Antileukemic effect of caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenetyl ester. Evidences for its mechanisms of action

Background: Caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl ester (CADPE) is a natural polyphenolic ester isolated as a minor component from a water extract of the Chinese medicine Zhongjiefeng [Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai (Chloranthaceae)] and has previously shown to have activity against solid tumors through the modulation of multiple targets or signal pathways. However, the activity and potential mechanism of CADPE against leukemia cells have not yet been characterized.

Purpose: To investigate whether and how CADPE kills leukemia cells.

Method: (1) The activity of CADPE inhibiting the growth of different leukemia cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay; (2) Cell cycle arrest and Apoptosis induced by CADPE were determined by flow cytometry with FlowJo software for quantification; (3) The protein levels were analyzed by Western blot and ubiquitin-binding c-Myc was acquired by co-immunoprecipitation.

Results: CADPE exerted potent activity against different leukemia cell lines with low toxicity in normal cells. In terms of mechanism of action, CADPE promoted ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of c-Myc through activating glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and downregulating deubiquitinating Enzyme USP28 to trigger the interaction of c-Myc with ubiquitin ligase Fbw7, resulting in the downregulation of cell cycle regulators and anti-apoptotic proteins and consequently, cell cycle arrest and cell Apoptosis.

Conclusion: CADPE is a novel c-Myc Inhibitor with high activity and a unique mechanism for killing leukemia cells.