Skip to main content
Download PDF

Methoxyflavone derivatives modulate the effect of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human leukemic cell lines

Journal of Hematology & Oncology volume 4, Article number: 52 (2011) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in various tumor cells, but does not affect normal cells or human leukemic cells, such as MOLT-4 and U937 cells, which are relatively resistant to TRAIL. Three flavonoids extracted from the rhizome of K. parviflora were 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (DMF), 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone (TMF) and 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF), and synthetic flavonoids including 5-methoxyflavone (5-MF) and 2'-methoxyflavone (2"-MF) were chosen for testing in this study. The aims of this study were to examine whether the treatment of TRAIL-resistant leukemia MOLT-4 and U937 cells, with methoxyflavone derivatives could enhance the apoptotic response and to identify the mechanism involved.

Methods

The cytotoxic effect of methoxyflavone (MF) derivatives in MOLT-4, U937 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analyzed by the MTT assay. The induction of apoptosis and the reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) after staining with annexin V FITC and propidium iodide (PI), and 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6), respectively, were performed using flow cytometry. ROS production was determined by staining with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and processed with a flow cytometer. DR4, DR5, cFLIP, Mcl-1, BAX and Bid expression were demonstrated by immunoblotting. Caspase-8 and -3 activities were determined by using IETD-AFC and DEVD-AFC substrates and the fluorescence intensity was measured.

Results

All methoxyflavone derivatives were cytotoxic to MOLT-4, U937 cells and PBMCs, except DMF, TMF and PMF were not toxic to PBMCs. All MF derivatives induced human leukemic MOLT-4 cell apoptosis, but not in U937 cells. Percentage of MOLT-4 cells with (ΔΨm) was increased when treated with DMF, TMF, PMF, 5-MF and 2'-MF in the presence of TRAIL. 5-MF and 2'-MF enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the up-regulation of both DRs and the down-regulation of cFLIP and Mcl-1. Bid was cleaved and BAX was up-regulated, followed by the activation of caspase-8 and -3. Oxidative stress was also increased. 2'-MF gave the same result compared with 5-MF but with a less effect.

Conclusion

Methoxyflavone derivatives enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human leukemic MOLT-4 cells through the death receptors and mitochondrial pathways.

Introduction

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptors are type II transmembrane proteins. They belong to TNF-R superfamily, having a short cytoplasmic N-terminal domain and a long C-terminal extracellular receptor. They include TRAIL-R1 (DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (DR5), which bind to ligands and induce apoptosis. TRAIL-R3 (decoy receptor 1) and TRAIL-R4. (decoy receptor 2), however, are non-apoptosis-inducing receptors, because they lack a functional cytoplasmic death domain [1]. TRAIL selectively induces apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells, but is relatively non-toxic to normal cells. Because of this, it is currently being used in clinical trials for cancer treatment in combination with various chemotherapeutic agents [2]. However, some tumor cells have been shown to be resistant to TRAIL, such as MOLT-4 and U937 cells [3].

Methoxyflavones (MF) have been reported to contain more chemopreventive activity than flavones [4]. Methoxyflavone (MF) derivatives are groups of flavonoids containing various numbers of methoxy moieties, such as 2'-methoxyflavone (2'-MF), 5-methoxyflavone (5-MF), 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (DMF), 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone (TMF), and 3,5,7,3',4',-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF). Reported plant sources of these flavanoids include TMF, 5,7,3',4'-tetraMF, 3,5,7,4'-tetraMF from Kaempferia parviflora[5, 6]; and 5,3'-dihydroxy-3,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone (DH-PMF) from Gardenia obtusifolia[7]. The bioactivities of MF derivatives include anti-inflammatory (5,7-DMF), anti-malarial (TMF and 5,7,3',4'-tetraMF), antifungal (3,5,7,4'-tetraMF) [5]; antagonistic to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (6,2',4'-TMF) [8] and apoptosis inducing properties (5,3'-dihydroxy-3,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone) [7].

Flavonoids can induce apoptosis when combined with TRAIL [9]. Thus, the aims of this study were to compare the cytotoxic effects of methoxyflavone derivatives on apoptotic induction alone and combined with TRAIL in MOLT-4 and U937 cells, and to elucidate the mechanisms of cell death.

