Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Anticancer Drugs. 2017 Oct;28(9):943-951. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000543.

Abstract

Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin is a major constituent in Radix Saposhnikovia that has been long used for the treatment of pyrexia, rheumatism, and cancer in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms remain unknown regarding the therapeutic effect of prim-O-lucosylcimifugin. Here, we investigated the effects of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin on cell cycle progression and apoptosis in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Prim-O-glucosylcimifugin treatment resulted in marked increases in cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Mechanistically, prim-O-glucosylcimifugin induced the degradation of β-tubulin and downregulated phosphorylated CDK1 levels, a molecular indicator in the G2/M cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 was involved in the prim-O-glucosylcimifugin-induced apoptosis. Our study reveals the anticancer activity of prim-O-glucosylcimifugin and the potential underlying mechanisms.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase / metabolism
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cyclin B1 / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
  • Monosaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Xanthenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • CCNB1 protein, human
  • Cyclin B1
  • Monosaccharides
  • Tubulin
  • Xanthenes
  • prim-O-glucosylcimifugin
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase
  • CDK1 protein, human
  • Caspases