OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of berbamine on the apoptosis of multidrug resistant leukemia K562/Adr cells and in reversing the drug resistance. METHODS: IC50 value of K562/Adr cell was determined with MTT method, cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V FITC-PI assay, with the peak and cell cycle detected by PI staining. At the same time, flow cytometry was also used in determining Caspase-3, P-GP protein expression and drug accumulating capacity in cells, and RT-PCR method was used to analyze the gene expression of mdr-1. RESULTS: Berbamine could inhibit human leukemia K562/Adr cell growth in dose-dependent manner, it could also induce cell apoptosis, increase the protein expression of Caspase-3 and the drug excretion capacity of cells, reduce the mRNA and protein expression levels of mdr-1 gene. CONCLUSION: Berbamine could activate Caspase-3 to induce human leukemia K562/Adr cell apoptosis, and by reducing mdr-1 gene expression to reverse its multidrug resistance.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of berbamine on the apoptosis of multidrug resistant leukemia K562/Adr cells and in reversing the drug resistance. METHODS: IC50 value of K562/Adr cell was determined with MTT method, cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V FITC-PI assay, with the peak and cell cycle detected by PI staining. At the same time, flow cytometry was also used in determining Caspase-3, P-GP protein expression and drug accumulating capacity in cells, and RT-PCR method was used to analyze the gene expression of mdr-1. RESULTS:Berbamine could inhibit humanleukemia K562/Adr cell growth in dose-dependent manner, it could also induce cell apoptosis, increase the protein expression of Caspase-3 and the drug excretion capacity of cells, reduce the mRNA and protein expression levels of mdr-1 gene. CONCLUSION:Berbamine could activate Caspase-3 to induce humanleukemia K562/Adr cell apoptosis, and by reducing mdr-1 gene expression to reverse its multidrug resistance.