Materials and methods

Chemicals and reagents

5,7-Dimethoxyflavone (DMF), 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone (TMF) and 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF), which were isolated and purified from rhizomes of K. parviflora as previously described [6]. 5-Methoxyflavone, 2'-methoxyflavone, histopaque, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, propidium iodide (PI), 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6) and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). TRAIL was obtained from R&D system, USA. RPMI-1640 medium, DEVD-AFC (Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin) and IETD-AFC (Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin) were obtained from Invitrogen, USA. Mouse monoclonal antibodies to Mcl-1, BAX and rabbit polyclonal antibody to Bid, cFLIP and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated secondary antibodies were purchased from Abcam, Cambridge, UK. Mouse monoclonal antibodies to beta-actin, DR4 and DR5 were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA. SuperSignal West Pico Chemiluminecent Substrate was obtained from Pierce, Rockford, IL, USA. Annexin V-Fluos staining kit and complete mini protease inhibitor cocktail was obtained from Roche, Basel, Switzerland.

Cell culture

Human lymphoblastic leukemic MOLT-4 and monocytic U937 cells were gifts from Professor Watchara Kasinroek (Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were donated from healthy volunteers. PBMCs were isolated from heparinized blood by density gradient centrifugation using histopaque according to standard protocols. The blood was obtained from adult volunteers with Institutional Review Board approval, at Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. The cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium with 25 mM NaHCO3, 20 mM HEPES, 100 units/mL penicillin, 100 μ g/mL streptomycin and supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cell lines were grown at 37°C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere. The PBMCs and human leukemic cells (1 × 106) were treated with MF derivatives at indicated concentrations and durations. MF derivatives were dissolved in DMSO as a vehicle and the maximal volume used did not exceed 10 μ l/ml of media.

Cytotoxicity test

Following MF derivative treatment, cell viability was assessed by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay [10]. This method is based on the ability of viable cells to reduce MTT and form a blue formazan product. MTT solution (sterile stock solution of 5 mg/ml) was added to cell suspension at a final concentration of 100 μ g/ml and the solution incubated for 4 h at 37°C in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere. The medium was then removed and cells were treated with DMSO for 30 min. The optical density of the cell lysate was measured at 540 nm, with a reference wavelength of 630 nm, using a microtiter plate reader (Biotek, USA). The number of viable cells was calculated from the number of untreated cells, and the data were expressed as percent cell viability.

Apoptosis assay

After treatment with methoxyflavone derivatives at a concentration of IC20 for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h, the cells were washed with PBS and centrifuged at 200 × g for 5 minutes and suspended in 100 μ l of binding buffer from a kit containing annexin V-FITC and PI, for 15 min. The samples were analyzed using a flow cytometer (Beckton Dickinson, USA).

Determination of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and ROS production

To measure mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ROS, either 40 nM 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (for mitochondrial transmembrane potential determination) or 5 μM 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (for ROS detection) were added for 15 min at 37°C and the cells were then subjected to flow cytometry.

Assay of caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity

Cleavage of the fluorogenic peptide substrates DEVD-AFC and IETD-AFC was used to assay caspase-3-like and caspase-8-like enzyme activity. Cell lysates (1×106 cells) and substrate (50 μM) were combined in a standard reaction buffer and added to a 96-well plate. Enzyme-catalyzed release of AFC was measured by a fluorescence plate reader (Bio-tek, USA) using 355 nm excitation and 460 nm emission wavelengths.

Western blot analysis

To obtain a cytosolic-rich fraction, MF derivative-treated cells were harvested and washed once in ice cold PBS and incubated at 4°C for 10 min with ice-cold cell lysis buffer (137 mM NaCl, 15 mM EGTA, 0.1 mM Na2VO4, 15 mM MgCl2, 1% Triton X-100, with complete mini protease inhibitor cocktail). The cell suspension was centrifuged at 20,000 × g for 20 min. The supernatant was collected as the cytosolic-rich fraction. Protein concentration of the cytosolic-rich fraction was determined by the Bradford method. Cytosolic proteins (50 μg) were separated by 17% SDS-PAGE and transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. After treating with 5% non-fat milk in TBS containing 0.2% Tween-20 (blocking buffer), membranes were incubated with mouse monoclonal antibodies to DR4, DR5, BAX and Mcl-1 and rabbit polyclonal antibody to Bid and cFLIP. For detection, appropriate horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated secondary antibodies were used at 1:20,000 dilution. Protein bands were visualized on X-ray film with SuperSignal West Pico Chemiluminecent Substrate.

