The Apoptosis-inducing Effect And Sensitivity-increasing Effect Of Artesunate On K562 And K562/DOX Cells

Objective To investigate the proliferation of inhibition, apoptosis-inducing effect and increasing Doxorubicin's effect of Artesunate on K562 and K562/DOX cells.Methods MTT assay were undertaken to observe the growth inhibition and increasing Doxorubicin's effect of K562 and K562/DOX cells exposed to Artesunate, Doxorubicin, respectively. The Artesunate-induced apoptosis in K562 and K562/DOX cells was detected by cell morphological observation, agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA, Annexin V/PI double labeling and analysis of intracellular DNA contents. The activity of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) of K562/DOX cells detected by chromometry.Results (1)Artesunate obviously inhibited the proliferation of K562 and K562/DOX cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner at the range of concentration from 1 to 8ug/ml and 3 to 24ug/ml, respectively. Artesunate and Doxorubicin have synergy inhibition to K562/DOX cells.(2)There appears the character of apoptotic cells in K562 and K562/DOX cells exposed to Artesunate, such as cellular atrophy, chromatin clustering, pyknosis and karyoklasis.(3) Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA samples from K562 cells exposed to Artesunate with a concentration from 4 to Sug/ml showed obvious ladder strips. (4)The results of K562 and K562/DOX cells detected by Flow cytometry showed that there was an obvious time-dependent effect relationship between apoptosis rate and time exposing to Artesunate within 0-72 hours in the 4ug/ml and 12ug/ml group, respectively. Meanwhile, obvious dose-dependent effectrelationship was observed when K562 and K562/DOX cells were exposed to Artesunate for 48 hours within the concentration from 2 to 8ug/ml and 6 to 24ug/ml, respectively. The apoptosis rate of K562/DOX cells exposed to Artesunate and Doxorubicin was increased. (5) Artesunate could inhibit the activity of GSTs of K562/DOX cells exposed to Artesunate.Conclusions Artesunate could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in K562 and K562/DOX cells in vitro. Within a certain range of treating time and dose, in K562 and K562/DOX cells were induced to apoptosis in a time and dose related manner. Artesunate and Doxorubicin have synergy function to K562/DOX cells. Artesunate could inhibit the activity of GSTs of K562/DOX cells exposed to Artesunate.