ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of serum containing Dahuang Zhechong Pills on vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) expression in K562 cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia ( CML) and to develop new antiangiogenic drugs for CML treatment. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) was used for the detection of serum VEGF content in 38 CML patients, 11 acute myelogenous leukemia patients and 9 healthy volunteers. SD rats were used for the preparation of serum containing Dahuang Zhechong Pills, and then ELISA was applied for the detection of VEGF content in K562 cells pretreated with serum containing Dahuang Zhechong Pills. Results Compared with the healthy volunteers, myelogenous leukemia patients at chronic phase and acute phase had high serum VEGF content ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) . Compared with blank serum control group, the secretion of VEGF in K562 cells pretreated with serum containing Dahuang Zhechong Pills was decreased obviously ( P<0.01) , and VEGF expression decreased with the increase of drug concentration. Conclusion VEGF content is increased in myelogenous leukemia patients at chronic phase and acute phase, which may be related to the pathogenesis, progress and prognosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Serum containing Dahuang Zhechong Pills can inhibit the expression of VEGF in chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells and decrease VEGF protein expression in concentration-dependent manner.