Statistical analysis

Results were expressed as mean ± S.D. (standard deviation). Statistical difference between control and treated group was determined by a nonparametric one-way ANOVA (Kruskal Wallis test) with a limit of p < 0.05 in three independent experiments. For comparison between two groups, data were analyzed using Student's t-test.

Results

Cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction

All five MF derivatives were toxic to MOLT-4 and U937 cells with IC50 values as shown in Figure 1 and Table 1. DMF, TMF and PMF were not cytotoxic to PBMCs whereas 5-MF and 2'-MF were also toxic to PBMCs (Figure 1). TRAIL was not cytotoxic to U937 and MOLT-4 cells, viz. both cell lines were resistant to TRAIL (Figure 2). The IC20 level of MF derivatives was chosen for further experiments. In TRAIL combination with MF, MOLT-4 cells were induced to die more in a dose response manner (Figure 2).

Figure 1
figure 1

Cytotoxic effects of DMF, TMF, PMF, 5-MF and 2'-MF on human leukemic MOLT-4, U937 cell lines and PBMCs. MOLT-4 or U937 or PBMC cells were treated with DMF or TMF or PMF, 5-MF or 2'-MF at various concentrations for 24 h, then the cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. *, p < 0.05, compared with control.

Full size image
Table 1 IC50 values of five methoxyflavone derivatives (2'-methoxyflavone, 5-methoxyflavone, DMF, TMF and PMF) in U937 and MOLT-4 cells
Full size table
Figure 2
figure 2

Synergistic effects of 5-MF and 2'-MF when combined with TRAIL on MOLT-4 cytotoxicity. The cells were treated with IC20 of 5-MF (A) or 2'-MF (B) for 24 h and then with various concentrations of TRAIL for 24 h, then cell viability was determined by the MTT assay and compared with MF alone or TRAIL alone. *, p < 0.05, compared with control.

Full size image

5-MF induced MOLT-4 cell apoptosis mostly at 3 h when combined with TRAIL for 24 h (Figure 3a) and 2'-Methoxyflavone induced apoptosis (the time dependence is shown in Figure 3b). Percent apoptotic cells increased when combined with TRAIL compared to the absence of TRAIL. Meanwhile DMF, TMF and PMF also induced MOLT-4 cell apoptosis synergistically to TRAIL (Figure 3c). Notably, all five MF derivatives and TRAIL synergistically induced MOLT-4 cell apoptosis, but this phenomenon did not occur in U937 cell line (data not shown).

Figure 3
figure 3

Dot plot analysis of 5-MF or 2'-MF or DMF or TMF or PMF-treated MOLT-4 cells in the presence or absence of TRAIL. The concentrations of 5-MF and TRAIL used were at IC20 levels. (a) The cells were untreated (A), treated with TRAIL for 24 h (B), 5-MF for 3 h (C), 5 MF for 3 h and TRAIL for 24 h (D), 5-MF for 6 h (E), 5-MF for 6 h and TRAIL for 24 h (F), 5-MF for 12 h (G), 5-MF for 12 h and TRAIL for 24 h (H), 5-MF for 18 h (I), 5-MF for 18 h and TRAIL for 24 h (J), 5-MF for 24 h (K) and 5-MF for 24 h and TRAIL for 24 h (L). (b) The MOLT-4 cells were untreated (A), treated with TRAIL for 24 h (B), 2'-MF for 3 h (C), 2'-MF for 3 h and TRAIL for 24 h (D), 2'-MF for 6 h (E), 2'-MF for 6 h and TRAIL for 24 h (F), 2'-MF for 12 h (G), 2'-MF for 12 h and TRIAL for 24 h (H), 2'-MF for 18 h (I), 2'-MF for 18 h and TRIAL for 24 h (J), 2'-MF for 24 h (K) 2'-MF for 24 h and TRAIL for 24 h (L). (c) The MOLT-4 cells were untreated (A), treated with TRAIL for 24 h (B), DMF for 24 h (C), DMF for 24 h plus TRAIL for 24 h (D), TMF for 24 h (E), TMF for 24 h plus TRAIL for 24 h (F), PMF for 24 h (G) and PMF for 24 h plus TRAIL for 24 h (H). The cells were stained with annexin V-FITC and PI, and processed by using flow cytometer. The percentages of early, late apoptotic cells and necrotic cells are shown in the right lower quadrant, right upper quadrant and left upper quadrant, respectively.

