ABSTRACT
The study was aimed to investigate the inducing effect of ursolic acid (UA) on the apoptosis of human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (Jurkat), and whether the regulation of PTEN involved in the effect of UA on Jurkat cells. The Jurkat cells were treated with different concentrations of UA for different time. The cell proliferation was analyzed with cytotoxicity test (CCK8 method). Cell apoptosis was detected by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The expression of PTEN mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The results indicated that UA could significantly inhibited the viability of Jurkat cells treated with 10-80 µmol/L and in dose- and time-dependent manner. UA could induce Jurkat cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, which was statistical different from the control at the same time (P < 0.05). PTEN mRNA expression was up-regulated by UA, which was statistical different from the control (P < 0.05). It is concluded that UA may induce Jurkat cell apoptosis by up-regulating the PTEN mRNA expression.