Effect of Dibutylphthalate on the Apoptosis of K562 Leukemic Cells and Its Mechanisms

【Objective】To investigate the effect of dibutylphthalate(DBP) on the proliferation and apoptosis of K562 leukemic cells and to study its mechanism.【Methods】The effect of DBP on proliferation of K562 leukemic cells was measured by cell culture method.The effect on apoptosis was measured by the percentage of the apoptotic cells in morphology and of the DNA fragmentation and by DNA gelelectrophoresis.The protein expressions of c-myc and bcl-2 genes of leukemic cells were measured by immunohistochemical assay.【Results】DBP could suppress the proliferation of K562 leukemic cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner and induce them to die via apoptosis.DBP also down-regulated the protein expressions of c-myc and bcl-2 genes of K562 leukemic cells.【Conclusion】DBP could purge K562 leukemic cells in vitro by down-regulating bcl-2 and c-myc proto-gene expression to promote cell apoptosis.