Anti-cancer effects of deguelin on human leukemia K562 and K562/ADM cells In Vitro

Abstract

In order to investigate the anti-cancer effects of deguelin and on K562 and K562/ADM cells in vitro and the underlying molecular mechanism and compare the cytotoxicity of deguelin on K562, K562/ADM cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The effects of deguelin on cell proliferation were assessed by MTT assay. Apoptosis were detected by Annexin V/PI double-labeled cytometry. The effects of deguelin on the cell cycle were studied by a propidium iodide method. Our study showed that deguelin inhibited the proliferation of K562 cell and K562/ADM cell in a time- and dose-dependent manner and had minimal effects on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The ratio of IC₅₀ value of deguelin of 24 h on K562/ADM cells to K562 cells was only 1.27, which was significantly lower than the ratio of IC₅₀ value of ADM (higher than 20). Deguelin could induce apoptosis of K562 cells and K562/ADM cells. K562 cells were arrested at G₂/M phase while K562/ADM cells were arrested at G₀/G₁ phase. Our results suggested that deguelin was a novel anti-leukemia agents with high efficacy and low toxicity and it is also a promising agent for reversing drug resistance.

Keywords

deguelin / K562 cell / K562/ADM cell / apoptosis / cell cycle