Life SciencesCell BiologyPharmacologyCell DifferentiationCell SignalingCellular PharmacologyAnimal Cell CultureCell CharacterizationCell Differentiation ControlTumor DifferentiationAcute Promyelocytic LeukemiaConcentrationDifferentiation In CultureDifferentiation Signaling PathwaysMicroscopy
OBJECTIVE: In order to search for new tumor differentiation inducer, the effects and mechanism of Icariin were studied. METHODS: Icariin is an monomer purified from Epimedium Koreanum Nakai. The differentiation of induction effects of Icariin were observed on the human promyelocytic leukemic cell (HL-60) by NBT reduction test, 125I-cAMP and 125I-cGMP double antibody radioimmune methods, scanning electronic microscopy technique. RESULTS: After treating HL-60 cells with Icariin at concentration 0.1 g/L, reduction of NBT and cAMP/cGMP ratio were increased. There were many rugosities and ball-like processes on the cell surface. CONCLUSION: Icariin had the effects of induction of differentiation on HL-60 cells, the mechanism might be related to elevating the cAMP/cGMP ratio.