RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was aimed to investigate the effect of salinomycin combined with vincristine on the proliferation and apoptosis of Jurkat cells and its possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proliferation of Jurkat cells was examined by CKK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to assess cellular apoptosis. Levels of BCL-2, caspase-3, and caspase- 8 were measured by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The salinomycin or vincristine, either alone or in combination, inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. Salinomycin combined with vincristine produced more obveous inhibition of cell proliferation than either compound used alone (P<0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the combined use of Sal and VCR reduced the expression of BCL-2 protein, and increased expression of caspase 3 and caspase 8 protein, more significantly. Furthermore, combination of Sal and VCR synergistally promoted apoptosis of the Jurkat cells (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination of salinomycin and vincristine synergistically inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells.</p>