Inhibition of rapamycin on proliferation of human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of rapamycin on proliferation, autophagy and apoptosis of human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of rapamycin on HL60 cell was detected by MTT assay. The expressions of LC3-II autophagy-related protein were determined by Western blot. The cell cycles were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Apoptosis were detected by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: After treatment with rapamycin of 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40 nmol · L-1 for 24 h, proliferation of HL60 cells were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.97, P < 0.05). Western-blot shows that the expression of LC3-II protein of each concentration group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01). Rapamycin has a role in promoting cell autophagy. Compared with control group, more cells were arrested at G0/G1 phases (P < 0.05) and fewer cells were at S phases (P < 0.05). Agarose gel electrophoresis shows no apoptosis DNA fragments. CONCLUSION: In given concentration range, rapamycin can inhibit the proliferation of human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells by promoting autophagy rather than inducing apoptosis.