Effect of sesquiterpene lactone coronopilin on leukaemia cell population growth, cell type-specific induction of apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe

Objectives:  The aim of this study was to investigate anti-leukaemic potential of coronopilin, a sesquiterpene lactone from Ambrosia arborescens, and to characterize mechanism(s) underlying its activity. Materials and methods:  The study was conducted on Jurkat and U937, two leukaemia-derived cell lines. Apoptosis and impairment of cell cycle progression were evaluated by flow cytometry and by microscopic analysis. Changes in protein expression and activation were evaluated by western blot analysis. Coronopilin-tubulin covalent adducts were demonstrated by mass spectrometry. Results:  Coronopilin inhibited (IC50 ≤ 20 μm) leukaemia cell population growth, but displayed poor cytotoxicity to normal white blood cells. On Jurkat cells, coronopilin exerted cell population growth inhibition activity, mainly by triggering caspase-dependent apoptosis. Conversely, in U937 cells, coronopilin’s primary response was a robust arrest in G2/M. Marked increase in mitotic index and presence of activated cyclin B1/Cdk1 complex, phosphorylated histone H3 at Ser10, and hyperpolymerized tubulin indicated that cells accumulated in mitosis. Prolonged mitotic arrest ultimately resulted in U937 mitotic catastrophe, and dying cells exhibited the features of non-caspase-dependent death. Conclusions:  This study demonstrated that coronopilin efficiently inhibited leukaemia cell population growth by triggering cell type-specific responses. Moreover, coronopilin-mediated cell population expansion inhibition was specific to neoplastic cells, as normal white blood cell viability was not significantly affected. Thus, coronopilin may represent an interesting new chemical scaffold upon which to develop new anti-leukaemic agents.