Ji Zhao-Ning, Ye Wen-Cai, Liu Guo-Ging, Hsiao W L Wendy
Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, 210009, Nanjing, China
Life Sci. 2002 Nov 22;72(1):1-9. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(02)02176-8.
23-Hydroxybetulinic acid, a derivative of betulinic acid, was investigated for its apoptotic effect and the associated telomerase activity in human leukemia HL-60 cells. Apoptosis and bcl-2 were determined by flow cytometry analysis. A PCR-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay was used to detect telomerase activity. Results showed that 23-hydroxybetulinic acid induced growth arrest and apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells. The apoptotic events were associated with concurrent down-regulation of bcl-2 and the telomerase activity. Our data suggest that 23-hydroxybetulinic acid may be a potential cytotoxic agent for treatment of cancer.
