title: Synergistic effect of magnetic nanoparticles of Fe(3)O(4) with gambogic acid on apoptosis of K562 leukemia cells.
abstract: Gambogic acid (GA) has a significant anticancer effect on a wide variety of solid tumors. Recently, many nanoparticles have been introduced as drug-delivery systems to enhance the efficiency of anticancer drug delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential benefit of combination therapy with GA and magnetic nanoparticles of Fe(3)O(4) (MNPs-Fe(3)O(4)). The proliferation of K562 cells and their cytotoxicity were evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed and analyzed by microscope and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analyses were performed to examine gene transcription and protein expression, respectively. The results showed that MNPs-Fe(3)O(4) dramatically enhanced GA-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in K562 cells. The typical morphological features of apoptosis treated with GA and MNPs-Fe(3)O(4) were observed under an optical microscope and a fluorescence microscope, respectively. The transcription of caspase-3 and bax gene in the group treated with GA and MNPs-Fe(3)O(4) was higher than that in the GA-alone group or MNPs-Fe(3)O(4)-alone group, but the transcription of bcl-2, nuclear factor-kappaB, and survivin degraded as did the expression of corresponding proteins in K562 cells. Our data suggests a potential clinical application of a combination of GA and MNPs-Fe(3)O(4) in leukemia therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Clinical Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. cba8888@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Baoan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yiqiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jiahua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zeye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Guohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenji
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wenlin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xinchen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lijie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaomao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D008280:Magnetics; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044004:Xanthones / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D044004:Xanthones; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; C000499:ferric oxide; C052659:gambogic acid; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide