[Effects of tetrandrine on nuclear factor-kappaB expression in leukemia multidrug-resistant cell line K562/A02].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of tetrandrine (Tet) on nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) expression in leukemia cell line K562 and multidrug-resistant K562/A02 cell line.


METHODS
The activations of NF-kappaB in K562 and K562/A02 cells and the effects of 1 micromol/L Tet on NF-kappaB expression were determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot assay.


RESULTS
Tet had no effect on NF-kappaB expression in K562 cells after 6- and 12-hour treatment (P>0.05), and K562/A02 cells displayed higher level of NF-kappaB protein expression than their parental K562 cells (P<0.01). Tet could significantly down-regulate NF-kappaB protein expression and nuclear translocation in K562/A02 cells shown by immunocytochemistry and Western blot, and this decrease became more significant after 12-hour treatment than after at 6-hour treatment (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Activation of NF-kappaB may be related to multidrug resistance of K562/A02 cell line. And the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by Tet leads to multidrug resistance reversal in K562/A02 cell line.
Chen
Bao-An
BA
Department of Hematology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210009, China. cba8888@hotmail.com
Su
Ai-Ling
AL
Cheng
Jian
J
Zhao
Hui-Hui
HH
Li
Guo-Hong
GH
Wang
Xue-Mei
XM
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000187:drug effects*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D016328:NF-kappa B; C009438:tetrandrine