Miltirone Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in CCRF-CEM Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells

J Nat Prod. 2015 Jun 26;78(6):1339-47. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00158. Epub 2015 Jun 2.

Abstract

Miltirone (1) is a diterpene quinone extracted from a well-known Chinese traditional herb (Salvia miltiorrhiza). We investigated the cytotoxic effects of miltirone toward sensitive and multidrug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. Miltirone inhibited multidrug-resistant P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-overexpressing CEM/ADR5000 cells better than drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM wild-type cells, a phenomenon termed collateral sensitivity. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that miltirone induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, miltirone stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disruption, which in turn induced DNA damage and activation of caspases and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Downregulation of CCNB1 (cyclin B1) and CDC2 mRNA and upregulation of CDKN1A (p21) mRNA were in accord with miltirone-induced G2/M arrest. Moreover, miltirone decreased cell adherence to fibronectin. Molecular docking revealed that miltirone bound to the ATP-binding site of IKK-β. In conclusion, miltirone was collateral sensitive in multidrug-resistant P-gp-overexpressing cells, induced G2/M arrest, and triggered apoptosis via ROS-generated breakdown of MMP and DNA damage. Therefore, miltirone may be a promising candidate for cancer chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / metabolism
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phenanthrenes / chemistry
  • Phenanthrenes / isolation & purification
  • Phenanthrenes / pharmacology*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Salvia miltiorrhiza / chemistry*

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Phenanthrenes
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • miltirone
  • Caspases