title: Polyphyllin D induces apoptosis in K562/A02 cells through G2/M phase arrest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of polyphyllin D on inducing cell death of the K562/A02 human leukaemia drug-resistant cells in vitro was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of polyphyllin D on K562/A02 cells were analysed by studying their cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, caspase-3 activity and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Polyphyllin D, a small molecular monomer extracted from rhizoma of Paris polyphyllin, exhibited strong anticancer activity in a previous study. Our results demonstrate that polyphyllin D exerts a growth inhibitory effect by arresting cells at G2/M phase and by the induction of apoptosis in K562/A02 human leukaemia drug-resistant cells, G2/M phase arrest was found to be associated with up-regulation of p21 and down-regulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent protein kinase 1. Polyphyllin D-induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway as evidenced by decreased Bcl-2 expression levels, disruption of MMP and increased Bax, cytochrome C and cleaved-caspase-3 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that polyphyllin D has a potential as a potent therapeutic agent for chronic myeloid leukaemia.
authors: Clinical Laboratory, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Wu
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects*; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027343:Rhizome; D012503:Saponins
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; C121203:polyphyllin D; D004144:Diosgenin
keywords: K562/A02; apoptosis; cell-cycle; polyphyllin D