2. Academic Validation
  3. Lycorine inhibits the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells by upregulating the expression of THBS1

Lycorine inhibits the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells by upregulating the expression of THBS1

  • Ann Hematol. 2026 Jan 17;105(1):24. doi: 10.1007/s00277-026-06777-9.
Lunbi Wu # 1 2,  Peng Liu # 3,  Bowen Jiang 1 4,  Xiaodong Zhang 1 4,  Enliang Zhao 1 5,  Jingying Zhao 1 5,  Fangxu Zhu 1 5,  Hongxin Xu 1 4,  Kuo Shi 1 4,  Baiyu Jian 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Qiqihar Medical University, NO. 333 Bukui North Street, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, 161000, China.
  • 2 Department of Laboratory Diagnosis, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, 161000, China.
  • 3 Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
  • 4 Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, 161000, China.
  • 5 Department of Oncology Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, 161000, China.
  • 6 Qiqihar Medical University, NO. 333 Bukui North Street, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, 161000, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 41545705 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-026-06777-9
Abstract

To clarify the biological roles of the putative target thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) and the impact of the traditional Chinese medicine monomer Lycorine on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. The AML cell lines HL-60 and THP-1 were used in vitro to assess the effects of lycorine on cell growth and Apoptosis. Network pharmacology and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database analysis were used to predict potential lycorine targets in AML. Clinical samples were used to validate the target THBS1's expression. The binding affinity between lycorine and THBS1 was examined using molecular docking. Lastly, THBS1 overexpression in AML cells confirmed its function. In a dose-dependent way, lycorine induced Apoptosis and markedly suppressed the growth of AML cell lines. THBS1 is a common target of lycorine in AML, and its expression is dramatically downregulated in AML, according to network pharmacology, GEO database analysis, and confirmation using clinical samples. Lycorine's ability to bind to THBS1 and increase its expression levels in AML cells was validated by molecular docking. In AML cells, THBS1 overexpression mirrored the effects of lycorine by preventing cell division and triggering Apoptosis. Lycorine inhibits the growth of AML cells and triggers Apoptosis by targeting and upregulating the expression of THBS1. Therefore, it has antileukemic actions. One of the main targets for anti-AML treatment is THBS1.

Keywords

Acute myeloid leukemia; Lycorine; Molecular docking; Network pharmacology; THBS1.

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