Identification of genes responsive to paeoniflorin, a heat shock protein-inducing compound, in human leukemia U937 cells

Thucydides L. Salunga, Yoshiaki Tabuchi*, Ichiro Takasaki, Loreto B. Feril, Qing Li Zhao, Kenzo Ohtsuka, Koichi Tsuneyama, Takashi Kondo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose and background: Paeoniflorin (PF) isolated from peony root (Paeoniae radix) has been used as a herbal medicine in East Asia for its anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory effects. PF is known to cause apoptosis and to be a chemical heat shock protein (HSP) inducer. With this information, the effects on the gene expression in human leukemia U937 cells treated with PF were investigated. Methods: U937 cells, a human myelomonocytic cell line, were treated with PF at different concentrations (0-640 μg/ml). Expression level of Hsp70 was monitored by Western blotting. Gene expression was evaluated using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays and computational gene expression analysis tools and the results were verified by real-time quantitative PCR. Results: Although cell viability was not affected after PF treatment at a high concentration of 640 μg/ml, PF treatment (80-640 μg/ml) significantly elevated Hsp70 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. When the cells were treated with PF (160 μg/ml; 30 min), 35 up-regulated and 29 down-regulated genes were identified. Among the differentially expressed genes, a significant genetic network containing CDC2, FOSL1 and EGR1 was associated with biological functions such as cell death, gene expression or cellular growth and proliferation. Conclusion: The present results indicate that PF affects the expression of many genes including Hsp70 and will provide a better understanding on the molecular mechanism of action of this compound in inducing HSPs in cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)529-537
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Hyperthermia
Volume23
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007/09

Keywords

  • Gene expression
  • Genetic network
  • Heat shock protein
  • Hsp70
  • Paeoniflorin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)
  • Cancer Research

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