Inducing effect of helenalin on the differentiation of HL-60 leukemia cells

Helenalin, a cell-permeable pseudoguainolide sesquiterpene lactone, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits $NF-{\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity by selectively alkylating the p65 subunit of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Transcription factors such as $NF-{\kappa}B$ provide powerful target of drugs to use in the treatment of cancer. Human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells are differentiated into monocytic or granulocytic lineage when treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3{\;}[1,25-(OH)_2D_3]$ or all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), respectively. (omitted)