Effect of Icaritin on Proliferation and Apoptosis of THP-1 Cell and Its Mechanism / 中国实验血液学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of icaritin on the proliferation and apoptosis of THP-1 cells and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After treated with various concentrations of icaritin, cell proliferation was detected by MTS method, and apoptosis was measured with flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining. Expression of BCL-2, BAX and Caspase-3 protein in THP-1 cell was detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment with various concentrations (4-32 µmol/L) of icaritin for 24, 48, 72 h, the inhibition rate of cell growth significantly increased (P<0.05) in time-dose dependent manner(r=0.946); and the apoptotic rate of cells significantly increased (P<0.05) in time-dose dependent manner(r= 0.924). The expression of BCL-2 protein at 48 h decreased significantly in icaritin-treated group, compared with that in control group (P<0.05), while the expression of BAX and Caspase3 protein at 48 h increased significantly in icaritin-treated group, compared with that in control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Icaritin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of THP-1 in vitro, Icaritin may induce apoptosis in THP-1 cells through the mitochondrial pathway.</p>