8-Hydroxydaidzein Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits AML-Associated Gene Expression in U-937 Cells: Potential Phytochemical for AML Treatment

Background: 8-hydroxydaidzein (8-OHD) is a compound derived from daidzein, known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties in K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. However, its effects on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells have not been fully understood. Method: To investigate its potential anti-AML mechanism, we employed an integrated in vitro-in silico approach. Results: Our findings demonstrate that 8-OHD suppresses the expression of CDK6 and CCND2 proteins and induces cell apoptosis in U-937 cells by activating Caspase-7 and cleaving PARP-1. Microarray analysis revealed that 8-OHD downregulates differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis pathways. Moreover, AML-target genes, including CCND2, MYC, NPM1, FLT3, and TERT, were downregulated by 8-OHD. Additionally, molecular docking software predicted that 8-OHD has the potential to interact with CDK6, FLT3, and TERT proteins, thereby reducing their activity and inhibiting cell proliferation. Notably, we discovered a synergic pharmacological interaction between 8-OHD and cytarabine (Ara-C). Conclusions: Overall, this study provides insights into the therapeutic applications of 8-OHD in treating AML and elucidates its underlying mechanisms of action.

Automated summary

The compound 8-hydroxydaidzein (8-OHD) has been found to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. It downregulates the expression of AML-associated genes and interacts with key proteins involved in cell proliferation. Furthermore, a synergistic effect is observed when 8-OHD is used in combination with cytarabine (Ara-C), a standard chemotherapy drug for AML.