title: Arsenic trioxide and bortezomib interact synergistically to induce apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells resistant to imatinib mesylate through Bcr/Abl‑dependent mechanisms.
abstract: Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ) have been used successfully to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Their synergistic effects with other anticancer drugs have been widely studied. In this study, interactions between As2O3 and BTZ were examined in imatinib‑resistant Bcr/Abl+ (K562r) cells. Co‑treatment of K562r cells with subtoxic concentrations of As2O3 (2 µM) and BTZ (24 nM) resulted in a synergistic enhancement in growth inhibition and apoptosis, as demonstrated by increased annexin V staining. These events were associated with activation of protein kinase Cδ, poly ADP‑ribose polymerase cleavage and caspase‑3 activation, along with downregulation of Bcr/Abl mRNA and Bcr/Abl protein expression levels during apoptosis. In addition, reactive oxygen species were downregulated during combined treatment in K562r cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that BTZ and As2O3 act synergistically to induce apoptosis in K562r cells. Therefore, further studies are required to assess the potential of BTZ and As2O3 combinatory treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, particularly using imatinib‑resistant Bcr/Abl+ clones.
authors.affiliation: Exclusive Medical Care Center, Rui‑Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Exclusive Medical Care Center, Rui‑Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Exclusive Medical Care Center, Rui‑Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Exclusive Medical Care Center, Rui‑Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chenjing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yingli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Exclusive Medical Care Center, Rui‑Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069286:Bortezomib; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015536:Down-Regulation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004357:Drug Synergism; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D020014:K562 Cells; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D001549:Benzamides; D001897:Boronic Acids; D010087:Oxides; D010879:Piperazines; D011719:Pyrazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000069286:Bortezomib; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide