Effect of berberine hydrochloride on differentiation of HL-60 cells and study of its mechanism

Aim:To investigate the induction of HL-60 cells differentiated by berberine hydrochloride and the possible molecular mechanism.Methods:After the treatment of HL-60 cells with berberine hydrochloride,the cell differentiation was observed for their cytomorphological changes and NBT reduction.Cell cycle,CD11b antigens and gene expressions(C-myc,C-fos)were analysed by the flow cytometry.Results:Berberine hydrochloride was found to induce differentiation of HL-60 cells.Morphological evaluation indicated that berberine hydrochloride treated cells exhibited granulation appearance.Both the positive rate of NBT reduction and the expression of CD11b increased.Flow cytometry analysis showed that berberine hydrochloride arrested HL60 cells in G_(0)/G_(1) phase,down-regulated C-myc gene expression and up-regulated C-fos gene expression.Conclusion:Berberine hydrochloride could induce the differentiation of HL-60 cells.Its molecular mechanism might be related to the modulation of gene expressions associated with the proliferation and differentiation,which leads to the inhibition of DNA synthesis.