title: Astragalus membranaceus lectin (AML) induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in human leukemia cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, plant lectins have attracted great interest due to their various biological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-fungal and anti-viral activities. We have reported earlier concerning anti-proliferation of human cancer cell lines by a galactose-binding lectin (AML), from a Chinese herb, ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS: In the present study, detailed investigations into the mechanism of such anti-proliferation properties have been carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mechanism of apoptosis initiation in K562 cells by AML was investigated by morphology, flow cytometry and western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AML induced apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner in the chronic myeloid leukemia cell line, K562. Furthermore, we observed that cytotoxicity and apoptosis of K562 cells induced by AML were completely abolished in presence of lactose or galactose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that AML could act as a potential anti-cancer drug.
authors.affiliation: Bioresource Utilization Laboratory, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Q J
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kopparapu
authors.forename: Z Q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002241:Carbohydrates; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D037121:Plant Lectins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3