Full size image

Reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP)

The percentage of MOLT-4 cells (treated with 5-MF and/or TRAIL) with reduction of MTP was increased more than those treated with 5-MF alone at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h (Figure 4A). The combined treatment also increased the cells with mitochondrial transmembrane reduction compared to TRAIL alone.

Figure 4
figure 4

Reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in MOLT-4 cells treated with MF derivatives in the presence or absence of TRAIL. The cells were treated with 5-MF at IC20 level (A) or 2'-MF at IC20 level (B) or DMF at IC20 level, TMF at IC20 level, PMF at IC20 level (C) for various times of incubation and then with or without TRAIL (IC20) for 24 h. After treatment the cells were incubated with DiOC6 followed by flow cytometry as described in the Methods. *, p < 0.05, compared with control, #, p < 0.05 compared to TRAIL alone.

Full size image

For the 2'-MF treatment for 24 h without TRAIL, percent cells with reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential was increased compared to other incubation time points. The percentage of cells with loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential significantly increased when treated with TRAIL for 24 h compared to TRAIL alone (control) as shown in Figure 4B.

For DMF, TMF and PMF treatment for 24 h in combination with TRAIL for another 24 h, the percentage of cells with reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential significantly increased when compared with control or TRAIL alone (Figure 4C).

ROS production

Curcumin [11] and zerumbone [12] could induce cancer cells to undergo apoptosis via the excessive production of ROS. This led to the investigation of the ROS production in MF derivative (5-MF and 2'-MF) treatment in the MOLT-4 cells. When MOLT-4 cells were treated with 5-MF and measured for ROS production, the fluorescence intensity of DCF increased, with the maximum effect at 30 min treatment. For incubation with 2'-MF, ROS was greatest at 60 min treatment (Figure 5).

Figure 5
figure 5

Effect of 5-MF and 2'-MF on ROS production in MOLT-4 cells. Cells were treated with 5-MF or 2'-MF for 30, 60 and 120 min and incubated with DCFH2-DA. The fluorescence intensity was measured by a flow cytometer. Positive control is H2O2 treatment at 3%H2O2 for 3 min. *, p < 0.05, compared with control.

Full size image

The expression of TRAIL receptors (DR4 and DR5) and apoptosis-related proteins

To determine how 5-MF and 2'-MF could facilitate TRAIL-induced apoptosis, the effects of both MF derivatives on TRAIL receptor (DR4 and DR5) expression were determined. MOLT-4 cells were treated with 5-MF or 2'-MF for various incubation times. The whole cell extracts were prepared and examined for the expression of DR4 and DR5. 5-MF induced both DR4 and DR5 (Figure 6A and 6B) expression in a time dependent manner, whereas the expression of DR4 and DR5 induced by 2'-MF was unaltered (Figure 6C and 6D). These results indicated that 5-MF up-regulated the expression of both DR4 and DR5.

Figure 6
figure 6

Effect of 5-MF and 2'-MF on DR4 and DR5 expression in MOLT-4 cells. The cells were treated with each MF derivative (at IC20 level) for various times and then treated with TRAIL (IC20) for 24 h. The whole-cell extracts were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting using anti-DR4 and anti-DR5 antibodies. DR4 (A) and DR5 (B) expression of MOLT-4 cells treated with 5-MF are shown. The cells were also treated with 2'-MF for various times of incubation and TRAIL for 24 h, DR4 (C) and DR5 (D) expression are shown. The intensity of bands was quantified by densitometry. *, p < 0.05, compared with control.

Full size image

The treatment with 5-MF at various times (3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h) resulted in a time dependent reduction in the levels of antiapoptotic proteins cFLIP, Mcl-1 and an increase in the proapoptotic protein BAX (Figure 7). BH3 domain-only protein Bid (proform, 22 kDa) was reduced due to the cleavage to obtain the truncated Bid (tBid, 15 kDa). The 2'-MF treated cells had a lesser effect on the reduction of Bid, antiapoptotic protein cFLIP and Mcl-1 and an increase of BAX compared to 5-MF (Figure 7).

