Mechanism of sorafenib in inducing apoptosis of K562 cells

Objective To observe the effects of sorafenib on proliferation and apoptosis of BCR/ABL positive human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell-line K562.Methods K562 cells were cultured with different concentrations of sorafenib(0,5,7.5,10,12.5,15 and 20 μmol/L) for 48 h.Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay.Apoptosis was conducted by AnnexinV/PI,PI staining and Hochest 33342.PARP protein was detected by Western blotting.Results Sorafenib induced inhibition of cell growth,cell apoptosis and PARP cleavage were observed in dose-dependent manners.Conclusion PARP cleavage,a marker of caspase cascades activation,is induced by sorafenib,suggesting that sorafenib induces K562 apoptosis via this pathway.Thus it provides therapeutic effects of sorafenib on imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia.