Molecular mechanism of berberine induced apoptosis in chemoresistant acute lymphocytic leukemia cell line EU-4 / 白血病·淋巴瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the molecular mechanism of berberine induced apoptosis in chemoresistant EU-4 acute lymphocytic leukemia cells.Methods EU-4 cells were treated with 0,10 and 100 μmol/L berberine for 72 h.The apoptosis induced by berberine was detected by flow cytometry.The expression of Caspase-3,PARP and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) were determined by Western bolt assay.Caspase-3 activity was measured using microplate reader.After transfected with XIAP siRNA,the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Results After treated with 0,10 and 100 μmol/L berberine for 72 h,the apoptosis rates of EU-4 cells were (9.08±1.20) ％,(22.36±2.16) ％ and (59.81±4.17) ％,respectively.Berberine induced potent apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.The apoptosis involved activation of Caspase-3.The Caspase-3 activities were 1.70±0.25,1.92±0.10 and 2.89±0.25,respectively.Berberine inhibited XIAP expression in a dose-and time-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05).Down-regulation of XIAP by siRNA increased apoptosis of EU-4 cells.The apoptosis rates were (9.23±1.66) ％ and (22.15±0.63) ％.Conclusion Berberine could induce apoptosis of EU-4 cells,and inhibition of XIAP leading to Caspase-3 activation is responsible for the apoptotic effect on EU-4 cells.