Figure 7
figure 7

Effect of 2'-MF and 5-MF on apoptosis-related protein expression in MOLT-4 cells. Immunoblot analysis was performed to determine the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins (c-FLIP, Mcl-1, BAX and Bid) after treatment with 2'-MF (A) and 5-MF (B) for various times. The immunoblots are representatives of 3 independent experiments with similar results.

Full size image

Caspase-8 and -3 activation

Caspase-8 is activated by association with death ligand and receptor activation via the extrinsic pathway. In MOLT-4 cells treated with 5-MF and TRAIL, caspase-8 activity increased at 3 and 6 h of 5-MF treatment (Figure 8A). For the 2'-MF and TRAIL treatment, the caspase-8 activity increased between 18 and 24 h (Figure 8B). When MOLT-4 cells were treated with MF derivatives alone, caspase-8 activity did not change. In the presence of TRAIL, 5-MF and 2'-MF induced MOLT-4 cell apoptosis via the extrinsic pathway by activation of caspase-8 activity.

Figure 8
figure 8

Effect of 5-MF and 2'-MF on caspase-8 and -3 activities in MOLT-4 cells. Caspase-8 activity was measured in 5-MF- (A) and 2'-MF- (B) treated cells for various times in the presence or absence of TRAIL for 24 h. The IETD-AFC substrate was cleaved and produced fluorescence. Caspase-3 activity was measured in 5-MF- (C) and 2'-MF- (D) treated cells for various times and with or without TRAIL for 24 h. The DEVD-AFC substrate was used. N-fold increase of fluorescence intensity was compared to that of untreated (control) cells, which was calculated to be 1. *, p < 0.05, compared with control.

Full size image

Caspase-3 plays a central role in the apoptotic cascade. When MOLT-4 cells were treated with 5-MF combined with TRAIL, caspase-3 activity increased at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of treatment (Figure 8C). MOLT-4 cells treated with 2'-MF and TRAIL, had increased caspase-3 activity at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h of treatment (Figure 8D). However, when the cells were treated with MF derivatives alone, caspase-3 activity was unaltered. In the combined treatment, MOLT-4 cells were activated to undergo apoptosis via caspase-3 activation.

Discussion

Recombinant human TRAIL has been recently recommended for clinical trials in the treatment of human cancer [13]. It selectively kills cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed [14]. However, some cancer cells are resistant to the TRAIL-induced apoptosis, such as human leukemic U937 and MOLT-4 cells [3, 15]. We found that the methoxyflavone derivatives, DMF, TMF, PMF, 5-MF and 2'-MF could facilitate TRAIL-induced apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells (Figures 3 and 4). The apoptotic cell death was confirmed by the externalization of phosphatidylserine to the outer membrane of apoptotic cells [16]. Ionizing radiation also sensitizes human leukemic MOLT-4 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis [17].

5-MF and 2'-MF are methoxyflavones that are commercially available where as DMF, TMF and PMF were purified from rhizomes of K. parviflora. All five MFs were able to induce and enhance the apoptosis induced by TRAIL via the mitochondrial pathway (Figure 4). The BAX proteins, which form homodimers on the mitochondrial membrane, increased in expression, indicating mitochondrial pathway involvement. ROS production also occurred in the MF-induced apoptosis, suggesting that it might involve the mitochondria (Figure 5). Fluorescence intensity was high at 30 min for 5-MF and at 60 min for 2'-MF then it decreased afterwards. The reason for this phenomenon might be that each methoxyflavone derivatives could stimulate the ROS production with the peaks at different rates. However, the mechanism remains to be clarified.

Mcl-1 is a BH-multidomain member of the Bcl-2 family that exhibits potent antiapoptotic activity and plays a particularly important role in the survival of malignant hematopoietic cells [18]. Mcl-1 modulates apoptosis through multiple mechanisms, including interactions with proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family such as BH3-only domain proteins, for example, tBid [19]. Cooperation between activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways has been extensively described [20]. Evidence that Mcl-1 plays a role in controlling apoptosis by binding active Bid (tBid) therefore provides a theoretical basis for the observed synergism between MF derivatives and TRAIL. For example, in receptor-mediated induction of apoptosis, activation of Bid represents a critical component of the cascade. Following activation of procaspase-8 at the level of the death inducing signaling complex (DISC), death signals are transmitted to the mitochondria via cleavage of Bid to generate tBid. tBid interacts with BAX and Bak to promote their oligomerization and insertion into the outer mitochondrial membrane, leading to mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization.

