Enhancement of baicalin by hexamethylene bisacetamide on the induction of apoptosis contributes to simultaneous activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in human leukemia cells

Ren,Xia; Zhang,Yubao; Li,Cuiling; Wang,Hengxiao; Jiang,Zheng; Zhang,Zhiyong; Guo,Qiang; Song,Guanhua; Bi,Kehong; Jiang,Guosheng

doi:10.3892/or.2013.2684

Enhancement of baicalin by hexamethylene bisacetamide on the induction of apoptosis contributes to simultaneous activation of the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in human leukemia cells

Authors:
- Xia Ren
- Yubao Zhang
- Cuiling Li
- Hengxiao Wang
- Zheng Jiang
- Zhiyong Zhang
- Qiang Guo
- Guanhua Song
- Kehong Bi
- Guosheng Jiang
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Affiliations: Key Laboratory for Rare and Uncommon Diseases, Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Chinese Medicine Immunology of Shandong Province, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China, Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China, Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China, Department of Hematology, Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
Published online on: August 21, 2013 https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2013.2684
Pages: 2071-2080

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Abstract

Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) and natural flavanoid baicalin both exert potent antileukemic activity. However, there is currently no data on the anti-leukemic effects of baicalin in combination with HMBA. In the present study, we demonstrated that the combination of baicalin and HMBA synergistically inhibited the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines. In addition, a slight G0/G1 phase arrest and significant apoptosis were observed. The combination treatment triggered apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway, which involved loss of MMP, decreased Bcl‑2/Bax ratio and Bcl‑XL/Bax ratio, caspase‑9 activation, as well as through the extrinsic pathway mediated by Fas and caspase‑8 activation. On the other hand, combination of baicalin and HMBA showed little toxic effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers. Our results raise the possibility that the novel combination of baicalin and HMBA may be a promising regimen for the treatment of AML.

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