferative effect and the blockage of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.

Deguelin regulates nuclear pore complex proteins Nup98 and Nup88 in U937 cells in vitro.

AIM: To investigate the anticancer effects and the molecular mechanisms of deguelin on human U937 leukemia cells, and to explore the underlying mechanism regulating nucleoporin 98 (Nup98) and nucleoporin 88 (Nup88) in vitro. METHODS: The effects of deguelin on the growth of U937 cells were studied by MTT assay. The effect of deguelin on the cell cycle of U937 cells was studied by using a propidium iodide method. The localization of the nuclear pore complex proteins Nup98 and Nup88 was investigated by using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. The expression of Nup98 and Nup88 in U937 cells was investigated by using flow cytometry and Western blot. RESULTS: The proliferation of U937 cells was inhibited in the deguelin-treated group, with a 24-h IC(50) value of 21.61 nmol/L and a 36-h IC(50) value of 17.07 nmol/L. U937 cells treated with deguelin had reduced percentages of cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase, whereas cells accumulated in the S and G(2)/M phases. Nup88 and Nup98 were found on both the nuclear and cytoplasmic sides of the U937 cells by using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. The expression of Nup98 was upregulated and that of the Nup88 protein was downregulated in U937 cells treated with deguelin. CONCLUSION: Deguelin is able to inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells by regulating the cell cycle such that cells are arrested at the S and G(2)/M phases, so that the proportion of cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase decreases. The antitumor effects of deguelin are related to upregulating the expression of Nup98 and downregulating the expression of Nup88 protein in U937 cells.