Youchasaponin induces apoptosis of human leukemia Jurkat cells in vitro and its possible mechanism

Objective: To investigate the apoptosis of human leukemia Jurkat cells induced by Youchasaponin in vitro and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods: The effects of Youchasaponin with different concentrations on the proliferation of Jurkat cells were detected by cell count assay. The cell cycle distribution and the apoptosis rate of Jurkat cells were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression levels of caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), p-Bcl-2, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-9 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Results: The proliferation of Jurkat cells was significantly inhibited after treatment with Youchasaponin (1-16 μg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner. The percentage of Jurkat cells at G0/G1 phase and G2/M phase was decreased after treatment with Youchasaponin (1-4 μg/mL) for 24 h, while the percentage of Jurkat cells at S phase was increased. The apoptosis rate of Jurkat cells induced by Youchasaponin was increased in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of p-Bcl-2 and Bcl-2 proteins were down-regulated, and the expression levels of caspase-3, PARP and caspase-9 proteins were up-regulated, whereas the expression level of Bax protein had no change. Conclusion: Youchasaponin can inhibit the cell proliferation and induce the apoptosis of human leukemia cells. This effect may be related to the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. DOI:10.3781/j.issn.1000-7431.2011.12.004