5-MF induced both DR4 (Figure 6A) and DR5 (Figure 6B) in a time-dependent manner but no change was observed for 2'-MF. To confirm this, we observed that 5-MF induced both DR4 and DR5 expression on the cell membrane using immunocytochemistry (data not shown).

In 5-MF/TRAIL- and 2'-MF/TRAIL-treated cells, caspase-8 was activated. At this level, the most potent inhibitor of caspase-8 is cFLIP, which is recruited along with procaspase-8 and FADD/TRADD to the DISC. cFLIP is a short-lived protein structurally related to procaspase-8 but lacking enzymatic activity [21]. 5-MF and 2'-MF treatment induced a dramatic decrease in cFLIP, which facilitated the activation of the extrinsic cascade. It is possible that the simultaneous down-regulation of Mcl-1 and cFLIP by 5-MF and 2'-MF might provide a mechanism by which TRAIL-resistant leukemia MOLT-4 cells were sensitized to these MF-derivatives. However, the signaling effect of 2'-MF was less than that of 5-MF.

Clinical application of DMF, TMF, PMF, 5-MF and 2'-MF is possible, although both 5-MF and 2'-MF were toxic to PBMCs. The IC20 concentration levels of 5-MF and 2'-MF induced human leukemic cell apoptosis with no toxicity to normal cells. However, even though these two methoxyflavone derivatives had a high potential capacity to kill cancer cells, especially in the TRAIL resistant human leukemic MOLT-4 cell type, the investigation in an in vivo model is needed before clinical trials.

In conclusion, 5-MF could enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the up-regulation of both DRs and the down-regulation of cFLIP and Mcl-1, followed by the cleavage of Bid and activation of BAX. The caspase-8 was activated through the extrinsic pathway, and followed by activation of caspase-3. BAX oligomerization at the mitochondrial membrane led to the reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. The mitochondrial pathway was also involved in activating caspase-3. ROS production might be the result of mitochondrial injury or the cause of mitochondrial signaling. 2'-MF had a similar but lesser effect on the apoptotic signaling pathway compared to 5-MF. DMF, TMF and PMF could also synergistically enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway.

References

  1. Ashkenazi A, Dixit VM: Apoptosis control by death and decoy receptors. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 1999, 11: 255-260. 10.1016/S0955-0674(99)80034-9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang S, El-Deiry WS: TRAIL and apoptosis induction by TNF-family death receptors. Oncogene. 2003, 22: 8628-8633. 10.1038/sj.onc.1207232.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lee NS, Cheong HJ, Kim SJ, Kim SE, Kim CK, Lee KT, Park SK, Baick SH, Hong DS, Park HS, Won JH: Ex vivo purging of leukemia cells using tumor-necrosis-factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Leukemia. 2003, 17: 1375-1383. 10.1038/sj.leu.2402960.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Walle T, Ta N, Kawamori T, Wen X, Tsuji PA, Walle UK: Cancer chemopreventive properties of orally bioavailable flavonoids--methylated versus unmethylated flavones. Biochem Pharmacol. 2007, 73: 1288-1296. 10.1016/j.bcp.2006.12.028.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Yenjai C, Prasanphen K, Daodee S, Wongpanich V, Kittakoop P: Bioactive flavonoids from Kaempferia parviflora. Fitoterapia. 2004, 75: 89-92. 10.1016/j.fitote.2003.08.017.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Sutthanut K, Sripanidkulchai B, Yenjai C, Jay M: Simultaneous identification and quantitation of 11 flavonoid constituents in Kaempferia parviflora by gas chromatography. J Chromatogr A. 2007, 1143: 227-233. 10.1016/j.chroma.2007.01.033.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Murray IA, Flaveny CA, DiNatale BC, Chairo CR, Schroeder JC, Kusnadi A, Perdew GH: Antagonism of aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling by 6,2',4'-trimethoxyflavone. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010, 332: 135-144. 10.1124/jpet.109.158261.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Phromnoi K, Reuter S, Sung B, Limtrakul P, Aggarwal BB: A Dihydroxy-pentamethoxyflavone from Gardenia obtusifolia suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis of tumor cells through modulation of multiple cell signaling pathways. Anticancer Res. 2010, 30: 3599-3610.

