Eupafolin induces autophagy and apoptosis in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Objectives Eupafolin, an extract from Artemisia princeps, possesses multiple pharmacological activities. However, the effect of eupafolin on B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas is currently unknown. In this study, we report that eupafolin shows anticancer activity against B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas cell line, OCI-LY-3. Methods A CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation inhibition of OCI-LY-3 cells treated with additional concentrations of eupafolin. Flow cytometric analysis method of the cell apoptosis was detected after cells stained with Annexin-V-FITC/PI according to the manufacturer's instructions. The proteins in the cell were detected by western blot after treatment with eupafolin. Key findings Eupafolin induced apoptosis in this cell line evidenced by the caspases activation, cleavage of PARP and downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. Eupafolin-induced autophagy was verified by accumulation of LC3-II and beclin-1. Eupafolin induced autophagy promoting apoptosis by the treatment of eupafolin combined with autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine and bafilomycin A1, respectively. Moreover, we disclose that the expression levels of p-Akt, p-mTOR,p-P70S6K and p-4EBP1 decrease in the Akt/mTOR signalling pathway, and the expression levels of proteins in the NF-Kappa B signalling pathway, such as p-p65, p-I kappa B alpha, is downregulation. Conclusions Together, these results provide crucial evidences explaining the antitumour activity of eupafolin in human NHL cell line, OCI-LY-3.