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Autophagy and Ubiquitin-Mediated Proteolytic Degradation of PML/Rarα Fusion Protein in Matrine-Induced Differentiation Sensitivity Recovery of ATRA-Resistant APL (NB4-LR1) Cells: in Vitro and in Vivo Studies

Background/Aims: Although the cure rate of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has exceeded 90%, the relapse/refractory APL that resistant to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or ATO was still serious concern. Matrine (MAT) could improve the differentiation ability of ATRA-resistant APL cells. This study aimed to explore how the APL-specific fusion protein was degraded in ATRA-resistant APL with the application of MAT and ATRA. Methods: ATRA-sensitive (NB4) and ATRA-resistant (NB4-LR1) cell lines were used. Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the differentiation ability. The activity of ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy-mediated pathways in both cells treated with ATRA with or without MAT were compared in protein and mRNA level (Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR), the Fluorescent substrate Suc-LLVY-AMC detection was used to detect the activity of proteasome, and electron microscope for observing autophagosome. MG 132(proteasome inhibitor), rapamycin (autophagy activator), hydroxychloroquine (lysosomal inhibitor) and STI571 [retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) ubiquitin stabilizer] were used as positive controls. The effect of MAT was observed in vivo using xenografts. Results: MAT improved the sensitivity of NB4-LR1cells to ATRA treatment, which was consistent with the expression of PML-RARα fusion protein. MAT promoted the ubiquitylation level in NB4-LR1. MG 132 induced the decrease in RARα in both cell lines, and hampered the differentiation of NB4 cells. MAT also promoted the autophagy in NB4-LR1 cells, with an increase in microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain3 (LC3)-II and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and exhaustion of P62. The expression of LC3II increased significantly in the MAT and ATRA + MAT groups in combination with lysosomal inhibitors. A similar phenomenon was observed in mouse xenografts. MAT induced apoptosis and differentiation. Conclusions: Autophagy and ubiquitin-mediated proteolytic degradation of PML/RARα fusion protein are crucial in MAT-induced differentiation sensitivity recovery of NB4-LR1 cells.