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hasegawa H, Yamada Y, Komiyama K, Hayashi M, Ishibashi M, Yoshida T, Sakai T, Koyano T, Kam TS, Murata K, Sugahara K, Tsuruda K, Akamatsu N, Tsukasaki K, Masuda M, Takasu N, Kamihira S: Dihydroflavonol BB-1, an extract of natural plant Blumea balsamifera, abrogates TRAIL resistance in leukemia cells. Blood. 2006, 107: 679-688. 10.1182/blood-2005-05-1982.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Su WC, Chang SL, Chen TY, Chen JS, Tsao CJ: Comparison in in vitro growth-inhibitory activity of carboplatin and cisplatin on leukemic cells and hematopoietic progenitors: the myelosuppressive activity of carboplatin may be greater than its antileukemic effect. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2002, 30: 562-567.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Jung EM, Lim JH, Lee TJ, Park JW, Choi KS, Kwon TK: Curcumin sensitizes tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-mediated upregulation of death receptor 5 (DR5). Carcinogenesis. 2005, 26: 1905-1913. 10.1093/carcin/bgi167.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Yodkeeree S, Sung B, Limtrakul P, Aggarwal BB: Zerumbone enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the induction of death receptors in human colon cancer cells: Evidence for an essential role of reactive oxygen species. Cancer Res. 2009, 69: 6581-6589. 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-1161.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mahalingam D, Szegezdi E, Keane M, de Jong S, Samali A: TRAIL receptor signalling and modulation: Are we on the right TRAIL?. Cancer Treat Rev. 2009, 35: 280-288. 10.1016/j.ctrv.2008.11.006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kelley SK, Ashkenazi A: Targeting death receptors in cancer with Apo2L/TRAIL. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2004, 4: 333-339. 10.1016/j.coph.2004.02.006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rosato RR, Almenara JA, Dai Y, Grant S: Simultaneous activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) synergistically induces mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in human leukemia cells. Mol Cancer Ther. 2003, 2: 1273-1284.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Martin SJ, Reutelingsperger CP, McGahon AJ, Rader JA, van Schie RC, LaFace DM, Green DR: Early redistribution of plasma membrane phosphatidylserine is a general feature of apoptosis regardless of the initiating stimulus: inhibition by overexpression of Bcl-2 and Abl. J Exp Med. 1995, 182: 1545-1556. 10.1084/jem.182.5.1545.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rezácová M, Vávrová J, Vokurková D: Ionizing radiation sensitizes leukemic MOLT-4 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Acta Medica. 2008, 51: 101-105.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gélinas C, White E: BH3-only proteins in control: specificity regulates MCL-1 and BAK-mediated apoptosis. Genes Dev. 2005, 19: 1263-1268. 10.1101/gad.1326205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Clohessy JG, Zhuang J, de Boer J, Gil-Gómez G, Brady HJ: Mcl-1 interacts with truncated Bid and inhibits its induction of cytochrome c release and its role in receptor-mediated apoptosis. J Biol Chem. 2006, 281: 5750-5759.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Galluzzi L, Vitale I, Abrams JM, Alnemri ES, Baehrecke EH, Blagosklonny MV: Molecular definitions of cell death subroutines: recommendations of the nomenclature committee on cell death 2012. Cell Death Differ. 2012, 19: 107-120. 10.1038/cdd.2011.96.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Budd RC, Yeh WC, Tschopp J: cFLIP regulation of lymphocyte activation and development. Nat Rev Immunol. 2006, 6: 196-204. 10.1038/nri1787.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and Commission of Higher Education (CHE), grant No. RMU5080003.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Benjawan Wudtiwai, Prachya Kongtawelert & Ratana Banjerdpongchai

  2. Center of Research and Development of Herbal Health Products, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Bungorn Sripanidkulchai

Authors
  1. Benjawan Wudtiwai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bungorn Sripanidkulchai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Prachya Kongtawelert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ratana Banjerdpongchai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ratana Banjerdpongchai.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

RB, BW and PK conceived, designed and implemented the study, and RB drafted the manuscript. BS isolated and purified DMF, TMF and PMF.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wudtiwai, B., Sripanidkulchai, B., Kongtawelert, P. et al. Methoxyflavone derivatives modulate the effect of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human leukemic cell lines. J Hematol Oncol 4, 52 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-8722-4-52

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-8722-4-52

Keywords

Journal of Hematology & Oncology

ISSN: 1756-8722

Contact us