Effect of a seashell protein Haishengsu on cell growth and expression of apoptosis genes in leukemia K562 cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of a seashell protein Haishengsu (HSS), an extract from a shellfish Tegillarca granosa, on cell growth and the expression of apoptosis genes in leukemia K562 cells.


METHODS
Cultured K562 cells were treated with HSS at various concentrations (10-40 mg/L). The cell cycle, cell growth and the expression of apoptosis suppressor gene bcl-2 and apoptosis promoting gene bax were evaluated.


RESULTS
HSS, 20mg/L, inhibited cell cycle in the G0/G1 and S phases. HSS, 20mg/L, also inhibited the growth of K562 cells over time. Expression of bcl-2 gene in the HSS 20mg/L (58.8%+/-4.7%) and HSS 40 mg/L group (26.6%+/-2.1%) were lower than in the control group (91.0+/-8.7%, P < 0.01). Expression of bax gene in the HSS 20mg/L (77.7+/-3.6%) and 40 mg/L group (90.6+/-3.7%) were higher than in the control group (10.9+/-6.6%, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
HSS suppresses leukemia K562 cell growth by inhibiting the G0/G1 and S phases of the cell cycle. It also induces apoptosis in these leukemia cells by reducing the expression of apoptosis suppressor gene bcl-2, and increasing the expression of apoptosis promoting gene bax. Further studies are required to investigate the clinical efficacy of HSS in leukemia.
Li
Guang-Yao
GY
Liaocheng People's Hospital (Liaocheng Clinical School of Taishan Medical University), Liaocheng, Shandong, 252000, PR China.
Liu
Ji-Zhu
JZ
Yu
Xiao-Min
XM
Chen
Shuang-Feng
SF
Zhang
Bin
B
Zhang
Wei-Feng
WF
Xiao
Tai-Wu
TW
Wang
Chun-Bo
CB
Wang
Le-Xin
LX
D000418:Albumins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D049893:Arcidae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020014:K562 Cells; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000418:Albumins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C532636:haishengsu