More recently, fisetin has also been reported to target Aurora B kinase, a Ser/Thr kinase involved in ensuring proper microtubule attachment at the spindle assembly checkpoint, and an enzyme that is overexpressed in several types of cancer. were also seen with the model Aurora kinase inhibitors. These results indicate that fisetin induces multiple types of chromosome abnormalities in human cells, and indicate a need for a thorough investigation of fisetin-augmented dietary supplements. as well as inhibition of critical enzymes such as cyclin-dependent kinases and topoisomerase II [4C10]. Earlier reports from our laboratory and others have indicated that fisetin has both aneugenic and, to a lessor degree, clastogenic properties in cultured cells [9, 11, 12]. Recently, fisetin has also been reported to target Aurora B kinase, a Ser/Thr kinase involved in ensuring proper microtubule attachment at the spindle assembly checkpoint [13]. Aurora kinases are critical for the proper passage of cells through several stages of the cell cycle. Aurora A kinase localizes to the centrosomes and spindle poles, and plays an important role in the development of the Dll4 centrosomes and in bipolar spindle formation [14]. Aurora B kinase localizes along the chromosome arms and at centromeres in prophase, at the inner centromeric region during metaphase, at the central spindle and cortex during anaphase, and in the midbody in telophase [15]. It has been shown to play an important role in chromosome biorientation, destabilization of improper microtubule attachments, phosphorylation of histone H3, and cytokinesis [15]. A third kinase in this family, Aurora C, is thought to have overlapping functions with Aurora B kinase and acts primarily in germ-line cells. Overexpression of Aurora A kinase leads to an early entry into mitosis due to hyperactive centrosomes and multipolar spindle formation, and can lead to chromosome instability [16]. Similarly, overexpression of Aurora B kinase is thought play a role in chromosomal instability by interfering with chromosome biorientation and the spindle checkpoint [14]. Overexpression of both Aurora A and B kinases has been associated with several types of cancer including breast, colorectal, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer among others [17C19]. As a result, both Aurora A and B kinases are thought to be promising targets for chemotherapeutic agents. As a follow-up to the recent report on its Aurora B kinase inhibiting properties, we decided to more fully characterize the aneugenic and polyploidy-inducing effects of fisetin and compare them with those seen with two known small molecule model Aurora kinase inhibitors, VX-680 and ZM-447439, which act preferentially on Aurora A and Aurora B kinases, respectively. Disruption of the spindle assembly and inhibition of Aurora kinases could lead to segregation errors and aneuploidy, providing insights into the mechanisms by which these agents could induce aneuploidy and polyploidy. While some information is known about the ability of fisetin to induce micronuclei and aneuploidy test indicated that modest, but significant, 2- to 3- fold increases in polyploidy were induced at concentrations between 13.6C20 M. Open in a separate window Figure 1 a) Frequencies of micronucleated cells (MNC), kinetochore-negative micronucleated cells (K-MNC), and kinetochore-positive micronucleated cells (K+ MNC) in TK6 cells treated with fisetin. 1000 binucleated Calcium-Sensing Receptor Antagonists I cells were scored per test concentration and the means and standard error of the means (SEM) from 2C4 separate experiments are shown. The relative cytochalasin B proliferation index (RCBI), a measure of cytotoxicity, for each test concentration is also shown. *Statistically significant the DMSO controls (Fishers exact test; Calcium-Sensing Receptor Antagonists I 0.05). b) Numerical chromosomal aberrations measured by flow cytometry. Aberrations were computed as a percentage of 2000 gated mitotic events in Calcium-Sensing Receptor Antagonists I TK6 cultures treated with fisetin for 24 h. The means and SEM from 5C6 separate experiments are shown. The relative mitotic index (RMI) is also shown. *Statistically significant the DMSO controls (Mann-Whitney U test; 0.05). The unusual pattern and variability of the results raised the possibility that treatment with fisetin may have triggered a cell cycle delay, hindering cells from progressing to a second metaphase and therefore preventing chromosome loss from being detected in the flow-based assay. To explore this possibility, a time course experiment was performed with washout Calcium-Sensing Receptor Antagonists I of the fisetin after 24 hours. Cells were then harvested at 12 and 24 hours after the washout to allow the treated cells to overcome a.