[Proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction of K562 cells by fatty acid synthase inhibitor--cerulenin]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitor--cerulenin on K562 leukemia cells and its mechanism.

Methods: Inhibition rate of cerulenin on K562 leukemia cells was assayed by MTT method, cell apoptosis by flow cytometry (FCM) and agarose gel electrophoresis.

Results: When treated with 10(-9) - 10(-5) mol/L of cerulenin for 24 h, the proliferation of K562 cells was obviously inhibited with dose related effect. At the same concentrations, the inhibition rates of human skin fibroblasts were all lower than 30%. When K562 cells were treated for 12 h with 50 microg/ml and 60 microg/ml of cerulenin, the apoptosis rate revealed by FCM was 42.30% and 38.8%, respectively, and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis showed the typical DNA ladder of apoptosis.

Conclusion: Fatty acid synthase inhibitor--cerulenin inhibits proliferation of K562 cells but not of human fibroblasts. Cerulenin mediated cytotoxity is due to apoptosis induction. Fatty acid synthase might be a potential target for anti-leukemia.