Gambogic acid induces death of K562 cells through autophagy and apoptosis mechanisms

Leuk Lymphoma. 2015;56(10):2953-8. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2015.1018251. Epub 2015 May 20.

Abstract

This study was aimed to detect the effects of gambogic acid (GA) on the growth of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 cells. Our results showed that GA induced the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles and up-regulation of two autophagy-related proteins (Beclin 1 and LC3). GA also induced down-regulation of mRNA levels of BCR-ABL fusion gene and SQSTM1/sequestosome 1 (p62) protein levels. After treatment by chloroquine (CQ) and pan caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK (PC), both GA-induced autophagy and apoptosis were inhibited. Our study demonstrates that GA may induce cell death through autophagy and apoptosis pathways in CML K562 cells. A cross-talk mechanism exists between GA-induced autophagy and apoptosis. However, the mechanism of GA for inducing autophagy and apoptosis need further clarification.

Keywords: Gambogic acid; apoptosis; autophagy; chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Autophagy / drug effects*
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • K562 Cells
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / metabolism
  • Xanthones / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Biomarkers
  • Xanthones
  • gambogic acid
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl