Objective: To elucidate the mechanism by which harringtonine (HT) induces apoptosis in K562 cell line.
Methods: By means of cell morphology, DNA gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry, we explored the action of HT on K562 cell line. Further study of the changes in bcr/abl gene expression was conducted using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR.
Results: HT induced apoptosis of K562 cells at the concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100 microg/ml, exhibiting dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptotic ratios of the cells subjected to the treatment courses of 12 to 60 h. RT-PCR showed that bcr/abl gene expression was down-regulated after K562 cells had been treated with 10 microg/ml HT.
Conclusion: Low concentration of HT can induce apoptosis in K562 cell line, possibly through the down-regulation of bcr/abl gene expression.