Objective: To investigate the effect of proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on proliferation, apoptosis of K562 cells and the expression of XIAP.
Methods: K562 cells were treated with bortezomib at different concentration. Cell proliferation was analyzed by WST-1 assay, cell apoptosis by flow cytometry and TUNEL, XIAP mRNA expression from 5 - 100 nmol/L by RT-PCR, and XIAP protein expression by SP immunohistochemistry.
Results: K562 cells were treated with bortezomib at different concentrations for 24 h respectively, the cells growth was significantly inhibited with inhibition rates from (13. 6 ± 0. 2)% to (81. 4 ± 0. 1)%, respectively, being markedly higher than that of control (1. 2 ± 0. 1)% (P < 0.05). IC(50) was 24. 6 nmol/L of bortezomib treated for 24 h. When K562 cells were treated with 30 nmol/L of bortezomib for 12 - 48 h, the inhibition rates were (29. 1 ± 0. 9)% to (59. 8 ± 1. 2)%, respectively, the differences being statistically significant (P < 0.05) between 12 h group and 24 h group, while there was no statistical difference between 24 h, 36 h and 48 h groups. K562 cells treated with 30 nmol/L bortezomib for 24 h showed nuclear condensation, nuclear margination, nuclear fragmentation, cytoplasmic vacuoles and a large number of apoptotic body formation. The apoptotic cells rate was 83. 67% in bortezomib treated group, and 2. 33% in untreated group (P < 0.05). The expression of XIAP mRNA was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and the expression of its protein was down-regulated.
Conclusion: Bortezomib can inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells, and induce apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of XIAP, providing the laboratory evidence for the targeted therapy in acute leukemia.