Down-regulation of beta-catenin nuclear localization by aspirin correlates with growth inhibition of Jurkat cell line

In this study, we examined the effects of aspirin on the growth rates, subcellular distribution of beta-catenin protein, the expression of beta-catenin/TCF signaling pathway target gene cyclin D1 mRNA, and cell cycle of Jurkat cell line (Human T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia). Our results showed that the treatment with aspirin inhibited the growth of Jurkat cell line. Jurkat cells treated with 3 mmol/L of aspirin could significantly decrease nuclear localization of beta-catenin, and at 5 mmol/L of aspirin, the nuclear localization of beta-catenin was undetectable. QRT-PCR showed that the target gene cyclin D1 mRNA expression was gradually decreased with the dosage of aspirin. Aspirin induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in Jurkat cells. We are led to conclude that aspirin acts through beta-catenin-independent mechanisms. The effects of aspirin include down-regulation of beta-catenin nuclear localization and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, which might serve as a means of growth inhibition in aspirin-treated human Jurkat cell line.