A Wnt Pathway Activator Induces Apoptosis and Cell Death in Mouse Monocytic Leukemia Cells.

A Wnt agonist, 2-amino-4-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)benzylamino]-6-(3-methoxyphenyl) pyrimidine, is a cell-permeable pyrimidine compound that has been shown to mimic the effect of Wnt. In this study, leukemic mouse cell lines, RAW 264.7 and J774.1, were incubated with the Wnt agonist. The Wnt agonist showed cell death in the concentration of 1-10 μM. The Wnt agonist did not show inhibition of GSK-3β activity but induced β-catenin accumulation in the nucleus. The Wnt agonist showed caspase-independent cell death, but no further involvement in cell death ER stress signaling. Here we discuss the possible mechanism of Wnt agonist-induced apoptotic cell death in RAW 264.7 cells.