Effects of magnetic nanoparticle of Fe3O4 on apoptosis induced by Gambogic acid in U937 leukemia cells

Abstract

This study was aimed to explore the potential therapy of Gambogic acid (GA) combined with magnetic nanoparticle of Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-MNP) on leukemia. The proliferation of U937 cells and the cytotoxicity were evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed and analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry respectively. The expressions of gene and protein were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot respectively. The results showed that GA enhanced the cytotoxicity for U937 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. The Fe3O4-MNP itself had not cytotoxicity, but could enhance the inhibitory effect of GA on proliferation of U937 cells. The apoptotic rate of U937 cells induced by combination of GA with Fe3O4-MNP was higher than that by GA alone. The typical apoptotic features of cells treated with GA and Fe3O4-MNP were observed. The expression levels of caspase-3 and bax after co-treatment of GA and Fe3O4-MNP were higher than that exposed to GA or Fe3O4-MNP alone, but the expressions of bcl-2, NF-kappaB and survivin were down-regulated. It is concluded that Fe3O4-MNP can promote GA-induced apoptosis in U937 cells, and the combination of GA with Fe3O4-MNP may be a safer and less toxic new therapy for leukemia.